Author: Aileen Erin
Category: Paranormal
Go to read content：https://readnovelfree.com/p/28751_116
“If we’re not, then a dark time is ahead for the world.”
Right. Like I needed one more person to tell me this was all really fucking serious. I got it.
“So, why isn’t anyone listening in on the meeting?”
“Sam is. But the talk will be more of the same. Witches are the most powerful blah-blah-blah. Wolves are evil monsters, blah-blah-blah. Let’s takeover the humans and rule the world.” Cosette shrugged. “It’s Luciana’s usual Pinky and the Brain routine.”
I chewed through a last hunk of garlic bread and set down my fork. The bread and PowerBar would have to do for now. “Save the rest for me?”
Whispers: Interactive StoriesMake your own choices and decide what happens next!
“Where are you going?” Claudia said.
“It might be rote of all of you, but I’ve never heard Luciana’s rant. It’s as good of a place to start as any.”
Raphael stood up. “I’ll go with you.”
“You don’t have to.” If I got caught, I didn’t want him to get in any trouble. I said as much and he shook his head at me.
“Trust me. It’ll be better for you if I’m with you. I know how to handle Luciana.”
Somehow I doubted that, but we headed out to the main road—the only road in the compound—together.
Houses and other buildings butted up against the dirt road, but there definitely wasn’t enough space for more than sixty people. I wondered who decided who lived on the compound and who didn’t. Was it based on some sort of hierarchy?
The night was quiet, and if I closed my eyes, I could almost pretend I was back at St. Ailbe’s. The scents were nearly the same, but notes of oil from the nearby cars, and dinners being cooked intruded on my illusion.
The little steeple of the schoolhouse cut into the sky up ahead. It wasn’t that tall, but the white paint stood out against the setting sun. “So do you go to school there?”
“I used to.” Raphael paused. “When we get there, try to be as quiet as possible. Luciana didn’t invite you for a reason.”
“What do you mean?”
“Luciana wants something from you, and she’s letting you get comfortable. Lazy. You going in there will show her that you’re not comfortable. In my experience, it’s much better to have your enemy underestimate you.” He paused to pick up a rock from the ground. He tossed from hand to hand before dropping it. “I know you’re having trouble with spells, but if you could maybe learn some defensive stuff, that’d be good.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. Nothing I’m doing works.”
“Well, then maybe we can make something up for you. A charm to keep bad energies away could help. I’ll talk to Claudia about it.”
I nodded.
The schoolhouse was still a little ways away, but Raphael started walking between the houses. “You’ve got really good hearing, right?”
“Yup.”
“Good. There aren’t any windows in the back. Not any at our height, at least. Less chance of being noticed. You can press your ear to the wall.”
I probably didn’t even need to get that close. My hearing was damned good. “Yeah. That’ll do.” As we neared the schoolhouse, I realized I definitely wouldn’t need to do that. The walls of the old building were thin, and the people inside were yelling. I grasped Raphael’s arm to stop him, and suddenly I felt different. Like I was outside my own body.
I shook my head, trying to break free of the feeling, but I couldn’t.
“Are you okay?” Raphael asked.
“Fine. Just got dizzy for a second.”
Raphael faced me. “I thought Weres didn’t get dizzy.”
“Well, this one did. Let’s go. And be quiet.”
We stepped close to the back wall of the schoolhouse, and Raphael pressed his ear against the wood. I stayed back a little ways. Hearing the voices wasn’t a problem. It wasn’t like they were talking quietly. At all.