Hell Manor by Lisa Morton

Author:Lisa Morton [Morton, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Horror
Publisher: Crossroad Press & Bad Moon Books
Published: 2012-11-05T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

October 31st, forever

It was a while before I could see again. When my eyes focused and my brain started processing again, I saw green everywhere. It felt like I was in a soft bed, but looked like I was outside in a forest.

I was definitely surrounded by trees, tall ones, with sunlight just barely leaking in through the top branches, throwing the ground into deep green shadow. And these trees were old, their huge, scarred trunks covered in moss.

As I sat up, I saw I was apparently supported on a bed of leaves and flowers. When I stood, it collapsed, providing a soft carpet to walk on.

I felt comfortably warm, although where the heat came from I couldn’t imagine.

Then I noticed the faces.

They were everywhere. Some were in the trees—boles in thick bark were actually noses, holes and cracks were mouths. Others watched from between trees, and all I could see of them were glowing eyes that tracked with me as I moved.

This forest was literally alive, and obviously nowhere on earth…my earth, that is.

This could only be the world of the sidh.

“Welcome to my father’s palace, Jack.” I turned, and saw Finn walking forward. He stopped a few feet away and sat; instantly a chair formed beneath him. He was dressed differently now, in matching green, and his injured foot was wrapped in some sort of poultice. He was smiling at me, but it was a different expression, without the malicious intent I’d seen there before. It was the kind of smile you’d expect from an old friend.

“You beat me with that last move. I salute you, Jack.”

“This is…”

“Your fairy tales call it ‘the Otherworld’, although Arthur knew it as Avalon. Of course it wasn’t my intent to bring you here, but since I did…you are our honored guest. You’ll find it quite pleasurable here, Jack.”

I heard something in the distance, then, some sort of animal sound that set my teeth on edge and belied Finn’s trustworthiness. Finn heard it, too; he cocked his head, listening.

“What was that?”

He returned his attention to me. “The sidh world is home to many things, not all of which are quite so friendly. There are shapeshifters here, ghosts, pookas, the Samhanach…but you’ll learn about all that later. In the meantime, you’re perfectly safe in the palace.”

“But I don’t see a palace.”

“Oh, well—we can fix that, until you get used to it.” He gestured, and walls formed around me. They were stone, and exquisite tapestries depicting the sidh in various settings—a great battlefield, a celebration—were draped at intervals. There were comfortable furnishings, and a large hearth with a cozy fire. Small faces carved into the mantelpiece watched me.

“You see, Jack? You can have whatever you want here.”

“What I want is to go home.”

“Ah.” Authentic regret crossed Finn’s features. “That is the one thing you cannot have. Surely you must have known that, and considered it before you risked yourself.”

He was right. I did remember the very oldest stories, the ones that went back

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