Public House was certainly an impressive structure. The three-story mansion sprawled over an acre of manicured grounds. Weathered gargoyles leered down at them from every corner of the roof. A fifteen-foot-tall wrought iron fence surrounded the grounds. It was more for decoration than anything since anyone with a modicum of physical ability could climb it with no trouble. Even the spikes at the top didn’t look very sharp.

“Wow!” Marie-Bell stared up at the mansion.

It seemed the large stained glass window that dominated the front of the building especially drew her attention. Not that Damien was surprised, the window depicted a blond woman in mail that might have been her cousin.

“She was the first mayor of the city,” Jen said when she noticed where they were looking. “A warlord of some skill and if the rumors were true the imperial governor’s lover. Her name escapes me.”

Damien glanced at his sister, surprised that she’d bothered to learn even that much about a place she didn’t like. “Where’d you hear that?”

“When I was stationed in the city I did a week of guard duty here. The other guy was a local and he liked to talk.” Jen grimaced. “He really liked to talk. Besides Tosh, he was the only person I wanted to strangle during my time here.”

Damien chuckled. That was more like it. The three of them approached the fence gate. A warlord stood on either side of the entrance, ceremonial halberds in their hands and more practical swords strapped to their backs. The two men weren’t especially strong, but even weak warlords would be a match for any number of normal citizens.

The guards crossed their halberds to block the gate. “Name and business,” the taller, blond one said.

“Jennifer St. Cloud. My companions and I were invited to have a drink with the mayor.”

They moved aside.

“Go on in,” the blond guard said. “The head butler is waiting just inside the door to guide you to the great hall.”

Jen nodded and the three of them passed through the gate and crunched their way up the twisting gravel path to the mansion. A hedge grew on both sides of their route. If someone wanted to ambush them this would be a good spot. Damien found he had unconsciously strengthened his shield and smiled at his foolishness.

“What’s Mayor Solomon like?” Marie-Bell asked. She was the only one that seemed eager for this meeting.

Jen shrugged. “He’s a big, broad-shouldered guy. Bald as an egg, but not bad looking. I’ve never spoken to the man, so I have no idea what sort of personality he has. Being a politician I assume he acts however he needs to at any given moment.”

Marie-Bell cocked her head. “You served as a gate guard for a week and he never spoke to you? I would have thought he walked by dozens of times.”

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Jen smiled and shook her head. “The mayor generally travels by carriage. The gate guards are little more than living decorations, and ignored as such. As far as I know there’s never been an attempt on the mayor’s life or even someone trying to sneak onto the grounds.”

They reached the ten-foot-tall main doors and paused. “Do we knock or just go in?” Damien asked.

Jen reached out and tugged the bronze handle. The doors swung open revealing a large foyer framed by marble columns, with a red carpet running down the center toward a hall.

A tall, gaunt man dressed all in black stood to one side of the door and bowed to them. “Welcome ladies, sir, His Lordship the mayor is waiting along with a small gathering of notables. I believe everyone is eager to meet the new heroes of the city.”

Damien sighed. This sounded familiar. At least he wouldn’t have to dodge Karrie for the whole evening.

The butler turned and shuffled along deeper into the mansion. Damien and the others followed. The interior was dimly lit with intermittent glow lamps. Given the opulence of the fine wood paneling and gold trim you would have thought they could afford more lights.

Wanting to have a better look at the place Damien conjured two floating lights and let them bob around on either side of the group.

The butler gave a pained expression. “If you wouldn’t mind, sir, the master prefers the mansion kept dark after sunset. He feels too much light is showing off in front of those unfortunates that can’t afford glow lights.”

“That’s very considerate of him, however I like to see where I’m going. I’ll put them out before we reach the gathering.”

The butler sighed and took the next left. “As you wish, sir.”

They continued down the empty halls, paintings of previous lord mayors decorating the walls. It felt like they were staring down at Damien. The empty eyes gave him the creeps.

Their guide took a right and led them down yet another empty door-lined hall. It was a convoluted path to take to reach a party.

Halfway down the hall a door creaked open. “You!” Jen shouted. Her soul force surged and she vanished into the room, slamming the door behind her.

“Jen!” Damien spun back to face the closed door.

“What happened?” Marie-Bell stood beside him.

The door on the opposite wall opened and head-high clawed hands shot out, wrapped around Marie-Bell, and dragged her into the room. The door slammed shut.

Damien whipped around to face the butler. “What—”

A trap door opened under his feet.

Damien fell fifteen feet before catching himself in midair. He looked up, but there was no sign of the trapdoor. He could blast his way out, but if he used too much power he might bring the whole place down around his ears killing who knew how many innocent people.

He swung his fist, but found nothing to hit. Maybe he could carefully cut his way through the floor.

Below him corruption flared, a potent darkness just a little weaker than Mikhail. What the hell had he fallen into? Damien conjured more lights and sent them out into the darkness. All around was nothing but empty space. One of his lights reached a wall.

Damien flew closer. It was rough stone, like a natural cavern. Did the people who built the mansion even know about this chamber under their feet? They must have, no competent engineer would fail to check for such a thing and account for it in their design.

The corruption was getting closer. The source was below him and to the right. Damien sent his lights down until they reached the floor. Someone had smoothed the floor many years ago and made a path through the stalagmites and loose rubble. The path almost felt like an invitation.

He looked up again. Jen and Marie-Bell could handle themselves. He needed to deal with whoever or whatever was putting out that demonic energy.

Besides, it’s not like you’re alone.

Damien smiled. No, as long as he had Lizzy he’d never be alone.