Page 45 of Ghoul Kisses

“Do you really want to know?”

I nod.

“Being around you,” he says on an exhale. “When I’m around you, I feel like a nobody.”

“Meaning?”

“You don’t try to kiss my ass or hook up with me because of my status. Most females want to bond with me because I’m a king.”

I bet that’s annoying; people always trying to use you.

An old run-down house comes into view, and Eric stops the car and kills the engine. Teeth and dead rats hang from the porch ceiling. The place looks to be over a hundred years old. I get a creepy feeling from it, and my mind tells me to run like hell.

We jump out of the car and walk to the porch. Eric bangs on the door and a blind woman opens up. Her brown skin is wrinkled, and she wears dirty clothes, looking like she needs a bath.

“What do you want, demon?” she spits.

Eric and I exchange looks.

“I’m talking to you, ghoul.” I have a feeling this conversation is going south, fast.

“Meagan, I’m Ki—.”

“I know who you are.” You can see the tartar on her teeth. Either she hasn’t brushed in over a decade or she is a chain smoker.

“You have the paradox box, and I want to make a deal with you,” Eric says.

“Follow me.”

She turns her back on us and opens the door wide. We walk in and the inside looks better than the outside. The smell of neck bones and collard greens fill the room, reminding me of home. I take a seat next to Eric on the dingy yellow couch.

“You have the key to the Zenith book and you want the map,” Meagan states.

“How did you know that?” I blurt out.

“I’m psychic. It’s not in my possession anymore,” she says.

“Where is it?” Eric asks.

“I gave it to the Dark Light organization for safety. We don’t want it to get into the wrong hands. Since you’re with this half-breed, and we don’t know what her intentions are with the book.”

What does she mean by half-breed? And I don’t want the book.

“Do you know where the book is?” Eric asks.

“No, and if I did, I wouldn’t tell you,” she says coldly.

Eric’s face etches with disappointment. This was a waste of time to come here. This old woman is rude. What the hell is with her calling me a half-breed?

“Thanks, Meagan,” Eric says.

“Sarah, I need to talk to you,” Meagan says. Eric frowns and continues to remain in the couch.

“Leave, now. Demon!” Meagan’s tone is ice-cold. Reluctantly, Eric leaves the room and I hear the front door slam. She leans back in her sturdy chair and smoothes out her silver hair.

“You really don’t know what you are?” she asks nonchalantly.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” I say. Her eyes move back and forth as she studies me.

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