by Amy C. Blake
Levi hurried to his side. Two pairs of small footprints separated from the trampled mass and extended several paces north of the wooden horse, then disappeared into the dark forest.
Levi nodded, mouth tight. “Thanks. I’ll be okay now.” He started forward.
Trevor grabbed his arm. “You’re not going alone.”
“Am too.”
“Uh-uh.” Trevor glared at him. “Don’t forget you’re not the boss, Levi Prince.”
Levi sighed. “I’m not trying to boss you. I just have a feeling this could get dangerous.”
“It’s a good thing I got these then.”
Both boys turned. Monica held three scabbards. She unsheathed a sword. Its unprotected blade glinted in the dim light. A burlap bag lay on the ground at her feet.
“How did you—?” Trevor began.
At the same time, Levi said, “You’re not going.”
“Oh, yes I am. And there’s no time to argue. Who knows where that lunatic has taken Sara.”
“Listen.” Levi snatched a scabbard and buckled it around his waist. “Somebody has to scout around here for Hunter’s buddies and distract them. I don’t know how many of them know who he is or would actually be willing to kidnap Sara with him. But he got to Miss Nydia, so who knows—”
Monica and Trevor gaped at him, the other two swords still on the ground at their feet.
Levi frowned. “What? I only meant you two could keep them busy while I go after Hunter and Miss Nydia.”
“Levi.” Trevor sounded like he was talking to a slow two-year-old. “You can’t possibly still think Hunter is behind all this. I mean, this has gone way beyond some stupid rivalry. It’s serious.”
“Of course it’s serious! What do I look like, an idiot? Deceptor is a shape-shifter. I still say the best way to get into the castle is to pose as a student. No telling what form Hunter—or should I say, Deceptor—has taken by now.”
“I just saw him, Levi,” Monica said softly.
“You just saw Deceptor? Right.”
“No, not Deceptor. Hunter.” She got in his face, fists on her hips. “He and all of his buddies are heckling the actors up near the stage.”
“I don’t believe it.” Hunter was guilty. He had to be.
“Come see for yourself.” Monica tugged him to an opening in the trees.
He leaned forward and scanned the crowd seated on the ground. It was so dark he couldn’t tell who anybody was. Near the stage, though, in the light of the bonfire and torches, he recognized Hunter and his friends.
Levi turned back to Trevor and Monica. “Okay, so he hasn’t gone yet. You two keep an eye on him, follow him when he leaves. I’ll follow Nydia’s trail and hopefully get Sara away before he shows up.”
Trevor and Monica exchanged a look that plainly said, can you believe this moron?
Levi scowled. He wasn’t about to waste more time arguing with these two. They could believe what they wanted. He had to go.
The sounds of Hunter and his buddies insulting the actors tugged Levi’s attention. He glanced at the adults stationed behind the audience. Why wasn’t the staff closer to keep the kids under control?
Then it hit him. They were acting as guards—with no idea the crime had already been committed.
Mr. Dominic. Levi scanned the adults, hoping for some real help. Because Monica and Trevor just didn’t get it. But there was no sign of the director. Or any of the men, for that matter. He turned to Monica and Trevor, his voice firm. “Here’s what’s going to happen. You two are gonna find Mr. Dominic and tell him what happened. He can follow Deceptor when he leaves to meet Miss Nydia.” He cocked his head toward the campers. “I’m going after Sara.”
Without waiting for a reply, he trudged into the woods with his flashlight trained on the scuffmarks he hoped would lead him to his friend.
Soft footfalls whirled him around. Trevor and Monica marched after him, their faces stone.
Why wouldn’t they listen? “I told you two to stay there.” Irritation steeled Levi’s voice. He chose to ignore the tiny surge of joy that welled in his chest at not having to follow a maniac all by himself.
“Look, man.” Trevor’s shoulders bunched in anger. “You’re an absolute fool thinking Hunter is Deceptor because he’s not. But we can’t let you traipse off through the woods alone at night, thinking the worst you’ll face is some frail elf lady.”
Monica’s lips pinched. “I’m sure Miss Nydia is perfectly capable of trouncing Levi in a duel, lady or not.”
Levi shook his head as if he hadn’t heard her right. “Excuse me?”
Monica ignored him. “However, Trevor is right. Your tracking them alone isn’t going to help Sara, especially if you have to battle two adults. You need help.”
“How is Mr. Dominic supposed to know where to find us if we all go? You should stay here, Monica.” Levi pointed back the way they’d come.
“No.” She perched a fist on her hip. “I left a note on the Trojan horse, explaining to Mr. Dominic where we’d gone. Somebody will find it soon, but we have to go after Sara now. Besides, you’ll need me. Especially when you meet up with the real Deceptor.” She indicated the waiting path. “Now go. We don’t have time to waste on a debate.”
Levi whipped around and stomped into the darkness. She was right. They didn’t have time to argue.
That didn’t mean he had to like it.
Chapter 41
The Search
Levi and his friends hiked for so long he wondered if they’d taken a wrong path somewhere. His anxiety mounted by the minute. No telling what they’d meet in these woods. At best, a lunatic elf. Worst, some horrific creature—maybe that basilisk Albert mentioned. Or one of the bad dragons. What did a good dragon look like anyway?
Levi shook his head. Who was he kidding? The worst they’d face was Deceptor, in the form of Hunter. Hunter was definitely scary, but Levi had fought him before.
But what if Levi was wrong about Hunter, as his friends insisted? What if Deceptor was something much worse than the bully who’d tormented him all summer? The thought wormed a hole in Levi’s confidence. He shoved it away.
He was right about Hunter. He had to be. But what if Deceptor took a different form—maybe some creature so terrifying it made Levi bolt, leaving his friends to deal with the demon alone?
A new thought stopped Levi in his tracks. Deceptor, no matter his form, wasn’t actually the worst they might face. Satan himself was. Levi swallowed hard. They couldn’t possibly be expected to stand up to the Prince of Darkness himself, could they?
Don’t borrow trouble, Levi. His grandma’s pet saying weighed his heart with homesickness.
He forced his focus back to the trail. Which way now? He couldn’t tell. The scuffmarks that had been so clear were now faded . . . or else a figment of his imagination.
He glanced into the undergrowth. Were those yellow eyes reflected in his flashlight beam? Pulse pumping, he blinked hard and looked again.
Nothing.
Control yourself, Levi. This is no time to freak.
“Ouch!”
At Monica’s soft scream, Levi whirled around and attempted to yank out his sword, but he somehow managed to get it hung up in the sheath. Some hero he was. Thankfully, by the time he wrenched it free, he didn’t see anything scarier than trees and brush. “What’s wrong?”
“Thorns.” She held up her blood-streaked arm.
“Be careful.” Levi sheathed his sword.
“Thanks for the warning.”
“At least we wore jeans,” Trevor pointed out.
“True.” Levi looked down at his dirty pant legs. Briars stuck to the hems.
“I’ll bet Sara didn’t,” Monica said quietly. “That woman probably dragged her through the woods in her shorts.”
Trevor kicked at some undergrowth. “Evil witch.”
“Come on.” Teeth clenched, Levi led the way along the faint trail, which he was beginning to fear was nothing more than a deer path. They st
opped several times to argue over which way to go, and an hour later, Levi knew they were lost. He had no idea where he’d led his friends. He’d never been this deep into Terracaelum. He didn’t even know which direction they were headed because he couldn’t see the sky. He kept trying to visualize the map he’d seen on his one visit to the director’s office—he knew there were mountains to the north with tunnels and caves beneath them. They’d crossed the river awhile back—it ran in a roughly east-west direction. But, try as he might, he couldn’t figure out where they were in the tightly packed trees.
He heard nothing in the dead air, not even the rustling of night animals or the hoot of hunting owls. Nor did he hear the sounds he dreaded most: the crashing of a werewolf on the attack or the hiss of Deceptor in the underbrush. Every few minutes the silence would get to him, and he’d halt and raise his hand for the others to stop. Then all three would stare into the woods, moving only their eyes, not making a single sound. But each time they stopped, he heard only their rapid breathing.
It was much later before Levi thought of God. What was the matter with him? Why hadn’t he prayed at the first sign of trouble? “God?” He kept his voice low so his friends wouldn’t hear. “Do you see what’s going on? Sara’s in trouble and there’re just us three kids to save her. We’re gonna need a little help.” This was no time for pride. “Actually, we’re gonna need a lot of help. So if you could send a legion of angels or something, that would be great.”
A legion of angels. Mr. Dominic had told him things were different here—that the spirit world took on a more physical form. That meant a shape-shifting demon sorcerer would be a very real opponent and so would ghosts and ghouls. But it should also mean God’s servants were more real, too, that angels could appear as physical warriors to protect Sara and his friends. A memory jostled for attention. Hadn’t Mr. Dominic told him Terracaelum had an angelic protector? Levi was almost sure he had.
The thought of a big, burly angel fighting Deceptor comforted him nearly as much as the gentle breeze on his face, giving him the courage to keep searching for Sara. And for whatever unspeakable evil had captured her.
Because giving up wasn’t an option.
Chapter 42
Lucien
“Levi . . .”
At Monica’s whimper, Levi turned her direction. Her hands trembled as she groped for the hilt of her sword. A wide-eyed Trevor pulled his sword from the scabbard strapped across his back and made a squeaking sound. Levi pivoted slowly, examining the dark trees, searching for whatever had them so scared.
A huge gust of wind forced him back a few paces as a warning rang in his mind. Flee.
Not seeing anything scarier than the gloom itself, he braced himself against the wind. “What’s wrong now, Monica?”
“Over there,” Trevor squeaked, pointing a shaky finger to their left.
Levi looked. Dread traced cold fingers down his spine. With one hand, he gripped his flashlight. With the other, he whipped his sword from its sheath. At least it didn’t get stuck this time. His mouth dropped open to release a scream. He couldn’t make a sound.
He raised his light higher, aiming the trembling beam at the huge figure mere feet away. The light revealed a creature unlike anything he’d ever seen: two large shining blue wings furled behind a white body that shimmered iridescent silver. He—the creature looked male to Levi—hovered above the forest floor, bare except for loose pants and a long scabbard belted at the waist. As Levi raised the beam to light his chiseled face, so bright it seemed to glow on its own, Monica let out a whispered shriek and Trevor gasped. Again Levi wanted to scream, but something held him back.
The creature’s marble-like lips parted. A deep voice reverberated through the forest. “Leviticus Isaiah Prince, kindly lower your light.”
Too startled to do anything but obey, Levi lowered his arm so the beam didn’t glare in the brilliant blue eyes. With the light on the being’s bare chest, his bulky pectoral muscles were thrown into relief. Levi shivered at the sheer power implied by those muscles. He could easily rip them to pieces if he chose.
Levi’s ankles trembled. What was this thing? Could it be an angel? Hope raised goose bumps on his arms. Could this be Terracaelum’s resident angel Mr. Dominic had mentioned? Levi gulped. “Um, excuse me . . . how do you know my name?”
“You called on the Ruler of the Universe for aid.” The creature’s voice was so rich and melodious it sent a surge of excitement through Levi’s belly. “I came.”
The words hung in the air. Levi shivered. He wanted to see his friends’ reactions to the announcement, but his prickling neck hairs told him not to turn his back on the creature. He didn’t even consider trying to wield his sword because, somehow, he felt sure the creature spoke the truth. The Great Emperor had sent help—very physical, very terrifying, very big help. Terracaelum’s protector.
“What should we call you?” he asked after a moment. “The creature” seemed disrespectful, even in his thoughts.
“You may call me Lucien.” He gave a slight bow.
Lucien? Latin for light. The perfect name for an angel.
Levi sheathed his sword. What was the proper thing to say to an angel? “Uh . . . nice to meet you, Lucien.” He offered his hand.
Lucien smiled, one eyebrow lifted. Feeling silly, Levi dropped his hand. He darted a glance at his friends staring slack-jawed at Lucien. “These are my friends, Monica and Trevor.”
“Yes.” Lucien nodded once. “Monica Marie Jefferson. Trevor Barnabas Patterson. I know much of you both.”
Monica shrank behind Trevor. Trevor’s face was so white he looked like he might pass out. Obviously, Lucien’s knowing them did nothing to ease their fears.
But Levi was pleased that his flashlight beam, still trained on Lucien’s chest, no longer trembled. “No disrespect intended, Lucien, but how do you know so much about us?”
“I am a servant of the Great King. When he bids me, I go out from his presence to do his will.” Lucien’s eyes flashed. “And as for how I know of you three—well, you are among the redeemed, among those for whom the Prince of Peace shed his blood. Do you not think he speaks of you?”
Levi could only stare. He knew Jesus had died to save him, knew he’d been rescued from his sin through Christ’s death on the cross. But God himself talking with Jesus about runty Levi Prince . . . he couldn’t imagine it.
“But why?” Trevor’s husky whisper drew Levi’s gaze. His friend’s face was wet with tears, but all Levi could think of was that Trevor’s voice hadn’t squeaked.
Trevor took a single step nearer Lucien, pain stark in his face. “Why would God talk about me? My own dad doesn’t even give a rip about me.”
The creature watched Trevor for several moments. “Your unrepentant earthly father is not a mirror of your Heavenly Father. The God of Heaven and Earth loves you more completely than even the best earthly father could. He loves to speak of you.” Lucien’s mouth tightened, Levi figured in disapproval of Trevor’s dad.
“What about my parents? Does he speak of them?” Monica’s voice was a strained whisper. She stepped out from behind Trevor and inched nearer Lucien.
Levi glanced back at Lucien in time to see a look he couldn’t read on the marble-like features. The angel dipped his head. “Certainly.”
Monica stretched out her hand. “What does he say? Will they be safe? Will they come home to us soon?” Her forehead wrinkled. “Or will they stay on the mission field without us?”
Levi’s throat burned at the longing in her voice.
“You poor child.” Lucien shook his head. “I cannot read the future. I am only a servant in his Majesty’s court, nothing more. He has not seen fit to inform me of his plans for your parents or for you and your sisters.” Again an odd look crossed his face. “I know only that he loves you deeply. Your family holds a special place in his heart, torn and uprooted as you are by your parents’ service. He knows your pain. He speaks often of you.”
Monica’s ha
nd dropped to her side. She breathed out, offered a sad smile, and wiped a tear from her cheek. “That’ll have to do then.”
“Yes.” Lucien returned her smile. “It will have to do.”
Rustling sounds and vague mutters came from a thicket on Levi’s right. He glanced from Monica and Trevor to Lucien and pulled out his sword. He wove quietly through the trees until he could peek through low branches into a small clearing. In the middle stood Sara, hair disheveled, bare knees bloodied, and tears on her face. She had a gag in her mouth and a rope leading from her bound wrists to Nydia Sylvester’s hand.
Levi’s blood boiled.
The muttering elf paced in front of her victim. By the patchy moonlight, Levi could just make out her blotchy face and swollen eyes. As Sara’s whimpers drew his focus, his muscles coiled, poised to jump out and rescue her.
A vice grip yanked him back.
Chapter 43
The Elf
Levi glared back over his shoulder at Lucien, kneeling on the ground. “Wait, Leviticus Prince.” Lucien nodded toward the clearing. “Look carefully before you expose yourself and your friends. You have the element of surprise for the moment, but you must see all before acting.”
Levi froze, the words a sharp reminder of Dr. Baldwin’s instruction to see the whole board. Levi turned his head and scanned the area, this time paying close attention to every detail. He was glad he did. In the deepest shadows beyond Sara and Miss Nydia was a darker blot, a black hole in the middle of the forest.
“What is that?” He pointed toward the dark patch.
Monica moved closer. “It appears to be some sort of cave.”
“Why would there be a cave in the woods?” Levi’s eyes skimmed the surrounding trees. “We haven’t gotten to the mountains yet.”
“We may have,” Trevor said from Monica’s other side. “The ground’s been rising for a while now, but it’s so dark we couldn’t see past the trees.”
Levi didn’t admit he hadn’t noticed the rising terrain. “Well, if it is a cave, what do we do? We don’t know what’s inside.”
