Fablehaven2-Rise of the Evening Star

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