by Brandon Mull
up beside it, completing the barricade. The road was only
two lanes wide, and the scant shoulder was steep and rocky.
Vanessa cranked the car into a slide and, after a wild
fishtail, tires spinning and smoking, they were again facing
the lumbering strawman. The bulky creature shuffled toward
them. Vanessa gunned the engine. As the screaming tires
gained traction, the car picked up speed, but with the dullion
rapidly drawing closer, there was not enough space to
get going really fast.
Without much room to maneuver, Vanessa did her best,
bringing the car to the right edge of the road, then cutting
across to the left just before they reached the monster. The
tactic kept them from plowing directly into the dullion, but
the lunging strawman pounded the car with its huge fists as
they roared past. It sounded like they had been struck by a
rocket. The car trembled and skidded, and for a terrible
moment Kendra thought they were going to sail off the road,
but Vanessa regained control and they raced away.
Part of the roof had crumpled above Kendra, and cracks
webbed her window and the sunroof. The wheels smelled
like they were on fire. But the engine purred and the car
seemed to be driving smoothly as the speedometer topped
ninety.
Sorry about the turbulence, Vanessa said. Everybody
all right?
I bet we left some sweet skid marks, Seth gushed.
What was that thing?
A golem made out of straw, Kendra said.
It looked ridiculous, Seth said. Like a moving
haystack.
Kendra realized that Seth had not seen the true form of
the creature that had assailed them. You haven't had milk,
Seth.
Oh, yeah. Did he look like Hugo?
Sort of, Kendra said, but bigger and sloppier.
The thing bashed us hard, Seth said. He caved in the
roof.
They turned onto a wider road, tires whining mildly,
then accelerated aggressively. We were lucky to get away
with so little damage, Vanessa said. The body of the car
has been reinforced and the windows are bulletproof. A
lesser vehicle would no longer be running. They chose the
right spot for an ambush.
How could something made of hay hit us so hard? Seth
asked.
Who knows what was underneath the straw? Kendra
said.
Which is why I didn't just ram him in the first place,
Vanessa said. Good thing for us.
Kendra checked the speedometer. They were going
faster than a hundred miles per hour. Don't you worry about
speed traps?
Vanessa grinned. Nobody will be able to catch us without
a helicopter.
Really? Seth said.
I've never had a ticket, Vanessa bragged. But I've
been chased. I'm tough to catch, especially outside of metropolitan
areas. I'll have you to Fablehaven in a little over
two hours.
Two hours! Kendra exclaimed.
How do you think I reached your house so soon after
you spoke with Stan? We can comfortably average a hundred
and fifty on the interstate. Late at night, with our lights off,
anybody holding a radar gun will think they clocked a
UFO.
This might be the coolest day of my life, Seth said.
Except that I don't have anyplace to put my legs.
I don't normally speed for fun, Vanessa explained. But
we might have enemies following us. Tonight, it's the
smartest course of action. By the way, Seth, your grandma
sent you this. She opened a small ice chest between the
front seats and removed a little bottle of milk.
Now you tell me, after I missed the dullion. He
accepted the milk and drank it. What's the difference
between a dullion and a golem?
Quality, mostly, Vanessa said. Dullions are a bit easier
to create. Although I haven't seen one in ages. Like
golems, they're nearly extinct. Whoever was after you has
unusual resources.
They drove in silence for a moment. Kendra folded her
arms. I'm sorry we wrecked your beautiful car.
It wasn't your fault, Vanessa said. Believe it or not,
I've given cars bigger bruises than that one.
Kendra frowned. I feel so stupid for letting Errol take
advantage of us.
Your grandfather filled me in, Vanessa said. You were
trying to do the right thing. It was a textbook Society
infiltration-setting up a threat, then making it look like
they helped you solve the problem in order to build trust.
I'm sure they also cut off your communication with Stan.
Speaking of Stan…
Vanessa flipped open a small cell phone. Kendra and
Seth sat in silence while Vanessa reported to Grandpa that
they were on the road and all right. She briefly related the
incident with Errol and the dullion, then snapped the phone
shut.
What did I steal from Grandpa's friend? Seth asked.
A demon called Olloch the Glutton, Vanessa said.
I'm assuming you fed it?
Errol said it was the only way to move it, Seth said
wretchedly.
Errol was right, Vanessa said. You broke the spell that
bound it. It bit you?
Yeah, is that bad?
They'll tell you more about it at Fablehaven, Vanessa
promised.
Did it poison me?
No.
Am I going to turn into a frog or something?
No. Wait until Fablehaven. Your grandparents have
much to share with you.
Please tell me now, Seth said.
I'll check the wound when we stop for gas.
Wouldn't you want to know? Seth pleaded.
She paused. I suppose I would. But I told your grandparents
I would let them deliver the news, and I like to be
true to my word. There is some danger involved, but nothing
immediate. I'm sure we will get it resolved.
Seth fingered the tiny scabs on his hand. Okay. Is there
anything you can tell us?
They reached the on-ramp for the interstate. Keep
those seat belts fastened, she replied.
New Arrivals
When the car finally slowed and pulled onto the gravel
driveway, Kendra was fighting to keep her eyes open.
She had learned that even rocketing along the freeway at
one hundred and forty miles per hour became monotonous
after a while. It did not take long to lose the sense of how
fast you were going. Especially in the dark.
After they left the highway, the road curved more, and
Vanessa slowed considerably. She had warned that if there
were another ambush, it would most likely come near the
entrance to Fablehaven.
As they crunched over the gravel, a single headlight
came toward them from around a bend. It belonged to a
four-wheeler. Dale rode on it, and waved when he saw them.
All clear, Vanessa said. They followed Dale past the
No Trespassing signs and through the tall, spiked, wrought-
iron gates. He stopped to close the gates behind them while
Vanessa proceeded to the house.
Kendra f
elt a vast sense of relief to be back at
Fablehaven. Part of her had wondered whether she would
ever return. At times, the previous summer seemed unreal,
like a long, strange dream. But there was the house, lights
shining in the windows. The stately gables, the weathered
stonework, and the turret on the side. Come to think of it,
she had never found her way into the turret, even though
she had accessed both sides of the attic. She would have to
ask Grandpa about it.
Amid the shadowed shrubs of the garden, Kendra
noticed the colorful twinkle of fairies flitting about. They
were rarely out in great numbers after sundown, so she was
mildly surprised to see at least thirty or forty drifting
throughout the yard-flickering in red, blue, purple, green,
orange, white, and gold. Kendra supposed the unusual quantity
could be explained by the increased fairy population
resulting from the hundreds of imps she had helped restore
to fairy form the previous year.
It was sad to think that her friend Lena would not be
there to welcome her. The fairies had returned the house-
keeper to the pond from which Patton Burgess had lured her
years ago. Lena had not seemed eager to go back, but then
the last time Kendra had seen her, Lena had tried to pull her
into the pond. Even so, Kendra felt determined to find a way
to free her friend from her watery prison. She remained
convinced that, deep down, Lena preferred life as a mortal
to life as a naiad.
Vanessa brought the damaged sports car to a stop in
front of the house. Grandma Sorenson started walking from
the front porch to the driveway. Kendra climbed out and
pulled the seat forward to release Seth from his confinement.
He scrambled out, then paused to stretch.
I'm so relieved to see you're all right, Grandma said,
giving Kendra a hug.
Except my legs are numb, Seth groaned, rubbing his
calves.
He means we're happy to see you, too, Kendra
apologized.
Grandma embraced Seth, who seemed a little reluctant.
Look at you, she said. You've grown a mile.
Dale skidded to a stop on the four-wheeler, leapt off, and
helped Vanessa take the suitcases out of the trunk. Seth hurried
over to help. Kendra reached into the backseat and
retrieved the duffel bags.
Looks like you took quite a hit, Grandma said, surveying
the gash in the roof of the otherwise streamlined vehicle.
She still handled surprisingly well, Vanessa said, picking
up Seth's suitcase. Seth reached for it.
We'll cover any costs for repairs, Grandma said.
Vanessa shook her head. I spend a fortune on insurance.
Let them foot the bill. She rewarded Seth's persistence by
relinquishing his suitcase.
Together they walked to the front door and entered the
house. Grandpa sat in a wheelchair in the entry hall. His left
leg was in a cast that went from his toes to the top of his
shin. A second cast covered his right arm from wrist to
shoulder. Fading bruises marked his face, yellowish and gray
splotches. But he was grinning.
A pair of men flanked Grandpa. One was a hulking
Polynesian with a broad nose and cheerful eyes. His tank top
revealed massive, sloping shoulders. A thorny green tattoo
wreathed his thick upper arm. The other man was an older
fellow a few inches shorter than Kendra, thin and wiry. His
head was bald except for a gray tuft in the middle and a
fringe around the sides. He wore several trinkets around his
neck, affixed to leather cords or dull chains. He also wore a
couple of braided bracelets and a wooden ring. None of it
looked valuable. The pinky finger was missing from his left
hand, as was part of the ring finger.
Welcome back, Grandpa cried, beaming. It's so good
to see you. Kendra wondered if he was trying to compensate
for his injured appearance with exuberance. Kendra,
Seth, I would like you to meet Tanugatoa Dufu. Grandpa
gestured at the Polynesian man with his unbroken arm.
Everyone calls me Tanu, he said. He was soft-spoken,
with a deep voice and clear enunciation. His playful eyes
and mild voice went a long way toward offsetting his otherwise
intimidating appearance.
And this is Coulter Dixon, a name Kendra has heard
before, Grandpa said.
Coulter regarded them with a measuring gaze. Any
friend of Stan's is a friend of mine, he said, sounding less
than sincere.
Nice to meet you, Kendra said.
Any friend of Grandpa's… Seth added.
Dale and Vanessa collected the bags Kendra and Seth
were holding and started up the stairs.
And of course the two of you have met Vanessa
Santoro, Grandpa said. Tanu, Coulter, and Vanessa have
joined us here at Fablehaven to help with the workload. As
you can see, I took a tumble last week, so their assistance has
become even more valuable in recent days.
What happened? Seth asked.
We'll reserve that discussion, and many others, for
tomorrow. Midnight is long gone. You've had an eventful
day. Your room is ready and waiting. Get some sleep, and
we'll make sense of the situation in the morning.
I want to know what bit me, Seth said.
Tomorrow, Grandpa promised.
I don't think I could sleep now, Kendra said.
You may surprise yourself, Grandma said from behind,
ushering Kendra and Seth toward the stairs.
Morning will come soon enough, Grandpa said. As
Kendra started up the stairs, Tanu wheeled Grandpa in the
direction of the study.
Kendra ran her hand along the smooth finish of the banister.
She had seen this house in ruins after Seth had foolishly
opened the attic window on Midsummer Eve. And she
had seen it restored after an army of brownies had repaired
it overnight, making unpredictable improvements in much
of the furniture. As Kendra entered the attic playroom, it
felt familiar and safe, in spite of the night when she and her
brother were pinned inside a circle of salt by ferocious
invaders.
Here's your things, Dale said, indicating the bags
beside the beds. Welcome back.
Sweet dreams, Vanessa said, exiting the room with
Dale.
Can I offer you anything? Grandma asked. Some
warm milk?
Sure, Seth said. Thanks.
Dale will bring it up momentarily, Grandma said. She
gave each of them a hug. I'm so glad you arrived safely.
Have pleasant dreams. We'll catch up properly in the morning.
She left the room.
Seth dug into his suitcase. Can you keep a secret? he
asked.
Kendra crouched to unzip her duffel bag. Yes, but you
can't, so I'm sure you'd tell me either way.
He pulled a jumbo pack of size C batteries from his suitcase.
I'm going to leave here a millionaire.
Where'd you get those?
I picked them up a long time ago, Seth said. Just in
case.
You think you're going to sell them to the satyrs?
So they can watch TV.
Kendra shook her head. The satyrs they had met in the
woods after stealing soup from the ogress had promised Seth
gold if he would bring them batteries for their portable television.
I'm not sure I would trust Newel and Doren to pay
up.
That's why all payments have to be made in advance,
Seth said, replacing the batteries in his suitcase and taking
out the oversized T-shirt and shorts that he used as pajamas.
We've already talked about it.
When?
Last summer, while you were sleeping forever after the
fairies kissed you-during one of those rare moments when
somebody wasn't scolding me. I'll be in the bathroom. He
headed out the door and down the stairs.
Kendra took advantage of the opportunity to change
into her nightclothes. Not long after she changed, there
came a soft knock at the door. Come in, she said. Dale
entered with two mugs of warm milk on a tray. He left the
drinks on the nightstand.
Pulling back her sheets, Kendra climbed into bed and
began sipping at her milk. Seth came into the room, picked
up his mug, and chugged the contents. Wiping his mouth on
his arm, he walked over to the window. There's lots of
fairies out tonight.
I bet they'll be happy to see you again, Kendra said.
Seth had started a feud with the fairies during their previous
visit after he had captured one and inadvertently turned her
into an imp.
They forgave me, he said. We're friends now. He
switched off the light and jumped into bed.
Kendra finished her milk and placed the empty mug on
the nightstand. You're not going to do anything stupid this
time, are you, she said.
I've learned my lesson.
Because it sounds like something bad is going on,
Kendra said. They don't need you making it worse.
I'll be the perfect grandchild.
Once you get your gold from the satyrs, Kendra said.
Yeah, after that.
She lay back, letting her head sink into the feathery pillow,
and stared up at the sharp angles of the attic ceiling.
What would Grandpa and Grandma tell them in the morning?
Why had Errol taken such an interest in them? Why
had he ambushed them? What had bitten Seth? What about
Vanessa, Tanu, and Coulter? What were their stories? Where
had they come from? How long would they stay? Why
replace Lena with three people? Wasn't Fablehaven supposed