Vesta Mansion: Book One - The Power Inside

by P. A. Priddey

  Alex walked over to the window as James told them of their little adventure. He told them everything as there were no gory parts, and embellished his own role.

  ‘Is that why you been out at night, waiting for your daughter?’ said Carrie, as she joined Alex.

  ‘No, I’ve been looking for the pixies.’

  Carrie stared out of the window. ‘Are you worried about them?’

  Alex nodded. ‘Whoever imprisoned them before will be after them again.’

  ‘Why didn’t they stay here with us?’

  ‘They thought they were keeping us out of danger. I’d have said something sooner, but not had much chance with the younger ones around.’

  ‘Don’t you think they should know?’

  ‘They would just worry, and start going out at night looking for them.’

  ‘That’s true, I’m tempted myself,’ said Carrie, as Paige joined them.

  ‘You’d have to go a good distance, as House will tell me soon as one of them steps on our land.’

  ‘You really talk to the mansion?’ said Paige.

  ‘Yeah, he helps me keep an eye on you lot.’

  ‘Why can’t we hear him?’ said Carrie.

  ‘He talks straight to your mind, James has talked to House.’

  ‘Who’s after the pixies?’

  ‘A warlock, the one who had imprisoned them for thousands of years.’

  Paige raised both brows. ‘Can you and House keep him away from here?’

  Alex nodded as he walked back towards the sofas. ‘I believe so.’

  ‘Where did the girls get the idea for you to adopt them?’

  ‘I’m not sure, but I believe they want us to be one big family.’

  ‘I already believe that.’

  ‘Did you really throw the creature so far?’ said Livvy, after James finished his story.

  Alex rubbed his eye and nodded again. ‘It would have been further, but a tree got in the way.’

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Small Blue He’s Coming for You

  Welcome to Vesta Mansion

  Population - growing

  Today’s activities - breakfast, fighting, dinner, looking for pixies

  Alex lay in bed and wondered if he would dream, or be ill like after he saved Adhara and Sarin. It was neither, but a golden glow covered him as he slept. He woke feeling alert and stronger, and made his way to his new daughter’s room. Paige replaced Blaze in watching over her. ‘Any change?’

  ‘Her breathing’s normal and her temperature’s down, she’s just sleeping.

  Alex sat with her. Shaula had many visitors including Joseph who had a present, another amulet to ward off evil. The children were also in there waiting. George arrived and Alex joined him downstairs for breakfast.

  ‘We have two points of order for today, first is to get Shaula’s paperwork sorted,’ said George, as they sat at a table where James had almost finished his breakfast.

  ‘I need some adoption forms,’ said Alex.

  George lifted his glasses. ‘What for?’

  ‘My four new daughters, we best make it official.’ Alex told the solicitor what happened.

  ‘That’s marvellous, you have made an impression.’

  ‘You said there’s two points,’ said Alex, as Anna put their breakfasts down.

  George smiled. ‘The other is your new inheritance.’

  ‘Another one, how much this time?’

  ‘Three hundred and eighty-six million,’ said George, and Joseph and James almost choked on their breakfasts.

  Alex grinned at them. ‘Does it make me a billionaire now?’

  ‘You already were, as you do have other assets.’

  ‘I should probably take more interest in those.’

  ‘Maybe, but they’re not going anywhere. You do have the pixie problem, and you might want to know there’s another property.’

  ‘I thought you said there was only one.’

  ‘I knew of the other, but didn’t know you owned it until this morning . . . it’s a castle in northern Europe.’

  Alex raised an eyebrow. ‘What are we supposed to do with that?’

  George rubbed the bridge of his nose. ‘It’s being used at the moment.’

  ‘Used for what?’

  ‘Remember I told you others were helping, well those are the ones using it.’

  ‘It’s like a base of operations,’ said James.

  Alex raised an eyebrow. ‘You know of it, too?’

  ‘I went there a few years ago, a big place, and they even let me drive a jeep.’

  ‘As did I,’ said Joseph. ‘My great grandfather was one of the founding members.’

  Alex was more than a little surprised by this. ‘Members of what?’

  ‘The Order of Siphon,’ said Joseph, and pulled out a gold medallion with a picture of the sun on, with words around the edge which Alex couldn’t understand. James and George also pulled out medallions.

  Alex stared curiously at them. ‘Where did you get those from?’

  George tucked the medallion back in his shirt. ‘From the Order, we are members of it.’

  Alex raised both eyebrows. ‘Is it like the Masons?’

  ‘I’ve no idea what the Masons are like, or what they get up to. There are no rituals, but the Order does look after its members if they need help. Their main purpose was to look after your money.’

  ‘What do they get out of it?’

  ‘Apart from finding out what it’s all about, they are rich and powerful families because of the Order.’

  ‘You say “they” but you’re part of it.’

  George nodded. ‘I am, but only been a few times as I prefer to work over here closer to the action.’

  ‘You knew this was the place?’

  ‘I knew you owned the mansion, but didn’t expect you to live here. Mizar and sons were originally based in London and moved up here seventy years ago.’

  ‘I guess I’m lucky they didn’t use the mansion as their base of operations.’

  Would you not rather have a castle? House asked.

  No, this is my home, and I knew when I first saw it.

  You told me you would have to find somewhere else when I said I did not want the walls knocking down.

  Alex smiled. So I did.

  ‘House might not have let them use it anyway,’ said James.

  ‘This Order . . . is it all about my money, or do they do anything else?

  ‘They have many projects,’ said George. They are extremely well organised, but it’s mainly about your wealth.’

  Alex pushed his empty plate away, and picked up a mug of tea. ‘Why are they all rich, but you’re not?’

  ‘We do OK, and I’m comfortable with it.’

  ‘I am Joseph Castor, great-grandson of a founding member, and if I wanted a million pounds they would give it to me.’

  ‘I’m James Rigel, and no one told me you could get money from them.’

  ‘You’ve never needed money before,’ said George.

  ‘No, but there was an expensive car I wanted.’

  ‘Alex will buy it for you,’ said Blaze, and ruffled his hair as she sat down.

  James tried straightening his hair. ‘That’s a good idea, as I’m a member of the Order.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Alex, looked at Blaze who was messing with her necklaces, and one was a medallion. ‘Not you as well?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  James pointed at her medallion. ‘He’s talking about you being a member of the Order of Siphon.’

  ‘Oh, that’s what George gave me a long time ago. He told me I could use it if I ever needed help, but I never did.’

  ‘Asima also has one,’ said James.

  George nodded. ‘She showed it me when we first met, which is why I agreed to let her go with the children.’

  ‘How is it?’ said Alex. ‘The Order as big as it sounds couldn’t help her to get over here easier, or get her paperwork sorted out sooner?’

  ‘We never k
new she was coming, until she was already here.’

  Alex looked at them, trying to work out what this secret Order was. ‘When do I get my membership?’

  George gave him a confused look. ‘You don’t get one . . . it would be a bit odd if you became a member.’

  ‘Why would it look odd,’ said Alex, a little hurt.

  Joseph patted him on the shoulder. ‘The Order is all about you.’

  ‘I don’t understand, what do you mean it’s about me?’

  ‘You are the Order of Siphon.’

  Alex didn’t know if he liked that idea. ‘You make it sound like I’m a god, and they’re my followers.’

  ‘A god maybe a little strong, but followers wouldn’t be far off.’

  ‘Do they have to obey me?’

  ‘Your every command,’ said Joseph, as Blaze and James quickly removed their medallions and Alex laughed.

  George raised an eyebrow. ‘I have to say you’re taking this exceedingly well.’

  ‘What part? It all sounds good to me.’

  ‘The fact I didn’t tell you this earlier. ‘I just didn’t want to interrupt what you already had to do.’

  Alex had a smug smile. ‘It’s fine, and I’ve kept people in the dark about things too, and there’s something I haven’t told you.’

  ‘And what’s that?’

  ‘In my dreams, I am Lord Siphon,’ he said, as James and Blaze put their medallions back on.

  * * *

  Carrie sat on one of the sofas in the hall. ‘Why Shaula?’

  ‘It’s her name,’ said Alex. ‘It always has been.’

  ‘She’s smaller than Adhara and Sarin.’

  Alex sat next to her. It was no hardship for him as he got to enjoy her smell. ‘They’re twins and she’s their younger sister.’

  ‘Do I ask too many questions?’

  ‘You’ll never know the answers unless you ask.’

  ‘I just worry I’ll wake up and it was a dream.’

  ‘Would that be so bad?’

  ‘I was unemployed, living in a flat constantly thinking of the past. All I had was my friends, now I live with them and have a few more. I have a job, live in a big house, talk to wolves, met pixies and my past is a distant memory. Things are so different now.’

  ‘Tell me about it, you seen how many daughters I have now?’

  ‘One more question, when we going shopping?’

  ‘Shopping?’

  ‘Yeah, she missed Christmas and will need clothes, and I have to buy her a present.’

  ‘That’s true, soon as she’s well enough we’ll go.’

  Claire nudged his arm. ‘You just touch the vase and it took you straight there?’

  Alex nodded. ‘It’s a portal, and can take us anywhere we want to go.’

  ‘Oh right, nothing unusual there then.’

  * * *

  Two hours later House told Alex that Shaula was waking up, and he raced up the stairs. Adhara and Sarin were already sitting either side as she opened her eyes. They were green, big and beautiful, which matched the green stripes in her blonde hair. She sat up and hugged her sisters, before holding her arms up to Alex.

  ‘Papa,’ she said.

  He picked her up and kissed her forehead. ‘Hey, sweetheart.’ He held her tightly, but didn’t get to hold her for long as there was a queue waiting. Alex introduced her to them, and passed her to Blaze who had nothing but love in her eyes for the girl. Alex picked up the twins. ‘What do you think?’ he asked them.

  ‘She’s beautiful,’ said Sarin.

  ‘We love her,’ Adhara added.

  Four of the younger women walked over to them. ‘Is it OK that we asked your papa to adopt us?’ said Livvy.

  ‘Course it is silly, you’re already our sisters,’ said Sarin, and jumped into her arms.

  James passed Shaula back to Alex two hours later. ‘You need to watch this lot. The poor thing hasn’t had a chance to walk anywhere yet, and not to mention the amount of photos they’ve taken.’

  Alex looked into her eyes. ‘What do you think of our home?’

  ‘I love it, Papa.’

  ‘Well your sisters will show you a room here soon and I’m sure you’ll love it, too.’

  The wolves came over to inspect the new member of the family and seemed pleased. Alex noticed her amulet off Joseph and took her to the study, the other girls followed him and he sat her on the desk. He took something out of a drawer, it was a necklace like Sarin’s, Adhara’s and Tia’s only her stone was an emerald. They took her to the cinema, Summer supplied the popcorn and snacks for them, and like the other girls, Shaula loved films.

  * * *

  James drove the coach to take them shopping, and spoilt Shaula, buying her toys and clothes. The shopping wasn’t just for her as it was Blaze’s birthday soon, so there was lots of secret shopping, and another party to look forward to.

  Alex watched as Paige showed Shaula the toys. House, I’m going to have to tell them about you.

  Why?

  You keep them safe, and they should know.

  They did get me gifts at Christmas, so if you feel you ought to tell them about me, then it is up to you.

  Later that afternoon when they were all sat in the hall, Alex broached the subject. ‘I’d like to tell you about House.’

  Blaze looked around the room. ‘Is there something wrong with it?’

  ‘No, not the mansion, but House.’

  ‘What’s the difference?’

  ‘House is a spirit who made this his home a long time ago.’

  Sally looked startled. ‘I knew it . . . I told you . . . it’s a bloody haunted house.’

  Alex smiled. ‘Not haunted, but protected.’

  Alex gave him his name,’ said James sarcastically.

  Claire nudged him with her elbow. ‘This is your secret friend?’

  ‘Yeah,’ said Alex. ‘House is a powerful spirit, which has protected you for about six months.’

  Blaze looked bemused. ‘Six months? We haven’t been here that long.’

  ‘Do you remember when there was trouble in your old neighbourhood, and it suddenly went peaceful?’

  ‘I remember, you said you had a friend come round.’

  ‘It was House who sorted it out, as he can travel with certain items, and one of those was a plaque with “Home Sweet Home” on it.’

  ‘The one you gave the girls to look after.’

  ‘Yeah,’ said Alex. ‘House also talks to James, but I’m not sure how often.’

  ‘Every day,’ said James. ‘Did you know he laughed when the women threw me in the pool?’

  ‘I can believe that, he does have a sense of humour, and even gave me a running commentary on the chase. I have to ask, why did you run into the gym? You must have known you’d be trapped.’

  ‘I had it all planned, there’s a window in the gym I was going to climb out of, but for some reason it wouldn’t open.’

  ‘House you didn’t?’ Alex said aloud.

  I thought he might fall.

  Alex laughed. ‘It was House; he was worried about your safety.’

  ‘But the window’s only three feet off the ground,’ argued James.

  ‘I know,’ Alex laughed again.

  ‘Thanks, House,’ grumbled James.

  You’re welcome.

  ‘Thank you, House,’ the women said.

  You’re welcome ladies, said House, and they all heard it.

  Alex didn’t allow Shaula into the training sessions and Blaze agreed with him, well just two of them spending quality time with her was better than with twenty others. Most of the time it was four with George and Joseph who both thought of her as a granddaughter, they also thought it of the other girls and the younger women. Alex wondered if he should stop Sarin and Adhara from training and spend more time with him, but it would be selfish as they enjoyed it too much. He thought of how fast James and Asima were the night they saved Shaula. Apart from fighting the five men he never had a chance to test his sk
ills, which got him thinking.

  Alex strode into the gym in a white Kung Fu suit, the same as what everyone else was wearing.

  James gave him a speculative look. ‘You come for some lessons?’

  ‘No, I’ve come to give you some.’

  Asima raised an eyebrow. ‘You come to fight us?’

  Alex stood there looking all cocky. ‘Yeah, you think you could handle it?’

  ‘We could, but House wouldn’t allow it,’ said James.

  ‘There’ll be no kicking or punching.’

  ‘It doesn’t sound much of a fight.’

  ‘Well these suits are a bit too white for me and could do with some colour,’ said Alex, as he held out six marker pens. There were three different colours, red, blue and black.

  James grinned. ‘This could be fun.’

  ‘Ladies first.’ Alex offered Asima first choice, and she took the red, James chose blue.

  Asima stood sideways to Alex, with James facing him with his front leg slightly bent forward ready to pounce. They held their pens as if they were lethal weapons. They tiptoed around each other until James and Asima stepped either side of Alex. They dived in and he back flipped out the way, striking at them with his pens as he did so. They leapt forward at him and he somersaulted over their heads, again scoring a hit. They swung on the hanging rings, and jumped on and off the gym equipment trying to get a hit. Alex wondered what this looked like to the others, he wondered if they thought it was just a game of tig, and stopped wondering to concentrate on what he was doing. It lasted twenty minutes, and felt confident he had beaten them. Their pens hadn’t got anywhere close enough to him, and their arms seemed to flail about. They stopped and looked at each other, both James and Asima’s suits had black lines from his pens, and he smiled. They smiled back and he looked down, his suit had red and blue lines, he laughed.

  Alex sat on the mat. ‘Well that was fun.’

  Asima put the tops back on her pens. ‘Yes, but what was it really about?’

  ‘I’ve seen you two in action and I needed to test myself.’

  ‘You could’ve just asked,’ said James.

  ‘And you might have gone easy on me, but not if I came in all cocky.’