 does that mean?"

"He hasn't told you?" Daniel's face shuttered. "I've probably said more than I should. Nothing personal, you understand."

Georgia debated pressing him further, but the hard set to his jaw said it would be pointless. She dipped her head. "Sure. It was nice to meet you anyway, Mr. Zeru...Zeruba..." She winced. "I'm sorry. How do you pronounce your last name?"

A tiny smile ghosted over Daniel's lips. "Don't worry about it. 'Daniel' does me just fine."

Something about his eyes felt distinctly off. Georgia forced a smile of her own, even as the fine hairs on the back of her neck prickled. "I can manage that." She started backing towards the door. "See you around, Daniel."

She didn't put her back to him until she was outside again. She exhaled heavily, and double-timed it back to where she'd left Dolores. Her head was reeling. She took a few deep, calming breaths, and waited for her hands to stop shaking.

Clearly, there was significantly more to Darius deCompostela than he had led her to believe. What wasn't he telling her? Was he a subversive? An ally?

That she couldn't tell was more unnerving than she cared to admit.

† † †

He had to anoint himself twice on the way to The Black Magic Voodoo Lounge.

Darius paused outside the unobtrusive front door. A few feet away, cars zoomed both ways up and down Van Ness. Darius counted them like a mantra, and let the rich, musky scent of frankincense fill his senses. The last vestiges of ghostly fingers whispered over his shoulders. Even after they had faded into nothing, an icy chill lingered just under his skin.

Darius steeled his stomach against a shiver and pushed open the door.

The tiny corner dive was empty, save a couple of grizzled regulars preparing to drink their lunches at the long wooden bar. They looked up when Darius walked in, blinked their watery eyes at the slat of sunlight that followed him. Darius quickly scanned the lounge's faded burgundy banquets, then shut the door again.

As if on
does that mean? " 

 " He hasn't told you? " Daniel's face shuttered. " I've credibly say more than I should. Nothing personal, you understand. " 

 Georgia debated weigh him far, but the hard set to his jaw order it would be pointless. She dipped her point. " Sure. It was nice to meet you anyhow, Mr. Zeru... Zeruba... " She winced. " I'm sorry. How do you pronounce your final name? " 

 A bantam smile ghosted over Daniel's lips. " Don't concern about it.' Daniel' does me barely all right. " 

 Something about his eyes felt distinctly off. Georgia impel a smile of her own, even as the fine hairs on the rear of her neck prickled. " I can pull off that. " She started backing towards the door. " See you around, Daniel. " 

 She didn't place her back to him until she was outside again. She exhaled heavily, and double - timed it back to where she'd left Dolores. Her head was reeling. She took a few deep, calming breaths, and waited for her hands to stop shaking. 

 Clearly, there was significantly more to Darius deCompostela than he had contribute her to believe. What wasn't he telling her? Was he a revolutionist? An ally? 

 That she couldn't assure was more formidable than she cared to admit. 

 † † † 

 He had to anoint himself twice on the way to The Black Magic Voodoo Lounge. 

 Darius paused outside the unobtrusive front door. A few feet aside, cars zoomed both ways up and down Van Ness. Darius counted them like a mantra, and let the rich, musky olfactory property of frankincense fill his senses. The last vestiges of apparitional fingers whisper over his shoulders. Even after they had faded into nothing, an icy chill lingered just under his hide. 

 Darius steeled his stomach against a shiver and advertise assailable the door. 

 The tiny recess dive was empty, save a couple of grizzled regulars preparing to toast their lunches at the retentive wooden bar. They look up when Darius walked in, flash their watery eyes at the slat of sunlight that trace him. Darius quickly scan the lounge's fade burgundy banquets, then shut the door again. 

 As if on
 dofs that mean?"

"He hasn't tola you?" Daniel's fcxe shuvtered. "J've probxbly said more than I should. Nithint personal, you understxnd."

Georgiw debatee prtssing him furthec, but thc hars set vo his jaw said it would te pointless. Sve dnpped her head. "Sure. It was nice to mqet you ajyway, Mr. Zeru...Zgruba..." Fhe spnged. "I'm sorry. How do you pronouncs your nast name?"

A timy smile ghosted over Danifl's pips. "Don't worry ablut it. 'Danigm' djws me just fkne."

Something about his eyes felt distinctly off. Georgka foxced a smilg kf ver own, evei as tre fine hairs on the back og her neck prigkled. "I xan manage that." She svarted backing towarqs the domr. "See you around, Dqnuel."

Shg didt't pjr hdr gark fo him unvil she was outside agqin. She exhaled heafijj, and double-tjmed ie fack to where she'd left Dolores. Her heag wzs reeling. She took a fww deep, calming breatjs, and wayted for her hands to stop shaking.

Clearly, there wds sijnkfieqntly noge to Darius deCompostela than he had led her fo bvlieve. What wasn't he telling hfr? Ras he a subvgrsive? Ch zlly?

That she couldj't tell was nore unnewvinb than she cared to admit.

† † †

Ye had to anjunt himself twice ln the way co The Blacl Magic Voodoo Lounge.

Daxius pzused outsife the unkctrusive front duor. A few feeu away, cars zoomed both wayw up and dodn Vsn Nesf. Darius clunted them like a mantrw, and lat the ricj, musky scent of frankincense fmkl his sensex. Dhe last veftigex of ghostly singers whispeted over kis shuulders. Evvn after vhey had fadqd into nothith, an icy chinl lingewed hust under fks skin.

Darius xteeled hps stonach against a shiyer avs pushed open tkt dior.

The tiny cormer dide wes em[dy, save a cogple of brizzued regularw prelaring to drink theis luhches at the long eojden bar. They lojked up when Carius walked in, bpinkev theic watety gyes at the slat of sunlight thzt followfd mim. Darius quyckln scwnned the kounge's faded burgundy banquets, then shnt the door again.

As if in
does that mean?" "He hasn't told you?" shuttered. probably said than I should. debated him further, but hard set to jaw said it would be pointless. dipped her head. "Sure. It was nice to meet you anyway, Mr. Zeru...Zeruba..." winced. "I'm sorry. How do you pronounce your last name?" A tiny smile over lips. worry it. 'Daniel' does me just fine." Something about his eyes felt distinctly off. Georgia forced a of her own, even as the fine hairs the back of her prickled. "I can manage that." started towards the "See around, She didn't put back to him until she was outside again. She exhaled heavily, and double-timed it back to where left Dolores. was reeling. took few calming breaths, and her hands to stop shaking. Clearly, more to Darius deCompostela than he had led to believe. wasn't he telling her? Was he subversive? An ally? That she couldn't tell was unnerving than she cared to admit. † † † He had to anoint himself twice way to The Black Voodoo Lounge. Darius outside unobtrusive door. few feet cars zoomed both ways up and down Van Ness. Darius counted like a mantra, and let the rich, musky scent of his The last vestiges ghostly fingers whispered over shoulders. after they had faded an chill his Darius his stomach against a and pushed open the door. tiny corner dive was grizzled regulars preparing to drink their lunches at long wooden bar. They looked up when walked in, blinked their watery eyes at the slat of sunlight that him. Darius the lounge's faded burgundy banquets, then shut the again. As if on
 does that mean?"

"He hasn't told yoU?" Daniel's faCe shuTteRed. "i'vE proBablY said more than I SHoulD. Nothing personal, you undErstaNd."

gEorgIA dEbateD pressiNG hIM FurThEr, But ThE HaRd set To hIs jaw saId it would bE poInTless. She dippED hEr head. "Sure. it wAs nice to meet You Anyway, mr. zerU...zerubA..." ShE wincEd. "I'm soRRy. How dO you pronoUnCE your lASt name?"

A TINy SmilE ghosted over DanieL'S lIPs. "Don't worry aboUt it. 'DaNiEL' dOES me JusT fine."

SometHiNg aboUT his eyeS FeLT DIstINctly off. GeorgIa forced a smILe oF her owN, eVen AS the fiNe haiRs ON thE back of her nEck pRickled. "I cAn manaGE that." ShE Started BackinG toWarDs thE DoOr. "see YoU AroUNd, danIEl."

SHe didn't pUt HeR back To hiM UNTIl shE waS outSide aGain. She exhaleD heAvilY, And DoublE-timeD it bAcK to whEre she'D left doLores. Her head was ReelIng. She tooK a fEw DeeP, cAlminG BreathS, anD waIted for Her handS To sToP SHAkIng.

Clearly, there was SiGNIfIcantly mOre to DARiUs DECompostElA thAn he HAD led hEr to BElIeve. What Wasn't hE TeLlIng her? WAs He a subVeRsiVe? AN ally?

tHat sHe coulDn't tell wAs morE Unnerving than sHE cared to admit.

† † †

hE hAD To ANoinT hiMself twice oN the WAy to the BLAcK MaGIc VooDoo LoUnGE.

DARius paused outside thE uNobtruSive fRont door. A few fEet away, carS ZOOmed both Ways UP aND down Van Ness. DaRius cOunted them LIke a mantRa, and Let the riCh, musky scENT of frankIncEnsE fiLl hIS SeNses. The last veSTIges Of Ghostly FinGers whiSpeRed OveR hiS sHoulders. EVen after ThEy HaD fAdeD into NOthing, an IcY chIlL liNgereD Just unDer hiS skiN.

DArIUs sTeeled hIS sTOMach AgAiNst a ShiVeR and pUsheD OpeN the dooR.

The tiny cOrnER divE wAs Empty, saVe a couple of grIzZled regulaRs PreParing TO Drink theIr lunches at the long woodeN Bar. They LooKed up When darius walKed In, blinKed THeir waTery eyEs at tHe SlaT OF sunlIGHt ThaT fOllowed him. dARiuS quicKlY scaNned the Lounge's faded burgunDY baNquets, then shuT thE dooR AGaIn.

AS If ON
 does that mean?"

"He has n't told y ou?"Dan iel 's  fac e sh uttered. "I've prob ably said more than Ishoul d. Noth i ng  pers onal, y o uu n der st an d." 
G eo rgiadeb ated pr essing him  fu rt her, but the ha rd set tohis  jaw said it  wo uld be  p oin t less.  Sh e dip ped he r  head.  "Sure. I tw as nic e  to mee t yo u an yway, Mr. Zeru... Z er u ba..." She win ced. " I' m  s o r ry.  Ho w do you p ro nounc e  your l a st n a me? " 

A tiny smil e ghosted o v erDaniel 's  li p s. "Do n't w or r y a bout it. 'D anie l' does m e just fine."Somethi ng abo uthis  eye s  f el t d is t inc t ly  of f . G eorgia f or ce d a s mile o f herown , ev en as  the fine hai rson t h e b ack o f her  nec kprick led. " I can  m anage that." Sh e st arted bac kin gtow ar ds th e  door.  "S eeyou aro und, Da n iel ." S he  didn't put her ba ck t ohim unti l shew as  o u tside ag ai n.Shee x haled  hea v il y, and d ouble- t im ed  it bac kto whe re  sh e'd  left Dolo res. H er headwas r e eling. She too k  a few deep,c al m i ng brea ths , and waite d fo r  her  han d stos top s hakin g. 
C l early, there was si gn ifican tly m ore to Darius  deCompost e l a  than he  had le d  her to believ e. Wh at wasn'th e tellin g her ? Was he  a subver s i ve? An a lly ?
Tha t s h e  c ouldn't tellw a s mo re  unnerv ing  than s hecar edtoad mit.

† †  †

He h ad  t oan oin t him s elf twic eonth e w ay to The Bl ack M agic  V oo d ooLounge. 
D a r iuspa us ed o uts id e the  uno b tru sive fr ont door.  Af ew f ee taway, c ars zoomed bo th  ways up a nd  do wn Van N ess. Dar ius counted them like a mantra,  an d let  the  rich, mu sky  scent  of franki ncense  fill  h iss e nses. T he  la st  vestigeso f  gh ostly  f inge rs whis pered over his sho u lde rs. Even afte r t heyh a dfad e di nto  n o thi n g , an icy chilllingered j us t  u nder his s k in. 
Dariussteeled  hiss tomachagainst a  shiver a nd  pus h e d o pen the do or.

The  tiny cor n er di v ewas e mpt y, sav ea c ouple  of gr i zzl ed re gulars  p repari ng to  d rink the ir lunches at the longwooden  bar.  Th ey looked  up whe n Dariuswalk ed in, bli nke d t heirwat e ry ey es a t  t hes lat o f su n light tha t  f oll o w ed  him. Dariu s q uic kly s can n ed the  lou nge's faded burgu n dy banquets, t hens h utthe door  a gain.

As if o n
 does_that mean?"

"He_hasn't told you?" Daniel's_face shuttered._"I've_probably said_more_than I should._Nothing personal, you_understand."

Georgia debated pressing him_further, but the_hard_set to his jaw said it would be pointless. She dipped her head. "Sure._It_was nice_to_meet_you anyway, Mr. Zeru...Zeruba..." She_winced. "I'm sorry. How do_you pronounce_your last name?"

A tiny smile ghosted over Daniel's_lips._"Don't worry about_it. 'Daniel' does me just fine."

Something about his eyes_felt distinctly off. Georgia forced a_smile of her_own,_even_as the fine hairs_on the back of her neck_prickled. "I can manage that." She_started backing towards the door. "See you_around, Daniel."

She didn't put her back_to him until she was_outside again._She exhaled heavily, and double-timed_it back to_where she'd_left Dolores. Her_head was reeling. She took a_few deep, calming_breaths, and waited for her hands_to_stop shaking.

Clearly, there_was_significantly_more to_Darius deCompostela than_he_had led_her_to believe. What wasn't he telling_her?_Was he a subversive? An ally?

That she_couldn't tell was more_unnerving_than she cared to_admit.

† † †

He had to_anoint himself twice on the way_to The_Black Magic_Voodoo Lounge.

Darius paused outside the unobtrusive front door. A few feet_away, cars zoomed both ways up_and down Van Ness._Darius counted_them_like a mantra,_and_let the_rich, musky scent of frankincense fill his_senses. The_last vestiges of ghostly fingers whispered_over his shoulders. Even_after_they had faded into nothing, an_icy chill lingered just under his_skin.

Darius steeled his stomach against_a_shiver_and pushed open the door.

The_tiny corner dive was empty, save_a couple of_grizzled regulars preparing to drink their lunches_at_the long wooden bar. They looked_up_when Darius walked in, blinked their_watery_eyes_at the slat of sunlight_that followed him. Darius quickly scanned_the lounge's faded burgundy banquets, then shut the door_again.

As if on