Well, one of our friends who isn't here was the best source of energy we had back home (and she might glower at me for referring to her first in a conversation as such, but it is the conversation at hand). She is a mirror, able to amplify everything psychic and magical around her. We had not looked too far into things because the situation was well enough handled back home.
To explain the situation terribly bluntly, my friend in need is dead; he's a ghost who requires energy to stay with us. We had buried his bones on the ley line back home (ley lines are strong magical sources of energy, oriented in straight lines), which made it easier for him. There is a ley line here, but it's not as powerful, and we don't have his bones. As such, he truly does need to draw the energy from people.