The Malice was still screaming. It clenched its fists in frustration, then turned to look at the Family.
‘No matter. I can finish the job myself.’
Mirabelle felt her stomach lurch as the Malice advanced towards them. Jem grabbed her arm.
They were both almost knocked off their feet as Enoch took flight. Mirabelle punched the air and bellowed as he landed on the Malice and sent it flying into the dirt. People scattered, but the Malice was on its feet in seconds, and as Enoch launched himself at him again the Malice sidestepped, and a claw flashed through the air and took Enoch in the wing. Now it was Enoch’s turn to hit the dirt, and he tumbled over and over, attempting to form a protective cocoon with his wings, but Mirabelle could see that one of them was twisted back, as if something had been broken.
Mirabelle started down the steps, but Jem pulled her back, mouthing the word ‘no’.
Enoch lay on the ground. He tried to raise himself up, but fell back. The Malice loped towards him, smiling. Its smile vanished when Freddie stepped between it and Enoch. The Malice halted its advance, cocking its head in surprise. Freddie was joined by his mother, then his father. A bedraggled but defiant-looking Mr Teasdale followed and stood with them. Gradually more of the villagers followed, all of them forming a barrier between the Malice and Enoch.
‘Don’t you dare take another step,’ said Freddie.
The Malice looked at Enoch’s would-be rescuers with mild astonishment, then it doubled over as it burst out laughing.
‘Oh my. It seems the useful idiots have found a new purpose. How utterly marvellous.’
It straightened up, wiping tears of laughter from its eyes. Freddie glared at it.
‘Is this the best any of you can offer?’ the Malice jeered.
‘We won’t give up without a fight,’ Mirabelle shouted.
The Malice shook its head and smirked. ‘Oh, but you will.’ It suddenly sniffed the air and looked up into a tree just above him. Mirabelle could see the leaves moving, and she looked around her at the others standing on the steps and realized something with a sickening clarity.
‘No,’ she shrieked.
It was too late. The person in the tree leaped at the Malice, screaming in rage. The Malice was surprised only for a second, then its claws closed around thin air and its mouth widened.
Mirabelle ran down the steps towards the Malice. Gideon materialized in its claws. He was slashing the air with his hands, biting and snapping in an effort to reach the Malice. The Malice laughed at him.
‘You’re a feisty little one, aren’t you?’ the Malice sneered. It sniffed the air just above Gideon’s head. ‘And brand new too. You’ll be nice and fresh. Lovely and sweet. I might save you till last.’
It wagged a clawed finger as it caught sight of Mr Fletcher taking a step towards him. ‘Now, now, Mr Fletcher. I wouldn’t if I were you.’ It waved the same finger back and forth across Gideon’s neck. ‘There’s no telling what I might do.’
Freddie laid a hand on his father’s arm, and Mr Fletcher took a reluctant step back.
‘Put my brother down,’ Mirabelle growled at the Malice. Her heart was pounding, and it seemed to her as if the whole night was throbbing with pain, and that ache within her was worse than ever. It had become steadily stronger as the night had progressed.
The one-eyed raven dropped from the night sky and landed on her right shoulder.
The Malice nodded at it. ‘He knows. He knows what you are. You’re carrion. Meat only fit to be eaten by crows. Isn’t that right, Mr Raven?’
The raven glared at him.
Mirabelle’s breathing became steadier. She looked at the raven and it cawed at her. She had felt oddly serene as soon as it had landed on her shoulder. As if it felt . . .
The Malice sniffed the air again. ‘You’re an odd one,’ it said to Mirabelle. It sniffed again. ‘You don’t smell right, you smell . . . different.’ It shrugged. ‘No matter. Like I said. Carrion.’
Its mouth started to grow. Its eyes misted, greyed over and bulged. Its claws elongated, and Mirabelle could see his teeth sharpen and multiply. The ache within her was insistent now. Gideon squirmed, but the Malice had a firm grip on him, and it brought him closer and closer to his jaws. All eyes were on the Malice. Only Mirabelle could see the birds on the wall take to the sky. A handful at first.
It felt right, that’s what she thought to herself as the first raven slammed into the Malice. The raven landing on her shoulder had somehow felt right.
The raven hit the Malice in the side of the face with a glancing blow. It was enough to cause it to drop Gideon. Gideon scampered up the steps and straight into the arms of Eliza.
The Malice looked enraged. It took a step towards Mirabelle, a clawed hand outstretched. It opened its tooth-filled maw.
‘You will—’
Another raven hit him. This one with the force of a bullet. The Malice put a clawed hand to its cheek, not quite believing what was happening. Another raven hit, then another. Each one collided with a loud, percussive smack.
Mirabelle looked at the wall. A cloud of ravens rose up. They flew over the estate. They circled and shrieked, cawing as they went round and round above the crowd. The Malice looked up and snarled.
Mirabelle looked at the one-eyed raven and nodded. He cawed. She looked at the cloud of ravens and she willed them downwards.
They descended in a black cloud of fury, hammering the Malice straight into the dirt. One wave followed after another, until the creature was pummelled into the ground. They ripped and they shredded, tearing away bits of flesh. Mirabelle saw a claw severed from its limb, and felt a little dart of pleasure as the Malice screamed. She looked at her family
