“Do I?” Valkyrie’s mum said. “I’m not feeling very well. Something I ate, probably.”

Valkyrie crept closer as the man nodded.

“Yeah,” he said. “Listen, I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but … but you are one of us, right?”

“One of …? Oh, you mean, am I … do I … Am I possessed?”

The man laughed. “Yeah, that’s what I mean.”

Valkyrie’s mum laughed along with him. “I don’t take any offence at that at all, don’t worry. In fact, I take it as a compliment.”

“Good!” the man chuckled.

“But the real question is, how do I know for sure that you are possessed?”

The man thought this was hilarious. “Oh, no, you got me! I’m faking it!”

“I knew it!” Valkyrie’s mum laughed.

“How will I prove it? How could I possibly prove it to you? Oh, I know …” His smiling lips turned black and the veins rose beneath his skin. “How’s that?”

Her mum paused a moment, then laughed again. “That’s pretty convincing!”

“I thought it might be! Now your turn!”

“Now my turn!”

“Exactly!”

“Now it’s my turn!”

“Let’s be having you!”

Valkyrie’s mum’s laugh was becoming strained. “Are you ready? I don’t think you’re ready!”

“I’m ready!”

“I don’t think you are!”

Her mum laughed and laughed, but the man’s laugh turned to a mere chuckle. “So let’s see,” he said.

Her mum doubled over with laughter. “OK then! Here it comes! Ready? I hope you’re ready! Three, two … one!”

Her mum straightened up. She blinked at the man.

“You’re not one of us,” he said, all laughter gone.

“No,” Valkyrie’s mum admitted.

“I’m … confused. What exactly did you think would happen when you counted down?”

“I’m not sure. I’m not very good at thinking on my feet.”

“Apparently not.” He looked around. “Are you Valkyrie Cain’s mother? We were told that you might be on your way. Where’s your daughter?”

“I don’t know.”

“You may as well tell me. She’ll come running anyway when you start screaming.”

“If you lay one finger on me …”

The man slowly pressed a finger into her chest. “Yes?”

Valkyrie’s mum hesitated.

“Sorry?” the man said, leaning in. “What was that?”

Valkyrie burst from cover, but the man heard her coming and smacked the shock stick from her grasp even as she swung. She cried out, pain shooting up her arm, and he hit her on the shoulder and she fell to her knees, fireworks going off behind her eyes. She heard a mad scramble, her dad charging into the man from behind, looked up in time to see her father get punched in the face. He stumbled back, sat down heavily with a dazed expression. Valkyrie grimaced, forced herself up as the man returned his attention to her mother.