Pirates of Manhattan

Chapter 6: Seven Seas

New Orleans. Thursday, October 18, 2007.

"All's quiet on the southern front," Sam assured Dean over the phone. He'd taken advantage of the midday lull to call Dean from the pure-blood's office. Maia was downstairs in the kitchen with Gabrielle, experimenting with new blends of Sinbad. Jeremy was working in the bullpen with the other vampires on their investment business.

"No sightings of Lafitte?" Dean asked.

"A couple. Gabrielle's seen him, and yesterday Maia and I spotted him on the street outside the club. As far as we know, he hasn't attempted to enter the club. The combination of Maia's wards and Gabrielle's voodoo appears to be doing the trick."

"No need to take any chances. Don't go prowling the Quarter on your own. Maia may need your help."

Sam frowned at his cell phone. That didn't sound like Dean. What had he found out? Sam got the distinct impression Dean was trying to keep him out of harm's way. But if the present situation had anything to do with Lucifer, Dean stood more of a risk than Sam. Castiel believed that Lucifer still wanted Sam to be his vessel. That meant he wouldn't be harmed. But Dean didn't have any safeguards. Lucifer's forces could think taking him out would reduce the number of obstacles in their way.

Meanwhile downstairs ...

Rowena surveyed the interior of the club. Not bad, Fergus. You've gone upscale.

When Suhani contacted her with an update, she couldn't believe her ears. That her son—now a demon—was in partnership with a pure-blood vampire was a stretch. But that he had also hunters for friends and had gone legit? No, that simply wasn't credible.

Her curiosity quadrupled when she opened the door to the club. A very powerful witch had warded it. Was Fergus also hanging around with members of a coven? And what coven had such skilled witches for members?

Suhani waved to her from the back of the lounge. She'd suggested Rowena arrive in the early afternoon when the club wasn't open to the public. The young vampire rushed forward and enveloped her in a hug. "Thank you for coming!" She led her to a table in the back. "Cora will be right down. She wanted to finish an analysis first."

"An analysis of what?"

"An investment opportunity. Jeremy's hired us to help with the investment firm he and Crowley run. They call it CJS Management."

"Crowley Jeremy ...?" Rowena guessed.

"Sangford," Suhani supplied. "Jeremy's last name. Isn't it wonderful! This is a dream come true for Cora and me. Oh, there she is! What would you like to drink?"

"A wee dram of scotch would be heavenly."

"Glencraig? That's the manager's favorite."

Earlier, the thought of going along with her son on anything would have made her hair frizz, but now? "That sounds perfect."

So there she was munching on Scottish shortbread that Cora had thoughtfully provided, and drinking Fergus's scotch. Never had the New World seemed so enticing. "Tell me about your new lives," she said. "I'm all ears."

Cora and Suhani interrupted each other in their eagerness. The investment firm was intriguing. That had potential. Jeremy's love of music suited the girls. He offered to help them find gigs but in the meantime, they were earning enough to provide for themselves. As for Sinbad ...

"We're talking with Gabrielle about introducing new flavors," Suhani said enthusiastically. "Rather like cocktails in a can. We think the market will explode once word spreads."

"Who is Gabrielle?"

"She's a witch and voodoo practitioner," Suhani explained. "She's also Jeremy's girlfriend. Sinbad is her creation. All the vampires who work for Jeremy drink it instead of blood."