They were so nearly home. Over the final couple of miles, they were all lost in thoughts of home comforts and a long undisturbed sleep. The hillside that led them down to Kelseth was just up ahead and the blazing sunset had now faded to a bright orange glow in the distance.

Lily smelled burning for the second time that day. Jem tipped his head back. He’d clearly caught the scent as well. It didn’t smell like a log fire. It smelled heavy, consuming. Jem dropped Lily’s arm and ran ahead, disappearing over the crest of the hill.

Moments later, a pained cry shattered the silence.

It was Jem.

Lily sprinted forward, followed closely by Grace and Alice. The three of them crested the hill and saw Jem on his knees, sobbing at the horizon. He was illuminated by a rusty glow, but it wasn’t the sunset. The lighthouse – their home, their sanctuary – was a burning beacon off the shore.

The entire tower was engulfed in flames.

Their presence seemed to break Jem from his shocked state. He regained his feet and set off, hurtling himself down the rocky, treacherous path to Kelseth, heading straight for the beach. Before Lily could even stop to check that the others were following, before any of them could process what was happening, they all set off after him.

They ran as if chased by rabid wolves, their emotions overridden by concern for Jem, for the children, and for their home.

Lily dashed down the precarious cliff path, rocks and scree falling off the edge and crashing to the ground far below. Her pack was impossibly heavy on her back and her muscles, still sore from Hecate’s torture, screamed as she moved. A glance behind saw Alice and Grace close by, but Alice was limping and wincing with pain and Grace was torn between following her brother and helping Alice.

When they finally reached Kelseth, Lily had to force her way through the throngs of people on the crooked street. They were all staring as the lighthouse burned; some of them were even cheering.

Of course, Lily thought, as she elbowed her way through the unrelenting crowd, they think the end of the lighthouse will bring an end to their curse.

They reached the shoreline as Jem dived into a rowboat. He had obviously been slowed down enough by the mob to allow the rest of them to catch up. They barely had time to climb into it before he was ploughing mercilessly through the water towards the flaming lighthouse.

As they sat staring, with nothing to distract them from the horror of the moment, Lily prayed to whoever was listening that the children were safely out. She strained her eyes, the smoke affecting her vision, but couldn’t see anyone on the pebble beach. Please, she thought, please let them be okay. She couldn’t bring herself to think about what this would do to Jem. If any of the children were hurt, or worse … it would destroy him.