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

go if it was a matter of recruiting students?” she mused, her expression puzzled.

“Or maybe he’s showing him how?” suggested Alex, the thought a chilling one. He did not like to think of Aamir out there, doing the job of that tattered gray ghost, using hypnotic whispers to draw young men and women into the trap of the manor, sentencing them to a life of imprisonment. Aamir was no Malachi Grey.

“I just need to see that the Head is physically within this building. I have to see it for myself,” said Jari, with a determined grimace.

“Why do you have to actually see him?” Alex pressed, worried for his friend.

“It’s just something I have to do. It might be exactly what we are looking for,” muttered Jari, his voice barely audible.

Alex stared at Jari intently, wondering if the boy could be right. If the Head was gone, it very well could be their only chance at taking control. A prime opportunity, not to be missed.

“If I wanted to check, would you help?” asked Jari, sheepishly.

Alex glanced at Natalie, but her expression gave little away as she shrugged a response.

“It would depend on the plan,” Alex replied, understanding the subtle implication in Jari’s question. If Jari wanted to break into the Head’s quarters, he would need Alex. Maybe that had been the only reason Jari had agreed to come and spar, to get Alex back on his side.

“I’ll work on it,” promised Jari as they all stood to leave, the manor calling them back.

True to his word, Jari raced off to the library after classes were over for the day, leaving Alex to wander through the hallways by himself on his way back to the dormitory. Alex was glad Jari was speaking to him again, even if his reasons weren’t entirely honest; he had missed the quick humor and infectious laugh of his friend.

Stepping through the door of the dorm, Alex could sense something was amiss. He glanced around the room, walking cautiously over to his bed.

A figure slipped from the farthest shadows and sidled up to him. With a smirk etched across his black mouth, Elias perched on the bedpost, as solidly as a creature like him could, his shadow-draped body in constant fluid motion.

“Well, well, hasn’t it been a long time,” he said.

It felt bizarre to admit, but Alex had been worried for Elias; it had been weeks since he’d last seen him. With Malachi Grey gone, Elias was looking to be one of Alex’s only hopes for any grasp on his heritage or his anti-magic. It wasn’t as if the Head was going to tell him anything.

“Hello, Elias,” replied Alex, trying not to let on that he was pleased to see his shadow-guide.

“I believe congratulations are in order,” Elias whispered, his words like silk.

“Congratulations?” asked Alex, confused, wondering if Elias had been in the cellar watching them. He hadn’t felt the eyes of the mysterious creature.

“You disposed of that vile gray thing.” Elias grinned, a sinister quality in the pleasure of the words as they glittered in his endless black eyes, the whole of the universe seemingly compressed within two dark almonds. “You got rid of Malachi Grey, achieving what decades of your kind couldn’t.” He chuckled slyly. “Surely that has to feel good?” he said, his voice oozing like honey from the shadowy cavern of his mouth.

Alex shrugged. “I haven’t really thought about it,” he lied. He got the feeling Elias wouldn’t take too kindly to his admission of second thoughts over the death of Malachi Grey.

“And off the Head runs, like a scared little boy,” cackled Elias, the sound startling. It was hard not to hear the thrill in Elias’s voice. Alex couldn’t be sure, but he thought Elias seemed more excited about that than the actual disposal of Malachi Grey.

“So, the Head really has gone?” asked Alex, wondering if he might get a straight answer for once.

“That’s not for me to say,” Elias tutted.

“Well, has he or hasn’t he?” Alex pressed, trying again.

“Who can say?” Elias replied, the liquid slope of his shoulders rising in a shrug.

“Have you just come back to annoy me?” Alex snapped. “Where have you been, anyway?” He eyed the shadow-man curiously, looking for a hint of honesty on the peculiar, ever-shifting face.

“Oh, you know, here and there and everywhere. Watching this and that, getting under peoples’ feet.” Elias grinned, whipping his shape up suddenly into a wisp of black shadow before emerging against the post as a cat, his fangs pointed. Brushing his fluid form against the wooden frame, he stretched out, yawning loudly.

“You have just come back to annoy me,” muttered Alex, lying back on the bed to stare up at the ceiling as the cat pounced up onto the mattress beside him, peering down with those alarming onyx eyes.

“Oh, come now, there’s no need to be like that,” said Elias, the words rumbling at the back of his throat. Alex ignored him, watching the darkness play across the rafters.

There was a snap in the air, a dark mist swirling as Elias-the-man reappeared. The stars in his eyes seemed to burn as he glanced down at Alex, his smile ebbing. “In fact, I brought you some things, though I’m not sure I want to hand them over now.”

Alex sat up on his elbows. “You brought something?”

“I certainly did,” said Elias, delving into the dark robes of his shadowy cloak, his hand seemingly disappearing into the starry expanse of his chest, a sight Alex wasn’t sure he could ever get used to. From within the crevasse of his ribcage, Elias withdrew two books. He handed the first to Alex—a red, leather-bound book. “I thought you might enjoy this one more,” he quipped as Alex read the cover. It was a non-fiction book, similar in style to the Historica Magica, but the title simply read A Comprehensive Guide to the Great Battles by Reginald M. Boyd.

Alex smiled. “Another history book?”

“Of sorts. Much more interesting than the last,” sighed Elias. “And