‘Keep what secret?’

‘Witches.’ She glares in the direction of the hallway, her face full of hatred. ‘Some call them faeries, but they’re not. They’re evil, vile creatures.’

My mouth feels dry and I swallow thickly. I don’t know what I believe any more, but witches? Surely she can’t think such things exist.

Her voice lowers to a whisper. ‘I don’t understand how or why. All I know is that they come in winter and take the form of birds. They swoop over the island, tormenting the cattle and sheep.’

My scalp prickles with realisation. ‘So that’s why they move the farm animals.’

She nods. ‘The islanders know it’s not safe to be here in winter.’

I remember the voice behind the boarded-up door and goosebumps cover my arms. Even though I find it hard to believe what she’s telling me, I find myself asking, ‘So why don’t you leave too?’

‘The witches come through the lighthouse and my spells and enchantments are the only thing holding them back.’ She must notice my incredulous expression as she lets out a sigh. ‘I didn’t believe in witches either – not until I saw them with my own eyes. I’ve done everything I can to keep them out. I’ve read every book on the subject, tried every protection spell I can find. I don’t claim to understand it – how muttering words and scattering salt and burning herbs works – but it does.’

‘Why’s it up to you to stop them? Why not just move away?’

‘I had to make sure they weren’t able to leave the island and find you.’

‘Find me?’

A muscle twitches on her forehead and she rubs at it rhythmically. ‘I saw eight of them crowded around your cot on the night you were born, ugly bent-over creatures with huge black wings and long, tangled hair. One of them turned to me and her eyes were cloudy white, her face covered with veins.’

I stare at her in shock. ‘What?’

‘I grabbed you and ran from the room. My father heard me scream and came running and that’s when I saw it – the shadow. It slid over the wall and then passed across his face. One moment he was comforting me and the next he tried to …’ Her voice breaks and she shakes her head. ‘I had to leave to keep you safe.’

‘You left me at a motorway service station.’

She swallows a sob. ‘I never wanted to give you up, you have to believe me. I thought that if we got to the mainland we could start a new life together. I didn’t realise the shadows had entered me until it was too late. I could feel them inside me, controlling me. I was afraid they’d make me hurt you.’

I sit back in my chair, my mind reeling. What she’s telling me is impossible and yet there has to be some explanation for what’s been happening. The wind moans and howls around the cottage, and my hand goes to my locket, remembering the note she left me. I tried to keep you safe, but I see now that I can’t. I always thought she’d come from an abusive family, or was suffering from postnatal depression and was imagining things. I tried not to, but a tiny part of me resented her, believing she could have sought help if she’d wanted to. But if what she’s telling me is true, I can’t completely blame her for what she did. At the same time, a familiar hurt twists inside me and I have to ask.