‘I love you so much. I never wanted to give you up. Please remember that.’

Tears sting my eyes and I wipe them away. I don’t know what she’s planning to do, but I don’t want her to leave the circle. She kisses me on the forehead then straightens her shoulders and fixes me with a look that tells me to be strong. I nod, and she raises the blade and traces a doorway in the air. She steps out then turns and closes it behind her, sealing me inside.

I bite my lip and watch as she climbs onto the metal platform. As soon as she does, the creatures turn in her direction, grunting and sniffing the air. Holding the knife with both hands, she raises it above her head and points it at the optic.

‘Creaturae noctis, et abierunt! ’ she commands.

The red light flickers and the shadowy forms lose definition, their outlines becoming mere wisps of smoke. Whatever she’s doing is working.

The tall creature skitters towards her, its body swirling into a vague blur and then reforming. It towers over her, but she has her back to it and doesn’t see.

‘Mum, be careful!’

As soon as I call out, I realise my mistake. She turns to look at me and the knife drops from her hand. The creature grabs her and jumps into the broken optic, dragging her inside.

I stare, open-mouthed. They’ve vanished. She can’t have gone, not just like that.

Something tugs at my arm.

‘Ivy?’

Tom shakes me by the shoulders and I gaze at him.

‘I heard shouting.’

My voice cracks. ‘She’s gone … my mum … it took her.’

‘What took her?’

I look back but there are no creatures prowling around the room, just a thick swirl of smoke writhing around our feet.

Reaching down, I grab my mum’s knife. I don’t know why, but I feel safer for holding it. I open my mouth and a string of words flies out.

‘Eko eko azarak, eko eko zomelak.’

Raising the blade above my head, I repeat the line again and the base of my skull prickles with pins and needles. Somehow I know what the words mean … only I don’t. It’s right there on the tip of my tongue, and yet I can’t reach it. I just know I have to say them. My life depends on it.

The shadows swirl around Tom’s legs and he gives a panicked shout and tries to swipe them away. I want to help him but the chant has taken hold of me and I can’t move.

‘Eko eko azarak, eko eko zomelak.’ I chant again and again, my voice growing louder. Power flows up my feet and surges through my body like electricity.