by Brandon Mull
Chapter One
The New Student
Crowding into homeroom with the other eighth graders,
Kendra found her way to her desk. In a moment the bell would ring, signaling the start of the last week of school.
One final week and she would leave middle school behind forever and start anew as a high school freshman, mingling with kids from two other junior highs.
A year ago that had sounded like a more exciting prospect than it did now. Kendra had been stuck in a nerd rut since around fourth grade, and a fresh start in high school might have meant an opportunity to shed the quiet, studious image. But this had been a renaissance year.
Amazing how swiftly a little confidence and a more outgoing attitude could elevate your social status. Kendra no longer felt as desperate for a new beginning. 2 Alyssa Carter sat down in the desk next to her. I heardwe get yearbooks today, she said. She had short blonde hair and a slender build. Kendra had met Alyssa after making the soccer team back in September.
Great, I looked hypnotized in my picture, Kendra groaned.
Yours was adorable. Remember mine? My braces look the size of train tracks.
Whatever. You could hardly even notice them.
The bell rang. Most of the kids were in their seats. Mrs.
Price entered the room accompanied by the most disfigured student Kendra had ever seen. The boy had a bald, scabrous scalp and a face like a chapped welt. His eyes were puckered slits, his nose a malformed cavity, his mouth lipless and crusty. He scratched his arm, crooked fingers lumpy with bulging warts.
The hideous boy was otherwise nicely dressed in a black and red button-down shirt, jeans, and stylish tennis shoes.
He stood in front of the class beside Mrs. Price while she introduced him.
I'd like you all to meet Casey Hancock. His family just moved here from California. It can't be easy starting at a new school so late in the year, so please give him a warm welcome.
Just call me Case, the boy rasped. He spoke like he was strangling.
Would you look at that, Alyssa murmured.
No kidding, Kendra whispered back. The poor kid barely looked human. Mrs. Price directed him to a desk near3 the front of the room. Creamy pus leaked from multiplesores on the back of his scabby head.
I think I'm in love, Alyssa said.
Don't be mean, Kendra muttered.
What? I'm serious. Don't you think he's a hottie?
Alyssa was acting so sincere that Kendra found herself repressing a smile. That's just cruel.
Are you blind? He's amazing! Alyssa sounded genuinely offended that Kendra didn't agree.
If you say so, Kendra placated. Just not my type.
Alyssa shook her head as if Kendra were crazy. You must be the pickiest girl on the planet.
Morning announcements were droning over the loudspeaker.
Case was talking with Jonathon White. Jonathon smiled and laughed. That was strange ---- Jonathon was a jerk, not the sort of kid to befriend a circus freak. Kendra noticed
Jenna Chamberlain and Karen Sommers sharing looks and whispers as if they too found Case attractive. Like Alyssa, they didn't seem to be joking. Scanning the room, Kendra didn't see a single student who seemed repulsed by his appearance.
What was going on? Nobody who looked this weird could come into a class without raising any eyebrows.
And suddenly the truth was apparent.
Casey Hancock looked inhumanly deformed and hideous because he was not a human. He had to be some sort of goblin who looked like a normal kid to everybody else. Kendra alone could see his true form, the aftereffect of having been kissed by hundreds of giant fairies. 4 Since leaving Fablehaven nearly a year ago, Kendra hadseen magical creatures only twice. Once she had noticed a bearded man barely a foot tall pulling a length of pipe out of a pile of rubble behind the movie theater. When she tried to move in for a closer look, the tiny man scurried away into a storm drain. On another occasion she spotted what looked like a golden owl with a human face. She made eye contact with the creature for an instant before it took flight in a flurry of gilded feathers.
Such odd sights were usually veiled from mortal eyes.
Her Grandpa Sorenson had introduced her to magical milk that enabled people to see through the illusions that normally concealed mystical creatures. When the fairy kisses had made that ability permanent, he had warned Kendra that sometimes it was safer to leave certain things unseen.
And here she was, staring at a grotesque monster posing as a new student in her homeroom! Mrs. Price came down the aisle handing out yearbooks. Kendra doodled absently on one of her book covers. Why was the creature here?
Surely it had something to do with her. Unless repulsive goblins routinely infiltrated the public school system. Was he here to spy? To cause trouble? Almost certainly he was up to mischief.
Glancing up, Kendra caught the goblin staring at her over his shoulder. She should be glad to be aware the new kid had a hidden identity, right? The knowledge made her nervous, but it would help her prepare to counter any threat he might pose. With her secret ability, she could keep an eye5 on him. If she played it cool, Case would have no idea shecould see his true form.
* * * *
Shaped like a huge box, Roosevelt Middle School was constructed so that in winter the students never needed to go outdoors. Interior hallways connected everything, and the same room where they held assemblies doubled as an indoor cafeteria. But beneath the June sun, Kendra found herself seated outside for lunch with three friends at a circular table connected to curved benches.
Kendra signed Brittany's yearbook while munching on a croissant sandwich. Trina was signing Kendra's, Alyssa was signing Trina's, and Brittany was signing Alyssa's. It was important for Kendra to write a long, meaningful message after all, these were her best friends. Have a great summer might work for acquaintances, but true friends required something more original. The key was to mention specific jokes you had shared, or fun things you had done together during the year. At the moment, Kendra was writing about the time Brittany couldn't stop laughing while trying to give an oral report in History.
Suddenly, uninvited, Casey Hancock plopped down at their table holding a lunch tray loaded with cafeteria lasagna, sliced carrots, and chocolate milk. Trina and Alyssa scooted aside to make room for him. It was almost unprecedented boldness for a lone boy to settle in at a table with four girls. Trina appeared slightly annoyed. Alyssa shot6 Kendra a look as if she had just won the lottery. If onlyAlyssa could see what her new crush actually looked like!
I don't think we've met, Case announced, his voice pinched and gravelly. I'm Case. I just moved here. Just hearing him speak made Kendra's throat sore.
Alyssa introduced herself and the others. Case had been in two of Kendra's classes since homeroom. He had been well received each time he had stood up front for an introduction, particularly by the girls.
Case lifted a forkful of lasagna to his toothless mouth, affording Kendra a glimpse of his narrow black tongue.
Watching him chew made her stomach churn.
So what do you do for fun around here ? Case asked around a mouthful of carrots.
We start by sitting with people we know, Trina said.
Kendra covered a smile. She had never been so grateful to see Trina giving somebody a hard time.
Is this the cool kids' table? Case replied with mock surprise.
I'd planned to start at the bottom and work my way up. The comeback left Trina speechless. Case winked at
Alyssa, to show he meant no harm. For a scab-faced goblin, he was p
retty smooth.
You've been in some of my classes, Case said to
Kendra, wolfing down more lasagna. English and Math. It was hard to look into those squinty eyes and keep her face pleasant.
That's right, Kendra managed.
I don't have to take the finals, he said. I finished up7 at my old school. I'm just here to hang out and meetpeople.
That's how I feel, Brittany said. But Kendra and
Alyssa get like straight A's.
You know, Case said, I hate going to the movies alone, but I have no friends yet. You guys want to catch a show tonight?
Sure, Brittany said.
Kendra was stunned by the outlandish bravado of asking out four girls all at once on the first day at a new school.
This was the smoothest goblin of all time! What was he after?
I'll come, Alyssa said.
Okay, Trina agreed. If you're on your best behavior, I
might even let you sign my yearbook.
I don't give autographs, Case replied offhandedly.
Kendra, you coming?
Kendra hesitated. How could she sit through an entire movie beside a foul monster? But how could she abandon her friends when she was the only person who knew what they were getting into? Maybe, she conceded.
The crusty goblin took a final bite of lasagna. How about we meet outside the theater at seven? The one on
Kendall by the mini mall. Just trust to luck that something good will be playing. The other girls agreed as he stood up and walked away.
Kendra watched her friends talk animatedly about Case.
He had won Alyssa at first sight. Brittany was an easy sell.
And Trina was the sort of girl who liked to be catty but then8 got attracted if the guy stood up to her. Kendra supposed shewould have been impressed herself if she didn't know he was a revolting monster.
There was no way she could tell her friends the truth about Case. Any accusations would sound crazy. But he was almost certainly up to something shady.
There was only one person in her whole town whom
Kendra could tell about her situation. And he wasn't exactly her most reliable acquaintance.
Seth lined up against Randy Sawyer. Randy was quick, but short. Seth had started the school year a bit shorter than most of the boys in his grade, but was finishing the year taller than average. The best strategy against Randy would be to go long and make the most of his height advantage.
Spencer McCain hiked the football to himself and dropped back. Four boys went out, while four others covered.
One defender stayed at the line counting alligators. Seth jerked like he was going to cut across the field, then raced straight for the end zone. Spencer lofted a high spiral. The pass was a little short, but coming back for it, Seth out jumped
Randy and hauled it in. Randy immediately tagged
Seth with both hands, downing him just shy of Chad
Dupree's sweatshirt, which marked the front of the end zone.
Third and goal, Spencer declared, jogging down the field.
Seth! a voice exclaimed. Seth turned. It was Kendra.
His sister didn't usually talk to him at school. Roosevelt9 Middle School was sixth through eighth grades, so Seth wasat the bottom of the pecking order after having ruled his elementary school the previous year.
Just a second, Seth called to Kendra. The guys were lining up. Seth got into position. Spencer hiked the football to himself, then threw a short interception to Derek Totter.
Seth didn't even bother chasing Derek. He was the fastest kid in their grade. Derek dashed all the way to the opposite end zone.
Seth trotted over to Kendra. Bringing good luck as usual? he said.
That was a weak pass.
Spencer only gets to quarterback because he throws the best spirals. What's up?
I need you to come see something, Kendra said.
Seth folded his arms. This was all very uncommon. She wasn't just talking to him at school, she wanted him to go someplace with her?
We're kicking off! Randy yelled.
I'm in the middle of a game, Seth told her.
This is Fablehaven-type stuff.
Seth turned to his friends. Sorry! I have to quit for a while. He and Kendra headed off together. What is it?
You know how I can still see magical creatures?
Yeah.
There was a new student in some of my classes today, she explained. He's pretending to be human, but he's actually an ugly monster.
No way. 11 My friends think he's cute. I can't see what he lookslike. I want you to describe him to me.
Where is he? Seth asked.
Over there, talking to Lydia Southwell, Kendra said, pointing subtly.
The blond kid?
I don't know. Red and black shirt?
He is cute! Seth gushed.
What does he look like?
He has the dreamiest eyes.
Knock it off, Kendra demanded.
He must be thinking the most beautiful thoughts.
Seth, I'm serious! The bell rang, announcing the end of lunch.
He's really a monster? Seth asked.
He looks a little like the creature who came in through the window on Midsummer Eve, Kendra said.
The one I salted?
Yes. What is he pretending to look like?
Is this a joke? Seth asked suspiciously. He's just some new kid you have a crush on, isn't he? If you're scared, I can go ask for his phone number.
I'm not messing around. Kendra swatted him on the arm.
He looks athletic. He's got a dent in his chin. Blond hair. It's kind of messy, but cool. Like it's on purpose. He could probably get a part on a soap opera. Good enough?
Not bald and covered in scabs and pus? Kendra verified.
Nope. Is he really all disgusting?
He makes me want to puke. Thanks, see you later.
Kendra hurried away.
Mr. Soap Opera was also moving away, still chatting with Lydia Southwell. For a monster, he had good taste. She was one of the cutest girls in the school.
Seth figured he had better get to class. Mr. Meyers had threatened to give him detention if he was late again.
* * * *
Kendra sat in silence as Dad chauffeured her to the movie theater. She had tried to persuade Alyssa not to go.
Alyssa had started to act suspicious that Kendra secretly wanted Case all to herself, and since Kendra could not tell her friend the truth, she had to drop it. In the end, Kendra had decided to join them, concluding that she could not leave her friends alone with a scheming goblin.
What movie are you seeing? Dad asked.
We're going to figure it out when we get there, Kendra said. Don't worry ---- nothing racy. Kendra wished she could tell her father about her predicament, but he knew nothing about the magical properties of the preserve Grandpa and