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

Facing forward once more, Alex reached out to grasp Venus as they hit her head-on. She was completely taken aback, her shriek piercing the air as Alex plucked her from the sky.

“Now!” Alex yelled, trying not to lose his grip on Storm as he held Venus tightly.

Demeter pressed his palms against the side of the queen’s head and wove the glistening threads that would put her to sleep, moving her to a place of happiness. For good measure, Alex conjured the black-and-silver wisps of his own energy, wrapping her in a shield of anti-magic.

Once he was confident that she couldn’t escape, Alex awkwardly moved over her, passing her backwards to Demeter, who clamped his arms around her protectively, ensuring she didn’t fall from Storm’s back and plummet to her death. Alex wasn’t quite sure how Demeter was staying on with such apparent ease, but he seemed to be clamping his thighs against the Thunderbird’s body, riding on her back in a jockey-like style.

Now, where do we take her? Alex thought, though he knew there was only one place they could go.

“Take us to where Ceres is,” he told Storm. She chirped in understanding, her wings beating faster as they stretched the fabric of time and space in pursuit of the secret sanctuary.

Rushing over the walled gardens and sparse, dried-up woods of Spellshadow Manor, they shot through the barrier toward the unknown territory, though not before Alex had the chance to look back at the others. He had forgotten how strong Virgil was, and although they were many, and they were better prepared than the last time, it seemed as if the Head was putting up a good fight. It pained Alex, knowing he wouldn’t hear of the outcome until he returned. Still, it pressed him onward, giving him the drive he needed to get this over and done with as quickly as possible.

What added to his worries, however, was the turbulence they were experiencing. The world had stretched around them, as per usual when Storm was crossing between realms, but there was something different about this journey. It was rough and jarring, nothing like the smooth transitions he’d experienced so far. Storm’s despairing squawks did little to quell his fears as she soldiered on.

“Is it supposed to be like this?” Demeter yelled, his voice barely audible above the rush of wind.

Alex shook his head, his cheeks pushed back by the force of the journey. “No!”

“Didn’t think so!” shouted Demeter, though the ex-teacher still seemed relatively unruffled.

Alex clung on for dear life, whispering soothing words to the struggling Thunderbird, as she forced her way through the barrier between worlds. As she beat her wings ever faster, Alex wondered if this was the end for him. He had a sinking feeling he was about to get lost in the ether, never to be discovered again.

A moment later, the world snapped back into place, making Alex feel slightly foolish for having had such gloomy thoughts.

“You okay back there?” Alex asked, looking over his shoulder.

Demeter grinned. “A-Okay!”

“Cargo intact?”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” he confirmed, pulling a face that Alex guessed was supposed to resemble a pirate’s.

Turning back around, Alex gaped in awe, taking in his surroundings. He had been expecting somewhere like Kingstone or Stillwater, just farther away from the main structures, but this place wasn’t familiar at all. Alex realized it was a haven, but not one of the four. It had to be one of the nine that was thought to have fallen, though it didn’t look very desolate. It made him wonder whether there was a central building somewhere here too, like the pagoda at Falleaf, or the keep at Kingstone.

The air was warm and the sky clear, not a cloud to be seen, but there was no magical barrier at work here. It was simply nature showing off. Lush fields filled with golden corn and brightly colored wildflowers kissed the shores of sparkling lakes, eventually giving way to a vast settlement that ran up to the edge of a deep, inviting river. On the banks stood many wooden, homemade-looking structures, clustered in a vaguely uniform pattern. From the looks of it, the place was thriving.

The population appeared to be fairly young, though there were a couple of older faces too. It made Alex wonder if supernaturally long life was reserved solely for the noble and extraordinarily powerful, and not meant for the likes of ordinary magical folk. It was the only explanation he had for the number of older faces staring up at him as he made his entrance.

Open-mouthed, they all rushed to get closer to the majestic Thunderbird as she landed elegantly in a patch of open space. Once they were at a standstill, Alex and Demeter dismounted, the ex-teacher still holding the sleeping Venus to him.

Though Alex was a stranger to these parts, the inhabitants of the mystery haven seemed more preoccupied with the majesty of Storm, who was playing up to their adoration, chirping and cooing, though she snapped at a couple of hands that drew too close.

“Who are you?” asked one of them. The speaker was an older woman, her hair just beginning to gray, who eyed the newcomers with open suspicion. In truth, it was the reaction Alex had expected from most of the people who had gathered around.

“We’re looking for Ceres. We’re friends of her brother, and we need her help,” Alex said, hoping Ceres wasn’t too far. He was antsy to get back to the fight and capture Virgil, not wanting to leave his friends alone for too long. They were more than capable, but he knew he needed to return as soon as possible, if only for the fact he still had one of the bags of essence in his possession. If previous encounters were anything to go by, they would need it.

“Why should we take you to her?” the older woman replied, her tone less than friendly.

“We need her help,” Alex