The Book of Beasts by John Barrowman

series of overlapping circles as Renard described, it was exactly like the great gyroscope of beasts they had just seen spinning over Era Mina. Real and eternal . If it was true, Hollow Earth existed outside time.
    More understanding surged through Em. The quote had never been just about the place where the beasts of the ancient stories and myths had been imprisoned. It was also about those who must protect Hollow Earth with their imaginations. The sons and daughters of the island’s first defenders, through all of time. Countless individuals down the generations. Renard and Jeannie.
    Em and Matt.
    â€˜Years ago, Em,’ said Vaughn, pulling her attention back to the conversation, ‘your dad found a coin similar to these, but with a black peryton on the reverse. I think that discovery set him and his mother Henrietta on their quest to find and open Hollow Earth.’
    Simon passed two mugs of hot chocolate to Zach and Em. Em sipped the rich creamy drink, letting it soothe her. Fresh ideas shifted and settled in her head.
    â€˜Do you know where Hollow Earth is, Grandpa?’ she asked.
    â€˜It lies beneath and between the two islands, in a supernatural hollow at the centre of the earth.’
    I knew it!
    Zach arched his eyebrows at Em. You did not.
    Renard slipped the page of The Book of Beasts out of the satchel. ‘In ancient times, the monks of Era Mina began this book to bind the beasts in Hollow Earth, lock them away forever. Albion is said to live there with them, guarding them. Only direct descendants of Albion can open Hollow Earth again.’
    â€˜One to use the sacred bone quill Dad stole from the monks to draw the beasts out again,’ Em guessed. ‘And the other to keep their emotions steady and controlled as they do it. Right?’
    Renard nodded.
    Sandie paled. ‘Malcolm is a Guardian descendant of Albion. He only needs The Book of Beasts , the bone quill, and an Animare?’
    Vaughn swore loudly and got up from the table. Em jumped from her chair.
    Take it easy, Em …
    â€˜Mum!’ Em was barely able to hear Zach’s voice through the drumming in her head. ‘Matt’s the Animare. Dad already has the bone quill. If he finds The Book of Beasts , all he has to do is inspirit Matt to do what he wants. Then he’ll have everything he needs.’

TWENTY-EIGHT
    Edinburgh
Present Day
    The setting sun dodged in and out of the clouds, raking light across Edinburgh Castle and the historic buildings of the city’s Old Town. Henrietta de Court was enjoying high tea in the Balmoral Hotel on Princes Street, at a table with a clear view across the Royal Gardens to the National Gallery of Scotland where, according to her man on the inside, the handsome and enigmatic Orion agent, Vaughn Grant, had sprinted from the gallery three hours ago, torn up a stack of parking tickets stuck to his motorcycle and roared west towards the motorway.
    Henrietta expected Vaughn had gone directly to the Abbey before beginning to track her and the tapestry, which at the moment was securely stored in an old cottage she had taken on Auchinmurn.
    The morning’s euphoria had left her feeling dangerously giddy. Henrietta was not a woman to laugh lightly, but she smiled now, affording herself the luxury of humour. Although not quite as she had intended, this would be the catalyst for her coup; her seizure of full authority in the Council of Guardians, first in Europe and then across the rest of the world. She had more than enough confidants and collaborators in place, ready to move with speed and aggression at her command, the moment she gave it.
    She signalled for the waiter with a sharp snap of her fingers.
    â€˜More tea,’ she instructed. ‘And two additional place settings. I am expecting company.’
    The waiter hurried away to do her bidding. Nibbling on a ladyfinger, Henrietta recalled how she had first doubted her son when he suggested his plan to her years ago at an