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. n.o.body 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,74 anybody holding a radar gun will think they clocked aUFO.

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...75 Vanessa flipped open a small cell phone. Kendra andSeth 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 a.s.suming 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.76 Seth fingered the tiny scabs on his hand. Okay. Is thereanything you can tell us?

They reached the on-ramp for the interstate. Keep those seat belts fastened, she replied.77New 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 the77 78 No Trespa.s.sing signs and through the tall, spiked, wrought-iron gates. He stopped to close the gates behind them while Vanessa proceeded to the house.

Kendra felt 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 quant.i.ty 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 remained79 convinced that, deep down, Lena preferred life as a mortalto 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 left80 leg was in a cast that went from his toes to the top of hisshin. 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 ma.s.sive, sloping shoulders. A th.o.r.n.y 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.81 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 a.s.sistance 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 her82 brother were pinned inside a circle of salt by ferociousinvaders.

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.83 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.