Other Worlds: Vesta Mansion Trilogy - Book Two - Fantasy

by P. A. Priddey

  OTHER WORLDS

  VESTA MANSION TRILOGY

  BOOK TWO

  P A PRIDDEY

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law

  Copyright © 2016 P.A.PRIDDEY

  Table of Contents

  1 Caught in a Trap

  2 The Order of Siphon

  3 Night Warriors

  4 Strange Rain

  5 Something Evil at Work . . . Again

  6 The Hidden Parchments

  7 If You Go Down to the Woods Tonight

  8 The Grey Lady of the Forest

  9 A Happy House is a Free House

  10 Spellbinding

  11 Talitha

  12 To Know You, is to Love You

  13 I’m No Garden Ornament

  14 A Witch in Time

  15 Adair

  16 At Home with the Gnomes

  17 Friends up North

  18 Goblins in the Mist

  19 Fun in the Sun

  20 There Be a Portal

  21 Saving the Elf Service

  22 A Safe New World

  23 More Shops and Strange Cops

  24 A Quiet Night Out

  25 Festivities

  26 Enchanter

  27 Castle Under Siege

  28 Dilemmas

  29 The Trouble with Dwarves

  CHAPTER ONE

  Caught in a Trap

  The beast reared in front of him, fangs too large for its dripping jaws. The dog-like creature, the size of a pony, leapt forward only to meet the end of a staff. Adair watched it fall backwards only for another to appear. He pointed his staff as blue crackling beams of energy shot from the end, and the second beast burned before vanishing.

  ‘Demon dogs,’ he spat, ‘you must be getting desperate.’

  He carried on through the forest. Adair was close he knew that. Angry at the loss of friends, a family of five tortured and sacrificed, their home burnt to the ground. He had no intention of stopping until he avenged them. He knelt checking the tracks. Others were with them, but it would not matter, they would all die.

  Adair slowed as he came to a clearing, checking for an ambush. The wizard expected one as the tracks were too obvious and knew the witches were not being clumsy. The attack came in the shape of what looked like men, four of them, tall with grey skin. They were men once, not anymore, but the dead reanimated to do the witches bidding. They charged at him brandishing their weapons. Adair raised his staff once more, and like the demon dogs they burnt as the blue lightning struck them, but their bodies didn’t vanish.

  Confused, the wizard carried on. What’s your game? He thought. You know they would be no match for me.

  The light faded as the forest became denser. He could sense something to the right, and heard noises coming from the left. There were large rumblings behind him.

  How many of you are there? Adair needed another clearing to see who or what he faced. It was a mistake he realised by coming alone, his own arrogance led him here, but it was too late now. The noises behind were getting louder as he heard branches snap.

  How big are you? He thought.

  It did not worry Adair as his power would strike faster than anything coming through the thick undergrowth. He approached a clearing where it was lighter but would soon be night.

  ‘It was stupid of you to come after us, Wizard,’ said a voice ahead of him.

  Adair stopped, and tried to see where the voice came from. ‘You won’t escape me this time, Witch.’

  ‘Escape?’ the witch screeched. ‘We’re not trying to escape, we’re waiting for you.’

  ‘A mistake you won’t make again.’

  ‘Foolish wizard,’ said another voice. ‘Those people died because of you.’

  ‘No, you murdered them for your disgusting ceremonies. It ends tonight.’

  ‘Oh no, it’s just beginning.’ A dark-haired woman in black robes appeared. ‘We knew you would come after us, you’re so predictable.’

  Adair pointed his staff at her. ‘You will burn for what you did, Tagana.’

  Another witch appeared to the right of her. ‘You will be too busy for that,’ she sneered.

  Adair grimaced at the sight of her. Both sisters looked old with scars decorating their faces. ‘You were beautiful once, Mardella, look what your dark magic has done to you.’

  ‘It matters not, when we find the right wizard he will make us look how we once were when needs be.’

  ‘You won’t find any wizard left here who would do that for you, and you’ve just ran out of time.’

  Tagana laughed. ‘There’s one, take him now,’ she shouted.

  Adair turned as a large cat-like creature leapt out of the trees. Blue fire shot from his staff, the creature burned before it got close. Others attacked, more of the grey men, swinging their swords. The wizard burned three and grabbed the other by the throat, before throwing it at the witches.

  ‘Is that the best you can do?’ he said.

  ‘Oh, no,’ said Mardella, ‘we have something else in mind for you.’

  A dark shape appeared between them. It stood ten feet tall, with long claws for hands.

  Adair sighed. ‘More demons? You know you can’t summon anything powerful enough to defeat me.’

  ‘Your arrogance will be your downfall, Wizard,’ said Tagana. ‘Kill him,’ she ordered the demon.

  It ran at Adair, who pointed his staff. The demon did not burn, it exploded. The blast threw the wizard backwards. He stood trying to get his bearings but the witches were not in sight. He walked into the clearing and heard laughter to the right.

  Adair followed the sound and walked between two trees when a web like substance appeared and wrapped around him. The web vanished and he felt a constricting feeling around his throat.

  Tagana stepped forward. ‘You’re ours now.’

  Mardella licked her wrinkled lips. ‘Come, we have work for you to do.’

  Adair refused and pointed his staff at them, but whatever was now attached to his throat started to choke him. He tried grabbing at it as it tightened. He felt sharp stabbing pains in his arms and dropped the staff.

  ‘There’s no point fighting, it will only get tighter, you’re our slave now and forever. We told you we wanted a wizard and your powers belong to us now.’

  Adair knew of the spell, and with pure dread he knew they were right.

  ~~~~

  In a mansion a long time after, Alex Aylward stared at the computer while chewing the end of a pencil, which he promptly threw on the table. ‘This is hopeless.’

  Claire glanced up from her computer. ‘I doubt very much the witches will have Facebook or Twitter accounts.’

  ‘Oh I dunno,’ said James, ‘I’ve heard about some of the mods on there.’

  Luella raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re putting too much effort in to it.’

  Alex leant forward on the table. ‘Can there be too much?’

  Frustrated, it had been two weeks since they finally killed the warlock, and found no clues to the whereabouts of the witches. Alex’s revelation about their brothe
r shocked Luella and Daralis, but neither were sure how true it could be. Alex spent long hours trying to find the witches. He went running with the wolves but found no sign of them. It wasn’t the only reason which frustrated him, Carrie was the other. Every night he spent searching did not go down well with her as she could not keep up with their speed.

  ‘You will find them when the time comes for you to do so,’ Joseph told him. ‘You know how it happens.’

  ‘Yeah, I know you’re right, I just need to be doing something,’ Alex sighed. He had also practiced his floating, which had turned into flying.

  ~~~~

  None of them expected to find the witches on the internet. Those from the mansion searched for any strange occurrences which may have involved them. Many of the events they checked out were in the south of England where they believed the witches were, but they came to nothing.

  The mood in the Mansion was higher than it ever had been. Luella and Daralis worried about their brother, but teaching Livvy and Donna had been very fulfilling for them. None of the other women had expected to be practicing their psychic talents, or trying to find any information about witches when they moved in. They enjoyed it all the more as they were paid to do so.

  Carrie hadn’t returned to Alex’s room since they killed the warlock. Carrie knew Alex wouldn’t mind if she did, and would most likely welcome her like he used to with Paige, but just being friends wasn’t enough. However, it didn’t stop her hugging him every morning.

  ~~~~

  Life at the mansion passed by normally as it could for all those living there, only one morning it was too quiet. Alex woke to the sun shining through his window. He glanced at the clock showing ten a.m. which was late. He dressed and left his room, the mansion was silent. Alex checked his daughter’s bedrooms but they weren’t there. He went downstairs, and checked the main hall and the party room, but there was no sign of anyone.

  ‘House, where is everyone?’

  There was no reply.

  ‘House!’

  Still no reply. He looked out the front and the coach had gone. He checked out the back, the deer were still there but no wolves or pucas, and most of the pixies had returned to their own forests. He took a walk down to the stables where the horses were grazing nearby.

  Alex concentrated on his girls to see if he could sense them, and was pleased with the outcome as he could tell they were happy.

  He strolled back up to the mansion in deep thought. He realised a flaw which had been eluding him, the stables should be closer to the mansion as they are too far away. He put a pallet up the side of the coal shed and climbed up it checking on the roof.

  What are you doing? A voice said behind him, which startled Alex, and he fell off on to his backside.

  ‘Rho, you could make some noise when approaching,’ he huffed.

  The wolf looked on as one of the cubs licked Alex’s face. That doesn’t look safe, you need a proper ladder.

  Alex sat with an arm over the cub, now nearly fully grown, and with his other hand he wiped his face. ‘Thanks, I’ll try to remember that . . . where have you been?’

  For a run, do we need to ask for permission now?

  ‘No, of course not,’ said Alex. ‘I just thought you might have been with the others.’

  Are they not inside?

  ‘No, the place is empty, and the coach has gone.’

  Doesn’t House know?

  Alex watched the cubs run around their mother. ‘Probably, as he’s with them.’

  You don’t believe they’re in any danger do you?

  ‘No, the girls are happy, and not with me.’

  You can sense them when they’re not here?

  ‘Yeah, it’s quite easy.’

  How long have you been able to do that?

  ‘About twenty minutes. I’ve always been able to sense them, but this is the first time they have been away from our land without me.’

  And they went away without telling you?

  ‘Yeah, it feels like I wasn’t wanted.’

  It would appear so . . . it’s almost as if they didn’t want you near them.

  Alex’s eyes grew big. ‘Thanks for that.’

  Have you checked their rooms to make sure they haven’t packed their stuff and left you?

  ‘I thought you were a friend.’

  I am, and that’s why I’m still here. What were you doing up there?

  ‘Just checking it out, I’m thinking of moving the stables up here,’ said Alex, as he heard footsteps. He looked up and the six children stood there.

  Sarin shook her head. ‘What ya doing down there, Papa?’

  Alex stood and dusted himself off. ‘I was having a rest, and where have you been?’

  ‘We been out, come inside we got something to show you,’ she said, grabbing his hand and pulled him along as the others ran back inside. Alex stepped through the door and saw a large banner saying “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”.

  ‘SURPRISE!’ everyone shouted, and he smiled.

  ‘Happy birthday, Papa,’ said Alhena, holding a present for him.

  He picked her up. ‘Thank you, sweetheart.’ He had no idea of what the day was.

  The other children did the same. The tables were full of presents and he had fun opening them.

  The women all bought him clothes. ‘What do you get the man who has everything?’ said Carrie.

  ‘They’re perfect,’ said Alex, and kissed her cheek. But I don’t have everything yet, he thought.

  There would be a party for him, so it was a good day after all.

  Shaula smiled. ‘You like our surprise, Papa?’

  ‘Yeah, it’s lovely, after you scared me that is.’

  ‘We, scared you, Papa? There’s no way we could do that.’

  ‘Oh but you did, and it was horrible.’

  ‘What did we do?’ said Adhara.

  ‘You left me, I was all alone, you even took House,’ he said, in an eerie tone. ‘It was so spooky . . . like you’d all disappeared from the world.’

  ‘Papa, we didn’t know,’ cried Sarin, and they all jumped on him.

  ‘Alex, that’s awful,’ said Paige.

  Alex grinned. ‘I know, but I’ll get over it.’

  ‘I meant what you’re telling the children.’

  ‘It’s my birthday, so I’m allowed.’

  Blaze shook her head. ‘I’ve always said it . . . you’re a bad man.’

  ‘Maybe, but I had a revelation when you were all away,’ said Alex, as the children got off him. ‘So you all better watch it.’

  ‘And what was that?’ said Paige.

  Alex feigned sadness. ‘It’s horrible being alone.’

  Alhena frowned. ‘Sorry, Papa.’

  ‘No, sweetheart, never be sorry, you’ve given me my best birthday ever.’

  ‘But we scared you,’ said Shaula.

  ‘And you came back to me,’ said Alex. ‘So which of you have their birthday next? You’re going to have a surprise party, too.’

  ‘Sarin is next,’ said Adhara, staring up at the ceiling.

  Alex laughed. ‘Oh right, and I believe that’s the same day as yours.’

  ‘I don’t think I want a surprise birthday party now,’ Adhara whimpered.

  Alex smiled. ‘Oh, but you’ll have lots of them, but don’t worry you’ll never be left alone.’

  Ron Stevens walked over to them. ‘Happy birthday.’

  Alex shook Ron’s hand. ‘Thanks, I didn’t know you were here.’

  ‘I went to see George, and he told me what today was.’

  ‘It so happens I wanted to see you anyway,’ said Alex, and noticed the room had almost emptied. It was too early for the party and he guessed they had gone to train.

  ‘Business or pleasure?’ said Ron.

  ‘Both, we’re having a party, and I need some new stables built.’

  Ron raised an eyebrow. ‘Is there a problem with the others?’

  Alex felt a little silly, as it was his idea to have them built
where the old ones were. ‘Yeah, they’re a bit far away.’

  Ron nodded. ‘I did wonder why the stables were all the way down there.’

  ‘Because of the river,’ said Joseph. ‘There was no water up here, apart from the old well.’

  ‘Makes sense I guess,’ said Ron, ‘let’s go take a look.’

  House, where are the others? Alex asked.

  They are training in the woods.

  Ron stepped outside. ‘Where do you want them?’

  Alex stood by the back door, as he glanced at the area Livvy and Donna had prepared, with benches and water features. ‘I want it nearer the mansion, but I don’t want to spoil the view.’

  ‘I can see that,’ said Ron, as he looked over the land. ‘It’ll be nice sitting out here in the summer.’

  ‘There’s room down by the side of the mansion, or maybe behind the gym.’

  Ron stood with one hand on his chin. ‘Down by the gym would be best as you could let the horses graze out there, too.’

  ‘I’ll have to sort it out with Amy and Lucy of course, as they’re in charge.’

  They took a walk down to the stables and could hear noises coming from the woods. Ron tried to see what it was.

  Alex noticed Ron’s curious expression. ‘War games of a sort, they’ve taken to training in the woods.’

  ‘Sounds fun, I’m into paintball.’

  ‘That’s an idea . . . I’ll have to get some guns.’

  ‘I can get you all the stuff you need from my supplier.’

  ‘Do they have the clothing, too?’

  Ron nodded. ‘Yes, everything you’ll need.’

  ‘I’ll get Blaze to give you a list.’

  ‘That’ll be no problem, and when you’re ready I will bring my troops to do battle.’

  ‘Sounds like a plan, so have you met our smaller friends yet?’

  ‘Yes, and the pucas, they’re amazing.’

  ‘I think so,’ said Alex, as they approached the stables.

  Ron walked around inspecting them. ‘We might be able to move these, and save building new ones.’

  Alex shrugged. ‘I’ll leave that up to you.’