Serwa’s life may have changed completely since she learned her true identity. But one good thing about hanging out with the vampires instead of Slayers? You don’t have to compete with overachievers like Declan Amankwah.

For nearly half her life, Serwa has been trying (and failing) to get one over on this guy. In the Kwahu Easter Egg Hunt when they were seven, he beat her by a single egg. The foam weapon tournament a few years ago? Declan knocked her out in the very last round.

To make matters worse, Declan is the second youngest person EVER (behind Serwa’s dad) to pass his Initiation Test, gain his abode santann tattoo, and become a full Slayer. The destiny Serwa has always wanted is no longer within her reach.

And now that Serwa is on the other side of the eternal conflict between the Abomofuo and the obayifo, the boy she always considered a friendly opponent may soon become a genuine threat. Does Serwa have what it takes to finally overcome this rivalry when it counts the most?

And more importantly, when did he get so tall?

From Frenemies to Enemies

Even when they were both on the same side of the vampire/Slayer war, Serwa always considered Declan her eternal nemesis. As for Declan, we’re not entirely sure he thinks about Serwa at all. He’s more concerned with being an effective Slayer and protecting the peace.

He may only be a year older than Serwa, but Declan has way too many responsibilities these days to concern himself with any rivalry. Or maybe this childhood grudge match—which Serwa built up so much in her mind—was never a big deal to Declan in the first place.

Regardless, Serwa is having a hard time figuring out whether he’s more mature these days, or simply just more forgetful. Regardless, he’s certainly more charming.

Except for whenever he calls her “rookie.” Those times, he’s just pushing his luck.

Forget-Me-Not

Isn’t it funny how we always run into the people we least want to see at the worst possible time? Due to a memory wipe that has affected each member of the Good Citizens Committee, Serwa’s friend list has dropped to zero. Now she’s the only one who remembers saving Rocky Gorge from the adze, which makes running into any of her former friends super awkward.

Could this be the reason why Serwa is finding it preferable to hang out with Declan? If she’s totally being honest, it is kind of refreshing to spend time with someone her age who doesn’t need to be trained in the art of combat for a change.

But obviously, Declan’s Slayer skills could prove to be a serious problem should he ever discover Serwa’s obayifo heritage. Which is just one of the many reasons she’s keeping that particular secret on the down-low.

We’re not worried about Declan finding out on his own. After all, he’s still a teenage boy, and they’re not exactly famous for picking up on subtle hints and clues. No, maybe it’s the secrets that Serwa is keeping from herself that she should be the most stressed about.

Crushing It

There’s another major reason why Serwa must keep her obayifo heritage hidden. Declan and his father are directly responsible for keeping the Midnight Drum safely locked away from the obayifo. The very same Midnight Drum that Serwa has been tasked to retrieve for her Auntie Effi.

So, no matter what happens, eventually, Serwa and Declan will have to come to blows. But until then, Serwa will have to be okay with temporarily getting close enough to Declan to join him on Slayer patrol. Even if that means hanging out in his backyard, watching him dominate on the soccer field, jumping on his trampoline, sharing heart-to-heart conversations, getting lost in his eyes . . .

Uh-oh.

Want to see what the future has in store for Declan and Serwa? Be sure to pre-order your copy of Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Witchcraft and Mayhem today!