Free Jeremy Chikalto and the Demon Trace (Book III of The Hazy Souls) by T.S. DeBrosse Page A

like magic tricks?” A
mischievous grin spread across Jeremy's face.
    The General was about to finish his lecture,
when Jeremy pulled a raccoon out of the air by its tail, and it
began to screech and swat about. The soldiers and the General
jumped a little bit, and Jeremy put it back behind the air.
    There was a long silence. “Jacey Moon, they
called you. Murderer,” said General Forero in a low voice.
    “I do prefer to think of myself as a
magician, though. I can pull other things out of the air, things
that would hunt you down like an animal.” There were a few whispers
in the air, coming from behind the perimeter fence, and the
soldiers drew their guns and pointed them at the shadows, but the
General stood fast.
    “Right,” said Jeremy. “And you can call me
Cajjez from now on.”
     
    Jeremy was let inside the Victorian home and
he was about to ascend the staircase when he heard a familiar voice
call to him from the dining room.
    “My son!” Vor Wantoro appeared, his hands
firmly planted on the back of Vinya Raaychila's wheelchair, smiling
despite himself, a short cropped beard framing his square jaw.
Raaychila was angelic in her chair, her red hair radiant in the
soft light.
    Jeremy laughed and then ran to them. He
hugged his father and mother, then joyfully took his mother's hand
and kissed it.
    “Jeremy, old boy!” It was Mateo.
    “Hello, Mr. Nononia,” said Jeremy, jolly as
a spring chick.
    “Oh,” Mateo shooed him away. “It's 'Mateo,'
come on now.”
    “Are you okay?” asked Raaychila. “We were so
worried. You look famished!”
    “Someone get my son something to eat!”
Wantoro called out. “We celebrate!”
    “I suppose you should let Maren know you've
returned,” said Raaychila with a twinkle in her green eyes.
    Jeremy nodded, bowed clumsily, and then
raced up the stairs. He ran down the hallway and flung open his
bedroom door.
    There was a stirring under his bedcovers,
and then the blankets pulled back revealing Maren and a shirtless
Ren.

Chapter 15
    Light of Mine
     
     
    “Jeremy!” Maren sprang up.
    “What are you doing?” stuttered Jeremy. He
felt behind him for the door as the blood rushed to his head. “What
the hell, Maren.”
    “Oh,” Maren said, realizing how bad it
looked. “Jeremy, I missed you so much!”
    Ren climbed out of the bed and pointed to
his watch. “My watch,” he stammered.
    “Yeah, it's time to get the fuck out.”
Jeremy flashed between them and faced Ren, his back to Maren. “Get
out.”
    “Jeremy, he was just
showing me his watch — it glows in the dark.” Maren spoke in a small
voice.
    “It's got a solar battery and it doubles as
a flashlight,” said Rex.
    Jeremy stared blankly at Rex. “I'll give you
a solar powered fist if you don't get out.”
    “Jeremy, it's not what it looks like,” said
Maren.
    Jeremy turned to her as Rex exited the room,
shutting the door behind him. “So is this Mitch, the sequel? How
could you possibly get under the covers with a guy who has a
flashlight watch.” He glared at her. “He was in my bed. His shirt
was... missing!”
    “Oh, it's not like that Jeremy.” Maren
reached out to him for a hug. “He spilled orange juice on it,” she
added.
    “Whatever. I'm alive, you're alive, our
parents are alive. Let's celebrate.” Jeremy walked out of the room
and slammed the door behind him.
     
    Jeremy ran down the stairs and past the data
crunchers huddled together over a large wooden table. He slipped
between soldiers mapping out their next raid and entered the dining
room. His mother and father smiled at him, and then Tina pushed her
way through the small crowd and ran to him. She embraced him and he
squeezed her back.
    “I knew you'd come back!” she said, smiling
up at him with brown, made-up eyes. Mascara dripped down her lashes
and stained her cheeks charcoal, and she wiped the tears away with
her sleeve.
    “Crying for me?” said Jeremy. And then he
cried a little too.

Chapter 16
    In Good