A green fog crept along the damp flagstones. It swirled and bobbed through the dark tunnels, picking up speed as it headed for the maze's centre. Agnes had watched diligently and schemed endlessly, hoping this day would never come. And yet, despite everything, the child with mousey hair was here. She wouldn't allow the destruction of her dynasty and the end of the Imp Empire.

The boy must return to the human world, or he will die.

*

"We should leave here." Chester waited on the threshold of the cave while Tiny paced back and forth behind him.

"Are those your friends?" Rose asked, rising to her feet and brushing the dust from her dress.

Hex considered his answer. He'd lived most of his life in solitude. Being anti-social and bad-tempered meant few creatures ever really knew him. However, for reasons that escaped him, Chester seemed genuinely fond of him, and over time, he had grown fond of Chester in return. "Yes, these are my friends." Hex smiled at Chester.

"I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Rose," Chester said with a bow. "My name is Chester and this..." he gestured to the anxious troll, whose pacing was wearing a groove in the ground, "is Tiny."

"Go now!" Tiny said, swinging his bucket.

No one paid attention to the troll.

"Hex, where's Florence? Is she safe?" Rose placed her hand on his arm.

Hex had dreaded this moment; how would he explain his selfish behaviour had driven their beloved daughter away? Unable to speak the truth, he mumbled, "Florence is fine. She's somewhere far away from here."

"Good." Rose sighed with relief.

"Must leave!" Tiny stopped swinging his bucket and listened to the whistle of a sinister wind.

Still, no one heard him.

A shuffle of feet reminded Hex of the boy hidden in the shadows. "Come here."

Rose watched as Jake stepped closer. "Who is this?"

"Let me introduce, Jake..."

"Why is he here?" Rose's voice was full of concern as she studied Jake's face. "The fairy realm is no place for a human boy."

Tiny lifted his chin and sniffed the air... he had caught the whiff of someone nasty. Too late to rescue Chester, the green fog swirled past his ankles and into the cave. From the fog crept a frail figure; her black cape concealing her hollowed features and bony body.

Only a fool would underestimate this crone. And despite first impressions, Tiny was no fool. For such an enormous troll, his steps were surprisingly light as he backed away from the cave.

"Jake is Florence's grandson," Hex explained, unaware of the danger lurking behind him.

Rose frowned. "Florence's grandson? How long have I been asleep?"

"For over eighty years, my dear," Agnes said with a wicked grin. "Doesn't time fly?"

Hex spun around to face the witch. "Stay away!"

"Or what? You are powerless against me. I could turn you into stone with a flick of my hand if I wished."

"Then why don't you?" Chester asked, feeling brave for once in his life.

"Ah, Chester! Fancy seeing you here. You don't appear yourself. Let me help you." Before Chester could hide, Agnes flicked her hand. In a flash of yellow light, Chester turned back into a toad.

"Chester!" Jake yelled, running to scoop him up. "Are you ok?"

Chester's bottom lip quivered, "No... no... no... Not again!" he wailed.

Agnes cackled with delight. "Now, where's that traitorous troll?"

"Leave Tiny alone!" Jake shouted, placing a sobbing Chester inside his hoodie pocket. "You're a wicked old hag!"

Agnes frowned at the boy. "Call me old once more and you'll join your friend." She pointed a gnarled finger at Chester.

"Let my family go, Agnes, and I'll do whatever you ask." Hex considered kneeling before her if it would save them.

"It's not up to me." Her eyes glinted with mischief. "You'll have to plead with my son."

And in a flash, they no longer stood in the maze, but among a crowd of dancing imps.

*

As usual, Agnes timed everything to perfection. She was truly a wonder. Horace stopped dancing and shoved Cathy behind him. "Ah, there you are." Horace tried his best to control his excitement. He loved it when things played out exactly as he'd planned. "Stop the music!" he yelled. The ballroom became deathly silent as every imp, goblin and pixie watched their prince.

Horace's attention turned to Rose. "How delightful to see you awake, my dear."

Rose took a step back.

"Horace, what will it take to buy our freedom... Name your price... I'll give you all my secret spells."

Horace rolled his eyes. "I don't need your magic, Hex. I have plenty of my own."

Hex tried one last time... "I'll... I'll give you Rune Hall."

"You can't!" Cathy yelled.

"I can and I will... Horace, it's yours if you'll let us go."

Horace tapped a sharp claw on his grey cheek. "Hmm... For Rune Hall, you get Chester, the boy, and Rose. Cathy stays with me."

Hex shook his head. "I want Cathy as well, or it's no deal."

"It's not that simple. Cathy can't leave." Horace shrugged.

"Why?" Hex suddenly felt sick. He had a nasty feeling he wouldn't like what Horace said next.

"Cathy signed a contract." In a flash of green, Horace held a sheet of paper. "You may have broken Rose's sleeping curse, but you, of all fairies, know it's impossible to break this."

Hex's rage burned from the tips of his toes to the top of his head. If he didn't calm down, he may catch fire. "Show me that contract." Hex lunged to grab it, but Horace stepped beyond his reach.

"Is that any way to behave?" Horace's sharp teeth glinted in the candlelight. "It's all right here, Hex... Let me explain..." Holding the contract in front of him, Horace read,

In return for releasing... Jake (Human Boy) I... Cathy (Gem Maker) ... must remain at the Castle of Jewels with... Prince Horace (Ruler of the Imp Empire). Only an item of equivalent value will secure my freedom.

"But that's not fair!" Chester said from inside Jake's pocket. "Nothing is as valuable as a Gem Maker."

Hex snatched the contract from Horace and read. Each vile word confirmed his worst fears. Horace, a despicable, evil creature, had tricked Cathy out of her freedom.

"Chester, my thieving friend, that's not true." Horace looked behind him. "Is it, mummy?"

"No, sweetness. Of course not." Agnes seemed to appear from thin air. Her crooked bones creaked as she hobbled next to her son. With a sweep of her hand, the image of a land beyond the clouds appeared above their heads. A land Hex had never seen and wouldn't care to visit.

"Oh, my!" Chester squealed, popping his head out of Jake's pocket. "Could it be? Is that the Court of Clouds?"