Evelyn could just make out Joe's red hair above the crowd as he followed Jake out of La Club. They didn't come back to the table, but that was understandable if he'd just been sick.

It was strange, he'd seemed fine earlier.

"You aren't afraid my bloodling will grow fangs?" asked Adrian.

"No," answered Evelyn with a saccharine sweet smile, "and even if he does, I don't think men are to his taste."

She expected Adrian to snarl at her taunt, but he just chuckled to himself and sat back.

Well, here they were, three vampires at La Club, the hottest nightspot in town, and nothing was happening.

Evelyn looked at the two much older vampires in turn. Adrian was smiling in a self-satisfied way. She could tell he'd fed, and apparently that improved his disposition tremendously. But she didn't really want to dance with him.

Gideon seemed absorbed in his own thoughts and she didn't think he wanted to dance with her.

"How is Josh?" she asked, to break the silence. She'd spoken with Gideon's significant other on the phone briefly several times.

"Fine," answered Gideon. "He's doing very well."

"Still a breather?" taunted Adrian.

"Still breathing," replied Gideon evenly, refusing to be baited.

Silence fell again, like a curtain after a very short first act.

"Well, perhaps we should go?" suggested Evelyn. All the times she'd been here alone to hunt and wished she had company.... Maybe this was just the wrong company.

"If you like," said Adrian amiably.

Gideon looked up at him sharply. "No need to rush. I'm sure Joseph is fine, all jokes about fanged bloodlings aside."

"I thought you didn't like the music," prompted Evelyn.

"I don't want to spoil your evening," he responded graciously.

"Oh, really!" broke in Adrian. "If you want to go, say so Baron. Evelyn wants to, and I really don't care."

Gideon stared at Adrian as if he was trying to look through him, but the professor just sat back and smiled.

"So...." Evelyn wished she knew what was going on between these two. "Shall we go?"

"Shall we?" echoed Adrian, gathering up his jacket.

"Yes," sighed the Baron, "let's."

In the parking lot Evelyn unlocked the front and back passenger-side doors. When Gideon reached for the handle of the front door Adrian glared at him, then suddenly smiled and made a sweeping bow. "After you, milord," he mocked. Gideon didn't dignify the sarcasm with a reply.

The drive home was deadly quiet.

"Your brandy is waiting for you," Evelyn said to Gideon as she led them into the conservatory. "Can I freshen it for you?"

"Why, no, it's fine," he answered.

"Adrian?"

"No, thanks, I had enough at La Club."

Jake, who was sitting in the conservatory with a Coke in hand scowled at him.

"Well, then, I'm going to check on Joe. I'll be right back."

"Uh, Evelyn, I think he's sleeping," said Jake anxiously.

"I won't wake him."

"Evelyn," called Gideon, and caught up to her in the hall. "Don't be too hard on him," he said in a low voice.

"Why do you say that?"

"Young men make mistakes."

With that cryptic statement he turned back to the conservatory. Evelyn frowned. What was he talking about?

Joe was sprawled under the comforter, sound asleep. He didn't stir when Evelyn sat down beside him.

He didn't smell sick, she thought. When he'd had the flu last winter, he'd smelled terrible. Even if he had a cold she could make out a sour smell when she got close to him.

She pulled back a corner of the quilt from his face. He was still dressed.

"Hey," she shook his shoulder. "Joey, let me get you undressed."

"Huh? Oh, hi, baby." Joe obediently started to get up. His hand went to his collar and Evelyn noticed that it was done up all the way.

"Uh, I'm just too tired, baby," he said, sliding back down onto the bed. "Whyn't you go entertain?"

Evelyn looked at him. He'd closed his eyes but she knew he wasn't asleep. He didn't smell sick; he had his neck covered; Adrian was well fed. She suddenly understood Gideon's warning, and why Jake had been so obliging about driving Joe home. Did everyone know what had happened and she was the only one piecing it together after the fact?

"Did Adrian drink your blood?"

He was faking sleeping.

"I know you're awake, Joseph Junior."

Joe turned his head away. "Don't call me that."

"Did Adrian drink your blood?" she repeated emphatically.

"Oh, baby...." he muttered into the mattress.

I'll kill him! she thought, getting up. Stupid, petty, jealous little faggot!

"Don't be mad at him. I let him," said Joe, turning back towards her, but not meeting her eye. "I did it to myself."

Evelyn's face was suddenly very close to his. "I thought you wanted to live," she growled. "Are you out of your mind, offering a vampire your blood?"

"You never took that much," he responded weakly.

"Well you can't expect someone who's not in love with you to be so considerate!" Her fangs were out and she fought to retract them and gain some measure of control.

"I'm sorry, baby."

"Why on earth...?" Why would he offer a strange vampire his blood? Why did anyone?

"Oh, Joey," she moaned in sudden realization.

Joe was silent.

Evelyn gave a dispirited laugh. "I suppose he thinks turnabout is fair play. I guess I should have told you all about my trip to Toronto. Then you'd have known he was just after your ass because he was jealous of me and Jake."

Joe raised his head. "He was after my ass because he liked my ass. I'm exhausted. You can kick the shit outta me tomorrow night, 'kay?"

Evelyn snorted. "Fine."

Evelyn didn't stomp down the stairs and tear into the conservatory. She simply popped into the center of the Persian rug.

Jake jumped and fell back onto the couch, and Gideon raised his eyebrows.

"Where's Talbot?" she demanded.

"He wisely went out for some air," answered Gideon.

"Jacob Fowler," growled Evelyn, turning blazing eyes on him, "get out of my house."

"Lemme explain," pleaded Jake.

Gideon stepped between them. "Jacob has been telling me what happened, or at least what he knows. He wasn't trying to help Talbot, he was just trying to keep you two from each other's throats."

"I know Adrian's a bastard sometimes, but if you attack him, he'll rip your throat out," said Jake. "I don't wanna see you get killed."

Evelyn stood waiting for more. "What happened?" she finally asked.

"Talbot came here to "scoop" me, and convince you he should be your mentor," answered Gideon. "When that didn't work out, he became angry."

"And when Adrian gets mad, he gets even," finished Jake.

"So it has nothing to do with Toronto?"

"We-ell... I wouldn't say that for sure," answered Jake. "But from what Joe told me in the car, at least it wasn't...."

Evelyn thought she might feel better if it had been rape. Then she'd have someone to focus her anger on purely. The thought that she was wishing Joe harm just to uncomplicate her feelings made her suddenly ashamed.

Evelyn sat down heavily in her wing chair. "I'm so embarrassed," she said, staring straight ahead. "I'm so sorry to ruin your visit like this, Gideon."

"No, no," responded Gideon. "Talbot should be embarrassed. Joseph is just a boy, and he is old enough to know better."