Gabriel held out a linen handkerchief for Anya to dry her tears. She pressed it to her face. She knew she must be strong. If it took a ghost such as herself to defeat an evil spirit, then Gabriel and the other villagers all needed her to be strong. It was too late to save herself and her family, but it was not too late for them.

She handed the handkerchief back to Gabriel who turned it over in his hands. "It's dry. I do wonder how being a ghost works. Now you know that you are a ghost, do you know what your ghostly powers are?"

Anya shook her head. "Um… no my dear, I really have no idea. We need to find Heidi. I think – I hope she will know what to do."

"Wow, have you worked out how you to make everyone else see you?" His blue eyes were wide as he gazed at her.

She didn't like to disappoint him, but she had to shake her head again. "Ach! I forgot about that. Please walk with me while I think on this."

She took his hand and they walked back through the copse. The sunlight shone through the wall of trees, illuminating the individual beads of the morning dew on a cobweb amidst the low hanging branches. A squirrel that scampered high into the foliage as they walked past. "Dad said squirrels are too timid to make friends with," said Gabriel, glancing up at it. Anya smiled at him.

They re-joined the weather-beaten track to the farm. "You can already do ghostly things though," said Gabriel as they walked. "You can climb like no living person that I know. And remember how you vanished and reappeared that time we went up the Ferris wheel? Do you think you can walk through walls now?"

"I don't get how I did that on the Ferris Wheel. I have never walked through a wall. I can't answer any ghost questions yet. I am sorry."

Gabriel stood on tiptoe to peer at her face. "I used to think ghosts would always be pale, but your face is very tanned. When I first saw you, you did look a bit transparent, but now you really don't. Perhaps it is a ghost's nature to come and go."

Anya pushed her long hair away from her face. "So that is why you looked at me as if I was strange."

He flashed his cheeky grin at her again. "Well now I've got to know you, you're not in the least bit strange really. And you're going to become a legendary heroine. Aren't you? You must. Our enemy's the stuff of nightmares."

She didn't know exactly how to answer, just gave a wan smile and suggested that they sit in the shade of an old beech tree near the field.

"Can you phase through the tree?" asked Gabriel. Anya pressed her hand against the unyielding bark and shook her head.

A small black cat padded up to them and Gabriel called to it. It sidled up to Anya and rubbed itself against her leg, purring.

"Hallo, you dear little thing," she said, petting it. It looked up at her with clear, emerald eyes and then nuzzled her hand. "Aw, so adorable."

"A clever beast. That's two of us who can see you," said Gabriel.

Anya felt somewhat cheered. "Yes. Thank you both, for keeping me company."

Gabriel began to tie his handkerchief to a twig on the ground. "If you wave this, then someone else will believe in you. Best not to show it to anyone 'til I've talked to them. I think we should find Heidi, like you said."

They passed through a field of sheep and another of cows. "Astrid's trying out being a milkmaid," said Gabriel, indicating the milking shed. "Maybe she knows where Heidi's got to."

Anya glided along beside him. "Sorry you had to run after me like that. I'm sure you needed to be getting on with your new job. I will try to tell them it was my fault – again."

"I really hope they hear you this time," said Gabriel shaking his head.

Heidi's clear voice rang out as they approached the milk shed: "well done, you dears."

In the shed the rows of cattle stood on either side of the aisle. The other children were busy milking them.

"Heidi…" began Gabriel, "I've something important to say."

Astrid was sitting on a stool next to a cow that stood near them. She turned her heavily freckled face to her brother and glared at him, not even seeing Anya. "What did you mean by running off like that?" she murmured.

Heidi strode towards them, the rays of sunlight shining through the windows glinting off her long, auburn hair. She beamed at Gabriel. "Of course, my dear. If there is something on your mind, do share it."

"It has to be somewhere private," said Gabriel with a half glance at Astrid who was shaking her head.

"Of course," said Heidi, taking him by the hand. "Steffi," she addressed one of the older girls, "you're in charge while I'm out."

Heidi led the way out of the cow shed and to a small tool shed with an earthy floor nearby.

"So dear Gabriel, if there is anything troubling you, you must feel free. No one else can hear."

"There is someone dear to me, but she's dead and not at peace." Heidi gazed at Gabriel, an anxious expression in her green eyes. "I know she is still here, but no one else can see."

"My dear, that is not uncommon when we lose a loved one," said Heidi softly, laying a slender hand on his shoulder.

"But Anya is here, right now," insisted Gabriel. "Anya, now!" he handed Anya the twig with his handkerchief tied round it. Anya held it up and waved, the handkerchief flapping like a white flag.

"Oh!" Heidi's green eyes went very wide as she gazed at the flag in Anya's hand.

"Please, please see me. Please hear me," said Anya feeling a wild hope.

"Can you hear her?" urged Gabriel.

Thinking quickly, Anya knelt and scratched in the earthy ground, writing her name. Heidi stared at the letters in the ground. "Anya…" she mouthed.

Anya quickly scratched more letters. "I am Anya. Please help. We are all in peril."

"Can you see her?" said Gabriel pointing. "She's a tall, wispy girl of my age, long dark brown hair and big brown eyes, face tanned honeyed brown by the sun, wearing really shabby gardening clothes…"

Anya knew she must prove her good intention so she drew the rune of good, just as the Priestess of Grace had once instructed her. It was to ward off evil spirits. Heidi had to realise that Anya was here to help.

"Anya, Anya… can you hear me," breathed Heidi, looking a little pale.

YES, Anya scratched into the earth.

"I see you are a servant of good as well. Stand up Anya and take my hands."

Heidi held out her hands, glancing around the shed. Anya stood and slipped her hands in Heidi's. Heidi gave a little gasp. "I realise you are also a servant of goodness and that no evil spirit would draw the rune designed to repel them. Anya – look into my eyes." Her heart thudding Anya looked up into Heidi's eyes, so emerald green, like a cat's. Heidi gazed at her with surprising intensity then her mouth fell open slightly. "I – I see you… poor sweet thing…"

"Hurrah!" said Gabriel, leaping and punching the air in celebration. "Now Anya, can you tell Heidi why I was late?"

But Anya's emotions were bubbling up inside her again. Her throat tightened and her lip trembled and she realised she was crying once more. Heidi put her arms around her, her long red hair obscuring Anya's vision for a moment.

Gabriel touched her shoulder gently. "Anya's been through a lot. I'm sorry it had to happen to you, Anya."

"Thank you, dear," Anya glanced at Gabriel then looked up at Heidi. "You know who I am, Heidi? Dad worked for Farmer Klaus."

"Klaus was my uncle and I knew who the labourers were." Heidi smiled at her sadly. "I'm sorry we never met… before."

"We have found something out," piped Gabriel.

"Indeed," said Anya. "A menace from another world casts her shadow over the forest. An evil spirit. A shadow that can take different forms. Last night she reared her head twice. She kept hissing that I am her enemy and that she was not allowed to fight me until I knew that I was a ghost. I caught her intruding in Gabriel's bedroom, trying to intimidate him into revealing this."

Heidi's green eyes registered shock. "She could well be a servant of evil from another world."

"Another world?" Gabriel sounded confused.

"The priestess mentioned the theory to me in passing, dear Gabriel," said Anya, turning to him. "That different realities exist side by side, but separate from one another. Only reachable by magic."

Heidi nodded. "If a great evil-doer has invaded our world, then that is a violation, hateful to all the gods of good. Perhaps they have appointed a ghostly guardian. Perhaps they have appointed Anya."

"Well that's a good choice," said Gabriel, standing beside his friend. Anya grinned.

"Ach, you dears, don't underestimate how dangerous evil spirits are, especially one with the power to cross the gap between worlds. Have you honed your ghostly powers, Anya?"

"Sadly I've no idea how. Sorry." The reality of having to fight the demon was beginning to hit home and the bare idea gave her the chills. "When I fell asleep in Gabriel's bedroom last night I woke up back in our old cottage which is where…"

Heidi brushed her long red hair away from her face. "There are no priests in the neighbourhood at present. It would take days to send for one. But the training we both received from priestesses could help us. For I was once trained by a priestess of Justice. The cottage may well be a portal through which we can find answers. Come, you dears." She beckoned to them and they followed, Gabriel trotting and Anya gliding across the grass to keep up with her long strides.

Anya felt a raw pang of emotion, seeing the charred base of the cottage once more. All that there was of her old life. Like dead leaves in cold December, nothing but ashes remained. She stopped dead still and began to tremble. Gabriel put an arm around her waist as she breathed deeply.

Heidi turned to them, a sad expression on her face. "I know the pain is great, Anya, but there are things we must confront. Where was your bedroom, dear?"

Anya put a hand to her mouth and stepped lightly over to the rear right quarter of the stone floor. "I used to sleep here. That is where I came back. It was like I awoke from a long sleep." Whispering voices seemed to call for her, making her feel warm and fuzzy. "I – I"

She fell to her knees and touched the cold stone. As though from a distance she heard Gabriel's cry of alarm and then she felt herself rushing upwards through bright lights towards the stars. She could feel her mother's presence. Her heart swelled with joy and she felt herself reaching out for her. Then she heard her mother's querulous calling; "Anya mouse, beware! The dread serpent rears her head each night. On the third night she will break her bonds and strike at the standing stones. Beware, Anya beware!"

And then with a rush Anya felt herself plummeting back to the Earth and her eyes snapped open. Gabriel was kneeling beside her, eyes wide. "Anya you just flickered again and now you're dressed in white, like a ghost from a storybook. Are you alright?" She realised she was now dressed in a pure white gown rather like her old nightdress only smoother and made of the whitest satin that gleamed in the sunlight.

"I heard my mother!" said Anya glancing quickly around and listening hard, but the whispering voices were all silent now. "She had a warning for me, I know it."

Heidi nodded, the waves of her long red hair rippled and bounced. "It is said that ghosts can communicate with those beyond the veil. I suspect it must take practice as with everything. We must help you hone all your ghostly powers, Anya, for there are many."

"I – I heard my mother… I want to speak to mum and dad again."

Gabriel put a hand on her shoulder. "Of course she does. Can't you help her?"

Heidi looked sad again. "We must both help. Anya, you need to practice. Communicating beyond the veil is only one power. You have the potential for many others. I will send a messenger for a priest or priestess, but until they arrive, we are on our own and we must be prepared."