"Sounds about right," he said in agreement with her summation of the rules of the place. He headed back to the bar, ordered the drinks and paid, shaking his head when the bartender asked him if he was going into the ring that night. "Jus' checkin' out th' competition," he joked, picking up the beer and his whiskey and returning to where the young vampire was waiting.

"So, what's a girl like you doin' in a place like this?" he asked, holding out her beer to her. "No' that I'm objectin', but I didn't figure this sor' of place 'd be the place y'd come for a night out," he added, his glance toward the ring indicating what he meant.