Agapantha put a hand on Prue’s arm. “Some things can’t be fixed.”

Prue felt the pain in her heart blaze again – it was like what Francis had told her with the hoppity wrench back at the farm.

Edwin leapt nearby. “You two won’t win at this rate! … What’s the matter?” He joined the girls.

A tear glittered on Prue’s cheek. “It’s Luella. She’s gone.”

*

Craftsman Primrose asked Master Woolstenbury if Edwin could paint the picture for the gallery of Lost Personifates.

When it was finished, Prue, Edwin and Agapantha took it across to the Hall to hang it. The plaque read:

Luella Harvest-Moon

Messenger

Capax Infiniti

“You’ve done a great job, Ed,” said Prue.

“Thanks.”

“But there’s something lacking about the plaque – she was so much more than a messenger.”

“Perhaps her frequency will be picked up again?” said Edwin.

“But she wouldn’t remember us,” said Prue. She thought for a moment then took out a pencil from her bag. Beside Luella she wrote Edith Scamp and beside Messenger she wrote friend.

Through the open door, Prue caught sight of Cora walking along the corridor. Anger was churning in Prue. After what had happened to Luella, she needed to make progress more than ever.

“Wait here,” Prue said.

Edwin called after her. “What are you doing?”

“I want my journal back.”

Prue stormed over to Cora. “Hey, what have you done with my journal?”

Cora put her hands on her hips. “What are you talking about?”

“I know it was you who took it. Hand it over.”

Agapantha and Edwin joined Prue.

“Look, I don’t know what this is about, but if you’re missing something, perhaps you should look a bit closer to home. I mean, what do you really know about your little furry friend? He could have been a thief in his first life.”

“Steady on, Cora,” said Agapantha.

“You shouldn’t even be hanging out with these two, Agapantha. They will never be like us.”

“Like what, exactly?” said Prue, taking a step closer.

“You know perfectly well what I mean. Like the people who should be here.” She flicked her hair and strode onwards, down the corridor.

Prue bit the edge of her tongue to contain her anger.

“She’s something else,” said Agapantha.

“I’m not sure she has your journal, Prue. She seemed surprised by your accusation,” said Edwin.

“Surprised that she’d been caught, more like,” Prue scowled.

Chapter 26: Sahwen

SAHWEN

Prue surveyed the five outfits Cora had discarded on her bed, all of varying glitter and shine. Cora had finally chosen a sparkly silver fitted dress with feathered shoulders. She eyed the other girls’ dresses. “Hmm, a good idea to go plain: my mother says one’s dress should always reflect one’s personality.” Then she floated out of the room.