Other Worlds: Vesta Mansion Trilogy - Book Two - Fantasy

by P. A. Priddey

  ‘No, it lets me search for things in the present.’

  ‘That’s a powerful gift you have.’

  Blaze shook her head. ‘No, not really the ball does all the work.’

  ‘You’re too modest, no one else can do it,’ said Alex.

  ‘Papa,’ said Alhena, tugging at his hand.

  He picked her up. ‘Hey, sweetheart.’

  ‘Hello,’ said Alhena, and looked at the new woman. ‘Hello.’

  ‘Hey there,’ said Briana. ‘Is this your daughter?’ she asked Alex.

  ‘One of them.’

  ‘She is very beautiful.’

  ‘I think so too,’ said Alex, hugging his daughter again.

  Alhena giggled. ‘Where are the pucas?’

  ‘In the cinema watching a film.’

  ‘Can we go and join them?’

  ‘If Sally says you can,’ said Alex. He put her down, and she ran back to the library.

  Briana’s eyes grew big as seven wolves walked into the hall, and the others came out of the gym.

  ‘I’m so glad I didn’t have to fight,’ she said, as Alex introduced her to everyone in the hall.

  ‘Let’s go to the library.’

  ‘Briana,’ said Luella, as she and Daralis walked over to them, they of course embraced.

  ‘You look tired,’ said Daralis.

  ‘I was up all night searching for my children,’ said Briana.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ said Luella. ‘It never crossed my mind you never knew if they were OK.’

  ‘It’s fine now as I had a nice cup of tea with sugar.’

  Daralis raised an eyebrow. ‘I thought sugar was bad for you.’

  ‘No, it makes me bad,’ said Briana, with a wicked grin. ‘But I needed it.’

  After lunch Michelle found the language some of the parchments were written in and was trying to translate them. Joseph managed to decipher some of the words in the documents he chose, but couldn’t make much sense of them. Alex visited the gym to see how the training was going.

  ‘Come to join us?’ said Claire.

  ‘No, just to see if you’re any good yet,’ said Alex, and six balls flew at him, with a thought they stopped about a foot from where he stood. He felt a tug at the balls but didn’t let go. He thought spin and the balls spun, he smiled at Kerry and she smiled back at him as he felt taller. Alex glanced down and noticed he was a foot off the ground. ‘Now that was good, I didn’t feel a thing.’

  Carrie tossed him a long bamboo cane. ‘Come on, old man . . . let’s see what you’ve got.’

  ‘It’s nice of you to choose my type of weapon.’

  ‘Your weapon,’ said Carrie, looking confused.

  Alex spun the cane in his hand. ‘You’ve seen what I use.’

  Carrie stood holding her cane behind her back. ‘Well you need the practice.’

  Alex held his cane out, and it started to spin faster until it made a whirring noise. Carrie launched her attack straight at his head and he blocked it. She aimed for his arm, and his leg, but he blocked her again. She moved fast, but Alex moved even faster and blocked every attack. She ran and gambolled over his head, while aiming her cane down at him. He didn’t expect the move but managed to block it, he turned quickly and blocked again. This happened for the next few minutes until she tried jumping over once more. He saw it coming this time and spun round at the same time of blocking her. In one swift move he was behind Carrie, with his cane around her waist, as she landed.’

  ‘I saw that one coming,’ he said, over her shoulder.

  Carrie groaned. ‘Damn, was it that bad?’

  Alex released her. ‘No, the first one you nearly had me, but the second one I saw early.’

  ‘There was no chance of me hitting you,’ she said looking grumpy.

  ‘Maybe or maybe not, but your speed is impressive. What’s your stamina like?’

  Carrie blushed. ‘Very good, why you asking?’

  ‘I was wondering if you wanted to go on a run with me and the wolves later.’

  Carrie turned around and smiled. ‘Oh, please, I would love to do that.’

  James walked over to them. ‘I’ve been thinking of going with you.’

  Alex grinned. ‘I thought you could only last ten minutes.’

  ‘That was before I lived here.’

  ‘I would also like to run with you,’ said Asima.

  Alex passed his cane back to Carrie. ‘OK, we will do it tonight, and anyone who wants to come, can.’

  ‘Leanne and I would like to give it a go,’ said Anna, ‘but we’re worried about letting you all down.’

  ‘How fast are you?’ said Alex.

  ‘Not as quick as you when it comes to running, but we can fly fast.’

  ‘That’s interesting, why do you think you’ll let us down?’

  ‘We’re not sure how far we can go as it tires you quickly, and that means everyone stopping as we have to come back.’

  Alex thought about it. ‘I would like to see how far you can go.’

  Claire stood there with a cane over the back of her shoulders with both arms leant on it. ‘Does this mean we’re not going to a forest tonight?’

  ‘No, it means we will go after.’

  ‘It might be a bit late by then.’

  ‘Why? Have you got to be up early?’

  ‘Well, no but we’re never really out late apart from the times we had to fight.’

  ‘I know,’ said Alex, ‘but if we continue going out, we’ll have to start going later as summer’s not far off.’

  Paige rubbed her face with a towel. ‘I like the idea of being in a forest at midnight.’

  Alex scratched his chin. ‘I’ve an idea, but I need to work it out with House, and will let you know how it goes,’ he said, and left the gym.

  CHAPTER NINE

  A Happy House is a Free House

  What do you need to work out with me? House asked.

  ‘I want you to come with us on our run.’

  You know I cannot go further than the shield.

  ‘I don’t believe that’s true anymore. I know you made this place into your home, and put your power into protecting the mansion. It stopped you from travelling as much as you did, why was that?’

  Like I said when you first came here . . . someone told me the mansion would be a happy place again.

  Alex stopped and leant on one of the machines. ‘Was it the same man who mother worked for?’

  No, it was not a person as such who told me, but what is not true anymore, and what made you think I could come with you?

  ‘You come to town and the forests with us.’

  Yes, but you take an artefact or the vase which enables me to come.

  Alex considered it. ‘You carry the vase when we go out.’

  Yes, but you have to touch the vase so we can go somewhere, House argued.

  ‘I know, but you keep the vase hidden. So if you carry it, you can go anywhere with us,’ Alex theorised, and realised something. ‘If you carry the artefact, you can go anywhere.’

  You basically said the same thing twice.

  ‘Can you get the vase for me, please?’

  Here you go, said House, and the vase appeared.

  ‘Now can you hide it?’ said Alex, and the vase vanished.

  This is very confusing, House groaned.

  ‘I’m sorry, my friend, I just want to try something. Where is the vase now?’

  I have hidden it in a force field.

  ‘You’re very good at force fields, but as I said you can go anywhere as you’re now carrying your own artefact.’

  I never thought about that, you are quite clever.

  ‘Not really, I could’ve carried it anyway and you still could’ve come with us.’

  But this way I can go anywhere on my own, said House, sounding very happy.

  Alex smiled. ‘Yeah, but there’s something I want you to try.’

  I am willing to try anything right now.

  ‘Is there anywhere you w
ant to go?’

  Not really, but I best see if it works.

  ‘I don’t want you to travel in the normal sense just yet, I want you to imagine where you want to go and see if the vase works for you.’

  You think it will work? House asked, sounding hopeful.

  ‘Daralis said that many people were after the vase, so there’s a chance that any of us can use it . . . try it and let me know how it goes,’ said Alex, and strolled down the hall.

  The new guest sat on one of the sofas with Luella, Daralis, George, Blaze and summer, as Alex joined them.

  ‘Have you been training with them?’ said Summer.

  Alex sat down. ‘No, Carrie tried to beat me with a stick.’

  Blaze grinned. ‘She does that with people she likes.’

  ‘Luella told me what the children did to get Gort and Flax into the cinema,’ said Briana.

  Alex smiled. ‘Yeah, and they hid the pixies in their bags.’

  ‘Which one of you two ladies brought the pucas here?’ Briana asked of Luella and Daralis.

  Daralis shook her head. ‘They were already here . . . you have to blame Alex for that.’

  ‘I’m surprised they would come here, no offense but pucas are very shy when it comes to people.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Blaze, ‘you don’t know. Flax was seriously injured.’

  Briana turned pale. ‘How was she injured?’

  Alex shuddered when he thought back to the night they saved the pucas. ‘She nearly died protecting the pixies from the warlock’s demons.’

  ‘I don’t understand,’ said Briana. ‘I would’ve sensed if she was in pain.’

  ‘How often do you check to see if they’re OK?’

  ‘Once a month normally as it can be very tiring from such a distance, I checked on them only last week.’

  ‘Well if you hadn’t checked within the first twenty-four hours you wouldn’t have sensed anything. House as an amazing skill at healing certain wounds, and the ladies took care of her external injuries.’

  ‘What happened to Gort in all this?’ said Briana.

  ‘He received a few injuries, some broken ribs and cuts.’

  Briana rubbed her eyes. ‘How did you know they were being attacked?’

  ‘We were out searching for pixies when we came across them. Flax lay unconscious on the floor with Gort trying to protect her. We killed the demons, and brought the pucas here where House and Blaze took care of them.’

  ‘You as well,’ Brianna asked Blaze.

  ‘I tended to her external injuries with Paige. I had to shave some fur off Flax to get to them, but it’s grown back nicely and rather quickly,’ said Blaze, looking at Alex.

  ‘Thank you, all of you, but it’s strange that her fur grew back quickly.’

  Alex took a drink off the table. ‘Flax was a little distraught about the bald patches, so I gave them a nudge.’

  Daralis raised an eyebrow. ‘What do you mean . . . a nudge?’

  Alex shrugged. ‘I put my hand on the bald spot and asked the fur to grow back.’

  Luella stared at him. ‘Alex! The power to do that is beyond anything I know of.’

  ‘You are some wizard,’ Briana added.

  ‘Why does everyone call me a wizard, I don’t cast spells I just think it, and it happens,’ said Alex. ‘What’s the big deal about making fur grow after all the other stuff we’ve done?’

  ‘It’s a very big deal,’ said Luella. ‘Pucas live for a very long time and it would take many years for it to grow back, apart from when they’re born as it grows quickly to protect them from the cold.’

  ‘I thought you were a wizard because of who your mother is,’ said Briana.

  Luella put her fingers through her hair. ‘I told you about him when we visited all those years ago, so he couldn’t inherit off me.’

  ‘Yes, I remember now, that makes it even stranger.’

  Alex smiled. ‘Not really, mother has a way of rubbing off on you.’

  ‘Be nice, dear,’ said Luella.

  ‘About the pucas,’ said Alex, ‘they say they’re mates but if their parents were killed, does that not make them brother and sister.’

  ‘Mates, they lost two sets of parents,’

  Alex grimaced. ‘Four Pucas killed, that’s horrible. We thought the warlock might have been after them so he could do the same as he did to the pixies, but why would he kill them?’

  ‘He was after the babies,’ said Briana. ‘For what reason I don’t know, but that’s why I took them back to Ireland.’

  ‘Wouldn’t it be just as easy to get them there, as it is here?’

  ‘The warlock didn’t like crossing the sea, but he would’ve done if he thought he could take them easily . . . he knew he couldn’t and never tried.’

  ‘You must be something special.’

  ‘Maybe, but I have friends, too. I’m not the most powerful of us healers.’

  ‘It’s strange to think of the pucas having children,’ said Summer.

  ‘Why’s that?’ said Briana.

  ‘Because they’re like children themselves, if we didn’t know their age they would be picked up all the time.’

  ‘Don’t let their age stop you, they love all the fuss.’

  I’m back, said an excited sounding House.

  That was quick, said Alex.

  It is boring on your own, but I went to lots of nice places though, and quickly, too.

  Alex almost grinned. It works then, now I wonder if my other part of the plan will work.

  What is that?

  Will you be able to put me in the force field with the vase? If so . . . you could take me anywhere.

  I will try if you want me to.

  Just set it up for now but don’t hide me from the others yet.

  Is it going to help us?

  I hope so. When we go for our run some of them will find they can’t go any further, and you’ll be able to bring them back here to wait with the others.

  You do not believe they will all make it?

  No, they won’t, but I want to see how far they can go. I hope I’m not asking too much of you.

  No, not at all, I do believe I am going to enjoy this very much, and I want to thank you for making this a happy place like you said.

  I don’t remember saying it, only hoping it would be.

  Err . . . yes that is what I meant.

  Alex felt confused by it when he got nudged in the ribs by Summer, and noticed the others all staring at him.

  Briana raised an eyebrow. ‘Does he get that blank expression often?’

  Alex looked sheepish. ‘Sorry, I was discussing things with House.’

  ‘Thank you for saving the pucas, House,’ said Briana.

  It was a pleasure to help save them, Briana, they are delightful little creatures.

  ‘Yes I think so.’

  Alex put his drink down. OK, House, take me somewhere behind the stairs for now. He vanished off the sofa to the shock of everyone sitting there.

  ‘Where did he go?’ Briana gasped.

  Blaze’s eyes went wide. ‘I don’t know . . . he never did that before.’

  Luella sat in deep concentration. ‘He’s OK, I think he planned that.’

  ‘You’ve got a very bad son,’ said Summer, startled more than the others.

  ‘You have to blame his mother,’ Daralis teased.

  ‘He was such a lovely child, I never had to scold him once,’ said Luella, as Alex reappeared.

  ‘For god’s sake,’ Summer snapped, ‘can you give me some warning?’

  Alex sat down. ‘Sorry, my dear, I was just trying something out with House.’

  Luella shook her head. ‘And did it work?’

  ‘Yes, better than I thought,’ said Alex. ‘I just have to remember to stand up as I fell on my backside.’

  Summer laughed. ‘It serves you right.’

  Alex noticed the twins going towards the cinema, and stood. ‘House, let’s have some fun.’

  The spi
rit understood what he meant, and Alex vanished only to appear in front of the girls, who jumped.

  ‘Whoa, Papa!’ said Sarin. ‘You frightened us.’

  ‘Sorry, sweetheart,’ he said, picking them up. ‘Let’s go and frighten the others.’ They vanished only to appear in the gym in front of Claire.

  She wasn’t happy about this, as she was standing on one leg, with her other stretched upwards in front of her face. Claire fell over. ‘You did that on purpose,’ she grunted.

  ‘No, it wasn’t me,’ said Alex, he did not know where they would appear but House did. The spirit had a sense of humour.

  Claire got back to her feet. ‘How did you do that anyway? You haven’t got the vase.’

  ‘House did it, and he can use the vase now.’

  James walked over to them. ‘Is this the idea you needed to work out with House?’

  Alex nodded. ‘Yeah, he’ll be able to bring anyone back when they can’t go any further.’

  You do not have to be in contact with each other, said House, just stand in a group.

  ‘Even better,’ said Alex, and took the twins to the cinema before appearing in the hall.

  Luella glanced up from the sofa. ‘I know you’re enjoying yourself, dear, but you should never use a talisman for fun.’

  ‘We’re not really, Mother, just seeing what we can do with it.’

  It is true, said House. I need to practice.

  Luella was about to say something when Michelle came out of the library holding some papers.

  ‘I think I got it,’ she said. ‘Some of it didn’t translate very well, but I got the gist of it.’

  Alex looked up with some interest. ‘What is it?’

  ‘It’s called the Wizards Spell.’

  CHAPTER TEN

  Spellbinding

  ‘It must be what the witches used to capture the wizard,’ said Alex.

  Michelle held the papers in one hand. ‘Maybe, but it’s not just for wizards. It captures magic, or to be more precise anyone who possesses it.’

  ‘How does the spell work?’

  ‘You’ve got to make some kind of web, it tells you how, and you have to set it up somewhere you think a wizard or witch will go.’

  ‘Set it up how?’

  ‘Once the potion is concocted the castor has to place it between two objects like trees.’