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“I always loved her, you know. Such a lovely lady. Did the medicine not help?” he asks and I shake my head.

“No, she killed herself,” I tell him, swallowing down the lump that has formed in my throat. He nods in understanding, as suicide isn’t a big deal here—a lot of people see it as an out even though that’s not why grandma did it.

Victor runs his hands through his graying hair. “So, what do you need?”

“Medicine, cough medicine, antibiotics.”

Victor shakes his head.

“I have none. I have been cleaned out and haven’t had the funds to buy more from underground or find any herbs. Everything is frozen.”

I take off my mother’s necklace and hand it to him.

“I can try, Elora, how much do you need?”

“A lot.”

Silas looks at me, then stares at the necklace. It is gold so it has value to the underground dealers who grow stuff in the old tunnels, but even I know it won’t be enough.

“When do you need it? I can’t head to the tunnels now, it is getting dark; it’s not safe out there at night.”

“Which tunnels?” I ask.

“They moved to Breach Street tunnels.”

I nod. Silas and Matitus watch our exchange, confused.

The underground operations in the tunnels are moved and kept hidden so they won’t be found easily if the Dragon Kings find out about it. People fear they will put a stop to the illegal operations underground. Unfortunately those who do know like myself and Victor, it costs a lot to get herbs from them. Medication being an expensive and valuable trade to those who have a green thumb.

“How much?” Silas asks.

“Depends how much you want. This would buy maybe three herbs, enough to make two bottles,” he says, holding up my necklace.

Silas digs in his pocket, taking my necklace and handing it back to me. He pulls out a handful of gold coins. Matitus and Dragus follow suit.

“This?” Silas asks. Victor’s mouth falls open and he grabs one, biting into it.

“Solid?” he asks and Silas nods.

“Well, you could buy the entire place with what you have there,” he says, nodding to the handful of coins.

“I can’t go now; the Vamps will be out hunting and the rest of the creatures,” Victors says.

“If you can make it, I will go and pick up the herbs myself.”

He nods, then realizes what I said and quickly shakes his head.

“Elora, it is dangerous at night,” he tells me.

I shake my head disagreeing. No one will mess with me while I have these three with me.

“Just listen out for my knock,” I tell him, as I leave. Victor follows behind us, locking back up. The Dragon Kings watch me, following as I turn down a dark alley.

“How do you know where you’re going, and why would you give him your mother’s necklace?” Dragus asks.

“You don’t have the luxury of keeping things in this city, Dragus, you barter to get what you need. Come on,” I tell them, walking up another alleyway and stopping at a drain. I lift the grate and use the ladder to climb down. Silas follows first, then the others.

“Have you been down here before?” Silas asks.