Lily nodded, even though she felt like she was going to throw up. She knew that this story couldn’t possibly end well and she was dreading reading the notice that Jem had just placed before her. With shaking hands, she picked it up. She couldn’t help but notice the similarities between Alice’s letter and this notice. It was the same hand, the same authoritative tone, and it, too, carved through her heart with an icy sword.

Residents of Kelseth Village,

We have returned, like we always said we would. We are building our ranks and it would be unwise to resist us if we come for you or any of your family members. There is no way to escape us. We will steal you from your beds; we will follow you if you walk after dark. We will take you when the lighthouse light is blackened. It is useless to resist. We have taken three of your number tonight and there will be more.

For the families’ sakes, we have very kindly asked our new recruits to sign their names below.

Ailsa Merryck

Rowenna Arasgain

Grace Rafferty

You will never see your girls again, but never fear: if they have potential, they will be trained and cared for.

Be warned,

Hecate Winter

High Priestess of The Shadow Sect

It was penned in a neat, careful script. It was emotionless but was clearly intended to terrorise the village, to prevent the residents from living carefree lives, to force them inside their homes.

Now Lily understood why Jem had taken her in without a second thought. She understood why he was willing to help. They both had loved and lost someone to the Shadow Sect. And they were both willing to do anything to get them back. Lily looked up from the paper in her shaking hand.

‘I have a letter, too. Hecate Winter wrote it to Alice and told her to meet them here. I wonder if Hecate is her real name?’

‘Probably not. “Hecate” is a mythological figure from beyond the Shadow Lands; few of their legends reach our shores but I stumbled across the tale in an ancient book in this lighthouse. She’s the goddess of witchcraft, amongst other things. It seems too coincidental that the High Priestess, leading a coven of witches, just happens to be named Hecate. It’s probably a ploy to remain anonymous. Plus, Hecate sounds much more fantastical and foreboding; with a name like that, people are automatically frightened of her.’

Lily nodded, deep in thought.

‘But now you know. You know why I’m here and who the children are and why I am ready to take down those who call themselves the Shadow Sect. They have my sister, and they have Alice, and they have so many other families’ loved ones. I feel like now, more than ever, it is our responsibility to do something about it. To stop the fear, to stop the death and the kidnappings and the torment. Now you know everything there is to know, are you willing to stay here and help me?’ He looked up at her, a strand of dark hair falling over his face, his eyes shimmering with tears.