Bella's eyes widened, and she let out a startled yelp, clutching her now empty hand.

"Oli! Did you see that?" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of excitement and fear.

Oliver's mouth hung open for a moment before he managed to nod excitement filling his expression. "I did. We finally saw a ghost Evie. I told you they were real. That was awesome. We need to find some more stones Bella and do that again."

"We need to get inside," I urged, gently but firmly steering them towards the Inn's entrance. I was shaken.

Once we were safely inside the conservatory, the vibrant coloured glass casting a mosaic of light across the room, I closed a the door holding the handle whilst I gathered myself.

Turning I could see Bella was confused but was slowly responding to Oli's enthusiasm as he spoke about the ghost.

Agnes appeared from the kitchen, concern in her eyes as she saw us. "What happened?"

"It was so weird!" Bella burst out, her voice high-pitched. "We found this glowing amber stone and then this hand just snatched it from me! Out of nowhere!"

"Snatched?" Agnes echoed, her eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"

"Yeah, It was the ghost. I told you ghosts were real. It just took it and melted into the night. It was awesome. I wish I had my equipment working. I'm going to find more stones and lay a trap so I can record the ghost."

Agnes glanced at me, her eyes questioning. "Did you see it too, Evie?"

"I saw something," I admitted. "But it was so quick, but it looked like a regular, solid hand, before it vanished. We were just about to come inside when it happened."

Bella's parents came in from the lounge where they had been reading.

"What's all this about a ghostly hand?" Mr Pembrooke asked his voice tinged with warmth and scepticism as he ruffled Oli's hair.

"It really happened!" Bella insisted, eyes wide. "I was showing Evie the amber stone we found then, poof it was gone. This hand came out of nowhere and took it!"

Mrs Pembrooke looked between her excited children and then at me for confirmation. "Is this true?"

"It is," I said slowly. "Something took the stone from Bella's hand."

Mrs Pembrooke put an arm around Bella's shoulders. "That must have been very frightening."

"It was but it was incredible. This is the best holiday ever!" Bella nodded vigorously embracing her mother tightly. "Can we come again?".

"Well," Mr Pembrooke sighed heavily. "Let's all calm down and figure this out together. This sounds like one of the mysteries in your books you like solving." He winked at his wife, clearly they were used to the kids playing games and their stories. His attitude said this was nothing more exciting..

Agnes nodded thoughtfully. She looked as if she wanted to say something to me, but changed her mind. "Who's up for lasagne. I've got garlic bread, veggies and wine for the adults."

I was grateful for Agnes, I couldn't shake my discomfort at a hand appearing from no where.

After a pleasant meal with the Pembrookes and Elias I settled back in my chair, sipping a glass of red wine. The lasagne had been delicious, and Agnes's cooking and the company of the kids had calmed me.

Elias cleared his throat, to get everyone's attention. "Do you want to know what I found at the town hall?" he began, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"I bet it's not as exciting as the disappearing stone.

"No, I don't think anything could beat that. I noticed a pattern in the old land records," Elias continued, "I discovered it accidently when I spilt my drink over two maps. One was a map which highlighted the lands where ownership had been disputed, the other was about mining records. They seemed to match."

Mrs Pembrooke furrowed her brow. "I bet the custodian of the records loved you. Did you destroy the maps?"

"Fortunately not," Elias said. "It just made me realise the lengths people will go to to get something they want. It seems when people couldn't buy the land, they found some mystical document that laid claim to it regardless."

I made my excuses and headed to bed as I was tired and still a little on edge. I left them talking and it looked as if Elias and Henry Pembrooke were settling in for a long night over whiskey.

When I fell asleep, I was in a land that seemed to stretch forever. The sky above me was dark and stormy, and the world below was bathed in a sickly yellow light. There was a breeze, but it was warm and stale.

The land beneath my feet groaned. It was a deep, mournful sound that made my heart ache. It was like the land was in pain. I looked down and saw the earth was cracked, like open wounds in the land. They weren't bleeding, but instead weeping a dark liquid that seemed to drain the life from everything it touched.

I knelt down to touch the earth. I felt its pain as if it were my own. The connection between us was real, and it was fading fast.

"Help us," the voices whispered on the wind. It wasn't one voice but many, all singing the same sad song.

My heart raced.

Lightning flashed across the sky, showing scenes of destruction. Trees torn up by their roots, rivers running dry, animals fleeing from something unseen.

I wanted to run as well, but I was rooted to the spot feeling the earths pain. I sensed a darkness at the edge of my vision. It felt evil.

I shivered as a figure stepped from the shadow into the light. I squinted, trying to make it out. It was the shape of a man, surrounded by swirling shadows.

"Who are you?" I whispered barely audible above the wind.

The figure cocked its head as if considering me. I felt its gaze on me although I couldn't see his features.

The darkness around the figure reached out like tendrils, searching, seeking. Shadows caressed my skin, cold and invasive. I pulled back. It felt deeply wrong.

"What do you want?"

The shadow didn't respond. Before I could say anything, a scream pulled me back to the real world.

I sat up, my heart pounding.

Another scream cut through the night.