Back and forth we go until Fin catches my wrist, wringing it. Pain erupts up my forearm, forcing me to drop the knife. Fin’s fist connects with the side of my face, and he twists my wrist harder. I cry out, sinking to my knees.

Fire rips through my veins, pain and anger unrelenting. Fin stares down at me, his features collected and calm. For an impossibly drawn-out moment, something resonates between us. It feels similar to the link I have with my journal: like magic, but as though I’m the journal and Fin is reaching into me and drawing something out.

Then Fin’s eyes flare. A knife flies past me, aimed at his heart. He sweeps out a hand, sending it into the wall beside us. I strike out with my other knife, catching him across the chest with a thin slice as he leaps back.

When he lands, the floor crumbles underneath him.

Chapter 29: Anna

I knew that Fin would deflect the blade I threw, but I only needed to distract him. The house takes care of the rest. As Fin disappears to the floor below, I seize Colin’s arm. “We need to get back to the others!”

We take off down the hall, returning to the staircase and down to the ballroom. We enter into chaos. Screams echo as spirits flood the room, more than I’ve ever seen, but the real threat is the wraiths.

There are way more than we expected, and my family is overwhelmed.

Aunt Elaine and Uncle Roy face a wraith together. Gran has two pinned telekinetically to the high ceiling. With a flick of her wrist, they crash to the floor. Alice is still casting her protection spell as the guests flee, and the spirits rebound off invisible shields of light when they get too close to people. Dilara has taken over the singing ivy, manipulating it to wrap around the ankles of wraiths, and Mr. and Mrs. Andrade are helping to direct guests to safety.

Spirits nearly overrun the open space, creating a sea of light. Max weaves through them, gleaning them as fast as he can. But as he clears them away, they reappear twice as quickly. All around us the house creaks and groans.

We thought we could keep the guests safe; we were wrong.

“Come on! Let’s lead Fin outside, away from the guests.” I sprint down the stairs and plunge into the fray of souls. The cold enters my body in a rush, slowing me down, but the soul cakes keep us safe from possession. Still, fighting through the spirits is like wading through water. We break through on the other side, panting heavily and chilled to the bone.

The doors to the porch are off their hinges, their glass shattered. It crunches underfoot as we run outside and down the stairs to the field.