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

The increased potency of the barrier surrounding the school seemed to be another example of Virgil’s heightened security levels, but it didn’t release anything foul, which provided some comfort to Alex’s shattered nerves. Either that, or the Head knew they were coming, and this was his way of letting them know. He hoped not.

Knowing she would be noticed if she came with them any farther, Alex decided to leave Storm in the relative safety of the gardens, tucking her away in a spot where she blended seamlessly into the masonry, her silver feathers barely visible against the pale stone. It didn’t feel right, leaving her there, but he knew he had no other choice. She wasn’t exactly discreet.

They moved farther into the grounds, Alex keeping his eyes and ears open for any sign of Helena and her team.

Wherever they went, everything felt strange, like the worst kind of nightmare. Glancing around, Alex could see that his feelings were shared—everyone looked uneasy, with the exception of Demeter, who seemed to be his usual cheerful self, despite everything. It was a disposition Alex envied, though considering his theory as to how the teacher had ended up like that, he didn’t think it was something he’d like to share. However, he did wish the auburn-haired man would use a little of his empathic ability to reduce the tension in the ranks.

Coming to an abrupt halt behind one of the low walls, Alex caught his first glimpse of the Spellshadow students walking around the grounds. They were strolling in pairs, speaking in low voices, their faces miserable. Alex recognized one of them as Billy Foer, the boy who had never seemed to have much luck, and he wondered whether or not to call out to his old acquaintance. He stopped short, realizing he didn’t know who could be trusted in this place anymore. After what had happened last time, he knew they might not be so willing to help out, given that he and his friends had all but abandoned them to their fate. He couldn’t blame them for any distrust they might feel toward him. The only person who had stood up for them and protected them was Gaze, and she was gone.

Keeping silent, they waited for the students to pass by, pressing back tightly against the wall so as not to be seen. As soon as the students had moved on, Alex peered back over the wall, only to be met with another familiar sight. Stalking the stairwell that led up to the school were two of the old final-year students, Aamir’s peers, now dressed in the unmistakable robes of professors. One of them was Jun Asano, but the young woman beside him wasn’t quite as familiar.

“Do you know her?” Alex asked Aamir, keeping his voice to a whisper.

Aamir nodded. “Her name is Catherine de Marchmont. She was one of the best in our class,” he murmured. “A force to be reckoned with.”

Alex could well believe it. There was something about the robes they wore that made them both look imposing, and more than a little menacing. He couldn’t recall whether he’d felt that way about the other professors, but there was definitely something about these two that spelled danger. Scrutinizing them more closely for a moment, he saw the unmistakable glow of golden bands visible on their wrists. Even if he had wanted to recruit them to the cause, he knew he couldn’t—the Head already had control over them. It was a shame, but there was no time to break the bands and hope the two former students returned to their normal selves, the ones who might have been eager to fight the hierarchy before.

As he watched the two new professors go back inside, Alex was glad he and his friends had decided to approach the school with stealth, instead of going in all guns blazing. If there were more like Jun Asano and Catherine de Marchmont inside, he knew they were going to have a tough time of infiltrating the building.

The Head, however, was nowhere to be seen, which was to be entirely expected. If he was at home, he would surely be awaiting them inside.

Chapter 31

“Should we keep waiting?” Ellabell asked.

The group had been standing outside, hiding behind the wall for half an hour, and there was still no sign of Helena anywhere. The only explanation Alex could think of that didn’t fill him with dread that something bad had happened to them, was that she had gotten her wires crossed, and they were waiting inside, in the Head’s office, though they had clearly agreed to meet in the walled gardens. It made sense, considering that was where the portal from Stillwater went, and Helena’s main objective had been to find the messenger device to send word to Venus. However, Alex wasn’t sure he wanted to press on, in case they suddenly appeared. Perhaps they had just been held up a little and would be along at any moment.

“Let’s wait a little bit longer,” he replied, though it irked him to say so.

Ten minutes later, he’d had enough of waiting. Whether something bad had happened or Helena had gotten her wires crossed, it was pointless to stay out in the gardens. With the teachers and students back inside the building, they had a free window of opportunity to enter the school unnoticed. It would be foolish to waste it. Any option was better than wasting time cowering behind a wall.

With the decision made, Alex led the way, hurrying across the front lawn where Derhin had fallen to reach the steps where they had had their last battle with Virgil. Alex could still remember the bristle of magic in the air, and the adrenaline pulsing in his veins as they took on the Head. The remembrance of Lintz and Gaze made him smile too, with bittersweet sentiment, as he conjured up the memory of them hurling bombs