Stephanie had been adamant that the tattooed area would eventually heal, yet so far no amount of creams or salves kept the flaring down for long. Ellie was starting to become used to the sting, the tattoo her conscience, reminding her of the pain she’d inflicted upon everyone by getting them tangled up in her family’s messes, warning her against crossing the line with Lottie into a place they couldn’t go back from.

One day you’ll be queen and they’ll be far away from the Wolfson sickness, she told herself.

Rubbing her hands through her hair, Ellie prepared to head back to the bedroom, knowing it would smell of roses and lavender and Lottie, Lottie, Lottie. As she left the bathroom, she heard the telltale squeak of the Ivy Wood gate. No one was allowed in or out of the dorm area this late at night, especially not since the doubled-down security.

Peering out of the corridor window, Ellie could see that the figure was tall, waving at the night guard as he made his way down the path towards their building, drifting with a ghostly gait. There was something in his arms, something Ellie couldn’t make out. It wasn’t until the mystery person stepped into the light from the path, that his signature fluffy hair and glasses gave him away. It was Haru, and he was heading towards the boys’ dorm.

Before Ellie could see what was nestled under his arm, he moved out of her sight. She knew she had to find him and stop him.

Ellie crept back to her room and switched her nightclothes for black T-shirt and leggings. As she passed Lottie’s bed, the rose-pink bedsheets rising and falling with Lottie’s steady breathing, her lips parted slightly indicating she was in a deep sleep, Ellie wondered if she should stay behind, that maybe doing this would only cause more trouble for her friend. The storm inside her began to calm until she saw a flash of metal winking at her from beneath the pink bed. Liliana’s sword.

The storm bellowed inside her once more, directionless and confused – a great hurricane that had no understanding of its target or why it raged, only that it needed to unleash itself, and it had to be now. Ellie grabbed the sword, feeling the singing metal greet her, and together they flew down the stairs.

Sticking close to the shadows, Ellie tiptoed round the back of the building. Sure enough, she found Haru skulking at the back door to the boys’ dorm where the emergency exit light shone bright crimson against the twisting ivy. There was none of that malleable and accommodating charm that Haru usually wore, no lulling summer-breeze smile. Only pure concentration.

He was on a mission, and Ellie was going to put a stop to it.

‘Put your hands up!’