Unleashed: The Deepest Fears Lie Within (Secrets of the Makai) by Toni Kerr Page B

“Thanks for having me.”
    * * *
    Tristan lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling, bringing back the image of the man delivering the class announcements; angular shadows chiseled by orange firelight. The man couldn’t be older than twenty-five, and had such an intense, yet unemotional expression. Eleonora said he was beautiful to look at, and hard as a mountain to talk to. He’d forgotten the conversation until now, and still couldn’t remember when he’d seen the man before.
     

10 - B ASIC P RINCIPLES -
    WARM SUNLIGHT FLOODED the cabin, stirring the clean scent of spring flowers from the thick bed coverings. Tristan ran his fingers along the bare logs of the wall beside him, sanded smooth and oiled, comforted by the fact that the work appeared handcrafted. Somehow, the idea made the cabin seem more real, that it wasn’t just a figment of someone’s imagination.
    This had been William’s cabin, a man supposedly possessed by a ghost named Jacques. Tristan shuddered at the thought.
    His muscles were still a bit stiff when he slid out of bed, but his cuts and scrapes had healed, and after a quick shower, he made up his mind to stop dwelling on who was trying to make his life difficult, and who may or may not be hanging around as Jacques’ replacement in ghost form.
    What did it matter if he didn’t fit in? Landon and Victor would be his friends. And he had Shaely to look forward to.
    Just the thought of seeing her again put a smile on his face and made his heart beat a little faster.
    In Grumpy’s clearing, picnic tables sat in random locations and a matted circle of grass, from where the stage and water tank had been, was the only evidence of the previous day’s events. A single structure hunkered down toward the back of the clearing—a simple A-framed cabin painted a rustic red.
    Several groups of kids and adults enjoyed the crisp spring sunshine. Some played basketball while others gathered on picnic blankets. Groups of boys were having stunt contests, jumping from the cliff and cheering from below. He recognized Stanley among the older kids and a few of the others from the night before.
    He gave slight waves whenever anyone noticed him.
    A plump, older woman exited the A-framed cabin with a wide, shallow, bright blue box in her arms. She headed for the nearest table and set it down, skimming all the people in the clearing until her steely gray eyes settled on him. “Tristan, I presume?”
    Tristan nodded, embarrassment coloring his cheeks. He took a breath and tried to walk casually to meet her.
    She looked like a very pleasant kindergarten teacher, wearing faded jeans and a long, earth-tone sweater. “Yeah, I’m Tristan.”
    “I’m Angelina.” She held out her hand and Tristan was relieved to find her fingers warm and gentle. “We’ll do lots of fun things, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the class.”
    Tristan stuffed his hands back in his pockets and glanced at the youngest kids chasing each other through the meadow, desperate to come up with a positive response. Surely Angelina would know his history, and he wouldn’t have to explain.
    Too bad the class was taking place is such a public place, where everyone would be able to see what he was doing.
    “We all have to begin somewhere,” she said as she pulled stacks of coloring books from the box. “I’d teach you one on one, but I’m quite busy raising my own family.”
    “I understand.” Would Shaely show up after his class? She’d said she’d do her best to make it, but he didn’t even think about bringing food.... What would they do to pass the time?
    Angelina clapped her hands and her voice rang out. “Come along, everyone. Let’s get started.”
    The youngest children ran from various parts of the clearing, hurling themselves at the woman with hugs. Mothers stayed behind, gathering into groups of their own. He tried not to notice if they were looking at him, but he did, and they were.
    “It’s so wonderful to see you all here. Most of