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but he was more worried about what it meant.
    “Then … how do I stop more planes going down? How do I make sure he can't control what I write?”
    “I'm not sure of that either. You'll have to try and fight him, or use a protection spell before you sleep; he can only reach you in your dreams – that's the only time he's corporeal. Any other time, he's just a shadow … maybe have Karl protect you...” She said this reluctantly, her disdain audible. He was used to it by now. He'd always assumed it was because she didn't want her daughter losing her powers to him – he was the ultimate threat to her and her lineage. Until now.
    He spoke for the first time since she'd gotten here. “Maybe we should tell The Council.”
    “Really, Karl … and what do you know of The Council?”
    “Mum, stop it – you can't ask Karl to protect me one minute, then treat him like shit the next.”
    Elena's voice was trembling. She didn't usually speak out against her mother.
    I guess feeling responsible for a plane full of people dying will alter your priorities, thought Karl, wryly.
    Mrs Green exhaled sharply. “Fine. But we're not involving The Council. They'll turn your lives upside down to solve any problem.”
    “If people are dying, is that really an issue?” asked Karl.
    A smirk turned up the corner of the woman's mouth. “They'll interrogate you, leave no stone unturned and nothing you hold dear will belong to you any more, it will belong to them – you have no idea, boy.”
    He bristled at the insult, but remained silent, refusing to let her push his button. He didn't know why, but he was sure something wasn't right. All the information Mrs Green had given them had been to the point and concise – too concise...
    “Mum, what do you think I should do with the pen? Should I hide it? Maybe then, the demon won't know where it is. You seem to know more about this than me – maybe you should take it and keep it safe.”
    Her mother looked surprised. “And how would I be able to do that when you're the only one who can touch it?”
    Elena looked at Karl in confusion. His super-logic kicked in straight away and he shot her a glance he hoped she'd interpret as 'keep quiet'.
    “Yes, of course. In all the chaos we forgot … Elena, remember what happened when I tried to pick it up?”
    “Oh...”
    He held his breath, hoping she'd trust him enough to go with the lie.
    “Yes, of course...”
    Good.
    “Well, Elena, I have to go now – I have appointments I can't cancel. But these are for you.” She produced two small, leather-bound books from her bag. “This one contains stories of myths and legends; there's one called The Witching Pen – maybe you'll find it useful. And this one...” She hesitated before giving it to her daughter. “This is about the Shanka tribe and their history. Consider it your demon bible until we know better what to do. I'll see myself out.”
    With a curt nod to Karl and not even a goodbye to Elena, Mrs Green made her way out of the flat, leaving them both in silence.
    The door clicked shut behind her.
    Elena spoke first. “Wow. What a lot of information – and also not a lot, if you know what I mean.”
    Karl said nothing, lost in thought, staring at the pen on the kitchen table. He walked over to it and picked it up.
    “What was all that about? Nothing happens to you when you touch the pen.”
    “But your mother seems to think it does … seems to think you're the only one who can touch it.”
    “Why not just tell her the truth?”
    “Because I'm afraid we can't trust her, Elena.”
    “Karl, I know she's cold, but this is big stuff – she wouldn't keep anything from us, surely. Why would she?”
    “I don't know why, but she is. You never told her what the demon looked like over the phone, and yet she pulled out a book about that very demon from her bag. She's not telling us everything. I'm sorry, Elena, but we can't trust her.”
     

Chapter Four
     
    Elena's eyes were starting to hurt.