Mirror, Mirror (Book 2)

Chapter 17: Superstition

Jake Mitchell casually walks up to the duo with cheerful, yet concerned eyes. He glanced at each of them carefully with his arms crossed, looking as if he is a scolding parent.

"What do you mean by 'ghosts', Oliver?" he asked.

Oliver opened his mouth to speak but closed it when he couldn't think of anything to say.

Luckily, Amelia came to his aid.

"Well, Mr. Superstitious here wanted to know if there are any ghosts in camp." Amelia lied. "He's dreadfully afraid of them."

Jake smiled at Amelia. "Thank you for your concern, but I remember asking Oliver a question."

The vampire nodded apologetically, then glanced nervously at Oliver, who stared at him in suspicion.

It was odd enough that he was hearing their conversation, but asking Oliver about ghosts? Damn, thought Oliver. And people say he's the freaky one.

Licking his cracked lips, the boy looked into Jake's eyes and said, "what Amelia said is true: I am afraid of ghosts."

"I was telling her that she'd better not ruin my head with all those tales she heard from the Fire of '87."

Jake raised his right eyebrow to Amelia, hoping that he wasn't making this up.

But the vampire smiled and gave him a confirming nod.

"Uh, okay?" the counselor said puzzled. "I guess that's pretty reasonable. Anyway, get your suitcases and wait for your peers to come out."

After retrieving their items, Amelia and Oliver waited as Ms. Fern's class walked out of the Banquet Hall with full stomachs and big smiles.

"Hey, guys," Jake said happily. "How was the meal?"

Max, who let out a loud belch, said: "that's some damn good cooking. My compliments to the chef."

His friends and classmates laugh, while Ms. Fern rolled her eyes at Max's attitude. "Maxwell Fields, that's enough."

"What?" Max asked, confused. "I was complimenting the chef!"

"With horrid language," Ms. Fern sighed. "Honestly Max, if you want to say something stupid, don't say it at all."

More snickers escaped from the children's lips when Jake quieted them down.

"Now that you had your fill," he began, "let me show you to your cabins. You're going to love them."

The kids sighed in relief as they lift their bags. Everyone was looking forward to sleep in their bunk beds and get ready for the day to end.

But for Oliver, who still sensed some negative activity in the woods, decides to put up a demon barrier. That way, it can scare off predators while he and Amelia investigate the happenings of camp.

But in the meantime, Oliver needs to stay with his classmates until the coast is clear.

"Alrighty children," the History teacher exclaimed, "let's all follow Jake, shall we?"

Nodding, Ms. Fern's class and Amelia followed Jake as they scan their eyes for any signs of animals or cozy cabins.

"I told you Jake is weird," she whispered. "even weirder than you."

"First of all," Oliver began, scowling. "I am going to pretend that I didn't hear that, and second, you're right: Jake is weird, but he seems harmless."

Amelia gives him a look. "Harmless? Are you bloody kidding me?"

Oliver rolled his eyes. "Amelia-"