“Take my hand—we’re going in. We have to run, or Bhal and Alexis will stop us. After three.” Amelia counted out three, and they both ran as fast as they could. They got inside the circle, and Alexis and Bhal were prevented from following them by some kind of energy field.

“Come back, Principessa. You’re in great danger,” Bhal shouted.

But all Amelia could focus on was the swirling energy around them. She looked at Daisy, who was holding her hand up and marvelling at the sparks coming off her hand.

“Can you feel that?” Amelia asked her.

“Yeah, it’s like my spidey sense on speed.”

“Daisy? Look,” Amelia said, pointing to the stones.

Daisy looked over at the spaces between the stones and saw spirits—miserable, grey spirits—all from different points in history.

“What’s going on?” Amelia asked.

“The dead that haven’t moved on. My Monster Hunters group did a video on Stonehenge. Archaeologists found burials all around the stones. It looks like they need the Reaper to help move on.”

“Maybe it’s to do with the stones,” Amelia said. “The Reapers might not be able to enter the henge. Anyway, let’s keep going. I’m being told to follow Byron and Victorija with you.”

“I’m with you.”

* * *

As Torija and Byron approached the centre of the circle, Anka was coming to meet them along with Sera, and behind them, Drasas and Asha. Anka stopped and held up her hand.

“Send me Victorija, and Serenity will come to you.”

Byron turned to Torija and said, “Good luck, Victorija. If you are truthfully helping us, then you die a Debrek, but if you are going to double-cross us, then—”

“You’ll hunt me down and take my head and my heart, I know. I have a job to do. Goodbye, Byron.”

Torija started to walk away from Byron, and as she did, Sera was coming from the other direction. When Sera was within earshot, she said to her, “Byron says you’re grounded, young lady.” Torija smiled. “Have a good life, Sera, and look out for Daisy.”

Sera looked bemused. “You’re handing yourself over for me?”

“Yes, my dear. Your old great-aunt is saving your little derriere, so go do something good with your immortal life.”

Once they passed each other, Torija came into eye contact with Drasas, her Duca. Drasas looked away quickly, hopefully feeling shame for once in her life.

Anka welcomed her with a huge smile. “Victorija, we’ve missed you. Haven’t we, Drasas?”

“Yes, Madam.”

Yes, Madam? What had Anka done to her once proud vampire? “Well, here I am, reporting for duty, Anka. Now how is it you’d like to kill me?”

“By draining every ounce of life force from your body.”

“Excellent, excellent. Good plan,” Torija said sarcastically.