Stories From the Shadowlands Read online

  Their argument fell silent, and a moment later both of them came into the room. Raphael looked placid, but Takeshi's expression was grim. I looked back and forth between them. "Is Sil here, too? Is he our prisoner?"

  Raphael gestured at Takeshi, who shook his head. "Sil is not our prisoner."

  I looked at Raphael, who promptly and unhelpfully disappeared. Takeshi sighed and sat down next to my cot. "After I disabled him with the knives, I got to the two of you as quickly as I could. But he was too fast." He bowed his head. "Before I could secure him, he pulled one of the blades from his shoulder and stabbed himself in the neck with it."

  "He's dead," I said quietly.

  Takeshi raised his head. "No, stop thinking like that. He escaped. And he'll return."

  "So we failed."

  "We failed."

  Day 1618

  "I'm sorry for throwing you out the window," said Takeshi.

  "You're only sorry because it didn't work."

  "True," he said.

  We were on the roof, eating our meager dinner of tinned soup beneath the hazy black sky. "You didn't mention that Sil was also Japanese."

  Takeshi laughed. "Listen to yourself," he said. "You forget what they are."

  He was right. I felt so foolish that I clamped my mouth shut. Maybe Takeshi felt a bit guilty for nearly killing me, though, because he didn't ridicule me further. "After the last time I defeated him, he stole a body that resembled mine in some ways, one with knowledge of my native language."

  I asked him what that meant, and he smiled without humor. "It means that this has become personal to him, I suppose. We'll see if I'm right. But we won't know until he returns."

  Day 1620

  This morning we set out for the Station. Takeshi said that we have to patrol other parts of the city so the Mazikin do not gain a toehold elsewhere. As we walked, I thought back to the time I spent flat on my back on the cold concrete, waiting for a Mazikin to find me. I remembered the sounds, the coughing and whining. It sounded like a stray dog, though I've never seen an animal here.

  "How do the Mazikin communicate?" I asked Takeshi.

  "Many ways. They prefer to speak in a human tongue while occupying human bodies."

  "But they have their own?"

  He nodded. "They use it only when they care about being overheard, or when two of them are occupying bodies that do not share a common language."

  "Can you decipher this Mazikin language?" I asked.

  He chuckled. "It is nothing more than animal sounds."

  So that was what I heard that day I lay dying on the pavement. "But they are very intelligent animals. If we could learn to understand their language, it would give us one more advantage."

  He muttered something that sounded distinctly like, "Impossible."

  That settled it. "I'm going to do it. I will learn to understand them."

  "Like you're mapping this enormous, ever-changing city?" he asked in a derisive tone, but then his mocking expression changed suddenly. Perhaps because he was thinking of the map that now occupies one square meter of a wall in my quarters. "Do you think we could do that?"

  He actually sounded hopeful. I almost said NO, just to avoid the risk of disappointing him. Instead, I shrugged. "We will lose nothing by trying."

  Day 1794

  We have returned to the sector southwest of downtown because of more frequent Guard reports of Mazikin sightings in this area. We had been tracking Mazikin in the northwestern part of the city, in what has been called the Harag zone, a name that gives me chills. Takeshi said the Mazikin have often settled there, because it is relatively central within the city but keeps downtown between them and the Guards. It is an utterly dismal place, but that does not make it unique within these city walls.

  Tomorrow, we will patrol separately to avoid drawing attention to ourselves. Our official mission is to find the nest, but I can tell from Takeshi's mood that he is anticipating seeing Sil again soon. Unfortunately, the Mazikin has the advantage, in that we will not recognize him unless he reveals himself to us because he will be inhabiting a different body. This time, though, we are determined to find him, capture him and make the dark tower his final and permanent prison.

  Day 1800

  Today I was patrolling near a seemingly empty warehouse when I caught a scent. But it wasn't Mazikin.

  It smelled like death. I know this smell.

  With my hands sweating over the handles of my knives, I crept into the building to investigate. When people commit suicide within this city, their bodies remain only briefly before disappearing. I believe that when they do, it is because they have reappeared at the Gates, or wherever they are to go next.

  But when I entered the first floor of the building, I saw them, six bodies laid out on the floor. Someone had desecrated the remains in ways I do not wish to remember or describe. Horrified, I stayed only long enough to sweep the building, which was deserted, and then went straight back to the apartment. I am now waiting for Takeshi to return.

  People in this city do not kill each other—they only kill themselves. But these bodies did not bear the marks of suicide. And they weren't disappearing. Something is very wrong about this.

  Day 1801

  When Takeshi returned from his patrol, I told him what I had found in the warehouse. He insisted that I take him there immediately. We found the bodies waiting, just as I had left them. When Takeshi saw them, he cursed.

  "I know what this means," he said. "Look at these bodies."

  I did. "They're similar to each other." They were all male, all young and powerfully built, all with blond hair.

  "They have brought in a particular Mazikin. One I have not seen for a long time. One I believed we would never see again. One who prefers this type of body. If these men could speak, it would be in English."

  "How do you know?"

  "Because Philip and I faced him many times. Sil may be the clever one, but this one is purely cruel and vicious." Takeshi turned away from the bodies. "He calls himself Nero."

  Day 1802

  Known and Currently Active Mazikin:

  Sil: leader. Preferred host: Japanese male

  Nero: enforcer (leader?). Preferred host: American male

  Doris: enforcer. Preferred host: German male or female

  Kenzi: recruiter. Preferred host: Varies

  Clarence: recruiter. Preferred host: elderly male, nationality varies. Note: files teeth

  Jof: scout. Preferred host: African male or female

  Ara: scout. Preferred host: Russian female.

  This is all Takeshi was able to tell me. After he told me about Nero, I asked him to report all of the known Mazikin—the ones who have returned repeatedly and who have had contact with the Guards. There are many others, of course, but these are the bold and strong ones who have not yet been apprehended and taken to the tower. They are our primary targets, the ones we must try not to terminate prematurely because they will return stronger and more cunning. At this time, we do not know if Sil has returned to the city, but Takeshi is certain that Nero has:

  The discarded candidates for his host body were mutilated as a message to the Guards that he had returned.

  Day 1876

  Takeshi has departed for the north to investigate reports of Mazikin activity, though I remain convinced the current nest is in the southwest, and this is merely a distraction. I am leaving for that area shortly, and I will travel alone. The other Guards are aware of my plan, but will not escort me, as that would ruin things. It is my intention to claim an apartment and watch for signs of this Nero character, or any of the other known Mazikin. The more of their leaders we can collar, the more disorganized their operation will be. Unlike Takeshi, who is well known among them, I am but a shadow and a whisper to them, not someone to fear… yet. I believe this to be an advantage.

  Day 1878

  I have paused in my journey to the southwest, taking an apartment thirty blocks directly south of the center of downtown. I spent the da
y as a citizen of this city. My weapons carefully concealed, my clothes lifted from a nearby GARMENTS emporium. Ill-fitting and smelling of bitter mold, they made me crave my uniform and armor. Still, any Mazikin can easily spot me if I wear my usual attire, so I am now outfitted like everyone else.

  I wandered the streets, moving slowly. I have realized how difficult it is to behave in a way that now feels completely unnatural, though I must have been like this when I first arrived in the city. The people here do not look at each other. They do not greet each other or notice each other. Sometimes they collide on the sidewalk, and they merely get to their feet and move on without exchanging a single word, kind or angry. I had to force myself to keep my head down and my eyes to the front, because people here are not curious. If I expect to fool any Mazikin, I will need to perfect this act before I arrive at my destination.

  Day 1889

  I am injured. Today I captured the Mazikin Nero. He clawed my thigh and bit my arm. Was able to wave down a Guard, who has gone to fetch Raphael. Am now waiting, guarding my prize, who is taunting me to the point that I am sorely tempted to cut his throat. I will write more when I have been healed, assuming I survive.

  Day 1890

  Still waiting. Trying to remain conscious. Nero is enjoying watching my slow demise. If Raphael doesn't arrive soon I'm afraid I wi

  Day 1891

  Recovering. It's a bit foggy, but I know Raphael and two Guards arrived last night. Raphael refused to enter the room because Nero was there and he will not interact with the Mazikin. I would not leave the room until I was certain Nero was well-guarded. I am now in a separate apartment, which makes me uneasy. What happened two days ago is still firmly planted in my mind.

  I had been meandering in an alley between two larger thoroughfares when a voice spoke to me from the darkness. "What are you looking for?" it said in English. His accent sounded very much like Philip's.

  I did not answer, because people in this city tend not to. I slid my hands into my pockets, which concealed two knives and a set of cuffs we use to restrain Mazikin prisoners. "What do you seek?" the voice asked. "I can help you find it."

  Still I did not answer, and so he stepped into my path, and I allowed myself to blunder into him. I nearly cursed when I felt how solid he was. Young and strong, nearly as tall as I am. "You're perfect, you know," he said.

  I raised my eyes to his. "What am I perfect for, Nero?"

  The moment his eyes sparked with the recognition of his name, I attacked. He was faster than I expected, and his nails had been sharpened to claws. I was bleeding before I felt the wound.

  But I returned the favor.

  "I know someone who would wear your skin better than you do," he growled as I escorted him back to my apartment. His words were twisted because I had knocked out several of his teeth, but still he spoke. On and on, about what this Mazikin would do with my body, the atrocities he would commit, the ways he would make others suffer.

  It made me wish I did not understand English. It is such an ugly language sometimes.

  I will write more tomorrow. I am so tired.

  Day 1892

  "We could be on the same side," Nero said as we set out for the Station this morning. I had intended to deliver him to a rendezvous point and let Rais, one of the inhuman Guards who is quite competent and serious, take Nero from there. However, I am convinced he is too dangerous to allow out of my sight.

  "We could never be on the same side," I replied.

  "The Mazikin are persecuted by the Judge," he said. "We come from a terrible place. Kept prisoner there. Can you blame us for wanting to be free?"

  "I blame you for hurting people here."

  He laughed. "These people are not alive. My Mazikin are. We live our one life, and we fight for it. These people did not fight for theirs."

  "You know nothing about them." My rage was slowly building. Hadn't I fought for my life? Hadn't Heshel and I struggled to protect our family and ourselves? Hadn't we battled until we couldn't? Yes, I ended my life, but until then, I had fought.

  Nero smiled. "You're one of them," he said softly. "I hadn't realized the Guards were. Thank you. It's helpful."

  I barely restrained the impulse to slam my blade between his ribs. I have now chained him hand and foot to a radiator in this apartment, but I am afraid to take my eyes off him. Unfortunately, that means I must tolerate his words.

  Unless I decide to cut out his tongue.

  It's tempting, but I want to give Takeshi a chance to question him before we escort him to the tower.

  Day 1893

  "It usually takes me a few rounds to find a body I like."

  Only one more day of this, and we’ll be back at the Station. In the meantime, I continue to tolerate Nero’s constant goading. I know what he’s trying to do—if I kill him, he has won. He will escape, only to return again. He uses human bodies like changes of clothes; if he doesn’t like one, he has the other Mazikin kill the body and select him another. He doesn’t give a thought to the human soul he’s displacing.

  I have seen and felt many bad things, but I think this is true evil.

  I have tied him up very securely, because I am beginning to suspect he will kill himself if he has the opportunity, just to escape me. And then to come back and cause more trouble. “This will be the last human body you ever steal,” I told him.

  He laughed. “Takeshi has said that to me. Philip, too. And Batbayar before him, and Naveen before him, and Sarai before him, and Lajos before her. I could go on—”

  "Don’t," I snapped.

  "How are you different from them? Each of them tried to stop me, and all of them failed."

  I had no idea, so I didn’t answer. It would only have given him another weapon. “We’ll arrive at the Station tomorrow,” I told him. Then I placed a gag over his mouth, but I was careful about it—I don’t want him to use it to suffocate himself. There is no way I’m letting him escape the dark tower this time.

  Day 1894

  I dreamed that I had been tied to a table. I looked up at the ceiling, where a dark shape hovered. Beyond that was nothing but a blue, swirling light. It was beautiful, but I have never felt so defeated. Then the dark shadow dove into me and I snapped awake.

  Just in time to avoid being gutted by Nero.

  I ducked the stabbing blade and caught his other hand, long, jagged fingernails grasping at me. His momentum brought him around, and I threw myself on top of him, shouting for one of the Guards to help me—until I noticed Nero had already killed them. As we hit the floor, he swung the blade up over his shoulder, and it sliced along my neck, but I tightened my arms around him, holding his wrists against his own windpipe while I pinned him to the ground face-down.

  He lost consciousness soon thereafter, which has allowed me time to bandage my wound. It would be so easy to kill him now, to cut his throat like he did to my Guards, probably after they fell asleep on the job. He's using all his tricks. But as soon as he wakes up, we will resume our walk to the Station, and I will get him there even if I have to drag him by the feet.

  Day 1895

  I had to drag him by the feet. This Mazikin has killed two of my Guards, nearly killed me, and has done it all with a smile on his face. Nero is different than the rest, and I will be happy to be rid of him. Tomorrow we take him to the dark tower. I spent all of today hauling him through the city on an improvised sled of sorts, made from an apartment door and some rope I’d been carrying in my pack. I tied him tightly, muzzled him, and then took a shameful kind of pleasure in knocking him unconscious with a few swift kicks to the head. I couldn’t afford for him to be alert.

  There are times when it is convenient to be in a city where the residents are oblivious to their surroundings.

  My muscles were trembling and twitching by the time I made it to the Station. I was on the verge of collapse. But the look on Takeshi’s face when he saw Nero… I think my efforts were worth it, just to see his expression. For a moment, I think he was impressed with m
e. He’s questioning Nero now. I couldn’t stand another moment with the creature.

  Day 1896

  "They’ll know it was you who did this," Nero growled as we entered downtown.

  "How, Nero, since you won’t be able to tell them?" Takeshi had been walking in front of us, scimitar in one hand and staff in the other, and I was walking behind the prisoner. Two of the inhuman Guards managed him with stiff poles attached to the collar at his neck, while two others held poles attached to a metal loop around his waist.

  He tried to bargain with us as we neared the tower. He began to make promises. How the Mazikin would not attack the Guards anymore, how they would keep to themselves. All of it desperate lies. Takeshi ignored him. He had been completely unsuccessful in the interrogation. Nero had told him nothing useful.

  By the time we stood in front of the looming building, the place of nightmares, Nero was rabid, struggling fiercely. Takeshi held the door open as the Guards carefully removed the poles from his restraints. I stepped up behind him. “Last words?”

  "My children will hunt you down, Malachi.” His blue eyes glinted with absolute hatred as his said my name. “One day, they will eat your heart.”

  He lunged for me, but I shoved him hard. He staggered into the lobby of the building and spun around. For a moment, it looked like he might charge right back out.

  But then the tower sank its claws deep into his mind. Takeshi slammed the door shut as Nero began to scream.

  Day 1964

  A breakthrough. I overheard conversation coming from an air vent 5 blocks n/nw of the apartment building where I have set up my temporary outpost. Two Mazikin, discussing using the basement of the building as a place to stash recruits. I had to conceal myself in a large trash bin to avoid detection. I am unsure how to rid myself of this smell. When I return to the Station, a new set of armor is in order.

  Day 1965

  Failure. Basement deserted as of this morning, with no signs of occupation. As I exited the building, I was set upon by four Mazikin who had been waiting. The whole thing was a set up to lure me to the basement. Fortunately, they underestimated me, and three ended up dead. Unfortunately, the one I captured threw himself out the window of my apartment before I had a chance to question him.