“I’m not frightened. I faced the most bloodthirsty vampire on the planet.”

“Yes, I know, you’re not frightened of anything. Noted. I know him, so just let me handle it.”

Daisy followed Torija up to the door. She gazed around in astonishment. This was right under the noses of the human Parisians. The paranormal world got stranger and stranger the more time she spent in it.

Just as Torija was about to knock on the door, it opened itself. Daisy peeked around Torija and saw a stocky elderly man with white hair and beard, sitting in a very worn armchair, next to a wood stove.

This was not how Daisy expected the Grim Reaper to look, but then again, she never expected to meet the Reaper.

Torija bowed extravagantly and said, “Reaper, may I enter? I seek your counsel.”

Daisy rolled her eyes and said, “We aren’t in the Regency period, you know.”

“I was,” Torija said flatly.

He said nothing and just stared at them steadily. Torija glanced back at Daisy quickly before saying, “I know our last meeting wasn’t as—”

The Reaper cut her off. “That depends on who I am inviting in—Victorija Dred or Torija.”

How in God’s green earth did he know about Victorija’s transformation, Daisy wondered. She was fed up taking a back seat, so she pushed in front of Torija and said, “She’s Torija, she’s changing.” Daisy thought back to what Torija said outside. As mad as she was, she recognized now that Torija was probably frightened still of what she might do, and if you were a bloodthirsty vampire who hadn’t cared in centuries if a human lived or died, then that was still a huge change. Even if Torija had pushed her away last night. “I mean, I’m alive, and the old Victorija would have killed me.”

The Reaper laughed. “Victorija Dred with a human attorney for the defence.”

Daisy could feel Torija getting frustrated. “Look, can we come in or not?”

The Reaper indicated for them to come in, and he stood up.

Now that they were inside, she could see how basic and aged his shack was. Why would a paranormal being choose to stay here?

He walked over to Daisy and said, “Daisy MacDougall. Lucia said you would come here one day, and you’re as feisty as she described.”

“How would the Grand Duchess know I would be here one day?”

“She was and is a very powerful woman. She supports Amelia Debrek from the spirit world, and Amelia is one of the descendants who will fight for this world against its dark forces. You are the other.”

“What?” Daisy said, confused.

Torija stepped forward. “A descendant?”

Daisy had no idea what he was talking about. “What is this?”

“Sit down by the fire with me.”