Creeping around a corner, Alex didn’t see the figure running toward them until it was too late. It seemed the sprinting boy hadn’t seen them either, and they collided. It was Billy Foer again, his eyes going wide as he saw the group before him. Alex realized they probably did look like quite the motley crew, but there was no time for a reunion. Alex reached for Billy. The boy struggled, opening his mouth to shout, but Ellabell quickly formed a gag around his mouth, silencing him. Alex felt almost guilty as he let tendrils of energy flow into the boy’s brain.
There were flashbacks of an idyllic home life, in which Billy was running with his dog across a sun-drenched beach. A family sat nearby, lounging on a picnic blanket, and one of them, an older boy, had just told a joke that had everyone in stitches. Alex settled on this image, feeding it to the forefront of Billy’s mind. However, it seemed the memory was slightly too jovial, leaving the boy a giggling wreck on the floor. It was a good thing that Ellabell had gagged him; otherwise, his laughter would have brought the whole school running.
“Sorry, Billy,” whispered Alex. “You always seem to end up on the wrong side of people’s spells.”
After dealing with another handful of students, this time hiding the evidence in the rooms that led off from the hallways, they reached the entrance to a familiar corridor. A golden line still buzzed across it, keeping the Head’s personal quarters private.
“Keep watch for anyone coming,” said Alex, bracing himself. Vincent and Demeter took a corridor each. Alex knelt beside the golden line. He conjured another glowing knife of raw anti-magic and pressed it firmly against the buzzing barrier. It was an act he had performed many times before, and he couldn’t help the rush of memories that came hurtling back. In his mind’s eye, he saw Aamir, telling them the Head knew about Finder, before his face contorted with pain. It wasn’t a pleasant memory, and Alex could see that Aamir shared some of his distress.
“Never thought we’d be doing this again, either,” Aamir said, as if answering Alex’s thoughts.
Alex smiled. “You’re telling me.”
With a loud fizz, the golden line broke apart, followed by the thunderous roar of something rushing toward them from the darkness of the corridor. It was a blockade of pure energy, bristling with strength as it picked up speed. Alex jumped up, the others joining him in a line as they wove their respective magics and pushed it toward the blockade. White and gold mixed with black and silver, with hints of gray and the coiling ribbons of necromantic magic. With an earth-shuddering slam, the two walls of energy collided, shards flying everywhere. Alex and his friends ducked to avoid the worst of it, Ellabell sending up a shield around them all, in an attempt to protect them from the fallout.
It seemed to work, and, as the haze cleared, Alex saw that the blockade had been evaporated. The path to the Head’s office was clear. Alex just hoped that Virgil was home.
As they were about to enter the corridor, Demeter paused.
“I think my services will be of better use here, ensuring nobody follows,” he said.
Alex frowned, glancing back at the empty crossroads. Although he was loathe to lose Demeter’s skillset, he knew that the ex-teacher was right. Somebody would have to stay to guard the entrance, in the event of any professors or students giving in to curiosity.
“Are you sure?” asked Ellabell, looking equally concerned.
Demeter nodded. “I can stop anyone who might try to raise an alarm.”
“We’ll come back for you once Helena has sent the message,” Alex assured him.
Leaving Demeter camouflaged in the shadows at the entrance to the hallway, the foursome moved along, picking up the pace. The torches flickered as they crept through the corridors, though they saw nobody. It was deathly silent in the inner sanctum of the manor, and it troubled Alex. He couldn’t sense the Head at all, but it didn’t stop the anxiety spreading through him, that Virgil might suddenly appear and take them by surprise. The Head was crafty like that.
They still had the book and two bags of essence, now strapped awkwardly across his back and Aamir’s, but he didn’t know if it would be enough when the time came.
Walking past familiar rooms, Alex knew they were drawing close to the antechamber with the dangling manacles. He could smell it, even before he saw it. The metallic tang of blood and fear was unmistakable, more potent than any scent he’d ever encountered. He paused by the imposing door, shrouded in shadow, and wondered whether to stop now and pick up as many bottles of essence as they could carry, in the hopes of bolstering their ammunition. Envisioning the racks of black vials, he knew the energy within them was far stronger than the half-life essence they carried already, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to enter the vile room.
Promising to come back for it once they had sent the message, Alex headed on up the hallway, toward the door to the Head’s office. It was still splintered from the last time they had been there, when Virgil was battering it down. Evidently, he had seen no need to repair it. Perhaps the Head had never expected Alex and his friends to return either.
Steeling himself, Alex pushed open the door, and was pleasantly surprised by the sight that met him. Jari and Helena were already standing within the room, fixated on the sprawling tree that grew against the wall.
As nice as it was to see them, Alex’s initial feeling of joy quickly turned to dread. Virgil wasn’t anywhere to be seen. If Virgil wasn’t here, and had gone on some royal jaunt somewhere, Alex wasn’t sure how he was supposed to find the Head and execute his plan of action. Sure, he had the book, and would hopefully have the blood soon enough, but it was all pointless if he didn’t have Virgil.
If it comes down to it, are you ready to do the spell? he asked himself, but he already knew the answer. His feelings hadn’t changed, despite the bigger picture. Yes, the survival of an entire race was greater than the sum of his one life, but that didn’t mean he was prepared to give it up. Not yet, not when there was still a flicker of hope.
“I thought we said we’d meet at the gardens?” Alex said, startling the duo.
Helena whirled around. “Alex! Don’t creep up on people like that!” she protested, her face softening. “Did we say the gardens? I thought we said here. Jari, you swore you remembered Alex saying to meet in the office!”
Jari blushed. “Garden, office, it all sounds the same, right? Anyway, you’re here now, and that’s what matters,” he murmured sheepishly.
“Honestly! What if they’d been waiting out there all day?” Helena scolded.
“It was an honest mistake!”
Aamir grinned. “You already sound like an old married couple.”
Jari flashed his friend a warning look, which only served to make Aamir’s smile wider. It appeared the blond-haired boy had yet to drum up the courage to tell Helena about his feelings.
“What are you looking at?” asked Vincent, saving Jari from further embarrassment.
Helena frowned. “Sorry to sound rude, but who are you?” she asked.
“I am Vincent—an acquaintance of Alex’s. I realize my face is somewhat surprising, so I take no offence,” he replied, smiling.
“Oh, well, in that case… We’re looking for the messenger device. I think it’s in the hollow of this tree, but I can’t reach it,” she explained, pointing at the gnarled trunk.
“May I?” Vincent asked, stepping over the tangled roots, moving toward the spot where Helena was pointing.
“Of course,” said Helena, stepping aside.
With his long, slender fingers, oddly similar to those of Virgil, Vincent slid his hand into the hollow of the trunk and reached upward, contorting his arm at such a strange angle that Alex was convinced he’d dislocated something. A moment later, he drew his arm back out again, clutching something red and shiny in his hand.
“Is this what you were looking for?” Vincent said, holding the object out with a dramatic flourish.
In his palm he held another scarlet orb, very similar to the one in Alypia’s office, only
this one was shaped like a ripe, red apple, with a golden stalk, complete with carved golden leaf, curving out of the top. It was beautiful, the bright color sharply contrasting the pale skin of Vincent’s hand.
“Just the thing!” Helena beamed, taking the proffered apple. “Now, to send the message.”
“Where’s everyone else?” Alex asked, causing the silver-haired girl to pause in her task. He had been expecting an army of people, but there were only the two of them.
“Natalie stayed behind with a small group to protect the school should anything happen. It’ll be our only escape route if we can’t take the heat,” Jari cried, doing an army roll toward the window. “Oh, and the others are down there,” he added, gesturing over the sill.
Alex approached the open window, trying to keep his gaze from wandering toward the lake in the distance. It wasn’t a sight he was ever happy to see, but the one waiting below was far more pleasant. Standing on the grass, awaiting instruction, was a small army of at least fifty students. They looked up as Alex poked his head out.
“Is it time?” one called.
Alex shook his head. “Not quite yet—soon!” he shouted back, feeling a tremor of nervous excitement as the words left his lips. It was true. Soon, the message would be sent, and Venus would be coming. Soon, they would be able to perform the counter-spell. Soon, all of this would be over, one way or another.
Turning back to the office, Alex watched as Helena fiddled with the ruby-red apple, weaving her magic into the very core. He couldn’t tell if she knew what she was doing, but the display was convincing enough for him. After a short while, the orb began to glow.
“Message delivered!” Helena said, clearly thrilled.
Just then, the door to the office burst open, and Demeter came hurtling through.
“You have to come! Something is happening!” he shouted, breathless.
Alex looked from the orb to Demeter and back again. There was no way it could be Venus, not yet—surely, there hadn’t been enough time? He remembered the way Julius had arrived after the breaking of the modules, and knew he could be wrong.
“We need to go now!” Demeter insisted, his voice dripping with panic.
As Alex and the others set off after the ex-teacher, Helena darted to the window, calling for the soldiers to start coming through. All Alex could hear as his feet pounded against the flagstones was the rush of his own blood in his ears, and the thunder of his heartbeat.
Chapter 32
They sprinted through the halls at breakneck speed, jumping over the sleeping forms of the hypnotized students as if it were a steeplechase. Demeter was way ahead, but he skidded to a sudden halt as he reached the foyer. Alex and the others stopped as the auburn-haired man raised his hand and lifted a finger to his lips, demanding silence.
Alex crept forward, wanting to see what it was that had Demeter so spooked. Peering out at the front lawn, it became horrifyingly apparent what the problem was. Virgil was standing on the grass, his hood raised to block the sunlight from his face. How he had gotten there without anyone seeing, Alex didn’t know, but there was no mistaking the skeletal man with his pale features and bony fingers.
Following the Head’s line of sight, Alex noticed that a peculiar electrical storm was brewing in the sky above, turning it a dark, bruised gray where moments before it had been a tranquil azure. It wasn’t a natural occurrence; that much was clear. Bolts of lightning flew across the swollen clouds, but there was no trace of thunder or rain.
Looking closer, he saw that a figure was emerging from the center of the strange tempest, the clouds parting to make way for her. Virgil, waiting on the lawn, stretched his arms out wide toward the appearing figure. With a horrible jolt of realization, Alex understood that the Head was welcoming his mother, though not because of anything Helena had done. Virgil must have already sent word to Venus, and here she was, responding to the call. Why he had called her down remained a mystery, though Alex was pretty certain it had something to do with him and his friends. He didn’t appreciate the irony.
Venus was just as beautiful as Alex remembered, now dressed in a bronze gown that flowed around her like liquid, and watching her float downward from the heavens made her all the more angelic. Shaking off his mesmerized state, he saw the opportunity that lay directly before him. There would never be another like it.
“Why have you called me?” Venus’s silky voice rippled through the air, though she was still a fair way off.
“Mother!” called Virgil. “I am so glad to see you! I know it’s a hindrance, but I haven’t been able to get in touch with my sister, and I thought you could help!”
Alex didn’t wait around to hear the rest. He grasped Demeter sharply by the arm. “Follow my lead!” he instructed, bounding across the threshold of the manor’s entrance. “Storm!” he yelled.
For a brief second, everything seemed to freeze. Venus maintained the speed of her descent, evidently oblivious of the danger she was in. To her, Alex knew they must just look like any other students. She was too far away to see that they were people she had already met, at Falleaf. Virgil turned around in slow motion, but he was too late.
Overhead, the heavy beat of wings vibrated. Storm had answered the call. The magnificent Thunderbird swooped low, Alex grasping the handles on her shoulders as he swung up onto her back. Demeter followed suit.
As they soared into the air, Alex looked back to see that the others were rushing out into the open space of the front lawn to take on Virgil, who was clearly still trying to process what was happening. Aamir tore the sack full of essence from his back and started throwing bottles to the others, who caught them deftly and ripped the stoppers from the vials. Weaving in and out of the fighters, Alex spied the shadowy figure of Elias joining the fray. With the shadow-man on their side, and the essence at their disposal, Alex hoped it would put them on a more even ground.
Facing forward once more, Alex reached out to grasp Venus as they hit her head-on. She was completely taken aback, her shriek piercing the air as Alex plucked her from the sky.
“Now!” Alex yelled, trying not to lose his grip on Storm as he held Venus tightly.
Demeter pressed his palms against the side of the queen’s head and wove the glistening threads that would put her to sleep, moving her to a place of happiness. For good measure, Alex conjured the black-and-silver wisps of his own energy, wrapping her in a shield of anti-magic.
Once he was confident that she couldn’t escape, Alex awkwardly moved over her, passing her backwards to Demeter, who clamped his arms around her protectively, ensuring she didn’t fall from Storm’s back and plummet to her death. Alex wasn’t quite sure how Demeter was staying on with such apparent ease, but he seemed to be clamping his thighs against the Thunderbird’s body, riding on her back in a jockey-like style.
Now, where do we take her? Alex thought, though he knew there was only one place they could go.
“Take us to where Ceres is,” he told Storm. She chirped in understanding, her wings beating faster as they stretched the fabric of time and space in pursuit of the secret sanctuary.
Rushing over the walled gardens and sparse, dried-up woods of Spellshadow Manor, they shot through the barrier toward the unknown territory, though not before Alex had the chance to look back at the others. He had forgotten how strong Virgil was, and although they were many, and they were better prepared than the last time, it seemed as if the Head was putting up a good fight. It pained Alex, knowing he wouldn’t hear of the outcome until he returned. Still, it pressed him onward, giving him the drive he needed to get this over and done with as quickly as possible.
What added to his worries, however, was the turbulence they were experiencing. The world had stretched around them, as per usual when Storm was crossing between realms, but there was something different about this journey. It was rough and jarring, nothing like the smooth transitions he’d experienced so far. Storm’s despairing squawks did little to quell his fears as she soldiered on.
“Is it supposed to be like this?” Demeter yelled, his voice barely audible above the rush of wind.
Alex shook his head, his cheeks pushed back by the force of the journey. “No!”
“Didn’t think so!” shouted Demeter, though the ex-teacher still seemed relatively unruffled.
Alex clung on for dear life, whispering soothing words to the struggling Thunderbird, as she forced her way through the barrier between worlds. As she beat her wings ever faster, Alex wondered if this was the end for him. He had a sinking feeling he was about to get lost in the ether, never to be discovered again.
A moment later, the world snapped back into place, making Alex feel slightly foolish for having had such gloomy thoughts.
“You okay back there?” Alex asked, looking over his shoulder.
Demeter grinned. “A-Okay!”
“Cargo intact?”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” he confirmed, pulling a face that Alex guessed was supposed to resemble a pirate’s.
Turning back around, Alex gaped in awe, taking in his surroundings. He had been expecting somewhere like Kingstone or Stillwater, just farther away from the main structures, but this place wasn’t familiar at all. Alex realized it was a haven, but not one of the four. It had to be one of the nine that was thought to have fallen, though it didn’t look very desolate. It made him wonder whether there was a central building somewhere here too, like the pagoda at Falleaf, or the keep at Kingstone.
The air was warm and the sky clear, not a cloud to be seen, but there was no magical barrier at work here. It was simply nature showing off. Lush fields filled with golden corn and brightly colored wildflowers kissed the shores of sparkling lakes, eventually giving way to a vast settlement that ran up to the edge of a deep, inviting river. On the banks stood many wooden, homemade-looking structures, clustered in a vaguely uniform pattern. From the looks of it, the place was thriving.
The population appeared to be fairly young, though there were a couple of older faces too. It made Alex wonder if supernaturally long life was reserved solely for the noble and extraordinarily powerful, and not meant for the likes of ordinary magical folk. It was the only explanation he had for the number of older faces staring up at him as he made his entrance.
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