Traffic outside of Gemknight reminds me of coming back to NYC through the Holland Tunnel at the end of a holiday weekend. In a word: Horrible. The Vainglory and I sit in a fancy deluxe carriage sent for us by The Ministry. There's space for myself, The Captain, Colette, Obera, Sasha, The Grimoire Sisters, and Chai. Llenoy sent my fubby friend along as my personal assistant. I don't think I need one, but I figure it's a chance for her to get out and relax.

The carriage even has its own privy. Come to think about it, the carriage is a lot like a charter bus except for the stuff of nightmares pulling us along. A nearly thirty foot long millipede with a billion legs.

Alone on the privy, I give little Marlon a shake to get rid of the last drops of my morning tea. His color and shape is back to normal and I've yet to have any adverse effects from the ointment Nurse Emma gave me. Considering it a win, I rinse my hands in the wash basin and return to the carriage proper. Instead of going back to my seat next to Chai, I sit in the open spot next to Obera.

"Hey, Bearson. How's it hanging?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that, little guy?" she chuckles.

"If you must know, it looks like I'm back to normal."

"I really didn't need to know that, but I'm happy for you." She puts her arm around my shoulder and pulls me in close. "Did you figure out which sister you're gonna marry?"

I choke on my own spit.

"I'm just messing with you," she says, patting me on the back. "I'm sure they'll just decide amongst themselves."

I stare at her, imagining how that conversation would play out. The image of a stuffed animal being pulled apart by two serpent goddesses comes to mind. She cracks a toothy smile and I find I can breathe again.

"Everyone's a comedian all of a sudden." I shake my head. Outside a group of short bearded men and women argue over a fender bender. "Tell me more about Gemknight."

"Hmmm, four centuries ago, Gemknight was founded by the dwarves of Hudson Crevasse." She points to the huge canyon outside our window, the bridge we're currently stuck on spans the expanse. "It was taken by the Centuar-Elf Alliance after the war and today it is run by The Ministry."

"Hudson Crevasse, like Hudson Valley? That can't be a coincidence." She doesn't see the connection, so I explain it to her.

"Ah, that makes sense. I've read somewhere that scholars believe our worlds were once the same. It would make sense that some landmarks are related." She does a quick scan of the carriage, peeking over the seats. "Sasha has lots of family in Gemkinght. Many of the large businesses are run by the Tombs. Her father is the Vice-Minister. You need to be careful around them."

The last feels like a warning, but she smiles the entire time and I can't tell if I'm paranoid. She leans in close.

"I overheard Sasha talking to–"

"Hey, human, whatcha talking about?" Sasha interrupts as if conjured by the mention of her name.

She plops down in my lap...

Once again, I'm floating in the abandoned pool, surrounded by shadow. Sasha's bear chest is pressed against my back and her hands roam freely along my body. I try to make sense of the words she whispers in my ear, but they mean nothing until they do. Just when they start making sense...

Obera shoves Sasha off my lap and into the aisle. I shake my head, coming back to the here and now.

"Ouch!" Sasha's cheeks puff out as she pouts. "Obera, don't be mean."

"You're interrupting."

"I just wanted to play with Marlon."

I shake my head and get up. Outside, the bearded people start to brawl, swinging pipes and wrenches like swords on the battlefield. Broom notices and calls out for the Vainglory to be on alert. As they move to the windows on both sides in search of danger, I make my way back towards my seat. On my way, I catch sight of Collete leaning forward and holding her head.

"You okay over there, Letty?"

"What? Oh... yeah, I'm fine." She says, smoothing out her shirt and placing her hands in her lap.

"You don't look fine."

"I wouldn't know," she chuckles, turning as if to emphasize her blindfold.

"That's not what I meant... actually it is. You look sad."

She stares at the back of the seat in front of her.

"I haven't been to our apartments here in a very long time. I left a lot of friends behind and a lot of things unfinished."

"What made you come back now?"

The bridge traffic begins to move, even as a gentle rain starts to fall.

"It's been long enough and Chineelia will be with me. That should make things a little easier..." she turns to me with a lopsided smile. "Besides, this will give you and me a chance to go out on a date."

"A date?"

"I wasn't kidding when I said I was going to claim you too, Marlon Smalls. I'm just not the type to take things to a carnal place until I get to know you better."

I glance up the aisle where The Captain talks to the driver and coordinates our passage across the bridge.

Imagine that area of Brooklyn surrounding Fort Green park, but all of the buildings are gigantic hollowed out mushrooms with doors, windows, and chimneys. What you're seeing in your head is close to downtown Gemknight City, but you've got to sprinkle a bit of fairy dust on it. The denizens of the city include everything from hip fubbies in leather jackets and greaser hairstyles to tall faceless people I've been assured aren't related to slenderman. There are elves and dwarves everywhere. And there are men. Tall ones, short ones, red ones and blue ones. The place is both fantastically new and comfortably familiar.

Vehicular transit seems equally divided between wagons pulled by mythical beast of burden and old school Volkswagens covered in huge dwarf gems. Obera had told me about the gems on my first day, but I still wasn't prepared for the sheer number of them. Streetlights, car batteries, power transformers, music players. The gems are integrated everywhere I look. They become more prevalent as we leave the residential mushrooms and enter the city proper. Massive monolithic structures cut from single pieces of magnificent white and black stone create a skyline landscape that looks like a hybrid between late 1990s New York City and modern day Chicago.

Giant dwarf gems in the sides of the buildings emit thick beams of energy, creating a lattice of interweaving purple and green light. Insect-like gondolas flow back and forth along the beams overhead as we skitter down crowded city streets. Many bow their heads or take a knee as we pass. A few salute and an even smaller number pointedly turn their backs.

"The Azi'Zoro family must be quite special. Back home they reserve this kind of response to royalty."

"It's the ministry crawler pulling the carriage," Colette explains. "The creature is a symbol of the ruling body. Minister Atropa sent her personal beast of burden."

"Wow, that's awfully kind of her."

"No, it's a political move. She's showing off for her political rivals here in Gemknight, reminding them that this is all possible because of her."

Everything is politically motivated with Atropa, I remind myself.

The crawler skitters to a halt in front of a tall onyx and gold building with an elaborate perron flanked by golden statues. Two massive flags sway from a single flagpole above the entrance: House Black and The Ministry. A decent-sized crowd waits on the street behind rope barriers. I can't quite understand what they're chanting as The Vainglory guide me out and up the wide stairs. The crawler skitters away as we enter a pair of wide double doors.

Colette takes hold of my hand, her tongue flicking out nervously. The Captain catches my eye and gives me a gentle nod. I smile and nod back. She can't comfort her sister and do her job, so I'll help out as best I can. Giving Letty's hand a squeeze, I take a look around the huge foyer. Forty foot ceiling, tall stone pillars, and a wide flight of stairs. The floors shine with polish and the air smells of citrus and lavender. It's all spacious and prestigious.

As we approach the steps a delegation descends. Men and women in white suits escort a group of five. Two are vainglory, easily identified by their uniforms. At the head of the delegation is a seven foot tall bear in a fancy business suit. Broad in the shoulders and covered in fur, I expect him to snarl or growl.

Instead he laughs at something said by one of his companions and says, "That's why I called security. The next time I find a random woman in my bed I don't want it all over the tabloids."

The woman behind him chuckles and takes his arm. She's a few inches taller than me, with a face like Cher and large deer-like ears. Covered in soft brown fur from the waste down, I instantly think of satyr and fauns.

"Believe me, I'm hoping this next candidate will make an honest man of you, Mr. Furstein."

They stop at the bottom of the steps as their escort spreads out.

"Well, we'll see. I kind of like being Gemknight's most eligible bachelor," he responds.

"Second most eligible bachelor," states a deep rich voice. "Let's finish this conversation later tonight."

A tall handsome man with a white man-bun and a conservative beard steps past them. Throwing his arms wide, he grins, revealing long jet black fangs.

"There's my little girl!" he shouts, though it sounds more like the melodious opening to a power ballad.

"Daddy!" Sasha says as she skips over.

The two vampires embrace, the handsome man spinning her around like a child.

"Daddy?" I whisper to Colette.

"Vice-Minister Daddy," she responds with a scoff.

"Wait, how unprofessional of me." His eyes harden, glaring at Letty for a moment before becoming friendly once more. "Surely you all will be forgiving. Captain Azi'Zoro, welcome."

He bows deeply to Chineelia and his two companions do the same. Their white-clad escort all stand still as if made from the same stone as one of the statues back at the estate. My vainglory guards all return the bow in unison.

"Is this our guest?" he asks, weaving past them and coming up beside me. He smells of blood and flowers.

"Vice-Minister Tombs, this is Marlon Smalls, one of our guests from beyond the veil." The Captain gestures to the man's back. "Mr. Smalls, this is Vice-Minister Vladimir Tombs."

"Mr. Smalls, it is a pleasure to meet you." The music of his voice burrows into my brain, making me feel both relaxed and happy. "Welcome to my city. I sincerely hope you and our other guests enjoy your visit."

I instantly don't trust him.