The birds were awake and the sky was getting light. I forced myself to move. As I stood up I heard the soft clop of hooves in the lane. For one crazy moment I thought it was Sebastian coming to find me, but I saw the familiar figure of Josh, riding up to the school on his gray horse for the start of the new day. He saw me and quickly dismounted.

“Evie, what on earth are you doing out here? What’s the matter?”

I threw myself into his arms and began to weep, as though I were drowning in sorrow.

“There, there, Evie, it’s all right; I’m here….” He rocked me gently, like a child, and eventually the storm passed. My tears were over.

“I’m…I’m so sorry, Josh,” I stammered. “I’d better get back to school. I’ll be in trouble if they find out I’m not there.”

“Aren’t you in bigger trouble than that already?” Josh asked. “What’s going on, Evie? I guess you’ve been sneaking out to see this boyfriend of yours. If he’s upsetting you—”

“No,” I said quickly. “Nothing like that. It’s…it’s not his fault.”

“So what is it?”

I sighed. “I wish I could tell you, but you’d think I was crazy.”

“Just try me.”

I looked up at his honest face and saw that there was real concern in his eyes. I longed to be able to open my heart to him.

“The thing is…I’m worried about my boyfriend. He’s…well, he’s sick. And I’m so worried. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

“I’m sorry to hear he’s ill. But isn’t he getting any help? Aren’t his parents taking care of him?”

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to lie to Josh, but the truth was impossible. Cold and tired and miserable, I began to walk down the drive to the school. Josh followed me, leading his horse.

“I know that you don’t want to tell me about it, Evie, but I wish you didn’t have to keep everything a secret like this.” He glanced up at the hills that encircled the school. “This place has always been full of secrets. I don’t just mean all that stuff about Lady Agnes and her ghost. There’s other talk too. Weird stuff. But the truth comes out eventually.”

“Isn’t that just silly gossip?” I said wearily.

“I’m not so sure. There are stories that there’s some kind of mysterious cult based here—women worshippers who follow a pagan master, like a coven.”

“A c-coven?” I stared at him, flushed and amazed.

“Evie, I’m right, aren’t I?” Josh exclaimed. “Are you mixed up with all this? Are you in danger?”

“Y-you can’t believe all that stuff,” I stammered, trying to hide my feelings.

“I’ve lived on these hills all my life. They are full of mystery, like the stars and the rain and the sea. We know so little, really. I’ve learned that everything and anything is possible.”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“So who is this boy you’re seeing? Does he have anything to do with these women?”

I felt so torn. I wanted to tell him, but I couldn’t.

“Of course not,” I blustered. “And look, I really must hurry back to school. If anyone sees me I’ll say I got up early for a walk. Thank you so much, Josh, I’ll see you later.”

We had reached the stable yard.

I turned to go, but he caught my hand and gently drew me to him. “Look, Evie, I know your heart is somewhere else, but I want you to know that you can come to me if you need help.” He looked at me as if trying to read my thoughts, and then he smiled. “I see you’re still wearing the locket.”

I lifted my hand automatically to my throat. “Oh…yes…”

But I had seen it being thrown into the fire, tarnished by the heat. The chain had been broken, and yet now it was whole again, and the battered little locket lay quietly against my skin. Another mystery.

“Evie…oh, Evie, thank God—where have you been?” Sarah and Helen came running up. “Are you okay?”

“She’s tired and upset,” Josh said lightly. “I’ll let you look after her.” He swung away, whistling under his breath, and Sarah dragged me into Bonny’s warm stable.

“I woke up early and just knew that you weren’t in the school,” she said.

“We’ve been frantic about you,” exclaimed Helen. “What happened?”

I told them everything, reliving each painful moment of the scene with Sebastian.

“He didn’t want me in the end. It was the Talisman he wanted,” I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking. “And now this is Sebastian’s last day. I thought it was all going to be so different. But it was all for nothing. Everything that happened between us…he has forgotten it all. He’s forgotten that he ever loved me. And now…now it will happen, just like he said. He’ll become a…” I couldn’t say it. I began to cry again.

Helen took my hand. “Remember there are other powers at work,” she said. “We don’t see the whole pattern. It’s still not too late.”

“Like Agnes said, even death isn’t the end,” murmured Sarah.

“But this isn’t death, is it?” I said, almost crushed by misery. “Agnes died, and we know she has moved on in the journey; she lives in light in the next world, as the Creator planned. But Sebastian…” I fought for breath, then forced myself to speak the terrible words. “Sebastian will become a demon for all eternity, beyond the reach of prayers or hope. Endless night, endless suffering, lost to God, lost to humanity. Lost to me. Don’t talk to me about death! Death is a gift, a gateway and a release. This…this is evil beyond death!”

We fell silent; then I made the effort to speak again. “Look, I’m sorry. There’s no point in talking about Sebastian. The new moon will rise and it will all be over. I thought he loved me. I thought I could save his immortal soul. I was wrong on both counts. But thank you for trying to help me. You’ve been amazing.”

“We’re still here for you, Evie,” said Sarah, “if there is anything we can do.”

“Sisters to the end,” added Helen.

There was nothing else to say.

I walked across the stable yard and headed for my dorm to get changed. The rest of the girls had already gone to breakfast. I would be late for class, but I didn’t care. What did anything matter anymore? I had to learn to live again without Sebastian, without hope and without love.