BREAKING NEWS. In a press conference this morning, King Everett confirmed the disappearance of his daughter, Eirwen Andersen, Princess of Anderia. According to his Majesty, nothing is known at this time about the Princess’s whereabouts, who is responsible for her disappearance, or what motives may have prompted her abduction. He begs everyone to be on alert and contact authorities immediately with any information.

  —Cape Horn Chronicle front page article, dated three years ago.

  Will jerked away with a startled yip, slamming his back against the boulder. He half expected to feel Hunter’s invisible hands around his throat again, or to see him materialize out of the moonlight with his annoying laugh. But nothing happened, save that the rose floated slowly down till it came to rest in his lap. It was bleached of its color in the moonlight, and looked fuzzy without his glasses even at that short distance, but he remembered that there were roses that grew up the side of the old lighthouse, wild and spreading without anyone to tend them. They were blood red.

  He picked the rose up and looked around, straining his eyes against the dark and his cursed nearsightedness. Nothing stirred but the long grass and the lapping waves.

  “Who’s there?”

  No answer.

  With his heart jumping out of his chest, he reached out, sweeping his arm in an arc around him. But all he felt was air.

  Then, staring hard at the empty space in front of him, his magic ignited. It sparked in his eyes, and for an instant he saw a figure standing before him—a ghostly young woman staring hard at him in return. With his magic pooling in his hands, waiting for direction, he reached out to her.

  “Who are you?”

  A cool jolt passed through him, unlike anything he’d ever felt in a healing before. Silvery mist swirled around his hands, then disappeared, though the thrum like a gentle electrical current through his nerves remained.

  Hello? Can you hear me?

  Will jolted in shock. “What?!”

  The current, as well as his magic, flowed back down to his hands and out, where it coalesced back into the form of the girl, who clapped excitedly and soundlessly.

  I’ve never been able to get someone to hear me before! She exclaimed. Her lips moved with the words, but Will only heard them—or rather felt them—in his head.

  “What… Who are you?” he said, studying her. Her features appeared to be formed from his own blue magic. At least that was how he saw her. If she was, in fact, using his own magic as a construct to give herself form, then he was probably the only one who could see her at all.

  I’m not entirely sure, she said, turning her ghostly blue hands over to look at them. You looked so scared and miserable sitting there, I wanted to cheer you up. You have very pretty eyes, by the way. But then when you looked at me, it… did something. I can see through other people’s eyes, but I’ve never connected with anyone like this before, and actually been able to talk to them. It’s amazing. It was like I was actually inside you for a minute. What is your gift?

  “Healer,” said Will. His mind was chewing on this new puzzle so he momentarily forgot about his own danger, until Tye came scampering back and shifted right where Ghost Girl was standing. Will winced as her form dispersed. “Hey wait…”

  “What?” the prince asked.

  Ghost Girl reformed beside him, staring at him. Tye, she said. Will was strangely relieved that she was still there and able to talk. But Tye made no indication that he’d either seen or heard her.

  “Is something out there?” the prince asked.

  Will shook himself. “A ghost. Did you find the boat?”

  “Yes. Let’s go.” The prince turned to go, but then turned back so suddenly that Will bumped into him. “Wait. Your shackle.”

  Will held up his arm with the offending cuff and ring. “Pretty, isn’t it.”

  “Noisy. Here.” Tye pulled him over to a rock and made him lay his arm down across it. “If I hit this just right, I think I can get the hinge to pop loose. It’s pretty rusty. Do you trust me?”

  “If you miss you’ll owe me a mirror,” said Will, holding his arm still while Tye found a smaller rock to use as a hammer.

  “I already do.” Tye struck, no doubt tapping his super strength, for the shackle snapped instantly and sagged apart. Will slid his hand free. “Good. Let’s go.”

  They started picking their way along the shore toward the western side of the little island, the side closest to the mainland. “You can see ghosts?” he asked as they walked.

  “Not as a rule. It’s been a weird day.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “I never got your name.”

  “Will Lark,” said Will, tripping over rocks in the surf.

  That’s a nice name, said Ghost Girl, trailing along beside them far more gracefully.

  “You never told me who you are,” Will reminded her.

  My name is Eirwen.

  “Uh… Tye…?” said Tye, his tone making it clear that he was sending Will a questioning look just then.

  “Not you, the ghost. Wait a minute…” He looked between her softly radiant blue form and the dark blob that was the prince, his mind suddenly making connections.

  Yes, I’m that Eirwen. Tye is my brother. I followed him here because I just knew he was going to do something silly and get himself in trouble. Which he did.

  “This day keeps getting weirder,” Will muttered.

  Princess Eirwen had gone missing when she was fifteen years old. That had been three years ago. There was still a hefty standing reward for information, though the search had mostly died out. Was she truly a ghost, or was something else at work here?

  Tye chuckled softly. “So who is your ghost?”

  “Uh… I’ll introduce you later. Let’s just get out of here.”

  They rounded a rocky plateau piled high with rocks and boulders and came in sight of the dilapidated dock. It wasn’t much more than a smudge to Will, but he’d been to the island enough times to know it was there. There was an old dented aluminum boat that lived there at times, when it hadn’t been taken out and left in the cove below the mainland cliff by some careless teen. It must be here now.

  Wait! Eirwen cried suddenly, trying to grab Will’s arm. Her hand passed through him, but he felt the cool shock of her energy mingled with his magic. Someone is there!

  “Tye! Company!” he called.

  “Where?” Tye instantly tensed for combat.

  “Where, Eirwen?” Will asked.

  She screamed. At that moment something struck him between the shoulder blades. He lurched forward into Tye, making him stumble.

  “Now you’re starting to annoy me,” Hunter hissed.

  Will balled his fist and struck out toward the voice, but Hunter was already gone.

  Tye, meanwhile, had turned himself into a bat. At least that’s what Will assumed the small creature flapping over his head was, because it was a smart move. Hunter would be hidden from their eyes, but not from the bat’s echo-location. With a twinkle, the prince changed into a porcupine mid-dive. Hunter screamed when he landed on his face. With the next flash he became human again, and engaged with the still invisible Hunter, keeping him within arms’ reach and raining blows on him.

  “Can you see him?” Will asked Eirwen, who hovered beside him.

  Yes. I don’t like this, Will. My brother is a great fighter, but Hunter is going to…

  Tye stumbled at the same instant Eirwen’s words cut off, suddenly grappling with empty air. Then he jerked forward with a cry. Will couldn’t see clearly what had happened, but judging by Eirwen’s shriek in his head, it wasn’t anything good.

  “I need your eyes, Eirwen,” Will said, starting toward them.

  The Huntsman is still behind Tye. He stabbed him in the back. He’s going to—

  Will took a running leap and tackled the air directly behind Tye. Eirwen was good to her word, for instead of dashing himself against the rocks, he rammed into Hunter Invisible, and they crashed down together. Hunter’s blade was still in his hand, and Will felt it slice into his side with a cold shock as they fell, but he hung onto the other man just as Tye had done and punched him. He had no idea where he was hitting, but he kept at it until Hunter teleported away, just as he’d done to Tye a moment ago, leaving Will to bash his fist into the rocks. Will felt something in his hand snap. He gasped, but he was already staggering to his feet to stand over Tye.

  “Where now?” he panted.

  I don’t see him anymore. Can you heal my brother?

  “Keep watch.” Will knelt in front of the prince. “Hey, look at me.”

  Tye raised his head, his face already deathly pale. “I’m… sorry.”

  “Shut up. Look in my eyes.” Will used his good hand to force the prince to face him.

  Tye met his gaze, and Will’s magic sparked to life, flying down through his hands with the urgency of approaching death. It cooled his broken hand minimally as it passed through, but the only way to focus his own magic on himself was with a mirror, so he didn’t bother with it, instead concentrating on healing Tye. Because the wound was new and most of the bleeding internal, he was able to direct a good share of the blood back to where it was supposed to be before sealing up the severed arteries and tissues, which were eager to heal themselves, still invigorated from the healing that he’d performed not even an hour ago.

  “That’s got to be some kind of record. Twice in under an hour,” Will quipped as he finished.

  “I’m twice in your debt,” Tye said, straightening up. “Where’s the Huntsman?”

  “Here!” said Hunter, materializing beside them. He was visible this time. “And now that I know your secret, Mr. Lark, it’s time to go see Jesamin.”

  He made a grab for Will, but something struck him in the head and he reeled back with a sudden yelp of pain. All around them, rocks jittered and clacked together, and began rising into the air. Slowly, the cloud of stones began to rotate around them.

  Tell him to run, said Eirwen. Her hands were raised, and her ghostly hair whipped around her.

  “Better run, Hunter,” said Will.

  “Who’s doing that?” the Huntsman asked, backing away. “You’re only a healer. And he’s a worthless shifter.”

  “You’ve earned the ire of a poltergeist, I’m afraid,” said Will.

  “A ghost?” Hunter spat. “I’m not running from a ghost.” Another rock smacked him in the side of the head. He reeled.

  Tye grabbed Will by the arm. “Come on. The boat.”

  Will staggered after him. His head was swimming in earnest now as blood stuck his shirt to his side and his other injuries throbbed. If he didn’t get his hands on a mirror soon, he was going to be in trouble.

  The whirling cloud of rocks followed them down to the shore and continued cycling as they clambered into the boat. Tye took up the oars while Will all but collapsed in the bottom. The rocks splashed down into the water as Tye rowed them away from shore.

  “Do you have a plan for when he teleports out here into the boat with us?” Will asked, angling himself so he was sitting against one of the bench seats.

  “He can only teleport to places he can see, or knows, I think,” Tye replied. “He won’t come out here on the water in the dark. Give your ghost friend my thanks. That… did not go well.”

  “She can hear you,” said Will quietly. He was starting to shiver from cold and shock. He snarled silently as he increased the pressure against his side, but it didn’t seem to help much, beyond squelching blood between his fingers. Stupid, useless healer’s gift.

  “Hey, are you okay?” Tye pulled the oars in and climbed over the seat to kneel next to him. He swore softly, shucking his shirt to press against the wound.

  “Been a heck of a day,” Will agreed. “I might… need you to keep me awake. Till we can find a mirror.” He looked over at Eirwen, who knelt on his other side, her knees going half through the aluminum bottom. “Don’t look so glum. I’m not going to join you if I can help it.”

  She planted her hands on her hips. You’re worse than Tye, she scolded.

  “Atta girl.” He closed his eyes.