Jack Staples and the City of Shadows Read online

  “You’re not like us!” Jack screamed. “You don’t belong! And you’re nothing but a coward!”

  “Kill the boy,” Mrs. Dumphry commanded. Jack nodded and grabbed a large rock.

  Feeling desperate and hurt, Arthur leaped to his feet and ran.

  Jack ran wildly, trying to catch up to Arthur. He knew he was faster, but no matter how fast he ran, Arthur managed to stay ahead. Jack glanced over his shoulder and was relieved to see no one was there. As he looked forward again, he skidded to a stop. Arthur had halted and was waving at Jack to hurry. Yet Arthur obviously hadn’t seen the thick wall of slithering black fog rising from the ground just a few paces away.

  Jack screamed and pointed at the fog, but he could barely hear his own voice over the thundering song. His head spun as the melody soared. Jack lurched forward to go help his friend, but he staggered to a stop as the Assassin strode out of the Shadowfog. The Assassin’s cloak pulsed with dark light, and his skin sparkled like diamonds. His eyes were caverns of fire, and in his hand was a sword of white flame.

  “I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU, BOY.” The song changed as the Assassin spoke, the melody shifting to accompany the words. “I GAVE YOU THE CHANCE TO JOIN ME, BUT YOU TURNED YOUR BACK ON GREATNESS. NOW I WILL DESTROY YOU!”

  Jack ran. His worst nightmare had come true. The Assassin had come for him.

  Alexia closed her eyes, sure the Shadule would strike her at any second. Instead something crashed into her from behind, pinning her to the ground. She screamed. It was Arthur Greaves, lying on her and squealing like a girl.

  “They’re trying to kill me! Please, you have to help me!” He scrambled up. “They’re coming!”

  The world spun as Alexia stood. What is he talking about? Her head felt stuffed with wool. Who’s trying to kill him? But Alexia knew she couldn’t waste time thinking about Arthur. Something had been trying to kill her, hadn’t it? That’s right—a Shadule!

  Alexia turned to see Jack screaming at a nearby tree. “Never!” he cried. “You killed my mother! I will never serve you!” Alexia began to laugh. What is he doing? He looks like a madman! Behind her Arthur wailed, “Please! No! I won’t slow you down! I promise! I’ll try to be brave. Just give me another chance!”

  Alexia turned and almost fainted. Her father was standing in front of her. “I told you not to leave the house!” he shouted. She’d never seen her father angry before. “You could have saved us. It’s your fault we died!”

  Tears sprang to Alexia’s eyes as she crumpled to the forest floor. At the periphery of her vision, she saw that Jack and Arthur had also dropped to their knees. All three children wept as the horrific song rose toward its final crescendo.

  Alexia’s father walked toward her and shifted, transforming into the scar-faced Shadule. Alexia knew she was about to die, but she was too heartbroken to care. Kneeling with their backs to her, both Jack and Arthur cowered low.

  “Never!” Jack screamed.

  “I’m sorry!” Arthur wailed.

  The song cut without warning. And with the silence the Shadule evaporated. All three children gasped and fell breathless to the forest floor. For a long moment, the only thing Alexia could hear was the sound of all three of them choking back tears.

  “What was that?” she said.

  “Was it real?” Arthur whimpered. “Did it really happen?”

  “What you saw was not real.” Mrs. Dumphry strode through the trees. “But if the song had been allowed to finish, all of us would have died.” She sat down and leaned heavily against a tree.

  “A Myzerahl is not hard to kill if you can find it, but its song is death as sure as a sword in the belly.” Mrs. Dumphry shook her head dizzily. “The Myzerahl takes your greatest fears, things you may not even know you feel, and uses them to destroy you.”

  Mrs. Dumphry closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. Alexia realized the old woman was as haunted as the rest of them. She also must have seen something! Alexia was happy at the thought, though she immediately felt guilty about it.

  “How did you stop it?” Jack asked unsteadily.

  “The only way to destroy a Myzerahl is to face your fears. And like all fear, once you have faced it, the battle is won.”

  “Are there any more of them out there?” Arthur didn’t meet Mrs. Dumphry’s eyes.

  “No, child, there was only one. And we needn’t fear another attack today. Dark servants never travel with the bird, for they, too, would be caught in its song. They send it ahead and follow far behind.”

  “What do you mean, bird?” Alexia asked.

  “A Myzerahl is a bird … of sorts. Rather, it used to be a bird before it chose to serve the Assassin. The creature is not much larger than a blue jay and looks similar in shape and size.” Mrs. Dumphry stood and brushed at her skirt. “Whether Elion is ready for us or not, we must leave England at once.” She turned to face the children. “If all goes well, we will be safely on the other side of the world before the end of the day.”

  Chapter 3

  WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONG

  A few hours after the Myzerahl’s attack, Mrs. Dumphry and the children arrived on horseback on the outskirts of London. Fresh snow began to fall as they neared the city. Just before they entered, Aias and Wild approached on horseback.

  Aias reminded Jack of a wolf. The man moved with an impossible grace and always seemed ready to pounce. A wicked scar crossed his right eye and ended at his chin. And though he had lost half of his left arm in the battle of Agartha, it somehow managed to make him look more dangerous.

  Wild rode next to Aias. The older boy had fierce, orange-tinged eyes and tight curls that sprouted in every direction. Wild was from the same town as Jack and Arthur. He was better with the bow and staff than anyone Jack had seen, but at best he looked like a wolf pup next to Aias.

  Mrs. Dumphry had instructed the children to stay silent no matter what, so Jack merely nodded to the newcomers. He hadn’t seen either of them since the battle of Agartha a month earlier and had no idea where they’d been since.

  As they entered the city, Aias took the lead and Wild disappeared down a side street. The snowfall thickened as the sun sank low on the horizon. The golden light gave the city a truly magical look. Tall gas lanterns lined the streets, and almost every window shone with candle- or lamplight. Jack had never been to a big city and couldn’t help but stare wide-eyed at absolutely everything. The long streets and grand buildings went on forever. For as long as he could remember, he had dreamed of visiting one of the great cities. His father had told many stories of Belfast, Dublin, and even London. And back then Jack had been desperate to have an adventure.

  I don’t want any more adventure, he thought bitterly. I just want to go home. I want to stay in Ballylesson with Parker and Father and never leave again!

  Jack hadn’t seen his brother or father for months now. They’d left Ballylesson the day after the circus fire to work in a nearby town. Jack’s father was a stonemason, and both boys often worked alongside him. Mrs. Dumphry claimed that both his father and brother knew about the Awakened and Jack’s role in the prophecy. But if that was true, why hadn’t they said anything? It made Jack angry every time he thought about it. If Father knew about the prophecy, why did he go? If he’d been there, he could have helped me save Mother!

  Just before the battle of Agartha began, Elion had promised Jack she would answer all of his questions. But he hadn’t seen her since the battle.

  Though Jack was consumed by his dark thoughts, another part of him could barely believe his eyes. London was enormous. He felt tiny as he craned his neck back to look up at a particularly tall building. Smoke rose from thousands of chimneys, and every street was wider than the widest street in Ballylesson. How many people live here? His mind spun at the thought. Thousands of people walked and rode everywhere. Everyone wore fancy clothes and spoke with funny accents. Yet as he made
himself truly look, he began to feel a growing unease.

  Something was wrong here. Two out of three people wore scarves covering their noses and mouths, and everyone seemed wary. And though people were everywhere, there was very little talking, and most spoke only in hushed whispers.

  Equally unnerving were the words that had been scrawled on almost every street corner. “THE END OF THE WORLD IS NEAR. THE CHOICE MUST BE MADE. GET READY.” Even Mrs. Dumphry appeared uneasy as she read the words.

  How does one get ready for the end of the world? Jack wondered. And what choice would you have to make?

  Aias zigzagged them through the city. It felt random. They often looped back to ride down the same street a second time. Every now and again Aias stopped for no reason Jack could see, and they would wait. A minute or so later, Wild would ride up from somewhere and whisper in his ear. Each time this happened, Aias shifted direction yet again.

  After more than two hours of riding, Aias dismounted and strode inside a small shop connected to a horse stable. A wooden sign hanging above the door read, “Master Hampton’s Coach Rental.” As they dismounted, Jack realized Arthur was muttering beside him.

  “What’s wrong?” Jack whispered.

  “I don’t think I can do this,” Arthur whispered back. “What about my parents? They must be worried sick. We keep going farther away! How will I ever see them again?”

  Jack nodded. Arthur’s words echoed his thoughts exactly. Mrs. Dumphry had promised both boys that, if it were possible, their families would be found and brought to them. But when they pressed for more information, she refused to say another word.

  Each step took them farther from home. And though Jack didn’t understand how it was possible, if Mrs. Dumphry was telling the truth, they would be on the other side of the world in just a few hours.

  “I agree,” Jack whispered, “but what can we do? The dark servants are chasing us. I don’t think it’s safe to go back to Ballylesson. Not after what happened there.”

  “I know they’re chasing you and Alexia,” Arthur said guiltily. “But I don’t think they care about me. If I disappeared, Mrs. Dumphry wouldn’t even notice!”

  “Do you mean to leave us?” Jack asked anxiously. He didn’t know what he would do if Arthur wasn’t there.

  “No,” Arthur said. “Or, I don’t know …” He whispered again. “I don’t think Mrs. Dumphry has ever wanted me here. You and Alexia are great at being heroes, but not me. I’m scared all the time. Everyone cares about what you do and where you go, but I’m just here because Wild found me and didn’t think it safe to leave me behind. Mrs. Dumphry came to Ballylesson to get both of you. I just got caught up in it.”

  Before Jack could respond, Aias exited the coachman’s shop. “Master Hampton has agreed to take us where we need to go,” he said.

  A tall man wearing a black coat and top hat offered a bow. “’Ello, young lords and ladies. Pleased to meet your acquaintance, I am!” Master Hampton bowed again.

  “Reginald, Darby, and Hissey will ride in the coach with Lilly,” Aias said. “We’ll board the horses here while we’re away.”

  Jack grimaced; Mrs. Dumphry had given each of them a new name to use in London. They were pretending to be the family of a high lord from somewhere up in the north of Ireland. Jack’s name was Reginald, Arthur was Darby, and Alexia was Hissey. All three were meant to be Aias’s children, though Aias was now Lord Blair, and Mrs. Dumphry was pretending to be their nanny. Jack had no idea who Wild was supposed to be.

  “It is far too dangerous to use our real names,” Mrs. Dumphry told them. “The Assassin’s servants are everywhere these days. In the city they will be more numerous than rats.”

  Jack had lost count of how many rats he’d seen since entering London. The creatures scurried everywhere and seemed to have no fear of humans. If the dark servants truly are more numerous … He tried not to dwell on it.

  “Reginald!”

  Jack blinked. Mrs. Dumphry, Alexia, and Arthur were already inside the black lacquered coach, and all eyes were on Jack as he stood like a ninny in the falling snow. Aias mounted his stallion to ride alongside.

  “Don’t make your father tell you again! Get in!” Mrs. Dumphry’s voice was sharp.

  As he climbed into the coach, Jack saw a thick wall of white fog rolling toward them. Something about the fog didn’t seem natural, but Mrs. Dumphry didn’t look concerned so he decided not to mention it. As the coach lurched forward, Jack panicked. We’re truly leaving! It had been impossibly hard to leave Ireland a month earlier, but leaving the United Kingdom altogether … Jack didn’t want to think about it.

  “In just a few minutes we will be inside Buckingham Palace,” Mrs. Dumphry explained.

  “What?” Jack and Arthur said on top of each other.

  Mrs. Dumphry sighed as she offered the boys a withering look. “Until just a few hours ago, we didn’t know how we would be leaving. The Council of Seven has been working tirelessly on four different escape plans. We can be sure the dark servants know about all of them, but it is our sincere hope they won’t know which we have chosen until after we are gone.”

  “The dark servants know what we’re doing?” Alexia said incredulously.

  “This will go faster if I am not interrupted. Yes, I am sure the dark servants know all about our plans. And I am also sure they’ll do everything in their power to stop us. But since they don’t know which way we will run, they will have to divide their forces. We will travel by way of a World Portal.” Mrs. Dumphry held up her hands to halt any interruptions. “It’s a way of traveling a great distance in a few steps. We had one in Agartha, but it was destroyed when the city fell. There are four more scattered throughout Great Britain. The portal we have chosen is inside the palace, located just below the dungeons. Andreal and Miel are already inside and have a plan to take us to the portal without being seen.”

  Jack felt a pang of fear. “Andreal wants to kill me. He thinks I will serve the Assassin. How could you trust him?”

  Mrs. Dumphry fixed Jack with a cold stare. “Andreal was misguided in his desire to kill you, I admit,” she said. “But he is a giant, and giants are often hasty and quick-tempered. They are also fiercely loyal, and I promise you, he can be trusted.”

  Jack didn’t care what Mrs. Dumphry said. The giant hated him. The prophecy that spoke of Jack and Alexia said a lot of strange things. But part of it said that at least one of them would bow before the Assassin and destroy the world. Andreal had been sure Jack was that child, and his answer had been to kill Jack so he’d never have the chance.

  The prophecy said, “The child will both destroy the world and save it.” It also said, “The child will bow before the Assassin and defeat him once and for all.” It didn’t make a lick of sense. Until recently everyone had thought there was only one child, but now there were two. While every human in the history of the world had been born with invisible scales covering their eyes, Jack and Alexia had been born without them. This apparently meant they both were “the Child of Prophecy.”

  “If all goes well, we will be through the portal within the hour,” Mrs. Dumphry continued. “If all does not go well”—she hesitated—“no matter what happens, I need you to stay with me and do exactly as I say. We must not be separated!”

  Mrs. Dumphry reached into a bag and pulled out two brown cloaks. “These are Atherial Cloaks. They are a gift from Elion. When you wear them, you are almost invisible.”

  Jack squinted at the cloaks. They didn’t look like anything special.

  “The cloak will also act as a shield and will block a sword or spear thrust, so long as it is not a direct hit,” Mrs. Dumphry said. “Each is worth more than all the gold in London.” She handed one cloak to Jack and the other to Alexia and didn’t seem to notice Arthur’s disappointed look.

  “If you have any questions, now would be the time to ask,” Mrs. Dumphr
y said briskly.

  “Where will the World Portal take us?” Jack asked. It seemed the only question that mattered.

  “I do not know.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Alexia said.

  “It means what it means, child. We are searching for the Forbidden Garden, but the garden is never in the same place and is always moving.”

  Aias leaned into the coach window. “We’re nearly there,” he said in a hushed voice. Arthur jumped at Aias’s unexpected appearance, then blushed. Aias rolled his eyes. “Once we’re in the gates, stay together. Anyone could be a dark servant, and those who aren’t are almost as dangerous.”

  When Aias closed the curtain, Arthur whispered, “Is Elion going to help us?”

  Mrs. Dumphry smiled. “She already is, child. You didn’t think all this fog was natural, did you?”

  A minute later someone shouted outside. “Halt in the name of King Edward! Who are you and what are you doing here this time of night?” The carriage stopped abruptly as Mrs. Dumphry placed a finger to her lips.

  Jack pulled the curtain aside to peek out.

  “I said stop, stranger!” The shouting man had a thick beard and wore the red and black uniform of the King’s Guard. Jack and Arthur shared a fearful look as he unsheathed his sword. Aias nudged his stallion steadily forward.

  “Take one more step and I’ll be forced to arrest you!”

  “In a dream, everything seems possible,” Aias said. “But it is only after we awaken that we can truly live the impossible.”

  The guard gaped for a moment, then turned and shouted. “Open the gates! Open them now or I’ll dock a month’s pay from each of you!”

  The guard stepped forward hesitantly. “M’lord, I know it’s not my place to ask,” he said in a low voice, “but is it true? Has the Child of Prophecy been born? Is the Last Battle nearly here?”