Page 136 of The Last Death Poet
I blink as the cool grass brings me to my senses. My arm aches.
‘Michael, get up.’ Meg is standing over me, her skin a stark white against the darkening sky.
‘What’s going on?’
Nanny Bet is lying face down on the ground. I freeze as my brain tries to make sense of what’s happening.
‘Nan?’
She groans and sits up, rubbing her head.
I stumble to her side. ‘Are you OK?’
‘Yes, fine. We need to get inside before—’ Her eyes narrow on Meg. ‘What are you doing here?’
Meg’s arms are behind her back and she’s chewing her lip. It’s bright red and my stomach swims as I remember the smell of raw meat in her room. ‘I came to see Michael.’
‘How did you know I was here?’ Heat claws at my neck. ‘You were spying on me again?’
She holds her hands up. ‘Cormac told me. I was worried about you.’ Her eyes dart to Nanny Bet, who’s dusting soil from her trousers.
I go to help her up. ‘We’re fine. She’s helping me.’
‘To do what?’ says Meg. Her voice is cold.
‘To stop the Morrigan messing up our lives.’
Meg rubs her temples. Her nails are painted black but the beds are bloody, the skin torn. ‘You can’t stop her. Not any more.’
‘What’re you talking about?’
Crows call from the tree above and Meg gazes up at them. Nanny Bet grips my wrist. ‘We need to get inside. Right now.’
I break free and take a step towards Meg. ‘What do you mean?’
Meg’s hand goes to her chest and a glint reveals a new acorn necklace. ‘I completed the Imbas Forasnai, Michael. I didn’t need you after all.’
Nanny Bet’s breathing is quickening behind me. ‘Oh no.’
‘The most incredible thing happened.’ Meg takes a step towards me.
Her face glowing red in the dark room.
I swallow. ‘What happened?’
Meg smiles. Wide, beautiful and full of joy. ‘Oh, Michael.’ Her voices rustles like dry leaves. ‘Is mise an bás.’
The words sound ancient and weighty as they fill the space between us. There’s a beating of wings as a crow lands on her shoulder. She raises her chin and her eyes cloud black as she speaks the words in English.
‘I am death.’
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Meg’s pale face is calm, her lips parted in an easy smile, revealing blood on her gums. Her eyes are completely black.
I am death.
I take a step backwards, edging closer to Nanny Bet. The night is falling faster than normal, the stars cutting through the darkening sky like knife points. The scent of blood, earth and fire emanates from Meg.
