*** Thank you ZebhyrVibes, Guest and JohnSmith for the reviews. This will be a short chapter again, but I hope you like it! There will be Darktone spoken in it, translation after. Enjoy!***

Seth stared at the letter, now crumbled in his white-knuckled fist. He was seething, eyes blazing, darkness curling around the cave. The Sphinx was trying to calm him down, but the younger Shadow Charmer was too fixated on draining all the light from the room.

How dare he lay a hand on his family? He wasn't happy with the attacks on him, and his allies, but his family was off limits.

Then there were these questions in his head. Why hadn't Gzerth just speak to Seth directly? Why ask him to come to Fablehaven? How did the gigantic dragon even write with its massive claws?

Over the tenth time, Seth read the letter again.

Seth Sorenson

I am offering you, a peace treaty. After years of attacks, and hating, I am finally ready, to propose an alliance. We have a common enemy, the Fairy Queen. We're both dark creatures, I am a demon, you're a Shadow Charmer.

Even if you do not agree, to fighting the Fairy Queen, it will be your only choice. I am holding your family hostage, and if you fail to cooperate…

I'll be expecting you at Fablehaven by midday. See that you are there.

Gzerth

Seth knew it was no peace treaty. For years, the demon had been after him, and it wasn't like it was going to change suddenly. But he couldn't ignore the threat. His family was in danger! And he couldn't let them get hurt. Not even Grandma or Grandpa, Mrs. Sorenson or , Dale… they were all family.

Strong arms gripped the teenager's shoulders, and he spun around. The darkness dissolved, and Seth saw the brown eyes of the Sphinx, staring into his own.

" What is it, Seth? What happened?"

" Gzerth has my family." There was a new steeliness in his voice, which made the Sphinx flinch. " And I'm going to save them.

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When Kendra saw the barrier be broken, she expected to see Seth walk out of the trees, brown hair messed up by the wind, his brown eyes glistening with mischief.

But what she didn't expect to see, was Seth, wearing all dark colors from head to toe, black hair falling slightly below his ears, golden eyes filled with fury, gigantic black wings nearly dragging the ground behind him. This was what her brother had become?

Kendra lifted a hand to her mouth. Seth was alive. Gzerth hadn't been lying.

Looking around, the young adult saw her family showing similar looks, staring at Seth, eyes wide. But the boy - teenager, Kendra corrected herself – wasn't looking at any of them. He was staring straight into Gzerths eyes, and the demon returned the gaze.

" So you got my letter. And you decided to come."

Seth stared at the dragon for a moment before answering. Yet, he didn't speak English.

" Trhemc fjlogh kvail oijos, Gzerth. Erthyn hatlf mjle cartg." The words flowed out of his mouth, fluently, in place, but Kendra had a feeling she would never have succeeded in saying one word. If they were words.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kendra saw Bracken's mouth fall open.

" My God… he's speaking Darktone. " Kendra gave him a puzzled glance. " It's the language dark creatures use to speak with each other. It's been long forgotten by humans. At least, until now."

Kendra turned her head towards her brother again, still not believing he was there. Gzerth was snarling at the boy and soon answered with the same language.

" Nertham gosth mjle hem tuyno gaer, thryes mjle kaghl methoa. "

Suddenly Seth motioned to them, with angry gestures, but kept his eyes on the demon.

" Mather kem mjle hartymh athes; Trhemc fjlogh kvail oijos! Mef akerth!"

(Translation:

1) Let my family go, Gzerth. It's me you want.

2) I want you, but they're an effective way of keeping you on a leash.

3) I'm going to say this one more time; Let my family go! Now!)

"Are you threatening me?" The sudden change to English took Kendra by surprise, but the two continued their conversation like it hadn't happened.

" Yes, I am. " Seth's voice was firm, and Kendra wondered if she'd ever seen him like this.

Gzerth lifted the corner of his mouth, which Kendra understood was something like a smirk.

" That might not be a good idea. " He swung his tail in a wide arc, and suddenly about a thousand dark creatures sprang out of the forest. " You see… I have an army."

To Kendra's surprise, Seth answered with a smile himself.

" So do I."

From behind him, eyes started appearing. Golden, green, blue, brown, red… and Kendra saw nearly five hundred creatures appear from the shadows. Leading them, was a giant wolf, its mouth in a snarl, as it walked over to Seth.

Without even glancing its way, Seth placed a hand on its head, and the wolf pushed against it with affection.

The demon and the Shadow Charmer stared at each other, neither one's gaze wavering.

" I've come to a conclusion, that you aren't here for the deal. " Deal? What deal? What was Gzerth talking about?

" Not even close. I came here for my family. " Kendra felt tears welling in her eyes. Even after everything her family had done to him, he still came to protect them. He still called them his family.

" Very well." Then, without any warning, Gzerth turned his head towards the Sorensons and unleashed a flame of pure darkness at them.

Kendra buried her face into Bracken's chest, as he put his arms around her, and they waited for the flames to hit them. But they didn't.

Kendra turned her head, to find Seth standing in front of them, wings spread out on either side, the wingspan over three meters. His arms were stretched out, and only inches from them, the flame parted ways, away from the Shadow Charmer and the terrified people behind him.

The flames stopped to reveal a very angry Gzerth. The demon reared up on his back legs, and let out a tremendous roar.

Seth glanced behind himself, and locked eyes with Kendra.

" Go!"

And with that, he spread his wings and sprung into the air. Bracken grabbed her hand, and led her to the porch of the house, the rest of the family hurrying behind.

From there, they stared in horror at the fight Seth and Gzerth were engaged in.

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