Despite the peace she had found on the shore with Kip, anger still simmered within her. She tossed and turned as she tried to tamp down the feeling but it boiled over, consuming her. She could not lie idle with what she knew, so, with a heavy sigh, she pulled on her training uniform, slipped past the guards, and headed towards Ciliria.

As she found her way on to Ciliria’s shore once again, the moon was lost to a thick blanket of clouds, so that the forest was the darkest she had ever seen.

A roll of thunder split the air around her. Time was running out to find the witch.

‘Ashes!’ Her voice echoed through the forest. ‘I need to talk to you. I know you’re out there!’

Only silence answered her.

‘I know you’re nearby. And I know you know it’s me.’

A gust of wind rustled the trees around her and she cowered, waiting for a creature to slither from the woods. As she stepped into a clearing, she looked overhead to see the clouds moving quickly.

‘I’ll stand here yelling all night. I don’t care. Come and speak to me!’

The forest had gone still, and a grave sensation dug its way into the pit of her stomach. Something grabbed her arm tightly and she was yanked backwards.

‘Do you have no sense of self-preservation at all?’ Ashes roughly dragged her away from the clearing. ‘You enchanting, insufferable thing.’

Ashes stopped walking and pulled Sapphire to hide behind a large tree. The witch leaned against her, placing a hand on her shoulder, shadows covering them. To Sapphire’s surprise, they were not icy cold or suffocating. The darkness was almost a comfort, and she followed Ashes’ gaze, horrified at what she saw.

A dog stepped into the clearing where she had stood, sniffing the air. It turned in their direction, and Sapphire gasped as she took in its black eyes and large fangs. Ashes slapped her hand over the girl’s mouth.

It was then a serpent appeared – entirely too large and unnatural, its scales a shade of deep purple that reminded Sapphire of the flowers that bloomed in the gardens. She couldn’t stop the shiver that ran through her body.

The two beasts’ eyes met and they lunged at one another. Sapphire thought she might be sick as they ripped each other apart. She clapped her hands over her ears to avoid the guttural sounds they made as they tore flesh from flesh. It was then that Ashes led her away – their strides making no noise as they crossed the forest floor. When they finally stopped, Sapphire could no longer hear the gnashing of fangs and pained cries, a small mercy she was thankful for.

‘Don’t ever put yourself in danger like that again. Do you understand me?’

‘Why do you even care?’ Sapphire pushed away from the witch, her proximity too much.