‘Cat, Cat,’ sang the bird in a mocking tone. It all made sense now.

‘You planned this whole thing, didn’t you?’ she said, feeling the rage build inside her. ‘You gave us away to the Dullahan and you lured us toward the Merrow. You stole Mikey and Jenny out of their beds and did the same to Nancy all those years ago.’

‘No, no, no!’ said the Pooka with a hearty laugh that showed off his long, pointed teeth. ‘You misunderstand me. I didn’t plan any of this. Yes, I took the children and yes, I may have nudged you in the right direction once or twice, but the choice to follow along was all yours, Caitriona. Everything that happened to you tonight was of your own doing. You could have given up at any point, but you didn’t. You could have told an adult, but you decided to play the hero all by yourself. That is exactly why I chose you for this game.’

Cat laughed joylessly. ‘That’s what this is to you, a game?’

‘Well, it is Oíche Shamhna – a night for playing tricks. Even you mortals have not forgotten that much,’ said the Pooka, leaning forward as if he were telling them a secret. ‘People say that fairies fled Ireland with the coming of cars and electricity, but that’s not true: we remain tied to this land as we always have. The modern world has not gotten rid of us, it has just made our lives more difficult. You humans are so obsessed with your shiny metal boxes of tricks, you don’t really see anything any more so you cannot blame us for finding opportunities for fun where we can. And yesterday, I found you. Or rather, my friend Mr Magpie here did. He told me that you were special, that you were one to watch out for. I had my doubts, but when I learned who your grandmother was, I knew he was right. Cat-of-the-Fairies they should call you – the girl who sees things others cannot.’

‘How do you know my granny?’ Cat snapped.

‘Mary Donnelly and I are old friends,’ said the Pooka. ‘Why, I even paid her a visit last night. What a pity it ended so badly for her. Just think, if she had only come away with me when she had the chance then none of this would have happened.’

Cat felt numb – this creature was the reason her granny was in hospital, the reason that Mikey has been taken. He was toying with her family and enjoying it.

Suddenly Shane was by her side, anger flaring. ‘We could have been killed tonight. We still might,’ he said.

The Pooka turned his gaze on Shane and eyed him with interest. ‘I was worried you would bore me, lad, but the magpie suggested I give you a chance – “he’s stupidly loyal, that one is”,’ said the Pooka in a screeching imitation of birdsong.

‘Stupid, but loyal,’ corrected the bird.