I placed the anti-magic amulet around my neck. If the punk tried anything it would bounce right off me, but I still felt like a jackass wearing it. All I needed was some sandals and patchouli and I was ready for the smoke-in. I also had my newfound werewolf power as a backup. Between the two I figured I could take the kid down and put an end to this bullshit once and for all.

I tried the doorknob and it gave, revealing every teenage reject’s room rolled into one. Posters, mostly metal and industrial bands, covered the walls and ceiling. Trash littered the floor. There was a purple plastic bong and beer bottles, and an ashtray full of butts and spent matches. The bed was a single mattress tucked between the TV and the stereo.

The mattress was stuffed with sheets and pillows to make it look like someone was sleeping in it. I intentionally stood there and stared at the bed, looking as dumb as I could. I even went a little slack-jawed, but what I was really doing was increasing the wolfishness of my ears and eyes just enough to read the room without looking around. Because, despite appearances, I wasn’t alone.

There was a closet to my right. I could feel Billy eyeing me through the wooden slats.

I decided it was time he had a little scare of his own. I took out my backup piece, a .45 with a handy-dandy silencer, then stepped over to the bed and unloaded the entire clip into the pile under the blankets. I riddled the fake body until the room was filled with smoke and feathers.

After the last shot, a whimpering gasp came from the closet.

I turned and leveled the gun on the closet. “Get out here.”

Billy Fuller came out. He was as skinny as a flagpole. His hair was long and greasy and acne covered his cheeks. He wore a Skid Row T-shirt. He was not only evil, but horribly behind the times.

Billy was shaking, but his eyes were darting from side-to-side. I could see he still had a trick up his sleeve. Even so, I was shocked when he came at me, stopping within a foot, raising an amulet of his own, and chanting.

“Ammul Kanna Keela!”

I yawned and showed him the charm around my neck. “Sticks and stones, punk,” I barked, slapping him so hard he flew against the wall. My hand had a thick coating of Clearasil across the palm. I walked over and lifted him up by his T-shirt.

“I’m gonna ask you this once, kid. If I don’t get the answer I want, I’m gonna shove the gun up your ass and play butthole roulette. Where’s the incantation you used on Sam Burnett?”

Billy peed himself. “I threw it away.”