As Cathy stepped through the mirror into the grand hall, the sharp end of several swords greeted her.

To her left, Jake was already on his knees with a guard on either side, their hands pressed on his shoulders.

"Back so soon?" The king asked as the guards parted. "I'm surprised you dare show your face."

Cathy glanced at her brother. His eyes were wide and his face pale. He looked as though he would vomit at any minute. Cathy remembered the first time she travelled through the portal and how dreadful she'd felt.

"Jake, it's ok. It's the magic," she said and tried to reach him.

"Stay where you are!" the king said.

"Cathy, what's happening?" Jake whimpered in fear as the guards yanked him to his feet.

"Take the boy to the dungeons," the king ordered.

"Please, King Julius, my brother has nothing to do with this. He's never been here. He doesn't know who Hex is."

Ignoring her plea, the king waved his hand, and the guard escorted a sobbing Jake from the grand hall.

When the sound of Jake's wails faded, the king turned his attention to Cathy.

Cathy scanned the stern faces of the Fairy Guard. The enormity of her situation slowly dawned on her. By saving Hex, she had made herself their enemy.

"If you expect me to show mercy, you will answer my questions." The king gestured for his guards to lower their swords. He strode towards her with the regal grace of a lion—A starved lion with its prey well in its sights.

Her instincts told her to run, but there was no escape. She raised her chin in defiance.

When Julius stood before her, his eyes met hers. What she found etched on his perfect face expressed utter disappointment.

Cathy expected disgust. She expected judgement. She would prefer anger. She lowered her eyes.

"As I thought," Julius said, his voice controlled. "The guilt will eat you from within, Cathy."

Cathy dared to glance at the king. His appearance was one of youth, of boyish looks and carefree ways. But that was an illusion. King Julius was far older than he appeared, and he was no fool. He'd seen what lurked within Cathy in less than a second.

"Follow," Julius said, striding towards a door at the back of the grand hall. Cathy froze, her feet glued to the spot—Until a guard clapped a heavy hand on her shoulder and pushed her forward.

Cathy jerked away from the guard and stumbled after the king. A murmur of amusement came from the guards as she hurried to keep up. She followed the king into a much smaller room which contained a desk and a shelf full of books bound in dark brown leather and embossed with gold writing.

One entire wall was a large hand-painted map.

Cathy tried to decipher the thick forests, the blue rivers, lakes, and streams, and the sprawling green lands. The map showed the fairy realm divided into two. The Eternal Flame Realm of the south, and the Evergreen Realm of the north. She was in the north.

But where was Rune Hall?

Dotted around the woods were many small fairy villages, a sprawling troll village, and several large goblin towns. And weaving from one end of the map to the other was a narrow river. She squinted at the writing alongside it.

The Brook of Spells. Realm of the Water Sprites.

And beyond the sea was a land cloaked in darkness. Written in bold, the map read: THE IMP EMPIRE.

Cathy recognised only one spot on the map. A clearing in the Whispering Woods where the house of sweets had stood.

Her horrible house of sweets. Not Hex's. She gripped the back of a chair to steady herself.

Not now. She needed to be strong for Jake.

"Do not faint," the king said, studying her white knuckles as she clutched the chair for support.

"I'm fine." Cathy let go of the chair and forced herself to stand straight.

"Sit," the king ordered and pointed to the chair by his desk. "Now!"

Cathy did as he instructed before her knees gave way.

Only then did she notice a figure sitting in a chair, half hidden by a tall bureau.

"Lilybeth, thank goodness you're here," Cathy said. At last, a kind face. Someone who wouldn't judge her so harshly.

"Cathy," the fairy godmother replied, in a voice she hardly recognised. Gone was the warmth. Gone was any sign of affection.

Cathy's heart thumped. Even Lilybeth. What would become of her?