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

They hurried toward the light, Alex’s footfalls making splashes as he crept toward it, the ground underfoot clearly drenched. He wasn’t sure he’d want the lights on in here, even if he had the option; he just hoped it was water and nothing more sinister.

Like the blood of innocents, he thought wryly, knowing it was what the royals loved best.

A slippery, narrow set of stone steps led up to the crack of light peeping through another old-looking door, but this one was thankfully unlocked, and the hinges creaked only slightly as Alex pushed it open. It led to an empty corridor, the windows looking out at the serene image of a water garden, with lilies swaying in the breeze.

He could hear the domestic sounds of a kitchen somewhere nearby—clinking cutlery and the sizzle of something delicious cooking on a stove. He could smell it, too, the spicy scent making his mouth water. It seemed they had emerged in the servants’ quarters, with no obvious signs of any soldiers in the vicinity. Through the window, he could see guards outside, wandering about, but there didn’t seem to be any on this floor. It didn’t mean they wouldn’t be waiting around the next corner, however, and Alex didn’t want to take any chances.

“How are we going to get up to the sixth floor without being spotted?” Alex asked, turning to Lintz.

The professor frowned. “That, my dear boy, is a very good question.”

Chapter 5

They hurried along the corridor to the kitchens, the steam meeting Alex’s cold face as they snuck in through a half-open doorway. Ahead of them lay a storage annex of sorts, with several scarlet uniforms hung up on a rack, crisp white shirts folded beside them. Alex hadn’t yet seen anyone wearing this kind of uniform, but he guessed they were for the serving staff. With so many military mouths to feed, he knew there had to be workers somewhere. The Falleaf students, he assumed, were housed in the treehouse buildings that branched off from the pagoda, kept separate from the goings on within the central structure. He pondered whether they were privy to the same delicious smells that wafted toward his nostrils—knowing the usual way in which these places were run, with the exception of Stillwater, he doubted it. They were more likely to be eating the same grim fare he’d eaten at Spellshadow and Kingstone, with the good stuff reserved only for those deemed worthy.

“We could put these on and pretend we’re staff?” Alex suggested.

Lintz grinned. “You took the words right out of my mouth!”

With that, Alex plucked a fresh uniform from the rack and shoved it over his clothes. It was made from a sleek red material, buttoning right up to the throat, and though it was clearly intended to be worn by the lower echelons of society, it looked expensive. To Alex’s surprise, the clothes fit him remarkably well, making him look decidedly professional. Lintz, however, was having far less luck. There didn’t seem to be a uniform big enough for him, which meant he had to squeeze into a smaller size that looked like it was about to cut off his circulation. Red-cheeked and sweating, the professor forced the buttons closed, though as soon as he had them in place, they were straining to burst apart. Walking like a robot seemed to be the only way to stop the fastenings from springing free, and as hard as Alex tried to keep a straight face, the sight was just too funny.

“Enough of that,” Lintz sulked. “It’ll do for now.”

“Sorry, Professor—I think it looks good on you.” The last word came out as a laugh.

“Very funny, Webber, very funny,” muttered Lintz. “Let’s just go, shall we, before this whole thing explodes off me?”

Alex nodded, hoping the sight of the professor wouldn’t draw too much unwanted attention, as they slunk back out into the corridor and made their way toward the end of it. Alex peered around the corner, checking for danger, but the coast was clear.

Moving as fast as they could, given Lintz’s unfortunate state, they reached a staircase at the end of another hallway. Two monkey heads stared from the banister posts, their mouths open in a snarl Alex found slightly disturbing. The stairs proved particularly difficult, with the professor unable to bend his legs properly, but, somehow, they managed the ascent without anything tearing too badly. There was one particularly worrying ripping sound about halfway up, but nothing appeared to have torn off, and they arrived at the top of the first floor. Here, the military presence was much more noticeable. Soldiers wandered the corridors with absent expressions, pausing to pick at the stunning paintings that adorned the walls, running their hands casually over the countless statues that lined the hallways, clearly not appreciative of the beauty that lay before them.

Alex knew getting to the upper floors was going to be a test of his acting ability. He grasped Lintz by the arm and led him through the corridor, right into the path of a group of soldiers. There was no avoiding them, if they wanted to go up the stairs, but the guards barely seemed to notice they were there. A few cast them cursory glances, but the rest simply ignored the duo as they made their way through the floors of the pagoda, keeping their heads down.

That was, until they came to the fourth floor.

“You there!” a voice called.

Alex cringed, turning slowly to meet the caller. “Sir?” he said, seeing a great hulking beast of a man, dressed in the now-familiar gold-and-white uniform of a soldier, storming toward him. Alex had a feeling that this was it—they had been caught out in their lie.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” the man asked.

Alex gulped. “I’m not sure what you mean, sir?”

The man glowered, reaching a meaty fist toward Alex’s throat. Alex braced for the feel of the huge man’s fat fingers closing around his windpipe, crushing it with ease, but the