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

pushed it toward the blockade. White and gold mixed with black and silver, with hints of gray and the coiling ribbons of necromantic magic. With an earth-shuddering slam, the two walls of energy collided, shards flying everywhere. Alex and his friends ducked to avoid the worst of it, Ellabell sending up a shield around them all, in an attempt to protect them from the fallout.

It seemed to work, and, as the haze cleared, Alex saw that the blockade had been evaporated. The path to the Head’s office was clear. Alex just hoped that Virgil was home.

As they were about to enter the corridor, Demeter paused.

“I think my services will be of better use here, ensuring nobody follows,” he said.

Alex frowned, glancing back at the empty crossroads. Although he was loathe to lose Demeter’s skillset, he knew that the ex-teacher was right. Somebody would have to stay to guard the entrance, in the event of any professors or students giving in to curiosity.

“Are you sure?” asked Ellabell, looking equally concerned.

Demeter nodded. “I can stop anyone who might try to raise an alarm.”

“We’ll come back for you once Helena has sent the message,” Alex assured him.

Leaving Demeter camouflaged in the shadows at the entrance to the hallway, the foursome moved along, picking up the pace. The torches flickered as they crept through the corridors, though they saw nobody. It was deathly silent in the inner sanctum of the manor, and it troubled Alex. He couldn’t sense the Head at all, but it didn’t stop the anxiety spreading through him, that Virgil might suddenly appear and take them by surprise. The Head was crafty like that.

They still had the book and two bags of essence, now strapped awkwardly across his back and Aamir’s, but he didn’t know if it would be enough when the time came.

Walking past familiar rooms, Alex knew they were drawing close to the antechamber with the dangling manacles. He could smell it, even before he saw it. The metallic tang of blood and fear was unmistakable, more potent than any scent he’d ever encountered. He paused by the imposing door, shrouded in shadow, and wondered whether to stop now and pick up as many bottles of essence as they could carry, in the hopes of bolstering their ammunition. Envisioning the racks of black vials, he knew the energy within them was far stronger than the half-life essence they carried already, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to enter the vile room.

Promising to come back for it once they had sent the message, Alex headed on up the hallway, toward the door to the Head’s office. It was still splintered from the last time they had been there, when Virgil was battering it down. Evidently, he had seen no need to repair it. Perhaps the Head had never expected Alex and his friends to return either.

Steeling himself, Alex pushed open the door, and was pleasantly surprised by the sight that met him. Jari and Helena were already standing within the room, fixated on the sprawling tree that grew against the wall.

As nice as it was to see them, Alex’s initial feeling of joy quickly turned to dread. Virgil wasn’t anywhere to be seen. If Virgil wasn’t here, and had gone on some royal jaunt somewhere, Alex wasn’t sure how he was supposed to find the Head and execute his plan of action. Sure, he had the book, and would hopefully have the blood soon enough, but it was all pointless if he didn’t have Virgil.

If it comes down to it, are you ready to do the spell? he asked himself, but he already knew the answer. His feelings hadn’t changed, despite the bigger picture. Yes, the survival of an entire race was greater than the sum of his one life, but that didn’t mean he was prepared to give it up. Not yet, not when there was still a flicker of hope.

“I thought we said we’d meet at the gardens?” Alex said, startling the duo.

Helena whirled around. “Alex! Don’t creep up on people like that!” she protested, her face softening. “Did we say the gardens? I thought we said here. Jari, you swore you remembered Alex saying to meet in the office!”

Jari blushed. “Garden, office, it all sounds the same, right? Anyway, you’re here now, and that’s what matters,” he murmured sheepishly.

“Honestly! What if they’d been waiting out there all day?” Helena scolded.

“It was an honest mistake!”

Aamir grinned. “You already sound like an old married couple.”

Jari flashed his friend a warning look, which only served to make Aamir’s smile wider. It appeared the blond-haired boy had yet to drum up the courage to tell Helena about his feelings.

“What are you looking at?” asked Vincent, saving Jari from further embarrassment.

Helena frowned. “Sorry to sound rude, but who are you?” she asked.

“I am Vincent—an acquaintance of Alex’s. I realize my face is somewhat surprising, so I take no offence,” he replied, smiling.

“Oh, well, in that case… We’re looking for the messenger device. I think it’s in the hollow of this tree, but I can’t reach it,” she explained, pointing at the gnarled trunk.

“May I?” Vincent asked, stepping over the tangled roots, moving toward the spot where Helena was pointing.

“Of course,” said Helena, stepping aside.

With his long, slender fingers, oddly similar to those of Virgil, Vincent slid his hand into the hollow of the trunk and reached upward, contorting his arm at such a strange angle that Alex was convinced he’d dislocated something. A moment later, he drew his arm back out again, clutching something red and shiny in his hand.

“Is this what you were looking for?” Vincent said, holding the object out with a dramatic flourish.

In his palm he held another scarlet orb, very similar to the one in Alypia’s office, only this one was shaped like a ripe, red apple, with a golden stalk, complete with carved golden leaf, curving out of the top. It was beautiful, the bright color sharply contrasting the pale skin of Vincent’s hand.

“Just the thing!” Helena