Fablehaven: The Enchantment of the Mermaid Whisperers

Chapter 14

'It took us no time at all to reach the final door and with one swift kick from Robin, it was split in two. I prepared myself to face the person who haunted my dreams for what seemed like forever.'

Gavin's POV

Life was cruel and unfair. Not even five days ago I was roaming free and…well not healthy but healthy enough. Now I was locked in yet another room and being fed only a slice of something I pictured as bread a day. All I wanted was freedom and to go back to where I belonged…as a Knight of the Dawn and writing letters to Kendra.

She must think I'm such a slime ball since Navarog locked me up and revealed himself. I remember when he stole a part of my essence for a potion that would only work for a few days max…

Flash Back

I slept safe and sound in my bed in Agad's castle. The next morning was going to be thrilling what with fighting off dragons and capturing the key from the sanctuary. I silently hoped to myself that Kendra would get in a little bit of trouble so I could swoop in and save her.

Just as I was about to fall into a deep sleep, my thick mahogany door veered open; filtering in a stream of light. A shadowy figure stepped into the room, his shadow casting on the wall I was facing. Immediately, my senses flared to life and I was prepared to defend myself. Another step the figure took. Moments before I could swing out of bed and pounce, a gentle prick stung the back of my neck and I was knocked out cold.

When I awoke my body was strapped down to a thick wood plank. Though I was still groggy I thrust my body around, trying to break free. It seemed that the more I struggled the more the straps tightened.

"Gavin, struggling will get you nowhere." A deep, clear voice pierced the darkness.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a candle flicker to life. The dark room lit up to reveal a medium sized space lined with shelves. That was the only furniture; my table, the shelves and an occupied chair.

The person occupying the chair was a man; tall and lean. Muscles crowded his arms and chest, which is why I assumed that he probably carried me here. His cheek bones were sharp and defined and his eyes were a very plain blue. Bright blonde hair fell down his face and neck and he pushed it out of his face every few minutes.

I asked the question that doomed almost everyone in books, movies and real life, "What do you want with me?"

The man gave me an odd look, "Don't you want to know who I am, why I've taken you?"

"I c-c-could care less about who yo-you are, I just want to know wh-what you plan to do to me." I said, trying not to reveal my irritation at my horrid stutter.

The man grunted and stood up, "Well aren't you a kill joy, eh?" He briskly walked over to me, taking the chair with him. Setting it down and sitting he said, "Well I'm going to tell you anyway. The reason I've taken you is because I need something from you, your essence to be exact. Once I get your essence, I will mix it with a few other ingredients to make a potion.

"The potion will last only three to four days, but that's all I need. Once I ingest the potion, my human avatar will look exactly like you. It will only last a few days though because one person's body can't handle another's essence so my body will start to reject it; changing me back into this," The man gestured to himself, "I will steal the key from you're little friends and kill them off; including your beloved Kendra. Then I'll give the key to the Sphinx and live the rest of my life terrorizing the world. Yes I'm cruel, but they don't call me a Demon Prince for nothing."

The pieces clicked together, "Navarog," I growled.

Navarog simply sneered. "You can't do this!" I screamed, "I won't let you!" I strained against my bindings, fighting furiously. Navarog let out an evil, menacing laugh. Shaking his head he snapped his fingers and my whole body stilled. Unable to move and confined, I started to get anxious.

"You're brave, Gavin…you truly are," Navarog stated half-heartedly as he fished a thick tube out of his back pocket. Pushing on a small button, a long needle flicked from the top and stuck out.

"You kn-know, I didn't picture you t-t-to look like this. I p-pictured you ugly and gross lo-looking." I said, not seeing a reason to stay on this monsters good side.

Navarog smiled and gently laughed to himself; which surprised me. "Just because I'm a Demon Prince doesn't mean I can't be hansom."

With his last words lingering in the air, Navarog bent over me. Slowly but surely, the tip of the needle pierced my eye; which I was unable to move or close. Despite myself, I screamed from the unbearable agony. It was like having him scoop out my whole eye instead of just piercing it with a needle. Then I felt the suction as he started pulling my essence out of me. I saw a luminescent chocolate brown liquid fill the tube and I could no longer take the ache.

I slipped into unconsciousness with my eyes wide open.

End Of Flashback

I shivered at the memory and closed my eyes, remembering the rest:

When I woke up that same night I was in a tiny closet like cell chained to the wall. On the wall opposite of me was a mirror; I peered at it and immediately noticed what Navarog had done. My eyes, once a dark chocolate brown, were tan like sand. Barely any color was left in them and in some splotches there was only white. Outside my irises were red with irritation. With one foot I loosened my shoe and then with a fierce kick, my left sneaker flew off my foot and shattered the mirror.

Shoving the memories back where they belonged, I placed my fingers over my closed eyes as I felt tears slipping out of them. I wiped them away, cursing myself for being weak at a time like this.

Wait was that…footsteps I heard? I must be dreaming or hallucinating…I must be. I second guessed myself when my prison door was cracked in two and a rather tall looking guy was standing in the doorway. No light was let in from the open door so I couldn't make out any features.

"See just like I said." The guy's voice bounced around the hollow space.

A small girl with red hair rushed into the room, kneeled down in front of me and placed her hands on my shoulders. At her touch, I started to feel strong again, whole. Her white chalky skin glowed despite the darkness of the room. Of course I had no trouble seeing her this close to me; but I still couldn't tell what the other two figures in the doorway looked like.

"Um w-who are you people?" I asked, my voice sounding clearer than it had in years. One of the figures sucked in a surprised, huge breath of air, and I could instantly tell it was a girl. She ducked out of the doorway and back into the hallway.

The one in front of me gently smiled and murmured, "My name is Abcd. I'm making you stronger and healthier which drains me a bit so I can't talk too much. That's Robin and I think you've met the other person before. She's been looking for you."

My heart fluttered when Abcd said this; did Kendra really come looking for me? The moment Abcd took her hands away; I stood up and ran to the door.

As I skid to a halt in the hallway, my eyes darted around; searching for her. They landed about ten feet down the hallway, on a girl with her knees against her chest and her face cradled in her hands.

Slowly I approached her, my heart beating wildly in my chest. Before I could reach her, her head snapped up and in my direction. Her long golden hair was tangled and her blue eyes looked tired. Sunburn crept across her shoulder, chest and back but I didn't care. All I care about was that she was here, in the flesh. Her cold stare stopped me in my tracks, "Kendra…" I trailed, at a loss for words.

Tears smothered her cold gaze, melting it. One slipped out of the corner of her eye and I took a few steps closer. Faster than I knew she could move, she was standing and right in front of me.

Kendra threw herself into me and started sobbing into my chest. I circled my arms around her in a tight, protective hug and let her cry.

Then she looked up at me, her cheeks tear stained and red blotches already forming on her face. "It's…it's really you…?" She questioned, her tone guarded and her words careful.

"K-Kendra Amy Sorenson," I whispered, "would anyone else kn-know how you make one p-p-plus one equal a trampoline?"

A wide smile broke out onto her face and she buried her face into my chest. Finally, I thought, I'm free.

Love It? Hate it? Review it! I hope you like the reunion…finally! Gosh it took Kendra long enough haha. Thank you to all my readers and especially to iMelinda for reading the WHOLE thirteen chapters and reviewing every single one at once…that must have been very tiring. Once again I love you all, my little monsters and keep up being amazing :D

Linsey signing off.