The Shadow Paradox: The Shadow Enforcer Series Book Three Read online

  “Oh, ma-a-n… You should’ve seen your face,” Zabava sang, tears of laughter sparkling in her eyes. “So, how was it? I mean dealing with real gods for a change, puny Enforcer?”

  Damian took a deep breath, finally able to fill his lungs with oxygen, but he still couldn’t say a word, his throat dry and constricted. He glanced at Jamie and stifled a sigh. The young man’s face was gray, sweat beading his forehead, and he was gasping for air like a fish out of water, taking short breaths. With his eyes half-closed, he looked like he was ready to faint, so Damian decided not to give the family of gods a new source of entertainment and pulled a chair closer, helping Jamie to sit down.

  “Are you going to be okay, Enforcer?” asked Veles, a slight layer of sarcasm in his deep voice. Damian nodded. The god of the Three Realms approached Jamie, touched his head with two fingers and leaned down, exploring his face. “Feeling better?”

  “Thank you, my lord,” Jamie croaked, wiping the perspiration off his forehead. “I’m sorry, I’ve never… experienced anything like that.”

  Veles chuckled, tapping his shoulder. “It’s okay. There is a first time for everything. The path you and your companion are about to take is not going to be any easier, though, and probably a lot more dangerous. Are you sure you’re ready for a quest like this, young wizard?”

  Jamie glanced back at Damian, and his usual friendly grin turned his eyes into two narrow arches. “I’m sure, my lord,” he said, switching his attention back to Veles.

  Yaginya stepped from behind her husband, and just now Damian noticed that she was holding a small ball of red yarn in her hands. She offered it to him, and he took it gingerly, expecting pretty much anything. As soon as he touched the yarn, a powerful wave of magical energy assailed him, and he sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes igniting with a bright, orange light.

  “It’s powerful, isn’t it?” said Yaginya with pride in her voice, her fingers lingering over Damian’s hands. “At first, I thought a guiding spirit would do the job, but then I realized that all these modern gimmicks are not strong enough to survive a quest like yours.” She glanced at Veles as if searching for his affirmation, and he gave her a slight nod. “So, we decided to go the old way. The oldest way there is.” She brushed her fingers over the yarn with affection. “This enchantment is as old as Creation, and nowadays, I’m the only one who can wield it. My husband infused the ball of yarn with his magic, so it knows exactly where you need to go.”

  “Thank you, my lady.” Damian bowed, pressing his hand to his chest. “How do I activate the magic?”

  “Just throw the damn ball in front of you and follow its every move,” replied Zabava, tittering. “It works like the GPS in your car, but unlike GPS, it’s not going to take you on a wild goose chase. As my mother said—it knows exactly where you need to go.” She tilted her head, sarcastic twinkles dancing in her eyes. “Didn’t your mom tell you any Slavic bedtime stories when you were a child? Tell me you were a child at some point… in some century.”

  “Of course, I was a child, but my childhood didn’t include bedtime stories and cuddles…” Damian replied, trying to sound calm, but his voice shook slightly, and he frowned, swallowing a lump in his throat. Zabava’s mouth opened, and she blushed a bright red, discomfort lingering over her.

  “Sorry, Damian,” she said. “I shouldn’t have said that.” Scratching the back of her head, she shifted slightly. “I’ll go with you and Jamie, anyway, and help you find what you’re looking for.”

  “No!” Yaginya and Veles shouted at the same time.

  “Well, that didn’t sound good,” mumbled Jamie, throwing a bewildered look at Damian.

  “No,” Veles repeated, clearing his throat. “My daughter is a goddess. Where you’re going, Damian, gods are not welcome. She won’t be able to cross the river Smorodina.”

  “Wait… What?” Damian staggered back a step, goosebumps rising on his arms as if the temperature in the room had dropped a few degrees. “Please tell me this Isle is not located in Peklo?” He rubbed his forehead, trying to organize his chaotic thoughts. “I’m a Child of Earth, my lord. Peklo will bring me down to my knees even before I finish crossing the river, and I won’t be able to complete my mission.”

  He shuddered, and despite his effort to remain calm, his chest tightened with fear. The Dark Nav—the Slavic realm of the dead—was deprived of all elemental energy. His one and only trip to the Dark Nav had left him drained and weak, and he could never forget how helpless and vulnerable he was there. But compared to Peklo, the Dark Nav was child’s play. Just like in Hell, the worst scum of human and supernatural worlds found their way to Peklo after their death, cursed to suffer unimaginable torment for all eternity.

  Even though Damian was immortal, he knew Peklo would feed not only on his elemental energy, but also on the energy of his human soul, suppressing and destroying everything he was, leaving behind nothing but a walking corpse. The flaming river Smorodina encircled Slavic Hell, cutting all ways in and out of this grim and twisted realm. Filled with smoldering flames, which weren’t elemental by nature, it incinerated the spirit of anyone who dared cross it. Leaving them weak and defenseless, it wiped out whatever leftovers of humanity those twisted souls still possessed.

  Needless to say, the idea of crossing the river of eternal torment didn’t give Damian warm and fuzzy feelings. He pressed his hand to his mouth, his mind racing. As his eyes darted from Veles to Jamie, he held his breath, a terrible realization dawning on him.

  “Jamie,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I’m sorry, my friend, but this is as far as you can go.” He glanced at Zabava, silently pleading her for help. “Zabava will take you home—”

  “But why?” asked Jamie, interrupting him, his voice rising.

  “You’re too human. A lot more than I am,” Damian explained quietly. “I may survive it… in some shape or form, but you won’t. Crossing the river Smorodina will destroy your human soul, and I can’t allow it.”

  “I don’t care.” With a stubborn shake of his head, Jamie got up, his fists clenched at his sides. “This trip doesn’t sound like a walk in the park, and I’m not letting you go alone.”

  “Jamie, I appreciate it, but my answer is still no. You’re too inexperienced to understand how truly dangerous it is and the consequences of you going with me. This discussion is over,” said Damian, bringing forth the commanding iron tones in his voice, and then turned to Yaginya and Veles for support. “Can someone, please, reason with him? He’s a good man, and he’s too young to suffer through something like this…” His voice trailed off as both ancient gods remained motionless. “I have my orders, so I have no choice but to go. He has a choice!”

  Yaginya inclined her head just a little, two deep wrinkles appearing around her tightly pressed mouth. “You’re right. Unlike you, Jamie is not a Destiny Enforcer, so he has a choice,” the goddess said, placing her hand on Damian’s arm. “But it seems to me your friend made his choice, and you should respect it.”

  “I second that,” added Veles. “Besides, even though you’ll have to cross the river Smorodina, you’re not going to Peklo. Don’t get me wrong—your quest is not going to be a walk in the park as your young friend pointed out, but given the right circumstances, I believe both of you have a good chance of surviving it.”

  “I’m sorry, my lord, but I don’t understand,” said Damian. “I thought the river Smorodina flows only through the Dark Nav, making a full circle around Peklo.”

  “Yes and no,” replied Veles, stroking his thick beard. “River Smorodina takes its beginning in the Dark Nav, but under rare circumstances, it makes its way into the Yav. Protecting the Sacred Isle when it appears on the border between two realms—the Dark Nav and the Yav—is one of those occasions.” He paused, observing Damian’s reaction. “I guess it’s your tough luck, Enforcer, that at the time when you need to find the Isle, it’s protected by the flaming waters.”

  “Figures…” Damian exhaled, silently cursing the over fiv
e-hundred-year-long streak of bad luck he had. “So, what am I looking for on the Isle?”

  “You’re looking for a man,” replied Veles. “The problem is, you can’t see him unless he wants to be seen. So, when you get to the Isle, you better make a good case, or you’ll never find him.” He fell silent for a brief moment, a thoughtful expression crossing his face, and then added, “So just to be on the safe side—keep your supernatural identity hidden, though. No one likes Destiny Enforcers.”

  Dammit…

  Damian pressed the heels of his palms to his eyes, feeling the ground slipping from under his feet. Over the years, he got used to the hate and open hostility toward Destiny Enforcers. Now, however, the stakes were higher than ever, and not for the first time since he had accepted the mantel again, he wished he had remained no one.

  “Nothing new. I’ll deal with it when the time comes,” he said, lowering his arms. “What’s his name?”

  “I don’t know,” replied Veles. “He goes by different names. He’s not a single person, you know? The Lord of the Isle is bound to the Isle. He guards everything that is hidden there, and for as long as he holds this position, he is immortal. However, once a suitable replacement arrives in his domain, he trains him and transfers the power. Usually, it’s a thousand-year cycle, give or take a few centuries. So, I have no idea who’s in charge today. It’s been over two thousand years since I visited the Sacred Isle myself, and the last time I was there, Svat Naum was in charge.” Then he shook his head, pursing his lips. “I’m sure he’s no longer the Lord. It’s been too long.”

  “It just keeps getting better and better,” muttered Damian. I hate Slavic fairy tales… The further you go, the scarier and more twisted they become…

  Veles chuckled in response, stroking his mustache. “What did you expect, Enforcer? That everything would be delivered to you on a silver platter?” The god of the Three Realms folded his massive arms. “That’s why they call the Isle ‘don’t know where’, and its Lord—‘don’t know what’.”

  Ignoring the hefty load of sarcasm in the god’s voice, Damian inclined his head. “I guess it’s time for us to go. I appreciate your help, my lord,” he said to Veles calmly. Glancing at Yaginya, he added slightly softer, “My lady.”

  “Wait,” said Veles, raising his hand. “Just one more thing.”

  Approaching Jamie, he took his necklace off and placed it around the young man’s neck. Seemingly, there was nothing special about this necklace—a simple leather cord with a round, copper disk attached to it. But once Jamie touched the pendant, he sucked in a sharp breath and closed his eyes.

  “Whoa,” he exhaled after a moment. “What is it?” He glanced at the pendant, tracing the symbol engraved into it with his finger. “It looks like the Celtic triquetra… But you are a Slavic god, my lord, why would you—”

  “It’s not a Celtic triquetra, my young friend,” Veles interrupted him. “It’s a powerful Slavic protection symbol. Long before now, people recognized it as mine, calling it Triglav, and it represents my power over the Three Realms—the Prav, the Nav, and the Yav— and their connection. Triglav is a powerful amulet and has many magical properties. So, rest assured, it will protect you when it’s time for you to cross the flaming river of torment.”

  “Thank you, my lord,” said Jamie, deep gratitude reflected on his face.

  It’s true what they say— ignorance is bliss, thought Damian. Unlike Jamie, he knew all the possible consequences of crossing the river Smorodina, and this knowledge in combination with Jamie’s resolve to stay by his side no matter what pressed heavily on his soul.

  Over time, he had gotten used to Jamie’s company and learned to appreciate his sharp mind and undying optimism that reminded him of his brother. Both Cole and River adored the young man, considering him a part of the family. With his easy-going personality, Jamie made it easy to like him, and even Damian with his habits of a loner accepted him as a friend. But until this very moment, Damian had never realized how deeply he cared about his young apprentice.

  As he watched his friend bow to the Slavic deity, for the first time since he started this dangerous journey, he felt some relief. Before he knew what he was doing, he lowered to one knee and pressed his fist to his chest.

  “Thank you, my lord,” he said, meeting the god’s curious gaze. “I’m yours to command.”

  “I see,” murmured Veles, glancing back at his wife in awe. “As always, you were right, my wise wife.” Noticing Damian’s puzzled look, he placed his hand on his shoulder. “When it comes to reading human souls, my wife is never wrong. She told me that the only way to get your loyalty is through taking care of people you love.”

  “I’m not sure it’s entirely true,” replied Damian, “but I am deeply grateful for what you did for Jamie, and my loyalty and sword are the only things I can offer to you to express my gratitude.”

  Veles leaned down slightly and moved Damian’s hair out of the way, carefully examining the scar on his face. Then he threw a troubled glance at his wife, and she gave him a barely visible shrug, slightly opening her arms.

  “Please rise, Commander Blake,” he said, taking a step back. “Something tells me our paths will cross again, and when it happens, your loyalty is something I want to have.”

  Damian got up, debating if he should ask the ancient deity for an explanation, but then decided against it. If he had learned anything since becoming a Destiny Enforcer, it was that the paths of the Board of Destiny were unpredictable, and in most cases, knowing what was coming without the ability to change it was nothing but a terrible burden to carry.

  After saying his farewells, Damian turned around and headed toward the exit, motioning for Jamie to follow him. He walked out the door and took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air infused with the scent of the forest.

  He held the ball of red yarn, carefully moving his fingers over it. “I guess, it’s time,” he murmured to himself more than to Jamie and was about to throw the ball on the ground when the sound of the door opening touched his hearing. He turned around and found Zabava standing behind him, clutching her black backpack in her hands.

  “Take it,” she said, sounding slightly awkward. “My mother made it for me, but I think you need it more than I do.”

  Damian glanced at the small backpack, which appeared to be empty, and gave her an arched stare. “Sorry, but—”

  She rolled her eyes. “Are all Destiny Enforcers so thick?” she grumbled, her former superiority and arrogance returning for a brief second. “Let me repeat for the specially gifted ones. My mother—Baba Yaga—made it. Anything ring a bell?” Since Damian remained silent, she threw her hands up. “Aw, come on, Damian. Think Russian fairy tales.”

  “It has magical properties?” asked Jamie tentatively.

  “Of course, it does.” Zabava switched her attention to Damian, shoving the bag into his free hand. “Why would I want to give you my backpack with a hot pink liner otherwise? Because hot pink goes so well with your charming personality?”

  Damian pulled the zipper, opening the bag, and couldn’t help but snort. The backpack was empty and everything inside was covered with bright pink silk.

  “Pink doesn’t seem to be your color either,” he said, closing the bag.

  “Don’t tell that to my mother.” Zabava threw an annoyed glance at the house and turned back to Damian. “Anyway, jokes aside. Do you know what skatert-samobranka is? The magical tablecloth that cooks better than a five-star restaurant chef?”

  “Of course, I know what it is,” replied Damian.

  “You know, Baba Yaga is the only sorceress who knows how to make those,” Zabava continued, “but she has no business sense whatsoever. I told her to start mass-producing them a long time ago. Humans would pay a small fortune to have one of those at home.” She raked her fingers through her short, spiky hair, and sighed, unease almost tangible around her. “You know what she said?”

  “No idea.”

  “She said if she did that,
she would get slammed with antitrust lawsuits in no time, and that would be the end of her so-called business venture.” Zabava pursed her lips. “She just doesn’t like the realm of humans.”

  “She has a point,” Damian objected carefully. “You said it yourself—she’s the only one who can produce it.”

  “Never mind,” Zabava grumbled, switching the subject. “Damian, your trip may take quite a few days, and you—being a Child of Earth and all—are probably not into hunting and killing cute furry things in the forest. So, I don’t want you to lose weight. Besides, River will kill me if something happens to you and Jamie.” She looked away, her cockiness gone. “This backpack works like any skatert-samobranka. Just think what you’re in the mood for, and it’ll cook for you. Got it?”

  “Got it,” replied Damian, trying hard to keep a straight face. He took her hand and squeezed it gently. “Thank you, Zabava. What are you planning to do now? Are you going to stay with your parents?”

  “You’re kidding me, right?” She laughed, throwing her head back. “I love my father, but I don’t think I can spend more than a few hours in the same room with my mother before being at each other’s throat.” She shook her head. “So, thank you, but no, thank you. As soon as my father is gone, I’m leaving the Land of Dreams.” She winked at Damian. “Besides, even though the realm of humans is low on magic, it’s high on fun, and I’m all about fun. Hence, the name.”

  “Yeah, I noticed,” he replied, not buying her playful tone. “Keep an eye on River for me, will you?”

  “I will,” she promised, her bright green eyes darkening with a sadness she was working hard to conceal. “I don’t think I’ll hear anything from your brother, but I’ll snoop around to see if I can find out anything.” She fell silent, staring down at her clenched hands. “I’ll hang around the area. You never know… Besides, I have to continue my investigation, and Grand Master Elony is arriving in a few days...”