Niko and the Shades

Niko secretly longs for magic wands and crystal balls, maybe even a hero's sword. Instead, he can see the scarpies, sinister little shadow creatures who live in darkness and feed on black magic. Most people see one or two, but Niko sees them everywhere, scuttling along the streets or hiding in gutters.

No one takes the scarpies seriously - Niko's cousin calls them spectral rats. But when a powerful figure at the royal court is murdered by sorcery, Niko suspects the scarpies are involved. While the court is fragmented as factions scheme for power, Niko follows the scarpies into the darkest, most dangerous places in the city, hoping to stop a magical assassin before someone else is killed, and a murderer takes control of the kingdom.

Black Magic, Monsters and Murder. This is complete and has been run by several professionals, who've said it's ready for pro publication.

Cover art by Kit Foster of Kit Foster Designs