In a plume of green smoke, Cathy appeared beside Jake in the entrance hall of Prince Horace's castle. Cold and dreary, the place reminded Cathy of King Julius' dungeon, and she would sooner be there than stood opposite Prince Horace. The imp's yellow eyes glinted as he stepped closer.

"Quickly, now. Follow me." Horace popped his magic coin into his pocket and scurried along the vast hall, his shoes clicking on the worn flagstones. From the vaulted ceilings grand chandeliers twinkled in the candlelight. Tapestries, swords, and shields of many sizes adorned the stone walls, and every so often they passed a perfectly polished suit of armour.

Jake trailed behind the imp. He hadn't spoken since they left Shadow.

"Are you ok?" Cathy whispered, rushing to keep up.

"No. Of course not."

"We'll be fine," Cathy said, trying to reassure herself as much as her brother. "Hex will find us."

"Not before the witch turns me into a doll." Jake glared at the back of Prince Horace's head. "I'm doomed to spend eternity in this dreadful place."

Cathy grabbed Jake's arm and squeezed. "I promise I won't let them turn you into a doll. Horace wants me to hiccup gemstones, so if they try to hurt you, I'll refuse to cooperate."

Jake turned to face her. "Do you promise?"

"I promise."

"Keep moving!" Horace growled without looking back.

At the end of the hall, Horace stopped at an unusually large wooden door. Turning the cast iron handle, he pushed it open. The children followed Horace inside.
In the fireplace, an enormous cauldron boiled, and a huge wooden spoon leant against the wall. Steam drifted from the bubbling liquid; the smell so bad it could peel wallpaper. Cathy clamped her hand over her nose.

"Mummy," Horace called. "Where are you?"

"Right here, sweetheart," the witch replied in her raspy voice.

"I have a surprise for you." Horace sounded pleased with himself.

From beside the cauldron, Agnes shuffled closer. "Hello, Cathy. How nice to see you." The witch grinned, revealing her rotten teeth, and her gaze drifted to Jake. "What have we here?" she squealed, "A boy! A human boy! How delightful." Agnes crept nearer. Cathy tugged Jake's sleeve and pulled him behind her.

Agnes paused and turned to Horace. "Her brother, I presume?"

"Yes, mummy. Didn't I do well?" Horace waited for his mother's praise.

"Darling, you're a genius." Agnes beamed at her son. "He will make a fine addition to my collection."

Cathy felt Jake tremble behind her. "He will not, you wicked old crone!"

Horace's smile vanished. "How dare you speak to mummy like that?"

"I'll speak to her however I please. If you want me to create gemstones, you'll let Jake go."

Horace clenched his clawed hands by his sides. "Now, listen, child. You will do as I say, or I'll throw you into my Maze of Monsters."

"That's fine by me. I would rather be in the maze than help you." Cathy's knees wobbled and her tummy flipped, but Horace couldn't sense her fear.

For a moment, he considered what she'd said. Soon, a crafty smirk replaced his frown. "Very well, Cathy. I will not allow Jake to leave, but I will spare him for as long as you complete the tasks I set. The moment you fail, mummy gets the boy. Are we in agreement?"

"Cathy...don't," Jake said, shaking his head. "It's a trick."

Cathy agreed with Jake. It was a trick.

"Well?" Horace tapped his foot.

Cathy nodded. "Ok. I agree."

"Marvellous." Horace clapped, creating green sparks, and a floating contract. In her hand, Cathy held a large black quill. Horace tapped his claw on the space marked with a cross. "Sign here."

Cathy hesitated.

"Please... don't," Jake whispered.

"Sign it, or don't sign it... Either way, I'll get my wish." Horace winked at his wicked mother.

"Yes, child... Either way." Agnes' beady eyes narrowed as she waited.

Cathy raised the quill above the parchment. Horace hadn't specified what tasks or how many, but she needed to buy Hex time. And despite vowing never to sign a magical contract, she scribbled her name.

"Excellent," Horace said, as the contract and quill vanished.