Jeremy Chikalto and Leviathan Island (Book II of The Hazy Souls)

  Chapter 10

  News

  Jeremy strolled down the stairwell, amusing himself with the memory of when he had kidnapped Maren, or swept her off her feet, depending on one's point of view. When he reached the bottom, he entered into the Haze. "Lyrna!" He pushed up through a cloud of magenta, and kicked himself backwards as though he were doing a backstroke in water. "Lyrna," he sang out.

  Lyrna appeared.

  It never ceased to fascinate Jeremy how quickly the Haze had adapted to him. The animal spirits no longer raced towards him, their teeth bared and claws outstretched. The Haze had accepted him, accommodated him even. And Jeremy felt more alive with each visit. "Can you take me to Earth?"

  "Yes," said Lyrna. Her gray fluffy tail swirled in front of her face and for a second, she was lost to him. Her pupils enlarged and her whiskers twitched. She spun around, chasing her tail with sharp determination.

  "Lyrna," interrupted Jeremy after the chase had gone on long enough.

  Lyrna halted and at last seemed to recognize that her tail was, in fact, just her tail. "This way." She began to float away and Jeremy followed.

  "You find," said Lyrna after a few minutes had elapsed.

  Jeremy stopped and looked around him. It was somehow familiar. He could feel Watico and his castle. "Here?" He ran his hand over a point in the Haze and a small tear appeared.

  "Close."

  Jeremy withdrew his hand and soon the tear repaired itself. "This is the bakery." He looked to Lyrna for confirmation.

  "All places. You go, you know."

  Jeremy considered this. Could he recognize a place from the inside out? "And my bedroom is... here?" He moved aside a small section of Haze and twirled his finger about.

  "Yes," Lyrna smiled and leapt up.

  After entering his bedroom, Jeremy raced downstairs and ran along the long corridor to his parents' quarters. He entered his dad's room without knocking.

  "Jeremy!" Wantoro spun around. He was wearing a night robe that fell past his feet and dragged on the floor. "What's going on, Mateo told me he found a note!"

  "Maren's fine, we're fine."

  "Is she here? What were you thinking!"

  Jeremy took a step back and held his hands up. "She's not here, but she'll be coming back soon. I should have just called."

  "Go and get her!" Wantoro began mumbling under his breath―something about the recklessness of youth―as he paced his room.

  "Tomorrow. She's fine, really. This is something we had to do. You wouldn't understand."

  Wantoro came to a halt.

  "I'll bring her back safe, just tell Mateo we have lunch plans tomorrow." Jeremy was about to walk out of the room when his father stammered.

  "Why don't you tell him. Now. I'll get on conference video." Wantoro walked to his closet. He pressed a button and a large screen descended from the ceiling. "I'll just leave you two to it. And when you're done, I'd like a word."

  Jeremy nodded and his father walked out of the room. The video conference began to ring. Jeremy fidgeted and placed his hands behind his back. He began to roll on his feet. That's when he noticed the sweat form on his brow. He had just staged a romance with Maren for Maren's adoptive parents. It was awkward and clumsy. But now, somehow, he felt exposed and vulnerable. He'd really taken someone's daughter.

  The video conference gave a buzz and Mateo's soft, gentle face appeared in front of him. He was still thin from his three-year imprisonment, and Jeremy could see traces of Maren in his eyes, the way the brow lifted, creating an open expression of perpetual wonderment.

  "Um," began Jeremy, suddenly feeling incredibly nervous. Had he ever exchanged words one on one with Maren's father?

  "Cajjez Jeremy! Is my daughter all right?"

  "Yes. Please just call me Jeremy." Jeremy swallowed and watched as Mateo's features lightened.

  "Of course, Jeremy."

  "I'm uh," Jeremy wiped his brow, "sorry for taking Maren with me."

  "Oh, you didn't take her. I know my daughter, she was a willing participant." Mateo gave a little laugh.

  "Well I... care about her so I'll make sure she's safe."

  Mateo sighed and Jeremy could detect slight irritation. "Of course. But please bring her home in one piece."

  "We're just going to lunch tomorrow, then our vacation will end."

  Mateo made a popping sound with his mouth and then scratched distractedly at his chin. "Oh," Mateo moved in close to the screen and his mouth was magnified to an unsavory level. Jeremy grimaced at the intimacy. "Tell her I want chicken. If she's gone to Earth with you, she should at least bring back chicken."

  "Yes, sir. I mean...!" Jeremy backed away from the wall-sized lips, and tripped over a coffee table.

  Mateo let out a booming laugh. Flustered, Jeremy got to his feet, determined to end the conversation.

  "We're not on Earth, Mateo. How would we even get there? I mean, well, I'm going to bed. I'll be in contact soon."

  "And you'll bring my daughter? And the chicken?" Mateo jabbed at the screen and smiled.

  "Good night, sir."

  The monitor clicked off and Jeremy stood for a moment, confused. He'd killed Mateo's wife, Gillian. Now he had his daughter entwined in his schemes, and Mateo somehow knew it, and yet he was laughing about chicken. Jeremy both admired Maren's father and pitied him. I'll bring Maren home safely, he promised himself.

  Sleep was descending fast on Jeremy and he rubbed his eyes. Wantoro entered the room and took a look at his son. "You'd better get some sleep."

  "Didn't you have something you wanted to talk to me about?"

  "It can wait." Wantoro held the door open for Jeremy. "Sleep well."

  And Jeremy did sleep well, which was all very well for Wantoro. He knew his son wouldn't much like the news.

  Jeremy dressed himself in a pale pink button down and jeans. He sat for a long time in front of his mirror playing with his hair and rearranging it in large, disheveled spikes with his styling wax. When he had finished, his hair was voluminous, shiny, and perfectly messy. Jeremy stuffed jewels from his jewelry box into his messenger bag as he made his way to his mother's bedside.

  Jeremy took a seat beside her. "A quick song for you this morning, Mother." Jeremy set his bag down at his feet and took a quick gulp of water. "Something light and happy. I've just composed it."

  I've built a fortress atop the sea,

  Under the same warm and dazzling sun

  That beats down on a sheer bare cliff.

  My fever burns away,

  Quiet, like the drift of petals.

  Looking down, I see the sea foam.

  I press a leaf

  Against the rock

  And trace a sapphire.

  My Muse sings with such sweetness,

  I cannot turn away;

  I sit always by the sea.

  Jeremy slipped out of the room and was met by his father in the hallway. They walked together to a balcony that opened up to the outside. The morning sun was rising in the east and Jeremy breathed in fresh air. "Ah," he said, "it changes you, getting out like this."

  "Yes," said Wantoro sadly. "Jeremy, I don't know how else to say this but..."

  Jeremy locked eyes with his father and cocked his head slightly to the side. "But...?"

  "Yesterday afternoon there were three demon sightings, all within a mile-long radius in Fengra."

  "Here?" Jeremy shook his head, an incomprehensible fear sweeping over him. "That's practically at the castle's doorsteps!"

  "And in each instance, the witness reported that the demons had said your name. There were three of them, traveling together. That's the intelligence."

  Jeremy started back in the castle. "Where are these people? What did they see?"

  "They're undergoing psychiatric treatment. I'm having them moved to a confidential location so I can have their stories extracted without medicine clouding their memories. I'm taking this very seriously."

  Jeremy threw his hands up. "They're coming for
me. I can't be here."

  "Jeremy, calm down."

  "I can't bring them here!"

  "I'm arranging a meeting with leaders of each major religion, top scientists, and even some self-proclaimed psychics. We'll figure this―"

  "There's no time! You have to leave here! They're coming!" Jeremy disappeared into the Haze.