Zoltan and Qing escort Jazmine back to her room at the Desert Rose, a hotel with a Himaatian theme. Qing determines that Jazmine is not actually drunk, but under the effect of some sort of a spirit-weakening spell that simulates the effects of intoxication. While Qing and Zoltan share their suspicions in the hallway, a door opens, revealing another vulpine … which Zoltan and Qing immediately figure out to be "Madame Bloom", Jazmine's understudy … and the host of the evil Kitsune spirit known as Amaranth.

Zoltan and Qing make hasty excuses to leave, then find their way to a secluded spot, where they make plans about how they might thwart Bloom/Rache/Amaranth … and protect Jazmine from possible harm.