“You think they’re all possessed?” He pressed his fingers to his temples.

“Maybe.” Vera looked as confused as he felt. “I told you when you first came to see me, I’m not my parents. But I called them. I left a message. And they’ll know what to do. In the meantime, we need to keep you and your sister safe.”

“You’re going to stay here,” ordered Aunt Tilda. That wasn’t a question. “I’ll make beef stew.”

Then she opened the fridge and began rummaging around, like what they were having for dinner was somehow a major concern.

Max couldn’t stay here, in Vera Martinez’s home. This was the first time he’d stepped foot in the place. He just met her aunt. He had his sister to think about. And what about the rumors? Was this house any safer? His eyes flicked around, not landing on anything specific, but searching for something to confirm or deny what he’d heard for seventeen years.

“What are you thinking?” Vera watched his face. “Are you worried about where you’ll sleep? We thought Chloe could have the guest room, and you could sleep on the couch. It’s not great, but—”

She paused and read something in his eyes, then sank back in her chair. “You’re scared to stay here.”

Her eyes fell to the floor.

Now he felt like a jerk. Max didn’t know what he would do without Vera right now, and her aunt was like a real-life Mary Poppins with a spoonful of religion. He needed them, but they just said he shouldn’t invite any more trouble, and this place had a reputation.

“Okay, I’m just gonna ask, because I think we’re past the pleasantries.” Max exhaled. “Is your house haunted? Do you make witch’s brew? I realize my mom is currently possessed by a demon, so my options are limited, but if you have a strange collection of satanic objects hidden around here, now is the time to tell me.”

Vera’s eyes widened, then flicked to a nearby door. So did her aunt’s.

Max sat back. Wait, was it true?

His mouth fell open.

“Okay, it’s not what you think….” Vera’s voice was wary as she glared at an old barnwood door.

Are you kidding me? His sister was upstairs! And Vera was eying that door like even she was afraid of it. What was he supposed to think?

“I can see your mind spinning. Sip your tea,” Aunt Tilda instructed.

No, you sip your tea! he thought, but robotically, he took a drink.

“Obviously, you know my parents perform exorcisms.” Again, she sounded clinical. Your mother had…a colonoscopy. “Afterward, there are sometimes objects connected to these cases that aren’t safe to leave behind. What if the object holds residual power? What if another demon tries to access it? What if the demon they just expelled is still attached to it?”

“You’re serious about this? There’s shit like that in your house!” He must’ve looked like a cartoon character with a bunch of symbols and exclamation points floating above his head.