Page 52 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

They open it in front of Dagon just as Hook takes a seat. From my angle, I spot the corner of a black vase with gold runes.

I ignore Hook’s attempt at trying to get me to sit beside him—learning my lesson the last time—to see more of the strange vase.

Dagon’s smile grows as he lifts it out of the case to inspect it. The gold runes shimmer in the light as he looks at it in awe.

“You never disappoint,” he whispers.

“I’ll have your other request soon.” Hook tells him but I catch the frown he gives me from the corner of my eye.

I ignore it and whatever it means to continue watching Dagon as he gently places the vase back in the box.

“No rush. I know you’re good for it.” Dagon locks the box before placing it behind his desk.

“Do you know how long I’ve been looking for that?Years. And you find it in a couple of weeks.” He shakes his head looking up at Hook. “How’ve you been?”

“Busy,” Hook grunts.

Dagon’s eyes glance over at me and pause. His eyes lighting with curiosity. “I can see that.”

“I’d advise you to notseeanything, Dagon.” Hook glares at him, making the man in question smirk.

“I’d never make an enemy of you, Hook. You can keep your secrets.” Dagon raises his hands, chuckling before he grows serious.

“I have another…requestif you can swing it. It’s not time sensitive, but I’ll pay double or do a trade.”

A glimmer of intrigue lights up Hook’s eyes. “You must really want it if you’re willing to do a trade with me.”

“Let’s just say you have your secrets,” Dagon says as his eyes briefly flicker over to me before returning to Hook. “… and I have mine.”

“Fine. Tell me what you need,” Hook smirks.

Dagon pulls out a roll of paper from somewhere under his desk and opens it out on top of it. Hook, Cash, and the two men get up and go over to look at it.

With their broad forms, I can’t see past them to see what’s on the paper. Nor can I make out anything from their soft mumbled conversation, so I zone them out to glance around the room.

It’s nothing like Hook’s office, lacking the extravagance and expensive furnishings. It has a sleek look and modern feel to it. The floors are a shaded black that matches Dagon’s long desk and chair. The only other furniture in the room is the chair Hook was sitting on. And apart from the couple of abstract paintings and set of black shelves, the gray-muted walls are bare.

A silver material catches my eye on the shelf behind Dagon, reminding me of the girl that was dancing outside.

I wonder if she’s still there.

I glance behind me and out into the hall. People pass every now and again, but I can’t hear them and from the looks of it, it doesn’t look like they can see or hear us either.

It has to be an illusion or spell.

I take a step back towards it and when no one stops me, I turn and take another until I’m stepping out through the doorway and into the hallway.

But instead of landing in the hall, I step out onto the edge of a loud dance floor.

I glance behind me, but the room I was in moments ago has disappeared and in its place is a crowd of people dancing.

Loud music filters in around me with people screaming and laughing. Whereas it was cozy and quiet moments ago, this part of the club is the complete opposite. There are crowds of people everywhere.

Glass shatters from somewhere to my left, drawing my attention to the huge bar lined along the wall.

Multiple bartenders work quickly trying to get through the massive crowd in front of them.

Hook mentioned another floor with dancing. This must be it.

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