The boy was very handsome, and he looked to be around her age. Still, Cora hadn't forgotten what her aunts told her about the lost spirits wandering through the In Between. She wanted nothing to do with this strange pale-faced boy and his razor-sharp teeth.

With both hands raised in front of her, Cora held her fingers in the shape of a cross and shouted, "In the name of all that is holy, be gone with you, evil spirit!"

The boy stared back at her with renewed interest. His eyes gleamed like rubies.

"Do you believe in God?" he asked in a strained, almost guttural, voice. He seemed to be struggling to form words, as though the muscles in his mouth and throat and tongue weren't used to working in such a manner.

"Of course," Cora answered without any hesitation.

"Do you believe in heaven? And hell?"

"Who doesn't? What kind of question is that?"

"Perhaps you're not a true believer then."

Cora sucked in an outraged breath. "How dare you!"

The boy chuckled darkly. "Your little hex had no effect on me. If you were a true believer, then I would have turned into a pile of ash by now."

Cora studied the boy intently. The glowing eyes. The frightening teeth. "Are you... a vampire?"

"Do not look so serious," the boy rasped in amusement. "I was merely teasing you. There is nothing from the mortal realm that could kill me."

Cora suddenly felt quite frightened. The boy was clearly not very sound in mind. "If you do not leave this very instant, then I shall go!"

"Then I shall follow you," he growled softly. "Our work here has only begun, little weaver."

Cora blinked. How did he possibly know? "What did you just call me?"

The boy grinned wolfishly. His fangs seemed to grow even longer and sharper as his mouth widened. "Again, I tease. You are no witch."

"Oh, you are making me so mad!" Cora proclaimed. "Enough is enough! I am leaving."

Cora didn't wish to waste another minute on this strange boy. She wanted to find her parents. She also needed to search for Luna and Noctis. Those troublesome felines would never be able to make it out of the In Between on their own!

Slowly, clumsily, she began to climb down from the pile of chairs on the bed. She had done nothing to repair the black hole in the ceiling thus far. A pang of guilt struck Cora in the chest. If anything, the hole was even worse off now than before. She would most certainly have to come back later and fix it. First, though, she needed to get away from this boy before he made her as mad as he was.

A chair slipped out from under her. Cora shrieked as she fell from her wobbly post. Her whole body tightened as she braced for impact with the ground. Strong arms wrapped around her as she collided into a hard chest. The boy had caught her. Cora gazed up at him in shock. How in the world had he managed to move so quickly?

"Thank you," she mumbled as he set her on the ground. "Your chivalry is much appreciated, but now I must bid you adieu."

Cora slipped out the door without a backward glance. The boy trailed after her. She began to trot down the long hallway at a faster pace. An endless array of colorful doors flew by on both sides. The boy padded after her without breaking a sweat.

About fifteen minutes in, Cora was forced to stop and catch her breath. With sweat dripping down her face, she panted, "Will you please stop following me?"

He shook his head and said in husky tones, "I cannot help it. My very soul is compelled to follow you to the ends of this world—and the next. We are fated to work together until all the wrongs in this realm have been righted."

Cora chewed on her lower lip. It seemed she wouldn't be able to get rid of him so easily. Perhaps she could glean some helpful information from him, then, before she tried to escape once more.

"Would you have any idea about how one might be able to mend that black hole on the ceiling from the room we were just in?"

"If I did, then I would not tell you."

Cora glared at him. "Why ever not?"

"Because," he answered readily, "that would be the exact opposite of what we should be trying to accomplish here."