by Brandon Mull
“No.”
“You asked why I wanted to take your hand. Demons view the world differently than you do. Let me allow you a glimpse. To a demon, all the world is a chessboard. An elaborate game with so many pieces. A game that can be won. Most of the pieces are virtually irrelevant. But some are important. You, Kendra, are an important piece.”
“Me?”
Jubaya gave a slow, rich laugh. “I adore the innocence. Kendra, some would argue that the most valuable pieces in the entire game are the five monarchs. You destroyed one of them. And earned the trust of another. And you befriended the insecure son of a third.”
“Raxtus,” Kendra said. He had been there at the battle against the demons with his father, Celebrant, King of the Dragons. How much had Jubaya seen?
“Are the monarchs the most essential pieces, Kendra? Or the pieces that alter the destinies of the monarchs?”
“I don’t know,” Kendra said.
“And yet you bend the world with your will,” Jubaya murmured. “We truly are different, Kendra Marie Sorenson. I wish I better understood some of what you don’t know.”
“Is that what you wanted to tell me?”
“No. Why do you imagine I desired to speak with you?”
“Well, if you think I’m important, I guess to use me somehow?”
Jubaya bobbed her head. “So you do understand something about demons. How do you imagine most demons will view you after you killed their king?”
“I thought they would hate me,” Kendra said. “But it sounds like they might also admire me?”
“Right on both counts,” Jubaya said. “Would you rather every demon in existence wanted you dead? Or would you prefer to have every demon in existence impressed by you and supporting you?”
“That seems obvious.”
“The emotions to drive reactions in either direction are present. Knowing what you know of demons, do you expect they are happy about their defeat? Do you suppose they rejoice that a new age of demonic rule was thwarted?”
“No.”
“What do you imagine they want?”
“Revenge.”
Jubaya chittered. “Exactly. The question becomes whom they will target. You killed the Demon King. It was a pivotal moment of the battle. But what is the main reason the demons went to the fairy realm instead of spreading across the world?”
“The dragons?”
“That should not be a question. Demons and dragons have an ancient rivalry. If world domination is a game, the battle of Zzyzx created a major shift in the balance of power.”
“What can the dragons do?” Kendra asked. “They went back to their sanctuary.”
“Yes, they did,” Jubaya agreed, “but armed with new power. Heed my words, Kendra Marie Sorenson. I have studied world events for many millennia. A new age of dragons is about to dawn, and there are few who will be ready or willing to stop them.”
“How does that affect me?”
“Would you like to see dragons take over the world?”
“No.”
“Who else do you suppose would like to see the dragons fail?”
Kendra finally realized where Jubaya was going. “The demons.”
“Now you’re seeing it.”
“You want to help me stop the dragons?”
“Without the backing of the dragons, you would not have stopped the demons. Should you end up fighting the dragons, most demons will see you as an ally and view the fall of Gorgrog through more generous eyes.”
“Why would I fight dragons?” Kendra had barely survived her brief stay at Wyrmroost, the dragon sanctuary. Some of the worst experiences of her life had happened there. Dragons were enormous and virtually unstoppable. The last thing she wanted to do was become their most wanted enemy.
“Perhaps you will not,” Jubaya said. “But if you do, help might be found from three demons: Talizar, Batoosa, and Vez Radim. They could be of great service to you . . . and to your brother.”
“My brother?”
“You are fairykind. There are some limits to the assistance they could offer you. But Seth is a shadow charmer.”
“The last thing Seth needs is new demon friends,” Kendra said heatedly.
“He was betrayed by Graulas,” Jubaya said. “I wish I could say I was surprised. But interacting with demons can be a more profitable experience when you share common interests. Demons have a score to settle with the dragons. You could receive help from the sources I named. With my mark on you, they will look upon you favorably.”
“Your mark?” Kendra asked. She had worried there might be a catch to all of this.
“I shared it when we touched. It will cause you no harm, and only demons can see it. My approval will be a protection and will open doors for you.”
“What if I don’t want to go through your doors?”
“Then don’t,” Jubaya said. “I wished to converse with you. We have conversed. If a day comes when you could use help, remember our talk. Or forget it. That choice is yours.”
“Okay,” Kendra said, once again wiping against her jeans the hand that had touched Jubaya.
“Go tell your unicorn that I will now submit quietly.”
“Thanks.”
“Your gratitude is premature. Don’t thank me yet. The day may come when you actually mean it.”
Visitors
“It’s good to be back,” Doren said as the SUV slowed to a stop in front of a large house with lots of gables and a lone turret.
“Really?” Newel replied. “No more fast-food hamburgers? No more curly fries? No more tacos or milk shakes or gas-station nachos?”
Doren inhaled deeply. “I’ll miss the food, and the open road, but you’re forgetting something very special.”
Newel knocked the heel of his hand against the side of his head. “Forgive me, Doren. Lapse of reason. Maybe those witches Seth visited put me under a spell. How could I forget our brand-new television? Nothing tops it!”
Seth laughed at his friends. Men from the waist up, goats from the waist down, the satyrs had received a big-screen television as a reward for helping Seth find Vasilis and for their contributions during the battle of Zzyzx. It was a major step up from the battery-powered portable TV they had been using.
“I had hoped that after enough television, the novelty would wear off,” Grandpa Sorenson said.
“Stan, Stan, Stan,” Doren said. “We’re not talking about some superficial association. Our relationship with that television only deepens as the months go by.”
“Does the novelty wear off when you find true love?” Newel asked. “Or does your devotion increase over a lifetime of commitment and sacrifice?”
“We learned that from television, actually,” Doren inserted.
“Right, a talk show,” Newel agreed. “That television lets us explore the world! Become infatuated with a million faces! Witness art and music and technological marvels!”
“And watch cartoons,” Doren crowed.
Grandpa Sorenson exhaled through pursed lips. “Just be careful. Some humans who watch too much TV turn into couch potatoes. Try not to forget about forests and streams and the thrill of chasing living, breathing nymphs.”
Newel winced. “Ouch. I suppose we have been a little off our game lately.”
“We’ll get back to it as soon as we catch up on the programs we recorded,” Doren promised.
The satyrs unbuckled their seat belts and rushed out of the car.
Seth reached for his door.
“One moment, Seth,” Grandpa said.
“Sure, what?”
“I didn’t want to bring it up in front of the satyrs,” Grandpa said, “but we haven’t had a chance to discuss your visit with the Sisters.”
Seth squirmed in his seat. “I have to be careful. People aren’t supposed to k
now about our arrangement. Bad things can happen if I say too much.”
“I understand,” Grandpa said. “But it’s a long way from Missouri to Connecticut, and you’ve seemed preoccupied for most of the drive. I expected that having settled your business, you would be relieved.”
“Well . . . things are not completely settled,” Seth said. “There is another part to the agreement.”
Some fire entered Grandpa’s gaze. “Have they asked you to do something that makes you uncomfortable?”
“No, it’s not the arrangement,” Seth replied. “Not that I could tell you if it was. They really will do something drastic if I say too much. They almost came after me just because Bracken mentally spied enough to discover an agreement existed.”
“If the upsetting information isn’t part of the arrangement, can’t you talk about it?”
Seth thought about that. “Yeah, I guess I can. It was just a prediction they leaked. They said a storm is coming. A storm of dragons.”
Grandpa’s expression grew sober—and a little guarded. “Did they?”
“You know something.”
“Just rumors,” Grandpa said. “Nothing definitive. But there has been unrest at the dragon sanctuaries lately. Agad the wizard recently told me to expect a visit. I expect I’ll learn more then.”
“Really? I’d like to see Agad again.”
“I’m sure he’d like to see you, too.”
“There isn’t much the dragons can do from their sanctuaries, is there?”
“I hope not,” Grandpa said. “Dragons embody the greatest threat posed to humans by the magical community. I don’t want to worry you, but if there is anything I have learned over the past few years, it is that prisons can fail and magical preserves can fall. We have to stay vigilant. Look, there’s your sister.”
Kendra emerged from the front door of the house. She waved when she caught Seth’s eye.
“I should go see her,” Seth said. “She was worried about me.”
“Go on.”
Seth got out of the SUV and jogged over to his older sister.
“How’d it go?” Kendra asked.
“It’s all top secret,” Seth replied.
“You have one fewer wraith than when you left.”
“At least I still have you.”
Kendra gave a patient smile. “Vasilis is gone too?”
Seth scowled. “Yeah.”
“It was fun while it lasted.”
“Fun for you, hogging all the glory by killing Gorgrog.”
“You found the sword. And took out some other demons. It was a team effort.”
“I call the next one.”
“You can have him,” Kendra said. She paused, looking at him closely. “Are you all right?”
“Mostly,” Seth said. “It sounds like we might have some trouble from the dragons.”
“Says who?”
“I can’t really get specific.”
“The witches,” Kendra said. “A demon just told me something similar.”
“Wait, a demon?” Seth asked. “Here at Fablehaven?”
“I went to the fairy realm.”
“Bracken finally took you.”
“No, I snuck in,” Kendra said dryly.
“Were there lollipop forests? And candy-bar roads?”
“There were lots of flowers.”
“Rainbows? Sparkles?”
“It was beautiful.”
“How did you meet a demon there? Was it made of gumdrops?”
“Some demons never left,” Kendra said. “The astrids are working to expel them.”
“I knew I got rid of Vasilis too early!”
“Bracken wouldn’t want to endanger you.”
“I could have been a demon exterminator.” Seth’s eyes widened. “Is that why he wanted me to settle up with the witches? To protect me from having fun? How much did he know about our deal?”
“I really don’t know.”
“What did the demon tell you about the dragons?”
“She wanted to warn me there would be trouble,” Kendra said.
“It was a lady demon?”
“I think she mostly wants revenge against the dragons. I bet a lot of demons feel that way. Who knows how accurate she is?”
A black minivan was coming up the driveway. Seth stared, baffled. Fablehaven almost never got visitors. The sighting of a strange vehicle was a rare occurrence.
“Who is that?” Seth asked, wondering if it could possibly be Agad.
Kendra started laughing. “Nobody told you?”
“What?”
“You’re going to love this. Grandma and Grandpa Larsen invited them.”
“Who?”
“Your favorite cousins.”
“No,” Seth said. He didn’t want to speak the name but couldn’t stop himself. “Knox?”
Kendra nodded. “And Tess.”
The minivan had almost reached the house.
“No,” Seth groaned. “This is our place! He’ll ruin it!”
“Don’t be so dramatic. You usually end up having fun with him. He can’t ruin anything. But your attitude might.”
“Why would they invite him?”
“Uncle Pete and Aunt Zola wanted to take a trip. Grandma Sorenson wanted me to remind you that we’re not supposed to tell them about any of the magical stuff.”
“Of course not. I’m not stupid.”
“That’s debatable.”
The minivan rolled to a stop beside the SUV. A door slid open and a kid hopped out wearing fancy basketball shoes, baggy sport shorts, and a gray T-shirt. His blondish hair was shaved short on the sides but fairly long on top. A pair of military-style dog tags dangled from his neck, and he carried a basketball under one arm. It had been three years since Seth last saw him. Not quite as tall as Seth and a little stocky, Knox looked like an aged-up version of the kid Seth remembered.
“Hey, loser,” Knox greeted. “You still have Seth breath?”
Seth held his nose. “It was killed by your Knox socks.”
Knox shook his head. “I hear you live here!”
“For now,” Seth said.
“Do you have enough trees?”
“It’s called a forest,” Seth said.
“Hi, Kendra,” Knox said. “Did you get shorter?”
“I think you got taller,” she replied.
“How old are you now?” Knox asked.
“Fifteen.”
“I’m thirteen, like Seth,” Knox reminded her.
“I know,” Kendra replied. “You were born the same month.”
“I came first,” Seth said.
“First is the worst,” Knox countered. He looked around. “So many trees. Connecticut needs to share the wealth. They block every view. We couldn’t see anything driving here.”
“Some people think the trees are part of the view,” Seth said.
Over by the minivan, Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson stood talking to Uncle Pete and Aunt Zola. Uncle Pete looked a little heavier than Seth recalled.
“You didn’t drive from Texas,” Kendra said.
“No way,” Knox said. “We flew into Hartford and rented the minivan. Mom and Dad are going to drive around New England with your parents for a week and look at old stuff. And I’m stuck here.” He kept looking around. “Do you have a basketball hoop?”
“Nope,” Seth said.
“Really? You’re not just scared to play me?”
“Truly. Is that basketball signed?”
Knox held it up and pointed out different signatures. “Magic. Kobe. Jordan. LeBron. Curry.” Each name looked like it had been written with a real marker.
“Are you serious? That must be worth a ton!”
Knox bounced it on the grass. “Ma
ybe. I didn’t buy it. It’s all about being in the right place at the right time.”
“You met them?” Seth asked.
“Or people I know did,” Knox said, bouncing the ball again.
“I wouldn’t bounce it,” Seth said. “You should keep that one on a shelf.”
“I disagree,” Knox said. “It’ll look cooler all worn out. A ball that gets used.”
A petite blonde girl trotted up to them, her shoulder-length hair softly curled. She wore fairy wings and carried a white wand with a star at the tip. Kendra and Seth shot a look at each other.
“Hi, guys,” the girl said. “Remember me? I’m your cousin Tess.”
“You look so much bigger,” Kendra said.
“I am bigger. I turned nine last week.”
“You came in fairy gear,” Seth observed.
“I love fairies.” Tess twirled. “Grandma Larsen told me this is a perfect place for fairies. She called it Fablehaven. Get it? Fable . . . haven. A safe place for storybook creatures.”
“I bet she’s right,” Kendra said sweetly. “Grandma Larsen is pretty smart.”
“Looks more like a great place for bugs,” Knox said, scanning the area.
Seth could currently see at least ten fairies flitting about the yard. They were so much a part of the scenery that he hardly noticed them anymore. But of course Knox and Tess were blind to them. They saw butterflies and dragonflies instead. Mortals needed to drink milk from the magical milch cow Viola in order to perceive what was really going on at Fablehaven. Seth had eaten walrus butter from a similar creature every morning on his road trip so he could see Newel and Doren as they really were instead of as a couple of goats.
“Butterflies,” Tess announced, pointing at a fairy. “I bet they know where I can find the fairies.”
Seth and Kendra shared another glance. Tess could have no idea how close she was to getting her wish.
“No hoop,” Knox grumbled, bouncing his ball again. “This could be a long week. Do you guys have video games, at least?”
“Grandpa Sorenson isn’t big on electronics,” Seth said.
Knox looked like he had been shot. “That’s right. Your other grandparents are here too. Isn’t that kind of crowded?”