Vini was still creeping towards Kasper. He swallowed again and again, trying to ignore his fear. When Felix pushed Kasper behind him, he let himself be moved. Unlike Felix and Rima, he had no way of protecting himself, if this became a fight. His power was useless against other ghosts. Physical strength didn’t mean much when your opponent could summon monsters inside your head.
“What might you need this eyelid for, Mr Anekwe?”
“That’s none of your business,” Rima said, and then flinched when Rufus turned his attention on her.
“Rima Hamid, is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.” She shrunk in on herself.
“Ms Hamid, you are also welcome to join us. We’ve always dreamed of a power like yours. The possibilities are endless,” Rufus said dreamily. “Have you ever thought about producing hallucinogenic snake venom? We’ve become so bored with all the usual methods of having fun, after all these years. Venom would add a little edge to our days.”
There was an uncomfortable pause. “No, thank you,” she said, very politely.
“I suppose the same is true of the coward in the back? Mr Jedynak, it’s amazing that you’ve survived this long. You reek of fear like a frightened little rabbit.”
Kasper’s heart raced. He couldn’t think of a reply.
“Do you still have the eyelid?” Rima persisted.
“We still have the eyelid. But there’s only one thing you can offer that we’d accept.”
“What?” Felix asked, sharply.
“I want Kasper’s power, of course,” Rufus said. “And not just to borrow. I want to take it off him for good.”
“Absolutely not,” Rima spat out, while Kasper was still remembering how to breathe. “You can’t take it off him. He could disintegrate!”
Kasper felt sick. He’d been planning to let them use it once, not give it up completely.
Vini laughed.
Rufus sighed. “How disappointing. No power, no eyelid. I look forward to seeing what Harriet does next.”
“You can’t do this!” Felix snapped. “You can’t give her the knowledge to destroy people and then let her run wild.”
“And why not?” Rufus said. “None of you have ever done anything for us. In fact, your alignment with Aeliana proves that our interests are in direct opposition.”
Rima gasped.
“Aeliana?” Felix asked, looking confused.
“Leah,” Rufus said. “I’d hoped you’d have brought our dear sister with you. Please pass on our regards to her – and our niece.”
“Wait, Leah?” Rima asked in shock. “Leah is your sister?”
Kasper was surprised, to say the least. Why had Leah never mentioned this?
Rufus continued, “Well. Sister by marriage. We haven’t seen her in far too long. She shouldn’t feel like she can’t pop in for a visit. I’m sure we can find a way past what Claudia did.” His eyebrow twitched.
Leah was related to Rufus and Vini? Really?
“What Claudia did,” Felix repeated. Kasper looked at him out of the corner of his eye, confused.
“Don’t tell me she hasn’t told you. Aren’t you all a family now?” When none of them responded, he laughed. “Well. I suppose Leah has complicated ideas about what being a family means. You know how it is with brothers, Felix. Have a little sympathy.”
Felix grimaced. Kasper didn’t know what they were talking about, but he couldn’t stand here and do nothing. They had to stop Harriet. He wanted to offer up his power, but since Oscar’s death, he knew first-hand why the Tricksters should never be trusted with it.
Kasper was too afraid to think of any other ways to help. His fear got in the way of everything, eating away at him and hurting the people around him. He wanted to tear that feeling out of his chest, so he could be useful for once. Greg got on just fine without his worry, didn’t he?
Kasper suddenly knew what he had to do. He spoke up, interrupting Felix’s increasingly frantic attempts at negotiation. “I want to talk to Rufus alone.”
Felix started. “What? Kasper, no!”
“I know what I’m doing. I promise.”
He touched Felix’s wrist, but he just looked hard at him, not moving an inch.
“Felix, let him talk.” Rima tugged him outside, leaving Kasper alone.
Utterly defenceless now, Kasper looked straight at Rufus.
“So, Mr Jedynak. What do you want to say to us? Have you changed your mind about giving up your power? There is a chance you’d survive it, you know.”
Vini crept closer to Kasper, slow and smooth. He pressed his back against the wood of the door, focusing on the thought of Felix waiting for him on the other side, centimetres away.
“I’m not giving you my power. That is non-negotiable. But I’ll give you my fear. I know you took Greg’s worry. I want you to do that to me too.”
Rufus blinked. He took an eager, hungry step forwards. “Your fear? All of it?”
“I know you can feel it. I’m terrified, all the time. I hate it. I want to be able to fight without terror freezing me in place. Please. Take it.”
“You understand that you’ll be different, afterwards. It’s not something that ever comes back. Being fearless will impair your judgement.”
Kasper would survive. Felix could tell him when he was doing something stupid, just like he did now. “I understand. Do it.”
Rufus cradled Kasper’s jaw in his hand, breathing in deeply. “Last chance, Mr Jedynak. Do you want this?”
Kasper closed his eyes, tilting his head back. He was absolutely, bone-deep terrified. And he wanted to be rid of it. “Take it. Take it all.”
When the pins and needles started, Kasper had to hold back a scream. He’d made a mistake – Rufus wasn’t going to stop at taking his fear; he was going to take all of Kasper’s energy, he was going to destroy him, and Harriet would run wild for ever, and she would kill Felix and Rima and Leah and Claudia, and—
The fear dropped away, immediately and completely. He felt calm. Confident.
He reached up and pulled the hand off his neck, pushing him away.
“That’s enough,” he said. “You’ve got it all.”
Rufus was glowing. “Oh,” he cooed. “You were so afraid. How
