While Mir and Candy chat, the effeminate Gerard takes the stage again and introduces Bubble Tease. Only this time the curtain doesn’t part. The spot light creates a bright round disk on the crimson folds. The first thrumming base note rings out and a slender leg pokes through the curtain. An arm, holding an oriental fan, follows. Now the curtain draws apart to reveal Bubble. A pair of matching fans is her entire outfit. Somehow she manages to sing and dance without ever baring the goods. Mir watches the fan play with rapt attention, only coming back to reality when Candy Thirst snaps her fingers under his nose.

"Guess we know what you like," she says.

He shrugs. "She’s got plenty of…"

Candy raises an eyebrow.

"Talent," Mir finishes.

"She’s alright," Candy says. "I was better."

Mir grins. Candy’s got spirit. Moreover, she’s got a certain light in her eyes, especially when she looks at him. It’s been a while since a good-looking dame gave him the come hither. Might be worth his time and effort. But, right now he has got a job to do.

Candy checks a clock on the wall behind the bar. "I’ve got to get backstage and make sure all my ladies are ready. The next act is a real show stopper. Stick around and maybe we can chat after, yeah?"

"Alright, doll."

Candy uses a side door.

Suddenly, Mir notices a guy in the back row. He’s in a dark coat with his shoulders pulled up and his head ducked forward like an overgrown vulture. He’s got a hook nose and beady eyes to complete the comparison. He watches the stage, while Mir watches him, and he keeps toying the pentagram on his pinkie finger.

The funny thing is that the guy is invisible. He is using some sort of spell to make himself invisible to the naked eyes. But, Mir can clearly see him because of his special lenses, which was a gift from the Oracle fortune teller.

Mir returns his attention to the vulture in the back row. He’s still toying with his ring. Bubble’s on stage doing her thing. It’s hard to keep Mir's eye on him and off the show, but he manages and a good thing too. While Mir watches, he starts muttering to himself. The music is too loud to hear what he’s saying, but his lips are moving and he starts rocking back and forth in his seat. Sweat beads on his pale forehead.

The air around Mir starts to crackle and hiss. The small hairs at the back of Mir's neck stand on end. This is black magic. He has felt it before. It’s like standing too close to an open electrical line. Gooseflesh breaks out on his arms and a shiver runs up his spine. The crowd can feel it. They shift in their seats, a few even look around, but they don’t know what to make of this strange uneasy feeling that suddenly enveloped them. Most will pass it off as a sudden cold spell or too much drink. A few of the more sensitive ones will be extra-sure to lock the door when they get home. Remembering the last time he dealt with black magic will keep Mir awake tonight.

If Mr. Vulture is casting a spell, tackling him should end it. Besides, he’s farther away from Mir than Bubble is. Maybe his priority should be to protect his client first and worry about the bad guy later.

The steady crescendo of Bubble’s song and the feeling of wild electricity in the air weave together into something palpable. Whatever is going on, it’s going to happen before Bubble finishes her act.

What should he do?