The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 2 by Bella Forrest (top ten ebook reader .TXT) 📗

silence stretched unbearably, peppered only by the scuff of Aamir’s feet on the stone and the soft pad of the others’ socks. Aamir’s gaze was always forward, never looking down at Jari or back at Natalie and Alex as he led them closer to where the blue line had lain, buzzing and crackling. It seemed to Alex that Aamir was beyond their help, his face fearful, his eyes constantly looking over his shoulder.

Aamir’s urgency was palpable as he moved them over to the other side and knelt on the ground, before the broken barrier. Hurriedly, he began to repair it with his magic, the golden energy flowing from his palms and into the shattered ends of the line.

“I need to fix this before anyone else notices,” Aamir whispered. “If someone were to see it, they would suspect a student and start a witch hunt.”

"Sorry,” Alex said. “I would’ve fixed it myself if I could.”

“It’s fine. You must—” Aamir made a choking noise. He lifted his gaze up to his trio of friends, a wide look of anguish in his eyes as he slowly began to mouth something. Alex felt a prickle of fear shiver through him as he understood the unmistakable shape of the words:

“He knows.”

As soon as the words had silently slipped from Aamir’s mouth, his body doubled up in an instant burst of agony. He crumpled sideways onto the hard stone floor, clutching desperately at his stomach and raking at his lungs, as if the air was being squeezed from them by the pain. Aamir’s face twisted, and his eyes bulged, his cheeks turning purple. He clawed at his throat, his breath coming in short, painful-sounding rasps, as he convulsed on the floor in untold agony—the golden line on his wrist exacting its punishment for his whispered warning.

The blue line was back in place, bursting into life, preventing the others from running over and helping their friend.

“Aamir!” Jari cried out in panic.

Alex skidded to the floor to place his hands on the sapphire pulse of energy, but Aamir raised a desperate hand against his attempts, shaking his head as the veins popped and strained beneath his neck, begging him not to. They watched, helpless, as Aamir writhed against the savage bite of the golden band.

“Go! Go!” Aamir commanded over and over, his voice frantic and thick with the pain.

Grabbing Jari and pulling him back, Alex retreated with Natalie. Tears prickled Alex’s eyes at the sight of his friend’s suffering, knowing he could do nothing. Aamir’s mouthed words haunted them from the shadows as they turned and ran, his tortured cries ringing in their ears.

It was the Head. The Head knew.

Chapter 10

Alex had lain awake long after they had returned to their dorm, and when dawn arrived, he realized he hadn’t slept a wink. Across the room, he knew Jari had been the same, the boy uncharacteristically silent. Alex had spent the night staring up at the ceiling, his mind racing with the events of the night before, stirring up visions each time he had closed his eyes, a cold sweat trickling down his back and across his brow. Aamir’s mouthed words had played again and again, on endless repeat, making sleep impossible.

How much does the Head know? was all Alex could think, his heart racing along with his mind as he envisioned the skeletal creature beneath the hood grasping for him, wanting to destroy the Spellbreaker history coiled up inside him.

Unable to stay in bed any longer, Alex sat up and rubbed his itchy eyes. Jari sat up too, and a look passed between them. Aamir’s unmade bed drew their eyes, and Alex thought he saw Jari shiver as he turned his gaze away. The sound of Aamir’s cries, echoing behind them, had been a disturbing one, and Jari certainly looked haunted. His face was drawn, dark circles shadowing the skin under his red-tinged eyes, his shoulders slumped.

The two spoke very little as they dragged themselves out of bed and dressed quickly, wandering dozily toward the mess hall to attempt to eat a quick breakfast before the trials of the day. Alex was on edge and couldn’t help but imagine the Head breaking down the doors at any moment and dragging him to the room with the manacles that dangled from the ceiling.

Alex and Jari walked into the mess hall, expecting the usual buzz of morning activity, only to be met with a low hum of curious gossip. Natalie marched over to them, looking just as worn out as they felt, her eyes bloodshot and her skin far paler than normal. Nobody paid the trio any mind, their gazes distracted by the far wall, where an enormous noticeboard had been erected against the stonework. On it was a long list of announcements written on the black background in curling white chalk. The three friends stepped closer to get a better view of what was written there, joining the small crowd already gathered in front of it.

The first bullet point read that graduation had been cancelled, causing a few students to smile with relief, giving a quiet whoop as they patted each other on the back.

The next statement announced that Professor Nagi would be on temporary hiatus from the school while he worked with both Heads in pursuit of new student recruitment. Alex, Natalie, and Jari looked at one another in alarm. There was, at least, some comfort to be found in the word ‘temporary’—a certain promise that Aamir would be returned to them, at some point down the line. There was little comfort to be found, however, in the rest of the sentence, as it brought to light some meaning in what Aamir had mouthed to them the night before.

The Head knows about Finder’s death, Alex thought. That has to be what the Head knows. Alex didn’t think the Head knew specifically that it was he who had disposed of Finder, but he knew the Head was onto something. The statement seemed intended to