‘Then why would she do that to you? Do you think she did it to your dad as well? Stole his memories?’
I hadn’t thought of that, but the pain in my stomach is like an arrow hitting the truth. Of course she did it to him. Suddenly their entire relationship makes sense.
‘How could she?’ Meg whispers.
‘I think she wants to protect us. She told Dad to move to England and…’
No.
She burnt away my memories. Heat pulses in my ears. She had no right to do that, then try to do itagain. She’s been lying to me ever since I got here. All that concern. It was a lie.
‘She’s a liar.’
Meg nods. ‘I’m so sorry. Genuinely.’
‘I know.’ I nudge her. ‘And thank you for rescuing me.’
‘Well, thanks, but that was actually the crows. I was peeking round the garden gate and they came out of nowhere.’
I recall Fergal’s terrified howls. ‘I want to check if Fergal’s OK. It’s my fault.’
She shakes her head. ‘No, it was your nan’s. There was nothing you could do.’
‘But those crows…’
‘The Morrigan is watching you.’ This time there’s none of her former excitement when she talks about the goddess.
I glance up at the sycamore tree in the corner of the playground. There’s a shifting in the shadows and I sense jetblack eyes upon me.
‘Let’s get out of here.’
We walk to a garden wall at the end of a cul-de-sac, far from any trees. Nanny Bet has been calling me, so I turn off my phone. I’m relieved she’s OK enough to call, but I’m certainly not ready to speak to her. I also ignore a message from Paul, asking what time I want to meet. I’m too freaked out to think about him right now.
‘So, what do we do?’ Meg asks as she flicks through the photos again.
Run away forever?
‘We stick to the plan, work out what she wants from us and find my dad.’ I pick at my thumbnail. ‘My nan told me something. Before…’
‘Yeah?’
I clear my throat. ‘She said we’re death poets.’ I search for the pronunciation of the Irish words. ‘Fill ee bosh?’
Meg’s mouth drops open. ‘Filí báis!’
‘You’ve heard of them?’
She shakes her head. ‘The filí were poets and báis means death, but I’ve not heard of them together. So, what, you’re the Morrigan’s poets?’
‘I guess.’
Her hand is on her chest. ‘Michael, you’re the poet of a goddess.’
I let out a breath. ‘Of death.’
‘I know, so cool!’
‘It’s not cool!’ I raise my voice. ‘They just attacked my nan and her cat, Meg. Just chill for a second.’
