No more to be spoken. The only sounds are Annie’s slow breaths and the shuffling of Mam and John as they prepare for bed, the rustle of mice nesting in our mats. I lie awake, seething with thoughts of what my life might have been had I freedom to choose, and what it must be knowing I do not. But I will not give up all command over myself. If Mam thinks to dress and paint me and let me be used by the village men, I will maim them one by one before earning a single coin. If it’s witchcraft she speaks of I’ll have none. His dark power is in me, I have felt it, waiting to be unlocked. I am marked, my fate to one day conjure my own familiar and spin curses as Mam does. But not this day.

Lying in the darkness, I listen to the creaking of door and roof, the shifting of branches in wind. Feel his prowling presence, reaching to the anger that twists in me, calling upon me to embrace it, and become my true self.

Flesh and Blood and Bones

It was the noise that drew Daniel’s attention, a desperate and pathetic bleating coming from the hedge. He turned towards it, stumbling over the rough grass, milk spilling from his pail. Stopping to listen, he heard scuffling and muttered swearing.

Someone was stealing a sheep and were Father here he would rip their arms off rather than allow his property to be taken. But it was only the animal’s terror that moved Daniel, prompted him to let go of the pail, run over to the hedge and call out.

‘L-leave that creature be. Leave it at—’ His voice escaped him.

Daniel was staring into the filthy, angry face of the Devil-boy from the old plague hill. All thought left him. He stepped back, reaching a hand to steady himself against the prickly hedge as the world tipped then righted itself, all the while unable to look away.

The boy smiled slowly and, without dropping his gaze from Daniel’s face, lifted the lamb and drew a knife across its neck. Blood poured from the wound and the animal kicked and shuddered. A small sound escaped Daniel, an expression of fear and pity that prompted mocking laughter from the boy.

He leaned over the hedge. ‘Dust know me?’

Daniel nodded. Heart clattering, mouth dry. Terrified now of what curse this boy would lay on him.

‘Bring hell on you if you spake a word,’ the boy said. He swung the lamb over his narrow shoulder and strolled down the track.

Daniel watched the lamb’s blood spreading down the boy’s back. He felt the warm, sticky liquid on his own skin, smelled metal, tasted salt. Blinking, he saw everything through a sheet of red.