Clara stood her ground.

    With half its body still buried in the Retrospective, the worm raised its mouth high, preparing to descend and swallow its enemy whole. Muscles bunching, the wolf prepared to pounce. 

    "Clara, no!" Van Bam shouted.

    But before Clara could ignore the illusionist and launch her attack, she was stopped by a glare of blue light.

    It appeared suddenly, blazingly, filling the space between Clara and the demonic worm, a dense, almost palpable light. The wolf recoiled from its glare. The worm hissed putrid breath, its body contracting and shying away. The light shrank and coalesced into the vague shape of a human surrounded by an aura of sky blue. It waved limb-like tendrils that spread from wall-to-wall, separating the combatants.

    Clara backed off a few steps. The vision tugged at her memory, its aura and shape, the black eyes that leaked tears of smoke . . .

    "The avatar," she heard Van Bam whisper with awe.

    Clara knew that was important, but she didn't care; she only wanted to stand her ground, to face this avatar and show it her full might. But energy radiated from the spectre, a force that raised the hairs on the wolf's body and frightened the worm. This energy pushed Clara back a few steps more, and she hated her weakness in the face of it.

    A pale tendril of light waved towards the wolf, snaking in the air as it passed over her. Clara followed its path, watching as it engulfed the stone box atop the pedestal in a blue glow.

    Van Bam and Samuel stood frozen, transfixed as the avatar's light intensified around the stone box. Both men flinched as the crackle of energy filled the air. It was followed by a low hum. A few paces behind the pedestal, a large disc of shadow had appeared on the floor. The men flinched again and wheeled around as, with a wrenching of stone and a rush of air, a circle of brickwork on the dead end wall crumbled and swirled away into the glassy surface of a circular portal.

    Around the pedestal, the aura of blue light sputtered. The avatar blinked in and out of existence a few times. And then it disappeared.

    Clara's ears were filled with a hissing, and rancid breath assaulted her nostrils. Fear of the avatar had not caused the demonic worm to flee back into the Retrospective. It slid forwards once more, mouth open and eager to eat the wolf.

    "Clara, we are leaving," Van Bam bellowed.

    Mentally, she laughed at the idea of backing down from this fight. She showed the worm her teeth.

    "Clara!"

    "Leave her, Van Bam," Samuel shouted. "We can't control her."

    "Clara, listen to me!" Van Bam begged. "Come with us now, or you die here!"

    Flashing teeth and spitting saliva, Clara began barking at her foe as it pushed its blubbery body ever closer.

    The idiot's quite right, you know, a voice said in the wolf's mind.       

    Clara ceased her threats and skipped back, feeling as though she had been slapped on the snout by an invisible hand.

    This really isn't a fight you can win, Clara.

    The voice felt harsh and intrusive in her head, and it brought images of a man's gaunt face, his expression hard, his eyes brown and maniacal.

    Don't get me wrong, child, the voice continued, I admire your courage, but it truly is time for flight, not fight.

    With the worm still pushing towards her, Clara looked back at Van Bam and Samuel. They stood upon the disc of shadow on the alley floor. Van Bam's expression was pleading as he held out a hand to her.

    "Please . . . you cannot survive this."

    Clara faced the worm again, and saw that it was within four paces of her. Some of the fight had left her, but she still bared her teeth and stood her ground all the same. If she used the alley wall as leverage, she could jump up onto the demon's back and bite and slash until it was slaughtered-

    And then what will you do about the hordes of wild demons waiting to follow this ugly brute, Clara? The voice drew a breath and shouted at her. Just run, you idiot!

    Compelled into action, Clara gave a final growl, turned from the worm, and ran to the Relic Guild agents.

    The instant she joined them, the edges of the shadow disc furled and wire-thin strands of shadow arced and criss-crossed overhead to encase the three of them in a mesh-like sphere. The lines began spinning, issuing a whine that slowly rose in pitch. Clara felt tingling in her stomach, and then she and the two men lifted from the ground to float within the sphere.

    Outside, the worm gave itself a mighty push. It slithered over the cobbles, crushing the pedestal and the stone box atop it beneath its blubbery body, and reached the sphere.

    Clara barked at the demon.

    Samuel aimed his rifle.

    But as the worm's lipless mouth descended, the thin, spinning lines of shadows began shredding flesh and breaking teeth. Spraying black blood and broken bone, the worm recoiled with a savage hissing. The whining of the sphere reached a crescendo and it shot away from the Retrospective and its minion. In the instant before the strange carriage entered the portal swirling on the dead end wall, Clara saw the worm's corpse lying limp and steaming.   

    The sphere passed through brickwork as easily as a stone dropping into water. With a whump the bright light of Silver Moon returned. The world was streaked, blurred, as they travelled through the alleyways of the Great Labyrinth. Without heeding the twists and turns or the solid brickwork, the shadow carriage continued at a speed Clara couldn't comprehend. Calmly floating inside the sphere, her stomach was nauseated by the sense of movement beyond the spinning lines. Floating to her right, Van Bam seemed nonplussed by the journey; on her left, Samuel's teeth were gritted, his face a mask of anger and fear.

    The journey ended abruptly, the sphere disappeared suddenly, and Clara was sent skidding along slick cobbles. She rolled over to her feet, immediately coming up in a defensive stance, ready for any attack.

    Van Bam and Samuel exhibited no ill effects from the jaunt through the Great Labyrinth, and stood facing the wolf. Samuel was aiming his rifle at her. There was deadly intent in his eyes, shining as clearly as the power stone set into his weapon. Clara showed him her teeth.

    "Clara?" It was Van Bam who had spoken. He raised a hand to keep Samuel's trigger finger at bay, and then took a step towards the wolf. "I know you can understand me."

    Her yellow eyes glared at him.

    "This is a waste of time, Van Bam," Samuel said dangerously.

    "Samuel, just wait!" The illusionist took another step towards the wolf. "Clara, you are either with us or against us. Which is it to be?"

    There was no expression on his face, no inflection in his voice. The question had come as a cold statement: life or death – choose one. By what right this man presumed to hold command over her, Clara didn't know. But he had a rude awakening coming if he thought she would ever be subservient to him.

    "Nod your head if you are with us, Clara," Van Bam added.

    I'd do as he says if I were you. The man's voice again, coldly amused inside her head. Van Bam is prepared to give you a chance, Clara, but Samuel is a delicate little princess, and I'm fairly certain he has at least one bullet left.

    Inside Clara, the memory of words came back to her and she found a mental voice of her own.

    I know you, she thought to the presence.

    The man chuckled. It felt like having an itch inside her head that she could not scratch.

    Perhaps you have dreamed of me, he said. Or is it that you're remembering one of Marney's recollections?

    Gideon . . .

    There will be plenty of time for proper introductions, Clara. First, please show your gentleman friends that you're in control.

    Van Bam was now looking at Clara with a curious expression. Beside him, Samuel held his rifle with a sure and steady aim. Clara could feel the old bounty hunter's readiness to defend himself in any way necessary.

    "Clara," Van Bam snapped. "Are you with us?"

    Do let him know that you are, Gideon said. Samuel never misses, and it would be such a shame if you died before we became better acquainted.

    With a snort, Clara sat on the wet cobbles and bobbed her head.

    Van Bam smiled. "I think you can lower your weapon now, Samuel."

    The old bounty hunter did no such thing, but the tension relaxed in his body language.

    Van Bam held out a hand to the wolf, the metal plates covering his eyes reflecting moonlight with a soul-piercing glare. Clara felt a spark of anger. What did he expect? That she would sniff him like he was pack leader?

    Of course he does, said Gideon. You have never been in control of your magic before, Clara. The wolf has always been wild, as it were, and Van Bam knows that. He needs final proof that the girl is dominant. That you are indeed with him.

    I don't need to prove anything to anyone, she thought back angrily.

    What, not even to yourself? Gideon's tone was bored. It's your decision, of course. Personally I think they need you more than you need them.

    Why are you in my head?

    Gideon chuckled. Just show your loyalty, you idiot. Before Samuel remembers he lacks compassion on a grand level.

    With reluctance, Clara took a few steps forward and sniffed Van Bam's hand. His skin reeked of sweat and magic. She sat down, her head level with his chest, and allowed the illusionist to scratch her behind the ear.

    "Thank you," he whispered to her.

    This act was enough to finally convince Samuel to lower his rifle. He deactivated the power stone and slid the weapon into the holster on his back. He then bent, placing his hands upon his thighs, and puffed his cheeks.

    Play nicely, Clara, Gideon prompted.

    The wolf padded up to the old bounty hunter. He raised his eyes to meet her yellow gaze, their faces only six inches apart. For a moment, Clara thought that Samuel might reach out and scratch her behind the ear too, but he seemed to think better of it. Instead, he gave the wolf a nod, didn't quite smile, and said, "Good to know you're still in there."

    Clara snorted breath into his face.

    Good girl, Gideon purred. You might just live through this yet.

    "A strange day, wouldn't you agree, Samuel?" said Van Bam.

    The illusionist was standing before an end wall, where a door was set into the brickwork – a simple, innocuous wooden door.

    Van Bam continued. "A House symbol and a shadow carriage just when we needed them? Surely you must now believe the avatar is on our side?"

    "I don't know what to believe anymore," Samuel grumbled. He skirted around the wolf and approached the wooden door. "This shouldn't be here, Van Bam. All the doorways were removed after the Genii War."

    "As the avatar said, someone saw fit to leave the Labyrinth with an emergency exit."

    "Yes - but who?" Standing on tiptoes, Samuel peered up at the rusty metal plaque above the door. "The symbol's rusted away," he said, dropping down and facing Van Bam. "There's no telling which House this doorway leads to."

    Van Bam seemed amused. "Intriguing, is it not?"

    "Worrying was the word I was thinking of. There's nothing to say it'll lead us to friends."

    "There is the word of the avatar."

    "Hmm."

    It's like listening to an old married couple, don't you think? Gideon said to the wolf.

    Why are you in my head? Clara asked again.

    Gideon didn't reply.

    "Well, there's no point trying to get back to town," Samuel said, and he rubbed his face. "And we can't stay here. The Retrospective will find us again eventually-" he glanced quickly, nervously, at the wolf "-or we'll starve to death."

    Gideon laughed in Clara's head.

    With a nod of agreement, Van Bam grabbed the metal doorknob, and wrenched the door open. Clara couldn't help but issue a little growl. The doorway revealed a thick, swirling whiteness from which came the distant moaning of a lonely wind.

    The Nothing of Far and Deep, Gideon said. I'm sure you've heard of its legend, Clara. All pathways to the Labyrinth lead through its primordial mists-

    Why don't you just tell me why I can hear your voice, the wolf thought back angrily.

    It's a long story, Clara, Gideon replied. We'll talk about it later. And then he fell so silent, Clara wondered if his voice had ever been there at all.

    Van Bam stepped back from the doorway and stared long and hard into the swirling whiteness. Finally he looked back at his colleagues, a broad grin splitting his lips. "Whichever House this leads to," he said, "the Aelfir on the other side will be able put us in touch with Thaumaturgists once again."

    "And all our problems will be solved, just like that," Samuel replied humourlessly. "Since when was anything that simple for the Relic Guild?" He stepped up to the door and held it open. "After you," he said to the illusionist.

    With a quirked smile on his lips, Van Bam nodded at Clara before stepping up to face the doorway. "See you on the other side," he said, and then disappeared into swirling whiteness.

    Still holding the door open, Samuel looked at the wolf. By his body language, she could tell that he was now starkly aware of the fact they were alone together for the first time. His uncertainty pleased her.

    Samuel swallowed. "Ladies first," he said.

    With a snort, Clara walked forwards and, without pause or fear, followed Van Bam into the mists of the Nothing of Far and Deep.