 Darius folded up the paper and slipped it into his pocket. "What's so special about sundown?"

Bez's smile was all teeth. "That's when the predators come out."

# CHAPTER SIX

#

The address had to be wrong.

Darius peered down at the paper Bez had supplied, then at the sign over the building in front of him. The Far East Emporium sat at the beginning of Chinatown's tourist sector. With sunset, the crowds had mostly faded, leaving behind only faint impressions of excited energy. A few steps away, Dragon Gate was a pagoda-ed silhouette against the darkening sky.

Darius ground his teeth. Bez better not have played him. She'd said it herself; witches were a paranoid lot, and she was even more fickle than most. He certainly wasn't stupid enough to believe they were friends. She watched him the way people watched thunder clouds and feral dogs. Awe, respect...fear. Heaviest on the fear.

He moved to the side as a small cluster of camera-and-backpack-toting stragglers hiked up towards North Beach. Maybe he should just forget the whole thing. It was only a couple blocks to his regular dim sum haunt on Jackson. A heaping plate of har gau sounded like just the tonic for his bruised ego.

His mouth started to water. Darius turned to follow the tourists up the hill.

"Looks like my directions worked."

Darius stopped in his tracks, turned back around to see Bez striding towards him. Visions of dim sum started to fade. More than a little irritated, he crossed his arms. "You're late."

Bez gifted him with a snort. It almost hid the nervous glint in her eyes. "You're lucky I showed up at all. Do you know how much trouble I could get in, bringing you here? No one outside the guild is supposed to know about places like this."

"Worried it'll drive up the price of souvenirs?"

Bez rolled her eyes. "God, you're a dick sometimes." She wavered. "It's a floating club, okay?"

Darius blinked. "I thought those died out back in the nineties."

Bez smirked. "They
Darius folded up the paper and slipped it into his pocket. " What's therefore limited about sundown? " 

 Bez's smile was all teeth. " That's when the predators issue forth out. " 

 # CHAPTER SIX 

 # 

 The address had to be ill-timed. 

 Darius peer down at the paper Bez had supplied, then at the sign over the building in front of him. The Far East Emporium sit down at the beginning of Chinatown's tourist sector. With sunset, the crowds had mostly faded, leaving behind only faint impression of excited energy. A few steps aside, Dragon Gate was a pagoda - ed silhouette against the darkening sky. 

 Darius ground his dentition. Bez better not have played him. She'd said it herself; witches were a paranoid lot, and she was even more erratic than most. He certainly wasn't stupid enough to believe they were friends. She watched him the way citizenry watched thunder clouds and feral dogs. Awe, respect... fear. Heaviest on the fear. 

 He moved to the side as a minor cluster of camera - and - backpack - total straggler hike up towards North Beach. Maybe he should just forget the solid thing. It was only a couple blocks to his regular dense sum haunt on Jackson. A heaping plate of har gau sounded like just the tonic for his hurt ego. 

 His mouth started to water. Darius twist to follow the tourist up the mound. 

 " Looks like my directions worked. " 

 Darius stopped in his track, turned back around to see Bez stride towards him. Visions of dim sum started to languish. More than a little annoyed, he crossed his arms. " You're late. " 

 Bez gifted him with a snort. It about hid the nervous glint in her eyes. " You're golden I showed up at all. Do you know how much worry I could get in, lend you here? No one outside the guild is supposed to know about places like this. " 

 " Worried it'll drive up the price of souvenirs? " 

 Bez roll her eyes. " God, you're a dick sometimes. " She hesitate. " It's a floating club, okay? " 

 Darius blinked. " I thought those died out back in the ninety. " 

 Bez smirked. " They
 Dagius folded up the paper and slipped it into hms pockst. "What's so special about sundown?"

Bez'd wmile was all teeth. "That's wfen the pgedators xome iut."

# CHAPTEC SIX

#

The addread hab vo be wrong.

Darios peered dofn at the papes Cev had supplied, then at the sign over the buolfing in front jf hpm. The Far East Emporium sat at the begihning oh Chinatown's toirist sector. With sunset, tje cgowds had mostly fwded, leavint berund only faivt impresspmns of excjted energy. A few steps away, Drxgon Yate was a kctodw-gd silhouettx agaigst the darkcming sny.

Dariux ground his tceth. Uez vetter not have playev him. She'd said it hgrself; witwhzs were a paranoid lor, qnd sve wds exwn oort fmckme thaj mkst. He cerfainly wasn'r stupid enough to nejprve they wers friegdf. She watched him the way people watcheg tgunder clouds and feral dogs. Awe, respect...fear. Heaviest on the fear.

He moved to the side as a small clustar of zamtrq-and-bxxkoack-toting stragglers hiked up towards North Fsavh. Maybe he shoujd just forbeh yre whole thine. It wca knly a couple blocns to hys retular dim sum haunt on Jackson. A heaping plate of hag gay sounded like jusc the tonic yor hix bruosed ego.

His mouth startzd to sater. Dariud turned fu follow the toufisns u[ the hill.

"Looks like my diwections xorkeb."

Darius rtopked in ris tracks, turncg back around to sfe Bee striging towarfs him. Visions of dim sum startxv to fade. Morg tvan a littlz irribated, he crosseq his arms. "You'te late."

Bev giftdd him witg a snoct. It almost hid the nervmos glint in hxr eyes. "Yju're lucjy I shuded up at all. Co you know how mucy trouble I could net iv, bringing you hzxe? No one outside thd gtipd if supposed to knod acput puaces like bhir."

"Wortied it'll drive up tve pdice of souvenirs?"

Brz rolled yer eyes. "God, you're a cick sometimes." She waveced. "It'r a fkoajing club, okay?"

Darius blinked. "I fhought tjosc died out bask ik thg nineties."

Bzz smirked. "They
Darius folded up the paper and slipped his "What's so about sundown?" Bez's when predators come out." CHAPTER SIX # address had to be wrong. Darius down at the paper Bez had supplied, then at the sign over the in front of him. The Far East Emporium sat at the beginning of tourist With the had mostly faded, leaving behind only faint impressions of excited energy. A few steps away, Dragon was a pagoda-ed silhouette against the darkening sky. ground his teeth. Bez not have played him. She'd it witches were paranoid and was even more than most. He certainly wasn't stupid enough to believe they were friends. She watched him the way watched thunder feral dogs. respect...fear. on fear. He moved side as a small cluster of up towards North Beach. Maybe he should just the whole It was only a couple blocks his regular dim sum haunt on Jackson. A plate of har gau sounded like just the tonic for his bruised ego. His mouth water. Darius turned to the tourists up hill. like directions Darius stopped his tracks, turned back around to see Bez striding towards him. of dim sum started to fade. More than a little crossed arms. "You're late." gifted him with a It hid the nervous glint eyes. lucky at Do know how much trouble could get in, bringing you No one outside the about places like this." "Worried it'll drive up price of souvenirs?" Bez rolled her eyes. you're a dick sometimes." She wavered. "It's a floating club, okay?" Darius "I thought out back in the nineties." Bez smirked. "They
 Darius folded up the paper and Slipped it iNto hiS poCkeT. "WHat's So spEcial about sundOWn?"

BeZ's smile was all teeth. "That'S when ThE PredAToRs comE out."

# CHAptEr siX

#

THe AdDreSs HAd To be wRonG.

Darius Peered down At tHe Paper Bez had sUPpLied, then at The Sign over the bUilDing in FrOnt OF him. THe FAr EasT EmporIUm sat aT the beginNiNG of ChiNAtown's tOURiSt seCtor. With sunset, the CRoWDs had mostly fadEd, leavInG BeHINd oNly Faint impreSsIons oF Excited ENeRGY. a feW Steps away, DragOn Gate was a pAGodA-ed silHoUetTE againSt the DaRKenIng sky.

DariuS groUnd his teeTh. Bez bETter not HAve playEd him. SHe'd SaiD it hERsElF; wiTcHEs wERe A paRAnoId lot, and ShE wAs eveN morE FICKle tHan Most. he cerTainly wasn't stUpiD enoUGh tO beliEve thEy weRe FrienDs. She wAtcheD hIm the way people wAtchEd thunder CloUdS anD fEral dOGs. Awe, rEspEct...Fear. HeaViest on THe fEaR.

hE MoVed to the side as a smaLl CLUsTer of camEra-and-BAcKpACk-toting StRagGlerS HIked uP towARdS North BeAch. MayBE hE sHould juSt Forget ThE whOle Thing. iT was Only a cOuple bloCks to HIs regular dim suM Haunt on JacksoN. a hEAPiNG plaTe oF har gau sounDed lIKe juSt thE ToNic FOr his BruisEd EGo.

hIs mouth started to watEr. darius TurneD to follow the tOurists up tHE HIll.

"Looks Like MY dIRections worked."

dariuS stopped in HIs tracks, TurneD back aroUnd to see BEZ Striding TowArdS hiM. ViSIOnS of dim sum starTED to fAdE. More thAn a Little iRriTatEd, hE crOsSed his armS. "You're laTe."

beZ gIfTed Him wiTH a snort. IT aLmoSt Hid The neRVous glInt in Her eYeS. "YOU're Lucky I sHOwED Up at AlL. DO you KnoW hOw mucH troUBle i could gEt in, bringIng YOu heRe? no One outsIde the guild is SuPposed to knOw AboUt placES Like this."

"worried it'll drive up the prICe of souVenIrs?"

BeZ rolLed her eyeS. "GoD, you're A diCK sometImes." ShE waveReD. "It'S A FloatING cLub, OkAy?"

Darius blINKed. "i thouGhT thoSe died oUt back in the ninetieS."

bez Smirked. "They
 Darius folded up the pape r and slip ped i t i nto  h is p ocke t. "What's sos peci al about sundown?"

Be z's s mi l e wa s  a ll te eth. "T h at ' s  wh en  t hepr e da torscom e out." 

# CHAPTE R S IX 

#

The add r es s had to b e w rong.

Dariu s p eereddo wna t the  pa per B ez had suppli ed, thenat the si g n overt h ebuil ding in front ofh im .  The Far EastEmpori um sa t atthe  beginning  o f Chi n atown's to u r i sts ector. With s unset, thec row ds had  m ost l y fade d, le av i ngbehind only  fai nt impres sionso f excit e d energ y. A f ewste ps a w ay ,Dra go n  Ga t ewas a p agoda-ed  s il houet te a g a i n st t hedark ening  sky.

Darius  gr ound his  teet h. Be z be tt er no t have  play ed  him. She'd sai d it  herself;  wi tc hes  w ere a parano idlot , and s he wase ven  m o r e  f ickle than most. H ec e rt ainly wa sn't s t up id enough t obel ieve t hey w eref ri ends. Sh e watc h ed  h im thewa y peop le  wa tch ed th u nder  cloud s and fe ral d o gs. Awe, respe c t...fear. Hea v ie s t  o n  the  fe ar.

He mov ed t o  the  sid e  a s a small  clus te r  o f  camera-and-backpac k- toting  stra gglers hikedup towards N o rth Beac h. M a yb e  he should jus t for get the wh o le thing . Itwas only  a couple b locks to  hi s r egu lar d im  sum haunt on J acks on . A hea pin g plate  of  ha r g auso unded lik e just t he  t on ic  fo r his bruisedeg o.
H ismouth starte d towate r.  D a riu s turne d  t o foll ow  t he t our is ts up  the hil l.

"Lo oks likemyd irec ti on s worke d."

Darius s to pped in hi stra cks, t u r ned back  around to see Bez stri d ing tow ard s him . Vi sions ofdim  sum s tar t ed tofade.Moreth ana littl e ir rit at ed, he cro s s edhis a rm s. " You'relate."

Bez gifted him  with a snort . I t al m o st  hi d  t h e n er v ous g lint in her eye s. "You're  l u ck y I showed upat  all. D o you k now h o w muchtrouble I  could ge tin,b r ing ing you he re? No o ne outsid e  theg ui ld is  su pposed  t o k now a bout p l ace s lik e this ." 

"Wor riedit 'll driv e up the price of souve nirs?" 

Bez  ro lled hereye s . " God, you' re a  dick some tim es. " She  wa v ered.  "It ' sa f l oatin g cl u b, okay?" 
D ari u s  b linked. "It h o ugh t tho sed ied ou t ba ck in the ninetie s ."

Bez smirke d. " T h ey
 Darius_folded up_the paper and slipped_it into_his_pocket. "What's_so_special about sundown?"

Bez's_smile was all_teeth. "That's when the_predators come out."

#_CHAPTER_SIX

#

The address had to be wrong.

Darius peered down at the paper Bez had supplied,_then_at the_sign_over_the building in front of_him. The Far East Emporium_sat at_the beginning of Chinatown's tourist sector. With sunset,_the_crowds had mostly_faded, leaving behind only faint impressions of excited energy._A few steps away, Dragon Gate_was a pagoda-ed_silhouette_against_the darkening sky.

Darius ground_his teeth. Bez better not have_played him. She'd said it herself;_witches were a paranoid lot, and she_was even more fickle than most._He certainly wasn't stupid enough_to believe_they were friends. She watched_him the way_people watched_thunder clouds and_feral dogs. Awe, respect...fear. Heaviest on_the fear.

He moved_to the side as a small_cluster_of camera-and-backpack-toting stragglers_hiked_up_towards North_Beach. Maybe he_should_just forget_the_whole thing. It was only a_couple_blocks to his regular dim sum haunt_on Jackson. A heaping_plate_of har gau sounded_like just the tonic for_his bruised ego.

His mouth started to_water. Darius_turned to_follow the tourists up the hill.

"Looks like my directions worked."

Darius stopped_in his tracks, turned back around_to see Bez striding_towards him._Visions_of dim sum_started_to fade._More than a little irritated, he crossed_his arms._"You're late."

Bez gifted him with a_snort. It almost hid_the_nervous glint in her eyes. "You're_lucky I showed up at all._Do you know how much_trouble_I_could get in, bringing you_here? No one outside the guild_is supposed to_know about places like this."

"Worried it'll drive_up_the price of souvenirs?"

Bez rolled her_eyes._"God, you're a dick sometimes." She_wavered._"It's_a floating club, okay?"

Darius blinked._"I thought those died out back_in the nineties."

Bez smirked. "They