They drew up to the front door of the manor as the sun set behind them. The last, long rays of the sun drew deep shadows across the manor’s face. Windows aflame with the sun’s fire revealed nothing of the depths of the dark house. Constructed of brick, the manor stood proud despite its apparent abandonment. Though the gardens were tangled and the path overgrown, though ivy crawled over a full half of the façade, the house’s frame stood square-shouldered and proud. A high-peaked roof braved the wind and rain, slates sun-scorched but not fractured. Before them, a heavy wooden door barred the way, worn and weathered. A brass doorknocker in the shape of a growling lion held a brass ring, both ring and lion tarnished.

Gideon looked over the gardens and scoffed. “And he calls himself a groundskeep? These grounds haven’t been kept in ages.”

“To be fair, I don’t think he’s been paid in ages,” Elly offered gently.

“He’s living in a manor for free! I’d call that plenty of pay,” Gideon grumbled.

“Can’t buy bread with ‘living in a manor,’” Jet pointed out.

“Filthy trespasser,” Gideon replied, ignoring Jet.

Angel cleared his throat. “So uh, are we going in, or…”

Gideon beamed at her. “Go ahead.”

Angel frowned at him. “Don’t tell me you’re actually afraid of ghosts?”

“I’m not afraid of anything,” Gideon said, but didn’t reach for the door.

Angel looked at Jet.

Jet shrugged. “I am an officer. I shouldn’t be breaking into houses, even abandoned ones. Now, if someone else breaks in and I enter to keep the peace, that’s a totally different thing.”

Angel rolled her eyes. “Useless men.” She raised her hand and pushed the door.

It swung inward slowly, creaking the whole time, just like the gate. Unlike the gate, this creak echoed, sounding deep into the house. The door gaped open, revealing darkness. The low sun illuminated a grand staircase, rising from the foyer into shadow. Marble floors glistened faintly white, laced with black. To either side of the stairs, a doorway led deeper into the house, deeper into absolute darkness.

Despite himself, Jet swallowed.

Suddenly business, Gideon stepped inside. He turned back, using the short step up into the house as a platform. “Rana’s probably hiding in here. If we want to find her before it gets dark, we should split up. Angel and Elly, you come with me. Leo and Kat can go with Jet. We’ll search the first floor, meet back here, and search the second.”

Leo nodded, but Jet frowned. “What, you get both of the useful support units, and I get the kids?”

“You get the dragon,” Gideon pointed out.

“But also Kat,” Jet argued.

Kat sniffled and grabbed Elly’s skirts, hiding behind them.

Elly patted her head and cooed soothingly. She glanced up at them, her smile the same as ever, but somehow vaguely threatening. “I can wait outside with Kat.”

“I want to go with Gideon!” Kat declared.

Gideon hesitated, then grit his teeth when he saw Elly’s swift glare. “Fine, but I get Angel.”

“I’ll take Elly and Leo, then,” Jet stated.

“Only makes sense. After all, Leo and I are the only party members who can handle dragons,” Gideon replied, nodding.

“I can—” Jet stopped abruptly. I can fight dragons, but I can’t handle them solo the way Gideon or Leo can. It hurts my pride to admit, but—but, what the hell am I thinking? Who on earth can handle dragons solo other than other dragons, like Leo, or absolute madmen, like Gideon, a mage so strong the king absolved him of the death penalty due to his power? There’s nothing to feel ashamed of!

“Then it’s decided,” Elly declared, moving to Jet’s side. Leo followed, and Angel and Kat went to Gideon’s side. Kat bit her lips, nervous, but stuck close to Gideon.

Elly looked at Kat. “Are you sure? You can stay with me if you’d rather.”

Kat hesitated, then shook her head. “I’ll go with Gideon!”

“She’s decided. It’s not on me whatever happens to her, now,” Gideon said, shrugging.

“Kat…” Elly said. She stepped toward Kat.

Kat shook her head and backed toward Gideon.

“We’ll take the left, and you take the right?” Jet suggested.

“Works for me,” Gideon replied, cracking his knuckles. He stepped forward, then gestured for Angel to take the lead.

“What, not you?” Angel asked.

“Mages are back-line units. I’m only playing to our respective strengths,” Gideon replied firmly.

“Dancers are support units. We shouldn’t fight at all,” Angel replied.

Gideon nodded, a hand on his chin. “Then there’s only one option. Kat! Go forth!”

Elly grit her teeth. “Kat, come with—”

Kat set her jaw and strode forward, leading the way. “Let’s go!”

Jet watched the trio go and grew less certain of himself with every second. A criminal, an exotic dancer, and a young girl? How could this go wrong? Maybe I should step in…

Before he could make up his mind, the three of them vanished into the right hand door. Jet clenched his teeth and shook his head. It’ll be fine. Angel’s… reasonably trustworthy, even if Gideon isn’t. She won’t let anything happen to Kat.

He gestured for the others to follow him and took the left door.

Darkness awaited them, but only for a few moments. Elly murmured a prayer, and her staff lit up with diffuse light. From the foyer, they found themselves in a long hallway. Dusty portraits hung from the walls, picturing a set of dark-haired, stern-faced men and women. The hallway receded into the darkness. Two doors opened to the hallway’s left, each one closed. If more doors stretched along the length of the hallway, the shadows swallowed them, along with the end of the hall. Despite Elly’s light spell, the shadows persisted, too dark to pierce through. She strode forward, and they shied back, but gathered behind them, cutting off their view of the entry door.

Jet frowned. “Is this… some kind of spell?”

“When great evil accumulates in an area… these kind of phenomenon can occur,” Elly replied darkly. She brandished her staff, turning slowly.

“Great evil? Like what?” Jet asked.

Elly glanced at him and Leo. “Human sacrifice… a great many deaths… dragons.”

Leo frowned at Elly. He pointed over his shoulder, back at where they’d come from.

“Well… that’s what the doctrine of the High God says. Naturally, the High God didn’t account for good dragons, being a dragon-hater herself,” Elly explained. She smiled awkwardly at Leo. “I… suppose I’m still not used to having dragons on our side.”

Leo frowned at her, then sighed and shrugged. He shook his head, then smiled.

“I’m sorry, Leo. When this is all over, I’ll go to the High God’s temple. I’ll see her Holy Book for myself and see if there’s any flexibility in her language. I’m sure… well, she is the High God. She surely foresaw something like this,” Elly said, nodding to herself.

If Gideon was here, I’m sure he’d say something snarky right now, Jet thought to himself. Instead, he kept quiet. I’m not much of a religious type myself, but the High God was pretty clear on dragons. It seems… even gods are not infallible.

Leo waved his hand. He hurried on ahead, suddenly uncomfortable, and vanished into the dark.

“Leo…” Elly hurried after him.

Jet grabbed her arm. “He’s the strongest of us all, what danger could he come to? Besides, he’s a dragon. I’m sure he can see in the dark or—”

CRASH! A scratchy shriek sounded out, echoing in a vast space, and then there was only silence. Seconds passed. A heavy thump echoed back up to them.

Jet bit back his words and resisted the urge to put his face in his hands. If you can’t see in the dark, why’d you rush ahead?