Charlie Sullivan and the Monster Hunters: Council of the Hunters: Charlie Sullivan and the Monster Hunters, #3

By DC McGannon and C. Michael McGannon

"A must read for all young adult fiction fans!" Lauren Lynne, author of The Recalcitrant Project

"… rollicking good fun. A great story of friendship, love, and sacrifice." Laurie Bell, author of The Butterfly Stone

A new school year brings fresh beginnings. At least that's what the Monster Hunters of Hunter's Grove are hoping for. After facing down dark magic and vengeful gods in the portal village of Drakauragh, Charlie Sullivan and his band of unlikely friends look forward to a quiet, fun - and most importantly, normal - first year of High School.

More than hope is needed however, as sinister activity is haunting the shadows of their once sleepy little town again. With news of Chen's disappearance, and an unseen force that threatens to break the protective wards surrounding Hunter's Key, tensions quickly rise once more for Charlie Sullivan and his friends.

The five teenagers' credibility is called into question by an elder hunter, forcing them to defend their reputations in a dangerous game where they can trust very few. Now, the reticent Council of the Hunters will convene to decide their fate as Monster Hunters.

A shocking betrayal, disquieting new figures in their own society, a corrupted nemesis, and a cloud of deception hovering over their elders all weigh heavy on the team. The Monster Hunters of Hunter's Grove could be shut down before they have a chance to stand against the demonic shadow that threatens their bonds of friendship, loyalty, and the safety of those close to them.

Something, or someone, is tearing at the veil between our world and the Otherworld, promising to unleash Hell and prepare the way for what hunters throughout the centuries have feared would one day happen ... the rise of the Ancients.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wyvern's Peak Publishing
• Release date: Sep 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9780985408862

Book preview

Prologue

The familiar sounds of plastic trays sliding across aluminum rails in the school lunch line were both welcome and, for once in their lives, calming. Forks, spoons, and knives chimed brightly against each other. The bustle of the school cafeteria bounced off the painted concrete walls and tiled floors, and they were glad to soak it in.

Charlie, Darcy, Nash and Lisa—reunited with her brother, Liev—were together for the beginning of a new school year. A history of uncertainty, fatigue, and facing near-certain doom was not too far behind them. The excitement and newness of their first year in high school was unfolding in all of its nervous splendor.

They grinned at each other, realizing how happy they were to be sitting in the school cafeteria, together. Nash especially, as he gobbled up the under-portioned, nutritionally questionable food products that decorated his tray. As soon as his tray was clean, he began asking if others were going to eat this or finish that. For the first time in recent memory, they felt like normal teenagers.

Well, sort of.

They could feel eyes on them from every corner of the concrete cafeteria. Only this time there were no monsters lurking in the shadows. Students were whispering and staring—gawking really. Rumors of every kind circulated about what had happened and where they’d been. It was a quiet commotion of social media chatter, texts, raised eyebrows, hush-hush, and speculation. One could nearly see the conversation bubbles floating up from messages and posts flying from one mobile device to another, particularly about the guy who had sacrificed himself last year to save the town from monsters.

I thought Liev Vadiknov was dead? He was dead, wasn’t he?

i know, me too. looks like he beefed up over the summer. HOTT!!!

Ew,no. Not my type.

psh. suit yourself, more yum for me.

Gross! XD

Eyes scrutinized and dissected the hunters at their newly christened lunchroom table. Everyone had questions:

What are they laughing about?

What do they talk about all day?

Are they a cult?

Have they ever met a real-life vampire? Not the goofy, old, cape-wearing, blood-sucking type. You know, like the one in the movies?

Are they safe to be around?

Are they contagious?

And, of course, being high school, those same eyes couldn’t help but notice that the hunters seemed to have some semblance of purposeful seating arrangements. Rumors swirled around the subject of who was dating who. One such conversation was happening between Caitlin, once-best-girlfriend with Darcy Witherington, and her freshly assembled clique of fashion-forward friends. With Darcy’s lack of hanging out over the last several months, Caitlin had been the only one to step up and take the lead in their social circle. Now, they watched their former leader from across the room as she teased Nash.

I don’t get it, said one girl’s text. Darcy’s got eyes for the brute?

ikr? i thought she hated his guts. remember when she marched him to the principles’ office last year?

Caitlin remembered. She also remembered later, on that fateful Autumn day, when Darcy had her change of heart and stood up for Nash. That was when she started to drift away.

She sent a text out that she knew would create a ripple across the lunchroom. I heard Lisa raised Liev from the dead ...

A pause.

u sayin he’s a zombie? that’s freakin’ awesome!

NO! I mean evil magic stuff. she’s a witch!

oooOOOOooohhh. spooky zombie witch magic!

What, are we at, like, a witch school?

-_- all of my disappoint

They’ve always been kinda weird.

ur all so stupid!

takes 1 2 know 1 ;)

They say Charlie can kill you if he looks at you.

ROFL ... ur so dumb! If he could everybody at that table would be dead. He’s looking at all of them.

Not them hackface! They’re all protected by magic or something. WE would die if he looked at us!!

OOOOO. Watch out! Charlie’s looking at you right now.

STHU!!

Charlie likes Lisa methinks ... disgusting!

So? goth girl + loner = who cares?

True. Still disgusting.

Ooooh. Ur jealous!

What?

I get it. I mean, he’s kinda cute. In that clueless sort of way. Your type.

Shut UP! Are we hanging out at Tavern’s after?

There anyplace else to hang?

True. See ya after 5th period.

Yah!

Charlie this ...

Lisa that ...

Darcy what?

Nash is hot ...

So is Liev, for a dead person ...

... Hunter’s Key ...

... witches or vampires?

Sacrifices in the library ...

The only sacrifice in the library is me reading!

LOL

Gaaaah! Can this year be over already?

I know ... I want to get out of Hunter’s Grove ...

Me 2. Somewhere where there is a beach ...

Wait ... I think Charlie is killing someone with his eyes ...

Lisa casting another spell ...

I heard Liev fought a demon in Ireland ...

Good maybe he can fight my bio teacher. He’s a demon.

Just cuz you fall asleep in class, dummy.

Ur dumb. Haha!

Darcy’s phone buzzed, someone’s message accidentally found its way to her. She couldn’t help but laugh. Apparently somebody thinks you’re hot, she told Liev.

Liev waggled his eyebrows. And single, I might add.

The group of unlikely friends grinned a little longer as other whispers reached their ears. They shared knowing glances. After the Dark Prince, the Sagemistress, werewolves, and an ancient witch goddess, they could deal with the speculation and rumors from their peers—maybe even needed it.

This would be a fun year at school, indeed.

Chocolate or white? recited the lady sitting at the cash-register nearby.

Got any soda back there? quipped the student at checkout.

She cocked an eyebrow at him, hand on one hip. Honey, what do you think this is, a convenience store? We don’t serve sodas at this school. Now, you want chocolate or white? She waved a serving spoon around for emphasis.

Clearly reprimanded, the student sheepishly requested, Chocolate, please.

And don’t go asking me for soda, extra cookies, or anything else for that matter for the rest of the year! You hear? The lunchroom attendant continued a stream of gruff mumbles at the student as he walked off, nobody having any idea what she was saying. Only that they were thankful it wasn’t them she was chastising.

The other students in line ducked and hurried to their seats, thankful for chocolate or white, but no one else dared request any sort of secret stash.

The hunters took in the scene in its entirety, turned to look at each other again, and belted out a collective laugh.

Oblivious to the reason for their outburst, the lunchroom launched a chatter of more whispers, rumors, posts, and texts.

It’s good to be home, Charlie stated.

Yeah, no doubt, agreed Nash. You gonna eat your cake?

Charlie pushed his tray toward Nash, offering him his perfectly proportioned, thinly frosted, school cafeteria dessert square.

Yes! whispered Nash with a fist pump.

Ugh, those things are nasty, Darcy said, wrinkling her nose. She pulled a small brown baggie out of her purse and started nibbling on the lemon pound cake inside.

Hey, where’d you get that? Nash leaned forward, eyes growing large and puppy-like.

Forget it. Mine. She bit into it, closing her eyes in satisfaction.

It’s good to be together, Charlie said, watching his friends with a new appreciation for them, and for life. Even if we aren’t at the Key punching each other in the face like normal.

Yeah, but it’s still not the same. You guys know this, right? reasoned Liev. His eyes grew dark.

The group froze and, considering the horrors that Liev had been through recently, braced for what he was going to say next.

I mean, what if ..., his words diminished to a whisper, leaning in to the table, drawing the rest of the group in with him, ... what if I changed into a wolf for school pictures at the very moment the photo guy snaps the pic?

First, there was 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. I totally would! And I could.

For a moment, the table fell silent again as they were reminded of the gravity, and truth, of what Liev had 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 researching each other, or what? Nash asked, bouncing his eyebrows up and down.

Charlie’s cheeks reddened, and he ignored the joke to the best of his ability. It’s for Loch.

Zip it, Nash! Lisa turned to slide off her seat, and walked briskly towards the nearest trashcan, clearly embarrassed.

Nash shrugged his shoulders and exchanged a mischievous smirk with Liev.

At this moment, Charlie looked over Darcy’s shoulder to see Elizabeth Witherington standing in the cafeteria doorway with a pained and urgent look on her face, her eyes circled with sleeplessness. Whatever wishful thinking he had earlier, soured immediately.

So much for a normal school year, Charlie snapped.

What? What is it? asked Darcy, who frantically glanced at everyone else.

Back from throwing away her trash, Lisa dropped her head and half-whispered, Look behind you, Darcy. Your mother’s here, and I don’t think she’s just visiting.

Darcy whipped around to see her mother standing in the doorway. Elizabeth caught Darcy’s glare and walked out of sight into one of the corridors outside the cafeteria.

The hunters left the table and exited the lunchroom, only to hear whispers and the tack-tack-tack of thumbs on touchscreen keyboards and smartphone icons as a new wave of rumors blasted invisibly through the air. They walked toward the corridor, heads lowered in dire anticipation.

In the farthest corner of the cafeteria sat Donnie Wickles, who smiled and lowered his gaze to his phone and hit send.

The text was a reply: They’re about to find out.

Gathering around Elizabeth 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 off in the distance behind Mrs. Witherington. 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 five teens stirred, uncomfortable, curious. They had heard so little about the council, and wondered so much. What was so important that the Council of the Hunters would gather at Hunter’s Key?

Chen’s been taken. Hunter’s Grove is under attack again.

Where? Who took him? demanded Nash.

Keenly, Darcy observed, Why would the council convene here for someone who has gone missing? It’s happened before and nobody showed up. Her voice was laced with a nervous shimmer and lingering spite from the lack of response when her own mother went missing.

Elizabeth’s eyes found the ground beneath her. She acted like she was on uneven ground, like she was having trouble standing upright. There’s more. I can’t get into it here, but it’s about you. All five of you.

Chapter 1

Charlie leaned closer to Loch, allowing his mind to reach out to his mentor.

It’s harder than I thought. Lisa and I have been teaching ourselves spells, reading books like you would have wanted. The town has been safe, mostly, until today. There’s a lot to worry about, even though it’s been quiet these past few weeks. But it’s still hard without you here to teach us. What do we do, Loch?

An image flashed in his mind. Stairs. A torch. Shadows flickering up and down a curved stone wall. A wooden door, and then ... a book.

A familiar book.

Charlie.

Charlie exhaled, and looked up from where he was sitting next to Loch. His mentor, still in a coma, breathed in and out steadily, assisted by the machine pumping air into his lungs.

Gripping the doorframe, Lisa stood there with a concerned look on her face. Aware that his eyes were red, Charlie blinked and stopped using his Sight, letting the vision go.

What is it? Charlie asked, tucking the image of the book away in his mind for later.

Nash and Darcy are here. We’re ready.

He nodded.

How ... Lisa hesitated. How is he?

Charlie allowed his Sight to take over again, watching the shadows and lights shifting over Loch in their furious dance. He’s fighting it. Some days it looks like he’s breaking through.

And today?

Today is darkness.

Lisa walked over. Charlie felt goosebumps when she touched his shoulder. We’ll help him through it.

And in the meantime, what do we do without him? Charlie wondered to himself.

He stood up, letting her hand brush off. Let’s go meet everyone.

Right, she said quietly.

The sun splintered through the stained glass windows of Hunter’s Key, casting unusually clean lights and colors through the large hallways. Their steps were hesitant and awkward over the floors—loud on the wood and stone, quiet against carpet. The lack of conversation between them made them both nervous. Charlie cleared his throat.

Have they said anything yet?

They were waiting on you.

Oh. Charlie searched for something to talk about. How is Liev? I mean ... how is he adjusting?

He’s doing okay.

The way she said it, Charlie wasn’t so sure.

What about—

He’s fine, Charlie.

He nodded. Good. That’s good. I’m glad.

Out of the corner of his eye, Charlie saw Lisa looking at him. Thank you, again.

Charlie didn’t answer. He still found it difficult to shake the guilt for Liev’s death in the first place. So ... the kitchen or the parlor?

They’re in the parlor.

Mrs. Witherington chose the meeting place?

Yeah.

I kinda miss meeting in the kitchen.

She raised an eyebrow at him. Does it really matter?

He grinned sheepishly.

They passed through the open doors, into the very room to which they had been summoned before their travel across the sea to rescue the town of Drakauragh.

Elizabeth Witherington looked up as they came in. Charlie, Lisa. I was wondering where you two were.

From across the room, Nash picked up a small pillow and threw it over the coffee table, where it landed neatly in the face of a snoring Liev. The pale Vadiknov twin woke with a snarl, punching the pillow across the room as Nash burst into laughter. Next to him, Darcy sighed and shook her head. Boys will be boys.

Lisa crossed over, shooting a sour look at Nash, and sat next to her brother, who had begun to wring another pillow between his hands. His eyes aimed for Nash.

Guys! Elizabeth scolded. Please. Can we get down to business now?

The closest empty space, which was next to Lisa, beckoned Charlie to come sit down. She glanced at him, smiling, sending a blurry buzz through his brain. He felt like the entire room was watching as he walked past the couch to the window seat instead.

Something I should know about? whispered Priest, who leaned over from the dining table, a slight grin decorating his leathery and otherwise tired face.

Darcy was first to break the awkward quiet in

Reviews for Charlie Sullivan and the Monster Hunters

[bibliodiction · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Random citizens of Hunter’s Grove are disappearing. Classmates are whispering rumors of witchcraft behind the backs of Russian twins. A strange man moved into the over-sized castle-like structure on the hill two years prior. An ancient book with an odd clasp plays an unsuspecting role in the story. Nothing is sacred, or secret, in a small town.

Middle school is a difficult world to maneuver around. Bullies, peer pressure, and anxiety are enough plagues for any teenager. Then, tack on strange supernatural powers and the destiny to save the world and the result is a group of too-young monster hunters.

I loved this book. I enjoyed watching the awkward teenagers come together to become more than just friends. This story reinforces the breaking of imagined boundaries between clicks. Teamwork is a necessary skill in life. The ability to work together, no matter the varied social background of the group, is a vital tool for success.