The Breaker (The Secret of Spellshadow Manor #2)

Alex almost thought it’d be worth it, to take the hit and get Renmark to stop, but Natalie obviously wasn’t willing to let that happen. Cheeks flushed and mouth set in a grim line, Natalie turned and flourished with her hands, forging shapes in the air, bringing her magic to life.

Blow after blow, a hail of magic swarmed toward Alex, until all he could see was golden light in a glittering screen before him—a veil of gauzy magic, sputtering and exploding as Natalie soldiered away. Renmark appeared irked by Alex’s sudden improvement, his yellow eyes intensely suspicious, and he took his spells up a notch accordingly. The change was palpable. The room grew hot, the bolts of magic seeming more solid as they whistled past Alex’s ear, the magic itself glowing brighter, becoming more streamlined and precise. This wasn’t beginner-level playtime anymore, Alex knew, as he narrowly dodged a sleek-looking blade aimed directly between his eyes.

It had become too much for Natalie. Alex could see she was about to crumble, after he stole another glance at the wall. He raised a hand toward her, gesturing for her to stop. She shook her head weakly, her hands continuing to twist.

Without notice, the hazy galaxy of magic between student and teacher dissipated. A nervous-looking boy in a blue cap stood on the flagstones, looking up at the space where the screen of ferocious magic had just been. His lip was trembling, and his eyes were wide with fear.

Renmark turned to address the boy, annoyed by the interruption. “What is it?” he snapped.

The boy said nothing. Instead, he ran up to the professor and gestured for him to bend so that he might say something into Renmark’s ear. Puzzled, Renmark did so. The boy whispered something rapidly. Renmark nodded a few times as he listened intently.

Alex glanced at Natalie, who was already staring in his direction, looking utterly panicked. Glancing back at Renmark and the messenger, Alex had a gut-wrenching feeling that the moment had come—Natalie and Alex were about to be called to the Head’s office. The Head had finally discovered Finder was missing, and wanted revenge. Alex wasn’t sure why, but he was convinced the Head knew he and Natalie were responsible, and that they were about to face the consequences of their actions.

Renmark stood, and Alex braced himself for his name to be called. Moments passed with painful slowness, but his name remained unspoken as the boy took off across the floor and out the door.

Renmark frowned, looking perplexed. “You are dismissed,” he said absently, waving a hand at the students, his eyes following the boy’s exit. “But don’t get used to finishing early. I do not normally permit such liberties,” the professor growled. Muttering under his breath, Renmark disappeared out into the hallway, letting the door slam behind him as he left the confused class alone within the chamber.

The other students began to file out of the room, but Alex rushed over to Natalie and Jari.

“Are you okay?” he asked Natalie. Her face was slick with sweat.

She nodded. “Do not mind me. I will be fine… Do you think the Head knows?” she asked, her voice trembling as she spoke, though whether from fear or exhaustion, Alex wasn’t sure.

“I guess we’ll find out soon,” Alex whispered.





Chapter 7





Striding down the hallway, distracted, Alex did not see the figure walking toward him until they almost collided. Ellabell looked up, stunned, stumbling slightly as she tried—too late—to weave out of his way, but Jari and Natalie blocked the space behind him. Alex skidded to a halt, reaching out quickly for her, steadying her by the shoulders as she scrabbled for her books.

“Thank you,” she said breathlessly, gathering the books to her chest.

“Sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going.” Alex moved his hands away swiftly, realizing he still held her by the shoulders.

“Neither was I,” Ellabell admitted with a flustered smile, checking the floor to make sure she hadn’t dropped anything.

“I’m surprised you could see at all,” Alex joked, noting the giant stack of textbooks.

“Just a little light reading.” She blushed, trying to stop a few strays from escaping the hastily gathered books. “How did you get on, by the way?” she asked, with sudden interest.

“Get on?” Alex asked, confused.

“Yeah, you know…” She faltered. Alex racked his brain for what she meant, feeling the heat of his friends’ eyes behind him.

It rushed back to him, just in time. “Oh, right. The mechanics stuff you wrote down? Yes, of course. Good, yeah. I got on great. Found lots to be getting on with. That’s where we’re headed now, actually—to the mechanics lab,” he rambled, remembering the list of books she had given him, still stuffed at the bottom of his pocket with all the rest of his crumpled notes.

Her face seemed to brighten. “That’s great. I’m glad they were useful.” She smiled.

“They were—thank you.” Alex smiled back, relieved he had remembered in time.

“Well, I won’t keep you,” she said, shifting the books in her arms. “I’ve got all this to get through.” She laughed softly, her blue eyes sparkling with an infectious humor that made Alex’s smile broaden into a grin.

“Happy reading. And sorry for almost knocking you over,” he apologized again, trying to sound sincere as he reached out and touched her arm gently, giving it a light squeeze.

Ellabell’s cheeks flushed a pale shade of pink, and she looked back up to Alex with a frown. Her sweater was soft beneath his fingertips, and he knew he had lingered a moment too long. Alex removed his hand slowly, wondering at the sudden rosy tint to her face. It made her look extremely pretty, her blue eyes piercing.

“Well, I really should be going,” Ellabell mumbled, lowering her gaze as she skirted around the trio.

“Have fun,” Alex called after her, feeling slightly lame as he heard the words leave his lips.

Ellabell glanced over her shoulder, smiling shyly, before heading up the corridor away from them, her brunette ponytail bobbing as she walked.

“We’re going to the mechanics lab?” Natalie asked with a wry grin on her face.

Alex shrugged. “I thought it might take our minds off things,” he lied. “Plus, I need someone with actual magic to try and make the clockwork function.” He held up his own hands with a meaningful look. He was growing increasingly frustrated by how difficult it was to use his own powers, by constantly hitting a brick wall with his level of ability. With nobody around to teach him, it was proving tricky to be a self-taught Spellbreaker. After all, there were no textbooks on the matter to make it simpler. That moment in the cellar, when he had exploded Jari’s conjuration, had been a fluke; Alex had tried to replicate it a few times, to no avail. It had happened in the moment, at the perfect time, but he still wasn’t certain how he’d managed it. It was frustrating to watch his friends grow more powerful each day—Natalie shouldering some of the strain for him, doing the magic of two people—while he sat back, unable to show what he could do, or watch his own anti-magic grow in strength.