The morning mist hung over the fields as Gethin and I drove out to the edge of Llyncroft. Gethin negotiated the narrow roads with ease.

We were heading to the place on the map where the lines of my symbol intersected, but where there was no pin. The closer we got to it, I realised how close we were to the force field that stopped me from leaving Llyncroft. I just hoped the place was on this side of the force field.

Gethin's grip on the wheel tightened as we got closer, and I felt him become more alert.

We parked near a copse of trees whose leaves whispered in the breeze. With my increased perception of energy, the force field was almost tangible here, like a static hum in the air, making my skin prickle.

"We'll have to go the rest of the way on foot," Gethin said, nodding towards a gap in the trees. "It's not far."

I followed him through the trees go a clearing. There was a stone circle, mostly covered in overgrowth. As we got closer, I could see ancient symbols carved into the stones.

Gethin went over to one stone and ran his fingers over the carvings. "These are old," he said. "These symbols look like the ones you found where the arcanite was taken."

I went over to another stone and brushed away some leaves. Underneath was a small hollow, and inside were some crystals, arranged in a haphazard pile. They shimmered with a golden light.

"Gethin," I called.

He came over and crouched down to look at the crystals. "Arcanite," he confirmed.

"Why do you think they're here like this?" I asked.

"I don't know, but stone circles are usually something to do with rituals. I wonder what ritual they were doing with arcanite."

"Someone must have been planning something big."

Gethin stood up and looked around. "Whatever it was, we need to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands." He paused and looked at me. "Evie, this has got to be something to do with Thomas' death. The more we investigate it seems, the more his death is linked to his search for arcanite."

As we stood in the clearing, the stones were a bright, otherworldly glowing golden in the sunlight. I shivered. "Someone must have been planning something big," I said. "But why here?"

I knelt by the hollow again. "I think I can see something," I said. "There's a piece of paper here." I reached for it, but Gethin stopped me. He put on gloves before carefully extracting the paper so as not to disturb the crystals.

He unfolded the paper and let me see it but would not let me touch it. It was covered in scribbled notes. There were dates and times alongside moon phases. But it was a name at the bottom of the page that made my breath catch. Davies, "which one?" I asked.

"Could be Alun or Thomas. Brothers and warlocks," he said.

"Could they have been here? Planning something with these crystals?" I asked, looking up at Gethin for answers he might not have.

"It's possible," said Gethin. "The phases of the moon might suggest some kind of warlock ritual, I would guess. What confuses me is this looks like Cedric's handwriting." He looked back at the stone circle as if it would give him more answers.

Gethin put the notes in a plastic evidence bag and stored it in his pocket. "We need to find out more about warlock arcanite rituals. It's not something I've ever looked into."

Gethin held out his hand to help me up from the stones. He looked towards the forest's edge, his body language changing as if every muscle was braced for an unseen threat. "Cedric, are you there?" His voice, normally steady, had an edge that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

A shadow detached itself from the trees, and Cedric stepped into view. He moved to the edge of the shade.

"You've done well to find this place," he said.

Gethin visibly relaxed, but didn't take his eyes off Cedric. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "And don't tell me it's a coincidence."

Cedric's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Let's just say I've been monitoring certain activities in Llyncroft. I have a particular interest in this place," he said, gesturing around the stone circle.

Gethin and I exchanged a look. I felt a mixture of curiosity and unease at Cedric's admission. I stepped forward. "What are you hiding, Cedric? Why is this place so important?"

Cedric sighed, the sound like leaves rustling. "I guess it's time I told you what I know." He looked down at the arcanite crystals in their earthen cradle. "These stones are more than just power enhancers for warlocks, or artifacts for rituals."

Gethin folded his arms. "Go on."

Cedric looked up at the canopy above us, making sure he remained in the shade of the leaves. "This stone circle is ancient, older than any of us realise. It's a nexus, if you will. A focal point for the earth's natural energies." He paused. "And arcanite, it's not just a way to enhance magic. In the wrong hands, it can change those energies."

The words hung in the air, pregnant with meaning that extended far beyond the stone circle. I looked between Cedric and Gethin, feeling a knot of dread in my stomach.

"What would happen if a paranormal being had that much power?" I asked.

"It's like you would have the earth's heart in your hand," he said gravely. "Imagine being able to make earthquakes, flood cities, or worse, tear the veil between worlds."

I shivered. It was a terrifying thought.

"And it's not just what they could do physically," Gethin continued. "The mental and emotional influence someone could have over individuals or whole populations would be catastrophic."

I felt my blood run cold. It was a terrifying thought. Someone could use that power to take over governments, start wars, or cause mass panic and no one would ever know.

Cedric's green eyes met mine. "The balance of light and dark in Llyncroft is delicate," he said. "This place is a refuge for many who don't fit anywhere else in the world. If the warlocks have tipped that balance too far one way."

He didn't need to finish his sentence. If the balance was tipped too far, Llyncroft could become a place of darkness, or even worse, its destruction could be the beginning of something much worse.