Other Worlds: Vesta Mansion Trilogy - Book Two - Fantasy

by P. A. Priddey

  Adair stroked his beard. ‘What thought was that?’

  ‘They want to sacrifice them.’

  ‘I agree that’s a horrible thought, but quite possible as they like to sacrifice the innocents.’

  Aileen nodded. ‘You won’t get more innocent than a puca.’

  James leant across the table. ‘It might not be that bad, they may have taken them to use as protection against us.’

  Adair raised a brow. ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘Would you kill the witches if you knew it would seal the fate of those pucas?’

  ‘No, of course not.’

  ‘That makes sense,’ said Alex.

  ‘And makes me feel better,’ said Aileen, and they all agreed on that.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Fun in the Sun

  Alex dreamt, almost like a montage of his previous dreams. He was back on the island with the ancient civilisation, trying to figure out the mistake his daughters made and how he could rectify it. The dream changed and he saved his daughters one after another. It changed to the strange land with the burning village. He saw the approaching battle and flew towards it. Alex could see more clearly now, and on one side mounted soldiers shielded women and children running to a forest. Beyond lay buildings high above the trees built into a mountain side. There was something different about these people, but he couldn’t make out what it was. The soldiers wore armour but their weapons were just wooden sticks.

  The opposing army consisted of nearly all demons, hundreds of them. They had no weapons but huge claws. At the head of the army were the two witches with the pucas, one of which was holding the baby. Another demon twice the size of the others held its arm up and pointed it forwards, the demons ran towards the army. Alex screamed at the soldiers to run as they were about to be slaughtered, but they couldn’t hear him and stood fast. The dream changed again and he was back in Victorian London. He was the man who talked to his mother, now alone and looking in a mirror. He was average looking but Alex could feel a presence about him, and the man spoke.

  ‘Talamh na Siochain.’

  ‘What?’ thought Alex, more shocked than anything. The dream took him into space, where the meteor was flying towards him. He didn’t move out its way but flew ahead to his daughters, and took them out-of-the-way to safety. They screamed “NO”, and Alex woke.

  Another dream? House asked.

  Alex sat up. ‘Yeah, but I saved the girls this time.’

  That is better news.

  Alex remembered the words from his dream. ‘Talamh na Siochain.’

  I do not understand, said House, sounding confused.

  ‘Neither do I, but someone said it in my dream.’

  That is very strange.

  Alex climbed out of bed. ‘Tell me about it.’

  Carrie was waiting for Alex at the top of the stairs. ‘I thought you were going to sleep all day.’

  Alex stretched and approached her. ‘You haven’t been waiting long have you?’

  ‘No, House told me you were awake,’ said Carrie smiling, and embraced him.

  ‘Why thank you,’ said Alex, addicted to her smell. He offered his arm. ‘May I escort you to breakfast, my lady?’

  ‘I would be honoured, my lord,’ she said, taking his arm in hers.

  The party room was full with everyone having breakfast. Alex and Carrie sat at the tables where most of the adults were seated.

  Luella sipped on her cup of tea. ‘Your last up today.’

  ‘I was waiting for him,’ said Carrie. Her friends had got used to their strange closeness, but it looked more of a statement telling everyone he was not available, just as she did at the party when they visited the Order.

  Alex watched as his breakfast floated down in front of him. ‘I was having one of my dreams.’

  Adair finished his breakfast and leant back. ‘Any more clues?’

  Alex glanced down the tables, and many were having their own conversations, but a lot of eyes were looking at him. ‘Talamh na Siochain.’

  Briana’s eyes lit up. ‘Land of Peace, it was going to be the name of one of the other worlds.’

  ‘How did you find that out in your dream?’ said Adair.

  ‘Someone told it me,’ said Alex.

  Adair gave him a speculative look, and smiled. ‘They managed it then, the other worlds do exist.’

  ‘From what I heard,’ said Briana, ‘evil cannot enter it.’

  Alex picked up a slice of toast. ‘Enter it, or open the portal to get in?’

  Briana shrugged. ‘Well, if they can’t open the portal, they won’t be able to enter.’

  ‘They don’t have to open it . . . someone else could do it for them.’

  Adair leant on the table. ‘I can see your point, but who would do that for them?’

  Alex already knew, and looked up from his breakfast. ‘Someone innocent . . . who have no choice.’

  Adair banged his hand on the table making a few of them jump. ‘The pucas of course, they could be forced to read the spell out.’

  ‘Yeah, and I saw the three missing pucas at the battle.’

  ‘They wouldn’t even know what they were doing either,’ said Briana. ‘They would say the spell to protect their baby.’

  Alex rubbed his eyes. ‘What would the witches gain from going there?’

  ‘At a guess they would murder all the ones who posed a threat to them,’ said Adair, ‘and enslave the rest.’

  ‘It would be a perfect place for them to rule,’ said Briana, ‘and they would be safe from you lot.’

  Alex dipped his toast into an egg yolk. ‘Do you know how to get there?’

  Adair shook his head. ‘No, I’d only ever heard about them, and you will need a password.’

  ‘A password?’

  Adair nodded. ‘It’s a spell, you can only open a portal by reading it out.’

  Joseph sighed. ‘I better get back to the books.’

  ‘It does look that way,’ said Alex.

  ‘Do we have time?’ said Jarlath.

  ‘Yeah, I will be there at the time of the battle I know that.’

  ‘You believe in your dreams that much?’

  ‘They’ve never failed me before,’ said Alex, and told them all he had seen in his dream, apart from the comet.

  ‘That be a battle I look forward to,’ said Fergal, and the gnomes in hearing distance agreed.

  ‘Are we all going?’ said Carrie.

  ‘I’ve been thinking about that,’ said Alex, ‘I believe it will be, Adair, House, and I.’

  ‘What?’ said Jarlath, taken aback. ‘Are you going to leave us out of the battle?’

  Alex looked around at the gnomes and his friends. He knew most of them were looking forward to the battle. ‘No, not quite, but I have a plan.’

  Claire sighed. ‘Oh gawd, here we go.’

  ‘Anyway,’ Alex continued, ‘from what we’ve learned you’re not allowed to use weapons on this other world.’

  Fergal rubbed his chin. ‘It might not be that world.’

  ‘They were defending themselves with wooden sticks against the witches and demons. As strong and powerful as you all are, I’ll not let any of you face their claws without a weapon. You’ll have to wait outside the portal, and we’ll send them running to you.’

  There was a lot of grumbling among the gnomes, and Roth nodded somewhat hopefully. ‘Are you sure you would be able to do that?’

  ‘Yeah, I’ve no doubt about it.’

  Adair arched his eyebrows. ‘You’ve a lot more faith in me than I have.’

  Alex picked up a slice of toast. ‘I sense your power wizard, and I know you want to use it.’

  Adair smiled at that. ‘You know me well.’

  ‘If we cut the head off their army, the lesser demons will run, I’m sure of it.’

  James nodded. ‘If they were like the ones we fought before, it could work.’

  ‘There was only one major demon I could see, and I will take care of it.’

&n
bsp; Claire shot Alex a look. ‘Someone just tells you the name of the place in a dream.’

  ‘Yeah, it was like he knew I was there.’

  ‘And you have no problem with that?’

  ‘No, I’ve had many strange dreams.’

  ‘I know, but someone talking to you in them is freaky.’

  ‘Yeah, I have to agree, but walking around with my mother during the Victorian age freaked me out more.’

  Claire shook her head. ‘You’re not normal, you do know that?’

  ‘Who wants to be normal?’ said Carrie.

  ‘Are you sticking up for him again?’

  ‘Would you call me normal?’

  ‘That’s a good point,’ said Claire. ‘Have you ever thought about dreaming of the lottery?’ she asked Alex.

  He smiled. ‘Yeah, and George knocked my door the following morning.’

  George raised an eyebrow. ‘I don’t think the lottery pay that much.’

  ‘Do we have any idea when this battle will happen?’ said James.

  ‘No,’ said Adair. ‘They might not know where the portal is, or even have the password yet.’

  Alex pushed his plate away which was like a beacon to Kerry, and the plate floated off the table back to the hatch. ‘It will be soon, as I’ve had the dreams.’

  James stood. ‘I best go and buy some weapons for our friends.’

  Alex passed him his card. ‘George, could you ask the Order if they have any information on this? Also, tell them they might want to look into where the trolls and ogres were first seen, as they might be coming from one of those other worlds.’

  George took out his phone. ‘Yes, I will get onto it straight away. They do enjoy it when you give them something to do.’

  ‘What is this Order?’ said Adair.

  ‘It’s an organization of Alex’s followers,’ said Claire.

  ‘I’m quite sure it’s a lot more than that,’ said Alex. ‘It’s called the Order of Siphon.

  ‘They do many things,’ said Joseph, ‘and Claire is quite correct, they are Alex’s followers.’

  ‘I don’t think they follow me, but the chain of which are still happening.’

  Joseph shook his head. ‘No, it’s you they follow.’

  ‘Who be this Siphon?’ said Jarlath.

  Joseph shrugged. ‘We’re not altogether sure, but many of us believe he’s Alex.’

  ‘No,’ said Alex, quite sternly. ‘It’s not me, but we’re connected someway, Siphon is . . . or was an ancient being, and a very powerful one.’

  ‘He disappeared about forty years ago,’ said Luella. ‘That’s if it’s the same man I worked for.’

  Alex nodded. ‘It was him.’

  ‘And you’re forty,’ said Claire.

  ‘That shows it’s not me,’ said Alex.

  Claire shot him another look. ‘That makes it point towards you even more.’

  ‘No, he left forty years ago, and I was conceived forty-one years ago.

  Claire smiled. ‘If you were conceived.’

  ‘He could be your father,’ Paige suggested.

  ‘No, we are connected in another way, but how I don’t know.’

  ‘How powerful is this Order?’ said Adair.

  George rubbed his chin. ‘Very powerful, Alex could call his own army here if he wanted.’

  Alex raised an eyebrow. ‘We already have one, and I’m very happy with it.’

  ‘Have we been remiss in what we call you?’ said Jarlath. ‘Shouldn’t it be, your lord or your highness?’

  ‘No, I like being called Alex.’

  ‘Are you sure about that, my lord?’ said Carrie, as she winked at him.

  ‘Well, there are a few exceptions, my lady.’

  Alex ambled down the hall and saw Rho, he felt as if he’d been ignoring the wolf with everything going on. ‘Hello, my friend, is everything OK?’

  Rho looked up at him. Yes, why do you ask?

  ‘We haven’t chatted much lately.’

  Well it has been a little hectic around here with so many newcomers.

  Alex stood with hands in his pockets. ‘It hasn’t put you out has it?’

  No, why would it? The gnomes are forever chatting to us, and they have many interesting tales.

  ‘I have sought your advice so many times, but I feel remiss in not asking you in any of this.’

  Maybe that’s because I have no answers for you, I believe my task is over.

  Alex felt saddened. ‘Oh, I wasn’t expecting that.’

  You promised me many adventures, or have you forgotten?

  Alex smiled. ‘No, my friend, we will be having them, I know that.’

  Maybe they will be happening on these other worlds which I have no knowledge of, and that’s why I cannot help you.

  ‘Same here, all I really know is what others have told me, and my dreams of course.’

  You have been given good information, but you must trust in your dreams, and you will not go wrong.

  ‘Was that advise I hear, and you said your task was over.’

  My task is over, but my friendship to you will always be there.

  ~~~~

  ‘The library was full of people either looking through books or searching the internet for any information.

  Sally looked up from her computer. ‘I’m getting paid for browsing the web.’

  Skye grinned. ‘I forgot about wages.’

  ‘Do we get a bonus if we find anything?’

  ‘That’s pushing it.’

  Alex glanced over at her. ‘Nice try though.’

  Adair examined pictures on the screen with the help of Livvy. ‘What’s your job here if you don’t mind me asking?’

  ‘I’m the children’s teacher,’ said Sally, ‘and this is the classroom.’

  ‘Are we keeping them from their learning?’

  ‘I’m quite sure they won’t mind,’ said Alex, as he realised something.

  ‘The schools in town are closed for two weeks,’ George added.

  Sally beamed a smile. ‘That means I’m on holiday.’

  ‘Join the club,’ said Claire.

  The door opened and Talitha entered the library. ‘Can we play outside today?’

  Alex rubbed his chin. ‘Are the workers out there?’

  ‘No,’ said Blaze, ‘they’re on holiday.’

  Alex nodded. ‘I’ll go outside with them.’

  Claire shook her head. ‘I thought we were searching for this other world.’

  ‘You know I can’t refuse the children.’

  Claire pursed her lips. ‘I’m sure she never asked if you wanted to go out.’

  ‘I know, but it might be fun.’

  ‘So,’ said Paige, ‘you’re going to leave us to do all the searching?’

  ‘You can come out if you want,’ said Alex, gazing out of the window. ‘It’s lovely outside, and the sun’s shining.’

  Luella glanced up at him. ‘That’s nice, dear, but I think they mean there’s something more important than fun in the sun.’

  ‘I know, but we will get the answer whether it’s from one of these books or a message from the Elf King himself. I know this as I’ve seen the battle and I’ll be there, and now I know where the portal is, it’s just a matter of time.’

  ‘You’re so frustrating,’ snapped Claire, and shut her book. ‘How long have you known?’

  ‘A couple of minutes ago when I realised it was in Ireland,’ he said, and they all stared at him.

  Joseph rubbed his chin. ‘What makes you think that?’

  ‘Briana translated it for me.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Briana, ‘but that might be just the Irish name for it.’

  ‘That’s what I thought, and then it hit me . . . why didn’t he tell it to me in English.’

  ‘That does make sense,’ Adair agreed.

  Paige switched off her computer. ‘So we just wait around until something happens.’

  Alex shrugged. ‘You can if you want, but I’m going outside with the childr
en.'

  Luella put her book on the table and stood up. ‘Do you have any idea how this answer is going to come to us?’

  ‘No, but my money will be on Blaze.’

  ‘Do you want me to go and watch the ball?’ said Blaze.

  Alex shook his head. ‘No, I want you to come outside with us.’

  ‘Am I invited too?’ said Summer.

  Alex smiled. ‘Of course, what do you think about having lunch outside today?’

  Summer also smiled. ‘That would be lovely. I haven’t been on a picnic in ages.’

  Alex changed into three-quarter length shorts and a t-shirt which Carrie had bought him, and stepped outside into bright sunshine. The children and pucas were already out playing. James, who had returned with many axes, was now kicking a ball around with some young gnomes. The others in the house started coming out with summer clothes on, and mostly in shorts. Even though it was only spring it was a warm day.

  There were four in the kitchen helping Summer prepare sandwiches and other food for the picnic. Paige helped Carrie cut and style Aileen and Morven’s hair.

  Eventually they were all out and put blankets down near the woods where the pucas and pixies were playing hide and seek with the children, the pixies having somewhat of an advantage in that game. Most of the adults were sitting on the blankets, chatting, or lying down soaking up the sun.

  Carrie wore a cream bikini with a sarong around her waist. Alex’s eyes nearly popped out, he tried to look away but was too late as she saw him and smiled.

  Alex joined the others kicking a ball about. James was topless now, and he had a lean toned body. Alex had the ball, but Jodie took it off him and he came to the conclusion he was rubbish at football. They played for another twenty minutes before Alex decided it was too hot for running around. He took his top off and walked towards the others and got a few wolf whistles. He was muscly but not overly so, more chiselled with a six-pack.

  ‘You raised that,’ said Aileen.

  Luella nodded. ‘It must have been all my home cooking.’

  ‘I seem to have that job now,’ said Summer.

  Claire pulled a face. ‘You could at least put your top back on if you’re going to sit there.’

  ‘It’s hot,’ said Alex, as he sat himself down. ‘There’s room on your blanket,’