"Why show me this?" Hex asked.

Horace smirked. "There's a box in the Court of Clouds. A special box. One that's worth more than any Gem Maker... Even Cathy." 

"What is so special?" Chester asked, his curiosity piqued. 

Agnes chuckled. "Anything you place inside the box multiplies." 

"Even diamonds?" Jake asked, beating Chester to the question. 

"Anything," Horace said. 

"And you want Hex to steal it?" Rose said, shaking her head. 

"Exactly." 

Rose turned to Hex and said, "No... you mustn't." 

"I have to... To save Cathy." 

"Why?" 

"Cathy's my sister," Jake said.  

Rose's gaze darted from Jake to Cathy and back to Hex. "I... I... I'm so confused." 

"I know it's a lot to take in," Hex said. "I wish I had more time to explain." 

"Well, you don't!" Horace checked the time on his pocket watch. "You have until midnight to make your decision. After that, I'll keep Cathy forever. And as well... the boy must go home. He cannot stay in this realm any longer." 

"That's fine by me," Jake said. "I hate it here." 

"Ten minutes, Hex... "

"Where must I go?" Hex had already decided. 

Horace smiled even wider. This was too perfect. "The box belongs to Lord Gilliard the Great. Mummy, show Hex his Lordship's estate." 

The witch swiped her hand to the left and a new image formed of a mansion almost as grand as Rune Hall, with two huge ornamental lions guarding its iron gates. 

"So, what they say about the Court of Clouds is true?" Chester asked, struggling to see out of Jake's pocket. "There are giants up there?" 

"Oh, yes." Horace nodded. "Still, a few giants shouldn't be a problem for the Hex."

"Very well. I'll get your box, but I own Rune Hall. Rose will return home with the boy, and Chester will stay with me." 

"I will?" Chester spluttered and slipped back into Jake's pocket. 

"Do we have a deal?" Hex offered his hand, hoping Horace would agree to his terms. 

Horace wasted no time in accepting. After all, if Hex succeeded, he'd be rich beyond his wildest dreams. And if Hex failed, he still had Cathy. He couldn't lose. "We have a deal." Horace firmly shook Hex's hand.  

Hex yanked his hand away and turned to Rose. "You must leave now. I'll return to Rune Hall once I have fulfilled my part of the bargain. Horace will provide you with safe passage... Won't you?" 

"Of course, you have my word." Horace fished his magic silver coin from his waistcoat pocket. 

"Be safe. I will wait for you..." Rose wrapped her arms around Hex and held him close.  

"Enough!" Public displays of affection made Horace nauseous. 

"Jake, give me Chester." Hex held out his hand.  

Carefully, Jake lifted Chester from his pocket and gave him to Hex. 

"You must look after Rose," Hex whispered. "It's up to you now." 

Jake stared at the sorcerer and whispered back, "Yes, Hex. I promise."  

Turning to Cathy Hex felt his heart break. She seemed so fragile and lost. He couldn't fail and leave her at the mercy of Prince Horace and his vile mother. He strode to her with his head high. Cathy had to know; that he would always return for her. 

"Don't fret, pet. I, Hex, will free you." Hex grinned at her and winked.  

"You better."  

"I swear on my honour." Despite his best efforts, his voice faltered, and when he embraced Cathy, his vision blurred with tears. Blinking, he stepped back and cleared his throat. "I'll see you soon. Take care, pet." 

"Goodbye, Hex."  

"You had better be leaving," Horace said. "It's a long journey to the Court of Clouds." 

Hex nodded, and with Chester on his palm, he took one last look at his family before leaving the castle. As he walked the drafty halls of the castle, his shiny black boots squeaked against the flagstones, his long cloak billowed behind him, and Chester remained silent. The journey ahead was a dangerous one, with little hope of success. 

With Hex gone, Cathy panicked. What if he didn't return? What if this was a trap? What if she never saw Jake again? 

Before she could reach her brother, Horace spoke, "Rose, my dear, it's time we left." 

"Cathy!" Jake ran and threw his arms around her. "I won't go! I won't!" 

"You will," Agnes croaked. "Or I'll turn you into a doll. Do as you are told, you naughty boy!" 

Cathy hugged her brother for the last time. "You must go... I'll be fine. I promise." 

Agnes prised Jake from Cathy by his ear. "Leave, child. You have no place here." 

"Come, Jake. We must do as Hex said." Rose gestured for him to join her. Jake wriggled free from the witch's bony fingers and rubbed his ear.  

Horace twiddled his silver coin between his clawed fingers while he waited for Rose and the boy to say their last goodbyes. Once they were beside him, Horace flipped his coin into the air, and all three vanished in a flash of green light. 

No one in the ballroom had dared to move or speak. The silence was deafening. Once Horace left, the music and the dancing resumed, as though nothing happened.  

Cathy and Agnes glared at each other, but neither spoke. The witch signalled to two waiting imps. On command, they rushed to stand on either side of Cathy.  

"Take her to her room," Agnes ordered, before turning her back on them. 

* 

It was midnight when Fred and Godfrey escorted Cathy from the ballroom and along the halls until they reached her bedroom. Fred unlocked the door and gestured for her to enter. 

Far too tired to argue. And more miserable than she'd ever been, Cathy stepped into her room.  

"Sleep well." Godfrey managed a weary grin. "Tomorrow is a new day." With a creak, Fred closed the door, and with a clatter, he locked it. 

Her bedroom was silent and empty, and everyone she cared about had left. Why did she sign that horrid contract? Jake warned her, but she hadn't listened. Cathy crossed the room and sat on her bed. She leant forward to take off her glass slippers. They may look beautiful, but they had rubbed blisters on her heels and pinched her toes until they bled. She threw the slippers on her bed and massaged her sore feet.  

Cluck... Cluck... Cluck  

Cathy bolted from her bed to the corner of her room. 

"Who's there?" 

Cluck... Cluck... Cluck 

Slowly, Cathy crouched and peered under her bed. "What are you?" 

Cluck... Cluck... Cluck 

From the darkest spot at the furthest edge, wandered a chicken.

"How did you get in here? Are you lost and alone, too?" She asked, trying to hold back her tears. 

The cockerel tilted his head as though he understood what she'd said, and when she edged closer, he didn't run or flap his wings. 

"Are you friendly?" Ever so slowly and gently, Cathy picked him up and cradled him. 

"What should I call you?" She stroked his feathers while she considered a suitable name. "I think I'll call you... Sebastian." 

* 

Shadow kept up with the sorcerer's brisk pace, leaving a safe distance between them. Where was he going? Why was he alone? Shadow's curiosity might kill him, but unable to resist, he followed. In the dark, he was undetectable. There but not there. Solid but not solid. Real but not real.

At least for now.