Vesta Mansion: Book One - The Power Inside

by P. A. Priddey

  ‘You’re disgusting,’ said Claire. It was one of the nights when most of Blaze’s friends visited.

  Adhara stuck her tongue out. ‘Papa’s the best, and everyone wants to hug him.’

  Claire stuck her own tongue out. ‘I don’t, and neither does my other half.’

  ‘I bet she will when she sees him.’

  Alex had been the topic of conversation on a few nights. Most wouldn’t have given him a second thought if it wasn’t for the twins, and the fact he would be taking them away soon.

  ‘You’ll still see us,’ said Sarin.

  ‘Yep,’ said Adhara. ‘Papa will bring us here, and you can visit us, too.’

  Blaze looked at them with great fondness. ‘I don’t think it works like that, honey.’

  ‘Papa will take us anywhere we ask him.’

  Carrie had always listened to the conversations about Alex, and as she hadn’t met him before today she only listened, but now listened with some fascination. ‘What did he mean he was going to start on the house? I thought the work had already started.’

  ‘Only on the outside,’ said Blaze. ‘He didn’t know what he wanted doing with the inside.’

  ‘It’s just a house, what difference does it make?’

  ‘None of us know, and that’s what’s so confusing,’ said Claire. ‘He should have sorted it straight away.’

  ‘I’m sure he’s just doing what he believes is right,’ said Carrie, and realised she would never had met him if the house was already finished.

  The Alex conversation usually took place after the girls were in bed. Blaze always stuck up for him, but they all knew the thought of the children leaving hurt her.

  Claire toyed with her nose stud. ‘Why doesn’t he hurry up and get the house finished? It makes it worse the longer it takes.’

  Blaze shook her head. ‘No it doesn’t, I loved them straight away.’

  Carrie could understand as she loved the girls soon as she saw them, and now their father. She had only met him once, and couldn’t get him out of her mind.

  Summer brushed Tia’s long black hair. ‘How rich is he?’

  Blaze shrugged. ’I know he has millions.’

  Carrie felt her stomach tighten. A millionaire, she thought. What the hell was I thinking, I’ve no chance. She decided to avoid Alex as much as possible, and if the limo was outside Blaze’s house, she wouldn’t go in. Shit, Shit, Shit!

  * * *

  Alex and Rho stepped outside for some fresh air. He shook the dust off and noticed the limo. He walked over and tapped the driver’s window. James opened his eyes, then the door.

  ‘I thought you went back to the hotel,’ said Alex.

  James yawned. ‘I did, and managed to grab a few hours sleep, so I came back.’

  ‘Is anything wrong?’

  ‘Na, I thought you might need a shower before showing the builders what you want doing.’

  ‘Not a bad idea,’ said Alex, and turned to Rho. ‘I’ll see you in a few hours.’

  James watched Alex get in the car. ‘How did it go?’

  ‘Much better than I expected, and it was fun, too.’

  James huffed. ‘And you sent me away?’

  ‘Sorry, I wasn’t expecting fun, and I want to see your face when you go in the mansion again. Anyway, about earlier, where did you learn to fight?’

  ‘You mean yesterday. I got beat up when I was a kid, so my uncle took me for karate lessons, and after a few years I mastered it. I mastered four other disciplines after.’

  Alex looked at James in a different light. ‘If I’d known, I would’ve let you jump over the bridge.’

  ‘Na, no chance of that happening, I hate heights. I ran down a few steps, climbed into the trees and went behind them.’

  ‘Trees are high.’

  ‘Not as high as the bridge, I can handle certain heights. Anyway you handled yourself OK, where did you learn to fight?’

  ‘I’d never been in a fight until I saved the girls the first time, it happened so fast I just knew what to do.’

  ‘That’s disgusting,’ grumbled James. ‘All the years I trained, and you can do it just like that.’

  ‘You’ll be moaning about how I got my money next.’

  ‘Na, I’m doing well out of it, and you’re no pompous ass.’

  Alex arched an eyebrow. ‘Thanks, I think.’

  ‘Anyway, how did we make it on time?’

  ‘You did drive quite fast.’

  James pulled up outside the hotel. ‘Not that fast. It took at least twenty minutes after the girls called for you, and the men hadn’t even approached them until we got there.’

  ‘I’m not sure, just like when I saved them the first time. It’s as if I was forewarned, a premonition of sorts.

  After his shower, Alex tried to get a couple of hours sleep, but all he could think about was Carrie. He knew he had to stop thinking about her, as it would only lead to heartache. She was beautiful, but also gay, and there was no way he was going to make a fool of himself.

  Alex and James visited George, who was sitting at his desk.

  Ron Stevens sat opposite, and turned to face them. ‘Alex, I’m confused, George tells me you started on the mansion.’

  Alex smiled as he and James sat down. ‘Yeah, but don’t worry, I was only sorting out the rooms.’ He took a sheet of paper and did a rough sketch of what he wanted doing, before passing it to the builder.

  Ron shook his head, and put the sketch down on the desk for the others to see. ‘You’ve either got the rooms mixed up, or it’s going to take a lot longer than we hoped.’

  ‘No, the rooms are correct.’

  ‘This is more work than I expected,’ said George.

  ‘There will be plenty of work, but not how you think.’ Alex knew what the solicitor meant. ‘Let’s discuss it at the mansion as it’ll be easier for me to show you.’

  ‘OK,’ said Ron. ‘But I don’t know what difference it’ll make.’

  They drove to the mansion. Alex told them they were going to need more doors, and a few more walls. The other men in the car were still trying to figure the layout.

  ‘I thought you wanted this done quick,’ said George.

  Alex had a know-it-all look about him. ‘Yeah, but also right, it’ll be no clean up job, I want the works.

  ‘You want to make it luxurious?’ said Ron.

  ‘No, I want to make it irresistible.’

  George looked mystified by it, as he had visited the mansion many times. ‘Your children will live there because you are, no matter what it looks like.’

  ‘And who’ll do the work, I’m not gonna manage it on my own.’

  ‘You get servants,’ said Ron, ‘and let them do all the work, isn’t that what usually happens in a big house like yours.’

  ‘I won’t be having servants, just workers,’ Alex told them as they pulled up outside the mansion where Rho was waiting for them.

  Ron pointed at a pile of doors. ‘Where did those come from?’

  Alex realised House had done a spot of cleaning. ‘From the mansion, now it may look a little different when you go inside.’ He watched their faces as they entered.

  ‘What the hell happened here?’ said James.

  ‘I was working most of the night remember.’

  Yes, said Rho. Your arm must be aching from all the pointing you did.

  James looked around the hall. ‘It looks huge now.’

  Alex raised an eyebrow. ‘Have you not looked at it from the outside?’

  ‘Yeah, but it always looked small when you came inside, and now the hall is so long.’

  Alex showed them the new rooms, and told them what they were for. When they came to the room at the right side of the mansion, Ron thought it had collapsed. Alex told him he only wanted it strengthened, not removed, as Rho came sliding down.

  They walked to the rooms at the back with Ron taking notes all the time.

  ‘How did you do all this?’ said a confused George, as he looked
around.

  ‘I didn’t, House did and he’s good at what he does,’ said Alex, rather pleased with himself.

  ‘Well, House has made the work a whole lot easier and a lot more fun,’ said Ron. ‘There’s still a lot to do of course.’

  ‘Yeah, get as many workers in as you can. I want designers to have the place looking as good as it does on the inside as it does on the outside.’

  Within an hour trucks were pulling up, Ron knew what he was doing and knew how to get it done. Alex visited the outhouse where the wolves were.

  So it has begun, said Chi.

  ‘Yeah, I hope I didn’t keep you awake all night with the noise.’

  I was awake most of the night, because someone bought me a bed which helped me sleep nearly all day.

  ‘I’ll have to get you something just as comfortable inside the mansion when it’s finished.’

  We will be leaving when the cubs are born, said Rho.

  Alex shook his head. ‘No, I don’t think so, you’re gonna be with me for a long while yet.’

  Would you stop us? Said Rho, sounding injured.

  ‘No, my friend, I won’t, but your cubs will.’

  How will they stop us?

  ‘Because they’re cubs. You may travel anywhere you like without anyone seeing you, but try doing it with them.’

  Alex is right of course, said Chi. I won’t need a bed inside, just a thick rug in front of the fire.

  ‘That you shall have, my lady.’ Alex smiled and patted Rho’s back. ‘And you my friend, didn’t I promise you many adventures?’

  Rho looked up. Yes, and now I understand.

  Alex walked back to the mansion, it still amazed him how big the place was, and the fact someone left it to him. It had been less than a month since he saved his girls, and his life had been completely turned upside down, but wouldn’t change any of it.

  ‘Sir, you can’t come in without a hard hat,’ a young man told him.

  Alex knew straight away it was Ron’s son, by his eyes. ‘I think you’re wrong,’ he said, and walked past him.

  ‘I’m foreman here, and you’ll wear your hat, or no work takes place.’

  ‘I accept that, and when the work starts I’ll wear a hat, and one of those high vision jackets — but work hasn’t started yet, and even your father’s not wearing them.’

  ‘How did you know he was my father? Did the wolves tell you?’ the foreman said, in disgust.

  Alex rubbed his eyes. ‘Have you heard the wolves talk?’

  ‘Yes, to my father, and it’s not normal.’

  ‘Haven’t you told him about it?’

  ‘No, he’s never said anything to me, so why should I say anything to him?’

  Alex smiled, and put a hand on the man’s shoulder. ‘He couldn’t, but I bet if you told him now he would be very proud, and will tell you everything.’

  The younger man gave Alex a confused look, and walked over to his father. After a few minutes, Ron grasped his son’s shoulders and took him out to the wolves.

  ‘What happened there?’ said George, now wearing a jacket and hat.

  ‘Ron’s son was upset about his father talking to the wolves and not saying anything to him.’

  ‘He brought Simon here quite often, and hoped he would hear it, but gave up after a few years.’

  ‘I always thought he had a chip on his shoulder,’ said James, ‘And now it looks like he was pissed with his old man for not telling him . . . ironic really.’

  George grinned. ‘Maybe he’ll be a bit more pleasant now.’

  ‘What a blockhead,’ said Ron, coming back into the mansion a few minutes later. ‘He knew for three years and never said anything, and has been a right misery ever since.’

  ‘I have noticed,’ said George.

  ‘Yeah, but he’ll be OK now.’

  ‘You don’t hang around,’ said Alex, looking out of a window as more workers arrived.

  ‘I always like getting this part of the job out of the way first, as it gives you an idea where to start.’

  Alex stared downwards. ‘Looking at this floor I see what you mean, I didn’t see how nice it was with all the clutter.’

  ‘It’s oak, and should polish up quite nice. You said there might be a deadline.’

  Alex pursed his lips and looked at the floor again. ‘Just over three months.’

  ‘That’s no time at all . . . I don’t think it can be done.’

  ‘I realise it’ll be difficult, but you can double the workforce or even treble it and put them on shifts. I know I’m asking a lot, but the money will be good, plus bonuses and double time on weekends.’

  ‘It would help a lot, but for shifts we’ll need lighting and generators.’

  ‘Get what you need, as money’s not the problem. Is it OK for me to say that?’ Alex asked George, who with James was still wondering about the new design of the mansion.

  ‘To say what?’

  ‘Money’s not a problem, as I’ve no idea how much this will cost.’

  ‘I wouldn’t worry. I forgot to tell you, two more of your policies have matured today.’

  Alex smiled. ‘How much are they worth?’

  ‘The first one is for seventy-four million, and the other is for two hundred and forty-three million.’

  ‘It must make me quite a rich man.’

  ‘The richest man I know.’

  James raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re already a rich man.’

  Alex winked at him. ‘You still want to work for me?’

  ‘I got nothing better to do at the moment, and this House doesn’t wanna talk to me.’

  ‘He’s a bit preoccupied at the moment, with what’s going on, just give him time.’

  CHAPTER TEN

  Time to get out of the House

  Alex spent the following week between the Mansion and the girls, while trying to ease Blaze’s mind. She wasn’t just worried about the twins, but of her friends. He knew they were safe for now with the dragon ornament protecting them, but wasn’t sure how long for. It played on his mind, and had no answer until he approached the mansion. Alex could hear giggling noises coming from inside, but couldn’t see anyone laughing when he walked in. The walls were now complete with the gaps filled and wires going through the place. The smell reminded him of the time he worked on a building site.

  The laughter was getting infectious, and Alex wanted to burst out into hysterics, it was then he knew. Spirits are to be drunk, not to get drunk. House, where are you? He said in his mind, as workers were present.

  Hey, Alex. The laughter grew louder.

  Why are you laughing?

  I do not know, I feel weird, all these wires and pipes are tickling me.

  Alex stepped through a set of double doors at the back of the mansion. I want you to come outside with me.

  I am outside as well as inside, said House, and laughed again.

  You need to leave the mansion.

  Are you trying to get rid of me?

  No, I need you.

  Really, you need me? House said, sounding like an emotional drunk.

  Alex rubbed his eyes and walked to the outer building where the wolves were. Chi looked comfortable on the mattress.

  Is anything wrong? Rho asked.

  Alex sighed. ‘House is intoxicated, can you hear him laughing?’

  Yes, I can hear it.

  I am so not, I just feel a bit odd, said the spirit.

  ‘OK, put yourself in this plaque.’ Alex pointed to a square object on the floor.

  I will try, and after a few strangled noises. There, all done.

  ‘How do you feel now?’

  Better, what happened to me?

  ‘Not altogether sure, but I’d guess you immersed yourself too much in the mansion, and keeping an eye on the workers.’

  Why would it affect me like it did?

  ‘You said you could feel the pipes and wires, so maybe the paint, varnish or glue had some kind of reaction on you.’

  Does this
mean I have to stay away from the mansion?

  ‘I believe you could return now you know, and not let yourself get wrapped up in it too much.’

  Is that the only reason you wanted me out of there?

  ‘No, how safe are the wolves and deer if you’re away from here for a while?’

  The shield has been here for a long time, it will stay a good while without me, but I think the wolves can look after themselves anyway. Hello, Rho . . . hello, Chi.

  Hello, House, both the wolves said.

  Alex picked up the plaque. ‘Are you OK to leave here for a while?’

  How long is a while?

  ‘Just until the work’s finished.’

  That makes me suspicious of what might happen while I am away.

  ‘Don’t worry; I’ll bring you back once a week so you can see how it’s going.’

  Why do you want me away from here?

  ‘I need you somewhere else . . . I want you to watch the girls for me.’

  I get to see them? House sounded much happier.

  ‘Yes, can you protect them when you’re away from here?’

  For a while, but I need the mansion as much as it needs me now.

  Alex took the plaque and put it on the back seat of the car, and had some fun at James’s expense when House started talking to him. He didn’t know where the voice was coming from for at least ten minutes until the spirit told him.

  James huffed. ‘I find it hard to call you House when you’re now a plaque.’

  Well, I am not actually a house, but I have grown fond of the name.

  ‘Are you a spirit?’

  I am not altogether sure. I believe I was alive once, but in what form I do not know. I remember being some kind of entity drifting around, until I came upon the mansion. They were still building it at the time.

  ‘What made you stay?’

  There seemed to be warmth of some kind, and I liked the feeling. I watched as they built it. The owner did not leave it for someone else to design as he wanted a home for his family. He loved them with all his heart and thought it would be a much safer place for his children to grow up.

  ‘Was it?’

  For a few years, said House, his voice now quieter. The six children were happy until they started getting ill.