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

has yet to go to wrack and ruin beneath my leadership,” Vincent replied. “I have increased the strength of the barrier, just to be certain of maintaining order, but aside from that, I have had to do little else to retain the control Caius enjoyed.” It seemed the necromancer was still haunted by what he had done to Caius, keeping the old warden at the forefront of his mind in his decision-making. There was a repentance in Vincent’s actions that wasn’t easy to ignore, as if he were trying to make up for what he had done to Caius by being the best replacement he could be.

Ellabell frowned. “Has any news come from Stillwater House yet?”

“No, not as yet, though I will definitely pass on any messages you might have,” Vincent replied, though he seemed to change his mind as soon as the words were out of his mouth. “Actually, I tell a lie. There was a note, a day ago, from one of Helena’s messengers, if memory serves. It said they were okay, and still working on things on their end, but everything is going smoothly. No alarms have been raised, and they are still working on the Spellshadow aspect of the scheme.”

The words were music to Alex’s ears. It was precisely what he wanted to hear, but that in itself brought concerns with it: was that why Vincent had changed his story, simply to give Alex the news he thought he wanted to hear? How could Vincent have forgotten something like that?

“I think we’ll head through to Stillwater ourselves, just to touch base with everyone,” Alex said, trying to keep his tone casual.

Ellabell nodded. “That’d be a good idea, just in case there was anything they forgot to mention in the note,” she added, evidently attempting to humor Vincent.

“Nonsense, I won’t hear of it—as you already explained to me, you are on something of a tight schedule. I would not keep you from your tasks back at Falleaf House. I shall deliver your message with as much care as if it were a precious jewel,” Vincent insisted. “And, I will seek to inform you, as soon as I have better news from the others.”

“Not that we don’t appreciate your offer, Vincent, but we have some essence to give them too,” Ellabell said.

“I can deliver that as well!” Vincent promised.

Alex flashed a sideways glance at Ellabell, and saw the same confused expression on her face that he felt upon his own. There was something amiss. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Vincent, because he did, but there was an undercurrent of something uncomfortable that Alex couldn’t quite put his finger on. It was a gut feeling that he couldn’t push away. Vincent seemed unusually cagey, with an unsettled shift in his eyes.

“Either way, Vincent, we’re pretty set on seeing the others ourselves,” Alex explained firmly.

A worried look furrowed Vincent’s brow. “No, no, there really is no need.”

“Regardless, we’d like to see them,” Alex repeated. “I’d like to see Alypia too, while I’m at it—if that’s okay?” he added, trying not to show his concern.

Vincent nodded. “Of course… I suppose you’re wanting to put your mind at ease?” His mouth curved into a strange smile, and an unnatural chuckle bubbled from the back of his throat.

“Something like that,” Alex said, giving nothing away.

“This way then,” Vincent sighed, rising sharply from his seat. Alex and Ellabell followed Vincent out into the hallway, hurrying after him as he strode toward the door to the old guard room.

The necromancer turned a large key in the lock, opening the door cautiously. Through the crack that appeared, Alex could see the slumped figure of Alypia sitting in the chair by the fireplace, her manacled hands held out on her lap. She appeared to be sleeping, her patchwork face oddly peaceful.

“I’ve been keeping her under a sleeping spell,” Vincent explained. “Have you seen enough?”

Alex nodded, more or less satisfied, though he couldn’t push away the dubious feeling that persisted. There was something wrong; he was sure of it. He hoped the others might be able to shed some light on the problem.

With that, Vincent pulled the door shut again, his manner furtive.

“We should probably get to the portal, and make our pit stop to the others,” Alex said, turning to walk back in the direction he knew the Stillwater portal to be, out in the open courtyard. Ellabell followed him, walking with conviction.

Vincent hurried after, a perplexed look on his face. “Honestly, I do not mind delivering your wares and wants,” he called, but Alex and Ellabell were already farther ahead.

A piercing shriek split the air.

It was the beetle beacon in Alex’s pocket, signaling a warning at Falleaf House. Alex flashed a panicked look at Ellabell as he drew it out, seeing the blinding flash of the lights on the tempered carapace. The sound was louder without the cloth of his trousers to smother it, and it was all Alex could do not to cover his ears, to try to protect his eardrums from the deafening siren. Ellabell cupped her own palms over her ears as Alex pushed his anti-magic into the small clockwork device, silencing it to a dull whine.

“What was that?” Vincent asked, catching up to where Alex and Ellabell stood.

“Bad news,” Alex muttered. It wasn’t ideal. There was more he needed to do here, and yet he knew he had to get back to Falleaf. If Aamir had pressed his beacon, it meant something important was going down. Unfortunately, it took priority over his suspicions of the keep, and whatever Vincent appeared to be hiding.

“It’s fine,” Ellabell announced. “I’ll stay, while you go back to Falleaf House. I’ll make sure I get the message to the others.” She flashed Alex a knowing look, tilting her head subtly towards Vincent. Alex realized she wanted to stay to get to the root of why Vincent was acting strange, and though he too wanted to figure that out, he wasn’t sure about leaving her to it,