It seems strange to be standing alone in this sacred space now, but I felt in need of a short time of solitude before my fellow witches arrive. How peaceful it is in here tonight, the air not yet disturbed by either the physical presence of the living or the spectral presence of the dead. How different from the last time I was here. If I allow myself to think of that terrible creature I can see him clearly in front of me even now. I wanted to call Violet, to try to speak to her, but I was counseled against it. Lord Grimes was as gentle as he could be when he pointed out that, as she was taken down to the Darkness, she will not be easily called. Such a connection must only be attempted with support, if at all. Oh, poor dear Violet! But I cannot let the memory of what happened change the way I feel about this chamber. This is my domain. Mine. Mine to keep and guard, mine to use. Tonight it will be the meeting place for five senior witches including myself. I have requested them by name, the most trusted and experienced members of the coven. I need their wisdom. I need their help.

I thought carefully about whom I should ask to this meeting. Lord Grimes and Druscilla are old friends and obvious choices, of course. I decided against asking Mangan to attend. He has told me all he knows on the subject of the potential threat to the coven, and his presence can sometimes be a little disruptive. I know I can talk to him whenever I need to. Instead I have called Victoria Faircroft, who is nearly as old as Druscilla, but a very different type of witch. She is positively evangelical about magic and communing with spirits and has struggled all her life with the secrecy that surrounds the Lazarus Coven. I have chosen her precisely because she will take a different view from Druscilla on almost every point. Such a breadth of opinion will, I hope, be useful. The last of our number will be Lord Harcourt, the earl of Winchester. I may not like the man, but he had my father’s respect, and his loyalty to the coven is unswerving. And besides, I will soon be his daughter-in-law. I must learn to see him as an ally.

There are seven torches burning in their sconces around the curved walls of the chamber. They cast a welcome warmth, and their jumping flames a lively movement to relieve the solemnity of the place. It is here where I received most of my instruction, here where I practiced my craft. Sometimes more successfully than others.

I am brought back to the present by sounds of approaching footsteps. The double doors are pushed open and the four senior witches stand on the threshold. It takes a moment for me to realize they are waiting for my invitation to enter.