Titans of Chaos

She was doing that Vanity-thing she does with her eyelashes and bestowing the sweetest smile onhim, so even his grim face softened, and he smiled back. "No, miss. I'm Mr. Nice Guy. I am hereto see that the people who are invited into the club here have a nice time. Now you are blockingthe line, and all of Mr. Archer's guests behind you might not have a nice time because of it. So Igotta make it right, okay?"

I thought this meant he was going to burn us to cinders with laser beams shooting from his eyes orsomething, but no. Instead, he led us a few steps to one side, and the Merry Man proceeded withthe glittering people in line behind us. We were standing beside the doors, and long thin leavesfrom potted plants were poking me in the back.

"Now, your names are not on the list, are they?" said the huge man.

Quentin said quietly, "May we have your name, sir? Mr. Archer will be displeased if we arehindered, I assure you."

"I am Terro- ah, Terrance. Terrance, um, Miles. And Mr. Archer is my brother."

Quentin said, "If he's your brother, why isn't your last name-?"

"Stage name."

I said, "Listen. This is important. Do you know the world is run by pagan gods?"

"I know L.A. is, that's for sure. And one of the gods of L.A. says that no one gets in the Bull's-EyeClub unless they're properly dressed. We have a dress code."

I watched a couple go by. The man had glasses shaped like the number 2008, with an eye peeringthrough each zero. His date was wearing see-through plastic pants.

"What about them?"

Tall and Dark said, "They're on the list. Dress code does not apply to Mr. Archer's special guests."

Victor said, "Leader, why don't we simply leave a cell phone number? Archer can call us, once hegets Boggin's message."

Before I could answer, Tall and Dark said, "Listen, you seem like nice kids. You go away andcome back dressed properly, you can come in."

I said, 'Then we can see Mr. Archer?"

A shrug. "Maybe he'll see you, maybe not He's not here right now, but he might be back tonight."

Vanity said to me, "Amelia, my nice outfits are on the boat. And where are the boys going to gettuxedoes at this hour? We don't have that much money left, after all."

Tall and Dark said, "Kids, if you are not the kind of folk who can afford expensive suits with yourpocket money, you're not getting into this club."

Vanity's face was flushed with anger. She stamped her foot and demanded, "What? Is there atailor open at this hour?"