The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 3 by Bella Forrest (recommended ebook reader txt) 📗

Alex knew there was definitely something wrong with the air, or something in the air at least. There had to be, for him to be thinking that way, in a place he clearly didn’t belong, among people who would most likely want him dead if they knew what he was. No, there was definitely something amiss; he could feel it in the crackle of the magic all around him.

Something was manipulating the way they felt.

Chapter 24

Everyone’s cheer continued into the next day, though Alex struggled to watch the happiness of the others, who seemed to have easily forgotten the absence of their much-loved friend. He knew they didn’t mean to forget him, but it was difficult to see their joy while Jari was suffering, somewhere within these walls. Whatever it was that lingered in the air, it didn’t seem to affect Alex as much as his friends, making him wonder if it was because of what he was. Much like with the barriers at Spellshadow, the anti-magic in him seemed to dampen the effects of this magical manipulator.

As they sat down to a wonderful lunch, an announcement interrupted them.

“Students of Stillwater House,” began a tall gentleman with curly brown hair. “A special celebration is to be held this evening, to honor our new guests—the first outside students to be enrolled in our fair school in many decades. A truly special occasion deserves truly special festivities, and you are invited to join us by the lake at seven p.m. Everyone’s attendance is required, to help welcome our new friends into the fold.”

The news seemed to excite Helena, who sat opposite Alex. “This never happens!” she squealed, grinning. “There is hardly ever a spontaneous event in the academic year—there was one perhaps a year ago, but that feels like ages ago now. This is so exciting!”

Alex frowned, wondering if she was talking about Blaine Stalwart’s ill-fated battle in the arena. “What kind of event was it?” he asked.

She shrugged. “A fight of some sort. Most unusual, but I can’t really remember it now. It was so long ago! This really is very exciting—it’s always nice to celebrate!”

She didn’t seem to recall it very clearly, making Alex wonder if it was due to whatever was in the air, molding and melding the thoughts and memories of the students within Stillwater, so as to keep up the pretense of everything being wonderful, with no negativity of any sort.

Helena’s excitement was infectious, her excitement spreading to the others—even carrying Alex along slightly, despite himself. Ellabell appeared especially encouraging toward Alex’s dour state, trying to get him in the party spirit.

“It’ll be good to let our hair down!” she insisted. “Things have been so bad for so long. We deserve to have a little fun.”

Around the table, the others chattered excitedly about the evening, asking Helena questions about what they might expect, though they were particularly curious about the music, the food, and the dancing. Alex watched them fondly as they talked, wishing he could feel so carefree.

He just couldn’t stop thinking about Jari. As Helena was about to leave the refectory for her afternoon lessons, Alex caught her by the arm and pulled her to one side, waiting until everyone had gone so that he might speak with her in private.

“How is Jari?” he asked.

A regretful look passed across Helena’s golden eyes. “I’m still working on the plan to break him out, but I have it on good authority that he’s okay—they are treating him well and they aren’t hurting him or anything. They’re simply figuring out what to do with him, I believe.” She sounded genuinely sorrowful as she relayed the news to Alex.

He frowned. “What did he do to get locked up in the first place?” he asked, though he was already fairly sure he knew the answer.

“I think it was because he wouldn’t do what the Headmistress wanted him to do… She can be like that,” replied Helena sadly. “She won’t hurt him, though. He’s no use to her dead.”

Alex tried not to grimace as she stated the obvious. He could be sure of that much—the people in power in these places were not in the habit of wasting the life essence of mages. Leveling his gaze at Helena, he wondered how much she knew about the offers the Headmistress had made to them, but she wasn’t being forthcoming with that information, if she did know it. Not once in her mention of Jari’s imprisonment had she said a word about any offers.

“Thank you for caring,” said Alex softly.

“Of course. I care deeply about what happens to all of you,” she replied with sincerity. She walked with Alex out of the refectory and through the halls to her next class. He accompanied her most of the way, wanting to seize the opportunity to talk more openly with her, one-on-one.

“We might need your help again, in the near future, if you can give it,” he said, keeping his voice low.

Helena nodded. “Have you thought any more on what your next move is going to be?”

“I want to find or make a portal to the outside world,” he answered as vaguely as he could, careful to avoid any mention of his desire to steal or destroy the bottles of essence, which he was certain were hiding somewhere in the school.

Her golden eyes went wide with excitement. “The outside world? You mean the non-magical one?”

He smiled. “Yes—home is out there. That’s where we want to be.”

“Tell me about it,” she pleaded, suddenly melancholic.

“What do you want to know?”

“Tell me of somewhere beautiful.” Her expression was almost wistful.

“Okay… If you walk to the edge of my town, there’s a patch of woodland that you can walk through, and sometimes you’ll see a deer or a squirrel or a raccoon. The cars honk at you as you cross the road to get to it because there’s no sidewalk running next to it, but once you get into the forest, it’s silent—you can’t