“Ghouls?”
“Dead people, brought back to life. They’re very hungry. And very difficult to destroy.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
Blaine shakes his head again. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to learn some things the hard way. How old are you?”
“Fifteen,” I say. “Just.”
“Interesting. You can still learn how to hunt, how to control the beast. Wait a few months and it may be too late. Remember, a lone wolf is a dangerous thing. Foxes, jaguars can run alone, but wolves always run in packs. It’s safer to join a group.”
“Safer for whom?” I ask.
“For everyone.” he says. “Look, pup, we should get back to your ‘friends.’ It looks like Morgaine is about to strike a deal.”
“Don’t call me ‘pup,’” I say. “My name is Stanley.”
“Okay, Stanley.”
We walk back to join the others.
Jonathan catches my eye. “She wants twenty dollars for the Ouija board, or...”
“Or what?” I ask.
“A favor,” Morgaine says. “I’d like you to help out my daughter. Keep an eye on her.”
“Carolina?” I ask.
She nods. “All three of you,” she says. “I’m worried about her.”
“Dude, she’ll even loan us a book,” Jonathan says. “Full of spells, and information.”
I look at Enrique, who pulls me aside. “This book could be useful. Who knows?”
“Nothing comes for free,” Jonathan says, huddling up with us. “If she’s willing to lend us the book, and give us the board, Carolina must need some serious help.”
“She scares me a little,” I say quietly.
“Who, Carolina?” Jonathan asks. “Or her mother?”
“Both of them, in different ways. But Enrique’s right, the book could be useful. And I’d like to have the Whelans on our side.”
“Our side of what?” asks Enrique, but I don’t know. Maybe his great grandmother will.
The smoke still burns my eyes and irritates my throat. I cough. Enrique and Jonathan are staring at me expectantly. So are Blaine and Morgaine.
When did I become the leader?
“Okay,” I say. “We’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Thank you,” Morgaine says, placing the Ouija board into Enrique’s waiting hands. “We’re very nervous these days.”
“About what?” I ask. “I still don’t understand what’s going on.”
She shakes her head then pulls me aside.
“Stanley, you’re a handsome young cub.” Her eyes narrow. “You’ve been with one of the sisters, haven’t you?”