Jeremy Chikalto and the Demon Trace (Book III of The Hazy Souls) Read Online Free PDF Page B

to think that way." She rolled her eyes. "It's hot
outside, and I'd love to just lay here for a moment. Go finish your
uninhibited jumping jacks."
    Jeremy had to slap himself on the cheeks a
few times to take his eyes off of Maren and leave her be. He
understood her desire and wanted to respect her. But it wasn't easy
considering the circumstances.
     
    The morning sun had reached its apex. Maren
put her clothes back on while Jeremy doodled geese on the walls of
the hotel with a pen he'd found in the nightstand drawer beside the
bed.
    Maren interrupted the artistic genius. "So
I'm thinking our parents might be on my home planet, Olg."
    Jeremy leaned back against the wall. "Quite
possible, assuming there's still chaos on Watico."
    "There is. Do you think the Rapture affected
the Farmoore Galaxy?"
    Jeremy considered this. "I'm not sure. We're
of Judas's stock, so to speak."
    "Vordin Chikalto repented. That has to count
for something."
    “Let's go find out."
    Maren nodded and they disappeared into the
Haze.
     
    Jeremy raced her through, crossing
dimensions at top speed. In his peripheral vision, he saw that his
demons were rallying again. The spirit animals kept their distance.
Below him, a boar was running circles in a purple-gray cloud,
seemingly out of boredom. No souls were visible.
     
    Jeremy pulled out. They were on a distant
planet in the Farmoore Galaxy, but still had another stop before
reaching the planet Olg. The sky was a burnt orange and insects
buzzed in the tall grass. Maren took a breath and Jeremy watched
her intently. He sat in silence, trying to decipher the change that
was taking place in the Haze. While Maren stabilized, Jeremy took a
peek behind the veil.
    He was on a dark purple vapor, drifting
downwards. A hyena's laugh echoed all around him. "Lyrna!" he
called. A few spirit animals swam towards him, sniffing the air,
until a demon floated to him and stretched itself thin, as waify as
a sheet of paper. Jeremy got lost in the dark, wide 'O' of its
mouth. He pulled away and settled on a lighter cloud of pink. "It
feels empty in here." Jeremy shooed away a raccoon who was eyeing
up his chest. "What?" The critter started to claw at him. "I don't
have a chord," he said.
    The raccoon looked puzzled
and floated away. A lot of spirit animals had stopped their
meandering to watch the exchange. What was
missing? No souls were passing through the
Haze. The animals spirits were without charge.
    Then Lyrna swiped at Jeremy's back.
"Mew."
    He turned to face her. "Why are so many
spirit animals idle?"
    "Dead turned away."
    "Oh? So... are they ghosts?"
    Lyrna shrugged.
    Jeremy swished away a dark purple cloud that
had begun to form in front of his face. "I have to take Maren
through to Olg." Lyrna nodded and Jeremy returned to Maren's side.
He embraced her from behind and pulled her back through.
    Minutes later, they were on the planet Olg,
just outside Maren's family castle. Wet green fields glistened in
the mid-morning sun. The castle was set on a high, rolling hill,
and towns rose up in small clusters further out, closer to the
sea.
    Jeremy palmed his forehead. "Probably should
be a bit more discreet." A guard standing watch at the metal gate
flinched at their sudden appearance, but otherwise remained in
place.
    Jeremy smiled at the guard, waved, and then
fanned Maren's face. She opened her eyes and he shook her slightly.
"Hey,” he called out to the guard. “I'm Cajjez Jeremy Chikalto.
I've brought Maren home safely. Let us through."
    The guard, who was wearing white body armor
and a helmet, his hand firmly planted on his sword, only wavered a
little.
    Jeremy was about to raise his voice when
Maren pushed her way out of Jeremy's arms and approached the guard.
"Ren Golsen? Where is my father? Let us in."
    The guard leaned forward slightly. "You're
being monitored by video. Leave, now."
    Maren shook her head. "But—"
    "So then we've already been spotted," said
Jeremy. He steadied Maren, placing a hand on her