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he spoke up in her place. ‘I’m just chatting with these eight foot tall winged dudes with giant size swords, no big deal,’ he thought. Surreal.
    “How can things be different?” queried Demetrius. “If you knew those… those, uh, ghouls were after the Wrens last time round, how come the plane crashed and Phoebe’s folks got killed?” Demetrius’s rather blunt question caused Phoebe to look at him in surprise, but she knew that he had just summed up everything that she had been wondering.
    “It is difficult for you to comprehend, I know,” said Cosain kindly. “But you must trust us. On the day of the crash…”
    ‘Tomorrow!’ thought Phoebe.
    “…we were despatched to the airport along with you and your parents, Phoebe. We knew that the Enemy had malevolent intentions for your family, and we had been monitoring the situation carefully. Where the Atoner has plans for good, the Enemy always seeks to thwart and destroy, and it was no different with you. We anticipated an attack en route to the airport – we had heard that the demonic horde had been stirring up locals to provoke an attack against your parents as they drove here. We had the route covered, and there were ghouls , as you put it, Demetrius, along the road – but these trouble makers were merely sent to distract us from where the problem really was – in the air.”
    “So…” Phoebe’s voice was steadier now, the realisation of how the Enemy’s deceit and trickery dawning on her. “So we would have been alright if you hadn’t been scammed?” She realised how that sounded and not wanting to be rude or offensive mumbled, “Sorry, scammed isn’t the right word. But you know what I mean, right?”
    “Yes.” It was Croga who spoke. “We were too late to save your parents because we were sure the attack would take place on land, before you were airborne. Deception, trickery, half truths – that is how he works, our enemy Abaddon, the Author of Lies.” Croga’s long dark hair fell in bunches around his perfect features as his head dropped in humiliation.
    Cosain placed a strong hand on his comrade’s shoulder.
    “No, Croga, none of the Enemy’s plans prevail without reason. That is why we are back here today with Phoebe and Demetrius. We have been given this chance, there is too much at stake to waste time on misplaced guilt. We fought well, and Phoebe’s life was spared. Now we must fight again to ensure that she and her parents – and Demetrius – get safely back to Ireland and fulfil their destinies.”
    Demetrius’s head jerked up as if he had sustained an electric shock.
    “What? Me? Ireland? Nobody said…” he stuttered. “But… I’ve never even left Johannesburg!”
    “No, but you will. Soon, you will travel with Phoebe and her parents. You are a part of her story, you both have work to do back in Ireland.”
    “Wow!” Demetrius’s face had lit up like a child’s at Christmas. “I’m gonna have to practice looking shocked when your folks break this to me, Bird!”
    Phoebe laughed at her friend’s glee, but fell sullen again as she remembered what potentially lay ahead of her. She turned her gaze to the angelic host standing to attention before her.
    “What now?” she asked. “What do we need to do? How can we change history?” Even as the words left her mouth, Phoebe was acutely aware of how crazy they sounded.
    “Don’t worry, Little One,” Cosain’s earnest eyes held hers, “We are all with you, and you have the impenetrable protection of the Atoner Himself on you. You will know what to do.”
    “It’s not really me I’m worried about, Cosain.” Phoebe stood for a moment, her eyes closed, a silent prayer playing in her mind. “Abba, thank you for this second chance. It’s totally weird to me, but I know that Your ways are not mine, and nothing is impossible with You. Will you help Dem and me now, please? I’m kinda scared, but please help us to do what we have to do. Amen.”
    When she