‘Like the one on the roof here?’
‘Yes, Clay will have a spell to protect the house. The spell won’t kill you; it will just make you incapable. Kieran told us a story about a fain who tried to break into a Hunter’s bunkhouse once and was found wandering around in a drunken stupor. They did things to him … laughed at him …’
‘All the doors and windows will have the spell?’
‘There will be one door that his Hunters use; that’s the only door that will be safe. If you use a different door or break in through a window, you’d be caught by the spell.’
The warm breeze kisses my cheek. I guess that Rose will be able to work this out.
‘I’ve also heard Kieran telling Niall and Connor about other spells Hunters use. The entrance door, the one the Hunters use, will have a password spell. You say the password before you cross the threshold and the trespass spell is lifted for a short period of time. There may be different words to go in and out. I’m not really sure …’
The breeze has gone cold. Rose doesn’t know about these spells. Perhaps they will realize …
The breeze gets stronger and colder.
I stand as Mercury appears. She doesn’t look happy. The wind picks up more so that I’m pushed backwards up the slope of the roof.
Annalise is on her knees, her hair blowing wildly.
‘Annalise. What a charming child you are.’ Mercury’s voice is cold. ‘Come, let us get better acquainted.’
Mercury stands on the grass near the roof and holds her hand out to Annalise. Annalise looks back at me and I try to move to her but the wind holds me back. Annalise rises and takes hold of Mercury’s fingers. But just as she steps off the roof another gust blows Annalise sideways. Her fingertips reach out but Annalise is not touching Mercury as the wind blows her on to the grass. And the wind is holding me back, holding me still, though I fight against it and I try to reach for Annalise but it’s too late.
I can’t hear what Mercury says because I’m shouting and the wind is blasting in my ears. Annalise is lying on the ground, only her chest is moving, heaving, and her mouth is open and gasping for breath.
Mercury stands over Annalise, watching her. And I’m shouting and shouting.
And Annalise’s chest is not heaving now. She is completely still. Her eyes are open and I’m screaming at Mercury.
Mercury slides her hand down Annalise’s face, closing her eyes.
Annalise’s body is pale on the dark ground.
The wind is relentless, pummelling me as I scream curses at Mercury.
Mercury’s voice is part of the wind in my face. ‘You must warn Rose and Gabriel about the password spell. There is still time to help them.’
‘What about Annalise?’ I shout, pointing at her body.
‘She’s asleep. Not dead. Return safely and I’ll wake her.’
She’s not dead. She’s not dead. Gabriel said it was a death-like sleep.
‘If she dies, Mercury …’
‘Enough of this. Go.’
the fairborn
Mercury has been as business-like as ever. She has drawn a map to show me how to find Clay’s house. I’ve heard all the plans so I know that the house is an hour’s walk from the apartment. I run it in just over twenty minutes. Assuming Rose and Gabriel didn’t dawdle they’re over an hour ahead of me but they should still be watching the house, waiting for it to go quiet.
I have to concentrate on them because, if I don’t, all I see is Annalise’s body lying on the grass. She looked dead; her chest was still, her eyes were open.
I’m nearly there. I’ve got to concentrate.
The house is in a quiet suburb on a back road with large houses sitting in their own spacious gardens. Behind is a wooded hillside. I scout out the roads round the house and through the wood at the back.
There’s someone at the edge of the wood. His back is to me. He’s watching the house.
And all the training I did with Celia comes back to me. It’s easy, second nature, the way reading is to Gabriel. I tread slow and quiet, taking my knife in my hand. The figure begins to turn as I take my final step and grab his body, the blade at his throat. Poetry in motion.
Gabriel’s body is stiff against mine. I keep the knife pressed against his skin.
‘Not good enough,’ I hiss in his ear.
‘Nathan? What are you doing here?’
‘Where’s Rose?’
‘Watching the front. What’s going on?’
‘Mercury sent me. I need to tell Rose something about the spells on the house. Something useful that Annalise told me.’
He doesn’t reply, so I release him and push him away from me.
‘What did she say?’
I tell him and he nods. ‘Let’s tell Rose then.’