When they got to Claudius', it took all of Patrick's willpower to walk through the side entrance. He imagined Troy or a faceless Yulia waiting for him, whip in hand. Instead, Michael led him to the kitchen.

"Claudius is having another party. You're supposed to help out in here."

"But they're vampires. What do they need with a kitchen?"

"You'll see. I've got to go." And before Patrick could ask anything else, he'd vanished.

Patrick stood uncomfortably in ...