*** [ IMPORTANT!] Before I start this chapter, I want to apologize for future stories. Most of them will be about Seth, for he is my favorite character in the Fablehaven series, and even more are probably going to be about him and others dying. Don't ask me why I write such sad stories because I don't know. Those kind of stories are the ones that pop into my mind. Anyway, I will require at least 1 review from each chapter, and 1 idea if possible.

Now, I this will probably be the last author's note I will have unless I really need to say something, so I want to thank Alyssa Belle for the review, and Christian, who has been my friend through numerous stories and chapters. Thank you for the continuing support, when I need it the most! You know how to cheer me up! The next chapter is for you two. Enjoy!***

(6)

Kendra turned around just in time to see the man release the arrow from his crossbow, and it flying in slow motion toward her chest. She could see its delicate feathers fluttering, the shaft turning around and around, as it neared its target. Just as it was about to hit her, a figure leaped in its path.

Seth staggered back as the crossbow bolt pierced his chest, and he collapsed straight into the arms of his big sister.

The man who had shot the arrow started to reload when suddenly Bracken appeared behind him out of nowhere and knocked him unconscious with a firm hit on the head. Warren emerged from the corridor, at the end of the hallway, limping and covered in cuts, but alive. Fighting five bigger men at the same time was not something he wanted to repeat! But despite his limp, at the sight of Seth, he quickened his pace to the fastest he could and rushed to inspect the injury exactly at the same time as Bracken did.

Blood soaked the teenager's white shirt and only the feathers of the arrow shaft could be seen sticking out. The arrow had gone straight through him. Clean through his heart.

" Seth? No, no, no! Seth stay with me!" Kendra pleaded, cradling the younger boy's still body in her arms. Since the moment she had been kidnapped by people who wanted to kill her for her title as an Eternal, all she could hope for was for someone to come and rescue her. But if this was what the rescue mission resulted to...

Footsteps echoed everywhere; many of them. Backup was coming, and they were coming fast.

" We need to get out of here. Now!" Bracken mumbled and grabbed Kendra by the shoulders. " Come on, we need to leave."

Kendra squirmed against his grip, tears streaming down her face, as she tried to hold onto her little brother. " I'm not leaving him! I'm not! "

Warren placed a hand on her shoulder, fighting back tears himself, as he glanced around worriedly. " He's gone, Kendra. He gave his life to save yours. Don't you dare make that sacrifice have been in vain."

Only then did the truth actually hit her. Seth was dead. His body was right there, cradled in her arms. Kendra burst into tears, just as the back up appeared from the intersection of the hallways somewhat twenty meters ahead.

Immediately, Bracken grabbed Kendra from the waist and started dragging her away from the men, and the still form of her brother. Warren, after a moment's hesitation, retreated from the body as well and rushed to the fairy prince's side, laying a hand on his shoulder.

" NO! I'm not leaving him!" Kendra screamed yet again, struggling against Bracken's grip, ignoring completely the arrows that were whistling past them, originating from the crossbows the men were wielding.

" Get us out of here. " Warren grumbled to Bracken, and suddenly they were surrounded by light, soon to appear on the lawn at Fablehaven, only about twenty meters from the house, and the front porch where the rest of the family was waiting for their return. They erupted in cheers once they saw that the rescue mission had been successful, but the happiness was short-lived, once they noticed that not all of them had returned.

"Where's Seth?" Marla gasped, as she rushed forward along with everyone else. " Where is my son?"

Both Warren and Bracken looked down, neither wanting to be the bearer of bad news. But no words were needed. It was clear what had happened. It was clear... that Seth was never coming back.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

(7)

" Thank you, so much, I love every single one!" Kendra exclaimed excitedly, a pile of birthday presents behind her on the table. " You shouldn't have bothered with so many!"

Her family members smiled and then turned to look at Seth expectingly. The 15-year old hid a smile.

" Who said there wasn't more?" He quickly exited the room, leaving Kendra puzzled and with the rest of the family waiting excitedly. After a moment, they heard Seth's voice from the hallway.

"Ok, Kendra, I want you to close your eyes. Are they closed?" Kendra answered positively. She heard Seth enter the room, but couldn't see him. " Hold out your hands. "

Kendra complied and felt Seth place something soft and slightly heavy onto them. She frowned, wondering what the present was.

" You can open your eyes now."

Kendra did, and just barely stifled a very girly shriek. In her hands, was the cutes fluff ball she had ever seen. In her hands, about the size of her palms, with white fur, was the tiniest pomeranian puppy. It yipped happily and started to lick Kendra's face with its tiny tongue.

Tears glistened in her eyes; she couldn't believe Seth had actually bought her a puppy! She looked up at his smiling face, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. Questions swirled in her head, but she couldn't find a way to express them.

" I picked her up from an animal shelter some fifty miles north. She was found in a sewer along with her three brothers, and a dead mother. Her brothers were seriously injured and ill, and they had to put her down. But she fought it through. She's a fighter. Just like you. I thought you'd make a good team."

Careful not to squash her new puppy, Kendra rose and gave her little brother a gigantic hug, wiping her tears onto his shirt.

" Thank you, Seth, " she whispered and Seth placed his chin on her head, returning the hug. Kendra could feel him smiling.

" You're welcome, my dearest sister."

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

(8)

There were many ways Kendra had been woken up by before. Her mother or father shaking her gently awake, or the smell of freshly made pancakes or the encouraging of her grandmother to come down for breakfast. But getting woken up by her brother hitting her in the head with a pillow? Totally not expected.

Rubbing her eyes, trying to clear her mind form the remains of sleep, she received another blow to the back of her head. Swirling around, she found Seth standing beside her bed, still dressed in his T-shirt and shorts from yesterday's party. His mouth was spread into a wide smile, and he was clearly holding back a fit of laughter.

" Seth what are you-" Kendra was interrupted by the younger boy bringing the pillow towards her again, resulting in her diving off the bed to prevent being hit again. In the action, she grabbed her own pillow from the head of her bed, and landed on it, but immediately positioned herself so that she could defend herself from another attack from Seth.

The chance came sooner than she expected.

Seth literally leaped over her bed, landing beside her in a ninja stance, letting out a wild: " Whiyaa!", making Kendra laugh. She swung the pillow, knocking Seth off his feet, and he fell onto the floor, a grin spreading across his face.

Footsteps rose up the stair, and soon enough Warren and Dale barged into the room, Waren wielding a baseball bat and Dale holding a rolling pin like a dagger.

" What's going on?" Warren asked, puzzled, his muscles seeming to relax. " We thought something was wro-"

He was stopped by a pillow smacking him in the face. Kendra giggled at Seth's perfect timing with the throw.

At first, Warren looked shocked, but once he realized what had happened he glanced back at his big brother with a mischevious smile, which the man then returned. Dale pulled up his sleeves, and grabbed the pillow from Warren, before charging right at Seth, who as defenseless.

" Aarghhhh!" he screamed, and Seth leaped to the left, laughing. Kendra threw her own pillow to Seth who used it to protect himself from the rapid pillow-beatings from his cousin.

Meanwhile, Warren had rushed over to their wardrobe and pulled two extra pillows from the top shelf. He threw one to Kendra, who caught it and immediately sprinted towards the girl, letting out a similar yell as his brother had.

" You are so 'gonna lose! " Seth shrieked in joy while smacking Dale across the face, sending the man stumbling back in laughter.

" Seth, it seems that you didn't' notice that you're fighting against two pros," Warren answered, dodging a blow from Kendra and returning one to her ribs.

Seth looked at his cousin in mock hurt. " Are you saying we don't know how to play in a pillow fight?"

" How dare you!" Kendra continued, holding back laughter.

" Let's show them, Kendra!" Seth exclaimed, and they both charged.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

10)

It was a perfect evening in the movie theaters. A romantic movie was playing in the front, displaying a, man and woman dancing in the middle of a rainstorm.

Cuddled in Bracken's side, her head resting on his shoulder, Kendra didn't think anything could go wrong. That was, until her brother rushed through the theater doors, a bunch of security guards after him.

Everyone in the room turned to look at the teenager as he ran towards his big sister, his face filled with worry. With his hands, he was indicating for them to run, and he was screaming something that Kendra couldn't hear that well. But she did hear enough to understand what was going on.

" ... Eternals...Zzyzx... Society... Evening Star... RUN!"

Kendra sprang to her feet, at the same time as Bracken did, and together they quickly sprinted down the set aisle, jumping over people's legs and bags. When they reached the theatre door, Kendra stole a glance behind her and saw that the 'security guards' had pulled out daggers and swords from their belts. These werenät security guards! They were people trying to kill her!

Bracken grabbed her hand, and pulled her forward, through numerous hallways, before finally coming to the front door, and barging out.

A bang sounded from inside, and after a moment, Seth ran out, his clothes smoldering. He motioned them to climb into their father's car, which was parked at the entrance, and neither fairy prince or the girl hesitated. Once inside and buckled up, Bracken hit the gas, and the car started moving. Just as it was pulling out onto the street, Seth grabbed the door and flung himself in, panting.

" Seth, I don't know how much to thank you. I had no idea someone was there to try and hurt Kendra. I didn't even think anyone knew she was an Eternal!" Bracken exclaimed, turning a hard left. " But... what were you doing in the movie theatres anyway?"

Kendra looked at her brother, her heart still beating.

" Well, you had been gone for about half an hour, when I had a feeling something was wrong. Just that kind of a gut feeling and I knew something was going to happen. " Seth explanied, patting down his clothes. " So I sent out after you, and got there just in time to hear the 'security guards' talking about how to... you know... kill you once you got out of the theatre. So I tried to sneak in to warn you, but they noticed me and changed their plan to take you out now. So it was kind of race to get to you first."

" Thank you, Seth. " Kendra said, and reached her hand and placed it on his knee. It was hard to do so when you were sittin in the front seat and the person you reached for was in the back.

" Hey, it's my job." the boy answered, but his mind was already elsewhere

.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

When they had gotten home, the whole family had first scolded Seth for leaving without a trace, but he was saved by Bracken and Kendra stepping in telling what had happened. When everything was explained, they apologized and made sure nobody was hurt. Finally, they were given cups of hot chocolate and sent upstairs to rest. Seth, though, for some reason wanted to stay downstairs.

It was about two hours later, that the young boy entered Kendra's room, where she was laying next to Bracken, her head on his shoulder, once more. Neither had been able to fall asleep.

" Kendra? Bracken? You awake?" the teen asked, and both answered with a 'yeah'. " Okay. I want you to come downstairs and close your eyes. "

Confused, both complied, and soon enough they were standing in the entry hall, facing the doorway into the living room. At least, with her eyes closed, she thought that was where she was.

" You can open your eyes no. " Her brother's voice came from the left, and Kendra obeyed. When she saw what Seth had done, she sprang forward and gave him a big hug.

In the middle of the living room, was a giant pillow fort, filled with blankets, and mattresses and of course, pillows. At the very end was a TV, with the movie they were watching playing on it.

" I had to go get the TV from the satyrs, and it didn't come cheap. But, since I kind of spoiled your date, I thought I should replace it. " Seth mumbled shyly, still embraced by his sister.

" Seth, you didn't spoil the date, you saved my life! But thank you. " Kendra said and planted a kiss on his cheek. " You are the best brother, ever:"