The Ehrich Weisz Chronicles: Demon Gate

by Marty Chan

  In the confusion, Ehrich slipped away from Mr. Serenity’s troop, ran down the stairs and found an exit at the back of the building. As he ran down the street, Ehrich realized he had been going about the search the wrong way. If he was going to find Amina and get the answers about Dash’s medallion, he would have to lure her out. What he needed was the right bait.

  A Little Misdirection

  The steam-powered boat chugged across the East River, bringing Ehrich to Devil’s Island. A lanky dock guard recognized him.

  “What are you doing on our island? Shouldn’t you be doing an experiment with the mad scientist?”

  Ehrich pretended to laugh. “I guess you heard.”

  “Commander Farrier was fuming when he crossed the bridge. What did you do to get under his skin?”

  “Nothing unless you count breathing.”

  “You must have done something.”

  “I disagreed with him in front of the other hunters,” Ehrich said.

  “Yeah, I could see that making him fly off the handle.”

  “I’m sure he’ll calm down,” Ehrich said. He started to walk down the path.

  “Hold on there, Houdini,” the guard said. Apparently, Ehrich’s nickname had also made the rounds. “The commander said no one gets off or on this island without his say-so.”

  “Come on. I need to get my belongings. The commander didn’t even give me a chance to get my gear. I won’t be long.”

  “I don’t know about this.”

  “Tell you what. You let me get my things, and maybe I can sneak something from the labs for you. Tesla’s been working on some prototype weapons. He’s got a volt pistol that doesn’t use electro-darts.”

  “Really?”

  “You can have it, but only if you let me get my gear.”

  The guard nodded. “An hour. Tops. If you see Farrier, you skedaddle.”

  Ehrich thanked the guard and headed to the staff quarters. If the news had spread, there was no way he would be able to get to Ninth Circle. Not without some help. Ehrich crept to the windows of the staff dormitories and peeked inside. Wilhelm and Gino were wrestling on the floor, while Margaret and Charlie cheered them on.

  Ehrich waved to catch Charlie’s attention. His friend didn’t notice him. Margaret glanced at the window and Ehrich managed to duck just in time. He waited a few minutes then peeked up again. Margaret had sandwiched herself between the two combatants to break up the fight. Gino nursed a bloody nose while Wilhelm pranced away. The German teen always took things too far.

  Ehrich waved once more at Charlie. This time, he noticed. He nodded toward the far end of the building. Ehrich crouched along the bushes and made his way to the isolated area. A few minutes later, Charlie stepped out to meet him.

  “Charlie, why isn’t your squad on the hunt for the fugitive?”

  “You’re sneaking around the island so you can ask me that?”

  Ehrich smiled. At least his friend still had his sense of humour.

  “Farrier thinks I don’t have control over my team,” Charlie said with a sigh, “so he wants us to learn a hard lesson and stood us down. I don’t know what you did, but he’s madder than a wet hen.”

  “I told him he let a Dimensional escape from Demon Gate.”

  “Land sakes—that’s why everyone’s on the bug hunt! You’re in hot water and the lid is coming down. Don’t suppose you have a magic trick to get out of this mess.”

  “Actually, I might have an idea, but I need your help.”

  “Really? The head of Tesla’s security force needs my help,” Charlie joked.

  Ehrich nodded. “Yes. If we bring back the fugitive, I’m pretty sure that Farrier will have to reinstate the squad.”

  “Farrier has the hunters scouring the city. They’ll capture her before nightfall.”

  “I don’t think so. Amina—the fugitive—is working with her sponsor, Mr. Serenity, to find someone.”

  “Who does she want?”

  “Another Dimensional. Amazon type. Red skin. Ivory tusks out either side of her nose and a long black ponytail. I don’t know who she is, but a prisoner in Ninth Circle might be connected to her.” Ehrich explained.

  “How do you know?”

  “They both wore the same jade tael. If we can get our hands on the prisoner’s tael, we might be able to fool Mr. Serenity into thinking we have the red-skinned girl. And that might be all the leverage we need to flush Amina out.”

  “You’re baiting a trap? Not a bad idea, but if Farrier catches you traipsing around Devil’s Island, he’ll throw you in a cell.”

  “I’m willing to take that chance. Can you help me down to Ninth Circle?”

  “Sure, I’ll sneak you in under my jacket.”

  “We’re going to need something a little better,” Ehrich replied. “Like I said: you catch the fugitive, you’ll be a hero. Farrier won’t have any choice but to put you back in the field.”

  “I’m all ears. How am I going to sneak you past the guards?”

  “I have an idea.” Ehrich smiled.

  j

  Brian surveyed his domain, the cavern entrance to Ninth Circle. Deep beneath the surface, he ruled this fiefdom with a combination of fear and cajoling. His guards knew who was in charge and the prisoners were made to eventually understand that he controlled when they ate, when they slept, and when they had recreation. The lift lowered to the cavern, meaning that another arrival was making his or her way into his kingdom. Brian relished the thought of breaking in the new prisoner.

  He watched as the lift thudded to a stop. Charlie Campbell, one of the squad leaders, had a hooded illegal in tow. Brian knew the leader from the countless times that he’d escorted illegals to Ninth Circle. Of all the hunters, Charlie apprehended the most. Brian admired his work.

  “Long time no see, Charlie,” the redhead joked.

  “No peace for the wicked.”

  “Who do you have there?” Brian pointed at the hooded figure with his arms cuffed behind his back.

  “Caught this illegal up north. They’re calling him The Basilisk. One look into his eyes and you’re paralyzed.”

  “Really? How did you catch him?”

  “Wasn’t easy. Good thing he didn’t have eyes in the back of his head. Best thing to do is keep this hood on until we get him into a cell. Then I suggest, when you feed the guy, keep your eyes to the floor.”

  “Thanks for the warning. I’ll take you to the cells.”

  Charlie shook his head. “He’s a slippery one. Don’t want to take any more risks than I have to.”

  “I’ll be okay,” Brian insisted. He didn’t like anyone questioning his ability to do his job. Even Charlie.

  “Appreciate the offer, but this guy stunned two of my squad members. You don’t know how to handle this kind of illegal.”

  “Trust me, Charlie. I’ve seen my share.”

  “Brian, just give me the keys and tell me where an isolated cell is. Someplace where he can’t get a look at anyone.”

  The redhead puffed his chest. “This is my facility, Charlie. I handle all the prisoner entries.”

  “Listen, Brian. I don’t mean to step on your toes here, but I want a little alone time with the prisoner. A little payback for what he did to my hunters.”

  Brian cracked a smile. “You want me to look the other way.”

  “If anyone asks what happened to this illegal, he did it to himself while he was in the cell.”

  The redhead nodded and reached for the keys around his belt. “Cell 535 should do the trick. No one’s down that corridor right now. You’ll have all the privacy you need.”

  “Thanks.” Charlie took the key and climbed on the giant risers of the funicular’s platform with his prisoner in tow. They sat on the angled steps.

  When the platform rolled into the tunnel and they were out of sight, Charlie pulled the hood off Ehrich’s head and unshackled the cuffs around his wrists.

  “I sure hope you know what you’re doing. You have any idea how yo
u’re going to get out?”

  “Misdirection is the secret to all good magic tricks. You won’t see me leaving if I make you look at something else.” He picked up the keys. “Or in this case, someone else.”

  “You can’t be serious. You’re going to spring a prisoner?”

  Ehrich nodded.

  “Wilhelm was right. Houdini is a good nickname for you. How are you going to do it?”

  “One step at a time. First, let’s find Ba Tian.”

  When the funicular reached the bottom of the steep tunnel, the teens jumped down. Ehrich led the way through the corridors, trying to remember the route that had led him to the red-skinned Dimensional. He stopped in front of an empty cell.

  “I’m sure he was right here.” He paced the corridor and searched the other cells. There was no sign of Ba Tian.

  “Charlie, he was in this cell. I swear.”

  “Then where did he go?”

  “I don’t know.”

  They expanded their search to cells in nearby corridors. “You can’t miss him, Charlie. He’s as big as an ox, and he’s as red as roses in bloom. He’s got boar tusks on the sides of his nose.”

  They walked past Ole Lukoje’s cell. The raggedy man chuckled. “Have you come down to play with us-s-s again, fles-s-sh bag?”

  “Not interested in you this time.”

  “Too bad. Now that you’ve found a new friend to play with, he does-s-sn’t s-s-seem to be around.”

  Ehrich stopped. “Ba Tian. You’ve seen him?”

  “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

  “The red-skinned prisoner down the next corridor.”

  Ole Lukoje leaned against his bars and smiled. “You put s-s-so many of us-s-s down here, it’s-s-s hard to remember everyone.”

  “What do you know?” Charlie asked.

  “I’m not in the busssiness-s-s of telling fles-s-sh bags-s-s anything.”

  Charlie stepped in. “Where’s the demon? Tell us. We can make it worth your while.”

  The creature’s shrill nasal breathing filled the cavern. “You can’t give me what I want, foolis-s-sh boy.”

  “You want out of here. I can make that happen.” Charlie bluffed.

  “My friend has clout upstairs,” Ehrich said, backing him up. “But if you don’t cooperate, he can make your stay less than pleasant.”

  “Don’t listen to Ehrich,” Charlie said. “I only threw one prisoner in solitary and forgot about him. The rest came back to their cells after a month.”

  “The prisoner was so hungry he chewed off three of his fingers,” Ehrich said.

  “He exaggerates. It was only two.” Charlie shrugged.

  Ehrich glanced at Ole Lukoje for any reaction to their baiting. Nothing.

  “Okay, demon, tell me what you want, I’ll get it for you,” Charlie said.

  The raggedy man smiled. “My arm back.”

  The teens looked at each other, surprised.

  “I didn’t think s-s-so.”

  “Forget this one,” Charlie said. “Someone else here knows where the demon went. We’ll find a talker.”

  Ole Lukoje chuckled. “Good luck, fles-s-sh bag.”

  Ehrich’s partner jogged down the corridor.

  “He’d have better luck talking to your friends-s-s above,” the raggedy man said. “They have peepers-s-s everywhere. Tas-s-sty peepers-s-s.”

  Ehrich turned to stare at the prisoner. For a demon to leave the prison, he’d need help, and the guards were the only ones who could give it.

  “Did they let him go?”

  The creature nodded. “When you know why he left, well then, that is-s-s the s-s-shocker.”

  “Tell me!” Ehrich ordered.

  “If I tell you, the truth will haunt your nightmares-s-s for the res-s-st of your life.”

  “Stop wasting my time. Either you know or you don’t.”

  Ole Lukoje crooked a finger, beckoning Ehrich to come closer. “Keep this-s-s between us-s-s. Promis-s-se?”

  “Yes.” Ehrich advanced to the cell door.

  “What you need to know i-s-s-s that…” Ole Lukoje’s sibilant voice was barely audible in the cell.

  Ehrich leaned forward. Ole Lukoje’s hand shot through the cage doors and clutched Ehrich’s throat.

  Damned misdirection, Ehrich cursed.

  Ninth Circle Corrupted

  Ole Lukoje had envisioned this moment ever since he lost his arm. Now the foul creature who had dismembered him and thrown him in this filthy prison was in his grasp. The boy pushed his foot through the bars and kicked at his shins, but Ole Lukoje ignored the pain. He had his prize and he meant to claim it. He squeezed the tender flesh, wishing he had his metal talons with him now.

  Charlie yanked Ehrich away from the cell, leaving Ole Lukoje clutching nothing but air. The pair fell to the floor and scrambled away from the cell.

  The blond squad leader grinned. “Came back in the nick of time.”

  “I owe you one.”

  “You owe me two,” Charlie reminded him.

  “S-s-slippery little devil. I’ll get you yet,” the raggedy man said.

  “Not today.”

  “Only a matter of time. And I’ll enjoy every s-s-second of it.”

  Ehrich scrambled to his feet and sprinted to the funicular. He yanked the call cord as Charlie climbed on the platform.

  “Did he tell you anything?”

  Ehrich nodded.

  “Care to share?”

  “I know how the prisoner got out.”

  “How?” Charlie asked.

  He refused to elaborate as the funicular crawled up the steep slope. Once the cable car rolled out of the tunnel, Ehrich hopped off and sprinted to the guardhouse. Brian stepped out, surprised to see the dark-haired teen. Ehrich grabbed a fistful of Brian’s red hair as he hauled him across the uneven cavern floor and wrestled him into a headlock on his knees. Charlie followed the pair as a half dozen guards poured out of the guardhouse.

  “Let go!” Brian squealed.

  “What did you do?” Ehrich demanded.

  “Ow!”

  “The prisoner. The big one with red skin. He’s not there anymore. What did you do?”

  The guards drew their weapons. Charlie motioned them to stand down. They eyed their leader, then Charlie, unsure of what to do.

  Ehrich whirled on the others with Brian still in his grasp. “What did you do with the prisoner?”

  The teens lowered their weapons, their glances darting uncertainly at one another.

  Brian wheezed, “No idea... what you’re talking... about. All the prisoners are... accounted for.”

  “The one with the tusks. And the jade tael necklace. He’s as big as a bear.”

  “You were... seeing things,” Brian choked out.

  “Tell me where you put him.” Ehrich slammed the teen’s head into the ground. “Tell me!”

  Charlie pulled his friend back. “Easy, Ehrich. You’re losing it.”

  “I need to talk to the prisoner. Now!”

  “Look, if they didn’t see him, they didn’t see him. You can’t squeeze water out of ashes. Let’s go.”

  “What? They know what’s going on.”

  Charlie hauled Ehrich off of Brian and shoved him across the cavern out of earshot. He whispered, “You’re like a damn dog with a bone. Back off for a second. They’ve obviously made some deal with this demon. You said there’s a breach in security. Well, we found it. Now we can take it to Farrier.”

  Charlie was right. Though Ehrich didn’t like the commander, he knew the man would never allow corruption on his island. He alone had the authority to compel Brian to confess. Before a groggy Brian or his guards could react, the two boys climbed into the lift and pulled the lever to ascend to the surface.

  Ehrich paced the mesh cage, seething.

  “Why would they let this prisoner go?” Charlie asked.

  “Ba Tian claimed he was a merchant. He offered me whatever I wanted. I bet Brian and his pals had a price
.”

  “Nothing’s worth risking your job,” Charlie said.

  “Unless it’s valuable enough that you would never have to work again,” Ehrich said.

  His friend nodded. When the lift reached the surface, Ehrich and Charlie sought George Farrier in his office. The reception area was empty and so was the commander’s office.

  “Bet he went to the mess hall for dinner. Let’s go, Ehrich.”

  “No. Let’s wait here. I don’t want anyone else eavesdropping in case they’re in on it.”

  “Good point.” Charlie plopped into a chair.

  Ehrich paced, his body as wired with energy as his mind. How was the red giant connected to the red-skinned girl? Was it coincidence that they wore the same jade tael? Or was he an ally working with the girl? When Mr. Serenity talked about the asset, was he talking about the red-skinned giant? What did the behemoth offer the guards to buy his freedom? Most troubling of all: what was Ba Tian going to do now that he was free?

  On a shelf, Ehrich noticed a glint as the sun’s rays shone through the large bay window. He leaned closer to examine the item. A jade tael with a square hole in the coin’s centre—exactly like the jade tael necklace the crimson-skinned behemoth and the red-skinned girl wore around their necks. Ehrich’s blood went cold as he recalled the girl’s message: This jade tael belongs to the House of Qi. Let the tael be a symbol of our alliance.

  “Charlie, how does Farrier get all these things?”

  “He collects them from the demons. Why?”

  Ehrich picked up the tael. “Because I saw a tael like this on Ba Tian.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I think Farrier had a hand in letting the prisoner go.”