Mum runs her hand over the invisible barrier – it’s like a pane of glass in the doorway – and says another, longer spell. But the barrier’s still there. Mum glares at Sylvie, her face white. ‘Seriously?’ says Mum. ‘You’re kidnapping us?’

Other Sylvie drinks her tea with a small smile. I hear her voice in my head: Correct.

My blood runs hot. This Sylvie really means to trap us here. ‘Why won’t your spells work?’ I ask Mum. There’s no point whispering if hearing is Sylvie’s special power.

‘She’s more powerful than me,’ says Mum.

‘Well, I’m powerful,’ I say. ‘Sylvie said so – the other Sylvie – and Efa, too. Let me try to break the barrier thing.’

Mum tells me the spell and I speak it, while pointing at the – seemingly – open door. But when I reach out, the invisible barrier is still there.

‘You may be powerful, Tulsi,’ says Other Sylvie. ‘But not experienced.’ She points at my face and says a few words. The pain in my nose disappears. ‘In fact, you are so inexperienced, my dear, that you didn’t realise I followed you onto that bus in London.’

I think about it. ‘You were the guy in the hoodie?’ She must have shapeshifted, so Meredith wouldn’t recognise her. I remember feeling a bit sick when the hoodie guy passed Meredith and I on the street. Sylvie was taking my energy even then!

Sylvie smiles.

‘And I was the deer in the forest,’ she says. ‘I was taking your energy as you flew, but I took a little too much. I didn’t mean for you and the girl to fall. Sorry.’

My breath is suddenly tight. She’s been following me the whole way.

Sylvie continues, ‘When you called my name back in London, I locked on to you. I doubt you’ve been taught how to do that. But now I will be able to find you wherever you go. You cannot escape me.’

It feels like the floor’s tilting under me, and I grab hold of a chair to steady myself.

‘You haven’t changed one bit, have you?’ says Mum. ‘It’s still all about you and your desperate need for money and power.’ Mum turns to me. ‘Do your best to contain your energy, darling. She’s draining mine.’

‘Oh, don’t worry,’ says Sylvie. ‘She’s not letting me in.’

‘The only reason you’re managing to steal my energy is because I’m so upset,’ Mum says sadly. ‘I thought I’d got rid of you.’

Other Sylvie pours herself more tea. ‘A real magician doesn’t let emotions affect her magic, Merry. It always was your weak point.’

‘Better than having no emotions,’ says Mum.