Betrayal by Lee Nichols Page A

to the effect he had as he dug into his lunch. I noticed Anatole had packed Lukas what he must’ve considered a “man’s meal.” While Natalie and I were given fruit salad and whole-grain rolls, Lukas had a thick ham sandwich and potato chips. Then I wondered if he’d compelled Anatole to make that.
    I was about to ask when he said, “Wow. Who’s she ?”
    We looked up and saw Britta. She was in my Trig and Western Civ classes, and we hated each other. Though, I had to admit, she was pretty, with long tawny hair and peachy skin. She was one of those girls who’s curvy yet minuscule at the same time. And no, that’s not why I hated her.
    Lukas smiled, and Britta flashed her fangs at him.
    â€œYou’re new, right?” she cooed. “I think you’re sitting at the wrong table.”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œMm-hmm. Because mine is over there .” She gave him a coy look. “And I’d love to show you everything .”
    Lukas nodded slowly, like he was considering, and I held my breath. Britta was easy and hot, and he was a guy. But he just took another bite of his sandwich. “Nah, I’m good.”
    Britta’s face flushed, and she turned on her heel and marched back to her table.
    â€œWhy didn’t you go with her?” Natalie asked. “She’s cute. Chock full of nuts, but cute.”
    â€œWe’ve got girls like that in Boston,” he said. “Fake as her nails.”
    I hadn’t been sure about Lukas, because of the whole compelling-the-house-ghosts thing, but at least he was a good judge of character. It was a relief to think I might have another friend around here.
    After school, the three of us met at the gate and walked back to the museum together. Lukas amused us with stories of life at his old school in Boston, two hundred years old and packed with resident ghosts. Lukas had been the only ghostkeeper, but he couldn’t summon, so he had to wait for them to appear on their own. When they did, he’d compel them to play pranks on teachers and kids who bugged him. The students and faculty had started saying the place was haunted when the Knell finally contacted him.
    As we walked down the long gravel drive through the stand of maple trees, I begged Lukas not to start that game at Thatcher. I had enough problems.
    â€œActually,” Natalie said thoughtfully, “he won’t have to wait for them. I’ll summon them, then he’ll compel them.”
    â€œNatalie!”
    â€œWhat? It’s funny.”
    The two of them spent the rest of the walk home plotting pranks, as I loftily ignored them.
    When we opened the front door, Simon stood in the foyer, waiting for us.
    â€œThere is a snack waiting in the kitchen,” he said.
    â€œI’m not hungry,” Natalie said. “I’m going for a run.”
    She started up the stairs, but Simon’s voice stopped her in her tracks. “Natalie, you may change your clothes, then you will join Emma and Lukas for sustenance in the kitchen.”
    Sustenance? Who uses words like sustenance?
    â€œThen you will all meet me in the ballroom,” Simon continued. “Yes, we dispelled a handful of ghasts, but next we face wraiths. And then Neos. He’s killed six ghostkeepers already—I’d prefer if none of you were number seven.”
    Natalie glanced at me, as though waiting for a protest.
    I shrugged. “We could use the practice.”
    She turned to Lukas. He said, “I could eat again.”
    Natalie rolled her eyes. “I already know how to summon. What is there for me to practice?”
    â€œReturning them,” Simon said.
    â€œYou mean dispelling them?” Lukas asked. “She can’t do that; she’s a summoner.”
    â€œDispellers send spirits to their mortal form, dead in the ground. However, summoners can learn to return ghosts they’ve summoned back into the Beyond.”
    â€œWhat?”