| Hollywood Nocturne By Kuzibah |
| for Xander's Woman on the occasion of her birthday. Note: If at all possible, listen to �Best of the Stray Cats� while reading this story. In a pinch, anything by the Brian Setzer Orchestra will be acceptable. Barring that, call your local oldies station and request �Sleepwalk� by Santo and Johnny. Insert usual disclaimer here. Archive- Sure, but email me and let me know where it�s going. Feedback- Absolutely. ******************* Xander walked out the front door of Frank's Hollywood Cuts, a barber shop supposedly frequented by some of Tinseltown's movers and shakers, and ran his fingers through his newly-shorn hair. It was shorter than he'd worn it in months, and he had to ask himself, why had he waited so long. Buffy, actually, had suggested Frank's. She knew several boys who went there from her first high school, and she knew of no place between Sunnydale and LA that did even half the job. Xander had to admit, the girl knew her stuff. He was brought up short in front of another shop. There a mannequin in the front window sporting a real zoot suit, along with bakelite jewelry and a number of beaded handbags. Xander stepped back and read the sign: Mabel's Vintage Clothing. He went in. A woman came out from behind the counter as he entered. "Hi," he said, "I'm looking for Hawaiian shirts..." "Oh, honey," the woman, presumably Mabel, said. "I've got just the look for you. Come to our early sixties collection..." An hour later, Xander left Mabel's, comfortably decked out in a stylish vintage bowling shirt (aqua) and tailored black pants. With the trade-in on the vintage seventies clothes he'd come in wearing, the entire ensemble was surprisingly affordable. He headed down Rodeo. A short time later he was drinking a cappuchino at a sidewalk cafe, watching the young starlets and wanna-bes as the sun went down. "Hey there, man," a voice said behind him, "those threads are totally gone." Xander turned around to see two boys about his own age, also dressed in vintage duds. "Thank you?" he said uncertainly. "I'm Johnny," the boy who had spoken before said, "and this is Eddie." "Xander," Xander said, and they all shook hands. "Listen," said Johnny, "we're going to the Black Cadillac Club, and you look like you'd fit right in. Care to join us?" "The music is smokin'," Eddie added, "and there's always plenty of kitties around for the cats to dance with." Xander was intrigued, and how often did he make it to Hollywood, after all. "That sounds great," he said, and the three left together. The Black Cadillac Club was a beautiful old building that had gone to a lot of trouble to recreate a teen dance club from the early sixties, and Xander noted the clientele had joined in the spirit enthusiastically. "Hey, Xander, let me introduce you to the gang," Johnny said, leading him to a group of kids standing near the dance floor watching the band. "This is Jimmy, and Brian, Marie, June, and Janet. Everybody, this is Xander." "Is this your first time here?" Marie asked. "Yeah," Xander said. "I have to admit, I'm pretty impressed. It like this every night?" None in the group answered for a moment, long enough for silence to grow uncomfortable, then Eddie said, "we all try to meet here once a month," and the others nodded agreement. Marie slid an arm around Xander's waist. "I think you'll fit right in, Xander," she purred. "Maybe you'd like to join, be one of us." Xander laughed nervously. "What is this, like the moonies or something?" The kids looked at each other blankly, and there was another strained pause. "Hey, Eddie," Johnny said, "why don't you go get Xander a beer. Or would you like something to eat, Xander?" Janet stepped forward suddenly and put her arms around Xander's neck. "Now Xander came here to dance," she said, "so why don't we dance?" Before Xander could say anything, Janet had practically dragged him out onto the dance floor. The band was playing a slow instrumental number, and Janet wound her arms around Xander's back and pulled him close to her. Uncertainly, Xander put his own arms around her. She leaned in and rested her head on her shoulder. "Janet..." Xander said nervously. "Don't," she whispered fiercely, "just smile and look like you're enjoying a dance." Xander stole a look at the others, watching him from the edge of the dance floor, and forced himself to smile. "Listen carefully," Janet went on. "Whatever you do, you mustn't eat or drink anything. Not a drop. Do you understand?" "Not really," Xander said softly, still grinning stiffly. "But I understand enough to do it." "Thank you," she whispered. When the song ended, Marie joined them. "Could I have the next dance," she said. Xander took a step back. "I'm really not much of a dancer," he said. "Then join us at our table," she said, "don't be anti-social." Xander looked at Janet, who nodded quickly, looking sideways at Marie and the others. The rest of the kids had piled burgers, fries, and bottles of beer on the table, and despite Janet�s warning, Xander�s stomach twisted with hunger. �Please,� Marie cajoled, �we�ll treat you if you don�t have any money.� �It�s not that,� Xander insisted, �I�m really not hungry.� Eddie stood up and slapped Xander on the shoulder. �Then let�s go play some pool,� he said. �Actually,� Xander said, �I�ve really got to go�� �But we�re just getting started,� Johnny said. �The Black Cadillac�s the hottest club in Hollywood, Xander.� �Look, if he wants to go�� Janet began. June and Marie turned on her. �What did you say,� June hissed. �Nothing,� Janet snapped back. Xander balled his hands into fists and took a defensive stance. �Are you gonna let me go or not,� he said angrily. Johnny stepped up, going nose to nose with him. �You want a fight,� he said, his voice low and menacing. �Cause if you do, we�ll be happy to oblige.� Xander blinked, his mind suddenly racing with panic. �N-n-no,� he said, �I just want to le-� He was hit from behind with something large and heavy, and fell forward against Johnny. As he tried to regain his footing, Johnny grabbed his shoulders and set him on his feet, then pulled back and punched him in the jaw. Xander was rocked, but he came up swinging, connecting with Johnny�s nose twice. He heard glass breaking behind him, and looked around to see Brian holding the broken neck of a beer bottle, waving it menacingly. Xander grabbed a chair, holding it in front of him, legs forward, like a lion tamer. �I don�t want trouble,� he shouted, but it was too late. All around him, young man had started fighting as though ignited by Johnny�s punch. Glasses and bottles were being thrown, and girls were screaming. Xander started to back towards the door, when Johnny flew at him, knocking him over backwards. Xander�s head hit the floor with a crack, and everything went black. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * When he came to, sunlight was streaming in through the half-painted windows. Xander sat up, squinting into the dusty light. He looked around. He was alone in an empty warehouse. Dust was thick on the floor, and some of the windows were broken. Had he been brought here, he wondered. No, he realized. He was still in the club, but it looked as though it had been abandoned for years. He ran to the door. It was open, and he stepped into the morning sunshine. Above him was the sign, �The Black Cadillac Club,� nearly obscured by graffiti. �What the hell,� he muttered. Something had definitely happened, and he could only think of one person who might explain it. He crossed the street to a pay phone and dialed. �Good Morning, Angel Investigations,� answered a man�s cultured, accented voice. �Is Angel there?� Xander asked. �I�m sorry, he�s not available at this time,� the person continued. �Can I help you�� �Wesley?� Xander blurted. �Oh, my God, is that you?� There was a pause. �Do I know you?� �It�s Xander,� Xander said, �from Sunnydale.� There was no answer, so he added, �Buffy�s friend.� �Oh, goodness,� Wesley said. �Does she need us? Has the Hellmouth opened again?� �Um, yeah, but, no, that�s not what I�m calling about. I just had the strangest night�� Xander briefly explained what had happened and listened as Wesley paged through books and �hmm�d� meaningfully. �I thought so,� Wesley said at last. �There�s apparently quite a powerful Demon sorcerer near there. It�s said that once a month he allows his familiars to take on human form to feast and generally raise hell. It�s advised that anyone coming upon their congregation neither eat nor drink else they should be transformed with the rest at dawn and forced to serve the sorcerer for all eternity� You didn�t eat or drink anything, did you, Xander?� �No,� Xander answered, his voice faint. �What do you mean, familiars?� �Animals, usually cats, that serve to aid a magician or witch or sorcerer in working his evil,� Wesley replied. �Did you see anything like that?� Xander looked down. Rubbing against his ankle was a small yellowish cat. Slowly he hung up the phone. �Oh, God,� he whispered, sinking down into a crouch. The cat bounded several steps away and looked back at him with liquid, blue eyes. �It�s you, isn�t it,� Xander whispered. �Oh, my God�� Back in the derelict nightclub a black cat appeared in a window and yowled. Xander jumped with surprise. With one more glance back over her shoulder, the yellow cat ran to join it, and the two disappeared into the shadows within. �Thank you,� Xander called after them, then he rose and began his journey home to Sunnydale. Main Menu ~ Return to Stand Alone Menu |