The Ipsissimus appeared in the doorway with an odd expression on his face. ‘When my wife was alive, I took more holidays and I believe I was a better leader for it.’ He smiled sadly. ‘Maybe that was her influence rather than the time away from this place. But in any case, the boy understands that you cannot work all the time, no matter how much you might love it. It’s simply not healthy.’ He held my gaze. ‘Thank you for that, Ivy. I think he could only learn it from you.’

I actually blushed. ‘Well, working somewhere like the Order has its benefits too. For all that I moan about it, it does a lot of good. It’s a vital organisation.’

A faint smile crossed the Ipsissimus’s face. ‘I’m glad you think so. It’s important that you do.’

Winter coughed slightly. ‘Ivy, would it bother you if I came back?’ he asked. ‘If I took the Ipsissimus up on his offer? Just say the word if it would and I won’t mention it ever again. There are plenty of other places I can work. There’s still plenty of good we can do together with the Hallowed Order of Magical Enlightenment.’

I turned and beamed at him. ‘I’ve not been paying lip-service to this place, Rafe. I’ll be really happy if you decide to return because I know how much you love working here. But it’s not down to me. This is your decision.’ I paused. ‘I’ll expect you to have days off that we can spend together,’ I added with a wag of my index finger. ‘But I do understand that you want to be here and that it’s as much a part of your life as I am.’

His expression softened. ‘I can’t persuade you to join me?’

I opened my mouth to answer when there was a sudden loud thump from the end of the corridor. All three of us turned towards the noise.

‘Stay here,’ Winter said grimly. ‘I’ll check it out.’ He marched past me, passing through the body of Ipsissimus and out the other side before disappearing from sight.

My legs suddenly felt like jelly and I felt my knees give way. I collapsed onto the floor. ‘No,’ I whispered.

Ipsissimus Collings glided over to me and reached down with an outstretched hand. ‘You knew it the moment I appeared, Ivy,’ he said. ‘You just didn’t want to believe it.’ He glanced at his hand ruefully and withdrew it. ‘It’s a very strange sensation,’ he said, ‘no longer being corporeal.’

‘I … you…’ I squeezed my eyes shut. This couldn’t be happening. ‘We need you.’

‘Tough.’

I still couldn’t look at him. ‘How did this happen?’

‘Blackbeard is not in Uffington.’

Oh God. Even though I’d already known that, my stomach still dropped. ‘He … he … killed you?’

‘Yes. Don’t worry, it was quick.’ Somehow I knew he was lying when he said that. His voice changed. ‘Now open your eyes and listen to me. I don’t have long. It’s already taking everything I have to remain on this plane but this is important.’

I swallowed hard and did as he asked before struggling to my feet. He was the one who was dead, after all; his problems were far greater than mine. ‘Go on,’ I said with a catch in my voice.

‘The paperwork for Raphael to rejoin the Order is in the top drawer of my desk. I signed it weeks ago. It’s all ready to go. He just needs to sign it. It is imperative he does this before my body is discovered. Blackbeard has clearly abandoned his plan to cremate his victims. He has hidden my body but it won’t stay that way for long. This time he wants everyone to know what he’s done. Beyond that, I cannot speak for his motives or his reasoning. You will need to ascertain those for yourselves and find him before he can do even more damage. The Order is everything, Ivy. It must survive.’

My mouth was parched dry. ‘It will. Of course it will.’

‘You remember the conversation we had in Scotland about what would happen if I were to die? About the chaos that would ensue?’

Shit. It was the reason why I’d confronted Alistair the teenage necromancer instead of the Ipsissimus doing it. There were too many Order witches with too much ambition and too many hidden agendas for peace to ensue. ‘Yes.’

‘The events in Scotland prompted me to take action to ensure that will not happen. It was something I should have done long ago and which I have long regretted I did not plan for. I have named my successor and he will do the Order proud. He will not let it falter and he will be a unifying force. He will be accepted as the new Ipsissimus,’ he paused, ‘but only if he is already back as an Order witch. The contract I’ve prepared promotes him to Third Level. He hasn’t passed the examinations but, in his case, they are a mere formality.’ His voice grew stern. ‘However, if his return is not acknowledged before my death is discovered, the dissenters will find reason to keep him out and the in-fighting will start. It will continue for years, maybe even decades.’

‘Rafe,’ I whispered. ‘You’ve named Rafe.’ So the Ipsissimus had always expect Winter to return to the fold. Truthfully, so had I.

‘Yes. He was not ready before but he is ready now. He will need you by his side to guide and support him. Your role will perhaps be even more important than his in the months to come.’

I hoped he was just saying that because he thought I needed my ego massaged. I was more than happy to be the nonentity in the background. Yes, please, sign me up for sofa duty. I was not the Caesar’s wife type especially when, deep down, I knew that Winter was the perfect person for the role of Ipsissimus. He made mistakes but he’d learnt to acknowledge them; he didn’t cut corners. He had the dedication and the integrity; he’d be brilliant. My expression twisted.

‘What’s the problem?’ the Ipsissimus asked.

‘Nothing.’ I couldn’t tell him that it had just occurred to me that my boyfriend would be the geekiest of all the Order geeks. ‘It’s all fine. Apart from the part where you’re dead, of course.’

A spasm lurched through the Ipsissimus’s body. ‘I can’t deny the lure of the other side for much longer. Make sure Raphael signs those papers. Make sure others see them before I am found.’

His shape was beginning to falter and become transparent, and there was a bright glow surrounding him that was difficult to look at.

‘Wait!’ This couldn’t be it. He couldn’t leave already. ‘Where are you? Where’s your body?’

‘In a shed towards the back of the Herblore Department. He dragged me there.’ A beatific smile crossed his face and his gaze rested on a spot seemingly far away. ‘Goodbye, Ivy.’

‘But what about…?’ The light brightened and I was forced to shield my eyes. I yelled, ‘Wait! Don’t go!’ Even as I said the words, I knew they were pointless.

When I could finally see again, he’d gone. Winter was back in the room, rushing to my side. ‘What’s wrong? What’s happened? Ivy!’

I stared at him dully. ‘The Ipsissimus,’ I said. ‘The Ipsissimus is dead.’

The colour drained from Winter’s face. Behind him, I spotted Philip Maidmont, his hand covering his mouth in horror.

‘It was Blackbeard,’ I said. ‘Somehow Blackbeard found him and killed him.’ My voice was quiet but surprisingly steady. I drew in a ragged breath. ‘The Ipsissimus has gone and his spirit has already passed over. As for Blackbeard, I don’t know where he is.’ But I did know that nothing would ever be the same again.

Chapter Twenty-One

What I wanted to do was to throw myself into Winter’s arms, burrow into his chest and cry. What I did was shake myself and head directly for the Ipsissimus’s desk.

Maidmont and Winter stared at me dumbly. I yanked open the top drawer and found the scrolled contract lying on the top of the papers inside. I picked it up between my finger and thumb, afraid that I might damage it, then held it out to Winter.

He looked at me as if I were holding a poisonous snake. ‘What is that?’

‘Your contract,’ I said simply. ‘You have to sign it. We have to take it to HR right now and get you reinstated.’