For an eternity the horse and carriage remained below them as the coachman completed his search. The roof of the carriage was so close, Cat could have reached out and touched it. She was sure it wouldn’t be long before the coachman thought to look up into the tree and she wondered why he hadn’t thought of it already. Finally, several torturous minutes later, the dark figure made his way back to the carriage and the icy grip of fear in her heart begin to recede. They were safe.

Suddenly, a loud screech pierced the air. A pair of magpies burst out of the branches above their heads and dived low over the coachman and his horse. Cat couldn’t help it – she let out a gasp of surprise. Her hands flew to her mouth, but it was too late. The coachman whipped around and began striding toward the tree. They had been discovered.

‘Run,’ said Shane, swinging himself around the thick tree trunk and half-sliding, half-falling into the field on the other side. It took half a second for Cat to follow, but that was all she needed to get a good look at their pursuer. She knew now why his silhouette had looked wrong to her. He was tall and broad shouldered with a sable cloak that billowed around him like shadows. He wore thick leather boots and a dark brown tunic, but his arms were uncovered and the flesh of his hands glowed bone-white in the moonlight. He might have reminded Cat of the hunter from a fairy tale except for one thing – where his head should have been there was nothing but clear, night sky.

She knew who he was now – the Dullahan. She had two whole pages dedicated to him in the Book of Secrets. He was supposed to be one of the most fearsome creatures in the land. Even Granny had been afraid of him.

‘Pray you never meet the Dullahan, Caitriona,’ Granny whispered to her one evening over hot cocoa. ‘He only wants one thing, and he won’t ever stop until he gets it.’

My soul, thought Cat. He wants my soul.

The shock was enough to send her reeling and she almost lost her balance.

‘Come on!’ cried Shane as she threw her arms around the trunk. ‘Just jump!’

She could hear the Dullahan scrabbling at the base of the tree, trying to find a branch to bear his weight. Shane was right, she had to hurry. She let go of the trunk and landed roughly on the ground below, jarring her knee. They tore off across the field, never once looking back to see if the coachman followed. Cat didn’t need to. She could sense the malevolence rolling off him like waves.

‘Hurry, Cat!’ Shane shouted over his shoulder. He was faster than she was and was already far ahead.

I’m trying, she thought, but the words wouldn’t come. She was running as fast as possible and could barely breathe, but she knew it wasn’t fast enough. She could feel the coachman gaining on her. She dug deep inside, trying for some last reserve of speed. She could feel herself pulling away, gaining some ground, when a cloud skidded across the moon, plunging the whole world into blackness. In the darkness, Cat felt the tip of her toe snag on a stray rock and then she was falling. She hit the ground hard. Hard enough to knock the breath out of her and bring tears to her eyes.