Free 100% Hero by Jayne Lyons

was sure all
was safe.

C HAPTER T WELVE
Drumbogie

    It was late at night when their car drove over the
highlands and through the glens towards Drumbogie.
    'I'm going to be really good at canoeing for sure,'
Freddy told Priscilla, who was doing her best not to
hear. 'I hate to brag, but because of my Fangen blood
I'm good at pretty much all extreme sports.'
    'I'm so glad you hate to brag,' Priscilla said with
a bored sigh. 'Oh, Papa, are we nearly there yet? It's
taking forever.'
    'Nearly there, my jewel.' Chester said, staring out
into the dark night.
    'Sailing, climbing, abseiling, windsurfing . . .
which do you think I'll be best at?' Freddy leaned
forward from the back seat and tapped Priscilla's
shoulder.
    'Oh, Freddy,' she gasped, 'I think you're going to
find your real talent at Drumbogie.' Then she gave a
loud laugh. Chester chuckled a little. Freddy glowed
with pride at her words. Priscilla had seen at last
just how fantastic he was. It was going to be the best
summer of his life.
    It would be harsh to blame him for forgetting the
danger his father and all werefolk were in, or how sad
Batty might be feeling, for who wouldn't have been
excited at the thought of adventure camp, with perfect
Priscilla Puceley?

    Freddy could hardly contain himself as the car turned
into a large stone gateway. Fierce, horrific gargoyles
with distorted faces glared down at them, sticking out
their tongues, their eyes bulging.
    'Creepy Camp!' Freddy laughed, bouncing up and
down on his seat.
    The gates clanged shut behind them. Freddy didn't
see the sign that had been placed on them. He strained
to see anything as the car drove along a dark winding
lane with thick rhododendron bushes on each side.
Then suddenly the car turned onto a gravel clearing
in front of a large, grim-looking grey house. Its many
small windows looked like dull black eyes. Again the
gargoyles stared down from the roof. Freddy looked
doubtful. He had imagined log cabins around a loch,
and sausages cooking over campfires.
    'So far, so weird,' he said.
    Priscilla didn't look that pleased either. 'Papa . . .'
she started to complain.
    'Just remember why you're here, princess,' he
reminded her.
    'Humph,' she sulked, throwing her bag onto the
floor. Chester whispered something in her ear and she
gave a small smile, her eyes glittering like precious
jewels.
    Light shone onto the gravel as the front door swung
open with a loud creak. Freddy turned with a big grin
– which slowly slipped off his face. He had expected
to see an adventure leader – a big army sergeant or
RAF squadron leader – but instead a tiny little lady
with a walking stick and a tight black bun hobbled
out to meet them. She wore spectacles that made her
eyes look like tiny slits and was so thin she could have
hidden behind a lamppost. When she stood, her heels
clicked together and her feet pointed sideways. She
gave a little curtsy.
    'My dear Madam Tarot, how marvellous to see you
again. And as beautiful as I remember.' Chester took
the lady's hand and kissed it.
    Priscilla's feet were likewise turned sideways when
she gave a curtsy in return. The lady gave a slight smile
but, as she turned to Freddy, her thin lips squeezed
into a line of disapproval. Freddy noticed a huge mole
on her chin, from which long black hairs reached
out.
    Freddy jumped up, gave the air a karate kick
and then landed like a ninja warrior. He gave her
the coolest nod ever performed by a mortal boy. He
would already be marked out as the best adventurer
in this camp. He could see that Priscilla thought so.
But the lady's eyes were like ice. She turned away from
Freddy.
    'You muzt be Priszilla,' she said. 'I knew your
muzzer, ze archduchess. I hear you have inherited
her talent. Ve are honoured to rezeive you here at our
'umble school.'
    Freddy looked over in surprise. He had no idea
that Priscilla was a famous extreme sports girl – so
much the better. He would need