“Where is he?” Matilda asked.

“He’s in the cave, where I left him. He was too heavy for me to carry but he’s tucked away safely in the cave,” she said, hoping that it was true. She assumed he’d be safe there for a few more days. After all, they’d been there for almost a year and they were OK. She didn’t think he’d be in any danger from the Greslin Coven there; he seemed protected.

“You need to get back there,” Matilda said. “You can’t just assume he will be safe.”

“I can’t go until I find the Red Amulet,” Rachel said. “He woke for only a moment and uttered those words.”

“The Red Amulet?” Uncle Drew asked. “I haven’t heard those words in thousands of years.”

“What is it?” Rachel asked.

“The Red Amulet is an ancient healing pendant. It’s said to be able to cure any illness or injury known to the vampire people,” Uncle Drew said.

“I’ve never seen the Red Amulet,” Matilda said, questioning him.

“That’s because it has been hidden for many years, since your great grandfather used it to save his wife, Gertrude from imminent death,” Uncle Drew replied. “It hasn’t been seen since.”

“Where’s our great grandfather now?” Matilda asked. “I don’t think I’ve met him.”

“No, you haven’t met him. He lives in Europe now, with Gertrude. They live in Palpana Castle with her family. After the incident they grew into solitude and didn’t talk to the family anymore,” Uncle Drew explained.

“So, how can I find it?” Rachel asked.

“That’s a good question. I think the only one who still talks to your great grandfather is Hunter. I don’t know if he would know, but it’s worth a shot,” Uncle Drew said.

“Where’s Hunter?” Rachel asked. “I haven’t seen him in over a year!”

“Last I heard, he was back at his prep school,” Matilda said.

“Then I have to go there. I must go find him now,” Rachel said in a hurry.

“But wait! I want to come, too,” Matilda said, looking around and grabbing her coat.

“No, Matilda. This is something I must do on my own. I must be brave and strong,” Rachel said. “Goodbye!”

Chapter 6

Rachel ran through the gates of Hunter’s prep school and down the long driveway. She remembered the prep school from last year, but it looked a little different to her. Maybe her head was foggy, but she couldn’t remember where Hunter’s dorm was.

She stopped and looked around at the identical red brick buildings with white shutters. The wind was blowing and the leaves that were falling off the trees were brushing past her as they travelled to the ground. She saw some kids walking around, but didn’t recognize any of them. Why should she? She only came here once. She didn’t know who to approach to ask about Hunter.

Then, she spotted something familiar: the coffee shop. The bells rang as she entered through the door and saw some of the kids look up at her. She knew she wasn’t a student here, but she couldn’t understand all the cold stares. Was she trespassing? Unwelcome? She couldn’t figure it out, but didn’t care. All she cared about was finding Hunter and the Red Amulet.

She walked over to the counter and waited for the man behind the counter to acknowledge her.

“Sir, excuse me!” Rachel said, trying to get him to turn around.

“Hello? Can you help me?” Rachel said again.

“Hello, Miss, what do you need?” the man behind the counter asked.

“I’m looking for someone,” Rachel said.

“I can try. I know most everyone around here,” the man replied.

“Well, I need to find Hunter,” Rachel said.

“Hunter who?” the man asked.

“Um. I actually don’t know his last name. You know Hunter, he’s been going here for a while,” Rachel answered, trying to give him more information.

“Uh, why are you looking for Hunter?” a girl asked.

“I must find him,” Rachel said back, not wanting to explain herself.

“Why?” the girl asked again. “What business do you have with Hunter?”

“Listen, this is really none of your business. I just need to speak with him,” Rachel replied.

“I’m Hunter’s girlfriend. That’s why it is my business that another girl wants to see him so badly,” the girl replied. “My name is Penelope.”

“Well Penelope, for your information, I am Benji’s girlfriend. So, you can calm down. I’m not after your man,” Rachel said, trying to get Penelope to stop being so jealous and threatened of her.

“Oh! Rachel?” Penelope said, suddenly looking aware of who she was.

Rachel watched as her facial expression went from mad to smiling as if they were long lost friends reunited for the first time.

“Why didn’t you say so!” Penelope asked.

“Well I didn’t realize I had to,” Rachel replied.

The two of them walked out of the coffee shop together and then across campus to the large brick building where the art studio was located.

“Hunter is finishing up a watercolor painting he’s been working on for weeks. It’s a landscape of the campus in the fall. He’s very proud of it,” Penelope said as they entered the building.

“Oh, that’s nice,” Rachel said, trying to sound interested.

All she really cared about was getting to Hunter to ask him about the Amulet. It was all she could think about. She knew every minute away from Benji could be fatal and she couldn’t bear to be away from him any longer—but if she went back without the Amulet she didn’t know what would happen. She knew she had to find it and hoped that Hunter would be the key to this mystery.

As the two girls entered the art studio, Hunter stood there in the dim light, alone, painting with his headphones in. He didn’t hear them come in as he continued to paint the orange tinged leaves on his landscape.

“Hunt,” Penelope says, tapping him on his shoulder, making him jump with surprise.

“Oh! Penelope, I wasn’t expecting you,” Hunter said, turning around. “Rachel? What are you doing here?”

“Hi Hunter,” Rachel said with a smile of relief. “I’ve come because you are the only person who can help me.”

“What? What’s wrong?” Hunter asked, sounding concerned.

“It’s Benji,” Rachel said, looking back at Hunter.

“Benji?” Hunter questioned. “What’s wrong with Benji?”

“He’s hurt,” Rachel said, beginning to tear up. “I’m worried he won’t make it.”

“What do you mean he won’t make it?” Hunter replied. “Tell me this isn’t true.”

“I wish it weren’t,” Rachel said, the tears flowing down her cheeks. “He’s hurt and I don’t know how to help him or how he got hurt in the first place.”

“So how can I help you? I’ll do anything. Just name it,” Hunter said.

“It’s the Red Amulet,” Rachel whispered, not wanting to say something she shouldn’t in a public place.

Hunter looked around, “The Red Amulet? How do you know about that?”

“The last words Benji said to me were about the Red Amulet and then he went unconscious. I didn’t know what it meant, so I tracked down Uncle Drew and Matilda who said you were the only one who may know since you still have ties with your great grandfather.”

“I am the only person who my great grandfather still speaks to, but we don’t speak often. No, he doesn’t still have it. He told me that my mom was sick and he had to send her the Red Amulet to cure her,” Hunter said.

“Is she OK? Your mom, I mean?” Rachel asked, worried.

“I think so. I don’t talk to my parents much anymore. I’m not as close with them as I used to be,” Hunter replied with a sad face.

“You didn’t call them to ask?” Rachel questioned with surprise.

“Well, if she wore the Red Amulet, than there is no chance she wouldn’t be cured. It can cure anything, no matter how big,” Hunter said.

“So where is it now then?” Rachel asked, thinking about Benji, still lying in the cave.

“That’s the thing. I don’t know now,” Hunter replied. “I think my mom sent it back to my great grandfather. I just do not know.”

“How can we find out. Is there anything we can do to find it?” Rachel asked, beginning to feel herself panic at the thought of not finding it.

“I hope we can find it. It’s somewhere, we just have to find out where,” Hunter said.

“Would the old coven book have any information about the Red Amulet?” Penelope butted in. “A long time ago I remember reading about the Red Amulet and how to locate it if it’s lost.”

Hunter looked back at Penelope in surprise, “You’re right! What a brilliant idea!”

“Where’s the old coven book?” Rachel asked quickly.

“It’s in the Alpha Chi Delta library,” Hunter said.

“Where’s that?” Rachel asked.

“It’s a Greek organization off campus,” Hunter replied.

“Can we go?” Rachel asked.

“It would raise too much attention if we just walked in there in the middle of the day, but they have huge parties every night. In fact, they are having one tonight. Why don’t we go later, and we can slip in in the middle of the party. I can cover for you and distract them, so nobody will see you sneaking into the library,” Hunter said.

“Why would it matter?” Rachel asked. “Why do they care if we look at the book?”

“Because the fraternity is not just a fraternity,” Hunter said.

Penelope and Hunter exchanged a glance, “Should we tell her?” Hunter asked.