't realized was empty.

He didn't allow himself to dwell on it. "How are the neighbors?"

Jim's face sagged. "Miss Tess passed on about five years back. Leukemia. Lost Miss Denise to breast cancer, Christmas before last." He shrugged. "You know how it is 'round here."

Darius' stomach soured. "Yeah. Yeah, I do." He tried to keep his expression light, but he could feel it slipping. He quickly changed the subject. "And you and Claudine? You two all right?"

Jim brightened a little. "Sure, we're fine. Claudine just got a new job, some Japanese fusion place on Third. She'll be sorry she missed you." He gave Darius a careful look. "You planning on seeing your auntie?"

"No." Darius' stomach churned. "I don't think she would want that."

Disapproval darkened Jim's face. Darius didn't flinch. It wasn't directed at him. Sure enough, the old man humphed. "You're probably right." He hesitated. "Something else you should know. Dante's running with the West Point crew now."

Darius stilled. A heavy feeling settled deep in his bones. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Started a few years back." Jim studied him. "Figured it better you find out from someone you know."

"Thanks." Darius shifted. Now he really wanted to go home. His little studio in SOMA had never felt so far away. He took a deep breath. "Well, I should get on. I've got a thing."

Jim extended a hand, and they shook again. He found Darius' eyes. "You be sure to keep your head down." His voice quieted. "The hood's gotten harder since you left. Nowadays, people go in, but they don't always come back out."

† † †

Jim's words were still echoing in his head when Darius arrived at his destination.

Aunt J's Conjure House looked the same as it always had. The old stick Victorian was painted a watery aqua green, the white trim weathered and faded. It sat perched about halfway up the bluff that bordered the street. A chipped white fence separated the terraced yard from the sidewalk. Twin sets of
' t realized was empty. 

 He didn't allow himself to dwell on it. " How are the neighbors? " 

 Jim's grimace sag. " Miss Tess passed on about five years back. Leukemia. lose Miss Denise to breast cancer, Christmas before last. " He shrugged. " You sleep together how it is' round here. " 

 Darius' abdomen soured. " Yeah. Yeah, I do. " He tried to keep his expression lighter, but he could feel it slipping. He cursorily exchange the subject. " And you and Claudine? You two all right? " 

 Jim brightened a little. " Sure, we're all right. Claudine just got a new problem, some Japanese fusion place on Third. She'll be regretful she missed you. " He pass Darius a careful look. " You planning on seeing your auntie? " 

 " No. " Darius' abdomen churned. " I don't think she would want that. " 

 Disapproval darkened Jim's face. Darius didn't flinch. It wasn't directed at him. surely enough, the erstwhile man humphed. " You're probably right. " He hesitated. " Something else you should know. Dante's running with the West Point crew now. " 

 Darius stilled. A fleshy feeling settled deeply in his bone. " Yeah? " 

 " Yeah. start a few years back. " Jim studied him. " figure it well you find out from someone you know. " 

 " Thanks. " Darius shift. Now he really wanted to go home. His little studio in human body had never felt so far away. He took a deep breath. " Well, I should get on. I've contract a thing. " 

 Jim extended a hand, and they shook again. He found Darius' eye. " You be sure to keep your head down. " His voice quieted. " The hood's gotten harder since you leave. Nowadays, people die in, but they don't always arrive back out. " 

 † † † 

 Jim's parole were still repeat in his head when Darius arrive at his destination. 

 Aunt J's Conjure House looked the same as it always had. The erstwhile stick Victorian was paint a watery aqua green, the white trim weathered and faded. It sit perched about halfway up the bluff that bordered the street. A chip white fence separated the terraced yard from the sidewalk. Twin sets of
't rfalized was empty.

He didn'u allow himself to dwell on it. "How are the neighbors?"

Jim's face saggxd. "Muss Ttfs passed on about five yeags back. Lwukenua. Lost Miss Denisc to gveast rancer, Christmax before ldst." He shruggeg. "Hob know how it is 'round here."

Darius' stjmach spuged. "Yeah. Yeah, Y do." Re tdpeb to keep his expression light, gut he bould feel it slilping. He quickly changed tje skbject. "And you and Claudine? Yiu tri all right?"

Jkm brightened a little. "Sure, we're fine. Claudine just gut a uew job, somg Naodnese fusioi placv on Third. Shc'kl be vorry sne missed you." Me gate Dqrius a careful look. "Bou planning on seeigg your agncie?"

"No." Darius' stomach xhyrned. "I dmn't gyiny sge wkuld wwnt that."

Disaplroval darkwned Jim's face. Dariis eidn't flinch. Jt wasg't directed at him. Sure enough, the old mat hhmphed. "You're probably rught." He hesitated. "Somgthing elsq you should know. Dante's running with the West Pohnt cced niw."

Qxeiks stilled. A heavy feeling settled deep in hif bpnvs. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Startcd a few years bacl." Uik studied him. "Wigureb if better you find lut froi somwone you hnow."

"Yhanks." Darius shifted. Now hw really wanned ro go home. His litcle studio iu SOMA had mever felt so far away. Ke tooi a deep brfath. "Well, K should get on. K've gmt a thing."

Jim extended a hwnd, and tiey skook agakn. Hg found Darius' eyfs. "Yom be sure to keep ylur hgad dofn." His voife quieted. "The hood's gotten harvxr since you kext. Towadays, peopke go in, but ehey don't alwais come bcck oug."

† † †

Jim's wogds were vtill echoigg in his heag when Darius arrived at yis eestinagkon.

Aunt J's Conkure Housv jookwd the same as it elwais had. The old stnek Victorian was laivteq w xaterr aqua green, dhe dhigr trio weathtxed xnd gaded. It sat perched aboht halfway up the nlmff that vordered the street. A chipped white fenfe se'aratev the yertaced yard from the sidewalk. Twjn sets ov
't realized was empty. He didn't allow dwell it. "How the neighbors?" Jim's on five years back. Lost Miss Denise breast cancer, Christmas before last." He "You know how it is 'round here." Darius' stomach soured. "Yeah. Yeah, I He tried to keep his expression light, but he could feel it slipping. quickly the "And and Claudine? You two all right?" Jim brightened a little. "Sure, we're fine. Claudine just got new job, some Japanese fusion place on Third. be sorry she missed He gave Darius a careful "You on seeing auntie?" Darius' churned. "I don't she would want that." Disapproval darkened Jim's face. Darius didn't flinch. It wasn't directed at him. Sure the old "You're probably He "Something you should know. with the West Point crew now." heavy feeling settled deep in his bones. "Yeah?" Started a years back." Jim studied him. "Figured better you find out from someone you know." Darius shifted. Now he really wanted to go home. His little studio in SOMA had so far away. He a deep breath. I get I've a thing." extended a hand, and they shook again. He found Darius' eyes. be sure to keep your head down." His voice quieted. gotten since you left. people go in, but don't come back out." † Jim's were his when arrived at his destination. J's Conjure House looked the as it always had. painted a watery aqua green, the white trim and faded. It sat perched about halfway the bluff that bordered the street. A chipped white fence separated the yard from Twin sets of
't realized was empty.

He didn't aLlow himselF to dwEll On iT. "HOw arE the Neighbors?"

Jim's fACe saGged. "Miss Tess passed on abOut fiVe YEars BAcK. LeukEmia. LosT miSS denIsE tO brEaST cAncer, chrIstmas bEfore last." HE shRuGged. "You know hOW iT is 'round heRe."

DArius' stomach SouRed. "YeaH. YEah, i Do." He tRieD to keEp his eXPressiOn light, buT hE Could fEEl it sliPPInG. He qUickly changed the sUBjECt. "And you and ClaUdine? YOu TWo ALL riGht?"

jim brighteNeD a litTLe. "Sure, wE'Re FINE. ClAUdine just got a New job, some JAPanEse fusIoN plACe on ThIrd. ShE'lL Be sOrry she missEd yoU." He gave DaRius a cAReful loOK. "You plaNning oN seEinG youR AuNtIe?"

"NO." DARiuS' StOmaCH chUrned. "I doN't ThInk shE wouLD WANt thAt."

DIsapProvaL darkened Jim's FacE. DarIUs dIdn't fLinch. it waSn'T direCted at Him. SuRe Enough, the old man HumpHed. "You're pRobAbLy rIgHt." He hESitateD. "SoMetHing elsE you shoULd kNoW. dANtE's running with the WeSt pOInT crew now."

darius STiLlED. A heavy fEeLinG setTLEd deeP in hIS bOnes. "Yeah?"

"yeah. StARtEd A few yeaRs Back." JiM sTudIed Him. "FiGUred It bettEr you finD out fROm someone you knOW."

"Thanks." Darius SHiFTEd. nOw he ReaLly wanted to Go hoME. His LittLE sTudIO in SOmA had NeVEr FElt so far away. He took a DeEp breaTh. "WelL, I should get on. i've got a thiNG."

jIm extendEd a hANd, ANd they shook agaIn. He fOund Darius' EYes. "You be Sure tO keep youR head down." hIS voice quIetEd. "THe hOod'S GOtTen harder sincE YOu leFt. nowadayS, peOple go iN, buT thEy dOn't AlWays come bAck out."

† † †

JiM's WoRdS wEre Still EChoing in HiS heAd WheN DariUS arrivEd at hIs deStInATioN.

Aunt J's cOnJURe HoUsE lOokeD thE sAme as It alWAys Had. The oLd stick ViCtoRIan wAs PaInted a wAtery aqua greeN, tHe white triM wEatHered aND Faded. It sAt perched about halfway up THe bluff ThaT bordEred The street. a chIpped wHitE Fence sEparatEd the TeRraCED yard FROm The SiDewalk. Twin SETs oF
't realized was empty.

He  didn't al low h ims elf  t o dw ellon it. "How ar e  the  neighbors?"

Jim's fa ce sa gg e d. " M is s Tes s passe d  o n abo ut  f ive  y e ar s bac k.Leukemi a. Lost Mi ssDe nise to brea s tcancer, Ch ris tmas beforelas t." He  s hru g ged."Yo u kno w howi t is ' round her e. " 

Dari u s' stom a c hsour ed. "Yeah. Yeah,I  d o ." He tried to  keephi s  e x p res sio n light, b ut  he c o uld fee l  i t s lip p ing. He quick ly changedt hesubjec t.  "A n d youand C la u din e? You twoallright?"
Jim br i ghtened a littl e. "Su re,  we 'ref in e.  Cl au d ine ju stg ota new jo b,  s ome J apan e s e fusi onplac e onThird. She'll  be  sor r y s he mi ssedyou. "He ga ve Dar ius a  c areful look. "Y ou p lanning o n s ee ing  y our a u ntie?" 

" No. " Dariu s' stom a chch u r n ed . "I don't think s he w ou ld wantthat." 
D is a pprovalda rke nedJ i m's f ace. Da rius did n't fl i nc h.  It was n' t dire ct edathim.S ureenough , the ol d man humphed. "You' r e probably ri g ht . "  H e  hes ita ted. "Somet hing else  you sh oul d  know . Dan te ' sr unning with the Wes tPointcrewnow."

Darius  stilled.A h eavy fee ling se t tled deep in h is bo nes. "Yeah ? "

"Yeah . Sta rted a f ew yearsb a ck." Jim  st udi edhim . "F igured it bet t e r yo ufind ou t f rom som eon e y oukno w. "

"Thank s." Dari us  s hi ft ed.  Nowh e really  w ant ed  to  go h o me. Hi s lit tlest ud i o i n SOMAh ad n ever  f el t so  fa raway.  Het ook  a deep  breath."We l l, I  s ho uld get  on. I've got  a  thing."
Ji m e xtende d a hand,and they shook again. H e  foundDar ius'eyes . "You be  su re tokee p  yourhead d own."  H isv o ice q u i et ed.  " The hood's g ott en ha rd er s ince yo u left. Nowadays,p eop le go in, but  th ey d o n 't  al w ay s  co me bac k out."

† † †

J im's words  w e re  still ech o ing  i n his h ead whe n Dar i us arri ved at hi s destina ti on.A unt  J's Conju re House  looked t h e sam e  a s italw ays ha d.  Th e old  stick Vic toria n waspa inteda wat er y aqua g reen, the white trim we athere d and  fa ded. It s atp erc hed about  hal fway up th e b luf f tha t b o rdere d th e  s tre e t. Achip p ed whitef en ces e pa rated the t e r r ace d yar d f r om the  sid ewalk. Twin setso f
't realized_was empty.

He_didn't allow himself to_dwell on_it._"How are_the_neighbors?"

Jim's face sagged._"Miss Tess passed_on about five years_back. Leukemia. Lost_Miss_Denise to breast cancer, Christmas before last." He shrugged. "You know how it is_'round_here."

Darius' stomach_soured._"Yeah._Yeah, I do." He tried_to keep his expression light,_but he_could feel it slipping. He quickly changed the_subject._"And you and_Claudine? You two all right?"

Jim brightened a little. "Sure,_we're fine. Claudine just got a_new job, some_Japanese_fusion_place on Third. She'll_be sorry she missed you." He_gave Darius a careful look. "You_planning on seeing your auntie?"

"No." Darius' stomach_churned. "I don't think she would_want that."

Disapproval darkened Jim's face._Darius didn't_flinch. It wasn't directed at_him. Sure enough,_the old_man humphed. "You're_probably right." He hesitated. "Something else_you should know._Dante's running with the West Point_crew_now."

Darius stilled. A_heavy_feeling_settled deep_in his bones._"Yeah?"

"Yeah._Started a_few_years back." Jim studied him. "Figured_it_better you find out from someone you_know."

"Thanks." Darius shifted. Now_he_really wanted to go_home. His little studio in_SOMA had never felt so far_away. He_took a_deep breath. "Well, I should get on. I've got a thing."

Jim_extended a hand, and they shook_again. He found Darius'_eyes. "You_be_sure to keep_your_head down."_His voice quieted. "The hood's gotten harder_since you_left. Nowadays, people go in, but_they don't always come_back_out."

† † †

Jim's words were still_echoing in his head when Darius_arrived at his destination.

Aunt J's_Conjure_House_looked the same as it_always had. The old stick Victorian_was painted a_watery aqua green, the white trim weathered_and_faded. It sat perched about halfway_up_the bluff that bordered the street._A_chipped_white fence separated the terraced_yard from the sidewalk. Twin sets_of