Taeyo slaps his hands on the table. “We would love your help—thank you so much for offering. The more the merrier.”

Emmett and I share a look. David is a decent guy, but do we really want another person to join our mission? Three’s already a crowd….

David beams like a neon light at Taeyo’s invitation, though, so I keep my mouth shut. Hattie would probably say that more heads are better than one.

Emmett shrugs, too. And so, the next thing I know, we are leaving the deliciousness of Seoulful Tacos behind and heading to the house of my least-favorite person in the world, with a half-Gom, a Horangi, and a Tokki, to reunite my sworn enemy with her hungry ghost halmeoni.

I guess this is just my life now.

20: Halmeoni’s Soul Animal Is a Magpie

JENNIE’S HOUSE IS A HUGE MANSION with one of those fancy electronic gates in front, and I’m not surprised in the slightest. Witches in the Samjogo clan are often wealthy because of their ability to divine money luck from their visions. Merely by touching draft contracts or shaking hands with potential business partners they can get premonitions about the future success of a deal. In fact, one of Appa’s seer friends got mega rich because he put his hands on the New York Stock Exchange building and guessed which stocks would go gangbusters that day.

“We’re here.” David pushes the bell on the gate and I shift nervously from foot to foot. I try to keep my face angled away from the little security camera.

The bell stops ringing. “Ugh, what are you doing here?” my least favorite whiny voice says through the intercom.

Taeyo takes the lead. “Hey, Jennie. You don’t know me, but I am here to deliver a message from your halmeoni.”

I can almost hear her making a face on the other end.

“Are you pulling a prank on me, Riley? Because it’s not funny, and I will tell on you if you are.”

I am horribly offended by this accusation. Why would she jump to the conclusion I would do such a thing? She’s the one who’s always mean to me!

“It’s not a prank, Jennie,” David assures her. “They’re telling the truth.”

There’s a long pause, and for a second I worry she’s written us off and walked away. But then the electronic gate starts to open with a humming buzz.

The front door opens and a fat fawn-colored pug comes running out. He tries to bark, but to be honest, it sounds more like an old man’s snore. Emmett squeals with delight and picks him up immediately. Boris is still tucked under his other arm, and the dragon-on-wheels’ tail wags, too. I guess he also likes dogs.