Other Worlds: Vesta Mansion Trilogy - Book Two - Fantasy

by P. A. Priddey

  Alex rubbed his chin. ‘What was that car you wanted?’

  ‘I’m sure you owe me a car, and it would have to be cars plural, and turn the land here into a race track.’

  ‘I don’t think Livvy would like that very much,’ said Claire.

  ‘No, I wouldn’t.’

  ‘See, told you.’

  Alex smiled. ‘Have you set your table up?’

  Claire shook her head. ‘No, I’ll do it in the morning so I can see what they have on their tables.’

  ‘Is this like some sort of elf car boot sale?’ said James.

  ‘No, this is an elven tradition,’ said Claire. ‘What time does it start?’

  ‘Midday over there, so one o’clock here,’ said Alex.

  ‘That leaves us plenty of time.’

  ‘So you like elven traditions?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Claire, ‘they’re a proud race.’

  ‘That’s right and we should respect their traditions, my lady.’

  ‘OK, as I’m your sister you’re allowed to call it me.’

  Alex turned to James. ‘Why haven’t you bought the car yet?’

  ‘I only drive George to his office, or the coach, and didn’t think there was any point getting it.’

  ‘You could still buy it and drive George in it.’

  George had his own car, and wouldn’t have minded driving himself, but Alex had created an extra job for Michelle. It wasn’t needed now but no one said anything.

  James pushed his hair back. ‘I know, but have something else in mind now.’

  ‘You gonna tell us what?’ said Claire.

  ‘No, not yet.’

  Claire nudged Alex. ‘This is all your fault. We got Shell keeping secrets upstairs, and now James.’

  ‘No, they’re surprises, not secrets.’

  ‘It’s nice to see the wolves back,’ said Blaze.

  Thank you, said Chi.

  ‘Did the cubs enjoy their run?’

  Yes, but I think they missed the children.

  ‘Why was that?’ said Alex.

  They have never been far away from them for too long.

  ‘Well they will see them soon,’ said Alex, as he looked over the back of the sofa down the hall, to see the cubs lying down outside the cinema.

  Luella came out of the party room and stood in front of Alex. ‘You’re back then.’

  ‘Yes, Mother, were you waiting for me?’

  She nodded. ‘There are a couple of elves waiting to show you how to dance.’

  ‘That’s a shame. Carrie’s too busy, so it looks like we won’t be able to do it.’

  ‘Carrie already knows the dance, so we don’t have to worry about that.’

  Claire stood up and pulled Alex off the sofa. ‘This should be fun to watch.’

  ‘I might even join you watching him,’ said Adair happily.

  Luella shot him a look. ‘You need to learn it too, dear brother, so you will be joining us anyway.’

  They practiced for two hours when Carrie walked in with a shocked look on her face. James just stared at her when a hand tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and nearly jumped out of his skin when a fully dressed mannequin held its arms out to him.

  ‘WHAT THE HELL?’ James shouted, and backed away.

  Alex laughed. ‘Ha-ha that’s brilliant.’

  James looked at him. ‘Are you doing this?’

  ‘No, it’s House, and he wants a hug.’

  ‘Well he can have one off me,’ said Carrie, as she embraced the mannequin. ‘Now about that dance lesson I promised you, the one you said wouldn’t happen.’

  Oh I forgot about that, said the spirit.

  ‘Well I didn’t.’

  OK, why not?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Festivities

  Alex dreamt he was standing on a castle wall, looking down over a field covered with creatures. They were not demons, but looked more like trolls, ogres, and goblins he had seen in films and books. He saw many more of various sizes. His hands glowed and beams of golden light shot from them hitting the trolls, until they all turned and ran. The dream took him into space again where he searched for his children. He found them and took them away from the comet to safety. The girls cried at what he had done before the darkness took him. He woke and stared at the ceiling.

  Another dream? House asked.

  ‘Yeah, of another battle, and I had to save the girls in space again.’

  You get that one often, have you tried searching for the answer?

  Alex climbed out of bed. ‘I wouldn’t know where to look.’

  You have friends who will help.

  ‘I know, but something is keeping me from telling them.’

  I will tell them if you want me to.

  ‘No, there must be a reason, and I need to find out why first.’

  And what about the battle?

  ‘I’ll tell them after the festival, as it is a big day for the elves.’

  Alex showered and dressed in normal clothes. He walked downstairs where the hall was busy with everyone walking about doing various things. He stepped into the party room for breakfast as the smell coming from the kitchen was wonderful. He realised it was the cakes he could smell but was happy to find others eating breakfast. He took his from the hatch and sat by Luella and Claire.

  ‘Do you think this place will ever get back to normal?’ he said, after he had eaten his breakfast.

  ‘It’s never been normal, you’re not normal,’ said Claire, with a straight face.

  Alex feigned hurt. ‘That’s a bit harsh.’

  Claire shrugged. ‘You’re paying us a wage, and for what?’

  ‘Maybe it’s for your company.’

  ‘Well, you’re not getting a refund.’

  ‘It will quieten down after a while,’ said Luella. ‘There’s just a lot of excitement at the moment.’

  Alex put his hand through his short hair which still hadn’t grown. ‘I hope so for the children’s sake.’

  ‘Why would you worry about that, they love it.’

  ‘I know, but it’s not very settling for them.’

  ‘They are your children and live in this mansion, and like Claire said it’s far from normal.’

  ‘That’s not really what I wanted to hear, Mother, you’re meant to reassure me.’

  Luella smiled. ‘I know you want a normal happy life but you can’t, you can have a happy life with your children safe, but it won’t be normal.’

  ‘Yeah, I guess you’re right, and I guess it’s not a bad life.’

  ‘I’m good with it,’ said Claire, as two of the pucas approached with short plaits and bows on their heads.

  ‘Did you do that?’ said Alex.

  ‘No, of course not, your children did it.’

  Daisy smiled. ‘Do you like them?’

  Alex touched one of the plaits. They were not very long as the fur was quite short. ‘Yes, they’re lovely.’

  ‘Have you finished your breakfast?’ she said innocently.

  ‘Yeah, why?’

  ‘Everyone else is very busy,’ said Daisy, and offered him her baby, which he took before she disappeared very quickly.

  Claire laughed. ‘She suckered you in there.’

  ‘Yeah, they’re cleverer than people think, and I might just take this little one and watch a film to pass the time.’

  Luella sipped on her tea. ‘I thought you’d be running around making sure the children and everything else will be ready for the festival.’

  ‘I didn’t get a chance to worry about anything, as they’re all organised thanks to Paige.’

  Claire stood. ‘I might as well join you in the cinema while I’m waiting for Summer to set our stalls out.’

  Alex glanced at the baby puca, who smiled at him. ‘See, this is what I was talking about, paying for your company.’

  Claire shrugged. ‘Whatever, I’m choosing the film.’

  After the film Alex carried the baby puca out of the cinema only to f
ind Paige waiting, she took the baby off him, and told him to get changed.

  ‘We have over an hour.’

  ‘I need to know if it fits, and I do have a stall to set up.’

  Claire sighed. ‘I’ll do that when Summer’s ready, so calm down a little.’

  ‘She’s ready and putting her cakes into boxes.’

  ‘And stop worrying about my clothes,’ said Alex. ‘They always fit, and if they don’t I’ll make sure they do.’

  ‘We’re ready, Claire,’ said Summer, carrying out a box followed by Anna and Leanne, also carrying boxes.

  ‘How many did you make?’ said Alex.

  ‘Loads, we have more boxes in there. House will bring them over as I need them.’

  ‘Are you hoping to open a cake shop on the elf world?’

  ‘No, I like cooking other food as well as cakes, as I am a chef you know.’

  Alex climbed the stairs to his room and changed. They were similar to his other clothes but the trousers were black. A white tunic which he didn’t need to tuck in with a lace up front at the top. He picked up a black leather sleeveless coat which fell to just above his knees, and put it on before going downstairs.

  Many of the others wore clothes similar to his. The children had more colourful outfits. Carrie wore black leggings and her white tunic came down to mid-thigh. She had a wide belt around her waist and a short black leather jacket. Her hair trimmed slightly, she still had black hair with the blonde trim along the edge, but the tips were now blue.

  Alex gulped at the sight of her as he thought she looked stunning.

  Carrie smiled at him. ‘Will this be OK for the festival, my lord?’

  ‘Yes, you look wonderful, as do all of you. I just hope I can do you all justice.’

  ‘You’ll pass,’ said Claire, wearing a similar outfit to his, only she had a shorter jacket with sleeves.

  ‘Coming from you, that’s a compliment.’

  ‘We can go now,’ said Paige.

  ‘We have ages yet.’

  ‘Not you, just us traders.’

  ‘You’re cutting it fine.’

  ‘We have plenty of time,’ said Paige, and disappeared with the others.

  Alex spent the hour with the children and pucas who appeared nervous about the occasion. It was almost time to go when the others returned with Torgon.

  ‘Anything wrong, Lord Torgon?’ said Alex.

  Torgon shook his head. ‘No, Lord Alex, just seeing if you needed any help or advice on what to do.’

  ‘How do you want us to appear on your world?’

  ‘As a group, with all our other friends hidden behind you, until their names are called out,’

  Alex laughed. ‘You love all this.’

  ‘Yes, I left them looking at all the empty spaces and wondering why I have spaced them apart at the table.’

  ‘Do we shame you?’ said Flax.

  Alex picked her up. ‘No, honey, why do you ask?’

  ‘Because you want us to hide, so the elves can’t see us.’

  ‘Lord Torgon wants to surprise all the elves that haven’t seen you, so you’ve got to stay hidden until the last-minute.’

  ‘So we look OK then?’ said Flax, dressed in similar clothes to what they had already been given. These were a light brown material, which went well against her dark fur.

  ‘You look beautiful.’

  Flax gave him a huge smile. ‘OK, we will hide.’

  ‘I’m not sure about all this finery,’ said Fergal, messing with his green tunic.

  Alex put Flax down, and put a hand on the gnomes shoulder. ‘You look very smart.’

  ‘We be gnomes,’ said Jarlath, ‘and not meant to look smart.’

  ‘Lady Roisin, Lady Nessa, do you agree with them?’ said Alex.

  Nessa shook her head. ‘No, Lord Alex, they be just pig-headed.’

  Roisin laughed. ‘Fergal is just upset I made him use the shower.’

  Fergal grumbled. ‘You had to bring the women into it.’

  ‘I’m surrounded by them, I have no choice.’

  Torgon looked amused by it all. ‘Well, if you are ready.’

  ‘Where will the dance take place?’ said Alex.

  ‘In and outside the main tent after we have all eaten, anyone can join in the dancing.’

  James grinned. ‘Shame I didn’t learn the dance.’

  Alex raised an eyebrow. ‘You must’ve picked enough up in between laughing.’

  ‘Yes, I know I did,’ said Asima, as she looked at James with some determination and he flinched.

  ‘Not all of us like the dancing,’ said Torgon, ‘but it’s a custom for the leaders to do it.’

  Alex shook his head. ‘You don’t like doing it?’

  ‘It doesn’t really bother me, but you would think they would get tired after thousands of years of the same tradition, we are the same elves after all.’

  ‘OK, I guess we should all group together,’ Alex told them, and the humans stood in a line with the others behind them. The white witches stood in the front, in robes, with their hoods up. The wolves had already gone to the elf world.

  ‘I think some of you should stand behind those who will be called first so you can fill their spaces,’ said Torgon, and a few of them moved.

  Where do you want me to place them? House asked.

  ‘Facing the main tent from the city side,’ said the elf, and disappeared a few seconds later.

  They arrived on the elf world, and found themselves looking at the big marquee which had no sides. Long tables stood in the middle, with the leaders including two fairies sitting behind them. Thousands of elves stood all around. Carrie gripped Alex’s hand, which he didn’t mind and smiled at her.

  Rasmus stood to the side. ‘Lords, Ladies, and all you noble elves, and fairies. Today I have great pleasure in announcing some very special guests from the world we once visited, and on the rare occasion still do. First let me call their great and powerful leader, Lord Alex, and Lady Carrie.’

  They approached the tables and bowed. They sat between Torgon and Ellinor on one table and Tyra and Thalion on another, and all the elves applauded.

  ‘Next,’ said Rasmus. ‘I call forward ones that many of us knew before we came here. The great wizard, Lord Adair, and the six white witches we call the Great Ladies, Luella, Daralis, Briana, Orlaith, Aileen and Morven. The ladies pulled their hoods back and walked forward to the gasps of many elves, and the ones seated stood up. Alex thought this was going to be like the opening of the Olympics.

  ‘Now I call,’ Rasmus paused as he waited for the noise to die down, ‘Lord Jarlath and Lady Nessa of the gnomes.’ There was silence as they approached, and cheers as they took their seats next to a shocked looking Marakus. Torgon sat smiling.

  ‘This could be a long day,’ Alex whispered.

  ‘Don’t worry you’ll be dancing soon,’ Carrie whispered back.

  ‘We have traditions here that we never break, and today I do so by calling the last four together as they asked me to. I pray that you will forgive and understand why I do so when you see them,’ Rasmus announced. ‘Please welcome, Lord Gort and Lady Flax of the pucas, and Queen Kaeya and Lord Leaf of the pixies.’ The pucas walked forward with the pixies on their shoulders. The elves cheered and the leaders all stood up clapping, but Kaeya did not look happy.

  Torgon stared at the upset little pixie. ‘We might have a problem there.’

  Alex stood. ‘Rasmus called her Queen. If you’ll excuse me I’ll sort it out.’

  Marakus grinned. ‘Well, this is different.’

  Alex stood in front of the pixies table. ‘OK, I can see you’re upset.’

  ‘He called me Queen,’ Kaeya huffed. ‘I’m not one anymore.’

  ‘The other pixies think differently, and want you back as their Queen, they all love you.’

  ‘Well, it’s too late, I gave it up,’ she said with her tiny arms folded.

  ‘And I’m afraid you’re wrong,’ said Alex, and took a gold ring
off his finger he had worn for over twenty years. It was a slim ring in the shape of a Celtic band. He put it between his hands and the golden aura appeared but only slightly. After a few seconds he held the ring in one hand, and held out his other with palm face up to Kaeya who stepped on to it.

  ‘You relinquished your title to help your friends when you were in trouble, but now you’re free,’ said Alex, as he brought her close to his face. ‘You’re no longer my beautiful little princess, as I now pronounce you, Queen Kaeya of the pixies,’ he said, and placed the altered ring on her head.

  It went very quiet until Kaeya kissed Alex’s cheek. ‘Thank you,’ she said, putting her hand to her new crown. There was another huge cheer.

  ‘It might need some work.’

  ‘It’s perfect as it is.’

  Alex made his way back only to get covered in more fairy dust, and a very proud look from his mother.

  Torgon inclined his head. ‘That was very clever, my lord.’

  ‘She took it better than I thought.’

  ‘You gave her your own jewellery, and that’s very special to a pixie, you are now bonded for life.’

  ‘I thought we already were,’ said Alex, which got him a kiss on the cheek and a smile from Carrie.

  The greetings started taking place, and Alex decided it was going to be a long process. The pixies and fairies were first, as they walked across the tables, apart from when they came to Alex and Carrie who they jumped on. The pucas followed, and were very excited. When they passed, the elf leaders were left holding their babies. The gnomes were next, followed by the rest of those from the mansion. The children were very polite and brought even bigger smiles to the elves. Alex and Carrie got funny looks off their friends as they walked past. The elves were last and those seated started getting cramp in their hands before it was finally over.

  ‘We also have a very special friend who you can’t see, he’s called House, a great spirit,’ Alex announced, and they all looked upwards and said ‘Hello’.

  Hello, said House, and he also got a cheer.

  ‘What about the wolves, Papa?’ said Alhena, as she returned to the table.

  ‘They have already met everyone when they went for their run.’

  ‘Now we shall have the gift presentation,’ said Rasmus, as elves stepped over to their leaders and relieved them of the baby pucas.