by Amy C. Blake
Nothing, of course. Don’t be such a coward.
Giving his head a disgusted shake, Levi moved past the door.
He’d found the tower roof. The night air cooled his cheeks. Freaky tower stairs and irritating roommates forgotten, Levi crossed the stone roof and stood in the middle. The stars spread across the blue-black sky, their pinprick lights dazzling his eyes. With a sigh, he sank onto the hard floor and lay back to enjoy the celestial show.
A creak from behind jerked Levi from his relaxed position. His head whipped around. Something large separated itself from the doorway and crept toward him.
Chapter 16
The Tower
Levi’s heart battered his chest. He wanted to scream like his little sister but couldn’t make a sound.
“Levi?” His name started out deep then rose several octaves.
“Trevor!” Breath whooshed from Levi’s lungs. “You scared me half to death. What’re you doing up here?”
“Following you. To see if you’re okay.” Trevor crossed the roof and sat next to Levi. “Why did you come up here? Those stairs are . . . wow.”
Levi laughed. “Yeah, but look up there.” He tipped his chin toward the night sky.
Trevor looked up. “Sweet.”
A moment later, Trevor cleared his throat. “Um, listen, I’m sorry about hitting you and all. I know you hate when we use your stuff without asking. We shouldn’t have messed up your bed or stole your pillow.”
Levi ran his tongue over his fat bottom lip. It felt like a plump grape tucked under the skin. It would probably be purple by morning. But even in the dim light, he could tell Trevor really was sorry.
Levi looked back up at the huge canopy above them. Pillows, towels, crumbs, even a busted lip didn’t matter so much in light of that hugeness.
“It’s okay. I shouldn’t let it bother me so much.” He lay back down.
Trevor sprawled flat on his back, cushioning his head with his hands. “So why does it? Bother you, I mean? You have brothers and sisters. Shouldn’t you be used to having people in your stuff?”
Levi traced his finger over the stone. “I think that’s exactly why it bothers me. I mean, they’re always there and in my junk. How hard is it just to leave my stuff alone?”
“Oh.”
Levi sat up, suddenly angry again. “Something wrong with that?”
Trevor sat up and scowled. “I didn’t say anything. It’s just you have a family that gives a rip.” He raised a finger. “Siblings who want to play with you.” He raised a second finger. “A dad that cares what you do.” A third finger. “A mom who loves you enough to stay home.” His voice cracked. “You have no clue how good you’ve got it. Some of us don’t have anybody. Just a brother who’s better than they are at everything and who hates their guts.” His hand closed into a fist. “And a dad who couldn’t care less about them, just ships them off to school and summer camp and anywhere else to get rid of them.” He smacked his fist into his palm.
Levi flinched at the smack. What could he say to that? He’d sure never felt like his family didn’t care, not really. “Sorry.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Trevor flopped back against the stone floor. “Man! You could’ve picked a softer spot to stargaze.”
Levi snorted out a laugh. “Well, next time carry the pillows up here instead of hitting me with them.”
They both laughed, and Levi lay back down—careful not to flop.
A while later, Trevor broke the silence. “I thought you had some meeting with Mr. Dominic tonight. You weren’t gone long.”
“He wasn’t there. Mrs. Dominic said he got called away on business.”
“That’s kind of weird, isn’t it?” Trevor glanced at him. “I mean, where would he go? We’re on an island.”
“Maybe he had to go to the mainland.”
“This late? He was at supper.”
“Don’t know. I just know that’s what she said.” Mrs. Dominic’s words about his name returned to his mind. “She said something else . . . something strange.” His voice dropped. “She said I was like my namesake.”
“What’s strange about that? She would’ve seen your dad the first day of camp. Maybe she meant you look like him.”
“But I’m not named after my dad.” Levi thought a moment. “She didn’t sound like she meant my looks so much anyway. More like my personality maybe.”
“Well, who are you named after? Maybe she knows him.”
“No way.” Levi’s eyes tracked a shooting star. “He’s my great-great- grandfather. Died long before I was born.”
“Oh. She must be confused then. Has you mixed up with somebody else.”
“Yeah.”
They watched the sky a few more minutes.
“So what was he like? Your great-great-grandpa, I mean. Your folks must’ve told you about him if they named you after him.”
Levi’s smile turned wistful. “My dad loved him. Papa Levi—that’s what they called him—used to tell these fantastic stories when Dad was a kid. Dad would sit listening to him for hours while the rest of the kids played. They thought my dad was goofy because Papa Levi was so old, and they thought he was boring. But I don’t blame him for listening. Dad told me and the others the same stories at bedtime when we were little. Still does for Jer sometimes.”
Levi’s voice softened. “I listen to him when he does. I think he knows I do, but he doesn’t mention it. They’re great stories—all about this land filled with elves and dwarves and dragons and water sprites. I always wished I could go there.”
“Sounds cool.”
“Yeah, Dad said Papa Levi sounded like he’d really been to that place. He described every inch of the castle and the way everybody looked. He talked about going to a summer camp type thing and meeting centaurs and minotaurs and all these bizarre creatures.” A laugh surfaced as he remembered one of the stories. “My favorite was about a time he went camping and brought sandwiches along for lunch. Papa Levi was just about to take a big bite of his ham and cheese on rye when something snatched it right out of his hands. He wound up chomping down on thin air while this long-haired bird woman flew off with his sandwich. Found out later she was a harpy. Crazy, huh?”
Trevor chuckled. “Sounds like here.”
Levi froze, startled.
Trevor shrugged. “Except the mythical creatures, of course.”
Levi turned unseeing eyes on the night sky. Could that even be possible?
“What? You look so serious.” Trevor half-laughed. “I’m just saying about the summer camp thing and the castle and all.”
“I know, but the way he described the castle, it was a lot like this one. With the four towers and symmetrical sides . . . and the inner courtyard. And I know it was someplace north and surrounded by water. Plus . . .” He fell silent, not ready to mention the staff’s strange ears.
Trevor didn’t seem to notice. He was craning his neck, studying the sky. “Do you see the Dippers? I’ve been looking all over for them. And Orion and the others? I haven’t found a single constellation I know.”
Frowning, Levi twisted his head and scanned another portion of sky. “Now that you mention it, I can’t pick out any of them either. Strange.”
“Yeah.” Trevor pointed. “The North Star should be there, but it’s not. You’d almost think this wasn’t the night sky over North America at all.” His short laugh sounded forced.
Levi tried to laugh, too, but it fell flat. Should he voice the suspicions that had nagged him since his first day at Camp Classic? At least he wouldn’t be alone with his fears anymore. Alone with Hunter and Martin, that is. He sat up, hoping he’d sound rational—or at least not like the average lunatic. “Actually, I’ve been wondering a lot about that.”
Trevor sat up, face scrunched. “What?”
Levi hesitated. Last chance to back out. If he spilled his theory, what would Trevor think of him? But still, he needed somebody to talk to, and Mr. Dominic had bailed on him. Besides, he wasn’t even sure
he could trust the director, and he was tired of worrying alone. “Okay, here goes. I know you said you didn’t see the cliff that first day when we came to the castle. And you haven’t acted too worried about how the weather’s sometimes different here. But something’s bizarre about this place.” He eyed Trevor’s serious expression. So far, so good. “I think we’re in some other land.” Even as he waited for Trevor to fall over laughing, Levi felt more certain than ever he was right.
When Trevor didn’t so much as giggle, Levi rushed ahead. “It’s some place that doesn’t fit on Castle Island. The land should’ve ended at the castle, but here it is.” He waved his arms toward the dark land stretching miles beyond the castle. “That should all be water, not earth.”
Trevor’s nod was slow, his expression thoughtful. “I’ve wondered about that. This place is awfully big for a small private island in the lake—even one as massive as Lake Superior. And then there’re the stars.” He looked up again as if checking whether they’d moved to normal positions. “Where do you think we are?” Trevor’s voice squeaked on the last word.
Levi shivered. If Trevor was scared . . . “I don’t know.”
Trevor nodded, his eyes huge.
After a moment, Levi said, “Have you noticed the ears on the staff?”
Trevor’s guffaw broke the heavy silence. “Ears? What’re you talking about?”
Irritation lifted Levi’s chin. “They’re pointed on top. At least Mr. Drake’s and Mrs. Sylvester’s are. Albert’s and Miss Althea’s too. I saw them.”
Trevor’s mouth fell open. “You’re serious?”
“Yeah. And Mr. Austin’s are weird, too. They’re not pointy, but there aren’t any lobes on his. I mean, the floppy parts at the bottom where he should have lobes connect directly to his jaws.” He touched his own ear lobes. “It’s creepy.”
“So what’re you saying?” Trevor’s voice fell to a whisper. “You think they’re not human?”
“Well, yeah . . . I mean, maybe . . . I don’t know what I’m saying.” Levi flapped his hands. “I just know Papa Levi’s stories sound a lot like this place. With elves and dwarves and stuff.”
Trevor’s eyes bugged out. “Are you telling me you think Mrs. Sylvester is an elf? And Mr. Austin’s a what? A dwarf? What’s that make Albert and Miss Althea? They’re not built the same.”
“Fairies.” Levi breathed the word. “Pixies. Sprites.”
“Okay.” The way he stretched the word into three syllables showed how nuts he thought Levi was.
Levi didn’t care. Saying it out loud convinced him his theory was right. Crazy or not.
Disbelief sagged Trevor’s jaw. “You’re not just messing with me, are you?”
“I’m serious. I didn’t want to see it at first, but now I’m sure.” Levi gripped his hands together. “Besides, Mr. Dominic practically proved I’m right this morning when he didn’t tell me I was nuts.”
“What do you think Mr. Dominic is? If you’re right about this place, I mean.” His voice squeaked on every other word. “You think he’s, like, a wizard or something? Gandalf the Grey meets Lord Voldemort? Does that make him good or evil?”
“No . . . I don’t know.” Levi’s voice firmed along with his resolve. “But I do know this much: as soon as Mr. Dominic gets back, I’m gonna ask him.”
Chapter 17
Mafia Beatings?
By the time the boys crept back down the dark staircase, the grandfather clock on their corridor chimed midnight. When they slipped into their room, Steve and Tommy both sat up.
“Where’ve you been?” Steve demanded. “It’s way past room check.”
“On top of the tower. Why? Are we in trouble?” Levi tried not to sound anxious. What would Mr. Sylvester deem proper punishment? Did elves have some horrific disciplinary measures for their naughty children?
Tommy shook his head. “You lucked out. Albert said Mr. Sylvester was gone somewhere tonight, so Mrs. Sylvester just knocked on the door at ten for lights-out.”
Relieved, Levi tumbled into bed. He slept hard, dreaming all night of fairies and dragons. It wasn’t until morning that he was struck by the oddity of Mr. Sylvester and Mr. Dominic leaving the castle on the same night.
Though a little worried when Mr. Dominic and Mr. Sylvester didn’t return over the next several days, Levi had the most fun he’d had since coming to camp. He and Trevor spent hours coming up with ways to prove Levi’s “Castle Island Theory,” as they called it. They were so busy stalking the staff for proof that they were nonhumans Levi didn’t have time to get irritated with his roommates even once.
Levi and Trevor spent one entire afternoon hanging around the infirmary, hoping to catch Dr. Baldwin in something that would reveal his true identity. At least until he shooed them away with a gruff, “Unless you’re sick, be gone!” In canoeing class they shadowed Miss Althea, but quickly backed off when she threatened to dunk them in the river. On Tuesday after supper while Tommy and Steve were in the great hall, they cornered Albert in their room and asked to see his ears. He gave them a look like they were insane and took off. When Albert steered clear of them the rest of the week, not even showing up for Spades night on Wednesday, Levi told Trevor, “See. That proves he has something to hide.”
When it came time for fencing class Thursday afternoon and Mr. Sylvester still hadn’t returned, Mrs. Sylvester filled in. She began class with a lecture about the ways girls could use their smaller frames to advantage against larger opponents.
Near the rear of the group, Levi nudged Trevor. “Think she knows where her husband and Mr. Dominic are?”
Trevor shrugged. “Ask her.”
“No way. You ask.”
“Nope.” Trevor narrowed one eye in a wink. “But I’ll keep a close eye on her. I still haven’t seen those ears you keep yapping about.”
Before Levi could reply, Mrs. Sylvester pointed their direction. “You’ll do, Mr. Patterson.”
Levi glanced at Trevor, who tapped himself on the chest in question.
Mrs. Sylvester nodded. “Come here and suit up. We’ll demonstrate the techniques I’ve described.”
Trevor cast Levi a helpless look. Levi shrugged. Maybe they should’ve been listening to the lecture.
“While Mr. Patterson gathers his gear, the rest of you divide out so you can practice what we show you. Girls on the left; boys on the right.”
As his classmates moved, Levi edged into the boys’ group and glanced around self-consciously. All the boys except Luke were bigger than he was. Greg, Martin, and Trevor towered over him. He was even smaller than most of the girls. What if he got paired against Hunter’s huge friend Jacqueline? She’d flatten him.
“You should probably go on over there with the other little girls, runt,” Hunter whispered from Levi’s left.
Levi frowned, partly in irritation, partly because Hunter was right. Pretending he hadn’t heard, Levi watched Mrs. Sylvester’s demonstration with Trevor. But Hunter’s words rankled. It was true Levi was horrible at fencing. He had no bulk to throw around against an opponent. He could barely swing a sword without chopping off his own head. Even though Hunter wasn’t much bigger than Levi, the creep was really good.
If Levi ever had to face Hunter in a duel, it would be David and Goliath all over again. Maybe Levi should learn to fight like a girl.
When Levi sat next to Trevor at supper that evening, Tommy and Lizzie were still teasing Trevor about his fencing display. In a single move, Mrs. Sylvester had felled Trevor like a tree.
“I was distracted,” Trevor insisted for the tenth time as he grabbed his full-to-the-brim milk glass and took a swig. He widened his eyes meaningfully at Levi.
Levi bit back a smile. He knew Trevor really had been distracted trying to see Mrs. Sylvester’s ears. Not that Trevor could explain that to anybody else. Still, Levi had to admit it looked funny when the toothpick-thin teacher swept Trevor’s muscled legs out from under him.
A slight commotion at the staff table drew Levi’s
attention to several adults clustered around somebody. When the group parted, he spotted Mr. Dominic and Mr. Sylvester seated in their usual places, their heads together in quiet conversation.
Levi elbowed Trevor.
“Oof.” Trevor’s hand, the one holding his full glass, jerked into the air. Milk splattered everywhere. Lizzie got splashed square in the face. Milk drowned Steve’s ham and beans. Several people shrieked.
Levi didn’t notice the commotion because Trevor’s yelp drew the men’s heads up, giving him a clear view of Mr. Sylvester’s black eye and the livid purple bruise on Mr. Dominic’s forehead.
Where had they gone to get those bruises? What had they been doing?
Mr. Dominic met Levi’s eyes, grinned at him, and then turned back to Mr. Sylvester.
“Why’d you dig your bony elbow in me?” Trevor’s indignant words brought Levi’s gaze back to the milk disaster.
“Tell you later.”
By the time they cleaned up the mess and Trevor changed to non-milky clothes, it was nearly nine. Knowing he shouldn’t knock on the Dominics’ door so late, Levi instead sat beside Trevor on Trevor’s bed.
“What do you think?” he whispered.
Trevor shook his head. “I don’t know. It’s kind of hard to think, much less see, when I’ve got milk in my eyes. Next time you want to show me something, keep your bony elbows off.”
“Sorry, but be quiet.” Levi jabbed a thumb toward Tommy, who’d looked up from the lines he was learning for the summer play.
Trevor’s lips puckered in disgust. “So what’d you see?”
Levi told him about the men’s battered faces.
“Who do you think hit ’em?”
“Don’t know.”
“It’s like a mafia beating or something.” Trevor’s eyes were the size of golf balls.
Levi rolled his eyes. “You watch too much TV.”
“Oh, yeah.” Trevor’s face reddened. “Well, you’re the one who thinks we’re in some fairyland!”
Levi slugged Trevor on the arm—not too hard, but hard enough. “Shut up, already.”