Tide - By Daniela Sacerdoti Page 0,39

in the sky above the Midnight garden by now, delighting Bryony, if not the others.

“It’s so beautiful,” she said, over and over, snapping away.

Elodie and Sean materialized at Sarah’s side. “This is crazy! What were you thinking?” she hissed. “It’s dangerous for her to be here. Who knows what’s out here, waiting?”

“Elodie …” Sean tried to smooth things over, to no avail.

“I didn’t know what else to say, Elodie,” Sarah explained. “She was so insistent.”

“‘No’ would have been a good choice.”

Sarah’s tone was hard. “Well, too late now. She won’t stay long.”

Nicholas had overheard their conversation, in spite of their whispers. “Hey, hey. It’s good for Sarah to invite friends round,” he intervened, wrapping a protective arm around Sarah’s shoulders.

Sean gaped at him. He’s so condescending! Like he’s pandering to the whim of a small child. Sarah would never take this tone from anyone.

Would she?

But Sarah was not saying anything.

“Even if their lives are in danger?” Sean said in a low voice, and immediately regretted it. Silent memories of what happened to Leigh rose between them.

“Nobody will be killed here tonight,” said Nicholas, looking straight into Sean’s eyes.

“What a chilly night!” exclaimed Bryony, striding across the grass and slipping her arm into Sarah’s. “I think I’m nearly done now. I took some lovely shots. Just a few more … Are you OK? Are you cold? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”

Sarah and Bryony walked on under the clear and cloudless sky. A frosted halo shone around the moon like a crown of ice. The moonlight was bright but they used their torches, just in case. Not a whisper of wind moved through the trees and the bushes, not a noise was to be heard except for footsteps on the frosty grass. Sarah tucked her arm into Bryony’s.

“Harry is back! You didn’t tell me!” whispered Bryony. “Oh, hello, Shadow!” she added as the cat darted between them.

“He just … appeared,” answered Sarah, bending to stroke Shadow’s fur before the cat disappeared silently towards the back of the garden. “You know what he’s like.”

“You’re always full of mysteries, Sarah. I can’t keep up.”

Sarah sighed. “Yes, it sort of works out that way.”

“And is that his girlfriend? Elodie?”

Sarah stiffened. “No. No, she isn’t. Just a friend.”

Or is she? She recalled the sight of Sean and Elodie through the cottage window earlier that evening. Everything was so complicated.

“This place is incredible, really.” Bryony looked around. “It’s like a little castle.”

“Yes. It’s beautiful. I love my house.” Sarah’s words were full of meaning.

Bryony understood at once. “With Harry back, you won’t have to leave. Your aunt Juliet can’t argue with that, can she?”

“No. Well, she’s tried, but … no. By the way, we’re going to Islay for Christmas. You know, to my grandparents’ house.”

“House? Mansion, more like! I’ve seen the pictures!”

“Well, yes.”

“Are your aunt and uncle going with you? And your cousins?”

“No. Just us. And Harry.” She decided to forget about Elodie.

“Wow, you and Nicholas spending Christmas together. It’s a big step!” Bryony’s eyes widened.

“Not in our situation. His mum and dad are abroad, mine are dead …” Sarah faltered and shrugged.

“Yes, of course. Sorry. It’s just very grown up, I suppose.”

“It’s OK.”

“He seems …nice. Nicholas, I mean.” She chose her words carefully. “He reminds me a little of your dad, in a way.” Your dad scared me too, Bryony thought.

“He is. He really is. I never thought of that before.” Sarah seemed quite pleased with the idea.

Bryony sighed. “It’s about time you had a boyfriend, Sarah!” She teased her. The sound of the girls’ laughter broke through the perfect silence.

Sean and Elodie were walking behind the girls, keeping an eye on them.

“This is crazy,” Elodie repeated once again.

“I know. It’s the way it is, in Sarah’s world.”

“Doesn’t make it less crazy.”

“You’ve been brought up as a Secret heir. Properly, I mean. Nearly everybody around you knew what you knew. But Sarah has always lived in the real world, hidden from what her family does. It’s not easy, for her, to accept the Secret world.”

“It’s not easy for any of us,” snapped Elodie.

Sean rested a hand on her arm for a second, and a silent understanding passed between them. Elodie’s hair glowed golden in the light of Sean’s torch, and her face was full of shadows.

“I know things are taking a strange turn, but you’ve got to trust me. I’ll keep everyone alive. And we’ll find a way to end all this.”

Elodie nodded. “I know. I know we will. We must.”

Sean squeezed her hand,