The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 5 by Bella Forrest (best biographies to read TXT) 📗

of the previous room, as they glanced around at their new surroundings. Ahead was an exotic water garden, with a deep, azure pool fed by a waterfall tumbling from a cluster of stalagmites above. There were brightly colored flowers rising up from the lush green grass that carpeted the cavern, and a wooden bridge, painted a vivid red, that traversed the pool, the stream flowing away from it. Alex found the pretty garden to be a strange sight, considering how far below ground they were, but it was here, and no doubt it contained the key to task number two’s completion.

A splash broke the surface of the serene pool. Something was emerging from the water.

A creature dragged itself from the depths, clawing at the arc of the bridge with long fingers until it was fully out of the pool and lying across the wooden slats. It unfurled into a standing position, and Alex was surprised to see that the creature looked remarkably similar to the carving on the vault door, and the statue he had seen within the pagoda. The odd being looked like a kind of reptile, with the beak of a turtle and the shell too, and pale brown scales dotting its green body. Strangest of all, however, was the deep recess in the creature’s skull; it looked almost like a bowl, with water sloshing around inside.

Alex wasn’t sure what to make of the creepy thing as it ambled toward the bottom of the bridge, blocking the way from one side to the other. It was small in stature, but Alex knew not to judge an evil by its size.

“What is it?” Ellabell whispered.

“I think it’s called a kappa,” replied Aamir.

Alex looked at him. “A kappa?”

“Yes, it’s a mythical Japanese creature—my grandmother was big on myths and legends, and used to tell me all sorts, from all over the world,” Aamir explained. “I always loved the Japanese stories the best, and she told me about this being once or twice. I never forgot it. The dent in its skull gives it away… but I can’t remember what she said about them.” A look of frustration crossed the older boy’s face.

“I guess we’ll have to move it by force,” Alex said. Lifting his hands, he inched closer to the bridge, keeping his gaze on the reptilian eyes that seemed to be watching him with the utmost curiosity, a warped smile curving up the sides of its blunt beak.

“Are you going to fight me?” it said, its voice raspy and otherworldly. The sound took Alex by surprise; he hadn’t been expecting it to be able to speak. “I should warn you: I abhor rudeness, and I find fighting to be the height of rudeness,” it added, blinking slowly. “But do what you must do, and I will do what I must do…”

Chapter 8

Alex moved toward the kappa, his mind focused on forging anti-magic from his raised hands. After a moment, he realized that his energy wasn’t exactly playing ball, the anti-magic fizzling and spitting, refusing to create smooth threads. It was like he was back at Spellshadow again, in those first few days, unable to conjure anything. He tried again, but still the anti-magic fizzed and crackled. Without it to aid him, he was going to have to fight the kappa in hand-to-hand combat.

Frowning, he took another step toward the reptilian creature.

“So, it is to be a battle?” the creature rasped.

“We only want to cross this bridge,” replied Alex.

“I will stand in your way,” the turtle hybrid croaked.

Alex raised his fists. “Then you leave us no choice.”

The creature’s face twisted in displeasure. “Such impertinence!”

Aamir stepped up beside him, resting a hand on Alex’s arm. “Wait, I think there’s another way,” he whispered.

“You remembered something?” Alex asked.

“I think so—let me deal with this one.”

“Be careful.” Alex let Aamir move ahead of him, until he was standing face-to-face with the kappa.

“Excuse me, eminent guardian of this bridge, but I believe it is you who is the rude one,” said Aamir, with easy confidence.

The creature’s face morphed into an expression of horror. “How dare you.”

“How dare I?” Aamir countered. “You are the one blocking our way, when you know we desire to cross the bridge. That doesn’t seem particularly generous, does it?”

“It is my duty, intruder,” the kappa said, flashing a warning look from its wet, reptilian eyes.

“Have we done anything to make you suspect our intentions are anything but good? Have we sought to steal or destroy anything in your beautiful garden?” Aamir asked. “No, honored guardian, we have not. Our intentions are pure, and we wish only to cross the bridge. But you stand there, telling us you will not move. Surely, that breaks the bonds of guest welcome?”

The kappa smiled. “You are not guests.”

“Is a visitor not a guest?”

The kappa raised a scaly eyebrow. “I suppose, in a manner of speaking, they could be considered to be of similar origin, but you are no guests of mine. Nobody enters this place with altruistic intention—you wish to take something, and so you are intruders.”

“Be that as it may, our intentions are good. Surely, that makes us anything but intruders?”

It wasn’t yet clear to Alex what the older boy was trying to achieve with this battle of wits, but whatever Aamir’s goal, he was putting his silver tongue to good use.

“You have entered my domain without permission, and wish to cross without my permission, and so your manners bely your impertinence,” the kappa remarked.

“Then, please, may we cross your bridge, honored guardian?” Aamir asked.

The kappa shook his scaly head. “Certainly not. As long as I stand here, you shall not reach the other side.”

“Even if you were not here, we would not be able to cross it,” Aamir mused.

Alex glanced at his friend, understanding that Aamir was preparing to maneuver into his final play.

“I never leave my post,” the kappa countered.

Aamir smiled. “I am merely talking hypothetically. You see, you have deliberately made the bridge dangerous.”

“I have done no such