First, there was a deathly silence around the Hunters’ table. Then they all released their exasperation at Liev’s dark humor.
“I totally could, you know!”
“Shut up Liev! You would not,” said Lisa, punching her brother in the arm.
Nearly spewing his borrowed dessert square, Nash laughed out loud. “That would be awesome!”
“Don’t encourage him,” said Darcy. “You know he would.”
Liev grinned. “That’s right! And I could.”
And for a moment, the table went silent again as they were reminded of the gravity and truth of what Liev just said.
Choking a little on the dryness of the yellow cake stuck in the back of his throat, Nash chugged some milk to wash it down and broke the silence. “Hey, what’s everybody doing today after school?”
At his prompt, the group stood up and began tidying up the table and trays.
“Library,” said Charlie and Lisa at the same time. They glanced at each other. Lisa coughed.
“For some research,” she said.
“So, are you both researching together?” Nash asked, waggling his eyebrows.
“It’s for Loch,” Charlie said, cheeks red.
It was at this moment, Charlie looked over Darcy’s shoulder to see Elizabeth Worthington standing in the cafeteria doorway with a pained and urgent look on her face. Whatever wishful thinking he’d had earlier soured immediately.
“So much for a normal school year,” Charlie snapped.
“What? What is it, Charlie?” asked Darcy, who quickly glanced at everyone else.
Ever aware, Lisa dropped her head and half-whispered, “Look behind you, Darcy. Your mother’s here.”
Darcy whipped around to see her mother standing in the doorway. Elizabeth caught Darcy’s glare and simply walked out of sight into one of the corridors outside the cafeteria.
The Hunters left their trays where they were on the table and walked out, heads bowed, to the corridor only to hear the whispers and tack-tack-tack of thumbs on smartphone keys as a new wave of texts and rumors blasted invisibly through the air.
In the farthest corner of the cafeteria sat Donnie Wickles, who simply smiled and lowered his gaze to his phone and hit send.
The text was a reply, stating: They’re about to find out.
Gathering around Elizabeth Witherington outside the cafeteria, the group was a chorus of “What’s up?” and “What’s going on?”
Darcy spoke above the chorus. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
Silence spread through the group, and they noticed Priest standing farther off in the distance behind Elizabeth. She looked at each teenager with a shadow of fear in her eyes.
“Something has happened. We’ve—we’ve contacted the other Council members. The Council is convening here.”
The young Hunters stirred. They heard so little about the Council, and wondered so much. What on earth was so important that they would gather at the Key?
“Chen’s been taken. Hunter’s Grove is under attack again.”
Acknowledgements
If one thing is certain, it is that nothing of any value or success is ever accomplished alone. Writing this series of stories with my son and co-conspirator in all things creative, C. Michael McGannon, has been one of the great joys of my life, both as a writer and a father. Together we have learned a lot and continue learning, and prayerfully our writing will continue to grow and get better (for your sake!).
I am only fully complete with my lovely bride Holly, and our two sons Michael and Nathaniel, by my side. I love you family, and am so very thankful for your support (at times described as “prodding”…ha!), your laughter, and the gift of every day with you.
Hey, Nathaniel…keep slaying dragons my little buddy! You’re the best Airship Pirate I know. “Fight, fight, fight!”
Michael and I have been blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful people who have extended both their professional and friendly hand in the construction of our books.
Matthew D. Smith of M.D. Smith Designs (@MDSmithDesign, www.MDSmithDesign.com), one of my closest friends, my brother. It is both a privilege and a joy to work with you on this team. Your passion and art is inspiring and has brought a life to this book that is both vital and astonishing. Thank you and congratulations on getting the best job in the world…becoming Daddy! I am excited for the day when you get to read these stories to your baby girl and show her how Daddy made the pictures. How cool is that?
Chuck and Carolyn Bloom. Your continuous love and support of my family and this series of books is very much appreciated. Through the good times and bad you have stuck by our side and believed in our dream and vision to see this through. You have been a wellspring in the desert on so many occasions. Hopefully soon all those deserts will turn to desserts and we can celebrate even more together…with lots of ice-cream!
Uncle Mike and Aunt Ingrid, Uncle Phil and Aunt Connie, Uncle Tim and Aunt Pam. Wow! What a year. I am eternally grateful that we have reconnected in such a meaningful way this year, and I love and appreciate you all. Thank you for being there for me and my family and for believing in us. You are dear and precious to me.
To my cousins and their families. Dino (hurry up, my friend, you’re next!), Jennifer, Justice, Jonathan, Kaleb, Jace. Cody, Koby, Kristian (and yes, you can tell your friends at school your cousin really DID write a book…here’s proof!). Jeramie, we continue to grow as brothers. World domination is the only option! Addi, keep playing hard girl. You and Nathaniel have a lot of playgrounds left to conquer. It has been a blast hanging out with you all this year and I look forward to more fun in the future. Thank you all for your support in this project.
To our readers and fans. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are the lifeblood and reason why we continue to write. Every word is written with you in mind. Your feedback and encouraging messages fuel us every time we sit down to write. We love meeting you and enjoy hearing from you, and pray that you will continue to enjoy the stories we share with you. You’re the best!
-D.C.
First, thanks to my family. My parents and my little brother—the reason I keep going. Love you guys! Nana and Papa Chuck and Lolo, always there when I need an ear. Uncle Mike and Aunt Ingrid, for being some seriously cool cats. Aunt Connie and Uncle Phil, for your love and unending generosity. Dino and Jen and all of my cousins, for all the games and laughter.
Next to my friends, some of the best friends a person could ask for. Heather, Matt, Randy, Lisa, you guys rock. All others out there—old and new—I can’t do it without ya. Keep writing your stories, keep making your music, keep living and creating. You know who you are.
And finally to you. A story with no reader is a sad story indeed. I hope you enjoyed this particular wild ride as much as I did!
-Michael
Together We Acknowledge:
Dale Cassidy, our wonderful editor. We love having you on the team and are grateful for your ability to make it look like we know how to spell and use big words correctly. You’ve made an impact on our series. Amy Gilbert, our interior designer. Thank you for making this book neat and professional. We hope you will stay a part of our team as Charlie and his friends continue their adventure.
Melissa Foster of Fostering Success (@Melissa_Foster, www.MelissaFoster.com, www.FosteringSuccess.com). We are so glad we found you, and are grateful for you as a coach. Even more, we are thankful for you as a human being. You are a constant inspiration to everyone around you. You are kind, generous, and just the type of person we want to be like when we grow up! Thank you for all you do for writers, and thanks even more for what you bring to humanity’s table.
To wonderful friends such as James Grea and his trusty sidekick Solomon Inkwell (author of The Haunting Thelma Thimblewhistle: The Chronicles of Dead Anna), Lauren Klever (author of Visions: The Secret Watchers), Karen Jense
n (www.TeenLibrarianToolbox.com, let’s continue to stand up for libraries everywhere!), Julia Hughes (author of The Griffin Cryer), and Lynn Gerrard (The Grumbling Gargoyle @LynnGerrard, poet and friend…friend first! The camel made me do it!) that we have had the pleasure of meeting and interacting with while on this journey. Friends like you make the world spin properly and we very much look forward to seeing what we can continue to accomplish together. Thank you for your friendship and support of our books.
To all our friends at The Independent Author Network (www.independentauthornetwork.com) and World Literary Café (www.worldliterarycafe.com). Your knowledge, passion, and daily support of our projects (and of authors everywhere) are indispensable. It is a privilege to be a part of these two prestigious groups. Thank you for all you do.
To our readers and fans. To you we tip our hat and raise our glass. We love meeting you everywhere we go and online. Here’s to you!
About the Authors
D.C. McGannon pretends to be a ninja sometimes and two of his biggest fans, his two sons Michael and Nathaniel, play along with him to make him feel better about it when he does. His other biggest fan (his wife, Holly) usually nods her head in restrained agreement, walks away, and hopes nobody gets hurt. Mr. McGannon is the author of the Charlie Sullivan and the Monster Hunters series with his son, C. Michael McGannon. He is also at times a pirate, an alien, or simply the one who retrieves the Frisbee from the far side of the yard. D.C. lives with his family and their little Maltese dog somewhere in the Midwest, and is partial to coffee, video games, and coffee.
C. Michael McGannon is a fan. Of stories, of libraries, of books, of Japanese and British humor, of chocolate, and of Root Beer. Mr. McGannon is the coauthor of the Charlie Sullivan and the Monster Hunter series with his father, and will release a new series of stories in 2013. He enjoys gaming, a good book, teaching his little brother Japanese, and grilled-cheese sandwiches. Especially grilled-cheese sandwiches.
Charlie Sullivan and the Monster Hunters: Witch Moon Page 27
