“See, dearest?” I said as I rose from my wheelchair. “I told you he didn’t recognize me earlier.”

The teen girl stared at me—the new me, cleaned up and dressed in a short black dress with a mandarin collar to match Kris’s. Ted turned and blinked hard.

“You,” he said. “You’re that bitch from—”

I slammed a shock bolt into his gut. Didn’t hurt him, but he felt the jolt, especially when he hit the floor. I strolled over, and cast a binding spell that froze him bowed over, half-standing.

“There,” I said. “That is the proper position to take before me. Leave it, and I’ll give you something to make that shock feel like a love tap.”

I broke the spell. Still crouched, he glanced around at his fellow haunters, but they all looked away.

Ted’s gaze lifted to mine. “I don’t know what kind of ghosts you guys are—”

“Ghosts!” Kris thundered, striding over to him. “First you trespass on our territory, then you mistake us for ghosts?”

“Your territory?” the old man said. “Is this yours? We didn’t know—”

“Then your ignorance adds insult to injury. You have trespassed, and you shall pay.”

“P—pay?” the teenage girl said. “But I didn’t—I’ve only been here a week. They told me it was okay. They said no one would bother us—”

I caught her in a binding spell and she went silent.

“Thank you,” Kris said. “Now, as for the rest of you…”

“May I have them?” I said. “Please? Something new to play with.”

“Wait,” the old man said. “We didn’t know. It was an honest mistake. No one told us—”

“No one should need to tell you.”

I glided over to Kristof. “I don’t need quite so many pets. Perhaps we should show them that the gods aren’t the only ones who can be merciful.” I smiled. “I’m sure they would be indebted to us for our mercy.”

“Yes,” the old man said quickly. “Very indebted. Let us go, and you’ll never have to worry about us coming here again.”

Kris looked him in the eye, making his own blaze with the glamour. “We’d better not.”

“Or you’ll wish you’d stayed with me,” I said.

I undid the barrier spell as Kris waved it away.

“Now go,” he said.

They bolted for the nearest wall. I grabbed Ted as he leapt to his feet.

“I’m not giving up all my toys,” I said. “You, I’ll keep.” I smiled, showing my teeth. “First, I’ll teach you how to play hide-and-seek…with your head.”

Ted’s gaze shot to Kristof, eyes widening. “But you—you said—”

Kris only shrugged.

“Show me your guts again,” I said. “I want to see how far I can pull out your intestines, maybe wrap them around your neck and use them as a leash.”