His shoulders were shaking with the chuckle that he had been trying to keep quiet by the time they had stopped their momentum across the floor for the second time. By the time she had looped her arm through his and he had led them both the short distance across the floor to the door, he was laughing aloud, a soft muted sound. The wicked slant of his eyes went well with the raised eyebrows when he dipped his head to look down at her.<br/><br/><br/>“It sounds like you have experience knocking people upside the head,” he commented. “And I have no doubt just how gifted you are with creatures of all shapes and sizes,” he emphasized further, his arm tightening to secure her at his side while his other hand pushed open the door to what was now an empty dance club. But not for long.<br/><br/><br/>The hustle and bustle of Hong Kong hit them in the face like the bus that honked its way through the narrow streets choked with people. The smell of activity was pungent in the air, overpowered by the reek of fish, the smell of fried street food, and of dirt and pavement. The doorway she had walked into at the beginning of the night was gone, replaced by an old red one, paint peeling, and a rickety sign above it in Chinese characters.<br/><br/><br/>A thrill of excitement rushed through Pace on the first few steps he took away from the ley line’s grasp, feeling it start to strain from its attachment to him. Idly, he wondered if the witch next to him could feel it, too. His attachment to it. That he was banking on the danger of the situation not only because they were heading towards an illegal gambling den, but because his entire presence was to guard the space behind that doorway.<br/><br/><br/>Anything else could mean that space between worlds, the In Between, the Crossroads, could form a rip if he pulled too far away.<br/><br/><br/>His hand came up and covered her own that rested on his arm, giving it a squeeze as he led them out into the street, his grip on her an assurance that they wouldn’t be separated in the fray. “Welcome to China!” He declared over the roar of people. “It’s easier if we walk from this point. We’re in one of the markets, so trying to get a cab - or really, anything other than your own two feet - is pointless. Just stay close.”<br/><br/><br/>They were bound to attract attention. They were white. Even if no one knew that they were American -- well, her; Pace only put on the accent depending on location -- white usually meant money, and the Chinese loved foreigners who liked to spend their money. What the merchants that came in close to the pair as they walked down the street didn’t realize was that the tall white man who grinned with too many sharp teeth in his mouth could understand the Mandarin as they muttered insults before approaching with a smile.<br/><br/><br/>“You want buy? Buy from me, we have good deal,” the middle aged woman who touched Nora’s arm offered in broken English, grinning wide. “I have pretty jewelry for you, lady,” as she motioned to her booth of junk jewelry.<br/><br/><br/>“Bù, xièxiè, dàn xièxiè nǐ de tíyì,” came Pace’s reply. No thank you, but thank you for your offer. The woman slanted a skeptical look at Pace, then reluctantly backed away from the pair.<br/><br/><br/>It was like that up and down the block. The street vendors hawking their wares. A few bicycles almost ran them down. Until the streets opened up into an even wider street, the night life coming alive with neon signs that flashed and glowed. Hong Kong proper was opening up to them, finally.<br/><br/><br/>“Almost there,” he assured his companion, now that he could breathe the air around them. Only he again took them away from the hustle and bustle of the city life and down a neon painted alley, leaving the lights behind them in exchange for shut doors and the dank smell of mildew on the walls. Ducking under an obsolete sign, he finally released Nora to knock on the door, reciting more Chinese to what seemed like no one, “Zhèlǐ de dàomǐ hěnduō.”<br/><br/><br/>He rolled his eyes down to Nora, but the mischief making grin was back on his face. “Ready?” He had time to ask, right as the door opened to a wizened face with hanging jowls and a fat paunch, glared at the two, giving them a once over before motioning them to come inside.