The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 3 by Bella Forrest (i can read book club txt) 📕

As much as the Head deserved everything he got, Alex did not envy him.

“I have made my mistakes, sister. I understand that, and I know I should have taken more care. But I am coming to you because I know when I need help. I need your assistance to restore the balance of the school so we can move on from this—so I can continue with my work to recruit students and replenish what Renmark destroyed. We need new students now more than ever,” the Head pleaded, any trace of pride gone.

Behind the door, Alex seethed with anger. Those students who died in the library, at Renmark’s hands, were more than an amenity in need of restocking. It wasn’t like running out of salt at the grocery store. Yet that was how Alypia and the Head were discussing the young lives they wanted to snuff out for their own benefit. They were far more than ‘wasted essence’—they were wasted lives, and it enraged Alex that they didn’t care.

Alypia seemed to muse upon the Head’s words for several moments, keeping her brother in suspense. Irritation still flashed in her eyes, but there was concern too.

Concern for their dwindling livestock, Alex thought bitterly.

“Very well. I shall select a team of guards and send them to you within the next few days, to help clean up the royal mess you have made. I trust you’ve managed to return the portal to its rightful place?” she said sourly.

“I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t,” the Head snapped.

Alypia glowered. “Do not get smart with me, little brother.”

“Yes, the portal is back in place,” he replied through gritted teeth. “Thank you for your kind gesture.”

Alypia grinned smugly. “It’s my pleasure. Hopefully we can get this whole disaster sorted out before anyone hears about it.”

Alex listened in confusion as a stillness blanketed the room beyond. There was tension, as if one were waiting for the other to speak. The Head’s nails scraped and tapped against the armchair’s upholstery—a nervous tic, perhaps. Alex wasn’t even in the room and Alypia was making him nervous.

“What is it? Do spit it out!” Alypia barked.

Alex was convinced he heard the sound of a gulp in the Head’s thin neck.

“You have already done so much, but… there is the matter of my escaped students.”

Alex watched as the Headmistress’s face morphed into an expression of abject contempt. It was the kind of disdainful look that had to be practiced over a number of years, and she certainly seemed adept at it.

“Are you entirely incompetent?” she spat.

“I did mention that they had escaped.”

“Oh, and that means I have to seek out these runaways for you?”

“I thought you might have seen them after the portal disappeared,” the Head said quietly.

Alypia’s expression was beyond contemptuous now. “And I said to you, I sent scouts out after detecting a disturbance near the portal. They came back with nothing. They saw no one. They had nothing to tell me of any intruders. All they said was that the portal was missing. I suspected something had happened to it, but I figured you’d come and find me if it were a problem—and here you are, with simply awful tales of missing teenagers.”

“They are no ordinary teenagers, sister,” replied the Head quickly.

Just then, the sound of feet pounding the flagstones sent a surge of panic through the crouched figure of Alex. His head snapped in the direction of the sound, and he waited for a figure to emerge from the shadows, but whoever they were, they didn’t come up the corridor. Instead, Alex caught sight of the back of their head as they disappeared down another intersection, where they were swallowed up by the shadows.

Heart hammering, Alex turned back to the keyhole to see what the Head had to say about him and his friends.

“That’s ludicrous!” he heard Alypia cry, though he had missed the subject of her disbelief.

“I assure you, it is not—they are all very talented. Some of the finest students I have seen,” remarked the Head. “They have Aamir with them too.”

Alex froze.

“Who?” Alypia’s eyes narrowed in curiosity.

“Professor Nagi.”

Turning to see the Headmistress’s reaction, Alex watched as her eyes began to glitter with something like surprise. Her mouth moved as she uttered something softly in the Head’s direction, but Alex couldn’t make it out. Hurriedly, he pressed his ear to the keyhole, but he was too late to hear what she had said. Still, her curious expression held some wonder in it that refreshed Alex’s suspicions about his former friend. Had there been familiarity in her eyes, or had he imagined it?

“I’m afraid I have neither seen nor heard anything of these students. On that count, I can’t help you—though I will be certain to return them, should they show up.” Alypia smiled with a cold beauty. “Let’s hope they haven’t snuck back through to Spellshadow and taken over the place while you have been wasting time with me.”

Alex cursed silently, realizing that might have been a good idea. Glancing back at the hallway, he wondered if there was any way that might still be possible, only to be called back to the keyhole by two words that made his blood run cold. His name.

“I don’t think you understand the urgency, sister,” insisted the Head. “We need to find Alex Webber.”

“He can’t be that talented. You should adjust your focus toward new students—these ones will find their way back once they’re sick of running. Hunger is very persuasive, you know.” She grinned icily.

Her brother shook his head. “You don’t understand… Alex is not like the others. There is something special about him—something which might bring an end to all of our troubles, sister.”

Alypia lifted her chin haughtily. “What do you mean?”

“I didn’t realize at first, but there is something different about him. I think we can use it—if we could just find him, I’m sure we could,” he stated firmly.

Alex wasn’t sure whether Alypia was irked or intrigued, as a confusion of thought passed across her stunningly