Fablehaven2-Rise of the Evening Star Page 5

was once again inanimate.

  Seth hurriedly backtracked, exiting the room. There was

  nothing he could do to hide the damage to the door, so he

  opened the accordion gate and entered the elevator. It

  squealed up one floor and rattled to a stop. He opened the

  gate and stepped out.

  The dog padding toward him made him jump, and he

  almost dropped the statue again. Fortunately, the shaggy animal

  seemed to have accepted his presence. Seth stooped and

  petted it for a moment, and then went to the door to the

  garage. He paused at the keypad and reset the alarm by

  pressing the Away button.

  Closing the door behind him, Seth pressed the button to

  open the garage door. When the automatic light came on,

  he switched off the flashlight. Seth jogged out onto the

  driveway and pressed the button again to shut the garage.

  Seth knew running would look more conspicuous, but

  he could not resist racing to the Volkswagen van. Errol

  opened the door and Seth climbed in.

  Well done, Errol said, starting the engine. It took a

  second to turn over.

  You were in there for a long time, Kendra said. I was

  getting worried.

  I found a computer and played some video games, Seth

  said.

  While we were out here stressing about you? Kendra

  exclaimed.

  I'm kidding, Seth said. I had to whack down a door

  with an ax. He turned to Errol. By the way, thanks for

  telling me about the dog.

  They were now driving down the road, the lighted sign

  of the funeral home receding behind them. There was a

  dog? Errol said. Archibald must really keep him hidden.

  Was he big?

  Enormous, Seth said. One of those dogs that looks

  like a giant mop. You know, with hair covering its eyes?

  A komondor? Errol said. You're fortunate; that breed

  can be really unfriendly to strangers. They were originally

  bred to guard livestock in Hungary.

  I played nice and gave it half of the dog biscuit, Seth

  said. The statue bit me!

  Are you all right? Kendra said.

  Yeah. Seth held up his thumb. It's hardly bleeding.

  I should have warned you, Errol said. Once the statue

  eats, it temporarily gets aggressive. Nothing to worry about,

  but they do nip at you.

  Tell the truth, you knew about the dog, didn't you?

  Seth accused.

  Errol knitted his brow. What makes you say that?

  Why send me in with a dog biscuit? You could have

  given me any food for the statue. I think you were worried I

  might not go if I knew there was a dog.

  I'm sorry, Seth, Errol said. I assure you the biscuit was

  a coincidence. Why would I warn you about the undead, yet

  not mention a dog?

  Good point, Seth admitted. At least I didn't see any

  zombies. That was a relief.

  So how does this statue get rid of the kobold? Kendra

  asked.

  For that, Errol said, you need simply follow my

  instructions.

  Vanessa

  The following morning in homeroom, well before the

  bell sounded, a steady murmur filled the air as students

  huddled in abnormal clusters. At the center of the clusters

  were the smartest kids, leafing through their notes. The

  others were trying to leech information, in hopes that some

  last-minute cramming might earn them a few extra right

  answers on the forthcoming finals.

  Alyssa hovered near Sasha Goethe, gleaning information

  for Science. Alyssa normally got impressive grades, but

  she worried a lot nonetheless. Kendra felt confident about

  the upcoming exams. They were not weighted as heavily as

  they would be next year in high school, and she had kept

  up on her readings and homework all year. She had

  skimmed her notes and reviewed her old tests. Even with

  the distraction of the excursion to the mortuary the night

  before, she was unconcerned.

  Besides, she had more pressing matters on her mind. The

  scabby kobold was the only other student in the room who

  appeared indifferent to the looming exams. Which made

  sense, considering he didn't have to take them. He sat at his

  desk with his hands folded. Mr. Reynolds, the same prematurely

  balding substitute from yesterday, sat behind Mrs.

  Price's desk.

  A wrapped package rested in front of Kendra. The paper

  had a pattern of reindeer and snowflakes. She had found it

  on a closet shelf, left over from the previous Christmas.

  Inside the paper was a shoebox, and inside the box was the

  stolen statue.

  The night before, prior to dropping off Kendra and Seth

  around the corner from their house, Errol had explained

  how to proceed. The figurine was apparently sacred to

  kobolds. Once a kobold took possession of it, he would be

  compelled to return it to the shrine where it belonged, hidden

  deep in the Himalayas. Errol also stressed that kobolds

  were suckers for gifts, so all they needed to do was wrap up

  the statue like a present and give it to him. The rest would

  take care of itself.

  It sounded almost too easy to be true. But Kendra had

  learned at Fablehaven that sometimes powerful magic was

  worked through simple means. For example, keeping a captured

  fairy indoors overnight would turn her into an imp.

  Kendra studied the kobold. The instant popularity Case

  had initially enjoyed was fading as his rancid breath became

  legendary. He had now also kissed Trina Funk and Lydia

  Southwell, and, along with Alyssa, they had wasted no time

  spreading the word about his chronic halitosis.

  The bell would ring in less than a minute. Kendra had

  been toying with having somebody else deliver the gift, in

  case the kobold knew to distrust her. But with time running

  out, she decided that she could always rewrap it and have

  somebody less suspect give the figurine to him later if this

  attempt failed. By now he had seen the present in her possession

  anyway.

  Kendra took the wrapped shoebox to his desk. Hi,

  Case.

  He leered up at her. Kendra.

  I know I haven't been very kind since you arrived,

  Kendra said. I thought I would make a peace offering.

  The kobold glanced down at the present and back into

  her eyes. What? More mouthwash?

  Kendra stifled a laugh. No, something nice. If you don't

  want it-

  Give it. He reached for the present, and she let him

  take it. He shook the package, revealing nothing, because

  Kendra had packed the statue snugly amid wadded

  newspapers.

  The bell rang. You're welcome to open it, Kendra said.

  Study groups disbanded and everyone went to their desks.

  Kendra returned to her desk as Case unwrapped the gift.

  By the time Kendra sat down, Case had the lid off the

  shoebox and was rummaging through the newspapers. He

  froze, staring. Then he slowly pulled out the statuette,

  holding it gingerly. Glancing over his shoulder, he glowered

  at Kendra.

>   The substitute gave a couple of announcements and

  then welcomed the class to use the remainder of homeroom

  as a review session. Alyssa asked if he knew anything about

  Mrs. Price. He replied that he had not been informed.

  The study clusters re-formed rapidly. The kobold collected

  his things, placing the statue in his backpack, and

  walked toward the door, giving Kendra a final venomous

  glare.

  Hey, where are you going? the substitute asked.

  The rest room, Case replied.

  You need a hall pass, the substitute said.

  Ten to one I can manage without one, Case sneered.

  The substitute could not have been older than thirty. He

  had a laid-back air and did not look accustomed to having

  students behave with such insolence. Ten to one you're

  heading to the principal's office, the sub said, his face

  becoming stern.

  The class was growing silent as the exchange continued.

  Case smirked. I'll take that bet. Five hundred dollars. That

  would be, what, three years' earnings?

  Case opened the door. The substitute stood up. You're

  not going anywhere!

  Case exited and dashed down the hall. The substitute

  remained impotently by the desk. What's his name? he

  asked, bewildered.

  Casey Hancock, Alyssa reported. But you can call

  him dog breath.

  Seth was heading for the bus when he recognized a

  familiar man in an outmoded suit. He diverted from his

  course to speak with Errol.

  Did you hear? Seth said. Kendra gave Case the package

  this morning and he left immediately.

  Errol nodded. I followed the kobold out of town. You

  will never see him again. A kobold seldom travels far unless

  compelled.

  Thanks for your help, Seth said. I better catch my

  bus.

  Can you spare a moment? Errol asked. You did an

  exceptional job at the funeral home last night. Better than

  many of the trained professionals I have partnered with in

  the past. I could use some assistance with one other task.

  What?

  A similar mission, actually. I need to recover an amulet

  from a member of the Society of the Evening Star. It would

  issue quite a blow to their organization.

  They're the people trying to destroy all the magical preserves

  like Fablehaven, Seth said. And free the demons.

  Sharp lad.

  Is it a vampire again? Seth asked.

  Nothing so exotic, Errol assured him. The amulet is

  on a houseboat. The owner is out of the country, so the boat

  is currently vacant. The only catch is, we'll have to drive a

  few hours to get there. It would take all night. If we left at

  ten or so, I could have you back before six in the morning.

  Tonight is a school night, Seth said.

  Which is why I was planning on tomorrow night, Errol

  said. The school year will be over. Your sister can help with

  this one. The barrier on the houseboat functions only

  against those eighteen and older.

  I'll talk it over with her. How should I confirm?

  I will be at the service station tomorrow night. Come

  as close to ten as you can. Show up before ten-thirty, and I'll

  be waiting. Otherwise I'll assume you declined.

  Got it. I better go; the buses will leave any minute.

  By all means, Errol said. By all means.

  * * * *

  Kendra placed a period after the final sentence of the

  final essay of her final exam. English. She knew she had aced

  it, just as she had sailed through the others. Once she

  handed in the test, middle school would be officially over. It

  was Friday afternoon, and there were almost three months

  between her and the next homework assignment.

  Yet as Kendra turned in the exam, she did not

  experience the euphoria she had earned. Instead she was

  weighed down by the question of whether she should sneak

  out of her house to break into a houseboat hundreds of miles

  away with a virtual stranger and her younger brother.

  As of that morning, she still had not reached her

  grandpa by telephone, and he still had not replied to the letter

  she had mailed Tuesday. She had told Seth that until she

  confirmed the identity of Errol Fisk with Grandpa, they were

  not going on a road trip with him in the middle of the night.

  The thing with the kobold had been a desperate situation.

  Now they could afford to wait a day or two.

  Seth had ranted about her being a traitor and a coward.

  He had complained that if there was a chance to harm the

  Society of the Evening Star, they had better take it. He had

  finished by threatening to join Errol with or without her.

  Having completed the exam early, Kendra had about

  twenty minutes before the buses would be leaving. She went

  to her locker and took her time loading everything she

  wanted to keep into her backpack, including the pictures she

  had clipped from magazines and taped to the inside of the

  door. Maybe Seth had a point. Checking with Grandpa was

  more of a formality at this stage. Errol had already helped

  them dispose of the kobold. If he had wanted to harm them,

  he'd had his chance when he took them to the mortuary.

  Kendra tried to be completely honest with herself. She

  was afraid of going to the houseboat. If it belonged to somebody

  from the Society of the Evening Star, it would be very

  dangerous. And this time she would have to go inside, not

  just wait in the van.

  She zipped her backpack. What she wanted was for

  Grandpa Sorenson to tell her that Errol was a friend but that

  stealing amulets from houseboats in the middle of the night

  was no job for children. Or teenagers. And it was true!

  Barriers or no barriers, it seemed peculiar that Errol recruited

  kids for tasks like this.

  She headed down the hall and out the doors. The sun

  was shining. The buses idled in a line along the curb. Only a

  few kids were on them. Ten minutes remained before school

  would officially let out.

  Was Seth right? Was she a coward? She had been brave

  on the preserve when she sought help from the Fairy Queen

  and rescued everybody. She had been brave when trying to

  get rid of the kobold. Brave enough to sneak out of the

  house and go with Errol. But those were emergencies. She

  had been forced to be brave. What happened to her courage

  without an immediate threat? How dangerous was sneaking

  onto an empty houseboat? Nothing had happened at the

  mortuary; Seth had gone in and out. Errol would not take

  them to the houseboat if it was too dangerous. He was a

  professional.

  Kendra climbed onto her bus, walked to the back, and

  plopped down onto a seat. Her last bus ride from Roosevelt

  Middle School. She was now in high school. Maybe she

  ought to start acting more like an adult and less like a

  scaredy-cat.

  Seth whistled as he inventoried his emergency kit. He

  clicked the flashlight on and off. He examined an assortment

  of firecrackers. He inspected
the slingshot he had

  received for Christmas.

  Kendra sat on his bed, chin in her hand. You really

  think firecrackers are going to come in handy? she asked.

  You never know, Seth answered.

  I get it, Kendra said. Somebody might want to have

  an early Fourth of July celebration.

  Seth shook his head in exasperation. Yeah, or we might

  need a diversion. He ignited a flame with his cigarette

  lighter to make sure it worked. Then he held up a couple of

  dog biscuits. I added these since the mortuary. I might have

  been eaten alive without one.

  I can't believe you talked me into this, Kendra said.

  Neither can I, Seth agreed.

  Mom opened the door, holding the cordless telephone.

  Kendra, Grandpa Sorenson wants to speak with you.

  Brightening, Kendra jumped off the bed. Okay. She

  took the phone. Hi, Grandpa.

  Kendra, I need you to go someplace where you can

  speak freely, Grandpa said, his tone urgent.

  Just a second. Kendra rushed into her room and shut

  the door. What is it?

  I fear you and your brother may be in danger, Grandpa

  said.

  Her grip tightened on the phone. Why?

  I have just received reports of some disturbing activity

  in your area.

  Kendra relaxed a little. I know, I've been trying to call

  you. There was a kobold in my school.

  A what? Grandpa exclaimed.

  It's okay, a guy named Errol Fisk helped us get rid of it.

  He knows your friend Coulter.

  Coulter Dixon?

  I guess. Errol said Coulter found out about the kobold

  and recruited him to help us get rid of it.

  When did this happen?

  This week.

  Grandpa paused. Kendra, Coulter has been here at

  Fablehaven for more than a month.

  She squeezed the phone, knuckles white. A sick feeling

  was creeping into her stomach. What do you mean?

  I'll confirm with Coulter, but I'm sure this man

  approached you under false pretenses. You must not go near

  him.

  Kendra was silent. She looked at her digital clock. It was

  :11 P.M. In less than two hours they were supposed to meet

  Errol at the service station. He was going to pick us up

  tonight, she said.

  Pick you up?

  To take us to steal an amulet from a houseboat. He said

  it would harm the Society of the Evening Star.

  Kendra, this man is almost certainly a member of the

  Society of the Evening Star. They recently stole something

  from a friend of mine.

  Kendra's mouth was dry. Her heart was sinking. What