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

  Chapter 28

  Guest of Honor

  A few days passed by without much activity. The items that Jeremy and Tina had brought back for Fedonis proved useful, and Fedonis hummed and sang, never on key, whenever he played with them. Already, Fedonis had concocted a useful potion from the soul remains capable of cloaking its drinker with temporary invisibility. Even though the coverage only lasted a minute, the potion sold quickly and Fedonis's business was booming as word spread throughout the Maze. The four adventurers avoided Fedonis’s customers, though, in an attempt to maintain a low profile just in case Mantel and the demons didn’t already know their whereabouts.

  Lyrna periodically checked the Haze for demons and found that their numbers were increasing.

  "Building up to the inevitable, I suppose," said Jeremy.

  Still, the party had found sufficient protection under Fedonis's care, and enjoyed a routine. It wasn't until their tenth day of relaxing, that Fedonis broke the news.

  "I reckon your share of the profits will run out in about a week's time. You'd better plan another trip to the Dragon's Horn if you want to continue to stay. Hrm...." Fedonis twirled his beard around his finger. "Unless you let me have a look at that goodie you've been keeping. I'll extend your vacation for another two weeks if you let me have a peek. And of course I'll be wanting to fiddle with it."

  Maren and Tina remained silent on the subject. Jeremy shrugged and said, "I'll think about it." And he meant to.

  Later that night, after Maren, Lyrna, and Tina had fallen asleep, Jeremy laid a letter on his pillow and snuck down the ladder and out of Fedonis's storefront to the oasis. He packed a small, leather bag full of snacks and filled his canteen. The demons were coming for him; this he knew.

  Jeremy held his map up and squinted. Mantel's chambers could be reached in less than a day. He sighed and then thrust open a door.

  "Hello!" said the ferret.

  "Ah," said Jeremy. "Not a coincidence?"

  The ferret looked behind Jeremy. "Alone? Good. I've been waiting for you every night."

  "Of course you have," grumbled Jeremy. "Lead the way."

  The ferret smiled and its cheeks puffed up merrily. "Best decision, of course! Mantel needs to see you. After the demon hordes broke into the Maze, I had to go and warn him."

  "You're referring to the time you made a tactical retreat?" Jeremy smirked.

  "Er... yes, but really, this is all best left to Mantel. He knows what to do. He needs you. And you need him too."

  "I'm not so sure," said Jeremy. "But that's why I'm talking with him."

  "And," the ferret skidded in front of Jeremy. "You'll be wanting to take this door to expedite your journey. Your map has you running in circles. We've got a portal set up. It'll take you directly to Mantel. This way."

  Jeremy frowned, still cradling the Dragon's Horn under his arm, and followed the ferret through a set of doors. A mere ten minute journey brought them to a hot spring. Steam rose high in the air and the room smelled like sulfur. "The old rotten egg tunnel," he said. "I take it I just jump in here?"

  "Yes, after you."

  Jeremy eyed the ferret suspiciously.

  "Or after me." The ferret hesitated. "Do follow." The ferret jumped into the hot spring and disappeared.

  Jeremy stood over the hot spring and thought of Maren, still asleep. He hoped Lyrna was sprawled out across her legs and keeping her warm. Jeremy took a deep breath. He had the Dragon's Horn, after all. Surely that was leverage. Lyrna had observed that it wasn't, in fact, infused with soul remains, so Jeremy concluded that it couldn't be sorted in the Haze. If that was the case, and Mantel wanted it, he could quickly stow it away in the Haze as a bargaining chip with Mantel. He risked attracting demons, but his face-off with Mantel could prove just as deadly. If it was a risk he was going to take, he would take it alone. Maren, Lyrna, and Tina would remain safe at Fedonis's―he hoped.

  "Here goes," said Jeremy, and he stepped over the ledge of the pool. The steam immediately gave way to an expansive tunnel as he floated downward. He opened his eyes and watched as the rock formations were lit up intermittently by lava torches. As he neared the exit, his descent slowed and he glided onto a rock bed. Immediately, the "portal" or hot spring, closed up, revealing no trace of its existence.

  "Mantel's waiting," called the ferret as it disappeared behind a wall that jutted out in the center of the room. Jeremy's mouth went dry and he took a quick swig from his canteen. He took a deep breath and attempted to relax. I'm an angel. I'm more powerful than Mantel. I have leverage.

  Jeremy rounded the corner and saw Mantel seated at a large table. The room was magnificently adorned and fashioned like a cathedral. Stained glass was backlit by something, displaying the Cain and Abel story in countless perspectives. In the center of the ceiling, directly above Mantel, was a depiction of the Apocalypse. However, a frog-like being was standing victorious in the battle, a figure beneath each foot. Under the right foot was a lamb, and under the left was a goat. Behind the frog was a dark angel haloed in lightning.

  Mantel was larger than before, and tightly muscled. His face was still pink and bubbled, and was now decidedly toad-like. He sat in repose in his black cloak, no waves emanating now. It was almost absurd. He had a saucer in front of him and sipped at what appeared to be tea.

  "Jeremy Chikalto."

  Without thinking, Jeremy expanded his energy into a buzzing shield around himself. He approached Mantel cautiously, the field of energy causing the chairs around the table to teeter.

  Mantel picked up his tea cup, which had spilled slightly, and glared at Jeremy with slitted, red eyes. "Please, relax. I haven't brought you in for posturing. You must be exhausted from your brave journey. Have a seat."

  "I'd rather not," said Jeremy.

  Mantel rose high in the air and drifted slowly towards Jeremy, at last settling on the floor in front of him. Now the air around him shimmered slightly. His dark hood fell back, exposing his pink-gray flesh. A face rose up in his neck, and opened its mouth to scream a voiceless scream, but Mantel coughed it back. A thick purple vein in his neck throbbed from the effort.

  Jeremy cringed, but resisted the temptation to step back. "What do you want from me?"

  Mantel smiled and held out his hand apologetically. He bowed slightly. "Your humanity, of course." Mantel glided closer to Jeremy, and whispered in a two-toned voice, "I mean to represent humanity; my allegiance is with the living. I see now you think I'm worse than Satan, but that is dangerously untrue. If I've gone off course, I wish you to bring me back. Tell me, how are your friends?" The face in Mantel's throat resurfaced and again he coughed it back. “I beg your pardon. You know how difficult it is to keep children in line.”

  "There are demons in this Maze. Lots of them. Why do they want me?" Jeremy set his mouth in a grim line.

  Mantel paused briefly and then said, "They want to take you to Hell. You are to join Lucifer soon. But you don't want that, do you?"

  "How do you know this?" demanded Jeremy.

  "I have been gathering information for thousands of years. Know that I'm the middle ground, the golden mean. You cannot side with God, for he has forsaken you. Lucifer, we all know, will fall. But I represent the people. I represent consciousness and memory. Don't you want that for your friends? Forever? Look around you." Mantle spread his arms wide. "See how the dead live? See how the soul remains? In here." Mantel tapped at his chest. Jeremy supposed he was indicating his heart, but he doubted Mantel had one―or at least not one of his own.

  "What will the demons do to my friends?"

  "They will eat them and send them to Hell. They are incapable of compassion, unlike us, Apollyon."

  "And you can prevent that?" Jeremy allowed his energy to flicker out.

  "Yes. You can stay here. And once we rid the place of demons, you can travel anywhere you'd like."

  Jeremy hardly believed him, of course, but Mantel did seem to know more about the celestial struggle than himself. "So what
do you want from me? Just my word? How do we get rid of the demons?"

  Mantel drifted back to his seat and sat down. "We must join our powers together and use them against the demons. We'll need to train and develop a strategy, and that could take some time. But first, I think, we simply need rapport. You'll dine with me tomorrow evening? I have guest quarters made up for you―I think you'll find them to your liking."

  "I'd prefer to return and come back later. Give me a portal back―"

  "Back to the old man?"

  Jeremy went quiet. How much did Mantel know? "Y-yes. I'd like to go back and think about this."

  "Fedonis's charms are worthless against the demons.

  Only I can protect you from the demons. I have heard, too, that his allegiance is for sale. How long before he makes a deal with the devil?"

  "All the more reason to go back," said Jeremy, taking a step away from Mantel.

  "You can't protect your friends. You'll do Maren, Lyrna, and Tina a disservice going there. The demons want you. I have heard them say your name. They will not bother with your friends if you are here. We'll lure them to us! I have prepared for centuries. You must make your choice. Soon the demons will come to kill you."

  Jeremy found it difficult to swallow. He loosened his grip on the Dragon's Horn and lifted it up for Mantel to see. Mantel smiled.

  "You've found Leviathan's horn?"

  Dumbfounded, Jeremy nodded. "Do you want it?"

  "It's ours now―a trophy, really. Fate would have you bring it to me. Have you met the sea dragon?"

  Jeremy didn't reply.

  "I assume you did. You came in through his vent. I fought Leviathan many years ago. He is meant to be God's sport." Mantel laughed and the noise hurt Jeremy's ears. "God and his angels have marked Leviathan to be their main course at the end of days. They do love the flesh." Mantel burped. "I was a vegetarian once, you see―a gentle gardener. But no, God loves to hunt and kill―for sheer amusement. It is his nature." Mantel pushed his tea saucer aside with his pink, bulbous finger buds. "How best to defy God... Should we kill Leviathan, his sport? Or should we return him his horn, pet him, bring him kelp to eat, and show mercy, something altogether foreign to God?"

  At that moment, Ms. Fritz, Bentley, and Drew entered the room, their heads bowed in respect. "Jeremy Chikalto," said Ms. Fritz. "What a pleasure to see you―"

  "Shut up. Don't address me like an old friend." Jeremy flickered again and his hair stood on end. He pulled the Dragon's Horn close to his body.

  "Ah! Apollyon," said Mantel. "They have only come to show you to your room. We'll discuss our Dragon's Horn later. In time, we'll develop an understanding. But now you need your rest. Please." Mantel gestured to Ms. Fritz, and Jeremy nodded. "Fine, I'll sit in this room you have for me. But I won't sleep."

  "Excellent! And here comes Jasmine, my flower," said Mantel, gesturing towards the door. Jasmine gave a polite wave and smiled. Her brown cheeks looked more rounded than Jeremy had remembered. The hard lines of her face, once angular and elegant, now looked puffed and defeated.

  Jeremy then noticed how beaten down all the members of the Intergalactic Intelligence Unit had become. Never one to hold back, Jeremy remarked, "You all look sick. This is a pathetic welcoming party. Show me to my room."

  Ms. Fritz took the lead and ushered Jeremy through a large set of doors encased in silver and gold. Pictures of a harvest pressed on thin pieces of foil decorated the borders. "This way," she called back, feigning cheerfulness. Jeremy vowed to himself that Mantel would never beat the spirit out of him―whatever that spirit was, good or bad.