Bone Dry_ A Soul Shamans Novel - Cady Vance Page 0,72

I wrinkled my nose.

“What’s happening?” Laura whispered.

“I don't know,” I said. “For a second, I just felt so…”

So alive.

I jerked upright. I felt like sweet life had been poured into my body, from the top of my head to the bottoms of my feet. And I also felt like…like I’d taken it. And it smelled just like Mr. Cline’s house. I gasped when I realized what must have happened. I’d felt the spirit feeding on my neighbor, and somehow, part of that life was getting transferred into my blood, into me.

Oh my god.

And then my hands clenched when another realization flooded over me. That’s what the shamans were doing. They were summoning spirits so they could feed on life. This wasn’t about breaking into homes and stealing physical possessions—family heirlooms and high-priced electronics. It was about stealing life. Or maybe it was about both.

That sexy feeling from the moment before vanished. Instead of a buzzing, lightheaded bliss, I wanted to vomit. The thoughts of what I’d just done were as crushing as the Hulk’s fist. I’d stolen part of someone’s life for my own.

“Sorry, I just had some magic problems.” I stood and held onto Laura while I got control over the funny dizziness still bouncing around in my head. “I’m okay though, I promise.”

“Okay,” she said, not looking convinced.

My cell rang, saving me from any more of an explanation.

“They’re on their way over,” Nathan said. I could hear the hum of his engine in the background. “A few seconds ago, they bolted like bats out of hell. I think they must know what you’re doing. You guys need to get out of there.”

CHAPTER 24

Laura and I jumped into my truck and peeled out of the driveway after giving Jason instructions to call the cops if an unfamiliar SUV so much as passed his house. I felt bad about leaving him, but so far, the shamans had only shown passive violence to those they targeted. I hoped tonight wouldn’t be the first time they did more than rely on their magic to hurt people.

We had one more stop of the night. Charles Baker. And I was dreading it. I’d called several times tonight and always got voicemail. Showing up on his doorstep and making strange claims about getting rid of the ghost in his house didn’t exactly top my things-I’d-love-to-do list, but I was worried. He’d had a spirit in his house for days. Multiple runes. I didn’t feel right about leaving him alone with that for even one more night.

I turned down Laura’s tree-lined street under a canopy of thick green and drove slowly past Charles Baker’s home. Lights were blazing in the sprawling downstairs, slicing yellow beams across the sandy stone exterior. The front yard was dark, silent and empty other than the sculpted Japanese yew bushes sprouting from the perfectly-trimmed grass. The long curving driveway led to closed double garage doors, and there was no sign of the SUV that had become so familiar.

We parked my truck in Laura’s driveway and walked to the Baker home amongst dozens of singing crickets. My palms were slick with sweat, even though the earlier storm had left a humid chill along with rain-stained pavement and drooping water-clogged leaves. Doubt and worry prickled at my conscious. What if the shamans drove by right now? We were basically walking right out in the open, alone on the street as the hour approached midnight. I’d thought about casting Shadow, but I could tell Laura was drained from the shaman magic like I had been.

Until I took part of someone’s life.

I rang Mr. Baker’s bell and peered into the tiny slits of windows on either side of the door, fidgeting with my backpack strap while we waited. I’d never been too worried about people my age thinking the things I did was weird. But the thought of boneshaking in an adult’s room made me feel like I had to perform karaoke in a clown suit.

After a couple of moments, Laura rang the doorbell again.

“Maybe he’s not home,” she said after another moment had passed.

I cocked my head and listened. “No, hear that? His TV is on, and all the lights are on.” I peered into the window again. “His keys are sitting on the table right there.”

Laura looked inside, eyes squinting. “Yeah, you’re right.”

I hefted my backpack higher on my shoulder, and something in my belly nibbled at my insides. My scalp prickled, the cool night air raising the hair on the back of