Shane hugged his sister tight. ‘Of course we can.’

‘Just a second,’ said Cat. ‘There’s one last thing I need to do.’

Shane groaned. ‘Really?’

Cat fumbled the backpack off her shoulder and fished out the cola bottle. She hoped the Merrow wouldn’t be too mad about all the jostling around she had experienced that evening. Holding the bottle at arm’s length, she walked to the stream and unscrewed the lid.

Water whirled out of the bottle like a tornado, pouring into the stream and coming together into the form of the Merrow.

‘What is this?’ she said, glaring at Cat.

‘As you can see, I’ve kept my promise,’ said Cat, backing up a few feet – she had already had her fill of surprise attacks for one evening. ‘So, I’ll be off now. Good luck.’

‘This is not the sea,’ hissed the Merrow.

‘No, it’s not. But I know for a fact this stream leads to the river and that river definitely leads to the sea … at some point.’

‘You swore a blood oath to bring me to the sea and trust me, child, that is not an oath you wish to break.’

‘Ah, but I think you’ll find that what I actually said was I’d find a way to return you to the sea,’ said Cat and pointed to the stream. ‘There it is. A way.’

Always watch out for the wording, she thought. That’s how they catch you.

The Merrow narrowed her eyes and for a second Cat thought she had gone too far. Just then, the soft pink light of dawn burst through the branches overhead and illuminated the clearing. The Merrow threw her hands up to cover her eyes. Morning was finally here, and her powers were weakening.

‘Very well,’ she said as her body slipped below the water. ‘This will suffice. I consider your debt fulfilled, Caitriona Donnelly, but know this – I won’t forget the manner in which you achieved it.’

Yeah, yeah, you and every other fairy around here, thought Cat.

Finally, completely fairy-free, she sighed. ‘Now we can leave.’

She picked up a somehow sleeping Mikey – seriously? NOW he falls asleep? she thought – and shook her head. He was truly a strange kid, but he was her brother and she loved him.

They were out on the road before Cat stopped in her tracks and smacked her forehead.

‘What now?’ said Shane, looking weary yet resigned.

‘I just realised Mikey was supposed to have spent the night at his babysitter’s. How am I going to explain why he’s suddenly with me?’

Shane gave her a hearty slap on the back. ‘After what we’ve been though the last few hours, I’m sure you’ll think of something,’ he said. ‘Now come on. Let’s go home.’

Chapter Twenty-Four

The End

Granny was sitting up in the hospital bed when Cat was finally allowed in to see her.

‘Myself and Eileen are just going to pop down to the canteen for a coffee,’ said her mam with a yawn. ‘Granny’s still weak so don’t be pestering her too much while we’re gone.’