The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 5 by Bella Forrest (book series for 10 year olds .TXT) 📕

They came to a halt. “Perhaps I can make up for it now?” he said.

His heart was pounding as he turned her toward him, holding her close. She looked up at him, her blue eyes sparkling. All he wanted to do was kiss her, and let her know how much he had missed her. He longed to tell her that it was the thought of her that had spurred him on, driven him to find a way back to them, but, standing in front of her, he found himself once again tongue-tied.

A kiss tells more than words ever could, he thought to himself. He slowly leaned toward her.

Just as their lips were about to meet, a loud squawk shattered the moment, followed by the thunder of heavy feet as Storm came barreling toward them. Ellabell jumped back, startled, and Alex stood between the charging Thunderbird and the girl he loved.

“Storm, stop!” he yelled. “I’m fine!”

The Thunderbird skidded to a stop, her intelligent eyes flashing toward Ellabell, scrutinizing her. With a loud chirrup, she took a step closer, forcing Alex to move toward her, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. Slowly, he approached her, until he was close enough to stroke the smooth feathers at the side of her face. She chirped again, the sound softer this time.

“Wait, is this the Thunderbird?” Ellabell asked, her mouth agape.

Alex nodded. “She is—her name is Storm.”

“And you really flew on her?” Ellabell gasped.

“I did,” he said proudly.

“And we’re really going to fly to Kingstone? I mean, I knew that was the plan, but I suppose I never really thought she’d exist until I set eyes on her… She’s a beauty,” Ellabell murmured, awestruck.

Alex grinned. “I figured we may as well save the essence for when it’s really necessary. Storm can get us there just fine, no need for the hassle of portal-building.”

Ellabell squealed. “I can’t believe it! We’re really flying there!”

“If you’re happy to, and Storm is happy to, then that’s what we’re going to do,” he replied. “What do you think, Storm? You happy to fly us back to Kingstone?”

The bird chirped brightly.

“Does that mean yes?” Ellabell asked, her eyes as wide as saucers.

“I think it might.” Alex smiled. “But, first, you have to hold your palm out flat, to allow her to give her permission,” he instructed, showing Ellabell what to do. As mad as he was with Storm for ruining their romantic moment, he was pleased to see Ellabell so excited about the trip they were about to take.

Ellabell did as she was told, and waited as Storm examined her. Eventually, the Thunderbird dipped her head and rested her beak in the middle of Ellabell’s palm, tapping it gently. Ellabell grinned, taking a moment to stroke the soft feathers of the Thunderbird’s head. If Storm minded, she didn’t give any indication, only a quiet chirp of satisfaction.

As soon as Alex had done the same, they were ready to depart. Ellabell mounted first, clutching the two bone handles that Alex pointed out to her and scooting her knees up to the base of Storm’s neck. Alex hopped on after, putting his arms around Ellabell so that he, too, could reach the two handles. They were sitting very close to one another, with the bag of essence sandwiched between them, and her proximity made him grin like an idiot. It was nice to be so close to her, after so long of having to keep a friendly distance.

As they walked to an open space, Alex realized he’d never actually taken off with Storm from flat ground; it had always been the mountainside. For a moment, he wasn’t sure how Storm was going to do it, but, just as he was beginning to doubt his plan, the Thunderbird once again proved her awesome power. She started with a jog, her two strong legs moving steadily under her, her wings spreading out wide. Seconds later, she was sprinting faster than anything Alex had ever experienced, her legs pounding the ground, her wings arched, her head stretched forward to make her more streamlined as Alex and Ellabell hung on for dear life.

Catching a current, she lifted suddenly, like an airplane rising off the tarmac, and the next thing Alex knew, they were soaring. Once they were up high enough, she began to beat her wings, bringing power to their flight.

It was as exhilarating as the first time, if not more so, and Alex couldn’t wipe the joy off his face. Ellabell was grinning too, closing her eyes as the wind whipped her face.

“This is amazing!” she cried.

“It really is,” Alex replied, yelling to be heard over the sound of the wind rushing past. He knew he might as well enjoy the fun, while he had the chance. “Okay, Storm, to Kingstone!” he whooped, as the Thunderbird rocketed through the sky.

With a whoosh, the world began to bend.

Chapter 19

The fabric of the realms stretched and strained around the flying form of Storm, before snapping back with a brisk rush of air. They appeared above the open plains, the sparkle of water visible in the distance and the swaying tops of the surrounding forests rustling beneath them. Off to the left, the jagged rise of the strange mountain range was still visible, the spires and towers shining as the golden afternoon light bounced off the metal. Upon a second viewing, Alex was convinced it had something to do with the noble elite, keeping the upper echelons safe, but well out of the way of any riff-raff who inhabited the other parts of the realms.

“What just happened?” Ellabell asked, breathless.

Alex grinned. “Storm just took us through the barrier between realms. Pretty cool, right?”

“Understatement of the century!” she whooped, as Storm settled into a steady rhythm, heading toward the rise of the keep, just visible on the horizon.

They neared the familiar structure, and Alex was pleased to see that very little had changed. It didn’t look chaotic, at least not from the outside. A