Fablehaven I (34 page)

do not know what spells bind Bahumat, but I am certain

that, given sufficient time, Muriel will find a way to

unravel them. I must act now.

Grandma slid off the stool, walked down an aisle,

opened a trunk, and withdrew an ornate box embossed

with vines and flowers. From the box she removed a small

crossbow not much larger than a pistol. She also took out a

small arrow with black fletching, an ivory shaft, and a silver

head.

Cool, Seth cried. I want one!

This dart will slay any being that was ever mortal,

including the enchanted or undead, if I can lodge it in a

lethal place.

Where is lethal? Kendra asked.

The heart and the brain are surest. Witches can be

tricky. This is the only talisman I am certain will slay

Muriel.

You’re going to kill her? Kendra whispered.

Only as a last resort. First I will try to have Hugo capture

her. But the stakes are too high for us to sally forth

without a failsafe. If the golem should unforeseeably disappoint

me, I lack the skills to subdue Muriel myself. Believe

me, the last thing I want is her blood on my hands. Killing

a mortal is not quite as grievous a crime as killing a mystical

being, but it would still dissolve most of the protection

afforded me by the treaty. I would probably have to banish

myself from the preserve.

But she’s trying to destroy the whole preserve! Seth

complained.

Not by directly killing anyone, Grandma said. The

chapel is neutral ground. If I go there and kill her, even if I

can justify the act, the protection of the treaty will never

again be mine.

I heard Dale shooting guns and stuff the night the

creatures came through our window, Kendra said.

Creatures were invading our territory, Grandma

explained. Regardless of the reason, by coming into this

house, they surrender all their protections. Under those circumstances,

Dale could slay them with no fear of retribution,

meaning his status under the treaty would remain

secure. This same principle could work against you if you

were to venture into certain forbidden areas of Fablehaven.

If you were thus stripped of all protection, it would be open

hunting season on Kendra and Seth. Which is precisely

why those areas are prohibited.

I don’t get who would punish you for killing Muriel,

Seth said.

The mystical barriers that protect me would be lifted,

and the punishment would naturally follow. You see, as

mortals, we can choose to break the rules. The mystical

creatures that seek asylum here are not afforded that luxury.

Many would break the rules if they could, but they are

bound. As long as I obey the rules, I am safe. But if I lose

the protections afforded by the treaty, the consequences of

my vulnerability would inevitably follow.

So does that mean Grandpa is alive for sure? Kendra

asked in a small voice. They can’t kill him or anything.

Stan has kept the rules pertaining to bloodshed, and

so, even on their night of revelry, the dark creatures of this

preserve would not be able to kill him. Nor would they be

able to force him to go to a place that would enable them

to kill him. Imprisoned, tortured, driven insane, turned to

lead-maybe. But he has to be alive. And I have to go after

him.

And I have to come with you, Seth said. You need

backup.

Hugo is my backup.

Seth scrunched his face, resisting tears. I’m not going

to lose you guys, especially when it’s my fault.

Grandma Sorenson embraced Seth. Sweetheart, I

appreciate your courage, but I’m not about to risk losing a

grandchild.

Won’t we be in just as much danger here as we would

be if we were with you? Kendra said. If the demon gets

loose, we’ll all be fried.

I mean to send you away, off the preserve, Grandma

said.

Kendra folded her arms. So we can wait outside the

gate until our parents get back, tell them you were killed

by a demon, and insist that we can’t go to the house

because it’s really a magical preserve that has fallen into

darkness?

Your parents do not know the true nature of this

place, Grandma said. Nor would they believe without

seeing.

Exactly! Kendra said. If you fail, the first thing Dad

will do is go straight to your house and investigate.

Nothing we could say would keep him away. And he’ll

probably call the cops, and the whole world will find out

about this place.

They wouldn’t see anything, Grandma said. But

many would die inexplicably. And actually, they could see

the cow, even without the milk, because Viola remains a

mortal being.

We came in handy with the troll, Seth said. And no

matter what you do or say, I’ll follow you anyways.

Grandma tossed up her hands. Sincerely, children, I

think all will be fine. I know I described a dire scenario, but

things like this happen on preserves from time to time, and

we normally get them resolved. I don’t see why this would

be any different. Hugo will mend the problem without serious

incident, and if it comes to it, I am a crack shot with

the crossbow. If you will just wait outside the gates, I’ll

come for you before it gets too late.

But I want to see Hugo pound Muriel, Seth insisted.

If we’re supposed to possibly inherit this place someday,

you won’t always be able to protect us from danger,

Kendra said. Wouldn’t it be a good experience for us to

watch you and Hugo handle the situation? Maybe we can

even help?

Field trip! Seth cried.

Grandma eyed them lovingly. You kids are growing up

so fast, she sighed.

The Forgotten Chapel

As the sun hesitated above the horizon, Kendra stared

out the side of the wagon, watching the trees streak

past. She remembered staring at trees out the window of

the SUV on the way to the preserve with her parents. This

ride was much noisier, bumpier, and windier. And the destination

was much more intimidating.

Hugo pulled the oversized rickshaw. Kendra doubted

that a team of horses could have matched the tireless speed

of his loping strides.

They reached an open area, and Kendra saw the tall

hedge that surrounded the pond with the gazebo boardwalk.

Strange to think that Lena had once lived there as a

naiad.

Before they had boarded the wagon, Grandma had

commanded Hugo to obey any instructions from Kendra

and Seth. She told Kendra and Seth that if things went

wrong, they should make a hasty retreat with Hugo. She

also cautioned them to be careful what they told Hugo to

do. Since he had no will of his own, the punishments for

his actions would fall upon the heads of those issuing the

orders.

Grandma had changed out of her bathrobe. She was

now dressed in faded jeans, work boots, and a green top ——

clothing scavenged from the attic. Seth had taken great

satisfaction in her choice of a green shirt.

Seth clutched a leather pouch. Grandma had explained

it was full of special dust that would keep undesirable creatures

away from them. She told Seth he could use it in the

same way he had used the salt in the bedroom. She also

warned him to use it only as a last resort. Any magic they

used would only lead to less tolerable retribution if they

failed. She had a pouch of the dust as well.

Kendra was empty-handed. Since she had not yet used

magic, Grandma said it would be a mistake for her to start

now. Apparently the protections of the treaty were quite

strong for those who totally abstained from magic and

mischief.

The wagon jolted over a particularly rough spot. Seth

caught hold of the side to avoid falling. He looked over his

shoulder and smiled. We’re hauling!

Kendra wished she could be so obliviously calm about

the whole thing. She was getting a sick feeling in her

stomach. It reminded her of the first time she had to sing a

solo in a school play. Fourth grade. She had always done

fine in the practices, but when she peeked out past the curtains

at the audience, a queasy feeling began brooding in

her belly, until she became certain that she would throw

up. At her cue, she walked out onto the bright stage, peering

into the dim crowd, unable to find her parents in the

throng. Her intro was playing, the moment arrived, and, as

she started singing, the fear dissipated and the nausea

vanished.

Would it be the same today? Was the anticipation

worse than the event itself? At least once they got there,

reality would replace uncertainty and they would be able

to do something, to act. All she could do at present was

worry.

How far away was this crazy church? Grandma said it

wouldn’t take Hugo much more than fifteen minutes, since

there was a decent road all the way. Although she kept an

eye out for unicorns, Kendra saw no fanciful creatures.

Everything was hiding.

The sun dipped below the horizon. Grandma was

pointing. Up ahead, in the middle of a clearing, sat an old

fashioned church house. It was a boxy structure with a row

of large windows fanged with broken glass and a single

cupola that probably contained a bell. The roof sagged.

The wooden walls were gray and splintered. There was no

guessing what the original color might have been. A short

flight of warped steps led up to an empty doorway, where

double doors had once granted access. It looked like a perfect

lair for bats and zombies.

Hugo slackened his pace, and they came to a stop in

front of the shadowy doorway. The church was completely

still. There was no sign anybody had been there in a hundred

years.

I’d rather have the sun, but at least we still have some

light, Grandma said, using a tool to set the silver-headed

arrow to the string of her undersized crossbow and pull it

into position. Let’s get this over with as soon as we can.

Evil likes darkness.

Why is that? Seth asked.

Grandma thought about the question a moment before

answering. Because evil likes to hide.

Kendra did not appreciate the tingles she got when

Grandma said that. Why don’t we talk about happy

things? she suggested as they climbed down from the

wagon.

Because we’re hunting witches and monsters, Seth

said.

Kendra’s right, Grandma said. It does us no good to

dwell on dark thoughts. But we do want to be on the road

and away from here before the twilight is gone.

I still say we should have brought some shotguns,

Seth said.

Hugo! Grandma said. Lead the way quietly into the