by Amy C. Blake
“Where do you watch from?” Levi’s shoulders tensed. “I mean, will somebody see us tonight?”
“Nah, I’ll be on the northwest tower, and somebody else—Althea maybe—has the southeast.” Albert gave his gum a few chomps. “Unless you plan on shooting off fireworks or something, you ought to be fine.”
“You’re hilarious, Albert.” Levi turned his attention to Trevor. “Okay, so we wait for the girls to tap, meet them on the roof, and then tell all.” He cocked his head, eyebrows raised. “Deal?”
“Yeah, okay. Deal.” Trevor bumped knuckles with Levi, a tiny grin on his lips.
Chapter 31
Sara
Just before eleven, three thuds echoed through the floor. Mr. Sylvester had checked the boys’ room nearly two hours before, so long ago Levi thought the girls had backed out on them. He was glad to be wrong. When he snagged a hiking boot and banged the floor three times in response, Steve snorted awake.
“Come on.” Levi stuffed shoes on his feet and grabbed a flashlight. He led his roommates quietly from the room, using the moonlight to navigate the corridor.
When the tower door clanked shut behind Steve, Levi clicked on his flashlight and started climbing. What if they got caught? Would they get in trouble? They shouldn’t. They wouldn’t stay out long. Besides, this conversation was too important to wait. He chose to ignore the fact that he was the reason it had been postponed so long already.
As Levi reached the top step, a clatter echoed from below. Steve let out a yelp.
Tommy clapped a hand over Steve’s mouth.
Trevor whispered, “It’s probably the girls.”
Levi nodded. Had to be the girls.
Yet as he slipped onto the tower rooftop, acid burned his stomach. The brisk night air raised chill bumps on his bare arms. Summer was almost over.
Levi waited a few paces beyond the door, far enough so he wouldn’t block the girls from getting out, near enough so he could reach the stairs if escape became necessary. The fact that Mr. Dominic set up round-the-clock guard duty meant Levi and his friends should be careful, both of getting spotted by a guard and of encountering the one they guarded against.
The tower door creaked open, revealing a thin stream of light.
“Levi?” Sara’s quavering voice broke the silence.
“I’m here.” Her obvious anxiety made him square his shoulders. “It’s okay, come on out.”
She stepped through the doorway, eyes wide in the light of the three-quarter moon. The other girls followed.
Levi beckoned them to the center of the tower where he and Trevor had star-gazed an eternity ago. He sat, glad the stones still held warmth from the sunny day. The others sat in a tight circle beside him, as if closeness meant safety.
No one spoke or moved a muscle. The tension grew until Levi felt a ridiculous urge to laugh. He struggled against it but couldn’t stifle the giggles. He wound up rolling uncontrollably on the tower floor, laughing until tears flowed.
“What is wrong with you?” Sara’s voice trembled with fury. “You think it’s funny, calling us out here in the middle of the night?” She jumped up. “I’m out of here. I’m not getting in trouble so you can have a laugh at my expense. Come on, girls.”
Back rigid, Sara stalked to the door. The rest, even Levi’s roommates, followed her, muttering angrily.
Levi stumbled to his feet, gasping for breath. “I’m sorry. Wait, please.”
Sara whipped her head around and glared at him. The others, icy-eyed, hovered beside her. “What? You’d better make it good.”
“It is good.” Levi thumped his fists against his thighs. Ugh. He was only making things worse. “I mean it’s bad.” He huffed. “Just sit down.” He motioned them back, but no one moved. He turned pleading eyes on Sara. “I’m sorry, okay? Sometimes I can’t help laughing when I get nervous.” His ears burned. “And I’m scared stupid right now.”
Sara tilted her chin, assessing him. After a moment, she returned, took his hand, and pulled him to sit beside her. The others came back as well.
“Okay,” Sara said, “tell us what we’re doing out here.”
Levi looked around the circle. How to explain? He glanced hopefully at Trevor, but the bigger boy simply shook his head as if to say, you planned this thing, you do the talking.
Levi plunged in, eyes on his shoelaces. He told of the castle’s appearance where a cliff had been, of the strange ears he’d noticed, of Hunter’s evil actions, of Mr. Dominic’s explanation about Terracaelum, of Deceptor’s attacks leading to one of the girls. When he reached the last part, he looked up. Three sets of disbelieving eyes met his.
One girl didn’t look at him. Sara’s head hung over her lap, her hair shielding her face.
“Sara?” Levi lifted his hand uncertainly. He wanted to move her hair so he could see what she was thinking—probably that he belonged in a nuthouse.
Before he touched her, she flung back her hair and startled him with her furious scowl. “You’ve known for weeks and haven’t breathed a word. How dare you, Levi Prince!”
He pulled back his hand, cradling it as if she’d slapped it.
“If I’d only known you knew . . .” Unshed tears glittered in her eyes. “Things could have been so much easier for me. I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone, but if you figured it out yourself—” She released a strangled sob. “But no, you—” She dropped her face into her hands and wept.
Fixing a glare on Levi, Monica wrapped her arm around Sara. The rest sat in uneasy silence.
Levi’s mind scrambled to catch up. “It’s you he’s after? Why?”
Sara looked up, scrubbed tears from her cheeks. “Because I’m their daughter, of course.”
“Whose daughter?”
“The Dominics’ daughter.”
He tossed his hands. “The Dominics? But they’re old.”
Sara hiccupped a laugh. “Is that all you can say? Yes, they’re old. They didn’t think they’d have children, but like Abraham and Sarah in the Bible, they had a child in their old age.”
He gave a slow shake of his head. “You told me your name was Sara Christopher.”
She lifted her chin. “Sarafina Christopher Dominic. Christopher is my mother’s maiden name.”
“So that’s why Deceptor wants you?” His head hurt. “To get at Terracaelum’s rulers?”
Sara nodded, her eyes filling again.
“Why didn’t they introduce you as their child?” Monica asked in a quiet tone. Levi could almost see the wheels turning in her mind.
“Good question,” Trevor inserted, a frown trenching his forehead. “Why make it look like you’re from somewhere else?”
Sara sniffled. “I’m a pretty recent addition to a very ancient world. They’ve kept me a secret from all but their closest subjects, knowing Deceptor would come hunting if he found out about me—especially this late in their reign.”
“Their reign?” Ashley whispered, but no one answered.
“I haven’t seen you in conversation with Mr. or Mrs. Dominic . . . I mean, your parents, and I’m with you most of the time.” Hurt flashed across Monica’s face as she removed her arm from Sara’s shoulders.
Sara touched Monica’s wrist. “I couldn’t exactly chat with them whenever I wanted. Anybody who knew what to watch for would’ve picked up on who I was.”
Steve cast Sara a disbelieving look. “You haven’t been able to talk to them at all?”
Sara shook her head. “Miss Nydia acts as our go-between, carrying messages back and forth. She’s been my nurse since I was a baby. She’s like a second mother to me.” She smiled sadly. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without her this summer. It’s been so lonely not being with my parents.”
Lizzie scrunched up her face. “Let me get this straight, honey. You’ve been hidden away here in this castle all your life with no kids to play with and nothing to do? You couldn’t even go shopping?” She clucked her tongue. “You poor thing.”
“It hasn’t been so bad. My
parents and the staff have taught me all kinds of things. That’s why archery and canoeing and the rest come so easily for me. I’ve trained in them all my life.”
Lizzie rounded her eyes at Sara. “But shopping, honey. No shopping.”
“Or friends.” Monica raised an eyebrow at Lizzie. “That’s more important, right Lizzie?”
Lizzie flipped her hair. “I already said that.”
“That’s such a sad story.” Trevor sniffled loudly, oblivious to the brewing catfight.
Tommy rolled his eyes and gave Trevor a light shove.
“What?” Trevor demanded.
Sara giggled. “That’s part of why my folks reopened Camp Classic, so I could make friends like you.” She reached for Monica’s and Levi’s hands. “I’m glad they did.”
“Me too.” Face hot, Levi squeezed her fingers.
“Same here.” Trevor swiped his thick knuckles under his eyes. “You don’t have to worry about anything bad getting to you, Sara.” He stood up and slapped himself on the chest. “We’ll protect you.”
“Well, of course we will.” Monica stood too, her stern eyes finding each face in the circle. “Does everyone realize we can’t talk about any of this except when we’re completely alone? Otherwise, we might endanger Sara.”
The others rose, murmuring agreement.
Levi stood and met Sara’s eyes. “None of us will do anything to put you in danger. We’ll help you however we can. From here on out.” He willed her to see how sorry he was. “I promise.”
Levi stared at the shadowy ceiling above his bed, once again listening to his roommates’ snores. He couldn’t sleep, not with all Sara had told them. He flipped to his belly, hoping pressure from the mattress would settle his roiling stomach. Sara had let him off so easy. If she’d smacked him upside the head, maybe he wouldn’t feel so bad now.
He sighed, rolled onto his back, sat up. How could he have failed Sara like that? How different this summer would’ve been if he hadn’t been so intent on controlling everybody else. Maybe he should spend more time reading his Bible. He’d barely opened it at all over the past few weeks.
“I’m sorry, God,” he whispered into the darkness. “Help me learn to stop trying to run everything myself. Help me make things right.”
He lay back and fell into a dreamless sleep.
Levi was thankful the next morning was Sunday because his tired brain couldn’t have handled Latin conjugations after the late night. Plus, he’d grown to enjoy chapel services. Mr. Dominic talked about Scripture as if it were a matter of life and death. Maybe it really was in a place like this.
That afternoon, Levi joined the large group hiking down for one last phone call home to confirm pickup times the next Saturday. When he called, he was glad his family sounded eager to have him home after a summer away. He looked forward to seeing them, too, but he hated to leave Camp Classic.
He hung up, deep in thought, and bumped into Hunter at the next telephone table.
“Sorry,” Levi mumbled, bracing for the rude remark Hunter was bound to throw at him.
But Hunter didn’t even look up. Relieved, Levi slipped by as Hunter said into the receiver, “Look, Mom, I’m glad you found a new property in New York but—”
A loud crack turned Levi’s head in time to watch Hunter snap his pencil a second time.
“Mom, listen a minute.” Hunter’s face was a mask of frustration. “Will Dad be back from his business trip in time for the two of you to pick me up next week?” He paused, snapped the pencil again. “Saturday, yes.” Another pause, another snap. “I know you plan to scout properties in New Hampshire but—” He sighed, hand fisted around the pencil bits. “I’ll only have a week before I leave for school. Okay, fine, bye.”
Hunter slammed down the receiver, chucked the pencil pieces onto the table, and his gaze fell on Levi, still gawking at him. Rage narrowed Hunter’s eyes. Levi scurried out the door. He had no desire to end up like that pencil.
Once outside, Levi sat on a fallen tree within the tree line where he could stay out of sight of Hunter but still catch his friends when they finished with their calls. What was all that with Hunter anyway? Sounded like life at home wasn’t as perfect as he’d pretended. Levi wished he hadn’t overheard the conversation. He didn’t want to feel sorry for Hunter. It was much easier to think of him as a shape-shifting demon sorcerer, or at least a really big creep.
Levi sighed, trying to relax. His gaze drifted to the trees swaying in the lake breeze as his fingers picked at the bark on his tree. A flash of yellow drew his attention. Hunter and Martin emerged from the woods nearby, heads together in whispered conversation.
Oh, no, this can’t be good. Levi held very still. If they got hold of him here in the forest with no adults near . . .
Hunter’s eyes snagged on Levi. His face split into a vicious grin as he elbowed Martin and gestured toward Levi. Smirking, Martin started for Levi, fists balled. Levi’s pulse pounded in his throat. He was dead meat.
“Hey, Levi, where’d you go?” Trevor’s call drew Martin’s and Hunter’s eyes in the direction of the castle trail.
“Over here!” Relief sagged Levi’s spine. Thank God for friends big enough to scare away bullies.
Hunter’s livid face swiveled toward Levi. “I’ve got plans you’re not gonna like,” he mouthed, then turned and strode away, Martin at his side.
Levi stared after them, his eyes on Hunter’s receding back. “I’ve got plans you’re not gonna like.” Chills skittered across his scalp. Hunter must really be Deceptor, and that pathetic phone call must’ve been a fake to mislead the other campers into thinking Hunter was a normal kid with normal problems. He’d even tugged a little pity from Levi, the creep.
More importantly, though, what plans was Hunter talking about?
At a loss, Levi peered around the woods. “What am I supposed to do?” he said aloud.
A hot wind struck his cheek, making him flinch.
Watch out for Sara.
Levi spun around. Had somebody spoken? The words almost seemed part of the wind.
Some nearby bushes parted and Trevor stepped into the little clearing. “There you are. What’re you doing in here? Hiding?”
Glad as he was for Trevor’s appearance, Levi ignored him, preoccupied with the words he thought he’d heard. Watch out for Sara.
Purpose gelled in Levi’s heart. “I will,” he said aloud, even though Trevor looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “I promise.”
Chapter 32
Plans
The cooler temperatures that afternoon called Levi and his friends outside to study for their exams. As Levi tried to cram his brain with logical fallacies and Latin verbs, his thoughts constantly returned to the same problem: what to do about Sara. He had reported Hunter’s words to his friends—all of them, girls included. They’d gone round and round on what the bully meant. Tommy thought Hunter was just trying to freak Levi out. Ashley, who’d also overheard Hunter’s phone conversation, suggested Hunter bullied people because his parents didn’t give him enough attention. But Levi wasn’t buying it. Ashley was projecting her own homesickness on Hunter, and it was making her soft. Besides, he really thought Hunter staged the whole thing: if people thought of him as a poor little rich kid, they’d never suspect him of being what he was, a demon sorcerer named Deceptor.
Levi was right, he knew it. Especially after the watch out for Sara bit, which he hadn’t shared with the others—he didn’t want them to think he’d gone off the deep end. Nope, there was no question Hunter was Deceptor in disguise.
But knowing Hunter’s true identity wasn’t enough unless Levi convinced Mr. Dominic of the truth. Even if Levi managed to keep Deceptor away from Sara the rest of the week, she’d still be here after camp. Then Deceptor would simply shapeshift again, and she’d be forever vulnerable. They had to act now, while they knew Deceptor’s form.
That meant Levi had to prove Hunter’s identity to Mr. Dominic. Immediately. Unfortunately, the plan
that kept nagging at him was something he really didn’t want to do. He pushed it away time and time again as he quizzed his friends on history dates, but it wouldn’t leave him alone. Finally, a few minutes before suppertime, Levi set aside his notes. “Guys, I have an idea.”
They all looked up from their books.
He leaned in close, glanced around for eavesdroppers, and whispered, “It’s a plan to catch Deceptor before Saturday so we don’t have to leave Sara here with him after camp.”
Before he could elaborate, Miss Althea strode up. “It’s time for supper. Into the castle.” She made a shooing motion with her hands.
Levi groaned. His plan would have to wait.
Levi’s exams went okay—even math, which was always sheer torture. On Wednesday, the instructors graded tests while the kids finished last-minute preparations for the Olympics and the play, but Levi was preoccupied. As they waited outside the forest for the staff member designated to canoe-sit them that day, he pulled everybody into a tight huddle.
“All right, here’s what I’m thinking.” He kept his voice low. “Hunter and his thugs have all signed up for tomorrow’s wrestling event. When everybody goes outside, I’ll sneak up and search their room. There has to be proof in Hunter’s stuff that he’s Deceptor.”
Trevor raised a hand. “But what if he’s not Deceptor?”
“He is. Trust me.” Levi turned away from Trevor’s curled upper lip and studied the others. “Okay, so what I need you guys to do is make sure nobody goes back to Hunter’s room before I’m clear. That means I’ll need a couple people to distract anybody who tries to come inside early, and I’ll need one guy to stand guard at each stairwell to warn me if somebody does come up before I get out.” Levi paused for volunteers. Trevor, Tommy, Monica, and Lizzie exchanged incredulous glances. Steve stared at his shoes, and Ashley played with a button on her shirt. Sara looked at Levi, her face white with horror.
Why didn’t anybody answer? Levi huffed. “Listen, guys, I’m not trying to boss you around, if that’s what you’re thinking.”