The Demon Queen by Richard Lewis

Author:Richard Lewis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2008-02-06T05:00:00+00:00

chapter 17

JESSE, YOU’VE BEEN AS SPACED OUT AS THE SOLAR SYSTEM,” MR. MINDELL SAID.

Mrs. Mindell waved a fork in his face. “Do you even know what you’re eating?”

He looked at his plate. “Ravioli,” he said. He grinned and said, “I asked a girl to the Homecoming Dance.”

“I take it she said yes,” Mr. Mindell said.

Mrs. Mindell beamed. “Who did you ask?”

“Allyn Shields.”

“Oh, she’s lovely.” Mrs. Mindell patted his hand. “You’ll need something nice to wear.”

That night, Jesse dreamed he was somewhere in the moonlight with Allyn. He slowly pulled her close to him, his heart thumping. Just as he was about to kiss her, her beautiful face wavered and changed and Jesse found himself holding in his arms an old man, the cigarette in his gummy lips stabbing Jesse’s nose. He jerked back and tried to let go, but the man held on to him with wiry strength, puffing furiously on his cigarette. “She’s even stronger, gaining power. So much so I can only come to you in your dream.”

“Leave me alone.”

“You realize what she’s done, you young fool? She’s blinded you with love. The shallowest of magic and—Kerplunk!—you fell right into it.”

“Magic? No way. Allyn loves me for who I am.”

“Mbeh! Listen! This sign, is it one you have seen lately?” The old man stepped back. With his cigarette, he traced the air. The trailing cigarette smoke stayed in place. It was the same symbol Jesse had seen on the grave. “I thought so,” the man said. “The girl is gathering strength to open the portals. The cardinal points of the sacred compass. The center is the last, the great AUM. When that is finally opened, the mask will blossom with the dark of the moon and Rangda will appear in her full power. And here you are, blind and besotted with love, wasting time. You must stop….”

A mist blew across the room. The image of the old man thinned. He was angrily yelling something, but he faded out and Allyn returned to Jesse’s arms. This was more like it. Jesse surrendered blissfully to his dream.

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