So they need the MA to help them with Ramon? Why? I take another drag of the joint and shake my head. It’s strong.
“What kind of events?” I ask.
“Wakes. Meetings. The MA is obsessed with channeling the knowledge and abilities of the deceased,” Alba explains. “We Nox can amplify any ritual. Our combined power is very strong.”
Jan looks over at his brother, who still hasn’t moved from the corner. “Sometimes too strong.”
I swallow, thinking back to the reason we’re here. I take a deep breath, bracing myself to say something, but Jan is nodding at Xavi, who has his hand on Beatriz’s knee.
“So, what’s your deal? Are you a Warlock?”
Xavi looks completely unphased. “Crow Shifter,” he replies, as if that comes up all the time in everyday conversation.
Beatriz tenses, giving the Nox siblings a defiant look as if challenging them to say something. But they don’t. They both smile.
“Cool,” Alba says. “We like crows.”
Xavi sits up, practically ruffling his feathers with pride.
“Crows bring death with them,” Jan says. He laughs. “Hombre, don’t look at me like that, I don’t mean it in a bad way. Historically, crows have always been the messengers between two worlds. They traverse the veil.”
“And they feast on the dead,” Alba adds giddily, making me shudder.
Not sure how anyone would want these guys at a party, unless it was Halloween.
Jan coughs from the joint. “Speaking of the dead, which one of you is here to talk to the other side?”
We all shuffle uncomfortably, waiting for someone to talk.
Jan laughs again. “It’s OK, I didn’t think you came at night to see us just to share your weed and stare up at our pretty fake moon. Who do you want us to talk to?”
I hear Beatriz shuffling beside me, her arms crossed like she’s trying to protect herself from the dark forces in this creepy room. Good to know I’m not the only one completely unsettled by the triplets. Xavi puts his arms around her, and kisses the crown of her head.
I stand up, wobbling on my feet a little as the strength of Rafi’s herbs hits me.
“My sister went missing nearly two years ago, and I’m scared she might be…” I breathe out heavily. “I just want to know that she’s still alive.”
“We can’t communicate with her if she’s alive,” Jan says, earning him an elbow in the side from Alba.
“That’s the whole point, idiota.”
“Saskia needs peace of mind,” Rafi says, turning his charm on Jan. “We would all really appreciate your help.”
With an exaggerated sigh, Alba fiddles with her phone, and the room fills with soft eerie music. I don’t know if this is part of the ritual or if she just wants to drown out our voices, but Ramon in the corner has started making mumbling sounds, so I’m more than happy about the music.
“They are like the Three Fates in Hercules,” Rafi says to me, gesturing at the siblings.
Alba rolls her eyes. “Stop comparing us to those weird sisters; they only have one eye. If I’m going to be compared to anyone in Hercules, it’s Megara.”
“Here.” Jan passes me a bowl of something. I’m expecting it to be full of bones or crystals, but it’s just corn chips. “For the munchies.”
I frown at Rafi, who replies with a leisurely wink, stretching back on the couch and draping his arm around Jan’s shoulders.
I’m still waiting for them to start the séance, but everyone has gone back to smoking and eating chips. Aren’t we going to get the Ouija board out or something? Shouldn’t we at least draw a dayglo pentagram on the floor and chant?
Luisa and Rafi look completely nonplussed, as if they’ve done this a million times before, but I notice Xavi is holding Beatriz’s hand tightly, their knuckles glowing white in the gloomy light.
My mouth is dry, I need a drink, but I’m too nervous to say anything.
Suddenly, Jan sits up and tips his head to one side. Something dark is dribbling from his ears, trickling over his cheek and down his neck. I cover my mouth, stifling a scream, but no one else is reacting. Instead, they are all looking down respectfully.
I keep staring as Jan’s eyes slowly fill up with the same inky substance leaking from his ears until his eye sockets are entirely black.
I turn to Alba. Her eyes are also black, such a contrast against her white hair. Her lips part a little, the same dark blood oozing out of her mouth and down her chin. She breathes out softly, releasing a puff of black smoke.
My stoned head is screaming the words Zombie Apocalypse over and over again.
At the back of the room Ramon’s mumbles start to get faster and louder, until his head snaps sideways, and he stares at a corner of the room.
“Someone is here,” he says.
Chapter Fifteen
“It’s for you,” Ramon says, pointing at Rafi.
I expect a bigger reaction from my friend, but he stays seated on the couch, his expression grim.
“Not interested.”
“You have to talk to him at some point,” Luisa says.
“No, I don’t.”
Jan turns to Rafi. His face is smudged black from the liquid running down his neck, and although his eyes are still a shiny onyx, they appear to soften as he lays a hand on Rafi’s cheek.
“It might help,” he says gently.
Rafi places his hand on Jan’s and shakes his head. “He had his chance when he was alive. Let him spend an eternity waiting.”
Jan leans closer to Rafi, whispering something in his ear, but Rafi pushes him away. “Drop it.” Rafi rolls his eyes and sighs. “Every fucking time. So annoying, wish he'd just stop.”
Ping.
I school my face into neutral. Whoever is attempting to contact Rafi won’t stop, yet secretly Rafi doesn’t want them to quit trying either.
“Someone else is here!” Ramon announces.
Jesus, if he keeps randomly shouting in the corner, I’ll be the one visiting them from the dead next.
“What are you cooking?” Alba asks slowly. We all turn to her. She’s
