The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 6 by Bella Forrest (books for men to read .TXT) 📕

mist was rapid, latching onto Natalie’s essence like a missile. Fortunately, Alex and Virgil were already at the door, blocking its route toward Natalie, who had managed to get out into the corridor and was running for the staircase at the far end. The mist surged toward them, recoiling at the last minute. This time, it didn’t seem to have much of a taste for Virgil. The mist swept out before crashing back in again, like a shark circling its victim, testing the flavor.

As it swept out again, the two men took their chance, diving out of the pit room and slamming the door shut behind them with a boom that shook the whole hallway. Glancing at one another, they sprinted for the staircase too, following Natalie up into the main body of the prison.

The mist wasn’t far behind them, a door proving little challenge for this iteration of the sweeping plague. It rushed up the stairs behind them, snapping at their heels. Not pausing for a second, they raced through every floor, ducking bats and sidestepping rotting corpses, until they reached the very top level, their lungs screaming against the exertion. The mist stopped by the entrance to one of the larger common rooms, seemingly confused by the piles of dead bodies. Slithering across the lifeless forms, it snaked beneath their decaying flesh, seeking out any dregs of essence that might still be inside. This gave the trio the break they needed, and they hurried toward the turret where Storm was waiting.

She chirped in a panicked tone as they appeared. Turning around, she squatted down on her haunches, allowing them to clamber up, before hopping onto the wall and gliding off in one swift movement. As they took to the sky, Alex turned around in time to see a wave of silver undulating up through the staircase, smothering the flagstones they had been standing on, mere moments before. They’d had a very close call—too close for Alex’s liking.

Nobody spoke as Storm flew. Alex couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened, and what that now meant for him. He doubted he would be able to keep such a disastrous event from Julius for very long. After what Venus had said, Alex knew there were likely to be spies watching Kingstone, though whether they’d escape the mist remained to be seen. If they did survive it, they’d tell Julius what had happened, and that would signal the signing of his death warrant.

They just needed to get back to Starcross before anyone noticed them. If they could do that, Alex knew he might have a chance of evading Julius’s terms of the bargain.

“Natalie, can I see the vial?” Alex asked.

“There is not much left,” Natalie replied, passing the vial over, though she clung tightly to the book in case it fell.

Alex sighed. “I didn’t think there would be.”

Keeping one hand on Storm’s shoulder handle, he lifted the glass bottle to the light. There was indeed some liquid left at the bottom, but it didn’t look like there was enough for a third attempt. Peering closer, he thought there might just be five drops, but was that a risk he’d be willing to take on his final attempt? No, he didn’t think it was.

“Can you pass the book?” he asked, slipping the vial carefully into his pocket.

“What if I drop it?” Natalie replied, her expression concerned.

“You won’t,” he encouraged.

The book passed Virgil’s face, and Alex briefly feared that the skeletal man might reach up and knock it out of Natalie’s hands on purpose, so nobody ever had to do the damned spell again. But Virgil didn’t move a muscle, his eyes staring blankly into the distance.

Resting the book against Storm’s neck, Alex conjured a thin sheet of anti-magic, and saw that the words had faded again, the lettering barely legible. Well, thought Alex, at least it hasn’t completely disappeared. As long as the book remained in his grasp, he had one last chance remaining. There were now only two havens in which they could perform the spell—their options were narrowing by the day.

With a powerful flap of her broad wings, Storm sped up, causing Alex to snatch the book back up and hold it against him. Faster and faster she flew, until the world distorted and trembled around them. It was like being on a rough sea, jolted this way and that. Alex thought his head might wobble off. No matter how hard she pushed through the barriers, it was clear the Thunderbird was struggling.

Alex stroked her feathers, feeling utterly helpless. Trapped between realms, what was he supposed to do?

Just as Alex began to fear the worst, a loud thundercrack tore through the air, and Storm emerged into a realm. However, as Alex glanced around, he realized it wasn’t Starcross. Autumnal leaves fell from the trees below, and the glint of something golden in the distance caught his eye, making his heart miss a panicked beat.

They were back at Falleaf.

“No, Storm, we can’t stop here,” Alex pleaded, but the Thunderbird was already descending into a glade, her wings weary.

She chirped an apology, carrying them through the trees until they reached a spot near the cave. They clambered down, and Storm disappeared into the foliage, the need to rest and recuperate evidently overwhelming all else.

“Come on then, we should go back,” Natalie suggested, making a move toward the cave entrance. Alex reached out and grasped her hand, pulling her backward.

He shook his head. “We can’t go through the cave. If there are spies in these woods, they might see us, and that would bring Julius straight to Starcross,” he warned, his voice a harsh whisper.

“Then what do you propose we do?” she asked. “If we stay out here, he will find us.”

“We have to hide until Storm is ready to fly again,” said Alex firmly, glancing around with furtive eyes.

“Psst!” A voice startled the trio. It was coming from the direction of some rustling bushes close to the cave entrance. From between the leaves,