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"Makes sense," I say. "So, the dragons rule all?"

"They created this world. They came together to create a place that would protect paranormals and humans alike."

"Like from the witch trials? That kind of thing?"

He smirks. "You caught no real witches during your massacre," he said. "All of those killed were human. Witches are too powerful to get caught up in such a human mess."

"Right. Well, I'm anti-witch hunt, just for the record."

He nods. "The witches will be glad to know it."

The carriage slows and then comes to a stop in front of a cemetery. The rain has faded to a slight misting of the air, and fog hugs the earth around the ancient-looking tombstones, setting a sinister tone.

Lily opens my carriage door and offers her hand to steady me as I climb out. I'm about to tell her I can manage without aid, but then I slip and nearly land on my ass in the mud. She rescues me with a strong arm around my waist, surprising me anew with her dexterity and strength.

"Thanks," I say with a smile.

"It takes some getting used to," she says, and I don't know if she means carriage riding or magical otherworlds, or both. I'm going with both.

"Why are we at a graveyard?" I ask. "I thought we were going to the coroner's office?"

"We are," Sebastian says without further comment as he begins walking.

I follow, but Lily stays behind with the carriage, giving a little wave and wink as we walk away. "Don't be scared," she says. "They're harmless."

"Well that's not ominous at all," I say under my breath. I catch up to Sebastian and grab his arm. "What am I not supposed to be scared about?" I ask. "Who's harmless?"

"You'll see soon enough."

Ugh. If I get that answer from one more Night brother, I'm gonna punch one of them.

"Can none of you actually answer questions in a straightforward manner? Is it part of your curse, to be so annoyingly vague?"

He grunts at that. "We shouldn't have to explain this world to you. You should already be part of it. I don't know how you saw the ad or got this job, but it's a giant mistake."

That stings, but I try not to let it show. "Well, as it happens, I did see the ad and I did get the job. So now I need you guys to actually answer my questions and tell me shit or it's going to be hella hard to do my damn job."

We are walking across the muddy cemetery towards a mausoleum. It's a massive structure, far larger than I would have expected. The towering gothic building casts a long shadow over the dead with its clustered columns, sharply pointed spires and flying buttresses. The stained-glass windows give added color to the Dragon's Breath in a magical display as we approach the entrance.

Sebastian pauses between the two intricately carved stone gargoyles guarding the door.

I wait, unsure of what we're doing. "Are we going in or...?"

"We will. In a moment. Once we have permission." Sebastian clears his throat and says something in a language I don't recognize.

It kinda sounds like "oobolacky jambonick kay." But really, I'm totally guessing about that.

At his strange words, a sound like grinding stone startles a pair of birds perched on one of the leafless trees near us. And then the gargoyles blink!

I blink as well, thinking maybe I imagined it. But no, the stone gargoyles are definitely moving. One yawns, its mouth opening and stretching, revealing dozens of large stone teeth.

My flash is blinking in my mind, but it doesn't feel like a danger warning as much as something auspicious I'm being alerted to.

"What does the Son of Night seek in the place of the dead?" one of the gargoyles asks, its voice like gravel.

"Greetings, Akuro. We seek the wisdom of the Infrits in our investigation of a wrongful death," Sebastian replies.

The second gargoyle then leaps down from its pedestal, wings spread, tail wrapping around itself as it lands before me. It's at least twelve feet tall with a fierce face full of sharp teeth. It's nearly identical to the other gargoyle, with only subtle differences that most would miss on a casual glance. It bends its head down to sniff me.