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Jet-black eyes have the dead, fixed stare of most statues, but the moonlight is catching them in a way that makes them glitter. I swallow hard, the click in my throat loud in the still night.

“Okay. Let’s do this,” Levi says. When I startle, he draws close and asks, “You okay? Are you sensing anything?”

“Plenty,” I say in a low voice. “But I’m not sure how much of it is due to being in a creepy statue garden in the middle of the night.”

His eyes run over my face, taking me in and analysing all the possible things I’m not saying. Then he just nods. It’s so purely Levi that for a moment, my love for him pushes away the dread.

I grab his arm and pull him close, whispering into his ear, “We’re not alone and I know something is coming. Let’s be really quick with this.”

He picks up his spade. “You keep a lookout,” he says steadily.

I stand close, because he’s the most precious thing to me in this garden and the entire universe beyond.

A faint mist is starting to creep across the grass. Tattered like lace, it touches on statues, moving over them like a caress. Branok paces by the wall, his eyes intent. I want to ask him if he senses anything, but I know not to speak loudly in this garden now.

Levi’s spade is the only sound, the muffled thuds and occasional ping as he hits stone.

“This is hard going,” he murmurs. “The ground is so dry.”

I frown. “Should it be dry? We’ve had rain lately.”

“It’s like the ground is dead,” he says grimly.

Shudders run through me, gentle at first but soon they’re running down my body like tramlines, making my hands tremble and my legs jump. I’m freezing cold, and when I exhale, my breath is white on the air. Whatever it is, it’s near and very aware of us.

“Hurry up,” I breathe so softly it barely registers in my own ears, but Levi strips off his jacket and tackles the shovelling at an even faster pace, sweat glistening on his brow.

Finally, there’s a thud and the digging stops. “I’ve got something,” he whispers.

I peer down into the now-deep hole. An object wrapped in fabric rests at the bottom.

“Hold my arm,” Levi says.

“Careful.” I grab him. “Let me do it.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t know what it is. I don’t want you to touch something that’s dangerous.”

He rolls his eyes. “Great. So, I’ll have to stand back and watch you suffer instead? No, thank you very fucking much.”

Before I can stop him, he sets a foot inside the hole and crouches to scoop up the bundle.

“Levi,” I snap, hauling him back as he wobbles precariously. “Twat.” I snatch the bundle off him.

“Careful,” he chides.

I set the bundle on the ground and we crouch over what appears to be oilcloth wrapped around a large rectangular object.

“What is it?” Branok calls.

“Not sure yet,” I mutter.

Levi looks at me. “It feels like a book. Is this it?”

“I think so,” I whisper. Pressure is growing in my head, settling heavily against my temples, cheeks, and mouth. I raise my hand to massage my face, but it doesn’t help. The grip grows skull-crushingly tighter.

“You alright?” Levi asks. “Blue?”