“Mother.” Lara turned to Audrey. “Remove it.”

“No.” Audrey turned to Ben. “I’m sorry, but I can’t risk it.”

Ben nodded as he writhed in pain.

“Remove the spell, Mother.” Lara’s body had merged with Cecile’s mind fully now, the two of them sharing power. She had never felt stronger. “Mother,” commanded Lara. “Remove the fucking spell.”

“Are you sure?”

“This ends today. One way or the other.”

Audrey lowered her head and began to chant quietly.

“That’s more like it,” said Marla.

Marla turned toward Audrey, and Lara’s mother doubled over in pain. Lara felt the fury well up inside of her. Marla then turned to Ben, who was now on his hands and knees writhing in pain.

“No!” Lara put her hand out, and Marla went flying backward. Lara had seen the pitchfork leaning against the wall. She began thinking about the pitchfork rotating seconds before Marla’s back hit the wall, the tines turning and sliding through her body, coming out through the woman’s chest. For just a moment, it looked as though the act hadn’t hurt her at all, because she gazed down at the tines, as if inspecting a stain on her shirt. Then her chestnut hair fell forward and Marla slumped over like a doll.

Lara let out a breath she’d been holding.

Within moments of slumping over, Marla shook herself and stood up, the pitchfork teeth still visible through her ribs.

Lara felt the air go out of her and struggled to breathe, as if someone was gripping her throat. Someone was gripping her throat. Esmé was strangling her, using the same magic she’d employed. As the world began to slip out of focus, Lara could hear Audrey screaming. Then a rattle at the gate diverted Marla’s attention and Lara got a moment’s reprieve. She breathed, the air hitting the back of her throat, then slumped to the ground, wheezing and grabbing her neck.

“Are you okay?” Audrey was at her side.

Marla backed up as Oddjob and Moneypenny walked into the yard with a cat-like grace, sizing up their victim.

Lara was stunned by the change in their appearance. The Oorang Airedales were double their normal sizes. She had seen them stalking prey before, but nothing like this. As they paced, they continued to grow, gazing at Marla hungrily. Lara could hear their claws scraping as they moved.

“You’ve got hellhounds, Audrey? You have two fucking hellhounds?”