by Amy C. Blake
Yet when he called, nobody answered. He left a message on the answering machine and stomped back to the castle, ranting to himself. “Made me waste an hour hiking down to the telephone just to talk to a stupid machine.”
To make matters worse, Hunter had been in line behind him for the phone. When Levi hung up after mere seconds, Hunter smirked. “Nobody loves poor little Levi.”
Hunter’s friend Suzanne—blonde, bone-thin, and horrible—cracked up.
Levi’s face burned at the memory. “Jerk.” He stomped up the final hill, eyes on his hiking boots. “They’re both jerks.” He didn’t bother looking around even when they arrived at the castle. Who cared whether the cliff made an appearance or not?
When he reached the entryway, still stomping and grumbling, someone’s hand landed on his shoulder. Hunter! He glared at the hand, ready to smack it away. Instead, he saw a man’s work-roughened fingers. He looked up at Mr. Dominic’s weathered face.
“Hello, Levi.” If he’d noticed Levi’s initial urge to slap his hand away, Mr. Dominic didn’t show it. “I believe we have an appointment to make up. Is this a good time for you?”
Levi nodded. So the director hadn’t forgotten him after all.
He followed Mr. Dominic to his office. When Levi stepped inside, his mood lightened.
Bookcases crammed with old leather volumes filled every inch of wall space. Levi’s eyes flitted hungrily from spine to spine. At home he devoured books, something he didn’t get to do at camp.
Mr. Dominic smiled. “A fellow book lover, I see. You must seek out the castle library on the other end of this floor. I think you’d enjoy it.”
Levi was too busy gawking at the room to answer. To his right sat a huge antique desk. Directly behind it, sandwiched between another pair of bookcases, hung two large maps—one a world map and the other of a place he didn’t recognize. Tiny green pinheads stuck in various spots on the world map, while red ones marked places on the other map.
In the center of the room stood a massive unlit fireplace, dividing the two halves. Beyond it, Levi glimpsed another desk, this one also framed by bookcases. Flower-filled vases rested on stands in the corners and a large portrait of a golden-haired baby hung on the wall behind the desk. Must be Mrs. Dominic’s side.
Mr. Dominic strolled to his desk, offered Levi one of the matching wingback chairs across from it, and sank into his office chair.
“I hope you like lemonade. I’ve asked Mrs. Forest to bring us a tray.” The director smiled at Levi’s nod. “She should be here momentarily. We can address your questions after that.”
Levi twisted his hands in his lap, trying not to stare at the strange map above Mr. Dominic’s head.
Mr. Dominic watched his silent struggle. “Do you like my world maps?”
Levi blinked. World maps . . . plural?
A sharp knock sounded at the door. Mr. Dominic called, “Come in,” and Mrs. Forest bustled into the room carrying a tray almost bigger than she was. Levi recognized the tiny woman he’d seen his first day of camp, the one that reminded him of a dragonfly. Puffing as if winded, she moved to Mr. Dominic’s desk and set down the tray of lemonade and cookies. At the director’s quiet word of thanks, she left, closing the door behind her.
When both were settled with a drink and a napkin full of cookies, Mr. Dominic said, “Well, what shall we discuss first?”
Levi sat silent, his mouth full of peanut butter cookie. Which of the many questions swirling around his brain should he ask first? He swallowed, choked on a crumb, swigged some tart lemonade—which made his eyes water—and gasped. “What is that a map of?” He pointed at the strange map.
What made him ask that question first?
“Ah.” The director glanced at the map. “An excellent question . . . the answer to which, I think, will answer many of your other questions.” He quirked his lips as if in apology. “And raise many more, I’m afraid.” He studied Levi through serious eyes. “Are you sure you want to know? The answers may very well change the way you look at life.”
Did he want to know? The truth had to be better than his and Trevor’s wild guesses—Area 51 part two, Atlantis risen again, an old KGB training site. All ridiculous. “Yes, sir, I want the truth.”
“Very well. That is Terracaelum.”
Levi’s brow wrinkled. “Never heard of it.”
“No? Never? Break it down. You know your Latin. Many names find their roots in that ancient language. What does it mean?”
“Terra. Earth or land.” Levi’s gaze drifted toward the open window. “Caelum. Heaven or sky.” He hesitated. “Earth Heaven? Land Sky? That doesn’t make sense.” His eyes returned to the director’s.
Mr. Dominic traced one finger along the edge of his desk as if he had all day for Levi to figure it out.
Levi wondered if the director had a dunce cap in Levi’s size. He blew out a breath. “Okay, come on. Mix it up a little. Heaven land? Skyland?”
The director beamed at him.
Levi pumped his fist in the air. “Yes, I got it.” Confusion squashed his joy. “That doesn’t make sense.” He pulled at his bottom lip. “You mean like, land of the sky? Land in the sky?” He sagged against his chair. In his mind he pictured the earth end in sky, the cliff drop away to the lake below, the castle suddenly appear in the void. “Do you mean to tell me,” he said slowly, “that this castle is in the sky? Literally? We’re, like, on some land suspended in thin air? Above the lake?”
By the time he finished, his voice was squeaking like Trevor’s and his head was pounding. What made it worse was the look on Mr. Dominic’s face—like a proud papa watching his child take his first steps. “Wonderful! You figured it out even faster than I did when I was your age.”
“But—”
“You did suspect, didn’t you? That’s part of what you wanted to discuss with me, am I right?”
Levi’s mouth opened, closed, opened. “Well, yeah, but nobody else seems to notice the weird stuff.” Even Trevor had never seen the ears Levi described. If they’d gone much longer without proof, Trevor probably would’ve given up on Levi’s Castle Island Theory too. But now Mr. Dominic was telling him it was all true?
Mr. Dominic waited in silence, probably giving him time to process it all.
Levi frowned as everything sank in. How dare Mr. Dominic bring Levi and a bunch of other kids to some alternate reality hanging in thin air? What if the whole place fell and dropped them in the lake? What if it floated away or something? Finally, he snapped, “I have some questions.”
Mr. Dominic steepled his fingers and waited.
“How come everybody in the world doesn’t know about this place?” Levi pointed at the map of the world—the real world.
“Because one may enter only if invited by the rulers of this land.” Mr. Dominic watched him with raised brows.
“You mean like by a king and queen?” Levi raised both palms. “Wait.” No way. “You mean you . . . and Mrs. Dominic?”
Mr. Dominic gave a slight bow. “Prince and princess, actually.”
Levi took another sip of lemonade and swished it around his mouth. Maybe a sugar rush would clear his brain. Prince and princess? Rulers? Of a separate world from the universe God created in six days?
Levi sat up straight and slapped his glass on the desk, narrowing his eyes at the would-be prince. “Are you trying to make me believe I’m in some world outside of God’s control? Someplace under some other ruler? Because I’m not buying it. God’s in charge of all things—my dad’s taught me that since I was a baby. And the Bible says it too.” Panic blurred the edges of his vision.
When a broad smile creased Mr. Dominic’s face, Levi blinked. Maybe the old man really was crazy.
“You’re absolutely right, son. The entire universe belongs to the God of the Bible, and Terracaelum is but one small part of it.”
Levi’s ears heated as he realized he’d falsely accused Mr. Dominic. And that the man was thrilled with him for it. “But . . . but, why
? What’s the point in this place?”
Mr. Dominic leaned forward in his seat and perched his chin on his fingers. “You know God created all things, you’ve already said that. You’re aware our first parents sinned, and the consequences of that sin wreaked havoc on all parts of creation, even the smallest.”
Levi thought of how little kids told lies from the time they could speak, of the pollution in the air he breathed, of the cancer that had attacked his Aunt Marcy’s cells, eventually killing her and leaving his cousins motherless. He nodded.
Mr. Dominic smiled sadly. “You’ve heard myths and legends all your life, have you not?”
Levi blinked at the shift in subject. “Sure.”
“Many of the creatures in those stories are based on real beings.”
Something clicked in Levi’s brain. “You mean like elves and dwarves and all that?” A vision of Mr. Drake’s pointy ears flashed across his mind’s eye. “I was right.” He sat in stunned silence. “There really are mythical creatures here.” He shivered as his own words sank in. “Right here in this very castle.” He’d actually been rubbing shoulders with nonhumans all summer.
“Well, yes . . .” Mr. Dominic’s chin puckered. “Though you can hardly call them mythical when they exist in reality.”
Levi refused to be distracted with logical arguments. “But why are they here? Why don’t they live in the world?” He pointed at the first map. “With us, I mean?”
The director sighed. “Levi, you know what humans are like. Think of the amazing creatures you’ve read about, many of whom have what we’d call magical abilities or are simply bizarre or helpless. How long would they last there?” He turned his eyes on the map of Earth.
Thinking of child abuse, toxic waste dumps, and extinct animal species, Levi nodded. Of course people would exploit fairies and dragons. They’d want to steal their abilities. And water horses or centaurs—what zoo wouldn’t kill to capture them?
“So why are you here?” He looked into the man’s green eyes, so bright and sometimes so strange. “You are human, aren’t you? You and your wife?”
“Yes, we’re quite human.” Mr. Dominic held out a palm as proof. “You remember another part of the Great Sovereign’s creation mandate? Mankind was set as overseers of the earth and its inhabitants.”
Levi nodded.
“So, too, the land and inhabitants of Terracaelum must always be ruled by humans—one man and one woman.”
“That’s you and Mrs. Dominic? You really are the rulers here?” Levi heard the awe in his own voice. “Should I call you Your Majesty or something?”
The man chuckled. “Mr. Dominic will do just fine.” His face grew serious. “Really, young man, I meant it when I said my wife and I are more prince and princess of Terracaelum. We are certainly not king and queen. God is the only Emperor, and Jesus is the only King.”
“But,” Levi started, not sure how to phrase his question without sounding rude, “don’t you sin too? I mean, all humans sin, so how can humans rule Terracaelum without taking advantage of its creatures?”
Mr. Dominic nodded. “Mrs. Dominic and I are sinners saved by grace through faith in King Jesus. And yes, sinful more often than we’d like. That’s why God has provided training and safeguards for us.”
“Oh.” O-kay. “And that means . . . ?”
“The spirit world is more—shall we say—physical here than in the human world.”
Levi’s brow furrowed. Wasn’t that what Mr. Austin said?
The director offered a sympathetic smile. “I know it’s confusing, but bear with me, and I think you’ll understand.” At Levi’s nod, Mr. Dominic went on. “Both good and evil in the spirit realm are more actual here, more felt, you might say. And so the Spirit sent to comfort and guide us is also more tangible here.” He tapped himself on the chest. “He still lives in us, but He actually meets us sometimes. He speaks with us.”
“Uh huh, and what does he say?”
“He gives me wise counsel, convicts me when I sin, admonishes me to obey.”
Levi turned his head, giving the director a sidelong stare. “What does he look like?”
The director shook his head. “I don’t know. He usually appears as a gentle breeze brushing my cheek or a soft whisper in my ear.” His voice dropped. “Sometimes as a gale screaming in my face, but that’s only when I’m particularly foolish and disobedient.”
Levi frowned. “Is that why the big storm forced us to the castle when we first got here? Because you did something wrong?”
Mr. Dominic shook his head. “No. Sometimes a storm is simply a storm. Other times, someone . . . else . . . causes them. I’ve learned to tell when it’s something beyond the natural.”
Levi popped to his feet. He needed to move . . . to think. He paced back and forth, paused at the open window, strode behind Mr. Dominic’s chair, and finally stopped before the map of Terracaelum.
Studying the jagged green oval of Terracaelum, he spotted a small castle symbol on the southern tip. Farther north he saw symbols for trees, a river, more trees, and what looked like hills or mountains, then more trees and mountains at the northern tip. A pale gray edged Terracaelum on the south, while the rest of the green oval ended abruptly in blue. “Is Terracaelum a peninsula off of Castle Island?”
“Not really. It’s an island with the castle acting as a bridge between lands. The inhabitants of both places are prohibited from accessing the other without permission from my wife or me.”
“So we can’t get into the castle without you or your wife letting us in.” Levi thought of the time he’d returned from using the phone and found no castle. Of Mrs. Dominic’s flushed face when she—and it—appeared. A sudden, terrifying thought drew his eyes to Mr. Dominic. “Can we get out without you?”
“Certainly.”
Relief sagged Levi’s shoulders.
Mr. Dominic joined Levi at the map and placed his finger on the castle symbol. “You’re free to return to Castle Island whenever you wish; however, you may not reenter the castle without invitation.”
Levi’s gaze drifted to the red pins marching from the northern tip of Terracaelum to the castle. Something about those pins prickled the base of his spine. “What do the red pins mark?”
His expression grim, Mr. Dominic faced Levi. “Places we know Deceptor has appeared in the last six months.”
“Deceptor?” That was the name Albert let slip. An evil name. “That means . . . deceiver or liar, right?”
“Correct.”
Levi’s breathing quickened. “And he’s bad, right?”
“Very.”
“You mean he’s Satan?” His pulse raced. “Like the devil himself?”
“Not the Prince of Darkness himself, no, but an agent of his.”
“An agent of Satan is on the loose in Terracaelum?” Levi thought of the strange fire he’d fought the other night. “What’s he look like?” He dreaded the answer.
“That’s part of the trouble.” Mr. Dominic sighed. “He’s a shape-shifter. He takes different forms depending on what suits his needs.”
Did that mean he’d been close to Deceptor, with only a thin tent wall between them? “Wait,” Levi said as an even more horrifying thought occurred to him, “he’s the only evil being here, right? I mean, you and the rest of Terracaelum’s . . . uh, inhabitants are good?”
The lines on Mr. Dominic’s face deepened. “Unfortunately, as in the world you know, many are happy to align themselves with evil.”
“Why can’t you just wipe out Deceptor and be done with it?”
Mr. Dominic drew in a slow breath. “Imagine a great chess game with Deceptor as the black king, and I as the white. Each of us has an army fighting for our side—battling over Terracaelum. Deceptor is under orders from his master to gain control of this land and its citizens. I am under orders to protect and govern it for God’s glory.”
“But who’s on Deceptor’s side?” Levi couldn’t imagine any of the staff helping him.
&nbs
p; “Think again of the classical myths you’ve read. Think of the creatures that haunted your dreams afterward, the ones that turned them into nightmares.”
Images of ogres and trolls, hags and werewolves, witches and monsters filled Levi’s mind. “Those creatures are here?” He couldn’t suppress a shudder.
Mr. Dominic nodded, mouth tight.
“Let me get this straight.” Levi folded his arms across his chest, half in fear and half in growing anger. “An evil sorcerer with an army of monsters is beating a path to this castle?”
Again the director nodded.
“Then why in the world did you bring a bunch of kids here?”
Mr. Dominic rested calming hands on Levi’s shoulders. “There’s some consolation for us, son. Deceptor can’t enter this castle without invitation. It’s off-limits to him. He can come to the door, but not inside, not unless my wife or I invite him.”
“He’s prowling around outside trying to get in?” Levi’s voice shrilled. “Can’t you ask for a legion of angels to fight him?”
“Certainly Terracaelum has an assigned angelic protector who sometimes aids us. He—”
At a loud rap on the door, Mr. Dominic’s gaze flicked towards the sound. His hands dropped from Levi’s shoulders.
The banging grew louder, and Levi’s hands tightened into fists. What if it was Deceptor?
Chapter 21
Beyond Fear
“Come in,” Mr. Dominic called.
Levi’s eyes bulged. Shouldn’t the director at least ask who—or what—was there before inviting it to enter?
The door burst open, and Mr. Sylvester rushed inside. He stopped short, mouth ajar, at the sight of Levi. “Er, sorry to interrupt, sir.” He dipped his head.
Mr. Dominic waved away the apology. “May I help you with something?”
“I need you to come now. It’s important.” His eyes widened, flitted to Levi, returned to the director.
With a nod, Mr. Dominic marched around the desk, tugging Levi along with him. “I do apologize, Levi, but I’m afraid I must cut our conversation short.” While his tone was nothing but pleasant, he practically shoved Levi into the corridor. “We’ll chat again another time.”