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grabbed my hand, holding it tightly, as we followed James and Michael past the doors.
    “You alright?” I asked.
    “I’m more worried about you.”
    “I’m fine,” I said. “I just thought this place was safe for some reason.”
    We followed the line of marble on the floor, between long-defunct slot machines, emptied cafés, and stained card tables. The screens of some of the machines were riddled with bullets.
    “Nowhere is safe,” Anna said.
    I felt a chill pass over me as we went deeper into the darkness of Dragon HQ, lit feebly with lines of torches. I was beginning to regret our decision to come here. If it weren’t for Michael, then I would have walked out of this place in a heartbeat.
    On our right was a series of large glass windows, through which I could see rocks and fake trees. A sign above the windows read “Lion Exhibit.” I peered into the darkness of the habitat, but the lions, if there ever had been any, were either long gone or long dead.
    “So, all the Dragons live in here?” I asked, as we passed a bank of elevators.
    “Most Dragons do. The Boss lives in a villa on the premises. But with recent events he is staying somewhere that is more secure.”
    “Recent events?” Anna asked.
    “The Kings tried to nab him a few weeks ago. Since then, he’s insisted on staying in his penthouse.”
    “Doesn’t it irk you to have to call him Boss all the time?” Anna asked.
    Michael shrugged. “Not really. I’ve had a boss in one form or another all my life. I could have done much worse than the Dragons. I’m glad I came across them first, rather than the Kings or the Reds.”
    “What’s so bad about the Reds?” I asked.
    “The Reds are bad because they live outside city limits. It was actually a good thing for them at first, because being so distant made them safer from attacks. Now, though, they’re an easy target for Blighters.”
    We stopped before the open doors of what used to be a fancy restaurant. Within the dark interior, torches burned from the walls, and a line of candles lit a table where a muscled black man in dark clothing sat. His face was hidden by shadow, but his forearms, in the light of the fire, were visible. On each one was a tattoo of a dragon, one light blue, breathing ice, the other red, breathing fire. They both seemed to glow in the darkness.
    The hands raised, gesturing to nearby seats. “Sit.”
    Michael led us inside the restaurant, and we sat. Closer, we could more easily see the Boss’s facial features. He was a big man, maybe in his late thirties. He wore all black – black pants, black shirt – which, coupled with his dark skin, made him blend in with the shadows.
    “You Makara?” he asked Anna.
    Michael answered for her. “She is meeting with Char and the Raiders. I brought two of their high-ranking members here to represent her.”
    “High-ranking?” The Boss gave a sideways grin. “What is this, Lord of the Flies with spaceships?”
    I had to smile at that, even if it was an insult.
    “She’s about our age, yeah,” I said. “We’re not kids, though.”
    Boss Dragon snickered. “Yeah, alright. Of course you’re not. The question is, why should I listen to you?”
    Before I could answer and get us into any trouble, I felt Michael kick me under the table. “Actually, Boss, the New Angels were hoping to have the opportunity to meet with you, as well as with the rest of the gangs.”
    Boss Dragon eyed Michael skeptically “What kind of business would we have to discuss? If it’s protection, that’s already been decided. We’re not letting anyone in until this Blight mess is over.”
    “Then no one is getting in,” Anna said. “The Blight mess won’t be over until Vegas is gone. Makara wants a meeting to decide what to do about that. And she has a plan to stop it.”
    Boss Dragon looked at her. “I don’t care if it’s about tea and crumpets. The gangs won’t meet for any reason. Too much blood, and not enough water. No one will meet