Angel's Fury (26 page)

Can you do that?

I still have bad dreams sometimes. I guess we’ll never forget what the Doctor put us through, but now I can control my nightmares better. They don’t consume me.

I have to sleep with the curtains open, though. I need to be able to see the star, to be sure Azael is still trapped up there with Shemhazai. If I can’t see it, if I can’t check he’s still there, the old nightmares come back.

Do you still dream of Kurt and Zillah? You freed the spirit trapped inside me when you forgave me, but that doesn’t mean you don’t still hate me . . . what I did to you.

The police have been round asking questions. They’re looking for Pandra and the Doctor. They think they’re together. I don’t think they’ll find Pandra. I reckon she’s gone looking for some of the other sons, the ones the Doctor told us about. I couldn’t tell the police that, though . . .

I wish I could speak to you. There’s too much to put in a single email.

I’ll put my mobile number at the bottom.

I hesitated. How should I end?

Automatically I typed:

Love, Cassie

Then I pressed the delete button and changed it.

Love, Cass

Mum’s voice floated up the stairs. ‘Cassie, don’t forget Dad’s taking you to the dojo in half an hour.’

I pulled the uniform over my head and spent a happy moment stroking my new brown belt. Then my phone started to ring.

It was Seth.

To my amazing editor, Philippa Donovan, and the rest of the team at Egmont whose hard work and advice have helped create something I can be truly proud of.

To my agent, Sam Copeland (RCW), and to Cornerstones Literary Consultancy who guided me out of the slush pile.

To the SCBWI team in charge of ‘Undiscovered Voices’.

To Sarwat Chadda (author of
The Devil’s Kiss
) who read an early draft of
Angel’s Fury
, laughed his head off, and pointed out the value of a heroine with some backbone.

To Rob at ACA Productions for working so hard on my chilling book trailer, to Dave Sheppard for contributing the fantastic soundtrack and to Charlotte Palazzo for my brilliant author photographs.

To my ever-supportive in-laws, Pat and Charles, who in addition to cheerleading and impromptu babysitting services very helpfully speak German.

To my parents, Mike and Mary McCarthy, who raised me to believe I could do anything I set my mind to.

To all my friends, old and new, without whom I would most likely have gone insane long ago.

To the children’s godparents (especially Shehnaz, Ricardo and Natalie), and my sister and sisters-in-law Claire, Gill and Ros for your support over the years.

And most especially to Andrew James, Maisie Rose Guinevere and Riley Gabriel Bryson Pearce . . . for being you. One day one of you might even read the book.

Thank you all for everything.