She could restore the basement to how it had been before she’d broken it open. She saw now that there was a reason those ghosts had been inside. They were out of control, in a way that could only be isolated and contained. Even at her most furious, Harriet had never been like them.
She shouted at the top of her voice, “LISTEN TO ME, NOW!”
The nearest ghosts fell silent, and the quiet travelled like a wave through the rooftop until everyone was staring at her, waiting to hear what she had to say.
Harriet gulped, and then summoned Norma’s confidence. She would use her gran’s advice to get what she wanted, one last time. Then she was going to pretend that Norma had never existed. That was all she deserved.
“The Tricksters are gone,” she said, voice raised. “I’m in charge now.”
Several ghosts reacted in shock. They must not have noticed that Rufus and Vini had been destroyed. There was a pause, as they all took in what this meant. Some of them looked at Leah, and then back at Harriet.
Harriet paused, not daring to do anything that might endanger this grab for power. She tried to convey that she was tough and strong, like her grandmother. Finally, one of the ghosts dipped her head in Harriet’s direction. One after another, they started bowing to her. A few even knelt.
They were going to accept her. This was going to work. “I want all of you to follow me now. The battle here is done. There is a lot we need to discuss.”
Harriet summoned up all her strength, trying to convey an aura of strength and calm. With pain creaking in the deepest marrow of her bones, she strode across the roof and down the stairs, not letting herself turn her head to see if they were actually following her. She walked at a regal, steady pace – the kind of walk her grandmother had used.
The Tricksters’ army split apart from the students of Mulcture Hall, following her down the stairs to the basement. She stood in the doorway and waited until the room was full of ghosts. They glowed so brightly that the room was almost white with light.
Rima and the others stood in the hallway, watching her in confusion. Harriet raised one hand. “You’ve done well, my friends,” she told the ghosts.
Then she expanded her shield until it filled the perimeter of the basement, just like Qi’s lightning had done. It made a new barrier of solid glowing energy between her and the ghosts, glowing in the doorway, opaque and thick and impassable. Several of the ghosts ran at it and were flung backwards, snarling at Harriet.
Satisfied, she turned to Rima. “There. They won’t be able to get out. Not for a long, long time.”
Rima said, “Thank you. You’ve saved a lot of lives.”
Harriet shook her head. “I owe you a lot more than this. I’m sorry for what I’ve done and if you ever need my help, it’s yours. I owe you all a life debt.”
She held Rima’s gaze, and then nodded once.
None of them spoke, but she didn’t expect them to. They didn’t have to forgive her. She didn’t deserve that. But she had time – a whole eternity of it – to get back what they’d offered her when she first arrived in the hall. She’d gain their friendship one day. When she had earnt it.
FELIX
Harriet nodded at them, and then stepped through the shield into the basement. She moved through the crowd of furious ghosts, a new shield protecting herself from their wrath.
She had made the right choice. They couldn’t let her go unpunished for what she’d done, even if she had helped them at the last moment. Her crimes were too terrible for that. Harriet had to repent, at least for now. The basement was the best place for her.
When Felix turned away, Kasper was staring right at him. Suddenly, nothing in the universe existed except the two of them.
“I’m sorry,” Kasper said. “Fear was the worst emotion I could have given Rufus. I ruined our chances before we’d even started.”
“You’re back now. That’s all that matters.”
When they kissed, Kasper made a soft noise of approval in the back of his throat.
Felix said, “You know, bonds made in times of high peril don’t usually last once the shock has died away. People find each other too boring after everything calms down.”
Kasper kissed his nose. “I already know you’re boring, Felix. That’s not going to happen with us.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” Felix swallowed down the bubbles of perfect, complete happiness that were rising from his stomach.
“This is too pure for my sinful eyes,” Rima said. When they finally pulled away from each other, Felix saw that there were literal hearts in her eyes. Cody was sprawled in her arms, splayed out on her back in complete bliss as Rima rubbed her belly.
“You needed your fear back, Kasper,” Leah said. “Without the bittersweet, there’s no sweet.”
She smiled down at Claudia, a happiness on her face that Felix had never seen before. Felix still didn’t understand how Claudia had found so much energy for them, when they were forming the circle. Perhaps it was better if he didn’t. They were safe, and that was all that mattered.
“Though, can I go and have a nap, now?” Leah asked. She was holding Claudia in exactly the same position as Rima was cradling Cody.
“No!” they all chorused together.
Leah rolled her eyes.
“Get over here, Aeliana,” Rima said.
“Fight me,” she mumbled, and then sighed in contentment when Rima pulled them all into a hug.
“We did it, guys,” Kasper said, looking around like he was waiting for something to leap out at them. All was still and silent. Once again, Mulcture Hall was peaceful.
“Good work, squad,” Felix said.
“And they all lived happily ever after,” Rima said.
“We should be so lucky,” Leah muttered.
