Jade’s panion seized up, his tentacles squirming as the spell worked its cruel magic.

RUBEN: She’s torturing her own panion! She’s TORTURING HER OWN PANION!!!

NATE: Oh my god…

CORA: That is NOT okay.

Saffie could only watch in horror as Octavius squealed and writhed around in agony, a stream of black ink oozing out of him and floating towards the empty vial.

When the vial was full, Jade lowered her hand and Octavius sank to the floor, wheezing with exhaustion. Jade screwed a cap onto the vial and held it out for Saffie to take.

Saffie took it hesitantly, trying not to show how disgusted she was at what she’d just witnessed, but before she could say thank you, someone entered the room from the direction of the front of house.

He was cloaked in a green robe similar to Jade’s and was also wearing a mask. Behind him, a small bat panion fluttered. As he entered, he immediately bowed his head.

“Production is almost complete, My Lord,” he said. He had a strong Irish accent. “Your presence is requested at The Trellis to see the finished product.”

“Excellent,” said Jade, getting up from her throne. “I’m afraid I have very important business to attend to, Saffie. But since you are now allied with me, there are certain things you should know. My associate here will provide you with all of the information you need, and be able to answer any questions you have. I look forward to seeing you again soon.”

With that, she pulled her mask down and strode out of the chamber.

As soon as Jade’s footsteps disappeared, Saffie heard Cora’s voice say ‘Cancel Potion Effect!” and Cora suddenly materialised in the far left corner of the chamber.

Saffie at first thought she was running to Jade’s associate to grapple him to the ground, but she jumped and wrapped her arms and legs around him.

“Liam!” she cried.

“Cora?” he replied, pulling up his mask. His face was full of freckles and he had curly ginger hair. “What are you doing here?”

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“We’ve come to rescue you!”

Both Ruben and Nate also cancelled their spells and popped into visibility in the chamber.

Liam’s head darted around, taking everything in while Vesper swirled around his bat panion.

“Who are these people?” Liam said.

“They’re with me,” Cora reassured him. “They’re safe, I promise.”

Cora pulled the silver arrow Saffie had seen her staring at in the library and the forest, and presented it to Liam.

“My Annihilation Arrow,” he said, taking it from her.

“It was lying on the grass the day she took you. I kept it safe for you,” Cora said, grabbing his wrist. “Now, come on, we have to get out of here before Jade realises what’s happening.”

“No,” said Liam, shaking his wrist free of Cora’s grasp.

“What’s wrong?” said Cora. “You’re saved!”

There was a strange look on Liam’s face that Saffie couldn’t decipher.

“Cora… the only person I needed saving from was myself,” he said.

Saffie felt a horrible sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach and Cora stepped back as if she’d been burned.

“Liam, what are you saying?”

“I was lost,” he replied. “But Jade found me when I most needed her.”

Saffie exchanged glances with Nate, who pulled his jacket a little tighter around the Onyx.

“Found you?!” Cora scoffed. “Liam, she kidnapped you!”

Saffie sent a quick message.

SAFFIE: Guys, whatever you do, NOBODY mention the decoy!

“You’re under some kind of spell,” Cora said desperately. “You have to be! She’s brainwashed you!”

RUBEN: I already scanned him quietly - he’s not under any spell.

“I think we should leave,” said Nate.

“I’m not leaving without my best friend!” Cora snapped at him, then turned back to Liam. “Come on, we’re getting out of here.” She grabbed Liam’s wrist, but with a jerk of his hand, he cast her away.

“You need to go,” he said. “And take your new friends with you.”

Cora shook her head in disbelief, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

“If you leave now,” Liam continued, “I’ll have no reason to mention that you were all here looking for me.”

“Liam, no,” Cora whispered. “Please, no.”

“Cora, come on,” Ruben urged. “He’s made his decision. Liam - we made a mistake, and we’re sorry. We thought you were being held against your will, and that is clearly not the case. No animosity here. Nope, none whatsoever.”

Saffie pulled Cora back through the aquarium corridor, Cora walking backwards with her eyes locked on Liam’s until the group re-emerged into the chaotic bustle of the dining area.

The restaurant was now so busy, and the staff were so rushed off their feet, that they didn’t seem to notice that four teenagers came out of that corridor after only one went in.

Out in the street, they guided the dazed and confused Cora around to the alley where they had gathered before the mission, and they took a moment to process what had just happened. The night hadn’t gone anything like any of them had expected.

Saffie handed the vial of Eternity Ink to Ruben.

“How long do you think it’ll take to brew the antidote?” she said.

“Exactly one week,” he replied. “I’ll begin work on it first thing in the morning.”

“In the meantime,” said Nate, “we’d just better hope that Jade doesn’t figure out what we did and come looking for this thing.”

“There won’t be anything for her to come looking for,” said Saffie.

“What do you mean?” said Ruben. “What are you going to do with it?”

“I’m going to do what my uncle asked me to do the moment before he collapsed. I’m going to give the Onyx to the Oracle.”