He’d maintained the hypnotism as Norma swatted away the flies and saw Leah grabbing at Felix. Rufus had kept fighting him, with no idea what Felix was doing. He’d dragged Rufus away, trying to make it look like Leah was escaping.
Norma had attacked them, picking Rufus up by the collar. He’d stared at her in surprise – using Leah’s face. Then Norma shook her brother and took all his energy, until there was nothing left but dust.
Exhausted, Felix let the hypnotism drop. Leah and Claudia flickered back into visibility, still safely hidden in their bubble. He’d never used such a huge command before, and he would have lost control if he’d needed to hold it for any longer. But it had worked.
Rima stared at Leah, joy transforming her features. There wasn’t time for Felix to explain what had happened. Instead, he gestured at Norma, who was still enjoying her new rush of energy. “Rufus is gone. What are we going to do about her?”
“Whatever we do, we’re going to need Harriet’s help,” Rima said. “I’ve got a plan.”
HARRIET
Harriet had seen everything, and thought Felix was unbelievably clever. Norma was swaying on her feet, stoned out of her mind with all the new energy she’d taken from Rufus. In a few seconds, she’d open her eyes and the fight would continue. Harriet had to act now. She could use this.
If she could convince Norma that she was on her side, and would help her fight, then maybe Harriet could keep her distracted while the others came up with a plan.
She tightened the scarf holding her neck in place, and pushed away all her fear. She had to act like Rufus – as confident and relaxed as him. Norma would respect that. There was nothing she hated more than cowardice.
Harriet was just bracing herself to go over to her gran when a bird landed on her shoulder.
“Harriet, it’s me!” Rima said. “Listen, we need your help. We have a plan. We’re going to take away Norma’s powers, so she’ll disintegrate. But we need time. Can you distract her?”
Harriet didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I promise.”
Rima whispered, “Thank you, Harriet.” She flew off back to the others, her tiny wings working hard as she darted between the fighting ghosts.
Harriet watched her go, and then turned to Norma, who was just coming out of her energy high.
In a drawl, Harriet said, “Congratulations! It must be thrilling to get rid of her at last.”
Norma grunted. “Where are my brothers?”
Harriet winced. “We lost them. I’m sorry.”
Norma’s expression went blank and taut. She seemed taken aback for a moment, like the possibility of their disintegration had never even occurred to her. “I see. Well, there’s a lot for us to do without them. Time to tidy up the rest of this mess.”
Harriet’s heart jumped. She had started to relax, but this wasn’t over yet. Just because Rufus and Vini were gone didn’t mean that Norma was harmless.
Harriet tried to steer her away from Leah, expanding the protective shield to include Rima, Felix and Kasper, too. She made it as solid as possible, so that there were only blurred shapes visible inside, with indistinct features. As long as Norma didn’t look closely, they were hidden. Harriet was going to protect them until her dying breath.
LEAH
Leah cradled Claudia close to her chest, unable to believe they’d faced down Fabian and survived. For now, at least.
But there wasn’t time to comfort each other. Rima flew back from where she’d been talking to Harriet, and immediately launched into business. “She agreed. Let’s do the ritual!”
Harriet was talking to Norma, who kept playing with her empty eye socket, touching the edges with her fingers.
They would have to work fast. Harriet wouldn’t be able to keep her distracted for long.
Leah had tested this with Harriet’s eyelid, working out how to isolate the frequency her spirit vibrated at, then amplifying it. She would be able to use the small piece of Norma’s spirit as a connection to draw the excess energy out of her. They could make her weak enough to destroy, hopefully. Leah would die trying in any case.
“Form a circle,” she told them, taking Rima’s hands.
Rima held Kasper’s wounded hand as he winced. Felix finished the circle, looping his hand around Leah’s arm where she held Claudia. Claudia gripped on to his thumb tightly.
Leah took some strength from Rima and Felix’s warmth. Whatever happened with Norma, she couldn’t lose her friends. Not if there was a chance they might survive this.
She tuned into the hair, searching out the specific wavelength of Norma’s power. It tasted so similar to Fabian’s that it almost repulsed her, but she swallowed down her bile and focused on making a connection.
There was a click, and she connected. She could feel every movement Norma made. If this worked, Leah would be able to drain away Norma’s powers by pulling them out of her, through the hair and skin.
“Got it! Now, give me your energy. As much as you can spare. I need it all.”
A pulse of energy came immediately from Rima and Felix, pushed from their hands into Leah’s.
Norma must have felt something strange because she spun around, searching for the source. When she spotted Leah, her expression changed to absolute fury.
HARRIET
Harriet was still doing her best to distract Norma, watching over her shoulder as Leah and the others formed a circle. She didn’t know how that would help them weaken Norma, but she trusted Rima.
“We should gather some more servants,” Harriet said, gesturing to a ghost on the far side of the rooftop, who was shooting thunderclouds out of his arms.
“Good idea.” Norma started walking through the mass of battling ghosts. They parted in her wake, wary and respectful, even mid-fight. Harriet followed her, relieved that her suggestion had worked.
Then Norma paused. “I would like to taste Aeliana’s loved ones, though,” she said, and cast a
