A burning bus. Bricks thrown. Smashed bottles in bloodied hands.
Shouting. So much shouting.
And rage. I feel the rage. It ignites and I want to scream at the world; at Ben, at Paul, my dad, my nan, the people rioting, every bully from school. Meg.
The Morrigan.
My anger and hatred finally find a voice and I shout out too.
And as our fury swells, the Morrigan grows.
Shadows rush in from the night sky and lift her. She rises as invisible wings beat the air, which is hot with the stench of blood. Darkness flows over Meg to form a long dress of roiling shadows, as thick as leather, as subtle as silk.
She raises her arms and those talons extend, even on Meg’s broken hand, like darkened, starving roots.
Nanny Bet cowers as shadows envelop her, flowing up her legs, covering her like tar. Her eyes widen in pain.
All at once, my anger leaves me and cold panic floods my system. I push at my restraints, calling out my nan’s name over the battle cries.
It sounds like the entire world is screaming.
Then it stops.
Silence rushes in.
The Morrigan lowers to the ground in her dress of shadows. Feathers and blood adorn her hair, her eyes are empty of all light and colour, and black veins tattoo symbols across white skin.
I can’t see Meg in her any more.
I’ve lost her.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The Morrigan rests Meg’s good hand on Nanny Bet’s cheek. ‘It’s been so long since I’ve truly touched the flesh of another, too long since I’ve held another in my arms.’ She strokes her skin softly. ‘Too long since I’ve squeezed the life from a mewling mortal.’
‘You said you wouldn’t hurt her.’ I strain forward uselessly.
The Morrigan nods. ‘I know what I said.’ She plays with a lock of Nanny Bet’s hair. ‘Such a pity. I was so proud of you, Elizabeth. Your poems were as beautiful as the ancient epics. You could have done so much.’ Her blood is staining Nanny Bet’s hair.
‘But you have thrown my graces back in my face. And so I will take them back from you. And with it all that you are. You dare to tamper with the memories of others. You will have none.’
‘No!’ I shout.
Nanny Bet raises her chin in defiance to the goddess behind her. ‘Michael, I’m so sorry. I love—’ Her words are lost in a scream as the Morrigan digs her talons into the side of her head.
I struggle forward only to be pulled back by the shadows. Nanny Bet’s face is frozen in terror.
‘Please.’
Nanny Bet slumps forward. I let out a cry and am released from the shadows binding me. I stagger towards her, kneel downand slowly lift her chin. Her eyes have clouded black like the Morrigan’s and a slither of saliva drops from her lips.
‘Nanny Bet?’
She blinks and the blackness recedes until her dark green eyes are back again. ‘What happened?’
Relief floods over me and I hug her. ‘Oh God, oh God. I thought… I love you. I love you.’
She stiffens in my arms, and when I pull back, she’s frowning.
