Is this the part where I run for my life? Zoe was doing her damnedest not to show any reaction. She was failing pretty badly though. I’m not the sort of person who’s supposed to get rounded up and executed by an inquisition! That was reserved for films and news stories!


    Unfortunately, she wasn’t the only one showing an uneasy reaction to the balding man’s words. Hell, the only person who wasn’t was Lord Darius. And that wasn’t even to say he didn’t react—he just vacillated between looking genuinely serious and like he was trying not to giggle. Do it fucker, I dare you, Zoe projected at him telepathically. It was a damn shame that the only person who could respond to her thoughts was Lilith.


    “I take objection to that,” the annoying Demon said, doing little to disprove the point.


    “Ah, well…” rubbing his hands in a nervous gesture, the man leaned back. Zoe still didn’t know who or even what he was, which was annoying. “I suppose I shouldn’t have ruined your return with that particular bit of gossip. Everyone’s already astir enough as-is.”


    Everyone else looked at Zoe. Fucking hell, you idiots! Stop doing that! Zoe glared back. How much more obvious could you get? That was close to the worst thing you could do, unless you were trying to discreetly spill the beans. Wait—what if that’s exactly what they’re doing? Lily and Andric might have been sort of on her side previously—but Zoe had no idea about the other three. They’re probably only putting up with this because Lord Darius told them to.


    It was Lord Darius who then came to the rescue. “Now now, there’s no need to worry about any of that. After all, these five were supposed to be stuck dealing with waist-deep snow for another week at least. They’ve already gotten off easy.” Giving a very convincing but definitely fake chuckle, the aged alchemist rested his arm against the carriage. “Have we no Faith? Even if this alleged Demon were to enter the city, certainly our beloved Templars and Inquisitors would put a swift end to the loathsome creature.”


    Zoe took note of how he flashed a brilliant smile to Sean there. She narrowed her eyes. It might have sounded like reassurances and looked like a silent compliment—but Zoe was naturally fluent in the language of petty social games. The statement had been crystal clear.


    Sean certainly picked up on it as well, as the acolyte of faith shuffled his feet in evident discomfort. But, Zoe noted with admiration—Lord Darius didn’t overplay it. The moment was passingly brief, and he’d already moved on.


    “Now then, who’d like to claim a seat on Mister Donovan’s lovely carriage?” Zoe eyed the dirty cart. It didn’t look very lovely. “He might not admit it”—Lord Darius winked—“but I know he’s just itching for an excuse to take the lot of you back to your respective lodgings. Mighty kind of him, as I myself have additional business to attend to.”


    Donovan opened his mouth, then paused. He glanced at the five ‘students’ and closed it. “Actually,” he began to say—


    “No, I don’t have time to listen to you deny it. Go on, all of you. It would be rude to decline the ride Mister Donovan offered you on his carriage.”


    Zoe arched an eyebrow. Despite the looming threat of capture and execution, she couldn’t help but be amused. Or maybe it was because of it. There was a nonzero chance she was starting to cope by simply ignoring the problem and thinking about other things.


    Mister Donovan was not able to sufficiently protest as Sean and Millie both immediately hopped up. Arthur took a moment longer, but the archmage did carefully hoist himself onto a rear bench—if semi-reluctantly. In stark contrast, Lily crossed her arms and quite visibly curled her lip. “I don’t want to go on the cart.”


    Donovan’s irritated expression morphed into a scowl. “It’s not a cart, girl, it’s a carriage.”


    Zoe blinked. “There’s a difference?”


    “Yes,” Donovan insisted. “Carriage denotes a certain aspect of dignity and stateliness.”


    “—which Mr. Donovan’s cart most certainly does not possess,” Lily finished. They glared at each other.


    “Well then,” Lord Darius announced with the air of someone who was about to leave, “I shall be going now. As I said, I have additional business to attend to.” Zoe flinched as the tall, self-assured man took her arm and very much pulled her away from the rest of them. She barely saved herself from releasing a surprised yelp. “Oh, and Andric? A word with you for but a moment.”


    Zoe couldn’t do much to resist as they swept away into the shade at the edge of an uncrowded alley. That was the one upside of being dragged around—they’d been blocking a large amount of foot traffic while speaking with Donovan. Speaking of whom—Zoe took the opportunity to fire off a quick identify.


    [OILED FENCE]


    Level 75+ | Rank C


    Familiar with his well-lubricated sword and a necessarily slippery trade, let no one accuse this Human of sticky fingers.


    -Alignment-


    > Oil


    > Shadow


    -Strengths-


    > Stealth


    > Speed


    -Weaknesses-


    > Cold


    > Blondes


    That was… you know what, I’m going to do my best not to think too deeply about any of that. The system could be oddly silly at times, but so far nothing had actually been a joke when it came down to it. If anything, that just made this more concerning. So Zoe wasn’t going to think any more about it.


    “So?” Andric’s voice spooked Zoe a little. The Rank C alchemist had snuck up on her and Lord Darius. Well—the Rank A alchemist probably hadn’t been startled. Zoe’s perception might be high, but she couldn’t imagine any of her stats would be even close as just a Rank F.


    “You would be correct,” Lilith stated, sounding rather bored.


    “I will be taking our lovely little Zoe here to your estate,” the Rank A in question answered. “I will personally negotiate the matter with Victor, so feel free to continue escorting Liliana.”


    Wait, what? Had Zoe understood that correctly? She was lacking a little context, but—it really wasn’t very hard to understand. Why am I going to their estate and not, like, wherever everyone else is going?


    “Well,” Lilith mused, “I presume this means we will be going to the same place as two of them, in the end. And I also suppose it only makes sense to lodge the Demon with the rich people who have experience working with Demons.”


    Well, when you put it like that it really did sound obvious, didn’t it. Zoe still didn’t know much about these ‘Blodmanes’—or anything about nobility and politics in general—but she’d gathered that they were an influential noble family most notable for their focus on ‘evil sorcery.’


    No one else used that phrase—that was how Zoe might put it. The issue was that there wasn’t exactly a specific kind of magic or whatever else that you could define it as. Necromancy, Demons and other infernal magics, curses, soul and mind magics, all of that lovely stuff.


    Why was everyone okay with a powerful noble family running around summoning Demons and doing necromancy? Well, everyone acted like those things really were sketchy, taboo, and possibly illegal—so frankly Zoe had absolutely no idea. It looked like she might be about to find out.


    _____


    It took them around forty-five minutes to reach the Blodmane Estate. After Andric had left to rejoin Lily and the others on the cart, Lord Darius first took her to a clothing store. That only took about ten minutes, because he wasn’t getting anything tailored or even buying her a usable wardrobe. No, he and the owner took her to the back and slapped a whole lot of fabric on her until she looked ‘passably presentable.’


    Zoe was a bit worried about why she needed to look ‘presentable,’ but that part wouldn’t come for—another forty-five minutes. At least she did have actual shoes now. He might be a jackass, but Lord Darius was kind enough to get her some fitting, ankle-height boots.Stolen story; please report.


    His helpfulness was still concerning, Zoe thought. It also ended when he said how long the walk would be, and Zoe asked if he usually walked everywhere. After all, it was a decent sized city even in comparison to modern-day earth. Forty-five minutes to walk was really rather close if you zoomed out fully.


    Then, when he explained he used the ‘mechanical carriage’ of his own invention for the farther distances—and Zoe asked if they could ride—he laughed cruelly and said no. “It’s a pleasant day and I do think I’d fancy a stroll,” he’d said.


    The worst part was that she could hardly resent him for it. It truly was a nice day, and she was pretty sure he was being genuine this time. He really did want to take a stroll, not just torture her.


    Walking up to the main gate through the walls of the Blodmane estate, Zoe felt more than a little nervous. At least it wasn’t a ‘mortal peril’ flavor of anxiety. She’d had more than enough of that. This was just regular old fish-out-of-water mixed with meeting new people.


    It was a small relief that Lord Darius did all of the talking to the people stationed at the gate. It would probably have been good for her to listen in as well—but she was too focused on thinking about when she would have to start talking to pay any attention. It was probably just a basic exchange of formalities anyway.


    Then the set of wrought iron gates swung inwards with a faint, entirely ordinary groan. It wasn’t very dramatic. I feel like it should be more dramatic, Zoe thought. That feeling was amplified when they strode forward into a perfectly-ordinary rich-person garden. Where were the fountains of blood? The sickly purple fires blazing in obsidian basins? The garden path wasn’t even properly shaded, for fucks sake. This doesn’t really feel like the home-turf of the Demon-summoning bad guys.


    “That’s because it’s not,” Lilith chimed in. “It’s the estate of a legitimate noble family who might also summon Demons sometimes.”


    Right. Zoe was still disappointed, even as Darius led her deeper and deeper in. They spent most of their time outside, to her surprise—the place was less like a giant mansion surrounded by a wall and more like a gated community. Many of the garden ‘paths’ were really more like roads passing between multiple discrete buildings.


    This made it much larger than Zoe had even expected. Hell—it looked like one of the stately halls was serving as their own private restaurant. A dining hall and personal chef was one thing. But just what kind of person decides they need their own damn private restaurant?


    “Well,” Lilith said as they finally entered the most imposing building Zoe had seen yet. “I have to assume that the Blodmanes are far larger than a typical extended family unit back in the United States—let alone the standard nuclear family. I’d wager they’ve even divided themselves into a hierarchy of different ‘branches,’ with a primary line of succession at the top.”


    Judging by just what she’d seen so far—Zoe had to agree that sounded like the right conclusion. The alternative would simply fall well beyond even the realm of ruling-class excess.


    But even then, it was still a lot. The building they’d finally entered continued both the extensive use of verdigris roofing characteristic of Verdanport and the rather Gothic style the Blodmanes seemed so fond of. That was the one saving grace of their aesthetic choices. Even if the estate was all sunshine, blooming flowers and pearly stone, they’d at least shaped the stonework to be gloomy and ominous.


    Also, this building took things further. While it certainly had appeared big from the front, it actually didn’t strike Zoe as the biggest. What it did surpass the rest in was the sheer quality and stateliness of it. That was a hard thing to quantify, but it had immediately struck Zoe as something special. Older, certainly—richer, no doubt—and possessing a care and devotion to craftsmanship qualitatively beyond the rest.


    The inside also looked classy and expensive as hell. Zoe almost felt bad about dirtying the practically silken, crimson carpet as they ascended an immensely wide set of marble stairs—but then she remembered the weekly maintenance budget would be higher than her entire old-life savings.


    When they finally stopped at the entrance of what could only possibly be the equivalent of a palace throne room, Zoe asked a question that had been bothering her. “Why did we just walk straight into their house without telling anyone or even knocking or anything?”


    That was literally what they’d done. Lord Darius hadn’t spoken to a single person since the guards at the gate—though a few people had nonverbally greeted him along the way. Then he just led her inside the current mansion and up the interior steps. More than rude, that seemed like it was bordering on breaking and entering.


    “Because Victor already knows we’re coming,” Lord Darius answered. “Were you not listening when I informed the guard? No matter. It would be a sorry look indeed if the head of the Blodmanes could be caught unaware of an approaching low-rank Demon.”


    Huh. So the guards at the gate had a way to communicate across the estate?


    “Oh there’s no doubt about it,” Lilith informed her. “Those kinds of enchantments aren’t cheap, but a noble house can certainly afford the luxury—and certainly for a link between the head of the house and the main entrance.”


    That was quite good to know, but Zoe couldn’t blame Lilith for not telling her this time. It was one of those little pieces of ‘common’ knowledge she could only reliably learn by encountering it. I feel like there are going to be a lot of those in the coming weeks.


    Returning her attention to Lord Darius, Zoe saw that he was still just standing around in front of the gold-adorned and surprisingly small doors. He didn’t look like he was waiting for her, though.


    “So what are we waiting for now?”


    “For Victor to let us in,” he replied. “Expecting us or not, even a man with far less courtesy than I possess would not dare to see himself into another’s chambers.”


    Courtesy? Zoe found it hard to believe the man beside her possessed much courtesy. The outward appearance of it, maybe. “So if I tell the guards I’m going to see the house head and they let me in, I can just walk all the way into their house?”


    Jerking his head back a little, the alchemist looked down at Zoe with confusion scrawled across his aging features. “What? No, of course not. Why-ever would you think such a thing?”


    What? Is that not literally what you just said? Zoe was confused now too. “But that’s exactly what we just did.”


    “Oh.” Chuckling, her Rank A companion stuck his hands back in his coat pockets. “Well your name isn’t Lord Darius Alister Von Loch, is it now?”


    That’s… Zoe grasped for anything she could say in response, and that’s when the doors opened.


    Despite a bit of nervousness, Zoe was curious to get her first look at Victor Blodmane.  There was a certain fascination in first glimpsing the head of a wealthy, politically powerful noble estate in the flesh. Especially one known for pursuits in the ‘dark arts.’


    The man behind the doors was dressed more—simply than she’d expected. Oh, his dark, silken jacket, silver-white gloves, and similarly silver sash were all more than fine. She’d just expected something more—flashy, and possibly colorful.


    Unlike Lord Darius, Victor Blodmane had very little hair. Precisely, he had none at all—not even eyebrows. It was a bit creepy but Zoe would do her best not to let it show in the way she acted around him.


    “It is a pleasure as always to receive you, Darius,” Lord Victor began. Lord Victor, right? Zoe assumed that was how to address him, going by how most people addressed Lord Darius. “And may it be a pleasure to receive you as well, young miss,” he said to Zoe.


    How polite, she smiled to herself. I just hope he’s not a cheeky asshole like the other old noble guy here. “The pleasure is mine, Lord Victor,” Zoe responded, dropping into a horrific attempt at a curtsy. That was a good response, right? She honestly had no idea, but she thought she had done well enough so far—


    —only for the cheeky asshole beside her to erupt in laughter. Eyes widening, Zoe whipped her gaze around to face him. Fuck, what did I do?! It didn’t take a genius like herself to understand she’d clearly done something horrifically wrong here. But what could it possibly be…?


    It was perhaps a small consolation that Lord Victor had a slight smile of his own as well. At least he doesn’t look offended, Zoe decided. “Your intention is much appreciated,” he hastily reassured her, “but, I fear, I must confess myself to be estate butler Rudy.”


    Oh. Zoe’s face was quick to heat up. Well that’s only mortally embarrassing.


    “Well look on the bright side,” Lilith piped up, “a laugh goes a long way towards getting others to remember you.”


    Zoe wasn’t so sure this was how she wanted to be remembered, but that was beside the point right now.


    “Will Victor be receiving me in the domain as I requested?”


    “Yes,” Rudy confirmed. “House Blodmane shall receive you now.”


    Well that sounded oddly ceremonial, Zoe thought. Stepping aside, the butler revealed—a curtain? It was a darkened crimson—almost black—and it really just looked like an ordinary curtain. That sure is a curtain, Zoe thought. Do we walk through the curtain or something? That feels uncharacteristically sketchy for this place.


    The curtain seemed to shimmer. That got Zoe’s attention—and sure enough, the curtain now shimmered like a portal into the void of space—or like a dimly lit pool of blood, she realized. That’s extra sketchy. It was also far more in-line with what she’d expected of the Blodmane estate.


    “Victor has created a sophisticated blood domain,” Lord Darius explained as they approached—as if that explained everything. “Feel free to use some of the blood if you like—but don’t mess with the plants.” And with that, the alchemist melted through the rippling blood.


    It was really quite disturbing, actually. It wasn’t like he walked through—it was like the man was also made of liquid, and the puddle of disconcertingly dark blood had slurped him up.


    “We’ll be fine,” Lilith assured her. “The boundaries of domains are often strange. They seldom have much bearing on what you’ll find once you’re actually inside.”


    Well, if that were the case—Zoe took a breath. Well I think it’s fairly safe to assume there will be more blood, she mused, but I have no idea what he meant about the plants. Closing her eyes, Zoe stepped inside.