by Amy C. Blake
At first, he thought he was hallucinating. Blue scales glinted in the light reflected from the waves. Long white fangs clutched his shirt. Two flame-blue eyes fixed on him around a long snout. Massive blue wings battled the air currents. A ropy scar marred the smooth membrane of the left wing.
Nithir?
Beyond the dragon, Levi caught a glimpse of the drawbridge lowering. A loud ripping sound came from somewhere near his armpits. His already-torn shirt couldn’t last much longer.
He moved the key with his tongue and forced out a garbled “Up, Nithir!”
The dragon must’ve understood because his wings beat harder. Slowly they rose. Levi wanted to flap his arms and kick his feet, as if swimming through the air would help them reach the drawbridge faster, but he resisted the urge, knowing he’d only rip his shirt faster. Instead, he prayed.
The seams gave one last horrifying rip, and he fell. He landed face first on solid wood. Air whooshed from his lungs, and the key shot from between his lips. Loud clanks and snarls echoed above him. He flipped over. His hair fluttered as Nithir flew away, but he had other things to worry about. Like the fact that he lay between the battling Mr. Dominic and Decepter, still in Mr. Sylvester’s form. If either sliced downward, Levi would be dead.
The same thought must’ve occurred to Deceptor. His dagger arced not toward his opponent but toward Levi’s exposed belly. Levi rolled to the side, unfortunately into Mr. Dominic’s legs. Mr. Dominic toppled, and Deceptor’s knife jammed into the wood Levi had just vacated.
Levi scuttled farther away and wound up rolling downhill. Only then did he understand the drawbridge was at an angle because it hadn’t yet fully connected Terracaelum with Castle Island.
Mr. Dominic leapt to his feet in a move too agile for a 143-year-old man. Deceptor pulled the dagger free of the wood and swiped at the director’s legs. Mr. Dominic hopped over it and swung down. Deceptor blocked his overhead cut then shoved his skull into the director’s gut. The director gasped at the impact but lunged with his blade.
“Go! Get to safety!” Mr. Dominic bellowed at Levi, but Levi couldn’t move. He watched open-mouthed as Mr. Dominic knocked Deceptor’s dagger from his grip. It flashed silver as it fell from the drawbridge and hurtled toward the water below.
Deceptor shrieked something that sounded like a foul word, but Levi didn’t recognize the language. He had a split-second vision of his mom washing out the demon sorcerer’s potty mouth with a bar of yellow Dial soap. Then Deceptor morphed back into Morgan’s form.
And stepped from the bridge.
Levi blinked at the empty spot, the image of Morgan stepping off into nothingness imprinted on his brain. A splash echoed, and he gasped. He peered over the edge. In that instant, the smooth moat replaced the long drop to the lake. Morgan’s form was gone. The air left his lungs as though he’d plunged at top speed into the frigid water himself.
“Well, that’s that then.” The director sheathed his sword and reached out to help Levi up.
He stared at the man’s blue-veined hand, his brain waterlogged, uncomprehending. After a moment, he lifted his own bloody palm and grasped the director’s. He stood on wobbly legs, feeling like the weight of the entire lake pressed him down.
Mr. Dominic put an arm around him, his wrinkles deep with concern. “Let’s go inside, son.”
Levi allowed himself to be led into the castle, only to be met by a squeal and arms squeezing the breath from him.
“Thank God!” Sara released his neck and stepped back. “I was afraid you were dead. When you didn’t come back, I went for my mom. But Deceptor’s army broke into the field, so she and the others had to run out and fight. Mrs. Forest had the kitchen staff gather the campers in the art and music room for a sing-along, since it would be the farthest from the noise of battle and they wouldn’t know anything was happening. And then everybody else was fighting. I got Trevor and the rest of our friends, and we ran up to the tower so we could see what was going on, but we couldn’t figure out what to do.”
Levi frowned at her, completely confused, as she rushed ahead at a frantic pace.
“All these horrible creatures came out of the woods and—” She shuddered. “—then Mr. Forest flew over with Dad. And Nithir swooped after him. Then . . .” She paused, frowning. “Well, it was just strange, how fast Mom and the others routed Deceptor’s army. Some of our people were hurt, but I still thought it seemed too easy. But by then you’d been gone forever, and I was so scared.” She stopped talking suddenly and stared at his stomach. “Where’s your shirt?”
He blinked down at his bare chest and the red welts at his armpits. He couldn’t make his mind work. Where was his shirt?
Dr. Baldwin bustled up beside Sara, gently pulled her hands away from him, and raised both eyebrows at the director. “To the infirmary, I think.”
Mr. Dominic’s lips formed a thin line. He said something about exhaustion and shock, but Levi’s mind kept replaying Morgan’s body stepping off the drawbridge.
“Morgan . . .” The strangled word didn’t sound like it could’ve come from him. He forced his weary limbs to carry him down the empty hallway as he mumbled to himself, “Have to get her out. No telling what Regin and Deceptor have done to her.” He paused in the kitchen doorway. What next?
“Regin?” Mr. Dominic stepped in front of Levi and met his eyes.
Levi stared back at him, too tired to explain.
After a moment, the director nodded, hurried to the pantry, pulled out a second sword, and put the hilt into Levi’s hand.
The two strode to the cellar door, and Mr. Dominic opened it. Levi jolted fully alert when Regin burst out. Behind the Dvergar huddled Morgan, water dripping from her hair and clothes.
Levi gasped. Confusion made his temples throb. Morgan? No, Deceptor. But how could he have survived that drop? Didn’t matter. He was here, in the castle kitchen!
Levi raised his sword and charged.
43
Two Keys
“Wait.” Mr. Dominic grabbed his sword arm and shoved him aside.
Levi struggled against his firm grip. “But that’s—”
He started to say Deceptor, but was he right? He peered at the dirty, ashen-faced girl. She held her arms clenched around her body as though to keep herself from breaking apart. Beside her, the albino dwarf blinked, wincing as if the dim light hurt his eyes. Mr. Dominic released Levi’s arm. His sword sagged to the side.
“That’s Morgan, the real one.” Mr. Dominic took Morgan’s arm and thrust her behind him. Dr. Baldwin moved up beside her as if uncertain whether to offer her support. Sara watched with both hands over her mouth.
Levi scowled at Morgan, hands tightening around his sword hilt, ready to fight at the slightest movement. “Why’s she wet then?” It had to be Deceptor, but how did he get here so fast?
Mr. Dominic pressed a heavy hand on his shoulder. “It’s the real Morgan, son. Trust me.”
How could he be so sure?
“She tried to jump in the river,” Regin told Mr. Dominic. “I had to go in after her.”
That’s when Levi noticed the puddle beneath the Dvergar’s bony white feet.
Mr. Dominic drew himself erect, like a statue of a medieval king. He glared at the cowering Regin. “How dare you commit treason against this kingdom.”
The dwarf flinched as though struck. “I am sorry, Prince Tobias—”
“Do not speak that name.” Mr. Dominic’s eyes hardened to green marble.
Regin drew back. “I . . . crave your pardon . . . sir. Deceptor told me he had possession of the key. As you know, my brothers are trapped inside with those . . . creatures, and Deceptor said he would kill the rest of my people if I refused to do his bidding. Still, I never gave him what he wanted. I never got it.” His pink eyes darted to Levi’s face. “But he had it.”
Levi’s hand flew to his empty mouth. His tongue searched his aching teeth. Where was the key? Had it fallen into the lake?
Regin pointed at Levi.
“Where is it, boy? What happened to the key of the Dvergar?”
Key of the Dvergar? Sara had told him it was the castle key. Levi sputtered incoherently.
Dr. Baldwin placed a hand on his arm. “He’s talking about the hammer Mr. Austin loaned you for the play. Mjolnir.”
Levi’s jaw dropped. “Thor’s hammer is your key? To what?”
Regin waved away his words. “We call it Mjolnir as a joking reference to your silly human mythologies.” His face reflected desperation. “Clearly, Deceptor lied to me about having the key. I can only hope he lied about my family as well.” He held out a hand to Levi. “Please, boy, give me the key.”
“I . . . I dropped it.” His gaze fell to the stone floor. “When Pressie rescued me from that green crystal cave where Deceptor was trying to make me give him the other key . . .” He looked at the director, who gave a single nod of comprehension.
Sara released a muffled sob, but Levi kept his focus on Mr. Dominic. “Pressie pulled me through the water so hard the hammer broke free. I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault.” Dr. Baldwin patted his arm, though worry clouded his features as he murmured to Mr. Dominic, “What if he gets it? The prisoners—”
Mr. Dominic raised a hand, palm out. “The key is lost in the underground rivers. Deceptor does not have it.” He fixed his glare on Regin once more. “I contained the situation with your brothers and their charges when the, er, incident first occurred this summer. As for the rest of your family, I shall send scouts to determine their situation. In the meantime, we have a more pressing issue to discuss.”
Regin’s eyes widened as he held out both wrists, showing the thin silver bands around them. “Please, sir, I would never willingly betray you. Deceptor tricked me into thinking my family and the—”
At a slashing motion of the prince’s hand, Regin went silent.
Mr. Dominic studied the shackles, stroking his stubbled chin with one long forefinger. “There is a way you may begin to redeem yourself, Regin of the Dvergar.” He cocked a bushy brow at Dr. Baldwin. “The injured?”
“Mostly superficial wounds, except for a pair of sprites on patrol in the western woods.” Dr. Baldwin’s brow lowered. “They were set upon by a werewolf. It’s not good. I’ve done what I can to help their bodies dispel the poison, but I don’t know if it’s enough. Althea and I moved them to the Isolation Room. She’s keeping watch over them now.”
Levi shivered. He’d known all along that werewolf would get out and attack somebody.
Mr. Dominic nodded. “Could Regin be of help to them?”
“Regin? How could the treacherous Dverger possibly be of any h—” Dr. Baldwin sputtered to a stop, his eyes widening with sudden understanding. “Oh, yes, that’s a very good possibility.”
Mr. Dominic nodded. “Kindly prepare the Dvergar for the journey. Do not let him out of your custody.”
Levi blinked, bewildered about what injured people and journeys had to do with Regin, but the dark dwarf looked oddly excited.
“Oh, thank you, Pri—, uh, sir.” Regin bowed so low his beardless chin brushed the floor.
“Don’t mistake this for a reprieve,” the director said in a hard voice that chilled Levi.
“No, no, I won’t. Thank you, sir.” He straightened then peeked around the director to Morgan. “I apologize, young lady, for kidnapping you.” He cast a timid glance at Mr. Dominic. “I made sure she was not harmed, even though Deceptor told me to kill her.”
Mr. Dominic pointed toward the doorway. “Go.”
Nose wrinkled in disgust, Dr. Baldwin took Regin’s arm and led him out of the kitchen.
Mr. Dominic closed the cellar door.
“Is he dead this time?” Levi had to ask the question even though he knew from past experience it wasn’t easy to kill a creature like Deceptor. He burrowed deeper into the chair in front of Mr. Dominic’s desk and cradled his bandaged hands to his chest.
The old man studied him as if debating how much information he could handle. “It’s doubtful, I’m afraid.”
“But you . . . Mrs. Dominic . . . defeated his army.” Wasn’t that what Sara said? He thought so, but his brain had been so muddled after Deceptor in Morgan’s form dropped from the drawbridge.
Mr. Dominic lifted one shoulder. “Somebody released the minotaur, werewolf, and several of the hags from their prison, and they attacked. That much is true. However, it does seem to have been a weak attempt at battle, one easily quelled.”
“And the leprechauns?”
“Someone set fire to their cabbages.”
“Their . . . what?”
The old man’s mouth quirked. “Leprechauns very much love that particular vegetable. If you want to upset them, simply deny them their cabbages.”
“Oh.” Levi wrapped the blanket tighter around his shirtless shoulders. “But you won anyway. Right?”
A lengthy sigh filtered through the director’s lips. “So it would appear, but clearly the attacks were mere diversions from the true battle.” His green eyes pierced Levi’s. “To gain entry to the castle.”
His answer made Levi cringe, yet Deceptor had admitted as much. “He wanted the key. He thought I could get him inside.” When Mr. Dominic didn’t comment, he continued, despite his burning stomach. “I lost two keys today. One Mr. Austin told me to guard with my life, and the other I talked Sara into getting for me.” The burning turned into an inferno. “Without your permission.” How had he fooled himself so completely? First with his attitude toward his parents and their right to tell him what to do. Then with his attitude toward Mr. Dominic and his rules.
The director propped his chin in his hand. “All true, I’m afraid.”
“I—I thought I was doing right, getting the key and going down after Morgan,” Levi stammered. “Because this time the wind didn’t warn me, I don’t know why, so I thought it must be okay.”
“You hadn’t been warned enough already?”
Levi looked away, unable to bear the director’s gaze. One warning should’ve been all it took to make him obey. Yet the Spirit had rescued him by shoving him to Pressie anyway, despite his foolishness. “I . . . I’m sorry, sir.” His shoulders sagged. “I don’t know how to make it up to you or Mr. Austin.” He looked up at Mr. Dominic. “Though I’m not sure why Mr. Austin had the key of the Dvergar. What prisoners were Dr. Baldwin talking about?” Were there other werewolves on the loose now? “And what does Regin have to do with injured creatures?”
“Regin has some . . . special skills useful in treating injuries. That’s all you need to know.”
“Yes, sir.” Levi studied the wood grain of Mr. Dominic’s desk. He understood. He’d disregarded the director’s authority. Broken the rules. Shattered his trust. How could he make things right? “The water ripped the key from me after Pressie rescued me from that green cave place. Maybe somebody could look for it near there?” He couldn’t bring himself to volunteer for the job. He had no desire to step foot in Terracaelum’s underbelly ever again.
The director’s gaze sharpened. “About that cave, what exactly did it look like? Where did you find it?”
“I don’t know exactly. We were on the other side of this stone bridge trying to find the way out without meeting a basilisk when we just kind of ended up in this big cavern with huge green crystals.”
“Hmm.” He cocked his head to the right. “Pressie. Is that what you called the creature?”
Levi’s face warmed. “I started calling her Pressie because Trevor told me that’s what Superior’s lake monster is called. I assumed that’s who she is. Is that wrong?” And when had he started thinking of it as she?
The director smiled. “That’s as good a nickname as any, I suppose, though that’s not her real name.”
“Oh, well, she answered to it, so I just thought . . .”
“You called and she came?”
Levi nodded. “After she rescued me for the second time—”
Mr. Dominic’s hands dropped to the desktop w
ith a thump. “The second time?”
“She’s how I got back alive earlier this summer.” Levi twined his fingers into the blanket.
“I see.”
“Yeah . . . So, after she saved me this time, I figured she must not want to eat me—” He tried not to react to Mr. Dominic’s smothered snort. “—so I told her to go find Morgan and bring her to the beach.” His gaze shifted to the map of Terracaelum behind the director’s desk, homing in on the point at which his world and this one connected. “When Deceptor showed up at the cliff, I thought Pressie had rescued Morgan.” His lips twisted. “Obviously I was wrong, since he tried to use me to get inside the castle.”
Mr. Dominic was quiet a moment. “When you got the key turned the right way up, the castle opened for you.” His tone was casual, but Levi got the feeling he was very interested in the answer.
At his hesitant nod, Mr. Dominic sat back as if stunned.
“Blue and green light flashed, and then the castle was right there. Dr. Baldwin threw me a sword out the window. I dropped the key fighting Deceptor, though, and then he knocked my sword away.” Levi again studied the wood swirls in the desktop, not wanting to see Deceptor’s face in his mind’s eye. “When I saw the key caught in those low branches, I knew it was my only chance. Then I fell again, and I’d be dead if you hadn’t shown up. You and Nithir.” He lifted his eyes to the director’s. “Did you send him?”
Mr. Dominic shook his head.
Renewed guilt twisted Levi’s gut. “I must’ve lost the key when Nithir dropped me onto the bridge. Do you think Deceptor will find it in the lake and break in? I should never have taken it in the first place. I put Terracaelum in danger.”