title: Under the Shadow of Darkness: book 1 of the Apprentice Series
author: james e cardona
description: Laced with signature Cardona humor ... hard choices to be made... and a few handy life's lessons ... at the sharp end of the bloodthirsty undead hordes' teeth, which certainly keeps his motivation and the overall pace of the book at a rollicking clip. ...A most worthwhile read.<br> Marc Secchia, author of <b>The Pygmy Dragon and the Shapeshifter Dragons</b> series (goodreads.com)
zlib_text: MOX
  by Maxwell Grant
  This page copyright © 2002 Blackmask Online.
  http://www.blackmask.com
  ?  CHAPTER I. THE DEAD LINE 
  ?  CHAPTER II. MURDER DISCOVERED 
  ?  CHAPTER III. THE INVESTIGATION 
  ?  CHAPTER IV. THE BROKEN TRAIL 
  ?  CHAPTER V. THE STROKE OF TWELVE 
  ?  CHAPTER VI. THE SHADOW MOVES 
  ?  CHAPTER VII. TRAILS CONVERGE 
  ?  CHAPTER VIII. IN THE HOUSE 
  ?  CHAPTER IX. CARDONA TAKES A TRIP 
  ?  CHAPTER X. THE SECRET ROOMS 
  ?  CHAPTER XI. WEIRD VISITORS 
  ?  CHAPTER XII. CARDONA DRAWS A TRUMP 
  ?  CHAPTER XIII. THARBEL COUNTERS 
  ?  CHAPTER XIV. THE SHADOW ENTERS 
  ?  CHAPTER XV. THE TEST 
  ?  CHAPTER XVI. CARDONA'S TEST 
  ?  CHAPTER XVII. DEATH INTERRUPTS 
  ?  CHAPTER XVIII. DEATH RETURNED 
  ?  CHAPTER XIX. CARDONA'S PLAN 
  ?  CHAPTER XX. BEFORE MIDNIGHT 
  ?  CHAPTER XXI. THE FATAL HOUR 
  ?  CHAPTER XXII. DOOM DEFERRED 
  ?  CHAPTER XXIII. CARDONA LEARNS 
  CHAPTER I. THE DEAD LINE
  THE green glass shade of the desk lamp threw a greenish, ghoulish glare upon the man who was seated
  at the desk. A twitchin