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“You’ll never get another chance,” he growled back.

“I don’t need it.”

“Then so be it. This night, the streets of Newbury Grove will run red with blood.”

“You’re not a very good bluff,” Alice said. “I took out two of your ghouls. I’ve driven you into cowering behind the roof. I appear to have the king cornered. I believe in chess I’m supposed to yell out ‘check’ or is it ‘checkmate?’”

He laughed. “What makes you think you have me cornered?”

“I don’t have you cornered,” Alice said. “But my white knight does.” She whistled.

Guinevere sped from the open window of Alice’s SUV like an arrow toward Sebastian. He slid down the back of the back of the roof as the grayish-white broomstick shot above his head. Guinevere circled around and followed him.

Alice took off in a sprint around the side of the house. She braced her hand on the picket fence and leapt over. The backyard was empty. Patio furniture was knocked over where Sebastian had possibly landed. A small shed occupied the corner of the backyard. There was nothing else in the backyard.

“Do you see him?” Alice asked the broomstick.

Guinevere circled in the sky, unable tofind its query. Alice ran over to the shed, a new arcane flame in hand. She ran around it, unable to find any signs of Sebastian. She gave the shed door a firm yank, but it refused to budge as it was locked. The backyard stretched out before her, devoid of any signs of another person.

A black SUV, parked in front of the houses which lined the street behind the Raskins’ house, roared to life. With a squeal of its wheels, it sped off down the road.

Guinevere chased after it.

Alice whistled to stop the broomstick. “Let him go. Get back to the car. I’ll check on the Raskins.”

The broomstick gave a final look at the SUV speeding away and then retreated to Alice’s vehicle.

Alice ran to the front of the house. She pulled the key from her pocket and unlocked the door.

“Carol, Oliver!” Alice shouted. “It’s Alice.”

She entered and shut the door behind her.

The house was dark. She entered the living room, which branched off into the kitchen and bedrooms. The living room was decorated with well-kept furniture, personal pictures, and a TV. Beige curtains, framing the front window, were more decorative than functional. Inch thick blinds were drawn shut to seal off the outside world from looking into the house.

“Carol, Oliver!” Alice shouted again.

A sound came from the kitchen. The basement door squeaked open, and she heard footsteps ascending creaky wood stairs.

“Stay back!” Oliver yelled. “I’m armed. We have a dog too.”

Max went running up the stairs and into the living room, greeting Alice with the wag of her tail. She whined, wanting to jump up on her. Alice bent down to scratch her behind the ears.

“Are you two okay?” Alice asked. “They’re gone.”

“Put that thing down before you hurt yourself,” Carol said.

“It’s better to be safe,” Oliver said.

Carol and Oliver Raskin entered the living room. He carried a wooden baseball bat.

“I had this in case they made it inside. They don’t like wood, right?”

“Yeah, but—” Alice said as she stood.

“See, I told you.” Oliver lowered the wooden bat.

“You’d have to stab them with it, though,” Alice finished. She gave Carol a hug and then Oliver. “Are you two okay?”