Hester’s eyes were wide with anticipation. ‘I want fireworks!’
‘I hope there will be nothing of the sort,’ I said primly. I crooked my finger at them and they settled in their usual positions on my shoulders. I cast another look at Hugo’s tense expression; the faster this was done, the better.
Gordon opened the front door before I reached it, smiled awkwardly at me in greeting, and looked at Hugo and the second Jeep. ‘They’ll wait out here,’ I said.
He blinked, suggesting that he understood Hugo’s reasons for staying outside. Maybe he did. He held open the door. ‘Welcome to my home,’ he said. ‘You have no idea how happy I am that you’re here, Daisy. I’m so glad you found the skull. This will change everything.’ He sounded certain, and I hoped he was right.
I headed down a narrow corridor with polished wooden flooring into a small kitchen. I hadn’t given much thought to Gordon’s house, but I suppose I’d expected an empty bachelor pad with the inevitable collection of nerdy memorabilia neatly displayed and meticulously dusted. That image couldn’t have been farther from the truth.
Gordon’s home was certainly clean, but it was cluttered and homely. Family photographs decorated the walls alongside little watercolours of local beauty spots. There were some items I’d expect to see in a sorcerer’s house, such as old books relating to runes, but mostly what was on display was pretty crockery, simple wooden carvings and well-tended plants.
He was obviously a competent cook as well: the kitchen was bursting to the seams with equipment. There was an old mixer that looked as if it had come from the 1950s, a heavy marble rolling pin, and several tubs of carefully labelled baking ingredients.The heavenly scent of baking bread wafted from the old oven. I was impressed.
Hester gave a low whistle. ‘Nice! Are you a baker?’
Gordon’s cheeks flushed. ‘I try.’
‘Wonderful!’ Otis beamed.
‘Thank you.’ He clasped his hands. ‘Would you like something to drink? I can brew a pot of coffee, or I have a collection of nice teas.’
Given that Hugo and the others were waiting outside, I thought it wise not to linger. ‘That’s very kind of you, Gordon,’ I said. ‘But we won’t stay for long.’ Hester pouted.
I delved into my pocket and tried my hardest not to add a dramatic flourish as I pulled out the skull. I’d cleaned it, and when I placed it on the kitchen table the sunlight streaming in through the window made it glint.
Gordon breathed out. ‘Oh.’ He paused. ‘Oh. I wasn’t expecting it to be so pretty. Was it difficult to find?’
I considered telling him the whole story then decided against it. ‘All in a day’s work,’ I said. Which was kind of true. ‘Now, can you tell me what it does? I can feel its magic every time I touch it. It’s obviously powerful.’
‘It certainly is.’ He was still gazing reverently at the skull. ‘This will do it. This will reveal the truth about Lady Rose’s disappearance once for and all.’
‘How?’
Gordon picked it up and turned it over. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘you might not believe this but?—’
He didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence because the doorbell rang. He jerked and his brow creased, and he handed the skull to me. ‘Wait a minute. I’ll go and see who that is.’
I wondered idly if it was Hugo; perhaps he’d decided to join us after all. Warmed by the thought, I followed Gordon. I paused by the kitchen door and squinted towards the end of thehallway; the brown-haired man standing at the front porch was wearing a postman’s uniform.
As soon as I saw him, my skin started to itch. I opened my mouth and gave a strangled yell. ‘Gordon!’ He hesitated. ‘Gordon! Get back here!’
He turned. ‘What is it?’
‘That’s no postman – your postman has already been and gone.’ I stared fearfully at the man. He looked human and he didn’t appear threatening, but I already knew that powerful fiends could take on other forms. And from the way my body was prickling, I knew exactly which fiend was on Gordon’s doorstep.
The ‘postman’ leaned forward. ‘Hello, daughter.’
My body screamed at me. I lunged for Gordon to pull him safely behind me, but my limbs wouldn’t obey me; terror had taken over. The floor of the sweet little house juddered as uncontrolled earth magic flowed out of me. Heat surrounded me and, when I looked down, flames were licking outwards from my body.
‘That’s it. Keep going,’ Athair said encouragingly.
‘Daisy,’ Gordon hissed. ‘What’s happening?’
I opened my mouth but no words would come.
Otis shrieked and threw himself into my pocket as Hester yelled in my ear, ‘Your hands! Daisy!’
I gazed at the tiny flickers of lightning sparking between each fingertip. I was still clutching the skull and, horrifyingly, I felt it change temperature. Within three beats of my adrenaline-fuelled heart, it was icy cold. I gasped, dropped it and it thudded at my feet.
