I don’t understand.” Hettie tracked the young woman as she glided deeper into the cave. “You summoned the chupacabra? Why?”
“To protect my people. To protect Villa del Punta. Don’t you see? These creatures obey me.”
The light in her dark, long-lashed eyes bordered on manic, and Hettie grew uneasy. “I thought you didn’t have the gift.”
“Not a true gift, no. But I had the best tutor I could ever ask for. He lent me his power, gave me the ability to enhance my minor gifts.” Julia smiled almost dreamily, red lips spreading. “He understood what needed to be done.”
“This is insane.” Hettie gestured around. “Javier would never condone this.”
“You think that old fool taught me?” She scoffed. “Javier let my parents die because he was too weak to lead us, to teach us how to fight back. I swore
