Awakened by a strange sound, I opened my eyes, but inside the darkened house, it was difficult to see what might have caused it. I sat up slightly from the sofa where I'd fallen asleep earlier and listened closely to see if I could hear it again. Just as I'd given up on it repeating ... someone knocked on the front door, and it was followed by Rhys' voice as he called out to me, "Ashe, open the door! It's me."

Hearing the strain in his voice, I immediately got up and turned on the light switch at the entry as I opened the door ...

Flanked by Zil and Zaamee, Rhys stepped inside, leaving them behind on the porch, "Look who came Trick-or-Treating a little early. Sir Pointy-Tooth is here."

Zaamee said, "It's time. Do you feel ready?"

I debated how I should answer. To deny I feared facing it again would be a lie. To say I was completely ready would be a lie, too. But I'd initiated us going to the warehouse to save Sonny and Chelsea, and I was determined to prove that I wouldn't back down at the first sight of danger, despite Zil's doubts that I could handle it. Lifting my chin slightly, I replied, "I am. I also bought equipment to help us tonight."

Before I could tell her about it, and how each piece worked, she cut me off. "Zil has seen it in your mind and told me about it. Yes, I think it could be useful."

Annoyed by his reading my mind out loud to her, I cast him a sideways glance.

Zaamee added, "It's good that you're taking this seriously and have contemplated what you're up against. All of us will need your focus and concentration tonight."

Her eyes were sharply trained on me – and it took a moment before what she'd said sunk in. "Mine?"

"Yes. It knows you. You are the nexus."

"The – what?"

"You are the one who the spirit will see as its biggest threat – taking what it believes rightfully belongs to him – the boy." Then, she shifted her gaze to Rhys as if noticing him standing there for the first time. Straightening under her intense scrutiny, he took a step back as she entered the house. "Ashe said you weren't coming tonight. What changed your mind?"

"Nothing special. I just decided to," he murmured.

"Do you feel ready?"

"Yeah – I guess."

"Good," Zaamee said. "Then let's go. We don't have much time." With a turn, she was gone.

Behind me, I could hear Rhys cursing under his breath as he struggled to recover from Zaamee's sudden disappearance.

Zil moved so he stood at center of the open doorframe. Looking at me, he said, "I will carry you there, chere." Then, turning his gaze to Rhys, he added, "If you like, I can come back for you – although I may become hungry with the exertion."

Rhys narrowed his eyes at Zil.

Before anything else could be said by either of them, I quickly jumped in. "Rhys, why don't you drive there? The path is wide enough for a car."

Zil, showing his fangs, offered smoothly, "If not, then it is settled. I will come back for you."

"Yeah, I think I will drive. But I can't start the car in front of my house. It'll need to be pushed to the end of the street so my parents don't hear and come out to interrogate me."

Zil cast his eyes to the ground and smiled.

Clearly taking it as Zil poking fun at him, Rhys added hotly, "It's the middle of the night."

"Let Zil push your car," I said.

"I don't want him touching it! I'll push it."

"It'll take you longer. All Zil has to do is ..."

"I said I'll push it!" Rhys started to walk outside, but when Zil didn't move aside for him, Rhys sidestepped Zil and went to his car.

I grabbed my backpack with the ghost hunting gear inside of it and went outside. I closed and locked the door behind me and turned to see Rhys standing at his car, his driver's side door open. Shooting Zil a defiant look, Rhys placed one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the outer frame, leaned into it, and began to push.

The car hardly moved. He straightened, wiped his palms on the front of his pants, put his hands back to where they'd been ... and pushed again.

His effort wasn't enough.

"Rhys, we don't have time for this. Neither do Sonny and Chelsea," I said.

"Would you like some assistance?" Zil asked.

Rhys scowled. "Not from you."

"Your car does seem to be very heavy, but if you are sure ..." Zil shrugged.

"Rhys! Seriously ... let him help!"

Rhys pushed again, but the car still didn't budge. He straightened. "Fine!" As Zil went behind the car, Rhys said to him, "Ground rule ... do not dent my car. It's a classic."

With clear disdain, Zil looked at the car and then back at him. "Of course. Will you not first get in?"

Rhys turned instead and as he began to push, he huffed, "Even with ... your ... help, this car ... is ... no ... lightweight ..." He glanced over his shoulder at Zil – and stopped. "You're not even pushing!"

"Rhys, while watching you suffer in this way is moderately entertaining, I can get you there much faster," Zil said. "Get into your ... classic."

Grumbling under his breath, Rhys got into the car and slammed the door shut.

Zil placed only his left hand onto the back of the Nova – and pushed.

Shocked at the sight of Rhys' car sailing down to the end of the street, I watched the brake lights come on just before he would've crashed into Cemetery Raven's wrought-iron fence.

The door flew open and Rhys was out of the car! He glowered at Zil for a prolonged moment before he got back in and started the engine. The reverse lights came on as he backed up. Then, he turned right onto the dead end and drove carefully in the direction of the warehouse.

Looking after Rhys' car, Zil murmured, "You are welcome." Looking smug, he glanced back at me. "Now, chere – shall we?"

"Stop smiling. That wasn't funny. Did you have to push so hard?"

"I assure you, I only gave it a mere tap." He picked me up. "Hold on."

Within seconds, we were at the warehouse. Zil lowered me to the ground.

Rhys wasn't there yet, but Zaamee was. Facing the enormous emporium, she said, "Be careful tonight, Zil. The entity will be able to sense your strength. If provoked, it can reach through you to get to one of us. If it does, it can result in severe harm to both."

I walked past her, up to the warehouse. Being back, and hearing her say that, I told myself not to fold and give in before we'd even stepped foot inside, or dwell on the immense risk we were all about to take. I'd made the choice to be there, and I would proceed with my plans to go inside because a true ghost hunter never backed down!

Noticing how quiet they both suddenly were, I turned. Zil and Zaamee were watching me.

"I know what the dangers are, but I'm ready. I will not run away from that ghost and I'll see it through to the end," I said, facing the warehouse again.

Zaamee said, "We need to concentrate on the boy. Once we determine if the attachment is to him, or if he's a pawn to lure you, we'll know better if it's a Shadow Person or a poltergeist."

I wheeled around. "Wait. Shadow Person? Poltergeist?"

I wasn't familiar with the term 'Shadow Person,' but I'd heard of poltergeists, and the thought of one being in there shook me.

"Yes," Zaamee said. "Apart from ghosts, there are Shadow People and poltergeists. Both can be extremely dangerous, but they're quite different from each other. A poltergeist was once a person and can engage in serious, grievous harm. It may also show protectiveness over another spirit, object, or location. It never takes over, or possesses, a host like other ghosts can, and appears only as a misty form. A Shadow Person is far more intellectual and, therefore, more dangerous. As explained by the name, it appears only as a dark form, darker than night, and will, many times, use its energy to pose as a recognizable image, either human or animal. But such likeness is not to be trusted. With Shadow People, no one knows their true origin, including other spirits. Ghosts will avoid them. Never ignore their threat or dismiss them as harmless. They are not. Most Shadow People are mainly intent on causing deadly harm. They have the capability to take possession over the body and mind, and are far more difficult to rid oneself of, once possession has taken place."

"So, a ghost is tamer?" I asked.

"On the contrary," Zaamee said, "ghosts can be both harmful and harmless and most will show themselves as misty or white – unless, like me, they have much energy, and then they can project themselves as mortal. With them, take caution: one can never be sure if it is friend or foe, until familiarity occurs, which is not always advisable – it opens a soul to invasion, either by possession or by attachment, which is a lesser form of possession. If a ghost is knowledgeable, either may happen, but mainly for a specific purpose, many times known only to them. With attachments, a ghost can usually be easily handled, as long as they allow the person an understanding of their needs. Once met, the host is released and no further harm will occur. With possession, it may take longer, depending on the ghost, and can be quite bad for the mortal or immortal affected –especially if possession occurs again."

"And if it does ... what then?" I asked.

"Then either magic or exorcism is needed to remove the spirit."

"There is also 'intelligent' or 'residual' spirits," Zil added. "With those who are residual, there is no interaction, only a repetition of actions. They are not consciously aware of another's presence. With intellectuals, communication can take place."

It was a lot to take in. "What about the warehouse? What's in there?"

"Apart from Sonny and Chelsea, there is one in the warehouse who projects evil, while the other has a presence of protective rather than injurious. Whatever is in there, it is imperative we help the boy and his mother. If we do not, their energy can be stolen."

"Stolen? What does that mean – in your world?"

"They will die again. Their second, and final, death."

I shuddered.

Zil said, "Do not worry, chere. I will be with you the entire time."

Even though what Zaamee said had a frightening undertone, I refused to be chased away. "No, Zil. I'm not incapable."

His eyebrow rose. "No?"

Ignoring how insulting he'd just sounded, I said, "I admit, I'm afraid. But when we get inside, keep away. I need to know I did everything I could to save them before you save me. Zil, I have to do this, to prove to myself that I can ... and to know that I belong."

"But why, when I can protect you?"

"I can't explain it, and I can't expect you to understand if I don't, so don't try. Just – wait for me to need help." I paused for emphasis. "Promise me."

"I would love to, chere, but ..."

"Zil – promise me!"

"I cannot. If anything happened to you – I do not know what I would do."

I stepped up to him so that we were nearly touching and looked him directly in the eye. "You asked me to trust you – and I have, I do. Now I need you to do the same for me."

He looked torn. "Yes, fine. But if I think the danger is too great, I will take you out of there without first waiting to see how you feel about it. I am unapologetic. I will protect you, even from yourself, if necessary."

Headlights in the distance grew closer. Rhys slowly drove up and parked a few feet further from the building than where we stood. He got out of his car and walked over. Noticeably avoiding eye contact with Zil, he stood next to me as he gazed warily at the warehouse.

"Did you bring flashlights?" he asked.

"Two. They're in the bag with the equipment," I answered.

Zaamee said, "Rhys, come inside with me. I'll stay with you while you place your devices where they need to be."

Visibly rattled, he asked, "But what if the ghost inside knows and comes at us."

"I will know, but now would be best. I don't sense that it is aware of our presence yet."

Seeing that Rhys was clearly not in favor of going in alone with her, I offered, "I'll come with you."

"Ashe, a minute – please," Zil said.

I held the backpack out to Rhys. "I'll be right in."

He nodded stiffly and took it from me. Opening the backpack, he rummaged through it, and took out a flashlight. He then went with Zaamee to the warehouse, and I cringed inwardly as she opened the door and it whined loudly. She stepped in.

Looking uncertain, Rhys turned on the flashlight and followed.

The door closed.

"We shouldn't leave them alone in there," I said.

"There is something I must tell you before we enter. In order to utilize all of my strength and abilities, I will need to be the vampire. Will that frighten you?"

In a place that was already scary, I wasn't excited about seeing him like that, but I'd keep it to myself. "If that will help us accomplish what we're here for, I'm okay with it."

"Are you certain?"

"I trust you."

The door creaked loudly again. Rhys called over to me quietly that the equipment was set up and to come inside, and then he disappeared behind the door as it closed.

I looked at Zil – he'd transformed into his vampirien state.

In a stark contrast to how he was supposed to look, he gazed softly at me. "I know you are worried but try to have faith that everything will work out for the best. If you do not, even before we begin, the entity wins. Be brave, because it can sense fear."

Together, we walked to the door and I followed him inside.

Zaamee called quietly to Zil. He went to her while I walked to where Rhys stood next to a square he'd made, using the four Rem Pods. In the center he'd placed the other flashlight, EMF pump, thermal detector, and Ovilus, which would allow me to hear the ghost's words the instant they were uttered.

"I thought you might be better protected standing in the middle of the equipment."

"Are they on?" I asked.

"They are." He handed me the EMF detector and a recorder, and then started to attach the holster, with the second recorder already in it, to my left arm. "You'll probably need this more than I will."

"Rhys, you need to come to where you'll be safest," Zaamee said.

He looked around the impossibly darkened warehouse, and then back at me. Before leaving me to go to Zaamee, he gave a small, unconvincing smile. "Good luck tonight."

With those words, my heart sank.