Amari and the Night Brothers: Chapters 25–33

You know you’ve been here for a while when weird stuff like that doesn’t even faze you.

Locate the beast that’s not like the rest, with a heavenly name created in jest.

Our Junior Curator leads us into the main hallway, which is at least a little brighter.

Congratulations! The six of ye have proven to be the best. But now’s no time to be resting on your laurels.

“Just got a shipment of gossip magazines this morning. Sure, they might use less than reputable sources, but some of your best information comes from less than reputable sources. You remember that when you become a big-shot agent, you hear?”

“Well, if you change your mind and get a hankerin’ for a little make-believe, the computer catalog for the fiction section is right over there.”

Dwarves insulted by Merlin's insinuation that golden city is merely gold-plated

Things got heated at an EverTree fashion show after both Madame Duboise and former understudy Vivi LaBoom both unveiled nearly identical lines of translucent apparel for ghostly spirits.

Curious, then, that both were spotted laughing it up at Duboise's sprawling woodland estate.

It's customary for an agent to create a Farewell Briefcase to be delivered to a loved one in the event of a tragedy, and it was touching indeed that Quinton Peters chose to use his briefcase to offer Amari Peters a place at the Bureau. But one has to wonder, why then would an agent of reputable stature need a second Farewell Briefcase?

“Blasted gossip rag,” Magnus groans. “Bane of my existence.”

“She was planning to dump it on Dylan, and I sort of lost my temper.”
Magnus snorts. “Well, if there’s anybody due for a bit of spaghetti humbling, it’s that Van Helsing gal. Kid was born with her nose turned up.”

It takes me all morning and most of the afternoon to finish Sovereign Cities of the Supernatural World. Despite the boring title, it’s pretty cool to learn about the non-human cities out there.

“Are those...Junior Undertaker cloaks?”
“Fresh from the Department of the Dead!”

Dylan and Elsie dare me to try Banshee I-Scream, which seems like plain old ice cream to me until the urge to shout my lungs out takes over after the third bite.

Unrequited Love has a bright red glow.

Piercing screeches hurt my ears as the giant bats descend from the rafters, fangs bared.

Earlier today, the Department of Supernatural Investigations suffered an unprecedented attack by hybrids somehow capable of teleporting directly into our facility.

Then he puts a finger to my moonstone badge and says, “By the power vested in me as a training agent, I promote you, Amari Peters, to Junior Agent.”

For a moment, Agent Magnus just stares, incredulous. He shakes it off. “You’re telling me magicians have the power to control computers with their magic?”

“You had your chance to choose the winning side. Perhaps we can teach you to be less trusting. But then, maybe all Peters are gullible.”

“How far back does your treachery reach, I wonder? Maria looked up to you! Did you convince her to betray both her family and the Bureau?”

His voice falters and he shakes his head.

Until we can verify that none of our other security protections have been compromised, we cannot in good conscience allow children to remain inside the facility.

“Van Helsing’s even tracking my movements in case I’m guilty of helping. Can’t step one foot outside the Bureau without setting off an alarm that’d have fifty agents come after me. Like I don’t have a kiddie of my own at home to check in on. The audacity of that man.”

Moreau sweeps his hands forward and a medical gurney rolls out from behind the counter.

All those who have cursed and vilified what we are, they shall get their just due.

As you so eloquently explained to Agent Fiona, you were only a trainee, so you weren’t technically a member of the Bureau yet. Oh, they grumbled and groaned for six hours straight at the emergency session of the Supernatural World Congress, but no one could fault your logic.

My ancestor helped Vladimir create the spell you conjured to save yourself the other day.

While many of us, including myself, have long advocated revealing ourselves to the Bureau and the rest of the supernatural world, the majority of our order still believes it’s safer to continue to pose as ordinary people.