Vesta Mansion: Book One - The Power Inside

by P. A. Priddey

  I CANNOT TELL YOU THAT.

  Alex rubbed his eyes. ‘Why can’t you?’

  BECAUSE . . . YOU . . . I MEAN I JUST CANNOT. SO HAVE YOU WORKED OUT WHO I AM?

  Alex was getting a headache with the shouting. ‘Give me a clue?’

  YOU ARE SITTING ON ME.

  Alex stood up. ‘You’re the stairs.’

  The walls rumbled. WHAT?

  ‘Did you just groan?’

  WELL, YES, YOU ARE NOT AS CLEVER AS I HOPED.

  ‘I am sorry,’ said Alex sarcastically, ‘but with all your shouting it’s hard to concentrate,’

  I AM NOT SHOUTING.

  ‘You are in my head.’

  OH, how is this? The voice said, now a lot quieter.

  ‘Much better, thank you,’ said Alex, relieved, and sat back down on the stairs.

  Do you know who I am yet?

  ‘You’re the mansion?’

  Bravo, said the voice.

  ‘That’s a bit harsh . . . it’s not every day I talk to a mansion.’

  But you talk to wolves, and that is OK?

  Why me? He thought. ‘Yeah, you got me there, and I was just as surprised then.’

  The mansion sounded grumpy. I heard what you said to the wolf, you do not like me.

  Alex shook his head, after everything he had been through he was now talking to a moody mansion. ‘No, I think you, the mansion is perfect . . . it’s the inside that’s wrong.’

  How is it wrong?

  ‘The rooms need to be changed, they’re all wrong.’

  Why? The other families who lived here liked them.

  ‘That was a long time ago, and things have changed since then. I want everyone who’s going to live here to be happy.’

  They were all happy.

  Alex pointed to the servant’s quarters beyond the stairs. ‘Even the ones who lived there?’

  Does it matter if they were happy?

  ‘Of course, everyone has to be happy.’

  You will never get servants, and expect them all to be happy.

  ‘I won’t be having any servants.’

  And who will do all the work? Like cooking, cleaning and other jobs needed around here?

  ‘Cooks and cleaners, not servants, it’ll be a job.’

  It sounds like the same thing to me, only you just changed the names.

  Alex stood up and shook his head. ‘No, servants are classed lower than the household, no one who lives here will be beneath anyone.’

  I would like to see you do that, but you are insistent about changing the rooms.

  ‘Yeah, I’m afraid so.’

  I do not want my walls knocking down.

  ‘I guessed you would say that,’ Alex sighed, as he really wanted to live here.

  What are you going to do now?

  ‘I’ll have to find a new home, as I said everything has to be right.’

  Oh. The mansion sounded surprised. Is there nothing you like about me?

  ‘Yeah, the outside looks perfect, but needs some work. I love the stairs and the fire-place.’

  That is kind of you, and I could help if you really want to live here.

  ‘Help how?’ Alex’s mood lifted slightly.

  I can move the walls to where you want them, if it will be of help.

  Alex’s mood lifted considerably. ‘That would be a lot more helpful than having someone knocking them down and building new ones, if you can do it?’

  With a bit of effort, but it will be no problem.

  ‘Can you move some upstairs, too?’

  I believe so, would you like me to start now?

  ‘No, not yet, I’m not sure how I want it.’

  Are you going to live here with the girls?

  ‘Yeah, but we’ll need to discuss a few things first, and hopefully you’ll agree.’ Alex scratched his head. ‘How did you know about the girls?’

  Erm . . . I overheard the wolf talking to a man.

  ‘Do you have a name?’

  Yes, I am . . . I mean no, I used to have one but that was a long time ago.

  Then I shall call you House, and I’m Alex.’

  It will be nice to have a name, but then it will be nice to have someone call it me.

  ‘Don’t you talk to anyone else?’

  Not for a long time.

  ‘Well, I’ll be here a lot from now on, and you do understand what’s going to happen?’

  I am listening.

  ‘You need new windows, and the cement on the walls will need repointing.’

  I cannot put new windows in. I can only move things around.

  ‘I’ll buy new ones, and have them fitted if you agree.’

  That will be nice, as mine are broken.

  ‘There’ll be upheaval around here with many workmen coming in, digging up the floor and into some walls for the electrics and plumbing.’

  I expected that, I have seen modern houses.

  ‘You’re not stuck here then?’

  I am now, as I can only travel the land which belongs to the mansion, but I did see the village a few years ago.

  ‘How can you travel over land?’

  In a spiritual way, I could go and observe things. I believe I can put my spiritual self into one of the artefacts here, and travel further if someone carried it away.

  ‘But you’re not sure?’

  I know I can go into an artefact, but I never knew anyone to take me anywhere.

  ‘I’ll take you somewhere,’ said Alex smiling, as his phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the number, which he didn’t recognise, and pressed the green button. ‘Hey, Adhara.’

  ‘Hi, Papa, how did you know it was me?’ she said excitedly.

  ‘I’m not sure, sweetheart, I just did.’

  ‘Hi, Papa,’ said another little voice.

  ‘Hey, Sarin, you OK, sweetheart?’

  ‘Yep, thanks, Papa, we’re great, what you doing?’

  ‘I’m at the house now.’

  ‘Is it our house?’ said Adhara.

  ‘Yeah, this is the one.’

  ‘Are we going to move in soon?’

  ‘Not yet, it needs a lot of work.’

  ‘I will help you, and Sar, we’re hard workers.’

  ‘I bet you are.’

  ‘We just want to see you,’ she said, in a sad little voice.

  ‘You’ll see me soon, and you’ll see lots of me while the work is being done.’

  ‘Yay, will you take us somewhere?’

  ‘Yeah, anywhere you want to go.’

  ‘OK, we don’t mind waiting,’ said Adhara. ‘It’s lovely here, and we’ve lots of friends now.’

  They talked for another twenty minutes before his phone beeped, he saw the battery was low, and had to say goodbye to them.

  You are a lot happier than before, said House.

  ‘I am, as things are moving along better than I thought. The phone call was from my daughters who make me happy,’ said Alex, realising how strange it sounded when it had only felt like one day since he saved the girls. It may have been four or five since, but wasn’t sure as he had been asleep for most of it.

  Do you love them?

  ‘More than anything,’ said Alex, which didn’t sound strange to him at all.

  What do we do now?

  ‘Have you ever moved a wall before?’

  No, should I try?

  Alex stood and walked towards the fireplace, he turned towards the room he believed was a study at the back of the mansion. He rubbed his chin. ‘This one, can you move it here?’

  His directions to House were to move it closer to the fire-place, but leaving plenty of room between them. He heard a rumble as the wall started to move. It wasn’t just the wall by the study but all of it down that side. The wall stopped ten feet from the stairs. Alex stepped through one of the doors, and could see all the way down to the other side of the mansion.

  What do you think now?

  ‘Perfect, I love the size.’

  The side w
alls look a bit odd now.

  Alex looked down the long space and noticed the side walls were nowhere near the wall House had just moved. ‘Put one of the other side walls alongside another.’ House did, and Alex was happy with the result. ‘That’s perfect. We’ll move the rest when I know where I want them.’

  We? Said House, sounding amused by it.

  ‘OK, you’ll do the moving, and I’ll do the pointing.’

  Have you no idea what you want doing?

  ‘No, not at the moment. How much land do we have?’

  If you go outside I will show you.

  Alex stepped through the back door in the study. ‘OK, let’s go for a walk.’

  House put the walls back to normal. I will let you do the walking.

  Alex strolled down the left side of the grounds. He saw the woods and decided to go through them. The air was a lot cooler now, and he could see small animals scurrying around and heard the hoot of an owl. He had never walked through woods at night apart from when he saved his daughters, and was enjoying it.

  ‘So, you’re a spirit, and not the mansion?’

  Why do you say that? House asked.

  ‘You said your spiritual self.’

  Oh yes, and you are right, does it make a difference?

  Alex watched the small animals which took no notice of him. ‘No, not at all. So these woods are on our land.’

  Yes, and the woods on the other side.

  Alex smiled, realising the mansion was almost hidden from the outside world. ‘There are woods on both sides, and the front of the mansion.’

  The woods at the front are only separated by the drive from the gate.

  ‘Then the only way anyone can see the mansion is from this side.’

  Only if you are on the land or from a great distance. You will notice we will be going downhill soon and lose sight of the mansion.

  ‘It did make me wonder why no one has tried to buy the place.’

  It was not for sale. Many people have come here, and most forget about the mansion soon as they leave.

  Alex wondered what this spirit was, and how powerful. ‘Is it something to do with you?’

  The land is protected, and I have what you might call a force field all around.

  ‘I never noticed anything when I arrived.’

  The force field is invisible, and only those with ill intentions are not allowed to enter. You were expected, and most welcome.

  ‘That’s good to know, in fact, very good.’ Alex thought of what was happening, and how the spirit was expecting him, it might be all a dream but he dismissed it. Was someone playing tricks on him? No, his body was healed, and all his injuries had gone. If someone could do that while playing some game, he would play it.

  You seem confused about something, said House.

  ‘I’m confused about everything.’

  I do not understand.

  ‘Put it this way, this time last week I was hobbling around with my walking stick.’

  Your leg is now healed?

  ‘My whole body’s been healed, I find I’m a wealthy man owning a mansion, and deciding how it looks. I can see in the dark, talk to wolves, and now you.’

  This is all new to you. I can understand why you are confused.

  ‘Confused, but I’m enjoying myself. Can you read my mind?’

  I can, but would only do it if you wanted me to, why do you ask?

  ‘You’ve mentioned I seem happier or confused.’

  I can sense feelings, too.

  Alex didn’t notice he was walking downhill, as he came to the end of the woods. He saw some wooden buildings he took for stables, the wooded walls were all rotten, and were of no use anymore. Beyond the stables was a river which went along to the woods on the other side. House was right he couldn’t see the mansion. He walked up to the flat part of the land where he saw a good-sized lake. He noticed the herd of deer, and had an urge to go over to them. He decided to leave it until daylight, as they would most likely be asleep, not that he knew much about their sleeping pattern. Alex never had to as a large stag left the herd and approached him.

  ‘Hello, my friend,’ he said, stroking its neck. The stag appeared to understand and trotted back. Alex walked back inside, and sat on the stairs. ‘I need to sleep now.’

  I understand and will keep the chill off you.

  Alex lay down on the stairs, with his jacket under his head, and fell asleep. His dreams were of the girls, wolves, and of the big house, until a phone rang on his desk. He answered it to an irate woman on the other end, complaining about her new television, and the reruns of an old programme which used to give her nightmares as a child. He tried telling her to switch channel, but she refused. It changed to the ancient world, but it was the same from the previous night. The dream changed again and he was in space where something came at him. He couldn’t understand why James stood over him, saying he was late, and was going to lose his job.

  ‘You OK, mate?’ said James, leaning over him. ‘Got the new car outside and it’s a nice job.’

  ‘What?’ was all he could say, he saw the sun shining through the window and he sat up. Alex felt stiff and decided never to sleep on the stairs again.

  ‘You want me to leave you for a bit?’

  ‘No, just give me a minute.’ Alex rubbed his head and dust fell everywhere. ‘I don’t know if I should get in a new car like this.’

  ‘It’s OK, I guessed you’d be a bit dusty, so I brought you some overalls and left the plastic covers on the seats,’ said James, and left the mansion looking confused at the mess piled up in the middle of the floor.

  Alex stood. ‘House, you there?’

  Yes, I live here, and do not have anywhere else to go.

  ‘You can come with us if you want.’

  Not just yet, I want to practice moving things around.

  ‘What do you want me to do with the old furniture?’

  Get rid of it, all the good stuff was taken a long time ago . . . just keep a couple of items so I can travel.

  ‘How come you didn’t stop them taking things?’

  At first it was the owner’s brother who had taken the valuable items, which saddened me. I decided to go away for a while, and when I came back most of the stuff had gone. Other people moved in over the years, but they stopped coming and the mansion was left to rot. I decided to hide the place from anyone I did not like.

  Alex had the strange image of the mansion crouching behind the trees. ‘You’re a bit big to hide.’

  I told you, if certain people see the mansion, they forget about it when they pass by.

  ‘That’s a neat trick, but what about when we move in?’

  None who live here shall be affected, only protected.

  ‘A poet as well.’

  House paused and said in a deep sounding voice.

  For those who are innocent,

  I will hear their calls,

  I will bring them to Vesta,

  Safe within my walls,

  Alex smiled. ‘Is that your motto?’

  No, I just made it up.

  ‘I’ll get it made into a plaque.’

  Did you like it?

  ‘Yeah, it sums up this place, and makes it ideal for my children.’

  Then it will be my motto.

  ‘I have to go now, but will return soon.’

  I will be here.

  Alex stepped outside. It was a hot day with the sun shining down on him, and saw James standing by the new car talking to Rho. The car he guessed was a limousine, not that he knew much about them. It had double seats in the back which faced each other.

  ‘Morning,’ they both said, as he walked over still stretching.

  That was some noise you made last night, said Rho.

  ‘I don’t remember making any noise.’

  ‘Maybe it had something to do with the rubbish you put in the middle of the hall,’ James added.

  ‘Ah, yes, it could’ve made a noise I guess,’ said Alex, realising when House
moved the wall all the stuff on the floor moved with it. ‘I had a chat with House last night about changing the rooms, and although he wasn’t happy at first, he agreed to help.’

  James shook his head as he passed the overalls to him. ‘You talked with the mansion?’

  ‘Is that really so strange?’

  ‘Yes,’ said James and Rho together.

  Alex put his legs in the overalls, and smiled. ‘Nothing’s strange to me after the last few days, and I never knew strange was gonna be such fun.’

  ‘I was right, the mansion’s haunted.’ said James.

  ‘Sort of, but I’d prefer to think of it as protected.’

  I could always sense something, said Rho. But could never figure it out.

  ‘He’s a spirit, a friendly one, who protects everything on the land.’

  James shook his head. ‘You say “he”, don’t you mean “It”?’

  ‘He has a male voice so I call him he, and he’s called House, who’s very pleasant and quite helpful.’

  ‘Well, the names original.’

  ‘I gave him the name.’

  James grinned. ‘It’s a good name, it fits.’

  What are your plans now? Rho asked.

  Alex managed to struggle inside the overalls which were on the small side. ‘I’ll get George to sort out the power and water up to the mansion while I’m going to spend some time with my girls. I need to know who’s going to work here once it’s finished, as they’re gonna be just as important as everything else.’

  The wolf left them, and James opened the back door for him. ‘Your carriage awaits, my lord.’

  ‘I can open doors myself, and do I look like a bleeding lord?’

  ‘Actually, you look more like a chimney sweep.’

  Alex got in the back of the spacious car. ‘Thanks, I feel like one.’

  ‘Where we off to?’

  ‘My flat, I need to shower and get changed,’ he said, and told James the address before they drove off.

  ‘I reckon this’ll be one of my strangest jobs.’

  ‘Yeah, and I’ve a feeling it’ll get stranger,’ said Alex. ‘How much do you know?’

  ‘Not a lot really, I know you need a home for your girls, and they have to be protected. George said many have been waiting.’

  Alex considered it and told him everything.

  James whistled. ‘Blimey, that’s a lot of money.’

  ‘It’ll take a lot to get the mansion sorted.’

  ‘True, but I reckon you’ll have enough change left over to live well. So you just go off with a huge wolf when you can hardly walk, save your daughters from armed gangsters, and sleep in a haunted mansion.’