Jekyll & Hyde Inc.

“In your coffin?” said Daniel.

“That’s for the elders,” said Paul. “I just get my own patch of dirt.”

“Why do you allow a vampire access to this building, Edward?” said Tina. Her voice was loud, and very cold.

“I summoned him here,” said Edward. “So he can help us destroy the annual gathering of the Vampire Clan. Paul is going to tell us exactly where they’re going to be.”

“Why would he betray his own kind?” said Tina.

“Because I’m not like them,” said Paul. “I never wanted to be a vampire. They took away my humanity, made me into a thing of blood and horror, dragged me kicking and screaming out of the light and into the dark. You’re going to be my revenge.”

Daniel turned his gaze away, to look at Edward.

“How do we destroy the Clan? Another bomb?”

“Yes, and no,” said Edward. “A bomb on its own wouldn’t be enough. You can’t kill what’s already dead.”

“Undead,” said Paul.

“Correct me again and I’ll rip out your canines,” said Edward. “The point is, the vampires need to be lured into a properly prepared trap. And that’s where you come in, my children. You will go to the annual gathering and walk among them. Paul will provide you with the proper passwords. You will then insult and provoke the vampires into chasing you to where you have planted the bomb, so you can trigger the trap.”

“How are we supposed to survive that?” said Tina.

“I have faith in you,” said Edward.

“Where do we find this gathering?” said Daniel.

“Vampires live in the Underground railway system,” said Paul. “Because it’s always dark down there. They sleep in abandoned stations, and move back and forth through forgotten tunnels. Like worms in the earth. Sometimes they appear on the usual platforms, when hardly anyone’s about, so they can fall on some unfortunate soul and drag them off into the shadows. Vampires ride the trains to every part of London, and then use the hidden ways to get to where they have to be, and do what they have to do. The Tube is such a convenient system, you have to wonder if it was originally designed with vampires in mind. A hiding place and a feeding ground, all in one—”

“Hold it,” said Daniel. “Vampires ride the trains, along with the living—and no one notices?”

“No one ever looks at anyone else on the underground,” said Paul. “You know that, Danny.”

Daniel nodded slowly. “You told me the Vampire Clan specializes in crimes of seduction . . . ”

“No one ever sees what a vampire really looks like,” said Paul. “A glamour hides our true nature, so people only see what we want them to. The Clan owns all manner of private clubs where the rich and powerful can go to satisfy the needs and hungers they could never admit to anywhere else. And I’m not just talking about blood drinking, but rather all the strange desires and weird cravings that only a vampire’s glamour can make possible. Because we can be anyone you ever dreamed of . . . ”

Tina turned to Edward. “We’re going to have to do something about these clubs, after we’ve destroyed the vampires.”

“Of course,” said Edward. “My people will take them over. Jekyll & Hyde Inc. can always use a new source of revenue.”

Tina looked like she wanted to say something, but she didn’t, so Daniel didn’t either.

“Tell them where they need to go, Paul,” said Edward.

“The annual gathering of the Vampire Clan will be held at the stroke of midnight, in the abandoned Albion Square station,” said Paul. “Dress informally, and don’t be late.”

“Why here in London?” said Daniel. “Why not . . . Transylvania?”

“Because the monsters have been based here for so long, it feels like home to them,” said Paul. “The vampire elders remember when this was a very different city, but they still feel like they own it. That all the people in London are nothing more than livestock, to feed on when they choose.”

“That’s enough,” said Edward, cutting him off. “You’ve said your piece. Now get the hell out of my building.”

Paul just nodded, entirely unimpressed by the disdain in Edward’s voice. The tip of a gray tongue emerged, to lick at his colorless lips.

“I wonder what your blood would taste like, Edward? Perhaps you’ve aged well, like an old wine.”

“Too rich for you, boy,” said Edward.

He smiled at Paul—and something in that smile made the vampire turn his head away. Perhaps because Edward had been a predator for so much longer—or because only one of them wanted to be a monster.

“Walk with me, Danny boy,” said Paul. “We need to talk privately.”

The two of them moved off a way. Tina stared curiously after them. Edward didn’t seem to care.

“Wipe the blood off your face, Danny,” Paul said quietly. “It’s distracting.”

Daniel took out a handkerchief and cleaned his face as best he could. Paul nodded, appreciating the attempt.

“You look good as a Hyde, Danny. Is your new life everything you thought it would be?”

He glanced back at Tina. Daniel didn’t.

“The Frankenstein Clan is gone,” he said.

“I know,” said Paul. “All the other Clans can’t stop talking about it.”

“I thought the Clans were too proud to talk to each other?” said Daniel.