Laila stood and watched the black car roll down the street. She saw its jets fire and the underwheels retract as the car sped up, riding on its cushion of air. She arranged her hair over her shoulders, smoothed her skirt, and then went into the club. Jaya was having a drink at the end of bar.

Laila let herself backstage. Zulfikar was in the hall looking frustrated. Ahmed Jinnah had left him hanging, then fled the club before Sidi could get back. Interesting.

Laila went into the dressing room. Orchid and Morpheus were on the small sofa. Morpheus lay with his knees over the arm, with Orchid was crouched atop him like an incubus, licking blood as it trickled from a small wound in the three-quarter-Angel's neck. Miko was there, perched atop luggage, her jewel pink eyes looking up over her dark glasses as Laila came into the room. David was at the dressing table, painting his face. And Zalman Parvata was with them. He he had been taking video of Vivid Sadness for some time now, supposedly toward the goal of producing some movie or series of music promos for their fans to buy.

Laila walked to the corner where Miko sat upon an old trunk.

"You reek of human blood and sex," Miko said, still retaining a Japanese accent. "I like it."

Laila smiled sharply. She felt her heart quicken as Miko leaned forward and kissed her jaw. Laila waited for the fangs to break her skin.

A loud knocking came at the door.

Laila turned her head. David's eyes met hers in the mirror. That myth about vampires and reflections was only that. "Who is it?" David called.

"Rasul, I've got some flowers for the boys."

"You can let him in," Morpheus said.

David looked towards the door and it opened.

Laila watched the club's manager come in with the flowers. "Flowers and a note," Rasul said, carrying the arrangement towards David at the dressing table.

----------------

Secret? David totally opened the door with his mind.