The Shadow Cabinet

CopyrightHarperVoyagerAn imprint ofHarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GFwww.harpercollins.co.ukFirst published by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2023Copyright © Juno Dawson 2023Maps copyright © Emma VieceliFloorplan illustration copyright © Nicolette CavenJuno Dawson asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.Source ISBN: 9780008478551eBook Edition © June 2023 ISBN: 9780008478575Version: 2023-05-12 DedicationDedicated to anyone who ever felt that they were second best EpigraphThe devil doth generally mark them with a private mark, by reason the witches have confessed themselves, that the devil doth lick them with his tongue in some privy part of their body, before he doth receive them to be his servants, which mark commonly is given them under the hair in some part of their body, whereby it may not easily be found out or seen, although they be searched.From Daemonologie by King James I, 1597Grab ’em by the pussy.Donald Trump, 2005 ContentsCoverTitle PageCopyrightDedicationEpigraphWitches of EuropeMap of ManchesterHMRC FloorplansWho’s Who35 Years Ago …Chapter One: RemembranceChapter Two: WakeChapter Three: CottagingChapter Four: The Group ChatChapter Five: Guilt is a BastardChapter Six: WeavingChapter Seven: The Woman Who Would Be PriestessChapter Eight: ArrivederciChapter Nine: The Song of OsirisChapter Ten: The House of HekateChapter Eleven: PowerlessChapter Twelve: Hello, KittyChapter Thirteen: The Voodoo LoungeChapter Fourteen: RestlessChapter Fifteen: Pillow TalkChapter Sixteen: Downward DogChapter Seventeen: The DollhouseChapter Eighteen: Of Boys and MenChapter Nineteen: Harmsworth House HotelChapter Twenty: The Working Men’s ClubChapter Twenty-One: The Seal of SolomonChapter Twenty-Two: The Corridors of PowerChapter Twenty-Three: Ships in the NightChapter Twenty-Four: GamblersChapter Twenty-Five: Normal GirlsChapter Twenty-Six: Intimacy IssuesChapter Twenty-Seven: The Temple of the QueenChapter Twenty-Eight: Daddy IssuesChapter Twenty-Nine: SeparationChapter Thirty: The Danger RoomChapter Thirty-One: The Queen of ShebaChapter Thirty-Two: Teenage DreamsChapter Thirty-Three: DowntimeChapter Thirty-Four: Return to the Working Men’s ClubChapter Thirty-Five: BreadcrumbsChapter Thirty-Six: The Island of the WitchesChapter Thirty-Seven: Kurt and Courtney, Niamh and ConradChapter Thirty-Eight: Grave MattersChapter Thirty-Nine: Cold Light of DayChapter Forty: Heart of StoneChapter Forty-One: BargainingChapter Forty-Two: BloodChapter Forty-Three: Corpse ReviverChapter Forty-Four: The Cucking PodChapter Forty-Five: Women’s IntuitionChapter Forty-Six: Dress RehearsalChapter Forty-Seven: ReunionChapter Forty-Eight: UnravellingChapter Forty-Nine: More Questions Than AnswersChapter Fifty: St NiamhChapter Fifty-One: CaptivityChapter Fifty-Two: ConfessionChapter Fifty-Three: Coronation IChapter Fifty-Four: Coronation IIChapter Fifty-Five: HexChapter Fifty-Six: Coronation IIIChapter Fifty-Seven: Meanwhile …Chapter Fifty-Eight: Table For TwoChapter Fifty-Nine: What Ciara DidChapter Sixty: What Ciara Did NextChapter Sixty-One: The End of the World (As We Know It)Chapter Sixty-Two: The LeftoversChapter Sixty-Three: They Come At NightChapter Sixty-Four: The OrphanChapter Sixty-Five: ReunionChapter Sixty-Six: Bluebell WoodsAcknowledgmentsAlso by Juno DawsonAbout the Publisher Hebden BridgeNiamh Kelly – Level 5 AdeptLast seen visiting her comatose sister, Ciara, at a coven safehouse in Manchester. Romantically involved with Luke Watts, Niamh lost her fiancé, Conrad Chen, during Dabney Hale’s warlock uprising a decade ago. Niamh is presently fostering orphaned teenager, Theo Wells.Ciara Kelly – Level 5 AdeptCiara lost a vicious fight with her twin sister during the uprising, and has been in a coma for almost a decade. During the civil unrest, she supported renegade warlock Dabney Hale.Elle Pearson – Level 4 HealerCommunity Nurse Elle recently told her non-magical husband, Jez, that she is a witch.Theodora ‘Theo’ Wells – Adept (Level TBC)While already identifying as female, Theo underwent a physical transformation by combining her powers with her adoptive guardian, Niamh. Theo was previously thought to be the legendary ‘Sullied Child’ a harbinger of the demon, Leviathan.Holly Pearson – Sentient (Level TBC)Elle’s youngest child recently discovered she is a witch, and previously had a crush on Theo.Helena Vance (deceased)Formerly High Priestess of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, Helena betrayed her sisters by invoking the demon Belial in a bid to kill Theo, and thwart the Sullied Child prophecy.Snow Vance-Morrill – Elemental (Level TBC)Helena’s teenage daughter was taken away from Hebden Bridge by her grandparents to escape the shame of her mother’s actions.Luke Watts – MundaneLuke runs a grocery service, and is currently dating Niamh.Jeremy ‘Jez’ Pearson – MundaneElle’s husband, a mechanic, is – unbeknownst to his wife – having an affair with a local hotel receptionist called Jessica.Milo Pearson – MundaneElle and Jez’s eldest child has no magical ability but attends the same school as Theo and Holly.Rev. Sheila Henry – Level 3 SentientThe reverend founded Coven Pride and sits on the board of HMRC.Annie Device (deceased)Helena murdered Elle’s grandmother to cover up her secret alliance with the demon Belial.LondonLeonie Jackman – Level 6 SentientFounder of Diaspora, an independent coven for witches and warlocks of colour. Her brother, Radley, is currently AWOL, hunting the disgraced warlock Dabney Hale.Chinara Okafor – Level 6 ElementalLeonie’s long-time girlfriend is an immigration lawyer at a non-profit. She is keen to start a family with Leonie.Her Majesty’s Royal Coven (HMRC) – ManchesterMoira Roberts – Level 5 SentientThe Chief Cailleach of Scotland is Acting High Priestess following Helena’s execution.Irina Konvalinka – Level 6 OracleThe Lead Oracle foresaw the arrival of the ‘Sullied Child’ and heralds the eventual rise of Leviathan.Sandhya Kaur – Level 3 SentientExecutive Assistant to the High Priestess.The Warlock’s Cabal – ManchesterRadley Jackman – Level 3 HealerThe High Priest, Leonie’s brother, embarked on a mission to apprehend Dabney Hale after he absconded from Grierlings, the coven prison.Dabney Hale – Level 6 AdeptThe renegade warlock attempted a coup on the basis of magical supremacy. He tricked Helena into aiding his escape from Grierlings, and he remains at large.Celestial BeingsGaia – The term, used by many