"Ghouls!"
Michael shot to his feet, his hand reaching toward his sword in a blur.
"Calm down, now." Daerona's relaxed voice echoed in the room. "As long as the talisman holds and no doors or windows are ajar, they cannot come inside."
She walked toward the window, passed Adam and Genevieve, and closed the curtains.
"Don't be rude. Open the door, please. I just want to have a chat. I promise!"
The creature's words echoed from outside, but the elf paid them no attention. She turned to Genevieve, who was still wide-eyed from shock, and said:
"There's your lesson, girl. Always keep the doors locked and windows covered. Those things…"
Her words trailed off, and a frown slid into her face. No doubt she remembered something that made her face scrunch up for a brief moment.
"Those things are strange," she continued. "A mutated version of ghouls. Not only are they skilled at basic shape-shifting, but they're also capable of inducing illusions."
