Glitonea is saying something but I can’t understand her words. She looks afraid. I grab her, desperate now, and she presses a firm hand against my thigh. I sigh with relief as a cool sensation flows through my veins, easing my pain. Panting hard, I peer at my legs. The bone retracts before my eyes and disappears back into my flesh, the skin knitting itself together. I check the rest of my body and feel my own skin instead of feathers. Overcome with gratitude, I turn to hug her, but draw back when I see her face.

Her eyes have sunk into their sockets, the bones protruding to reveal the shape of her skull. Most of her hair has fallen out and her scalp is covered with scaly white patches. She croaks something, pointing towards the cave entrance, and I fight back a tear.

‘I’m sorry I couldn’t do it. I shouldn’t have tried.’

She grips my arm, her voice raspy. ‘You can’t give up.’

Before I can answer, she takes an unsteady step back and shrinks to a cormorant. I watch her flap weakly out of the cave, feeling helpless. I don’t have what it takes to be a witch. I’ve failed them. Because of me, the witches won’t be able to go through the portal and return home, and I’ll never see my mum again.

20

I clamber up the rocks and stumble onto the shore, blinking in the harsh light. There’s not a single cormorant in the sky and I can only hope that Glitonea has gone to find her sisters. I hate to think of her suffering because of me. I should have done as she asked; I should have let the witch inside me help.

As I head across the beach my thoughts turn to Tom. I don’t know how long I’ve been gone, but it feels like hours. What if he wakes and there’s no one there? I walk as fast as I can, willing my aching legs to go quicker.

The house is quiet as I enter the hallway and make my way through the kitchen to the stairs. The wood creaks as I step onto the landing and I startle as a figure emerges from the shadows. Morgan is no longer wizened, but looks how she did the first time we met. Her face is grave and I’m almost too afraid to ask.

‘Is it Glitonea? I couldn’t do it and she had to heal me …’

Morgan raises her hand, silencing me. ‘I’ve every hope your sister will recover with a few days’ rest.’

Relief washes over me and Morgan forces a smile. ‘She told me what happened and it sounds like you made progress. You can’t expect your powers to return instantly. It may take a day or two.’