Agnes and Horace had decided it was time. Operation Sweetie House was a go.

All morning, Hex had seemed distracted. He'd barely said a word and hardly touched his boiled eggs and soldiers. Now he and Cathy waited in the entrance hall for Prince Horace to arrive.

"Cathy," Hex said suddenly, making her jump.

"Yes?"

"If anything should happen today, anything unexpected, I want you to know..."

Hex didn't finish his sentence as a flash of green lit up the hall, and Prince Horace arrived with a wide, wicked grin plastered across his face.

"Are we ready?" he asked, twiddling his silver coin between his clawed-fingers.

"Yes, Horace, we're ready." Hex grabbed Cathy's elbow and pulled her towards the prince.

"Very well then," the imp said. And in another flash, Cathy found herself in the Whispering Woods.

"Mummy," Horace called, looking around anxiously for the witch. "Where are you?"

"In here, dearest," she called from inside the house of sweets.

"Ah, there you are... I was so worried when I couldn't find you." Horace placed his coin into his waistcoat pocket and hurried towards the house.

Hex rolled his eyes and sighed loudly.

"Shall we?" He gestured for Cathy to follow Horace into the house.

"If we must," Cathy said, thinking Hex clearly found Horace and Agnes as nauseating as she did.

Inside the house, the witch had donned a disguise.

Instead of the vile decrepit creature, she truly was, a pretty young woman with brown hair and hazel eyes sat in a wooden rocking chair, embroidering a white cotton handkerchief with silver thread. Only her raspy voice gave her away.

"Oh poor you, mummy," Horace said, recoiling in horror. "You look dreadful."

"I know, sweetheart. But it's just until I catch a few of those fairy sprogs. Then I'll be back to my gorgeous self."

Cathy was sure the sorcerer retched.

"So, what's the plan?" Hex asked.

"The plan is..." said Horace. "Mummy will wait here until a victim... sorry, child... dares to venture inside our trap... I mean, house... and then, bam!" Horace clapped his hands. "The net will fall, catching the child. That's when you, Hex, throw this vial of sleeping spell into the house. Rendering the child helpless." Horace passed the vial to Hex.

"How horrid!" Cathy said before she could stop herself.

"Yes. I know." Horace cackled like a true villain.

"Very well," Hex said, studying the glass vial. "And where will you be?"

"Hiding, of course."

"Of course. How silly of me." Hex grabbed Cathy's arm and pulled her outside, where he whispered, "Listen to me carefully. For many years, I've had suspicions about Prince Horace. I had an inkling he and Agnes were involved with the disappearance of my wife, but I couldn't prove it. I've spent a long time building a relationship with them, hoping to find some clue whether it was them. Then maybe I could find her. Finally, I have what I've been searching for."

"You have?" Cathy asked.

"You see this vial?" Hex waved it in front of her. "I found one just like it in my home the day Rose vanished."

"Are you sure it's the same spell?"

"There's one way to find out. I'll take it home and compare it to the one I have." Hex placed the potion into his cloak pocket.

"So you weren't really helping Horace?"

"No." Hex frowned at Cathy. "What kind of monster do you think I am?"

Cathy felt sick. This whole time, he was trying to find Rose. He'd never intended to harm the children. But it was too late. She'd told Lilybeth Hex was responsible for the house of sweets. She'd completely misread the situation.

"Hex, you mustn't..." Before she could say another word, Horace scurried out of the sweetie house.

"Places people. It's showtime," Horace said, grinning. And faster than a speeding hare, he shot into the trees and ducked behind a clump of grassy weeds.

Hex grabbed Cathy by the arm and pulled her away from the sweetie house.

"Stay hidden. I can't risk anything happening to you," Hex whispered into Cathy's ear.

"You care what happens to me?" Cathy asked, crouching behind a tree.

"You're the only family I have left here. Of course, I care. Now stay quiet."

Hex headed back towards the house and took up his position, pressed against a wall by a window.

If Cathy tried to warn him now, she'd blow his cover. Prince Horace would know Hex used them to find his wife. And if they're involved with her disappearance, they'd know where to find her.

Cathy stayed silent and waited and watched.

*

The Fairy Guard spread out among the trees. Dressed in camouflage, they were undetectable as they crept closer to the clearing.

King Julius led the mission. He'd waited years to arrest Hex.

The king stayed low to the ground, darting from tree to tree and signalling to his men to keep moving. The sweetie house loomed in sight. He froze, gesturing for the guards to halt and duck. Raising his binoculars, Julius scanned the area.

He locked on to a target... Prince Horace. The imp was hiding behind a clump of weeds. Julius zoomed in... A set of bright yellow eyes peered through the long grass, the tips of his tall ears barely visible.

There was no sign of the witch. She must be inside the house.

Julius swept right... Crouched behind a tree was a girl... the girl. Lilybeth had told him about Cathy. She would be... he guessed... thirteen years old... so young, and so brave. In the sunlight, her fair hair glistened and her cheeks were rosy from the cold autumn weather. He zoomed in closer... her large blue eyes stayed locked in one direction... He followed her eye line, and hidden by a window was Hex.

It was now or never.

Julius lowered his binoculars and motioned over his shoulder for the guards to advance.

Creeping forwards, they trod lightly without making a sound. They were the elite of the Fairy Guard, trained for agility, speed, and stealth.

*

Cathy hadn't seen where they came from, but suddenly the clearing filled with guards. She rose to her feet and watched helplessly as the guards surrounded Hex. A boy who looked not much older than herself was shouting orders...

"Stop her!" he shouted, pointing inside the house.

There was a plume of black smoke and Cathy knew Agnes had escaped. The Fairy Guard staggered out of the house, coughing and rubbing their eyes. Whatever wicked spell she'd cast was powerful.

To Cathy's right, Horace rose from the weeds like a horrific scarecrow. He snarled as he yelled, "Mummy!"

Cathy watched his hand dip into his waistcoat pocket, and before the guards could reach him, he flicked the magic coin into the air. A flash of green lit up their faces as Horace vanished.

Hex made no effort to flee.

He dropped to his knees with his hands across the back of his head.

"I surrender!" he shouted. "I'll go with you, Julius. Whatever you want, I'll do it. Just, don't hurt Cathy."

The king leaned over Hex, his face full of contempt for the sorcerer.

"Why ever would we hurt Cathy?" he said. "She's working for us."

It was as if the king had struck him. Hex almost toppled sideways in shock.

"I'm sorry," Cathy yelled. "Hex..."

"Take him away," Julius ordered.

Hex glared at her while the guards placed him in shackles and escorted him from the clearing.

"Take Cathy back to Rune Hall, where she can collect her belongings. Then bring her to the castle," the king said. He pointed to the sweetie house and added, "And destroy this monstrosity."

*

Back at Rune Hall, they gave Cathy one hour to collect any items of value. Two guards waited outside whilst she packed.

There were only four items she kept.

Cathy changed into her dress, made of stars. She fastened the pendant around her neck and slipped the picture of Flo into her pocket.

Out of respect, she covered every piece of furniture in her bedroom with white sheets. She closed the window and drew the curtains.

Once downstairs, she slipped into Hex's study. Cathy quickly gathered every magical contract she could find. She piled them in the fire grate and struck a match, staying long enough to watch them burn to ash.

Before leaving, she took one last look. It would be as though she'd never stepped foot inside Rune Hall.

Cathy gently closed the door behind her.