by Amy C. Blake
Except Trevor’s. Levi’s John Cena-sized roommate stood up and fixed Hunter in a steely glare. “Shut up, Hunter, or I’ll shut you up.”
Face flushed, Hunter opened his mouth. Then shut it again. Lip curled, the bully turned his back on Levi’s group as if they were beneath his notice.
Levi smiled his thanks at Trevor. Shrugging, Trevor stuffed an entire dinner roll in his mouth.
When Levi’s eyes returned to the staff table, Mr. Dominic, Mr. Sylvester, and Mr. Drake were no longer there. When had they left? Didn’t they hear Hunter’s mean words?
Levi stared down at his half-empty bowl as he considered the situation. He was sick of worrying about cliffs and ears and abnormal stuff. What if he’d simply been so tired and stressed his first day he’d imagined the cliff thing? It was possible. Maybe there were plenty of people in the world with pointy-tipped ears, and he’d just never heard of them. He shouldn’t freak out about them. That was rude. Not to mention that it tended to land him in moats.
He straightened his spine. It was time to get beyond his idiotic obsessions and enjoy his summer off. His roommates and friends were great, really. He liked the activities and classes for the most part. His biggest challenge here, besides the class work, was Hunter. And the best way to deal with Hunter was to avoid him unless an adult was near. Because Hunter never showed his true colors around the staff.
That’s the plan, Levi. Don’t forget it. He gave himself a mental tap on the forehead. You’re gonna forget all the weird stuff, stay away from Hunter, and have a fun, stress-free summer. Period.
Now if he could just keep to the plan.
Chapter 10
The Campout
The next night Levi lay in bed trying to read his Bible, but his thoughts kept straying to his horrible day. He’d overslept, forgotten his dirty laundry, and had to miss breakfast to run back and get it. He was late for Logic class, and Mr. Dominic clearly didn’t approve of tardiness. On top of that, they studied logical fallacies, which his mom had neglected to teach him, so he missed all the questions the director threw at him. Then Mrs. Austin sent them from Science class with a huge pile of homework.
Wasn’t this supposed to be summer camp?
Afternoon lessons were cancelled due to rain—he didn’t know why he’d thought it wouldn’t rain on this side of the island—trapping him in the great hall with hyper campers while he waded through his homework.
After a supper filled with more reenactments of his near-drowning in the moat and his resultant fainting spell—so went the current exaggeration—he trudged upstairs to his room. He folded and put away his clean laundry while Trevor, Steve, and Tommy threw balled socks at each other.
Now as Levi tried to concentrate on his Bible reading, a pair of oversized underwear dropped in the middle of the page. He scowled around the room in search of the culprit.
Steve stood red-faced a few feet from Levi’s bed. “Uh, sorry.” He snatched his drawers, snickering as he scurried away.
Levi slapped his Bible shut, slammed it onto his nightstand, and flopped down with his back to the room, hoping the others would get the message: I’m tired! Shut up so I can sleep!
But they kept hurling underpants, socks, and other articles of clothing, all while cackling uncontrollably. Idiots. They reminded him of his little brothers on a sugar high.
He curled into a tight ball. He missed his brothers. At least he could yell at them to get quiet or tell on them or something. Here he had no control. He buried his face in his pillow.
So much for his big plan for a wonderful summer.
The next afternoon, Mr. Drake led the campers outside the north castle door for a woodcraft lesson. The short, pimple-faced man named Albert surprised Levi by joining him as he passed under the raised portcullis.
“Hi, Albert. You help with this class?”
Albert stuck out his small chest. “Yup. I’m the woodcraft assistant. I know lots about the woods.”
“Really?” Levi looked around, wishing his roommates would hurry. He didn’t want to get stuck with Albert the whole afternoon, especially if Albert got hungry again. He couldn’t deal with crankiness right now. He had enough problems.
“I can teach you lotsa stuff about the trees and the undergrowth and such. Help you watch out for poison ivy.” Albert lowered his voice as they neared the forest. “And worse stuff.”
Levi’s forehead crinkled. “Worse stuff?”
Albert gave an exaggerated nod then moved over to Mr. Drake. Levi stared after him. He felt a brush on his sleeve and turned to see Sara at his side.
“Don’t worry about it.” Her smile dismissed his vague anxiety. “Just stick close to the group and you’ll be fine.”
Halfway through Mr. Drake’s lecture about safety in the forest, Levi heard a rustling in the underbrush behind him. He turned his head and searched the thick leaves. The hair at the nape of his neck stood up, but he didn’t see anything.
Sara leaned close. “What’s wrong?”
“Thought I heard something. Must’ve been the wind.”
“There is no wind today.” She grabbed his wrist and yanked him toward Albert. “Stay near the staff, away from the thickest growth.”
Levi blinked at her. Though anxiety poked at his stomach, he pushed it away. Uh-uh, Levi. Ignore the weird stuff, remember? Keep to the plan.
He returned his gaze to the teacher. Nothing else disturbed him for the remainder of the lesson.
Except his sweaty palms. And the red half-moons Sara’s nails had tattooed on his wrist.
Levi’s group assembled in the foyer the next morning armed with sleeping bags and backpacks. The Drakes and the Austins led their group for a campout in the woods south of the castle. Hunter’s group would go with the Sylvesters, Dr. Baldwin, and Miss Nydia to the forest on the north side. Levi was glad Hunter and his thugs were the ones camping in the freaky north woods. Maybe something would scare the bully out of them.
As soon as he crossed the drawbridge, Levi couldn’t resist a backward glance, just in case, but there was no sign of the lake.
Mr. Dominic stood in the open castle doorway calling, “I’ll be here to let you in tomorrow afternoon.” The director winked at Levi as if the two shared a secret.
Levi eyed him a moment. When Trevor nudged Levi, he followed the group on autopilot, not joining in the others’ excited conversations.
Camp Classic is normal. Camp Classic is normal. Camp Classic is normal. Levi mentally ran and reran the mantra until Mr. Drake stopped them in a clearing with an old fire ring at its center. By that time, Levi was okay. Who cared if Mr. Dominic winked? Maybe the old man had something in his eye.
When Mr. Drake told the kids to set up camp, they divided out several four-man tents. Levi, Trevor, Tommy, and Steve pitched their tent and set their gear inside. They got done fast, mostly because Tommy went camping a lot with his dad, and went to help the others finish theirs.
Levi expected Sara and her roommates to need help, but they’d finished first and had already gone to gather wood and water. He moved near Lizzie as she gingerly picked up a few twigs, as if afraid she’d mess up her nails. He scooped up a couple of branches. “You sure got that tent up fast.”
She smiled. “Why, sure, honey. Sara knows all about pitching tents.”
“Really?” Sara? He glanced over at Sara laughing with Monica as they carried buckets of water from a nearby stream. Ashley, a pile of sticks in her arms, joined him and Lizzie, and the three met up with Sara and Monica near the tents.
As he added his wood to the pile, he started to ask Sara where she’d learned so much about camping, but he couldn’t decide how to ask without sounding like what his sister would call a pig.
As he thought, Lizzie whipped out a small mirror and dabbed something on her lips.
Monica snatched the mirror from Lizzie’s hand. “We are camping, Lizzie. One does not wear lip gloss on a camping trip.”
Sara covered her mouth, and Levi smothered a snort.
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Monica leveled them with a dirty look and then rounded on Ashley. “I’m right, aren’t I, Ashley?”
Ashley shrugged, eyes darting for help. Clearly, she’d rather be anywhere but the middle of an argument.
Lizzie closed the gloss and dabbed her lips together. “Momma told me a lady ought always to look her best.” She sent Monica a slit-eyed look. “We all know a girl ought to do what her momma says.” She raised an eyebrow at Ashley. “Ain’t that right, Ashley honey?”
“Um . . .” Ashley tossed Sara a help-me look.
Sara stepped between her roommates and put a hand on Ashley’s arm. “Never mind, you guys. Come on, Ashley, let’s go get some more firewood.”
The soft whoosh of released breath was Ashley’s only response as she and Sara passed Levi. Lizzie’s eyes shot green daggers at Monica. Monica turned up her nose and stalked away, murmuring something about “Momma’s little princess.” Flinging back her hair, Lizzie stomped the opposite direction, trailing her strong perfume and drawled comments about “irritating know-it-alls.”
Levi shook his head. And he’d thought his roommates were hard to deal with.
Sleeping outside wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Levi flipped and flopped as he struggled to get comfortable in his sleeping bag. Trevor and Steve’s snoring duet, the many forest noises, and the adults murmuring around the fire kept him wide awake. Surely that pathetic excuse for a mattress in the boys’ cabin would’ve been better than the ground, even with Trevor’s bulk threatening to crash the whole thing in on him.
Levi shifted. Was that a stick under his ribs? He twisted. Why did they call these things four-man tents when four boys couldn’t even fit comfortably?
Finally giving up on sleep, he crept from his bag, slipped on his shoes, and unzipped the tent. He stole through the flap and breathed in the cool night air. It smelled much better out here. The tent stunk like old gym shoes, as if one of the guys should’ve hit the showers before they left the castle.
Levi moved outside the ring of tents and tipped his head back. Maybe he’d pull his sleeping bag out here under the stars. He could fall sleep studying the constellations.
“How marvelous is your handiwork, O God,” he murmured. How did the rest of the verse go? His dad told him he should study the Psalms this summer. Hadn’t gotten started yet, but there was always tomorrow. Shrugging, he perched on a tree stump, his gaze on the night sky.
“We have to watch carefully, even on this side of the island.” Levi sat up straight at the whispered words from the nearby two-person tent—the one he’d seen the Austins put up that afternoon.
“But surely he wouldn’t come here.” The high-pitched whisper had to be Mrs. Austin’s. “She must be safe. She had such fun today, poor dear.”
The deeper voice said, “You know he’ll go anywhere. Even into the castle if he can get an invite. And don’t forget he can change how he appears. We must be constantly on guard.”
Levi strained to hear Mrs. Austin’s response. Instead, the zing of a zipper made him jump.
A grunt and muffled creaks followed. Stubby Mr. Austin emerged from the open tent flap, paused, and peered around.
Levi froze. Who was the couple talking about? Who could go anywhere and change appearance and was so dangerous they had to keep guard against him? And who was the “poor dear”?
At that moment, Mr. Austin’s gaze fell on Levi. The man reached into a pouch on his belt and withdrew a sharp-looking knife that sucked the moisture from Levi’s throat.
Blade gleaming in the starlight, Mr. Austin stalked toward Levi. “I see you there, you scoundrel.”
Chapter 11
Weakness
Levi swallowed hard. “It’s me, sir. Levi Prince.”
Mr. Austin stopped within inches of him, his head only a little higher than Levi’s though Levi hadn’t gathered the courage to stand. The man considered him for an agonizing moment, dagger too near Levi’s heart.
Not daring to breathe, Levi fired glances around the silent campsite. Should he scream? Make a run for it? How far would he get before the short, bullnecked man caught him?
When Mr. Austin finally lowered the dagger, it shook in his hand. “What are you doing out here, boy? You should be in your tent. You could get hurt.” He gulped air. “I could have hurt you.”
Levi let out a shaky breath. “Couldn’t sleep. Sorry.”
“Well, get back to bed and stay there.”
Levi stood on trembling legs. He should go. He wanted nothing to do with scary stuff. But he had to ask. “What are you guarding against? Who’s so dangerous?”
Mr. Austin’s black eyes flashed, his face stone. In the dim light, he didn’t look human. A shiver rocked Levi’s spine.
Mr. Austin’s mouth relaxed into a slight curve. “Listening to things not meant for your ears?”
Levi hesitated, not sure whether to nod or shake.
“You’d best be more careful, lad. I’ll not hurt you, nor will I lie to you. But there’s some who would deceive you. And cheerfully kill you.”
Uh, okay. This was one paranoid man.
Mr. Austin’s hand shot out and gripped Levi’s arm. Levi let out a startled squeak. Mr. Austin leaned in close. Levi fixated on the way the man’s ears blended into his cheeks, with no lobes. Boy, did he ever want to run, but his wobbly ankles wouldn’t cooperate.
Mr. Austin’s gaze roved the campsite and trees before he moved in so close his beaky nose brushed Levi’s chest. “The spirit world is more real here than you think,” he said in a guttural whisper. “More than in your safe little world.” Mr. Austin raised both wild brows. “Remember that, young Levi.”
Levi’s scalp prickled. He managed a nod.
Mr. Austin released him and stepped back, his voice its usual bluster. “Watch yourself. To bed, scoot.”
Levi scooted.
The next afternoon, Mr. Dominic stood in the open castle doorway as promised. Levi wondered how he’d known exactly when they’d arrive, but he was too tired to ask. The rest of the camping trip had gone okay. Mr. Austin hadn’t so much as looked at him funny all day, almost like they’d never had that disturbing middle-of-the-night chat. Maybe they hadn’t. Maybe Levi had dreamed the whole thing. He hoped so.
Now Levi only wanted to clean up and grab some supper. Lack of sleep and stomping around outside for more than thirty-six hours had worn him out. A massive black hole had replaced his stomach.
Trevor stomped up the stairs behind him and dropped his gear on the floor of their room. With a goofy grin, he laid a heavy arm across Levi’s shoulders. “We made it. Castle, sweet, castle!”
Groaning, Levi shrugged out from under Trevor’s smelly pit. “I was gonna call dibs on the shower, but you need it more.” He waved a hand in front of his nose.
Trevor sniffed his underarm and shrugged. “If you say so.” He trudged to the bathroom, leaving his camping gear in the walkway.
With a disgusted shake of his head, Levi unpacked and sat on the edge of his bed to wait for the shower. Everybody was supposed to get to call home on Sunday afternoons, and tomorrow was Sunday. Though he hadn’t seen any signs of a telephone in the castle, he knew there’d been one at camp. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to use the phone today? Now they’d have to make the long hike again tomorrow.
No matter. He’d hike back right now if he could use the phone. He needed to talk to his family, his dad especially. He could use a little wisdom.
Minutes later, Trevor burst from the bathroom in his underwear. Levi scrubbed his forearm across his eyes and hurried into the bathroom, only to be met with the sight—and smell—of Trevor’s filthy clothes and wet towel.
Levi sighed. Give me strength.
Levi squeezed into the pew beside Sara the next morning. On his other side flopped Lizzie, scratching welts on her face and arms. Levi bit back a laugh he knew he shouldn’t feel. He guessed the mosquitoes liked Lizzie’s perfume. What would her momma say about how she looked now?
H
e glanced behind him at his roommates. Trevor whispered something to Steve, and Steve elbowed Trevor. Tommy snickered behind his hand. Levi faced front with a sigh. He liked his roommates, but he was tired of their noise and goofiness. Yesterday when he’d told Trevor to pick up his dirty clothes from the bathroom floor and hang up his towel, Trevor had snapped, “Yes, Mother.”
Trevor’s sarcastic tone still burned Levi’s cheeks. He missed his sister; together they always controlled Zeke and Jer. He could use her help with his roommates. He glanced sideways at Sara, so calm and quiet. Maybe sitting by her would soothe his nerves.
She offered him a smile as lights from the stained glass painted pastels across her features. His tight neck muscles loosened. He returned her smile.
“Welcome.” Mr. Dominic’s rich voice echoed from the pulpit. He rocked on the balls of his feet like he was thrilled to be there, though Levi knew some of the kids—namely, Hunter, Martin, and Greg—would never have shown up if chapel wasn’t mandatory.
Levi leaned forward in his seat. Since his dad was a preacher, he’d listened to sermons all his life. What did camp directors know about preaching?
“We gather on this beautiful Sabbath morning to worship the Great Emperor and his beloved Son, High King Jesus. My wife will lead us in a hymn of worship before we open the Holy Scriptures.”
Eyes shining, Mrs. Dominic stood in front and invited them to join her in singing the Gettys’ “In Christ Alone,” one of Levi’s favorites. Singing the words, “In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song,” steeled Levi’s spine.
“I know many of you are feeling a little overwhelmed with life here at Camp Classic,” Mr. Dominic began, making Levi wonder if he was a mind-reader. “For some of you, the lessons and homework are piling up. For others, it’s the physical activity—the fencing, the wrestling, the roughing-it. And then there’s homesickness and learning to interact with new people in a strange place. You wonder how you can possibly find the strength to survive the coming weeks. You feel weak.”