V

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Chapter Three: The City of Angels

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Two Months Later…

Canal Street Electronics was, to most, exactly as advertised: a small electronics sales and repair shop set in Manhattan's Chinatown. It boasted neither size nor splendor and housed only a compact display room piled high with obsolete appliances. The prices were shady, the atmosphere stale, and the service, frankly, discouraging.

All of this was of course fine by Lao Shi, who had owned and operated the establishment for decades as a front for his more magical activities. While the plain displays in the front averted naive eyes, a step through the curtain that led to the back of the shop revealed another sight entirely. The shelves lining this secluded room were laden with jars and vials of every description, some glowing unnatural colors, others housing preserved creatures and grotesque organs. Thick tomes were stacked haphazardly with gleaming inscriptions on their spines. Artifacts littered every surface, scrolls were piled here and there, and nearly any ingredient imaginable could be found in the mystifying place.

On an average day it would be generous to describe the room as 'cluttered', but recently it had become outright claustrophobic. Primarily, the walkway usually left vacant in the center of the backroom was blocked by a mound of luggage. Suitcases, duffel bags, boxes, pillows, rucksacks, and a single bean bag chair were shoved together where Jake, Trixie, and Spud had left them the night before. Packing for their trip across the country had been hanging over Jake's mind for some time, but the chore had finally come and gone with depressing ease. Of all the accumulated possessions, he had the fewest.

Standing in the room now, however, Jake's attention was focused on the curved glass screen of an old antennae TV. Static covered the program's newscaster in a film of snow, but her studio was still visible and the audio came through marginally intact.

"And finally, witnesses have reported two new sightings of a red flying object over the weekend." She tilted her head to her shoulder, over which appeared two grainy pictures. Each showed a smeared red blur against a nighttime cityscape, out of focus and indistinct despite the grainy signal. "These reports of the so-called 'Manhattan Angel' come following its first appearance two months ago, bringing the total number of sightings of the soaring mystery to eleven. The NYPD's chief commissioner continues to deny having any knowledge of the UFO at this time, stating that-"

The fuzzy picture blinked away into darkness. Jake set down the remote. "So, what do you think?"

Beside him in the dim backroom stood a tall, thin woman with tan skin and sleek black hair hanging to her shoulders. She was Sun Park, known both as the Korean Dragon and, for the past several years, as Haley's dragon master. As far as teachers went, Sun was about as polar opposite as one could get from Lao Shi, but it was hardly a blemish on her character. Jake doubted he had, or ever would, meet someone as kind, gentle, and nurturing as her. His only grievance was the benefit her demeanor paid his sister. Sun's placid training regimens had never come to match Lao Shi's brutal intensity.

"The Manhattan Angel…" Sun had her arms folded, tapping a finger with a look of discomfort. "I'm not sure what to think. We can all agree, though, that this level of exposure is concerning. The photos we've seen have all been of you, though it could be because you're the only one they're looking for. You've been following the stricter flight protocols, correct?"

"Twenty-four, seven, just like the rest of y'all. No flying at day, only using abandoned sub tunnels, no visibility near skyscrapers." Jake's eyes drifted to a nearby desk, where a stack of reports to the Dragon Council were newly filled out and waiting to be sent. "I don't know what else to do, Sun. The number of requests from magical creatures just keeps going up. If we cut down on using our dragon powers any more, there's no way we'll be able to keep up!"

Sun nodded. "Haley has told me the same. It seems a day doesn't go by without someone recording footage of a stray gryphon or goblin, and we've never had this many relocation assignments before. To tell you the truth, I blame technology. Ten years ago the press and photographers were the only real problems. Now every child, street vendor, and janitor has a camera in their phone."

"Well this meeting might help if we're lucky," said Jake. "Or it could just make everything worse."

"Is that so? Now I am excited." Sun turned and looked at the piled luggage, a somber smile pulling at her lips. "How time flies. It's hard to believe that you'll soon be on your own. How were your parents this morning?"

Jake half-laughed. "The folks? Mom just seemed excited; she still can't believe I'm going off to college. Pops was way worse. He kept dropping lines like 'Our little man's all grown up' and 'You'll have a blast, Draggy-Jake'." He groaned for the second time that morning at the moniker. "At least the goodbyes are done. It just feels weird, y'know? I mean, it's not like anything's gonna change around here."

Sun cocked her head. "Oh no?"

Jake shrugged. "The folks still have Haley, so no empty nest there. And between her and you, the magical creatures here will have plenty of coverage." The luggage again drew his attention. "It'll be like I never left."

A hand fell on his shoulder. He turned to see Sun smiling brightly at him. "I wouldn't be so sure."

They both shifted as a bell jingled from the front of the store. A door creaked opened beyond the curtain and a loud, nasally voice came within earshot. "-so the third ogre went down crying like a baby, and that's when a big ugly crocolisk jumped in out of nowhere-"

Haley blew through the curtains and glared at Jake. "Next time, you get to pick him up from Grand Central."

"-so I took him on, gave him the beating his life, and - Jake!" A lanky boy brushed through the curtain next, a cocky smirk exposing his buck teeth. "Long time no see. I was just telling Haley here about how I saved a village of marsh sprites the other day."

Gregory Long was Jake's malcontent cousin with clear similarities in the shape of his eyes and the spike of his black hair. Despite the resemblance Jake felt no comradery with the boy, who was quite possibly the single most irritating person, magical or otherwise, that Jake had the displeasure of knowing. His behavior was only worsened by the fact that he was a year younger than Jake, a nuance that routinely escaped the gangly teen.

It took some effort for Jake to restrain himself. "What's up, Greg? How was the-"

"So like I was saying," Gregory rambled, "I put some serious hurt on this crocolisk and their whole gang took off. The sprites were all crazy thankful, they totally treated me like their hero." He tilted his chin a little higher and sighed contentedly. "You probably don't get that a lot, but it's a pretty good feeling."

Jake's chi fluttered dangerously in his chest. "Keep pushing your luck, Greggy, and-"

A snow-white and incredibly muscular arm shot through the curtain to clamp onto Gregory's shoulder. He immediately flinched in pain and buckled at the knees, whining, "Ow ow ow ow ow! Let go, Nat! Uncle! Uncle!"

"You talk too much, Gregory, and I am not your uncle," answered a powerful voice in a thick Slavic accent. A behemoth of a woman stepped through the curtain with the presence of a grizzled general. She watched her student twitch in her grasp with slate-like indifference. "I have taught you better than this. You address all of your superiors with respect."

Of all of the possible instructors that could have been assigned to Gregory, Natalya Medveda, one in a long line of Russian Dragons, was the most strict, punishing, and rigorous master in all of the Dragon Order. Her imposing stature alone inspired dread in the most steadfast of men, and there was nothing Jake enjoyed more than watching his cousin squirm under her tutelage. The experience was equally entertaining and humbling.

"Okay, okay! I'm sorry!" squeaked Gregory, now fully on his knees.

"And word of advice: speak soft, carry big stick. There were only two ogres, and it was I who 'put down the hurt'." Natalya relaxed her vice grip and yanked her student back up to his feet with a single hand. She gave a curt nod to Jake. "Good to see you looking well, American Dragon."

"Same here," said Jake, fighting to hide his amusement. "Thanks for coming. I know it isn't easy making it all the way out here for these meetups, but this one's important. We'll try to make it quick once Gramps and Fu-"

The door leading to the back alley of the shop flung open. As if answering their summons, Lao Shi walked in and bowed to the other masters while Fu entered on his heels. The Shar Pei carried with him a large roll of thick, aged paper. "Someone talkin' about me?" he said. "Better be good things, 'cause I ain't done nothin' bad in at least three...maybe four days."

Jake took the rolled paper from Fu, teasing, "Last to show up, like always." He nodded between Lao Shi, Sun, and Natalya. "You guys want a sec' to catch up?"

"It is alright, American Dragon," said Natalya, still expressionless as stone. "You must leave soon, no? We also have plans to keep, hag bogs to unclog and such. Isn't that right, Gregory?"

Disgust flashed across Gregory's face, but he grit his teeth and made no complaint. Given the silence from the others present, Jake saw no reason to wait. "Alright then."

He grabbed one end of the poster and flicked it out horizontally. The thick paper rolled out like a blanket and hung in the air, perfectly flat and floating at waist height off of the floor. Everyone moved to stand along its edges, gazing down curiously at what was clearly a map of the continental United States.

Jake savored one last, deep breath and began. "Thanks again for coming everyone. We've got a lot to talk about and there's a pretty big situation that we need to deal with, so let's get started."

He pointed at the map, toward the states clumped together at its north-east corner. "First off, and I know this is old news, but Gramps here has been the only full-time dragon in the US for...well...a long time. He's been taking care of most of the magical creatures in the New England area by himself, but the rest of the country has pretty much been on its own. Now, Hales and me have been helping cover more turf on the East coast over the past few years, and you guys," he glanced at Gregory and Natalya before tracing his finger along the Southern coastline, "have been working along the Gulf too."

"Isn't that a good thing?" said Gregory. "We're helping out more magical creatures than ever. What's the problem with that?"

"The problem is...uh, hang on…" Jake flitted over the map's surface, tapping here and there uncertainly. "Uh, Fu Dog? How do you get it to do the thing-?"

"Here, kid, it's Oklahoma. And don't ask me why, I didn't make the thing." Fu stood on his toes to scratch the pan-shaped state. Red spots began appearing along the surface of the map, the majority bubbling in clumps around labels for major cities.

"Thanks, Fu." Jake pointed around the map, jabbing at each of the congregations of dots spread throughout the nation. "Check it. Each of these is an entire community of magical creatures, and these are just the ones we know about. Even with what we're doing now, something like two-thirds of the country is hanging out to dry. Normally they're fine on their own, but we've been getting word of more and more magical creatures having run-ins with humans in all of these communities. We've gotta step up our game and be ready to help any of these magical creatures before it's too late."

Haley griped, "Sorry, Jake. I get what you're saying but that's way too much ground to cover from here. I just don't see it happening."

It was a doubt Jake had expected. For once he welcomed his sister's antagonism, because this time he had an answer at the ready. "Natalya?" he asked, looking to the stern, platinum blonde woman. "How big is Russia?"

She pondered the question a moment, never betraying any surprise. "Area, I am not sure. But we do have eleven time zones if that helps."

"So bottom line, it's big," said Jake. "How much of it is covered by world dragons?"

"About ninety percent," she stated, a hint of pride bleeding into her voice. "All but the most remote areas have protection."

"And how many dragons does that take?"

The corner of her lips pulled up in a rare smirk. "Six as of now, though we have made due with fewer."

"Six, huh?" Jake reached out and traced his finger along the map, following the range of the Appalachian Mountains to the east. A faint blue line appeared in his wake, marking where he'd touched the paper. He did the same farther to the left along the range of the Rocky Mountains, going from the top to the bottom of the map, and lastly drew a horizontal line between the first two, dividing the vast middle section of the country into northern and southern halves.

Jake looked up from the rough blue 'H'. "I say we do it with four."

Each member of his audience observed the map questioningly. Sun, squinting with apparent understanding, was the first to speak. "You're serious about this?"

"As serious as it gets," said Jake. "We're out of time. We've gotta do something to take care of all of these magical creatures. Gramps, Fu, and me have been ironing this whole thing out since I decided to move to Cali'. I'll take care of the west coast while I'm at UCLA, and you and Hales already have the east. Greggy and Natalya will-"

"-what, take all of this?" scoffed Gregory. He waved his hands at the swath of land, incredulous. "I've never even been to most of these places! No way am I babysitting all those magical creatures. I didn't sign up for this!"

Natalya's brow furrowed. "Gregory-"

Jake held his hand up. "I've got this Natalya."

The Russian held back whatever scolding she'd prepared. She instead nodded in recognition and stepped back from her student, impassive.

Gregory didn't budge from his look of brazen defiance. "Well good, 'cause this is totally unfair! I'm not gonna-"

"Yes, you are," said Jake, speaking up to the boy a head taller than he with flat authority. He gestured back to the map. "Your areas are the least populated. You've got your dragon master to help you, plus your younger siblings whenever they start getting their powers. My territory is just as big as yours, and I'm flying solo."

"But I've got school and-!"

"So do I," Haley criticized. "Do you hear me whining?"

A year ago Jake would have taken his cousin out to the alley and continued the argument there, but now he really was the American Dragon. He was expected to be professional and diplomatic, particularly when it was difficult. "We've all got stuff going on, Gregory," he sighed with restraint, "and I know this change is gonna be tough, but that's part of the gig. Like it or not I'm in charge now. I call the shots and this is how we're doing things. So are you in or what?"

Gregory looked back to his dragon master, though she gave him no refuge. After glancing at the rest of their group and having none of them rebuff his distress, he grunted in defeat. "Fine…"

Jake grinned. "Come on, Greg. Remember what you dragon master said about respect?"

He felt a swell of satisfaction as Gregory's cheeks flushed beet red. The burning teen fumed, "Yes, sir."

"Good," said Jake. "Then it's settled."

"A question," interrupted Sun, pointing to the center north region of the map. "Which of us will be responsible for the Midwest, near the Great Lakes?"

Jake's pulse quickened. He looked to Lao Shi, who had yet to speak from his corner of the group. His grandfather appeared determined not to break his silence, however, so Jake reluctantly cleared his throat. "Gramps will. We've been keeping it under wraps until now, but…Lao Shi's agreed to move the shop to Chicago with Fu Dog in a week. They'll watch over the Midwest from there."

"What? That's ridiculous," chuckled Haley. "Gramps wouldn't leave New York in a hundred years, isn't that right gramps?"

"It is decided, granddaughter," Lao Shi said simply. "I must go where I am needed, and I have complete confidence in you and Sun."

Her smile slowly slipped away. "But...you can't leave! New York needs you, we need you!"

Sun held her shoulder in comfort, but Haley only glared at her master. Her face twisted further in rage at Sun's lack of reaction, and finally she settled for scowling at the corner of the room. Jake didn't even blame his sister. It felt like he'd banished his own dragon master, driven him away from the home he'd built through his work and dedication alone. The thought of it still left a bitter taste in his mouth, but as his grandfather had said, it had been decided.

Jake moved on. "We've already started getting in contact with these communities and their local DMC's to get everyone coordinated. I want each of us to hook up with our territory's magical creatures and get them all up to date before our next meeting. And remember, all official reports have to go through me from now on before they get sent to the Council. Sound good?"

Their group remained silent. There hadn't been an all-out mutiny, which was one outcome he had feared, but their sullen looks weren't comforting. Jake could have cut the tension with a claw.

Across from him, Natalya tapped the enchanted map and said warily, "Your plan is...ambitious."

Her doubt pulled Jake's spirits even lower. He searched for some placating words, but none came. "You're right, Natalya. It's a lot to ask," he admitted. "Maybe too much...but with the way things have been going-"

"You misunderstand," she said. Her eyes snapped back to Jake, burning with a fiery intensity. "Ambition is good. The challenge will make for excellent training." Natalya straightened to her full height and bowed. "Count on us, American Dragon."

"And Haley and I as well," Sun added with her own bow. "Leave the east coast to us."

Jake nodded slowly. "Alright...I'll take it. Any questions?" There was no reaction. "Then we're all good. Dismissed or...y'know, peace."

Gregory turned away with a huff and swept out through the curtain. Natalya tilted her head again to Jake before following after her student. Bells jingled as they left through the storefront entrance.

Fu grunted to the side and rubbed the folds of his neck. "Yeesh, doesn't look like he's changed one bit. So much for respect."

"Because kicking out your dragon master is so much better?" sneered Haley. "This is pond-scum level of low, Jake!"

Sun put her hand over Haley's back, but the girl shrugged her off. "You heard your brother, Haley. No one's kicking out Lao Shi. Think of all the good this will bring, all of the magical creatures we can-"

"They were doing fine without us! Who cares about them?" asserted Haley. She turned to the curtain and stepped through, scorning as she went, "Do us all a favor and just leave already, before you ruin anything else."

"Haley-" Sun's black hair swung as she chased after her student, their departure announced with more cheerful chiming of bells.

A moment of silence engulfed the room. Jake stared past the curtain, fixated on the sting of his sister's words. His ego fought to discredit them, dragging the purpose of their plan and its necessity to the front of his mind, but he knew they were deserved all the same.

Fu reached out and tapped the map twice over Idaho. The lines and dots disappeared from its surface and the paper slid back into a tight roll. "Don't worry kid," he sighed as he gathered the map and added it to the pile of luggage. "Greggy's just being a crybaby and Haley didn't mean what she said. They'll come around, you'll see."

"Yeah...sure." Jake turned to Lao Shi, dragging his fingers through his hair. "Could've gone worse, I guess. They would've kept cool if you'd been the one giving the bad news, though. I just don't have what you have, Gramps. The way people always listen to everything you say, no complaints..."

His grandfather shook his head. "It wasn't my place. You are the American Dragon, Jake. You must learn to lead the dragons in your territory, and the only way you learn is through practice."

Jake leaned against a bookshelf, a mock smile on his face. "I'm a world dragon heading out on my own and you're still schooling me like my dragon master."

"Like your dragon master?" Lao Shi spat off to the side. "The day may come when you sit on the Dragon Council, and I will still be your dragon master!"

Bells jingled as the storefront door once again opened out of sight. "Jaaake! Fu Dog, Gramps! You guys home?"

Fu Dog cupped a paw to his muzzle. "Back room, kids! Did you bring the mover like I asked?"

Spud's beanie-adorned head poked through the curtain. "Okay, so we weren't exactly sure what you meant by 'mover', but we went to that address you gave us anyway. I thought it was gonna be something cool like a bottomless suitcase or some kind of portal gem, maybe even an awesome magic carpet, you know, with jets…"

Fu covered his eyes and groaned, "Tell me you didn't come back empty-handed?"

"Oh we brought the mover alright," Trixie called from beyond the partition. She sent Spud tumbling into their room and stepped over him, dragging a third individual in with her. "But homeboy here was the one who found us. Next time, tell us when it is a he."

Grinning beneath a head of waving red locks, Trixie's companion freed himself of her grip and stepped further into their room. He tossed back the dark violet cloak draped over his shoulders, revealing the satin slacks and jacket below. Small bulges in his clothing hinted at concealed possessions, one of which, as he removed it from his pants pocket, turned out to be a slender black wand.

"Good morning, all," he announced with a flourish and bow. "Nigel Thrall, at your service."

The sight smacked Jake out of his morose thoughts. "Nigel? What the heck are you doin' here?"

The boy, a peer of Jake's whom he'd first met in eighth grade, straightened back up to his full height. He nodded to the awaiting pile of luggage with a smirk. "Well now I thought that was obvious, even for you."

"Thrall's here to take us to Cali', kid," explained Fu. "Teleportation's the best way to go when we've got this much junk to haul, and there's no one better in the business than Sorcery Services."

"Recipient of Magic Weekly's Most Enchanting Service award three decades in a row," lauded Nigel.

"No kidding?" Jake snickered. "Here I thought you went off to be some big shot sorcerer after graduation. I mean, I guess customer service is cool too."

Nigel folded his arms. "Yes, well, the sorcery industry isn't exactly booming at the moment. My instructor helped me find work, but the arrangements are only temporary, of course." A pointed look came over him. "Being stuck with the same career for the rest of my life, though? I can't even imagine what that must be like."

Fu Dog interjected over Jake's dark glare, "Alright, down you two. Let's save some of that spunk for the moving, huh? Or at least until Thrall isn't on the clock."

"Agreed," said Nigel. "Let's not dilly dally. No good for business, after all." He approached the mound of luggage and circled around it, appreciating the belongings with a calculating look. After his third round, he came to a stop and withdrew a wound ball of twine. "I will be ready in a few moments. Be careful not to forget anything important, return trips cost extra."

"Oh no." Still seated on the ground, Spud tugged at the edges of his beanie in sudden panic. "What if I did forget something important? But I can't remember what I forgot!" He gripped at the hems of Trixie's cargo pants. "Quick, Trix! Remind me what I forgot to remember!"

Jake watched Trixie smack Spud's hand away and yank him to his feet. It was then that he felt a hand on his elbow and looked down to see Lao Shi watching him. "Yeah Gramps? What's up?"

"A quick word, before you go," his grandfather answered. The old man pulled Jake further aside before reaching into the folds of his blue robes. "One more lesson, you could say." He chuckled at the roll of Jake's eyes. "Yes, grandson. Becoming a world dragon and moving across the country does not mean you are finished learning."

"So what is it today? Sun Tzu? Confucius? A fortune cookie?"

A sad smile touched Lao Shi's face as he reached out toward Jake's awaiting hands. "A gift," he said, dropping a small metal disk in his palm. "Think of it as both a blessing and a warning."

Jake opened his hand and examined the object. It was a silver medallion, about the size of a half-dollar with a smooth loop of leather worked through it. An image was carved into the face of the medal, depicting two teardrop shapes winding around one another. One was smooth and flat, the other etched and rough.

"Yin and yang?" he guessed, running his thumb over the medallion. "From Taoism, right? Like darkness and light, good and bad."

"Positivity and negativity, action and inaction," Lao Shi countered. "So often named after opposites, as if mortal enemies. Yet does light not create darkness? Can there be joy without sorrow?"

"You're starting to lose me, Gramps."

Lao Shi chuckled and slipped the leather loop over Jake's head. "Conflict is everywhere, young dragon. In the world, in our enemies, in ourselves." He tapped the medallion now resting over Jake's chest. "From one world dragon to another, trust me when I say you will soon face more conflict than you ever imagined. There will be moments when you are faced with impossible decisions, when you feel overwhelmed beyond ability. In those moments, remember this."

He flipped the medallion over, the other side showing a whole circle of polished, mirror-like silver. "He who sits at his foe's table holds no fears."

"We are ready to depart!" Nigel announced. "Quickly now, no time to waste!"

Jake hurriedly tucked the medallion beneath his jacket. "Thanks, G, for everything. Wait and see, I'll be so fearless it'll blow you away." He paused a step away from his grandfather. "And let me know if Chicago's not working out, okay? Just say the word and we'll have you back here pronto."

Lao Shi waved off his concern. "What dangers does Chicago have that New York does not? Grandpa can handle their theater, pizza, and…" he shuddered, "...jazz music."

Trixie gripped Spud by the arm where they stood beside Nigel. Jake joined them, observing the twine that Nigel had webbed over their luggage. The ends of the strand led back to him, each wrapping around one of his thumbs. "So what's with all the rope, Thrall?"

"Rope, he calls it," bemoaned Nigel. "This rope is a powerful amplifying thread, Long, made from a sophisticated blend of golden fleece and nymph hair. This will magnify the power and range my magic while channeling it-"

"-like a multiple-resonant Tesla transformer!" Spud marveled at the glittering twine. "No resistance, incredible tensile strength...it's a perfect superconductor, every electrical engineer's dream!"

Nigel blinked a few times. "Terribly sorry, but...what?"

"Just ignore him," said Trixie. "Let's get this show on the road already."

"Right…" Nigel shrugged and returned to the luggage. "Long story short: everyone take hold of a portion of strand. Just a finger's worth will do."

They each reached toward the pile and grabbed a link of free twine, Spud doing so with religious care. Jake lassoed his index finger with the twine, ignoring the sudden chills their near departure sent dancing over his skin.

"Everyone ready?" Nigel asked as he raised his wand. "No objections? Then here we go!"

A green glow lit the tip of his wand, instantly followed by an electric sensation that shot through Jake's finger. The fibers squeezed against his skin and snapped taut over the luggage as Nigel flicked his hands through the air.

As quick as wind, as sure as day,

Take us afar, off to L-A!"

The green light expanded with crackling energy, surrounding them in a neon bubble of static. Sparks shot out from the twine and for a second Jake felt like he couldn't breathe. He looked to where Lao Shi watched from a distance, his passive expression unreadable.

And then the bubble collapsed in a sizzling crash.


Light glared above where Jake laid moaning, his skin scorched and the air around him stinking of ozone and rotting food. The mound of black plastic he found himself in jabbed its sporadic edges into his back and ribs. He fumbled pushing himself up from the mess, metal and cardboard snapping as the black bags caved beneath him.

"What the…" he sniffed at his soiled sleeve and gagged, "...ugh, this is so rank!"

"I've got you, Long. Up and at 'em."

A hand appeared from above and dragged Jake out and over the edge of the putrid dumpster. He landed on asphalt and shook himself out, cringing at the congealed globs that clung to his clothing. "Oh come on, not the digs. This is my favorite jacket!"

Nigel was again reaching into the dumpster, this time pulling out a sagging mass of gray wrinkles. He set Fu Dog down on his feet, the Shar Pei gawking at the ground in a daze. "Wha...who…?" Fu stiffened, sniffed a paw, and reared back on his hind legs. "Sweet sphinx that's disgusting! Since when is California covered in month-old tuna casserole?!"

Wiping his hands with a handkerchief, Nigel lamented, "Sincerest apologies, it's entirely my fault. An accident, I assure you."

"Likely story," grumbled Jake.

Nigel smiled sheepishly and nodded to a foot away where Trixie and Spud stood grimacing beside the pile of luggage, still wrapped in twine. "The slightest miscalculation. We were only a few feet too far to the left, which is pretty good considering how far-"

"Good? You call this good?!" Fu fell forward on his feet and shook out his fur, spraying bits of garbage in all directions. "Look at me! I smell like the leftovers from a gas station chili bar!"

"More like the leftovers' leftovers," said Spud.

Trixie plugged her nose. "Oh that's all kinds of nasty."

"You know how long this is gonna take to clean out?" the Shar Pei persisted. "It took years to get this fur smelling just the way I like it! I oughta-!"

His voice cut off as Trixie rushed forward and snapped her hand around his muzzle. She ignored his muffled complaints, hissing, "Can it, dawg! Look around, you're gonna attract the wrong kind of attention!"

Distracted from picking away at the filth still covering him, Jake realized for the first time where they were. He had only seen the landscape secondhand from pictures online, but there was no mistaking the apartments curving around them, the waving banners and vibrant courtyard that brought life to the scenery. And between the buildings, pacing over sidewalks with eager steps, was a procession of bustling activity. Wide-eyed teenagers, gray-streaked parents, uniformed staff and upperclassmen, all laboring to carry an endless supply of suitcases, hampers, boxes, and furniture into the dormitories.

"Guys." Jake watched the spectacle from their place in the shadows, grinning with elation. "We're here. We're really here!"

Spud threw an arm around him. "You better believe we are! Free at last, ready to take on the world with our youthful minds and idealism!"

"Preachin' to the choir, boy." Trixie moved to Jake's other side, laughing euphorically. "No more house rules, or nagging parents!"

Spud gasped. "Think of all the fast food!"

"The freedom!" added Trixie.

"The videogames!"

"The classes! The nightlife!"

"And the babes?" snickered Jake.

"So many babes!" Spud cheered. "We'll be drowning in hot foxes once campus gets one look at the Spud-man!"

"Hey, I like reckless abandon as much as the next dog," muttered Fu, "but I still gotta go set up at the office and deep-clean this fur. You kids alright from here? Just follow those directions I gave you when you're done here."

"Oh, we're more than alright," said Trixie. "You do your thang, Fu. We've got this covered."

His nose still twitching with disgust, Fu sat beside Nigel and waited for him to unwind his twine from their luggage. When the twinkling string had been stowed the sorcerer grabbed Fu by his collar, waved his wand through the air, and the two vanished in a flash of green light.

Trixie began slinging bags over her shoulders, loading her arms with as many things as she could carry. She waited for Jake and Spud to claim the rest of the pile before heading for the dormitories. "Alright, y'all, let's get crackin'. Mama Trixie's achin' for some decoratin'!"

The three of them joined the energetic press and were swept into the apartments. Jumbled conversations clogged the air around them, working with the shifting crowd to overwhelm Jake's senses. One woman in a uniform had asked him a question that he couldn't hear but nodded along with anyway. Another staff member had come along soon after, giving them each a rolling dolly cart to carry their things. They trudged further on through the maze of bodies, Jake reveling in every aspect the pristine atmosphere.

They came to a long polished desk where a squadron of staff was servicing the laboring families. Trixie guided them to an opening along the desk and hailed an available man. "Yo, excuse me? Can you tell us which rooms we're in?"

The man turned to his computer and began typing. "All freshman, yes? Were you all assigned to rooms in De Vire Plaza?"

Trixie chuckled to herself and said aside to Jake and Spud, "Ohoo, De Vire Plaza y'all!" She turned back to the man and nodded. "Oh that's us alright."

"And your name miss?"

"Trixie Carter, with a C."

The man typed away a while longer before smiling at his screen. "Here we go. You're on the sixth floor, room twenty-four." He turned in his chair to reach in an open bin, pulling out a ring with a single key on it. "Here is your room key. Don't lose it or you'll be charged for replacements. The elevators are down the hall, there are coin operated laundry rooms on each floor, and you'll find your private bathroom adjoined to your dorm room. Let us know if you have any questions, and welcome to De Vire Plaza."

Trixie grabbed her key, bouncing with excitement. She stepped aside with her dolly to make room at the counter. "Alright, Jakey. You're turn."

The man's smile faltered as Jake approached. His nose wrinkled at the air, but he asked politely, "And your name, young man?"

"Jake Long."

After typing for a moment, a confused look came over the man. "Jacob L. Long, correct?" He then looked over Jake's shoulder. "And are you Arthur P. Spudinski?"

"The one and only," said Spud.

Jake looked back to the man, reading his expression. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm afraid you have the wrong residence hall," the man answered, his courteous tone restrained and cautious. "My registry shows you two sharing a room at Kadrick Crest. Here-" he unfolded a pamphlet map and pointed to a layout of streets, "-at the top of the hill. Take a right outside the courtyard and follow the path north, you can't miss it."

"But we all requested housing at the same time!" argued Trixie. "Why didn't we all get placed in the same dorms?"

The man's fingers flew over his keyboard. "W-well," he stammered, "it seems Mr. Spudinsky did have an assignment here, but was later moved when he requested joint living with Mr. Long."

Jake clapped a hand to his head. "It's because my acceptance came late! The place must have been booked up by then."

Spud waved off Trixie as she turned back on the shrinking staff member. "No worries, Trix, it's just dorming. Why don't me and Jake go set up camp at our place and meet back up with you later?"

Scowl slipping away, she sighed. "Aight, but don't you guys let anyone here jerk you around, ya heard?"

"Definitely," said Jake. He waited for Trixie to drag her dolly down the hall to turn back to Spud. "You sure about this, Spud? We can ask if there's room for you to-"

"What, leave my best bud behind? No way, dude." Spud led the way, shoving through the crowd and back out into the courtyard. "Besides, this place is a little too ritzy for my taste. De Vire Plaza just sounds stuck up. But Kadrick Crest? Now that sounds like a dorm with some seriously rockin' vibes."

They pressed on through the crowds, trekking over sidewalk past street after street of dormitories. Buildings reached skyward to their right, lanes of traffic-jammed cars hummed to their left, and a beating afternoon sun hung overhead. The throng of movers thinned the farther they climbed, but the grade was becoming unbearable. Fire soon consumed Jake's lungs and his filled his mouth with a coppery taste.

"Clitch Suites...ugh...Trout Hall…" Spud panted beside Jake, his overshirt wrapped around his waist and his hair dripping with sweat beneath a soaked beanie. With a grunt he craned his head up to the next complex. "Please be it...please be it...oh come on, Dystrick Commons? What does that even mean?!"

Jake switched hands for his dolly and swept an arm over his forehead. "We've gotta be close. The guy said it was the top of the hill, right? I don't see much more-"

He was cut off as Spud let out a cry of joy and bounded ahead. Jake hurried after him, willing his numb legs into movement as they arrived at the hill's summit. Exhaustion gripped him as they reached level ground, bending him over in fatigue while Spud cheered, "It's so...so beautiful. I've never felt this kind of affection for a building before!"

Jake finally caught his breath and looked on at their destination. He deflated almost instantaneously. "This dump? You're sure this is it?"

They stood beside a cracked, concrete sign reading 'Kadrick Crest' with several of the rusted letters missing, evidenced only by their weather-stained outlines. The path behind it led to a rectangular, red brick structure that stood three stories tall with sad, warped windows dotting its length. There were no plants in sight, the exterior was chipped and sun bleached, and the surrounding lawn was a field of desiccated brown grass that crunched beneath their feet.

"Alright, so it could use a little touching up," said Spud, dragging his dolly toward its cracked glass doors. "They're probably just behind on renovations. I bet the inside is way better."

It wasn't. The first thing Jake noticed upon entering was the smell; a meager hint of lavender was layered over the stench of cheap soap, ammonia, and tobacco. The dated wallpaper peeled from the yellowing walls while the popcorn ceiling threatened to drop free above them. At the head of the small lobby, three upperclassman conversed in rolling laughter behind a crooked counter.

Jake leaned toward Spud. "So how are those vibes doing?"

"They're hesitant, but you can't rush the vibes."

"Hey fellas!" One of the upperclassmen waved them over toward the counter. "Welcome to the Crest!"

"The dorms of humble luxury," snickered one of his comrades.

Jake crossed the lobby, his dolly in tow. "What's crackalackin' yo?" He held his fist out and bumped knuckles with the three in turn. "The name's Jake, Jake Long. My man here is Arthur Spudinski, Spud for short."

The men smiled to each other, the jock-looking one on the far right jabbing a finger at Jake. "Jake and Spud? Third floor, room three-oh-five." He turned back to his friends and jibed, "Told you guys I'd get all the cool freshman."

Spud held his hands in front of him. "Let me stop you right there. Like, I'm flattered dude, but I'm more of a ladies man."

The man reeled back, laughing. "Oh this is gonna be a good year! Nah, dude, I'm David Ramirez, the third floor RA. I make sure you freshman don't party too hard, get locked out, try to kill each other...you know, that kind of stuff."

Jake smirked. "So much for no more parents."

"Don't worry, you guys have nothing to worry about," said David. He dug through a cluttered box behind the counter and handed Jake and Spud each a key. "Mi casa es su casa. Don't wreck the communal areas, keep the tunes down, and we'll be peaches and gravy, dig?" The buzz cut boy leaned over the counter and eyed their carts. "And just a heads-up, the Crest is a bit old school. Stairs only, gentlemen."

What energy Jake had regained from their walk was lost in the stairwell. When he and Spud weren't fighting to drag their carts up the steps, they were pressed against the wall to let other movers squeeze by them. More than once Jake considered transforming his arms and carrying their dollies the rest of the way, but Spud's objections and the occasional passerby restrained him.

The third floor hallway welcomed them with more of the same dated and poorly kept ambiance. Two corridors branched off from a central sitting area, dividing the girls' and boys' halves. Jake and Spud proceeded to their room, passing by the communal bathroom on the way. Pausing only briefly, Jake did his best to ignore the mildew stench emanating from the foreboding lavatories.

"Three-oh-three...oh-four...oh-five. Bingo." Spud unlocked their room and swung the creaking door open. "Behold, our château!"

It was dark. There was one bunk bed, two desks, and a half-bookcase. A window set in the far wall was blocked by bent tin blinds. There was just enough room for two people to walk abreast inside. A hissing pipe ran overhead from one wall to the other with water stains decorating both ends.

"Dibs on top!" Spud shoved his dolly into the room and climbed up onto the bunk bed. His cart and luggage alone filled up a third of the space.

"Well…" Jake elbowed his way in and closed the door behind him. "It's...cozy, I guess?"

Spud peaked out over the edge of his bunk. "Bro, open mind. You've gotta give it a chance to grow on you!"

Jake edged past the carts to the window and pulled open the blinds. They snapped upward, throwing dust into the air that sent Jake coughing. The dirty panes beyond, however, revealed a wide, stretching view of Los Angeles. He could see the entirety of the bay below from the Crest's perch on the hill; the curving mountains that cupped the megalopolis suburbia, the sudden concentration of skyscrapers over downtown LA, the shores of the Pacific Ocean extending into the horizon, even the whole of the UCLA campus.

"Wow. So this is the west coast, huh?" He stared awhile at the haze-clouded city. A flutter of excitement revived in his chest. "Doesn't seem so bad."

"Good vibes, dude," said Spud. He reclined back on his mattress to the whining of springs. "Good vibes."


Rose and amber tinted the afternoon sky above Jake. The autumnal sunlight danced over the buildings around them, casting bright reflections over the downtown streets. He, Spud, and Trixie moved through a crowd of businessmen, tourists, and unsavory types. Street vendors appeared here and there, traffic was congested, and the air hung thick with smog.

All of this felt strangely comforting to Jake, who remarked, "You know other than the heat, LA's not so different from New York."

"I don't know. They call this a 'downtown'?" said Trixie. "This place ain't got nothin' on our skyline, and all the hills are buggin' me out. And have you seen a map of their freeways yet? Whoever designed that mess should be taken to court."

"Freeways? I can't even figure out the streets," Spud groaned, twisting around to read passing signs and stumbling over his shoes. "Come to think of it," he called, "you do know where we're going, right Jake? Because I swear I've seen this weird statue before..."

"That's a fire hydrant, Spud, they're everywhere." Jake glanced again at the paper in his hands and the messy writing that covered it. "And if you want to be the one trying to make out Fu's notes, be my guest. Otherwise…" He paused at a gap between two storefronts, one a bistro and the other a pub. "Hold up, I think this is it."

The other two looked around him at the ominous metal door set into the wall. "See, that doesn't make me feel better," said Spud.

"What would a bunch of magical creatures be doing in some back alley shack?" asked Trixie.

"Oh they're not here." Jake lifted the corroded hatch and pushed the door open. Beyond was a dim concrete hallway with stairs that slowly descended into the earth. He nodded to the corridor. "They're down there."

Their footsteps echoed as Jake led the way down the steps. Before they'd gone more than a story or two down, the staircase opened out into a long, silent hallway that ran left and right for what looked like miles. The floor rose and fell in waves down the length of the hallway, and somewhere drops of water smacked out in a steady, unnerving metronome. They were completely alone but for scant piles of garbage and a shaggy man sitting against the wall, hidden in a veritable mound of dirty rags.

"Okay." Jake skipped through Fu's instructions, squinting at the script. "I think we go right next…or maybe left?"

"Oh, oh! What's that?" Spud nudged Jake as he pointed at the cloth-covered man. "Is it a hobgoblin? Let's ask him!"

Trixie was quicker than Jake. She flicked Spud's ear, sighing, "That's a bum, Spud. You know what a bum is, right? Ain't nothing 'magical' about him."

The man straightened up, growing taller and taller as the three of them watched nonplussed. When he'd nearly reached the roof of the tunnel, he pulled off a blanket shrouding his face to reveal a huge, bald head with a thick horn nestled over a single, monstrous eye.

"Hey," the creature growled with a voice like rolling gravel. "Who you calling a bum, sister?"

"Duh, cyclops!" groaned Spud. "Should have seen that coming."

Jake approached the cyclops, stepping around a dumbstruck Trixie. "Awesome! Maybe you can help us out, dude. My name's Jake, I'm-"

"The American Dragon," the creature rumbled. "Heard you were coming. Expected someone bigger."

The crass tone surprised Jake. "Uh, okay? Look, we're trying to find-"

"I know," the cyclops rumbled again.

There was a long pause where Jake and the cyclops watched each other. When it became clear the creature had no intentions of continuing, Jake insisted, "So...can you help us get there or what?"

The cyclops's giant eye focused on Trixie and Spud next. He fixed them each with an intent, almost spiteful gaze. Suddenly he snorted and raised a heavy-knuckled fist to pound thrice against the wall behind him. A section of the chipped and water-stained cement slid sideways, exposing a hidden tunnel identical to the others that extended further beyond.

The creature jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "That way."

Jake nodded to the others and walked onward. "Thanks."

The cyclops ignored him.

Their trip down the tunnel was brief. Small signs of life appeared as they went. Flickers of light in the air, scratches on the walls, even distant echoes of music and laughter. The tunnel's sconces were beginning to dim as they approached the last in a series of turns, darkness threatening to engulf them until they came upon the passage's arcing exit.

Jake stepped over the threshold, wondering at the sight in front of him. "Whoa."

Stretching before them, curving around in a stadium-sized circle and extending deep into the earth, was a massive underground cavern. There was no question of the grotto's origins as its sheer walls were paved and deliberate. Terraces made of concrete and rebar divided the cavern into levels with the center left vacant. From their place on one of the upper levels near the ceiling, Jake could gaze through the gaping pit and see the many levels far beneath them. Massive water mains ran throughout the structure, spouting torrents of water in not always appropriate places, the streams ultimately spilling into the center to collect in what must have been an aquifer far below.

And throughout the many terraces and balconies, nestling in crevices, manning stalls, and visiting storefronts, were magical creatures. There were more than Jake could count, more than he had ever seen gathered in one place barring the Isle of Draco. Centaurs, imps, ogres, dwarves, demons, witches, encyclopedias could be filled with the present variety alone. They flew and congregated wherever space allowed, flooding the city-like chamber with a bustling, supernatural crowd.

A nudging in Jake's side freed him from his trance. He looked down to see Fu Dog, watching him expectantly. "Hello! Jake Long residence, anybody home?"

"Fu!" Jake made a few breathless sounds, looking between his animal guardian and the cavern sprawling in the soft glow of enchanted lanterns and signs. "Dawg, what...is this place?"

"Pretty neat, huh? You're standing in Underdown, a town made from the escape tunnels that run under downtown LA. Mobs built them back in the day to stash booze and stuff, but they haven't been used in ages. So magical creatures did what they do; you know, block 'em off, turn them into a merchant hub, and stick guys like Phil outside to guard it. I take it you guys found Big Phil?"

Jake laughed. "Seriously? Phil the cyclops? Yeah, he's a charmer."

"Oh he's a softy once you get to know him...hey, peanut gallery!" Fu clapped his paws to where Spud and Trixie leaned over the railing of their terrace, still gaping at the otherworldly urbanicity. "Try and stay focused, would ya?"

Trixie stepped back from the railing, a hand rubbing her temple. "Holla, we've seen some pretty crazy stuff but this is trippin' me out."

Spud was wide-eyed and in near hysterics. "This...is...amazing!"

"Right…" Fu shook his head and nudged Jake again. "Say, why don't we fly over to the office and talk there? Won't be as many distractions, if you catch my drift."

"Good idea." Flickering warmth surged out from Jake's chest as he focused on his core. A tingling sensation coursed through him as flames sparked over his skin. "Dragon UP!"

There was a burst of fire and the cavern came into a new focus. Jake could hear the crashing of water far below over the din of the crowd, and he cringed at a rotten smell he hadn't noticed before. "Ugh, Fu. I thought you said you were gonna take a bath?"

The Shar Pei chuckled as he climbed up onto Jake's back. "Oh that ain't me, kid. Don't worry, you'll get used to the aroma."

Trixie and Spud each slid underneath one of Jake's arms. Trixie commented, "I don't know about y'all, but these peeps are starting to creep me out."

"Who, those guys?" said Fu, nodding to the creatures around them whom had all begun to glare and whisper. "It's cause we're new, just ignore them. Head down there, kid, that place three floors down."

Spotting the bland stone edifice, Jake leaped over the railing and soared into the pit. Spud cheered loudly while Trixie and Fu Dog clung to Jake, refusing to watch as he swooped and dove between the waterfalls and lanterns. Passing magical creatures on the terrace looked up and moved aside as they approached. A wide berth in the crowd was given for Jake to land.

He let his passengers climb down, now noticing what Trixie had been talking about before. As far as he could see, there wasn't a single face among their observers that wasn't frowning or scowling in their direction. Disturbed, Jake looked ahead to the building built into the cavern wall and the large sign slapped above its entrance that spelled 'D.M.C.'.

"There she is," announced Fu. "The LA Department of Magical Creatures. Since you don't have a front like the old man's shop, you're gonna have to handle all of the official stuff out of this place."

Unconsciously, Jake's chi slipped out of his limbs and returned him to his human form in a flash of fire. The building's fake columns and square design screamed of monotony. "Wow, it's so...bureaucratic?"

"That's the spirit." Fu led them inside. The interior matched the outside to a T with a dated lobby, off putting reception desk, and rows of cubicles beyond. Jake could feel his spirits draining the farther they went, images of the corporate office his father worked in flashing through his mind.

"Come on, your office is in the back. And would you look at that!" Fu Dog stopped beside the desk of a particularly old and crotchety looking gnome. He flashed the small, ancient woman his sappiest smile. "If it isn't my favorite receptionist Margret! How's the hip?"

She blinked at him through thick-rimmed glasses, her eyes magnified three-fold. "A pain, just like you." Her face craned up to peer at Jake. "So you're the dragon, huh?"

Jake held his hand out. "That's me, but you can call me-"

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Dragon," she drolled, turning back to her abhorrently outdated computer. "Your office is ready for you, just down the hall."

"You're a peach, Marge." Fu grabbed hold of Jake's arm and guided him down the hall. "And that's about all you're gonna get out of the old gal. We go way back, she's almost as old as me. Ahah, and here it is!"

They came to a plain wooden door at the end of the hall. A bronze plate was affixed to its front, reading 'J. Long, American Dragon'. A twist of the knob revealed the room beyond, a small apartment with a single desk, two chairs, and the enchanted map that Fu Dog had brought pinned to the wall behind.

"Pretty great, huh?" praised Fu. "I got it all spruced up myself. No need to thank me."

"That's a relief," murmured Trixie.

"Needs some posters," Spud added.

Jake walked around the desk and plopped down in his new chair. The seat creaked back as he put his feet up. "It's perfect Fu, but you didn't have to go to all this trouble. Besides, wasn't Nigel supposed to take you home by now?"

"Who, the sorcerer?" Fu yawned and stretched on the ground. "Nah, he left a while ago. Return trips cost extra, remember? I'm sticking with you, kid."

Jake jerked up in his seat. "What?"

An intercom crackled to life on Jake's desk. Margret's drawling voice flowed through the static. "Mr. Dragon?"

"What do you mean, you're sticking with me?" persisted Jake. "You can't stay! Gramps needs your help with the shop in Chicago!"

"And who do you think told me stay?" said Fu. "Lao Shi's been in the business a long time, kid. If anyone's gonna need help, it's you. I can't just let you come to this new turf and get your keister handed to you. After all, I am your animal guardian. It's my job!"

Jake was on his feet now. "Not if it means ditching gramps. I don't care what he says!"

"Mr. Dragon…"

Jake's finger slammed on the intercom trigger. "What, Margret?"

"There's a wizard here, he says that-"

"Nigel! Send him over!" The intercom light flicked off again as Jake reeled back on Fu. "Nigel's taking you back to New York or I'm throwing you on an elevator myself, clear?"

Fu Dog was on his hind legs now too. "Hey, I'm trying to do you a favor!" he barked.

"Well I never asked for one!"

"Oh boo-freakin'-hoo! Don't you think that maybe the old man knows what he's doing? Or maybe you're just mad 'cause you aren't the only one calling the shots!"

"That's not-!"

A knocking drew them both to where a man now waited in the open office doorway. Their new arrival wore a cloak similar to Nigel's, but he stood even taller with a crisp suit and perfectly combed blonde hair.

He gazed around at their party. "I do hope I'm not interrupt-"

Jake vaulted over his desk, transforming in the process to land with his claws inches from the wizard's face. This was a man whom Jake had not seen in some years and had been very glad for it. In a menacing tone, he hissed, "You've got five seconds to tell me why I shouldn't take you down right now, Pandarus."

Eli Pandarus, a notorious wizard with a knack for business and dark magic, watched Jake with careful regard. "And what on Earth would make you want to do that?"

"Are you for real?" scoffed Jake. "How many times have you tried taking over the world or conquering all magical creatures?"

"Yeah, you tried to kidnap me and all those other kids at your fake genius academy!" spat Spud from behind him.

Fu shouted, "You tried to marry me!"

Pandarus laughed softly at that, which only served to enrage Jake further. "I know we've had our...disagreements in the past," he said. "But it's all just that, in the past. I've kept my ventures strictly professional these past few years. It turns out world domination really isn't all that profitable."

"And let me guess, you started building puppy orphanages and walking old ladies across streets too?" sneered Trixie.

"Let's say you're legit." Jake lowered his claws, but only slightly. The man, after all, had yet to make a single move. "What do you want? Shouldn't you be back on Wall Street?"

"My headquarters recently moved to San Francisco, as a matter of fact. And I only wanted to make sure you didn't have any issues with your travels today." Pandarus scanned his office, sniffing at the air. "My apprentice mentioned that there was some kind of incident involving a dumpster?"

Jake lowered his arms fully now, flames engulfing him as he shifted back into his human body. "Your apprentice? You mean Thrall? He's-?"

"My pupil, and one of my employees for the time being."

Fu shoved past Jake to jab a claw at Pandarus. "Oh yeah? Well tell that amateur that I'm still digging chunks of asparagus out of my fur!"

"So that's it?" asked Jake. "You came all the way down here just for a customer survey?"

"Well…" A grin slowly tugged at the wizard's lips. "I must admit I was curious to see you too, Mr. Long. After all, it's not every day a young man gets a full-ride to a prestigious university."

There was a twitch in Jake's chest. "What did you just say?"

Pandarus was still grinning. "Surely you must know? The MCI Foundation, the one that gave you the award? One of my many philanthropic programs." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a business card sporting the foundation logo, his contact information listed just below it. "The Magical Creature Inclusion initiative, supporting magical creatures seeking higher educations among humans. A noble endeavor, don't you think?"

"The award...you did that?" The little rectangle of cardstock weighed heavy in Jake's hand. It commanded him entirely, drowning out all other thoughts. He glared back up at the polished wizard. "Did you get me in too? You did, didn't you?"

"I may have spoken with the committee about your application," he admitted. "But it was my pleasure, I assure you. I only leveled the playing field with the other, non-magical applicants. Honestly, not being recognized for your efforts and responsibilities as the American Dragon is hardly fair."

"Take it back," bristled Jake, his pulse pounding in his ears. "All of it. Your money, the acceptance, everything. I don't need your charity!"

Pandarus balked, "Come now, Jake, it's far too late for that. You'd only be wasting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The truth is that success is all about networking, knowing the right people! Everybody knows that. All I ask is that you remember this kindness the next time we run into each other."

Jake wanted to yell at him, to make him say it was all a lie, a cruel joke, but he couldn't. He could only stand there in his new office, seething with the business card crumpled in his fist. Pandarus waited for a moment longer before turning to leave, seeming satisfied.

"And look, you've got your name on a door," he said, tapping the bronze plate as he stepped out of the office. His voice carried from the hallway. "You're moving up in the world already, Mr. Long."

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