The Sunken City Trilogy Read online

  “We followed you home. After that prick took Rufaizu. Then we used a scanner on your building. Yours was the third number we tried.”

  Pax imagined the fairies threatening two strangers before getting to her. She said, “A scanner gave you my number?”

  “Quick tip,” Letty said. “Assume, at all times, that Fae technology is at least a few years ahead of yours. We know everything you’ve got, we deconstruct that crap and make use of it when we need to. Only we’ve got our own stuff, too. So, yeah, we did that. With a cheap bit of kit.”

  “There’s a lot we could do, working together...”

  “No. There’s a lot we could teach you. What would you offer us? Ignorance and idiocy?”

  Pax went quiet again. They were back to this. She kept staring at the phone.

  It could wait.

  They alighted near an anonymous series of buildings that could once have housed entire businesses, with a look from the driver that said no one ever got off here. The surrounding streets appeared to have lost their names, and many of the buildings were without roofs. Pax waited until the bus was out of sight, then crouched and took Letty out of her pocket. She held her up and asked, “This it?”

  “Over there.” Letty pointed. “The hexagonal building.”

  Pax walked towards it, taking in the strange complex. The paint was cracked around it, some of the windows were missing, and someone had scrawled graffiti on another wall. COCKS. A faded sign on a wall read Innovation Centre.

  “Holds a certain subtle irony, doesn’t it?” Pax commented. Letty didn’t answer.

  The glass entrance door was open, the building inside abandoned. Pax followed Letty’s instructions through a network of halls to a corridor that left the offices behind. Past a few more doors, Pax came to a metal bulkhead with a five-inch metal contraption over its lock, blinking with a red light. Some kind of electronic lock.

  “Fucking knew it,” Letty commented as Pax came to a stop.

  Holding the fairy in her fist, as Letty took in the door, Pax considered her options again. The gun was still there, vaguely pointing in her direction, but Letty was distracted. A quick squeeze might –

  Letty’s gun went off. Pax flinched, tightening her grip, and Letty spun to her. “Watch it, fuckwit!”

  Pax loosened her grip as Letty shoved against her fingers. The fairy gave her a mean look, gun raised, and Pax took a moment to figure out what had happened. Letty had shot the lock. The red light was now dead and the metal box gently smoking.

  “Open her up,” the fairy instructed.

  “Yes, master.” Pax rolled her eyes. She pulled the door towards them and looked in. Then she froze. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “Fuck,” Letty snarled. “Worse than I thought. Useless fucking morons.”

  They both stared in silence as Grace Barton kicked away into a corner, too scared at their entrance to say anything. She had one arm raised defensively, covering her face.

  “Close the door,” Letty hissed. “Close it now.”

  “Are you serious – we can’t – ”

  “Close the fucking door!” Letty snapped, rattling her gun. Pax did as she was told, not arguing now she’d seen what the pistol was capable of. Grace found her voice as the door was sealed. “No, don’t leave me in here!” It was a dry, desperate plea, accompanied by the scuffing of her feet. She was cut off by the door thunking into place.

  “Right, to the FTC, then,” Letty said.

  “Your men are clearly –”

  “They’re not here. They would’ve made it known if they were. Back the way we came.”

  “We can’t just leave her here.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  Pax raised Letty to her face. “Because I’m not a monster!”

  “Look like one to me.” The pistol was aimed right between her eyes.

  “You’re not either, I don’t believe that,” Pax said, undeterred. “You never would have talked to Apothel if you were. Never would’ve shared a thing with him if you didn’t think there was some hope in it. And you wouldn’t have spent all these years trying to get that Dispenser back if all you cared about was yourself. You never would’ve talked to me.”

  “Bullshit, you don’t know me. And this is not a discussion. You oughta be thankful I don’t involve you in this, because in all likelihood that girl’s gotta go now.”

  “I’m not letting that happen.”

  “Well I am, so get the hell out of here.”

  Pax flexed her fingers on the fairy. Letty’s eyes dared her to make a move, the pistol unwavering.

  “This doesn’t have to end badly for you, Pax,” Letty told her. “Just walk away. I can have my people take back the Dispenser before you get home, and you can forget any of this ever happened. That’s what you wanted from the start, isn’t it?”

  Pax growled, finding words failed her. She couldn’t argue with the pistol. She turned from the metal door, striding back the way they’d come. Letty told her to walk carefully, but Pax only moved more quickly through the building, up the road and along the block. Away from the offices and on towards the empty warehouses. She came to a half-crumbled wall and thrust Letty down onto it, the fairy stumbling to regain her balance on a dislodged brick. Letty spun back and aimed her gun at Pax, but Pax had already stepped away, hands on her hips. “This far enough for you?”

  Letty checked her surroundings. She eyed Pax, but didn’t complain. “I suggest you walk that way. Steer well clear of where I’m going. Don’t even look my way. Twenty minutes or so you’ll hit the edge of Ten Gardens.”

  Pax followed her gesture. It all looked the same, brick walls after brick walls. She said, “Do what the hell you want, I’m not leaving that girl behind.”

  “Well. Good luck with surviving the day.”

  “And you know what, I would’ve taken you back here. Whatever else we did, I was gonna keep my word. You didn’t have to pull a gun on me.”

  This gave Letty the briefest pause. “Yeah, well, you’re still a fucking human.”

  Pax shoved her hands deep in her pockets and started back towards the Innovation Centre, Letty’s directions be damned.

  “Hey!”

  Pax turned, the tiny person barely visible. “What?” Letty hesitated, couldn’t bring herself to say what was on her mind. Pax huffed. “Whatever. Have a nice life.”

  She kept walking, not looking back this time. She took out her phone and dialled Bees. He answered on the second ring. “So they didn’t disappear you.”

  “Not yet,” Pax said. “But they tried. I need some help.”

  “Thought you’d never ask,” Bees answered brightly.

  9

  Barton pulled his car to a stop at the edge of the warehouse district, swaying in his seat like a drunk. Rimes’ vague hunch to come here was hardly the most inspiring start to a city-wide search, but her hunches tended to be better than most. If the Fae city was anywhere in the sprawl of Ordshaw, it made sense that they’d use the abandoned warehouses. And maybe the Blue Angel hadn’t been entirely wrong before, maybe there’d just been a mix-up.

  He stared at the decayed industrial buildings. Big enough to hide whole streets, tall enough to build rockets in. Wonders of human engineering rendered useless, now that born labourers like him spent their days pining over numbers and computer servers. If he’d had a life in the factories, however hard it might’ve been, maybe it would’ve satisfied that part of him that always wanted to get out and do something physical. He reflected only as long as it took to recover enough energy to get out of the vehicle. Light-headed, he almost sat straight back down.

  Barton took out the device Rimes had given him: a scanner with an archaic black and green display and two pointed antennas. He was sure she’d designed it for kitsch value as much as practicality, such was her way. He switched it on and held it high. It made a slight buzzing noise, hard at work, but that was it. No change on the display, no sign of life.

  He walked away from the car,
turning on the spot to scan the area. He moved in and out of a few derelict buildings. Finally, returning to his car, he took out his phone and cringed at the number of missed calls it showed. They weren’t all from Holly, but at this point he couldn’t see Pax being anything better than a distraction. He brought up Rimes’ number. She answered straight away.

  “It’s not doing anything,” he said.

  “No beeps?”

  “No.”

  “No blinking light?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Then they’re not there.”

  Barton looked at the canister of glo on the passenger seat. “Any chance it just doesn’t work?”

  “It should work. In theory.”

  “You ever actually tested it?”

  “The Ministry wouldn’t allow it. They hold the Fae’s privacy in high regard, Darren. I’ve been trying to tell you – it’s complicated. There have been discussions. Agreements. Diplomacy.”

  “Give it a rest,” Barton told her roughly. “My daughter’s out here somewhere.”

  “I don’t know what to suggest.”

  Silence as Rimes waited for Barton to come to a decision. He studied the green liquid in the canister. Its thick warmth would comfort his throat. His angry thoughts would dissolve in the liquid. It had all happened too fast in the tunnel. He didn’t get to enjoy it. “If they’re nearby, I can pick up the trail.”

  “Darren? If you mean glo, that’s not a good idea. The medicine I gave you –”

  “Mandy. I know what I’m doing.”

  The doctor hesitated. “Of course.”

  A few moments later, Barton had his phone in one hand and the glo in the other, as he toyed with the idea of taking the drink. He dreaded pressing Call just as much. The nastiest creatures of the underworld couldn’t make him shake like this. He gritted his teeth and did it.

  The phone rang. A painful series of beeps with no answer. He closed his eyes and realised the one thing worse than having to explain himself was the thought that she might not answer. Holly’s voice interrupted his fears. “Darren?”

  “Holly,” he said, voice hoarse.

  “My God Darren, you bastard, you tell me you’re safe. Tell me Grace is safe.”

  “I’m fine,” Barton lied. “And I’m close to her. But there’s something I have to do.”

  “Where have you been?” Holly’s voice rose. “You tell me where on earth you’ve been!”

  “There was another note. I did what they said, now I’m following them.”

  “Call the police! Get someone else involved! Are you out of your goddamned mind?”

  “There’s no one else who can do what I need to,” Barton told her.

  “Is there hell! This is our daughter –”

  “I need to go...back down the hole. I wanted to talk to you. Wanted to let you know. I’ve hidden it all for too long. And this time...”

  “Darren...” Holly’s anger was subsiding, replaced by fear.

  “Holly,” Barton said, “it’ll be okay. This is just something I need to do.”

  “Where are you? Let me come and help. Let me do something.”

  “The best thing you can do” – he took a breath – “is stay safe. Don’t worry. Don’t...”

  He trailed off, looking into the drink. Holly waited only a moment before starting up again. “Darren Barton, you listen to me. I am not impressed. I am not happy at all. You tell me where you are this instant, and I will come and I will –”

  “I love you, Holly,” he said, quietly. The quiet I love you of a man who was afraid he might not get to say it again. Holly’s voice quivered in reply.

  “I love you too, Darren,” she said. “You come back to me. You bring our daughter back, with you, or I’ll never forgive you, you hear me?”

  “I hear you,” he said, then hung up.

  He lifted the canister and took a hearty swig. This sweet, vile drink had taken him many places in the past. It was time it took him to the one that had got his friend killed.

  10

  Pax was relieved to find Grace where she had left her. The poor girl hadn’t even tried the door since they’d gone. Checking the rafters to make sure there was no one else around, as though she could even see the tiny people, Pax raced to Grace’s side. She put an arm around her and Grace flinched away. “Please don’t hurt me please don’t hurt me!”

  “Everything’s going to be okay,” Pax whispered, more to herself than Grace.

  Hearing her voice, Grace lowered her arms and looked into Pax’s face. She was stuck halfway between relief and renewed fear. “You? Did you...are you...?”

  “Oh God, no!” Pax waved a hand towards the door. “I’m not a part of this. I’m getting you out of here. Taking you home.”

  Grace nodded quickly, and Pax helped her up. Grace asked, “Is my dad here?”

  “I’ve got no idea where your dad is,” Pax said, taking stock of the girl. Her bare legs were turning blue. She’d suffered the night in this place. “It’s okay. I know someone else who can help us.”

  The steel door slid open a few inches with a piercing screech. Bees poked his head out and stared at Pax as though her presence was a complete surprise. Then he saw Grace and his eyes relaxed. He was wearing a white apron and face mask, sprayed up and down by barely dried blood. His neutral voice betrayed nothing as he said, “It’s cold, you shouldn’t be out dressed like that.”

  Grace merely lowered her gaze, meekly, as Pax led her into the building. Bees closed the door behind them.

  “Got any food?” Pax asked, rubbing her hands together.

  “Yeah.” Bees pointed. “Got a blanket in the office too, for the little one. Do us a favour and don’t look into the main room. Save you asking questions and save me giving answers.” He regarded Grace. “You sure she should be here?”

  “No choice right now, no time to piss about,” Pax said, and Bees nodded. That was that. He walked ahead down the corridor, and Grace gave Pax a nervous look. A mechanical drill, or a saw, or something, whirred somewhere in the building. Pax fought the urge to turn in the direction of the sound, to where the building opened up to some kind of factory floor. In her line of work, avoiding seeing certain things might help you live longer. A tip, she realised, which she should have given herself a few days ago.

  Bees led them up some stairs and into an office. After Pax and Grace entered, he closed the door and went to the fridge. He gestured to a dusty couch, and they planted themselves down as he took out a tray of sandwiches: a variety of flavoured triangles, such as might be found at an academic conference. He tossed the tray onto the coffee table, then threw a heavy blanket to Grace and took out a can of beer. Pax turned down a beer herself, but started shovelling small sandwiches into her mouth. Grace was more hesitant, but once she got her first bite she quickly overtook Pax, famished.

  Bees watched the pair patiently.

  “I think my apartment’s burnt,” Pax started explaining, finishing a messy mouthful. “The Ministry guys chased me out of West Farling, and they know where I live. But I need to get something out of there. Fast.”

  “Who’s the girl?” Bees nodded to Grace. Grace paused mid-bite, frightened.

  “Separate problem,” Pax said. “Kind of. I’m taking her home.”

  “What happened?”

  “Basically…” Pax sat back. “I saw too much.”

  “Think they’re gonna kill you?” Bees asked, as though asking about the weather.

  “I think they’d like to question and torture me first.” Pax saw Grace hadn’t moved, shocked still. Bees nodded, though, like that was a good thing. “I’ve got nowhere else to go, Bees.”

  “It’s just the MEE. We can put feelers, see what it’d take to get them off your back.”

  Pax stared at him for a moment. Of course, Bees would come to her rescue, digging in the hooks of debts. She took another sandwich while she chewed the prospect over. He looked like he could wait a decade for an answer. Grace still hadn’t moved.
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br />   “I’ve got no intention of owing you,” Pax said. “Or your boss.”

  “Didn’t think you would,” Bees said. “There’s options, though. You want money, we could stake you for a cut, no debt involved. I can vouch for you. But you’re not that good, so you’re not going to find the terms favourable.”

  “It’s not money I want right now.”

  “Indeed. Option two would be more interesting to both of us.” Bees took a deliberate sip of beer. The drill in the factory below got louder, then skipped a beat, followed by a loud curse. He ignored it. “I value information. As does my boss and as, I’m sure, do you. You’ve got information people might kill you for. See to sharing that and we can make other arrangements.”

  “They’d come after you, too,” Pax replied.

  “I can handle myself,” Bees said, and she didn’t doubt it.

  “Right.” Pax took another moment. Faced with the prospect of sharing the secrets of the Sunken City, she realised again how important that information was. She studied the office, appreciating exactly where they had ended up. The desk was thick with dust, likely never used for paperwork. The real work was done below. Work involving aprons and masks and blood. Bees and his associates were the least responsible people she could involve in this. But she needed help.

  She cursed Letty for abandoning her. Just when it seemed like she had an ally. However vicious the little woman was, Pax felt there was something good in her. Or at least she had some affinity with her. But she was gone now. And this was her backup option. The fruition of friendlessness.

  If she could keep Bees just far enough from the truth, she could work it out. Letty and the Fae couldn’t be trusted to do anything good; even if they put an end to the minotaur, which she doubted they would, they weren’t saving Rufaizu. They weren’t looking out for Ordshaw. The sole means to turn the whole situation around sat in Pax’s apartment, in her cupboard. She frowned, uncomfortably acknowledging these weren’t thoughts that would get her free and clear.

  “I trust you, Pax,” Bees said, seeming to respond to her uncertain face. “Enough that I’d tell you what’s going on downstairs and know that information would be safe. You can trust me just the same. You want us to help you, we need to know what we’re dealing with.”