“I should have known, god why do I always wind up coming back here?” Frank mumbled to himself as he walked steadily towards the club entrance. All the while he stared at the “Maximum Black” sign hanging above the building entrance in all its black metal and red neon glory. “Of all the goth hangouts she has to choose this one.”

Pulling his worn duster a little tighter around himself Frank turned and spit on the sidewalk. He twisted his neck enough for a small pop and then walked on up into the line that lead to the double doors. There were only a few lined up right now, all in black trench coats and hair to match, a few attempting to give him the stare that he’s in the wrong place. His ability to ignore them is beyond any sort of intimidation they could ever muster. The girl behind the glass desk watched him walk up the stone steps and pressed the intercom button when he got to the top. “We have a cover of five bucks tonight. Live band tonight called ‘Magnanimity’, they start playing in about an hour.”

Slipping a twenty through the glass slot he looked her into the eyes, “I need a special pass with this as well and keep the change.”

Smiling the woman takes the bill and puts it into the cash drawer and pulls a small sealed envelope out and slides it through to him. “Try not to have to good of a time tonight.” She then reaches under the counter to a control panel and there is a slight buzz. “Go on in.”

Pushing one door open with one hand and putting away the envelope with the other he walks steadily inside inhaling the fumes of cigarette smoke, alcohol, lavender and the foul stench of cloves. The layout was pretty much the same with the club was split into three sections. The center went straight down into a recessed dance floor that wrapped around a stage decorated in stainless steel and chrome, currently there was a band was setting up. To the right was the bar, boasting one of the best selections in the entire city, with several tables scattered around it. On the left was the coffee house style section, more tables with various features, some had computer access, others televisions, while a couple were set up like booths with curtains that could be drawn to cover the occupants. Amazing how little changes in two years sometimes.

The crowd was thick in certain areas, mainly on the dance floor and around the bar. All of them a mess of black clothing and pale skin, with a dash of white here and there and even rarer a bit of actual color. A few eyes were on him; guess they weren’t expecting a black man in a cowboy hat tonight. This made a smile come across his lips as he walked over to the section on the left.

After finding a table where he could watch the main doors he sat himself down and waited for a waitress. After a minute a young woman in the standard all black uniform with ‘Maximum’ across the front in white approached holding a serving tray under one arm. “What can I get for you today sir?” She eyed him oddly.

“Coffee, black with a shot of Brandy, best you got.”

“I’ll bring it right out.”

While waiting for her return he pulls the envelope back out and tears the end of it open and drops in contents into his hand. A small blue pill, a special pill. Legal narcotics created for the clientele who wish for that special heightened feeling that it gives you. Also for its side affect of negating some of the alcohol. He popped it into his mouth and swallowed it dry and slipped the torn paper back into his pocket.

“Your one of the last people I would expect to show back up in here.” An all too familiar voice sounded behind him. “I figured you would stay as far away from here as possible since your departure.”

All in black, blending well into the regular customers, a man walked around the table to face Frank. “Get near me and I will break you in half Thomas, just like I took Marty down a few notches.”

“Now is that any way to talk to an old friend?” Thomas pulled the chair opposite of Frank and sat down showing absolutely no attention to the threat. “Besides there are more of us and only one of you. As for Marty, well, he did have that coming to him but it’s not like he was any major player or anything.”

“Be that as it may I don’t think you will be any problem at all for me. Nor will any or your other lackeys.”

“So what the hell are you doing here? You trying to work it on your own now? Looking for a little easy hit of power tonight?”

“Nope just hoping to talk to somebody.”

“Here’s your coffee.” The waitress appeared beside the table placing a large cup on the table. “That’ll be five fifty.”

Holding up a ten in two fingers and not moving from Thomas, “Here you go, keep the change.”

“Thank you. Anything for you tonight Thomas?”

“Not right at this minute darling. Maybe later.”

“Okay then.” She turns and walks over to another table that just filled up with more youths trying to look angsty.

“So Frank, just here to talk to somebody eh? I suggest you find someplace else to do your talking at. This place will be a bit unhealthy for you to say the least. Never know when something bad could happen to you.”

Smiling back him, “What you seriously think I would come in here unarmed? Trust me asshole, I have enough on me to take anyone out you want to toss on. Along with a few other tricks I’ve learned since I left your little group. But for you I would do it with a single round, right between the eyes.”

Thomas leaned back and his poker face broke into a bit of a worry. “Fine. Fine if that’s the way you want this to go man that’s fine. But you can’t watch your back all the time can you?” He stood up from the table and straightened his jacket. “Just remember you ran with us for a while, we know all about you and what you’ve done.”

“Just leave why don’t you?”

Turning furiously he walks towards the exit glancing back only once before passing outside through the doors. A minute later two more people followed him outside looking over at the table on their way out. He figured there were probably at least two more people from his group in there, watching him.

Frank just sat calmly and drank his coffee slowly and waited for Anna to walk in. There was something about her, something very alluring, he had talk to her. Nothing that he could put his finger on just yet though, but there was definitely something there. Now he just had to find out what that is.