The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 4 by Bella Forrest (life books to read TXT) 📕

“And where do you think you’re going?” a familiar voice purred.

Alex groaned as the shadows in the farthest corner above his head shifted, taking shape as the black vapors trickled down the masonry toward him. He had neither the time nor the energy to take part in a mud-slinging match with Elias, and he knew the shadow-man would be feeling particularly smug after swooping in to help him earlier.

“Not now,” Alex grumbled, squeezing his eyes shut in the futile hope that the appearing creature would leave him alone. As with everything Elias did, Alex was certain these surprise visits were purely to aggravate him.

“Sorry, kiddo, you can’t block me out,” Elias said. “Squeeze your eyes shut as tight as you like—I can wait longer than you can resist. You know me. Patience is my middle name.”

“Haven’t you already bothered me enough for one day?” Alex said sharply, still refusing to give his shadow-guide the satisfaction of his full attention.

“If you wish to be treated like a child, who am I to stand in your way?” Elias replied, adopting a babyish voice that was almost more annoying than his usual one. “Would little Alex like to see what Uncle Elias has brought for him? A giftie! Ooh, isn’t that exciting? Yes, it is. Isn’t Uncle Elias unbelievably handsome and generous and charming and… I could go on. I will, if you don’t open your eyes.”

Alex opened his eyes, immediately wanting to shut them again as he saw the smug, amused expression that shifted across Elias’s kaleidoscopic features.

“What do you want?” Alex frowned.

Elias tutted. “Now, now, that’s no way to speak to your personal postman, is it? I’ve brought you information.”

“About?”

“Well, if you must know, it relates to the counter-spell I told you about,” the shadow-man explained. “You know, no pressure, but the one you might have to do if you choose to go ahead with the reversal of what your great-great-great-great-great-great-great—”

“I get the picture,” Alex interrupted. “You have information about the spell that I may or may not decide to do.”

“That’s the gist of it… The spell is a complex one, not for the fainthearted or the illiterate—seriously, the thing is like a novel. It’s written in a great big, dusty old book, as these ancient things usually are, which can be found within the walls of Falleaf House, under the protection of a man named Hadrian. Not my favorite royal, I have to say—not nearly enough spice for my liking. Bit of a goody two-shoes. You’ve got a lot in common, now that I think about it. He’s just your type of person.”

“Doesn’t sound like a bad thing to me,” Alex remarked, trying not to take the bait.

Elias scoffed. “I suppose, if you like a liberal. Me, I find dictators and despots so much more colorful. Hadrian takes a different approach to his school than the overseers of Spellshadow or Stillwater. He actually seems to care deeply about his students, if you can believe such a thing.” He shuddered. “Saying that, he’s the Head most likely to help your cause instead of the royal cause.”

If Elias didn’t like Hadrian, then Alex figured he might just be worth meeting—though the idea of another sympathetic royal, in addition to Caius, was difficult for Alex to believe. And no matter what Elias said about Falleaf House, Alex couldn’t shake the image Professor Lintz had conjured of the place when recounting the tale of how he had arrived at Kingstone Keep. He had made it seem a hostile and dangerous land, rather than this pleasant utopia Elias was describing. Perhaps Elias simply wanted him to go there, in order to trick him. It didn’t make sense for Lintz to lie about it… But maybe Alex wouldn’t have to find out which version was the truth.

“Did you bring the book?” Alex asked.

Elias shook his head. “Afraid not, although I did try. It’s tucked away somewhere safe—somewhere even my deft paws can’t get at it. A veritable Fort Knox. If you want it, you’ll have to go and get it yourself, I’m sad to say. Usually, I love a game of spiriting things away, but this was beyond me. I couldn’t even get close.”

Alex felt a twinge of disappointment, although the thought of a place that Elias couldn’t access was both intriguing and concerning. More than that, he realized this information changed things slightly. Even if he didn’t want to do the spell, he understood that he might need to know it, especially if he wanted to force the Head to do it. If he could learn the spell and feed it into Virgil’s mind, getting him to say it and act it out with manipulated conviction, then he could escape an awful fate. He wondered what kind of protection this ancient book was under, and whether he’d even be up to the task of retrieving it, if Elias couldn’t.

This fresh news gave him a renewed sense of hope, despite his qualms. Yes, it meant they might have to change their plans, with Alex traveling to Falleaf House instead of going through Alypia’s portal to Stillwater, but he knew it would be better for them all in the long run, even if he had to face down unknown dangers. Surely, if Lintz had managed to sneak through Falleaf, Alex could sneak in? If he could do it, it would mean he might have found an actual, tangible way to destroy the Great Evil without having to do it himself. It would be more than a hypothesis. It would mean the ability to set everyone free from a life of pursuit and persecution.

Turning back to Elias, Alex wondered if this would be the last time he would see the shadow-man. What else could he possibly have to offer? As far as Alex could see, the wispy guide had done his job—there was surely nothing else of use that he could impart. If this was to be the last