Retreating into my room, I grab the towel off my desk chair and use it to squeeze the water out of my hair. “It’s what separates our world from the Otherworld, where the spirits are. Ravenfall sits in a weak spot in the Shield, which is why we’re a magical hot spot.”

“It’s like a rampart,” he says. When I only look at him, he explains, “A rampart is the defensive wall of a castle.” He gestures at the house. “This place kind of reminds me of one.”

The house rumbles quietly in satisfaction.

Colin’s gaze flits about my room, taking in the collection of incense holders (the dragon wrapped around the castle is my favorite) and movie posters for things I’ve never seen. The house hates electronics, and I don’t have a lot of downtime for TV anyway, but I’ve always loved the posters. They make great art studies, and my attempts to re-create them are tacked up beside them.

For a moment, Colin looks sad, but before I can say anything, he asks, “Don’t you have school or something? It’s Friday.”

“Homeschooled.” I tried real school once in third grade, but I only made it a month before the whole school was calling me Ghost Girl.

It’s not my fault the cafeteria was haunted.

“So was I,” he says. “Sort of. We lived in California until my parents were put in witness protection and we started moving around. They tried their best…” He trails off, his gaze growing distant. It’s only been a few days since he lost his parents; I can’t imagine how that feels.

“Witness protection?” I ask. “For what?”

“That’s what I want to find out,” he says. “I think it might be related to who killed them. And until my brother gets here, I don’t want to just sit around. I want to find out as much as I can about those men.”

Excitement buzzes through me, and I toss my towel over my desk chair, ignoring the house’s rumble of discontent. “Okay, first things first, your mom’s warning. She said they’re coming, meaning more than one. I saw two people in my vision. Was that it besides you and your brother?”

Colin leans against the door frame, and Max winds around his legs. “Yeah, two men.”

“Do you remember anything about them? Because I didn’t get a good look.”

“I…” He frowns. “I kind of remember the one that attacked me, but not the guy that…you know. But I swear I looked right at him. I can’t remember his face, though.”

“Weird.” I frown. “The only thing I noticed is whoever’s perspective I was seeing from bowed to the other guy. I think he works for him.”