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

we’ve got. Come on, we’ve muddled through up to now, what’s a little more going to do?”

“Get us killed?” Aamir replied.

Alex rolled his eyes. “You’re always so negative. Honestly, Aamir, you definitely know how to massacre the mood,” he teased.

“I am merely pointing out the obvious,” Aamir retorted, a small smile playing upon his lips.

“Shall we?” Alex asked.

“Lead the way.”

They made their way up through the floors of the pagoda, passing the unyielding flow of bodies as they went. There were servants of all shapes and sizes, carrying trays piled high with delicious-smelling treats and boxes full of candies. Others were returning empty trays, while the rest barked orders. Nobody seemed to pay much notice to Alex and Aamir, who weaved through the throngs with ease, rising higher and higher up the building.

At last, they reached the top floor. There were guards posted at either side of the door, but Alex approached them boldly, his head bowed in veneration. The two men on duty were enormous, bulky individuals, the buttons of their uniforms straining across their barrel chests. Still, Alex showed no fear as he neared, even when their gaze fell upon him and they stared at him as if he were little more than an unsightly bug.

“What do you want, wretch?” one asked.

“We are here to serve His Royal Highness, King Julius,” Alex explained, keeping his head dipped. “Our presence has been commanded by the venerable Hadrian,” he added, hoping that the royal would cover for them, if he came to the door.

“No servants are worthy of a King’s audience,” one guard sneered.

“I assure you, he is expecting us. He will be sorely disappointed if he finds you haven’t let us through,” Alex countered, hoping he sounded convincing.

The guards looked at one another before the one who had spoken tapped on the door. Hadrian appeared, poking his head out. For a moment, a look of horror flashed across his face at the sight of Alex and Aamir, but he covered it quickly, turning to the guards.

“What appears to be the problem?” Hadrian asked.

“These two say you ordered them to come up?” the guard said gruffly.

Hadrian nodded. “Indeed, I did. Allow them through.”

With a shrug, the two huge men stood to one side, letting Alex and Aamir pass with little more than a cursory glance. Once inside the top floor chambers, Alex’s heart really began to thunder. Sitting at the low table, where Alex and his friends had shared breakfast that morning, was Julius. Beside him, staring blankly into a cup of something hot and bright red in color, was a woman dressed in a striking violet silk kimono with vivid pink blossoms embroidered upon the fabric. She was of an exquisite beauty that quite literally took Alex’s breath away. Even Alypia, beneath the veil of her enhancement spells, paled in comparison. It had to be Venus.

Although it was clear she was of an older age, there was a youthfulness to her face that defied time. Her eyes were a pale, silvery blue that seemed to pierce the soul, and her hair was long and pale, not quite the same shade of white as the other royals. Hers was closer to silver in color, flecked with strands of gold. Alex noted that Helena must take after her grandmother, rather than her mother, where looks were concerned. Venus’s face was indescribable. If Alex put together all the most beautiful women in history, he wasn’t sure any of them would match up to the beauty he saw in front of him.

Julius rose, prowling around behind his wife. It was clear that, even after so many years of marriage, the king couldn’t take his eyes off his queen. He lunged toward her suddenly, and though everyone else in the room flinched, Venus didn’t bat an eyelid. Making a charade of it, Julius reached past her shoulder to pick up a candy shaped like a ladybug, his mouth moving as he whispered something in her ear. There was malicious intent in his eyes, his lips curving up in a cruel smile. Whatever it was he’d said, she still refused to react, focusing on the liquid in her cup.

Chuckling to himself, Julius planted a firm kiss on his wife’s cheek. It was becoming quickly apparent that Julius and Venus had the kind of twisted relationship in which nobody was ever sure if he was going to kill her or kiss her. It wasn’t a comfortable thing to watch.

“Your book collection is terrible, nephew,” Julius purred as he moved away from Venus, stalking toward the bookshelves at the back of the room. “You should always replenish your stock,” he said, thumbing the spines.

Alex froze as the king came close to the spine of the Book of Jupiter, tucked away where Alex had left it at the far end of the highest bookshelf, under the supervision of Hadrian and Aamir. Having not expected such an honored guest to turn up, Alex had thought it would be safe there. All he could do was watch as Julius made his way down the line of books, mouthing the names as he went. There was only one book left between Julius and the Book of Jupiter, and Alex didn’t think he could bear it. He wanted to shout, or throw something, to create a distraction, but he had a feeling it might have the opposite effect. Julius wasn’t stupid; he would suspect something.

At the very last moment, Julius turned back to the room, missing the book by mere millimeters.

“It’s essential that you read as much as you can; it is the only way to truly understand the world around us,” Julius said, his tone brimming with self-importance. “I, myself, always have several miniatures about my person, so that I can read wherever I may be. My dear wife will tell you—I am rarely without a book in my hand. Knowledge is power, and to be truly powerful, you have to have read more than any other man.”

As if to prove