Most of the patrons turned around as they made their way to a table. There was a lot of nudging and whispering going, which was a bit pointless since they were vampires with excellent hearing.

They picked a table by the side of the stage, and a waiter came over for a drinks order. “Whisky, Alexis?”

Alexis nodded.

“Two Wulver malt whiskies, please, with ice.”

“Of course.”

Byron scanned the crowd. “I wonder if Casimir is still here?”

“Of course I am,” a voice said behind her. A man who looked like he was straight out of the 1920s was at their side.

“Casimir?” Byron said. Casimir was tall, thin, and dressed in a dinner suit and a bow tie, with a red flower in his lapel. He was the manager of the club and a fellow vampire. Byron stood and offered her hand. “It’s so nice to see you. Sit down.”

“Alexis.” Casimir shook her hand and sat. “How long has it been? Thirty years?”

“Really, that long?” Byron was surprised.

The drinks arrived, and Casimir said, “Would you get me a vodka martini, Andre?”

“Of course, Casimir.”

His eyes undressed the young man as he walked away. “Angelic, isn’t he? I’m training him.”

Alexis piped up. “Well, he won’t be angelic for long.”

All three laughed, and when Casimir got his drink, the conversation turned more serious.

“I can guess why you are here, Byron.”

“Why?” Byron asked.

“Young people, like Andre there, are getting forcibly turned, all over Paris. There’s a sudden influx of werewolves, witches—you name it, they are here, and going to the Dred castle.”

Byron took a sip of her whisky, and it burned her throat pleasantly. “I am interested in that, but first of all, we’re here looking for a young woman, Daisy MacDougall. We believe the Dreds might have her.”

“I’m not familiar with that name, but if she is human, I’m sure she will be in the pile of bodies they are collecting up there.”

Byron shot Alexis a worried look. “I know the Dreds were always known for their disregard of human life, but has it gotten worse?”

Casimir stirred his drink with the cherry on the cocktail stick. “Much worse. Andre woke under a pile of bodies, hungry for blood and terrified. He won’t even talk about what happened inside the castle. I’ve taken him under my wing.”

“Just like you did for me,” Alexis said.

“And you turned out all right.” Casimir smiled.

“What about Victorija? She usually comes in here, does she not?”

“She hasn’t been in for a long time. Strange, that. No one’s even seen her around town. I don’t know what’s going on with her. Drasas seems to be running the clan now.”

“Have you heard the name Anka before?”

Casimir suddenly looked like he’d seen a ghost. “Is she involved in this?”