Speak with the Dead

Chapter 2

When the bell sounded Ariela went to the student parking lot and found Rae. Silverleaf High School housed under a thousand students. It had expanded to meet the needs of the growing town along with the parking lot. Which Rae was parked in the back, leaning against old Subaru. Rae was a cheerleader, but she wasn't typical. She was blonde hair and green eyes, but smiled with a warmth that radiated when Ariela approached.

"I can't stand Trig," Rae said.

"I don't know if I want to take it," Ariela said. "We need to wait, Katsuo is coming with."

"Oh." She didn't hold the look of someone disgusted by prete, but wary. When it came down to it most people were scared.

"He wants to see if he can identify anything I can't," Ariela elaborated, trying to ease Rae.

"Yeah, yeah, no problem."

"Who's with Katsuo?" Rae asked. "This is turning into a crowd."

It was impossible not to know who Katsuo was. All Prete were required to register within the place of their residence and word got around fast. The Council and the government didn't want colonies of pterenatural forming. Tyler walked with Katsuo, approaching Rae's car. They all smiled at each other except for Katsuo who looked awkward and confused. He rubbed his hands together and sighed.

"Tyler wanted to come see White Rock Run and I thought it'd be fine," Katsuo explained from out of the car.

Tyler licked his lips and looked around before he leaned in close to the car and said, "I know you're special Ariela and I don't plan on telling anyone. I also know about Trevor." He looked to Rae and said, "Condolences, and rumors spread. I'd feel better going with."

"No offense Tyler, but we have a dragon," Ariela said as Katsuo waived with a grin.

Tyler feigned looking hurt before he grinned as he said, "I may surprise you, but I ain't no liability."

"I'd like to head out of the area before dark," Rae expressed.

Ariela could agree and disagree. There was something about spirits being more cooperative at night. Of course, if there was an animal or prete that went rogue, it wouldn't be good to be caught in the dark in unknown territory.

"Looks like we're going," Tyler said with a grin.

He jogged around the car and got in the backseat with Katsuo. Grinning like crazy, he buckled in and put his bag in middle. They got a few looks as they drove off. Ariela figured a prete and three humans looked strange. Silverleaf had only been integrated for a few years.

"Everyone buckled up?" Rae asked.

Katsuo shrugged as said, "For your peace of mind."

Katsuo family the Saito's were descended from a lineage of Japanese dragons. To Ariela's knowledge his father was a dragon and his mother was a human, making him a hybrid. While they were rare in the States, they were fairly common in Japan.

"So, what type of Prete could've killed Trevor?" Rae asked as she drove.

It was supposed to be a short drive, but with Rae's grief and the ominous feeling there could be more it felt longer.

"I don't want to blame," Ariela said.

"I hope none. It would be bad beginnings for a prete to kill a human," Katsuo expressed.

Tyler remained silent. I glanced back to see him gazing out the window, no doubt paying attention to the town and where we were going. We passed the police station.

"The Department of Preternatural Emergencies is stationed there? Right?" Tyler asked.

"Oh yeah. Ariela's Aunt works for them."