Kaz woke up in his best clothing on the floor of a casino. It was busy and loud and had everything a casino needed. Nothing out of the ordinary. Except everyone there was dead. He was shocked. It worked, the Afterlife was real. He stood up and dusted himself off. There was an ornate mirror with flecks of precious gems embedded in the glass. When he looked in the mirror he saw Inej crying. He grabbed his heart and sighed. He looked for a heartbeat and couldn't find one. He still has moved his hand around and finally he felt a beat. He exhaled in relief. He touched the mirror and spoke.

"I'm sorry Inej, he's here and I'm going to find him and bring him back." The vision of Inej seemed to move and calmed down. It was like a collection of portraits. It was slow and not fluid but it was happening in current time.

"What do you see?" Kaz turned around. The voice gasped. It was a young girl. She had long light blonde hair and light blue eyes. She had a long blue nightgown on and no shoes. She was Fjerdan. Her neck and legs were covered in burns.

"What?"

"You—!" She regained her composure. "Everyone sees what they love most in the mirror. What do you see?" Kaz scoffed. This was the afterlife. He couldn't trust anything.

"What is this place?"

"Welcome to AM's Casino, it used to be called The Afterlife Casino, but our leader has changed in the past two years. Now what do you see?"

"My family," the young girl smirked.

"How common." Kaz stretched his hands.

"Now," he paused, "who are you?" She rose her eyebrows.

"Birgit."

"Why are you here? I'm here for my friend." He altered his voice to make him sound almost cuddly. He put his hands and his knees and reached her level.

"Oh! You killed yourself! A Drüskelle killed me! But I work for Sasha! He's our new leader! He's very kind." She gave Kaz a suspicious look. "Why do you care?"

"I'm just learning," Kaz tried to smile but decided against it. Besides he was relatively upset that she thought he killed himself. "What is this place? It doesn't look cruel?"

"That's because it's not, it's a neutral place. A place where people can just exist. No need for food or air. It isn't cruel in nature. Although we do have rules. You must stay in a hotel room after closing time or risk Punishment. Sasha keeps the constant troublemakers as his friends. You have a home too," She seemed to look far into him. "Kaz Rietveld." Kaz gasped in surprise. Could she tell that he was close to life?

"I want to find my friend. You work for the leader, will you help me?" She nodded.

"That's my job!" She smiled. Her hair curled up immediately. "What's their name?" Kaz smiled.

"Matthias Helvar," her eyes widened.

"I—I can't it's— you—!" She disappeared in a flash.

"Shit," Kaz sighed. "I'm in trouble now," Kaz decided he should make sure he has a layout of the land. He examined himself. His neck had a scar and so did all the places Inej sliced him. Even though his voice was raspy he didn't need his cane. He was as capable as he was before his "death" just with full mobility. He had to get more knowledge about this plane. He looked for the person to be the most helpful. He spotted someone around his age scowling at the banner that displayed the name of the Casino.

He was sketching out lines on map paper. He was dressed like a soldier. He looked like he was torn apart. He had brown hair and brown eyes. He had pale skin that seemed to never see sun. His movements showed anger and resentment. Kaz was sure he would help him. Kaz pushed back his hair and strutted over to the soldier.

"Hey, can you help me?" The man looked up. His eyes were sad.

"How so?"

"That dead kid didn't help me." He shushed him quickly.

"You could be in trouble. Birgit can hear." He thought over what Kaz said. "Wait? Why didn't she help you?"

"I was looking for someone but she got nervous when I said his name."

"What's his name?"

"Matthias Helvar." His eyes widened just like Birgit's.

"Don't say his name!"  Kaz recoiled at the outburst. He stared at the soldier intensely.

"And Why is that?"

"He's a friend. It's because he was a Drüskelle, and he resisted His Power. He didn't like how he ran the place." His eyes widened. "I really shouldn't s telling you this if you're looking for him."

"It's not your fault. I have an effect on people. Should've seen me in life. Kaz and you?" He looked reluctant but he seemed to figure that he might as well just give him his name himself than hear it from someone else. 

"Alexei." Kaz walked away before trouble could be caused. He would come back to him later when he needed him.

If it's a Casino Hotel... then it has to have a front desk. He went to where he thought a map would be. It was in the center of the room he was in. He saw the scribbled name on the left corner of the map.  Alexei. Kaz smirked.

He'll definitely come in handy. He saw where the the front desk was and slammed his hands on the desk. A person appeared from behind the desk. They had red hair and green eyes.

"How can I help you?"

"I've heard we all have rooms. What's mine, I just died."

"Oh, yes you do have a room." They looked at Kaz right in the eyes. "Your name please?"

"The name I died with or the name I was given?"

"The name you died with?"

"Ok. Kaz Brekker." They typed up his name.

"Ah, yes, you're roommate will pick you up."

"Roommate?"

"Ah yes, he's a former Grisha soldier, Heartrender and friend to Alina Starkov. He's strong you'll get along,"

A Heartrender huh, this could be good.

"Yes! I'm here!" A largish man with a long sad face and blond hair and brown eyes. He was in a decorated crimson Kefta.

"Hey, I'm Kaz, your roommate." Fedyor also gasped at how he looked. Just like Alexei and Birgit. He quickly got over what he was going through.

"Fedyor."

"Fedyor will update you and take you to your room."

Kaz nodded and went with Fedyor. He showed him more of the place and led him to their room. It was big and had room for way more than two. It was decorated with jewel tones. At least all of Fedyor's stuff was. There was stuff obviously meant for him. Things Kaz wanted in life and things in metallic and wooden tones.

"Fedyor?"

"Hmm?"

"Can you tell me something?" Kaz's hands trailed against the top cushion of a couch.

"What?"

"How can we all understand each other?" Fedyor shrugged.

"It's just death, I can't really explain it."

"Where are the Sankts?"

"I think they're on another floor all to themselves. I don't know I'm a fucking soldier not a brainiac, why do you ask?" Kaz smirked and thought he saw chills running Fedyor's back.

"Pure curiosity. Fedyor," Kaz paused, "who runs this place?" Kaz was pretty sure he already knew but he needed confirmation. Fedyor's eyes grew wide and he shook his head.

"N-no! You don't want to know!" Kaz gave him a dark smile and walked towards him.

"Please, he has my friend, you need to tell me." Fedyor gave in.

"A. M." Kaz sighed.

"Everyone keeps saying that but that gives me nothing," Fedyor sighed.

"Fine!"  He have in. "It's the Darkling." Kaz nodded.

"Ok, I was right." Fedyor's face had a hidden rage underneath his skin.

"He's the reason I'm here. He's the reason I'm dead." Kaz have him a proud snarl.

"You wanna help me take him down?" Fedyor grew fearful. He shook his head.

"No."

Surprise! I told chaseking1796 that I would put the next chapter up in 7-9 days but I finished early and spent a lot of time editing it. Still, I feel like this should have ended in some places. I hope you all enjoy it. I worked hard on this chapter. I still have yet to show you how the Darkling changed the afterlife cause if it was me. With the information I've given you. I wouldn't mind. Other than it being kinda strict. Well next for the next  few chapters you won't get a full Kaz POV. You'll learn eventually why everyone gasps at Kaz. Also thank you all, you are making this a so much more fun to write.