Fablehaven: The Complete Series (247 page)

“Armor gets much more convenient once people start trying to cut you open,” Warren said.

“At least I look normal,” Kendra said.

“I see you wrapped your sword in a sheet,” Warren observed.

Kendra held it up. “Best disguise we could manage on short notice.”

“I think we should let Kendra approach Civia,” Bracken suggested. “We don’t want to spook her.”

“Approaching her could be dangerous,” Warren cautioned.

“True,” Bracken agreed. “Civia will be on the defensive and may react desperately. But Kendra will feel much less threatening than either of us, and you can go in with her to keep an eye on the discussion.”

“Since I’m not dressed in animal hides,” Warren said.

“I’m expecting a fight,” Bracken said. “I’ll wait out here. Sorry it took us longer than I had hoped to meet up with you. Raxtus had to rest for a couple of hours in Arizona. He has flown a lot of miles in very few days.”

“No problem,” Warren said. “I barely got to Texas ahead of you. My plane only landed three hours ago.”

“Should I bring the sword?” Kendra asked.

“Leave it,” Bracken said. “We don’t want to make her even more nervous. Niko said her guardian is female, and is currently shaped like a bichon frise.”

“A bichon frise?” Kendra asked.

“A
female
shape-shifter?” Warren wondered.

“A bichon frise is a lapdog with curly white fur,” Bracken said. “I’m not sure how gender works with shape-shifters. But Niko called her female.”

“Is Niko getting close?” Warren asked.

“He’s not far,” Bracken said. “Should catch up within the hour.”

“We should probably get in there,” Kendra said. “I’m scared the bad guys will show up again.”

Bracken nodded. “What was Civia driving?”

“The little compact over there,” Warren said, pointing. “Nondescript. She knows how to blend.”

“Try to bring her back here,” Bracken said. “Keep in touch with the stone.”

“You got it,” Warren said. “Kendra, follow me after about thirty seconds.”

Warren got out of the SUV. Kendra counted to thirty in her mind and then exited the vehicle. She walked to the front of the store, chose a cart, and wheeled it past the checkout counters, in case a girl with a bichon frise was on her way out. She saw several women checking out, but none had a dog.

Kendra doubled back across the front of the store, looking down the aisles. When she saw Warren selecting cereal, he jerked his head toward the produce section.

In the produce section, Kendra immediately spotted a young woman with dark, straight hair examining apples. She wore jeans, running shoes, and a TCU sweatshirt. Her brown skin suggested she might be Indian or Middle Eastern. A fluffy white dog sat patiently in the infant seat of a well-laden shopping cart.

The dog took an interest in Kendra, so she looked away. She wheeled her cart over to the oranges and started handling them. The woman pushed her cart over to the broccoli. The dog caught Kendra staring again. Deciding to be direct, Kendra steered her cart toward the woman.

The dog seemed to mumble something, and the young woman studied Kendra as she approached. Kendra maintained eye contact with the woman.

“Can I help you?” the woman asked with a relaxed smile.

“Please believe me,” Kendra began, glancing at the dog. “I’m here to help. The Society is moving in on you again.”

“What society?” the woman chuckled, slipping a hand into her purse. “You must have mistaken me for someone else.”

“No, Civia, I’m serious.”

The woman’s eyes widened. She quickly surveyed the area. They were currently the only shoppers in the produce section. “What are you doing?” she whispered uncomfortably.

“They have the Oculus,” Kendra said in a quiet voice. “I’m here with a unicorn, a dragon, and a friend, to try to save your life.”

“The girl has an uncanny glow,” the dog murmured in a female voice.

Civia stepped toward Kendra, resting a hand on her shoulder. Her other hand covertly held a switchblade at her side. “Listen, sweetheart, I don’t know who you are, but I’ve been doing just fine on my own for a long, long time. I work alone.”

The knife at her side had Kendra’s full attention. She realized that the wrong words or action might get her stabbed. “You’re the last Eternal,” she whispered.

Civia faltered for a moment; then her gaze hardened. The tip of the switchblade pricked Kendra. “Leave your cart,” Civia ordered. “Walk out of here with me.”

“I’m not alone,” Kendra said.

Warren stepped into view, hands on his shopping cart, eyes on Civia. Kendra had never seen him look quite so serious. Civia glanced at him.

“Presumably your friends don’t want you killed,” Civia hissed. “I believe you’re trying to help, or I’d have already gutted you. But I don’t work with partners. No exceptions. I’ve obviously been identified here. I’ll move on.”

“Your enemies can follow you with the Oculus,” Kendra argued. “And we can track you with help from the leader of your shape-shifters. He’ll be here soon.”

“I’ve killed many people over the years,” Civia whispered. “I could end you right now, then take care of your glaring friend.”

“You won’t defeat the people who are coming for you,” Kendra warned, braced for the switchblade to rip into her at any moment. “They have a big team, and all the right weapons. You need to change your strategy and flee to Wyrmroost. Agad is there. He may be able to protect you.”

Warren trundled his cart toward them.

“That’s close enough,” Civia told him.

Warren stopped. “I don’t care who you are,” he said. “You harm Kendra and I’ll break your neck.”

Civia frowned, the knife moving slightly away from Kendra’s side. “Okay, you win,” she sighed, shoulders sagging. Then she shoved Kendra at Warren and sprinted for the back of the store.

As Warren steadied Kendra, the bichon frise sprang at Warren from the shopping cart, transforming into a small wolverine in midair. Warren batted the wolverine with the back of his fist, sending it flying into a bin of potatoes. “Go back to the parking lot,” he told Kendra as he took off after Civia.

“Don’t fight us,” Kendra scolded the snarling wolverine.

The wolverine changed into an owl and flew after Warren. From the back of the store, an unseen woman screamed. Kendra retreated out the front of the store in time to see the SUV screeching out of view toward the rear of the building. Apparently Warren was in communication with Bracken.

Running to the side of the store, Kendra sprinted along the asphalt toward the back. Upon arrival, she found the SUV parked crookedly, and saw Warren using a mop to fend off a furious owl. Civia was pinned to the ground as if by an unseen force. Raxtus.

“We’ve caused a scene,” Bracken warned Civia. He stood over her, holding her switchblade. “Whatever our future arrangement, we need to get away from here.”

“Fine,” Civia spat.

“Into the car,” Bracken said.

Suddenly able to rise, Civia hurried into the SUV. Warren claimed the driver’s seat. Kendra took shotgun. Civia, Bracken, and the owl settled in the back. Warren started driving toward the street.

“A dragon?” Civia sputtered. “Really? Who are you people?”

Bracken took her hand. The act seemed to calm her. “We’re here to help,” he said. “I can see that you’ve been running for a long time.”

She jerked her hand away. “Get out of my head.”

“Leave her alone!” the owl shrieked.

“Quiet the owl,” Bracken said.

“Janan, be still,” Civia said.

The owl turned back into a lapdog.

“I didn’t mean to intrude,” Bracken said. “It’s just quicker if I examine your mind.”

“I prefer words,” Civia insisted. “You say the Society is after me. How do I know you aren’t an enemy?”

“He really is a unicorn,” Janan said. “They have distinctive auras.”

“If we wanted you dead, we had you,” Bracken reminded her.

Civia closed her eyes and leaned her head back. “Involving others in my life leads to failure and heartache. Most of my near misses have resulted from relationships. I’ve gotten good people killed. I’ve done much better on my own.”

“Until recently,” Bracken prompted.

She opened her eyes. “I was in a small village in Ecuador just a couple of weeks ago. Way off the map. I ran a modest bakery. I had a few casual friends. Nobody knew my secret. I had been there three years. And I was ambushed. No warning. Until you mentioned the Oculus, I had no idea how they found me. I killed a couple of my assailants and escaped into the jungle. Had I not been well prepared, they would have had me. But I’m careful. I hide weapons in convenient locations. I hide motorcycles and watercraft. Even helicopters. I set traps. My job is to stay alive, and I take it very seriously.”

“The rules have changed,” Bracken advised. “Your enemies now have the Oculus. They possess vast resources, and they know what it takes to kill you.”

“I have identities all over the world,” Civia protested. “I’m fluent in over thirty languages, passable in thirty more. I have access to huge sums of money. I’m an expert at altering my look.”

“Even if you stay in constant motion, they’ll catch you,” Bracken said. “You have to change tactics and get behind unassailable walls.”

“No walls are unassailable,” Civia muttered.

“But many afford better protection than a grocery store,” Warren commented. “Do we have a destination?”

“Do you have an opinion?” Bracken asked Civia.

“I have a storage locker loaded with equipment. Hand me the GPS.”

Kendra took the GPS off the dashboard and handed it to Civia. She began punching in a destination.

“Our dragon can fly you to Wyrmroost,” Bracken said. “Agad will grant you safe haven once he knows the particulars.”

“Who is wielding the Oculus?” Civia asked.

“A demon named Graulas has wrested control of the Society from the Sphinx,” Bracken explained. “Another demon, Nagi Luna, has proven to be most adept at employing the Oculus. Two Eternals have died in the last week. An inside operative has confirmed that assassins are presently moving to eliminate you.”

“The last one,” Civia sighed. “Calling us Eternals was never very accurate. We are not immune to death. Anyone who can die, will eventually die. I always assumed I would be the last. I don’t know how anyone else could have been more cautious than I. I’ve studied endless fighting techniques, I keep my body well conditioned, I avoid suspicious behavior, I eschew vices, I shun close relationships, I’m always on guard, always preparing for the worst. Still, I can hardly believe the others are truly gone. There was an added sense of security knowing they were out there. The Society has all of the artifacts?”

“All of them,” Bracken said. “And they know how to get to Zzyzx. You’re their final obstacle.”

She turned and stared out the window. “It had to happen eventually. For so long, I’ve lived like I was the last impediment to the opening of Zzyzx. And now I am. It isn’t much of a life, the way I live. I’m detached. An outsider. My only companionship comes from Janan, for which I will be forever grateful. But my life is unpleasant. Funny, for a long while now, I have quietly relished the thought of an end, looked forward to the day my enemies would finally outmaneuver me. That day has finally arrived.”

“You’re not dead yet,” Warren assured her.

“We’ll get you to Wyrmroost,” Bracken pledged.

Civia shook her head sadly. “We’ll try. Based on the scenario you described, I won’t make it.”

“The dragon—” Bracken began.

“The dragon felt small,” Civia said. “Valiant, no doubt, but small. If this demon is as adept with the Oculus as you say, we will be intercepted and I will be destroyed. With the Oculus to guide them, if all of their attention is now focused on me, and they have the kind of resources you described, we have no realistic defense.”

“We have to try,” Kendra said.

“Of course we’ll try,” Civia said. “I’m sorry if I sound fatalistic. I try to assess my circumstances honestly. Experience and effort have made my judgment reliable. But maybe we’ll get lucky. You’re right that hiding at Wyrmroost could provide a temporary solution. At least we know Agad will be sympathetic to my plight. Having the dragon transport me there probably represents my best chance for survival.”

“But you don’t think it’s much of a chance,” Warren said.

“Not really,” Civia said simply.

“You’re right,” Bracken said reluctantly. “They used wyverns against us in Santa Monica. Raxtus managed to slay them, but had trouble protecting his passengers in the process. Of course, the Eternal in Santa Monica had a death wish. Even so, our enemies are too close to their goal. They’ll throw everything they have at us before they let you reach Wyrmroost. But what else can we do?”