“I know that should reassure me but somehow it doesn’t.”

“Then let’s have another drink,” says Vidocq.

I call Carlos to bring over a round of drinks. We clink glasses and throw them back.

Vidocq raises an eyebrow at Traven.

“Have you told him about the Via Dolorosa?”

“Not yet.”

“The Via Dolores? What is that?”

Traven shifts his weight. The subject makes him uncomfortable.

“Via Dolorosa,” says Vidocq. “ ‘The Way of Sorrow.’ It’s something the father learned while you were gone.”

“I suppose you inspired me,” says Traven. “I’ve spent my whole life sitting by myself among books. I thought the work I was doing was important and that I was important. The sin of pride. Then I watched you march off to Hell by yourself and I knew that reading old books wasn’t enough anymore.”

“And that’s what Dolores is?”

“You could say that.”

“Is it a trick or something? Show me.”

Traven shakes his head and looks at the sparse mix of civilians and Lurkers. He isn’t used to seeing humans mixing with what he probably considers monsters. But he’s dealing with it all right.

He says, “At the right time and place. When you tell me more about what happened in Hell, I’ll tell you about the Dolorosa.”

“Deal.”

My legs shake so slightly it’s barely noticeable.

“Did you feel something just now? A little earthquake?”

“No,” says Vidocq. “Father?”

Traven shakes his head.

“Never mind. It’s probably me. I’m still getting my land legs.”

The bar doors open and standing there is my favorite professional zombie hunter, Brigitte Bardo. Ex-professional. It’s not like she quit the business, but when there aren’t any zombies left to hunt, it’s hard to stay pro. She was also a porn star in Europe. Lots of civilians in occult work and Lurkers do sex work because the money is good and they can’t deal with regular jobs. There’s something else about Brigitte and it’s not pretty and it comes to me every time I think about her. A zombie bit her while we were hunting together. We found a cure and Vidocq gave it to her but it was my sloppiness that almost turned her into maybe the worst thing in the world.

When Brigitte sees me, she smiles and comes over, every bit the legit starlet she is these days. We lost touch when she dumped me for a movie producer who could help her career and because I’m a shit magnet. It’s nice to see she doesn’t hold a grudge.

She gives me a quick hug and kisses my cheek.

“Hello, Jimmy,” she says in her breathy Czech accent.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came by to say hello. That’s all right, isn’t it? I heard you’ve been off having adventures.”

“Of course it’s all right. It’s great to see you. What I meant was how did you know I was here?”

“You are so wonderfully stupid. People are talking about you now that the other one is gone and you’re back.”

“I just got here. How do they know?”

“Oh my. How would they? Perhaps the huge motorcycle that fell from the sky by Hollywood Forever. Unlike you, normal people think that’s unusual.”

“Yeah. That. Well, at least Carlos’s business will pick up.”

She wraps her arm around mine and leads me to the bar. We lean in close so we can hear each other.

She says, “Tell me about yourself. What did you do on your summer vacation?”

“Can I tell you a secret? Something I haven’t told anyone? I have to tell someone and I think maybe it won’t freak you out the way it would most people.”

“Because I briefly joined the undead?”

“Because of who you are. It takes someone special to spend her whole life offing zombies. You can’t be afraid of much.”

“Only you and then just a little.”

Her smile is all wolf.

“I never got to ask you. Do you remember anything after you were bit? Did it leave a scar?”

“I don’t remember anything and the only change is that I eat more meat. Rare and bloody. People think of it as very European and eccentric. But I didn’t come to talk about that. You have a secret and that’s much more exciting. You must tell me.”

I crane my head around, making sure no one is close enough to hear.

“I’m the Devil. Not metaphorically. I killed the other candidate and Lucifer took off back to Heaven and stuck me with running Hell. I’m the new Lucifer.”

She takes a step back, a hand covering her mouth. She’s laughing.

“My o vlku, a vlk za dverˇmi.”

“What?”

“Of course you are. Who else would run off to find his old love and come back the king of wolves? You’re always an interesting boy, Jimmy.”

“If only I was ten percent less dangerous, right? Isn’t that what you said? Being Lucifer doesn’t exactly put me on the safe list. Guess you were right to leave.”

“I think so. Though some days I’m not so sure. Some days I miss the hunt. The dead lying at my feet. Fucking you in this bathroom afterward.”

“Aside from sex and murder dreams, how are you doing? Are you working much?”

She sighs at being dragged back to earth.

“I finished a couple of films. One large and one very large and artful. I costarred with a famous American actor, though I won’t tell you who. I’ll let it be a surprise when you come to the premiere. Will you bring a friend? That’s my subtle way of asking if you’re in love.”

“That’s it? That’s all you have to say about me being Lucifer?”

“As you used to say, that and five dollars will get you a cup of coffee. I’m more interested in you than I am the Devil.”

I point to where Candy and Rinko are sitting.

“The one with the short hair.”

“She’s adorable. Who’s her friend?”

The girls notice us looking at them.

“That’s Rinko. She hates me.”

“She loathes you. It’s obvious to anyone. Shall we make them jealous?”

She takes my face in her hands and kisses me hard. It takes me back a few months when she led me out behind the bar and taught me how a pro slaughters zombies—by ripping out their spines. Then I killed them all in one night and left her without a job. Except for being a movie star. It’s nice to have something to fall back on.

The kiss goes on. She might just be going through the motions, but it’s a hell of a kiss.

She whispers into my ear so quietly I can barely hear her.

“Now I will disappear. I have a car waiting to take me to a much more expensive bar full of expensive people with whom I’ll talk about movies we’ll never make together.”

She glances at Candy and Rinko’s table.

“Besides, there’s nothing that interests a woman more than a mysterious stranger taking advantage of her lover and then vanishing. But not forever I hope. Please don’t be a stranger, Pán d’ábel.”

She winks, blows me a kiss from the door, and walks out. It’s an Oscar performance. Ten more seconds the room would have given her a standing ovation.

When I turn back to the bar, Candy is standing next to me.

“I take back what I said earlier. I know who I want you to punch.”

“Down, girl. Like you said about Rinko, Brigitte is an old friend.”

“What’s her story? She someone you rescued from a rabid lawn gnome?”

“I told you about her. She almost ended up a zombie because of me.”

Candy’s eyes go wide and she opens her mouth in exaggerated surprise.

“Oh my God. That was your porn star? I thought I recognized her. I take it back. Don’t punch her. Get me one for Christmas.”

“Forget it. The two of you together would be more dangerous than the Kissi.”

Carlos comes over.

“You ready for another drink, little lady?”

“A shot of Jack, please.”

“What about your friend?”

“Just water for her.”

I look at Rinko. She waves to the Ludere from the clinic sitting at a table of other blue-skinned blondes.

“Is Rinko still into drinking people?”

“That’s part of how we got together. Stopping her, I mean. I got her the same potion I take so she doesn’t have to. She’s trying to be good but it’s not easy.”