The Chain (The Secret of Spellshadow Manor #3)(24)

Helena carefully lifted Aamir’s body upward, clearing the wall with ease as she maneuvered him down onto the broad width of the battlement above. Alex had to admit it was a remarkable sight to behold. Once Aamir was safely above, Helena set to climbing the ragged stonework, reaching the top quickly as the others scurried after her, copying her choice to climb instead of fly—Helena’s decision not to do so had made them cautious.

As they reached the top of the battlements, Helena led them all stealthily through a silent, sleeping Stillwater House. The darkened courtyards were empty of students, though Alex could hear the echo of cheerful voices coming from within the torch-lit hallways and the beautiful piazzas above them as the group slipped from shadow to shadow.

It seemed Helena was guiding them around the outskirts at the very back of the school, toward the farthest corner on the opposite side, where a stunning white bell tower spiraled upward from the darkness of a disused, abandoned courtyard that was scattered with the broken debris of old equipment and small piles of dumped rubble. No torches were lit, and the place was veiled in gloom as they dropped down onto the cracked tiles below.

“You’ll be safe here. Nobody comes to this part of the House anymore,” explained Helena as she led them toward the front door of the bell tower. Pulling a sizable bronze key from the front pocket of her black pants, she slid it into the lock.

“Where did you get that from?” asked Alex curiously.

Helena seemed insulted by the question as she turned to glance at him. “You ask far too many questions. You can trust me, you know—you’ll see,” she chastised, frowning.

It silenced Alex, but he had yet to feel fully comfortable in the young woman’s presence. She turned the key, opening the door wide as she ushered them all inside. With a glance over her shoulder, she closed the door after them.

“Head upstairs,” she said.

They climbed up the staircase until they reached a wide, airy, circular room close to the top. Alex was surprised to see a pile of blankets and pillows stacked against the wall, alongside boxes of food, huge glass bottles of water, and other supplies, like bowls and plates and cutlery. There were clothes too, for them to change into, to get out of their dusty, dirty Spellshadow clothes.

“You did all this?” Natalie asked with a note of awe.

Helena grinned. “I want you to be comfortable.”

“Thank you,” breathed Natalie, giving the silver-haired girl an unexpected hug. “This is wonderful.”

“I’m glad you like it,” said Helena bashfully.

“Thank you, Helena.” Ellabell smiled.

“Yeah—this is amazing!” chimed Jari, though he didn’t quite brave a hug.

“It’s nothing.” Helen shrugged, brushing it off. “You will have to be as quiet as mice during the daytime, in case anybody hears you, but you can stay here for as long as you wish until you’ve figured out your next course of action—please don’t run off without telling me.” There was a note of sadness in her voice.

“This is extremely kind, Helena. We promise we won’t leave without telling you first,” whispered Alex, his caution softening toward her. The tower was more than he could have imagined.

Helena smiled, holding up her hands. “Well then, I must fulfill the other part of the bargain,” she said brightly.

Helena moved over to the window, which looked down onto the courtyard below. Pressing her palms against either side of the frame, a golden glow swelled beneath her hands. With a twitch of each middle finger, she morphed the golden magic into a deep navy blue color that spread out from beneath her skin and skirted out across the window, creating a dark shield that blocked any light coming from within the tower. The shield stayed put as she knelt beside Aamir on the flagstones.

Carefully, Helena placed her hands flat against Aamir’s chest and closed her eyes, letting the glow of her magic run from her fingertips into his body. Alex knew she was searching for the gripping snake of the curse within him, as he had done.

She whistled quietly. “It’s a strong one.”

“Can you still remove it?” Jari asked hopefully. Alex supposed it must be a dream come true—the prospect of Jari’s new crush being able to save the life of his best friend.

Helena nodded. “I think so, though it might take a lot out of your friend.”

“Aamir. His name is Aamir,” whispered Jari.

“It might take a lot out of Aamir,” Helena repeated, smiling kindly at the blond-haired boy. “It’s up to you what you want me to do.” She glanced around the room, waiting for a reply.

The consensus was clear.

“Go for it,” encouraged Alex.

At their agreement, Helena placed her hands on Aamir’s chest once more and began to weave intricate strands of strong, crackling magic through his body. The fierce glow of it rose up through his skin, making each vein and artery gleam with a white-gold light that was both unnerving and beautiful. He tossed and turned, rejecting her magic. Alex watched as a fresh strand of luminescence snaked from beneath her left hand and shivered toward Aamir’s mouth, covering it quickly with a magical gag to keep him quiet as she worked. His body contorted beneath her palms, his eyes snapping suddenly open as his lips opened in a silent scream. Although the gag muted the sound, the impression was clear—Aamir was in agonizing pain.