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"What are you looking for?" Nyx asked She peered at me over the back of an airman as she inked She inclined her head toward the front"Did I ?"

I shook ain, and continued with my work

Nyx checked on Seth twice, and I ran upstairs just before my last client arrived to check on hi sleep, but I chalked it up towhatever Teenager-itis rabbed a couple of funnel cakes, and headed back inside Nyx and I ate the to delicious gooey glue Nothing better

It was just after seven p clients when, finally, Seth wandered into the shop The rowled "Chaz, stop it!" I corowled at Seth, or any of us, before

"What’s up with hi It looked like he’d showered--his hair et, and he didn’t smell like he had earlier, thank God But he still didn’t seem himself, even after all that rest

"I don’t know," I answered "Maybe he knows you’re not feeling well"

"Maybe," he said, stepping close and inspecting ood, Sis"

I wiped the specks of blood frolance, then continued with the needle "Thanks," I said, and concentrated onme into the zone "Preacher wants you to help him put up some newsprint, if you’re up to it" I finished the section I orking on, wiped, then let off the pedal "I didn’t tell hionna freak, so let me do it I’ll be over there once I finish up here I’ bangs out of his face "Okay Yeah, I feel all right I’ll see ya" He pulled a pair of shades from his back pocket, slid them on his face, and walked up front "Hey, Nyx," he said

"Hey, Little Bro," she replied "Nice specs"

"Thanks" Without a backward glance, Seth was out the door and headed up the sidewalk to Da Plat Eye Nyx shot h so fast He adored Nyx and never let a day go by without hugging her or picking on her He was such a lovable guy Today he did neither

"He must really feel like crap," Nyx said "Poor little reed, and continued with my work By nine fifteen, I’d finishedon a last- up my station when Gene (named after Gene Simmons, of course) alerted us to another custoht above the entrance, and when so I’d ever seen Nyx had given it to me when I’d first opened Inksoed woman with short hair, pressed khaki slacks, and a blue buttoned-up oxford step through the door She smiled, laid a pamphlet on the coffee table, and hurried out Nyx shot s from Saint James," I read from the pamphlet I looked at Nyx and lifted a brow "You owe me dinner, sista"

"That totally wasn’t a woman of the cloth," Nyx said with a fake pout

"Totally a nun" I tucked the paoofball" Ito check on Seth I’ll be right back, okay?"

"Sure," Nyx said, and I stepped outside for the second ti; a ned eht crowd The ones responsible for the stinky urine and alcohol ss happen after dark on River Street I’ve seen them firsthand I was in quite a lot myself, back in the day

As I walked to Da Plat Eye, I breathed in the heavy brine from the Savannah River, and a band played down the street Funny--I could pick Capote’s unique sax out of the hundreds of people don, and hison the air as thick as the scent of pralines wafting doind fros were addictive Pure sugar and crearowl

I stepped through the front door of Preacher’s shop and took in the unique scent of herbs and unknown potions that never failed to intrigue me The walls were lined with dark-stained oak shelves, and every space was filled with a jar or vial of so Eye of newt? Sure Graveyard dust? Absolutely Dead man’s nails? Got it Shredded feathers? Yep Jars and jars of unknoonderful concoctions were everywhere, including tins of tea The handwoven sweetgrass baskets of all shapes and sizes that hung froeous, as were the long strip quilts The Gullah were renowned for preserving their heritage through language, as well as art, skills, and unique cooking I had several baskets, quilts, and jars of spices that Estelle and her sisters hadhanded from behind the curtain "Oh, dahlin’, your Preacher man had to leave Your brodder is upstairs, doh, printin’ da walls Dat boy don’t look so good He sick?"