Betrayal
Chapter 12
I don't own fablehaven
Kendra sat on the love seat beside Seth, resting her elbow on the arm of the couch and her chin on her hand. Ever since Hugo had rescued Seth earlier in the day, an uncomfortable new tension had filled the house. Grandpa had been poring over books and making phone calls.
Vanessa and Coulter came and went several times, often accompanied by Hugo. There were many hushed conversations behind closed doors. Now it was getting late, but
Grandma had informed everyone they had to meet about something that could not wait until morning. Which could not be a good sign.
"You guys had all the fun without me" Warren Humphed.
Kendra's chief consolation was that she was not Seth.
Wandering off into the woods without permission had almost gotten him killed. The thought of what had almost happened had terrified everyone, and he was getting an earful as a result. Undoubtedly he would hear plenty more about it in the impending meeting.
Seated in a chair beside Seth, Tanu was showing him potions, explaining what they did and how he marked the bottles to distinguish them from each other. Only Tanu, who had returned not long ago from an all-day excursion, had refrained from reprimanding Seth. Instead, the Samoan seemed intent on distracting him from his misery.
"Ya That was nice" Seth said.
"Glad I'm held in such high esteem." Tanu said.
This one is for an emergency, Tanu was saying. It's an enlarger, doubles my height, makes me big enough to wrestle an ogre. The ingredients for enlargers are extremely hard to come by. I've only got one dose, and once I use it, I don't expect to own another. Shrinking is easier. Each of these little vials carries a dose that makes me eight times shorter. I
end up just under ten inches tall. Not so helpful in a brawl, but not bad for sneaking around.
"Very useful"
Coulter and Vanessa sat on opposite ends of an antique sofa. Dale was perched on a stool he had brought in from another room. Grandma wheeled in Grandpa and took a seat in the last armchair.
Grandpa cleared his throat. Tanu fell silent, returning his potions to his pouch. Getting to the point, we probably have a traitor among us, so I thought we should talk this through.
"Taking the blunt approach I see."
Nobody spoke. Kendra made brief eye contact with
Vanessa, then with Coulter, then with Tanu. Ruth and I are fairly certain how Olloch got onto the property, Grandpa continued. Somebody signed him in on the register within the past two days. He probably waltzed right through the front gate. And he didn't come alone.
What's the register? Kendra asked.
The register is a book that controls access to
Fablehaven, Grandma said. When you come to visit, we write your name in the register, and that action disarms on your behalf the spells guarding the gate. Unless they were signed in on the register, it would be effectively impossible for anyone to get past the fence.
Somebody signed in Olloch? Dale asked.
Between now and two evenings ago, the last time we checked the register, someone signed in Christopher Vogel and Guest, Grandma said. We blotted out the names, but the damage has been done. Christopher Vogel, whoever that is, came onto the property and turned Olloch loose.
Therefore we must assume we have two enemies out there, Grandpa said, motioning toward the window. And one in here.
Could somebody from outside have gotten to the register?
Dale asked.
The register was hidden in our room, Grandma said.
Only Stan and I knew where it was. Or so we thought. Now we've moved it. But coming into the house unnoticed after we shut it down for the night is almost as difficult as getting through the gates. Let alone writing in the register right under our noses.
Whoever wrote in the register is more than likely the same person who released the drumants,
"Well he wasn't wrong there." Vanessa said.
Grandpa said. Is it possible that somebody outside this room accessed ourbedrooms twice? Yes. Probable? No.
Can we trace the handwriting? Coulter asked.
Grandma shook her head. They used a stencil.
Apparently they weren't in a rush.
Perhaps all of us should leave, Tanu suggested. The evidence is too glaring to ignore. Kendra and Seth are above suspicion, as are Ruth and Stan. Maybe the rest of us should depart.
The thought crossed my mind, Grandpa said. But now that we have two foes on the preserve, it is hardly a good time to send away our protectors, even if one is probably a traitor. At least until we can summon replacements.
I am stuck in this chair, and the children are young and untrained. The situation is maddening. As I consider each of you individually, you seem above suspicion. Yet someone wrote in the register, and since you all appear equally innocent, you consequently appear equally guilty.
"For me I totally thought it was Coulter. Than Tanu sorry. I went even as far as Dale did it. Never would have suspected Vanessa." Seth said.
I hope we find another explanation, Grandma said.
For the moment, we must acknowledge the likelihood that one of us is a master deceiver working for our adversaries.
It gets worse, Grandpa said. The phone lines are down again. We've been trying to summon aid via Vanessa's cell phone, but our chief contact has not been answering.
We will keep calling, but none of this bodes well.
The other immediate problem is Olloch himself,
Grandma said. As he gorges himself on whatever edible matter he can find, he will continue to gain both size and
Power. He quit trying to enter the yard hours ago, which means he realizes that if he gets big enough, he could gainsufficient power to overthrow the treaty, access the house, and claim his prize.
"That's lovely."
Like how Bahumat almost overthrew the preserve last year, Kendra said.
Yes, Grandpa said. Olloch could conceivably muster sufficient power to plunge Fablehaven into lawless chaos.
Kendra glanced at Seth, sitting silently. She had rarely seen him so quiet and contrite. It looked like he wanted to melt away into the love seat and vanish.
"Kendra I thought you were in the love seat." Warren said confusingly.
"There was two of them."
What can we do? Tanu asked.
Olloch the Glutton will not stop until he has devoured and digested Seth, Grandpa said. Slaying Olloch is well beyond our power. We have an ally who suggested there might be a way to subdue the demon, but we have not been able to reach him. The glutton has already reached a size that will allow him to ingest just about whatever he chooses, and his appetite will not abate. We cannot sit idly by. Our peril is literally growing by the minute.
We must assume our benefactor is on the move,
Grandma said. He is a heavily desired target of the Society.
We'll keep trying to telephone him, and assume that he'll make himself available as soon as he can. Otherwise, we're just not sure how to find him. He moves too frequently.
How long before Olloch becomes strong enough to countermand the treaty? Vanessa asked.
Grandpa shrugged. With the kind of game he can find inside Fablehaven, magical and nonmagical, it is a worst-case scenario. He'll grow much faster than he would out in the normal world. He must have had help getting to his currentsize, probably from that Christopher Vogel character.
My best guess? A day, more likely two, maybe three. I can't imagine it would take much longer.
"It's just the best when certain death looms over you."
Maybe you should just feed me to him, Seth said.
Don't talk nonsense, Grandma said.
Seth stood up. Wouldn't it be better than letting
Olloch destroy all of Fablehaven? Sounds like he'll get me sooner or later. Why should I make him go through all of you first?
We'll find another way, Coulter said. We still have some time.
He'll have to eat me to get to you, Dale said.
"Ya go Dale!" Warren cheered.
Whether you like it or not.
Seth sat down. Grandpa pointed at him. Now is not the time to leap to rash solutions. We have not yet spoken with our most knowledgeable ally. Seth, I repeat, you are not culpable for awakening Olloch. You were tricked and are not to blame. You should not have been out in the woods alone -
that was a most foolish error in judgment, the exact kind of nonsense I hoped you would have abandoned by now-but you are far from deserving a death sentence. Since the satyrs were involved, I take it you were trading for batteries? I
haven't asked, what did they give you?
Seth lowered his eyes. Some gold.
May I see it?
Seth went and retrieved his emergency kit. He pulled out the gold bar. Grandpa examined it. You do not want to be caught out in the open with this in your pocket, he said.
Why? Seth handed the bar back to Seth. It was clearly stolen from Nero's hoard. What did you suppose the 'N'
"Newel belt buckle of course."
stood for? He will be scrying for it in his seeing stone. In fact, the presence of the gold could grant him the power to see within the walls of our home. The satyrs must have only recently stolen it, or Nero would have already reclaimed it.
Seth placed a hand over his eyes and shook his head.
When will I do something right? he moaned. Should I go chuck it into the woods?
No, Grandpa said. You should go set it on the porch, and we'll return it to its rightful owner as soon as reasonably possible.
Nodding sheepishly, Seth exited the room. We also have some encouraging news, Grandpa said. Coulter made an important breakthrough today. We may be close to uncovering the relic we have been seeking. The latest revelation harmonizes with the information we already possess.
At this juncture, I believe there is more wisdom in sharing this information openly than in hiding it. No matter which of us is the traitor, the rest of us must continue functioning.
Better we make our knowledge common than become paralyzed.
"Took the knights of the dawn long enough to figure that out." Warren said.
Not that the traitor will be sharing secrets with us,
Vanessa said bitterly.
All the same, Coulter will disclose his discovery,
Grandpa said.
The fog giant Burlox reported that Warren was investigating the four hills area before he turned white,Coulter said.
One of the main areas Patton mentioned suspiciously,
Vanessa said.
And the same area I investigated today, Tanu said.
The grove on the north end of the valley is definitely cursed. I did not risk treading there.
Seth came back into the room and reclaimed his spot on the love seat.
Many areas of Fablehaven carry terrible curses and are protected by ghastly fiends, Grandpa said. The valley of the four hills is one of the most infamous. At the moment, the evidence seems to suggest a pair of related mysteries. We may very well find not only that the grove contains the relic we have been seeking, but also that it is guarded by whatever entity transformed Warren.
"You guys are on fire." Warren said.
Of course, all that would need to be confirmed,
Grandma said.
Carefully, Grandpa admonished. As with several of the most dread regions of Fablehaven, we have no idea what evil haunts the grove.
What is our next move? Vanessa asked.
I say we need to focus on Olloch before we try to penetrate whatever secrets lie inside the grove, Grandpa said.
Exploring the grove safely will require all of our resources and focus. Even under ideal circumstances it is a hazardous assignment.
'So we wait to see if Ruth can reach your contact?
Coulter asked. Grandpa was picking at the frayed edge of his will keep calling on Vanessa's cell phone. For now, the rest of us should try to get a good night's sleep. It may be our last chance for a while.
"What's with all the foreshadowing?"
Kendra closed the bathroom door, locked it, and set the sheet of paper on the counter. She had found the blank paper beneath her pillow, but with Seth in the room, she dared not light the candle and give away her secret. Alone in the bathroom, Kendra struck a flimsy match and put the flame to the wick until it caught. Shaking out the match, she watched as glowing words came into view on the formerly empty page:
Kendra,
Sorry we didn't get to talk much today. Can you believe all the commotion? We need to keep your brother on a leash!
"I don't appreciate you guys talking about me." Seth said.
Let Me know if this message came through all right.
Your friend,
Vanessa
Kendra blew out the candle, and the luminous words vanished. Folding up the note, she climbed the stairs to the attic bedroom, pondering how she should reply to the secret message. Seth was setting up toy soldiers on the floor. One in front, with two behind him, then a row of three, and another of four. Kendra crossed the room and climbed into bed. Seth walked several paces away and bowled at the soldiers with a softball. He knocked down seven.
Turn off the light and come to bed, Kendra said.
I don't think I can sleep, Seth protested, retrieving the softball.
I know I can't with you rolling balls around the room,
Kendra said.
Why don't you go sleep someplace else?
This is where they put us.
At home we each have our own room. Here, with way more rooms, we sleep in the same one. He rolled the softball again, claiming two more soldiers.
"Glad to know how you feel about that." Stan said.
This isn't the sort of place I'd want to sleep alone,
Kendra admitted.
I can't believe they took my gold, Seth said, setting up the soldiers again, this time placing them closer together. I bet it was worth thousands of dollars. It isn't my fault if Newel and Doren stole it from Nero.
You can't just do whatever you want and always get away with it.
I've been good! I've tried hard to be careful and keep secrets and follow all the rules.
You went into the woods without permission, Kendra reminded him.
"Eh I always go to woods." Seth said. He looked at Stan and said. " I mean what no. That would be irresponsible."
Just a little ways. It would have been fine if somebody hadn't let that demon onto the preserve. Nobody saw that coming. If Olloch hadn't caught up with me today, he might have caught up with us tomorrow, when we were out with
Vanessa, a lot farther from the house. I might have saved our lives. He rolled the ball again. Missing the front soldier, he still knocked down eight.
"Uh oh lawyer Seth coming out."
Way to avoid taking any responsibility, Kendra said, leaning back onto her pillow. I'm glad they grounded you. If it were up to me, I'd lock you in the dungeon
"Geez Kendra."
"I'm sorry ok. It was late and we were all about to die."
If it were up to me, I'd give your face plastic surgery, he said.
"Nice comeback."
Really mature.
Do you think they'll figure out a way to stop the demon? Seth asked.
I'm sure they'll think of something. The Sphinx seems really smart. He'll have a plan.
He said you beat him at Foosball, Seth said.
He wasn't too good He didn't even spin his cowboys
Shaking his head, Seth bowled the ball again and picked up the spare I don't think Nero could follow me off the preserve. Maybe I should just take the gold and go. Then everyone will be out of danger.
"Why do you keep on trying to sacrifice yourself?"
"Uh... I don't know"
Stop pitying yourself.
I'm serious.
No you're not, Kendra said, exasperated. If you take off, Olloch will hunt you down and eat you.
Better than having everyone hate me.
Nobody hates you. They just want you to be cautious, so you'll be safe. The only reason they get mad is because they care about you.
Seth arranged the soldiers in the tightest formation yet.
Think I can knock them all down with one roll? Kendra sat up. Of course, you set them up like took his position and rolled the ball, totally missing all of them. Looks like you were wrong.
You missed on purpose.
I bet you couldn't knock all of them down.
I could easily, Kendra said.
Prove it.
"I always did wonder what the Sorenson siblings did all day."
She got out of bed, grabbed the ball, and went and stood by her brother. Taking careful aim, she bowled it hard, right down the center, and all the soldiers fell. See?
Almost like I let you win.
"Seth really?"
What's that supposed to mean?
Nothing, he said. Who do you think is the traitor?
I don't know. It doesn't seem like any of them.
My guess would be Tanu.
"Hmmm. Not sure how I feel about that." Tanu said.
He's too nice.
"That's a little better." He said again.
And that makes him evil? Kendra asked, getting back into bed.
"Clearly. Have you not been to an evil 101 class? What are they teaching you these days." Warren said.
Whoever is guilty would be trying really hard to act nice.
Or they would know that everyone would expect that, so they would try to throw us off by acting grumpy.
You think it could be Coulter? Seth turned out the light and jumped into bed.
"I think you're grudge against him was blinding you." Vanessa said.
"Oh please, its not like you hated him either."
He's known Grandpa for too long. And Vanessa could have handed us over to Errol instead of rescuing us.
"First thing you learn in the society." Vanessa said shaking her head.
They all seem innocent. I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be another explanation. I hope so, Seth said. They're all really cool. But keep Your eyes open.
You do the same. And please stay out of the woods.
You're my only brother, and I don't want you to get...hurt.
Thanks, Kendra.
Good night, Seth.
Seth awoke in the dead of night with a hand covering his mouth. He grabbed at the fingers but was unable to pry them from his lips.
"What? Isn't fablehaven supposed to be safe!" Marla said.
Don't be alarmed, a voice whispered.
It's Coulter. We need to talk.
Seth turned his head. Taking his hand from Seth's mouth, Coulter held a finger to his lips, then curled it beckoningly.
What was Coulter up to? It was an odd hour for a conversation.
Turning his head the other way, Seth saw Kendra asleep under her covers, breathing evenly. He eased out of bed and followed Coulter to the door and down the stairs to the hall.
Coulter took a seat on the last couple of steps. Seth sat down beside him.
What's going on? Seth asked.
How would you like to set things straight? Coulter asked.
"Oh dear."
Sure.
I need your help, Coulter said.
In the middle of the night?
It may be now or never. No offense, Seth said. This seems kind of suspicious.I need you to trust me, Seth. I'm about to try something I can't do alone. I think you're the only person with the courage to help me right now. You have no idea what is really going on.
You're going to tell me?
Coulter looked around, as if he were nervous that somebody might be spying. I have to. I need somebody like you on my side here. Seth, the artifact we are looking for is very important. In the wrong hands it could be extremely dangerous.
It could even lead to the end of the world.
That seemed to agree with what Seth had heard from his grandparents. Go on, he said.
Coulter sighed and rubbed his thighs, as if hesitant to continue. I'm taking a big risk here because I believe I can trust you. Seth, I'm a special agent working for the Sphinx.
"Plot twist" seth said.
"It's even more of a plot twist when we find out the Sphinx is actually a traitor."
He gave me specific instructions that at all costs, I had to recover the artifact, especially if the integrity of Fablehaven was ever compromised. Now that we're nearly certain where the artifact is hidden, I'm going to go prepare the way to get it, tonight, and I want you to come with me.
Right now?
Immediately.
Seth wiped away an eyelash that was starting to poke his eye. Why not get help from the others?
You heard your grandfather. He wants to wait and take care of Olloch first. That poses a problem because, in a day or two, Olloch could become too powerful, Fablehaven could fall, and the artifact could be placed in extreme could I come with you? Seth said. The second I leave the yard, the demon will be after us.
It's risky, Coulter conceded. But Fablehaven is a big place, and the demon is off foraging. Hugo is waiting outside.
"I guess this kind of means that Coulter made me a shadow charmer, or the Sphinx, or Warren." Seth said.
He'll take us to the grove and keep Olloch off of us if the glutton makes an appearance.
Grandma said the demon could eat Hugo, Seth said.
Eventually. Until Olloch gets more powerful, it would take him a long time to best Hugo. I wouldn't chance this tomorrow. But Hugo handled the demon just fine not so many hours ago. And Hugo is faster than Olloch. If we have to, we'll just have Hugo escape with us back to the yard.
Why me? Seth asked. I don't get it. Part of me thinks
I should go tell Grandpa Sorenson right now.
"Ooh pulling a Kendra." Warren said.
"Hey!" She said.
I can't blame that instinct. I know this is unusual. Just let me finish. You know that if you go to your grandpa, he will never let you come with me. And he is in no position to help me himself. I came to you because I've spent the evening trying to convince the others to go after the artifact now rather than later, but they are all too afraid to take definitive action. Yet my private mandate from the Sphinx remains-with the threat of Olloch looming, I need to secure the artifact right away.
Why me? Seth repeated.
Who else can I trust besides your grandfather? Your grandmother is good at a lot of things, but she doesn't belong on this kind of mission.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ruth asked.
Neither does Kendra.
"I feel like this is the let's leave out Kendra party." Kendra said.
"They let you be a knight, they let you go to Wyrmroost." Seth said.
I can't do it alone. I think I know what is haunting the grove, a Phantom, and I need somebody brave to join me if I'm going to defeat it. You're my only hope. You're young, but honestly,
Seth, as far as courage goes, in my book, you've got all the others beat.
What if you're the traitor? Seth asked.
If I were the traitor, I'd already have somebody to help me bypass the phantom. Christopher Vogel and I would be off taking care of business. You and I wouldn't be having this conversation. Also, we can't actually get the artifact tonight.
"But he just said-" Scott said.
"Listen it's confusing just keep going."
We need a key your grandfather has in order to access it. But if we can get rid of the phantom and confirm the location of the artifact, I'm confident that I'll be able to convince the others to join us in retrieving it tomorrow.
Coulter's mention of the key also corresponded with what Seth had heard from his grandparents. Without the key, Coulter couldn't access the vault. If he couldn't access the vault, his goal couldn't be to steal the artifact. And if
Coulter harmed Seth, it would blow his cover and prevent him from ever getting Grandpa to hand over the key. Still, even if Coulter was telling the truth, the adventure would certainly be dangerous. Seth knew that his life would depend on whether Coulter really could handle the phantom in the grove. It had been too much for Warren.
"Excuse me?" Warren said.
He wished he could get advice from somebody else, but Coulter was right-if
Seth told anyone, from Grandpa to Kendra to Tanu, they would try to stop them.
I don't know what to do, Seth said.
Once we have the artifact, we can all escape and lock down Fablehaven, trapping Olloch inside until your grandparents and their not-so-secret friend figure out what to do with him. Everybody wins, and we keep the artifact out of evil hands. I've thought it through, and this is our last chance to set everything right. If we stall, it is going to end badly. By tomorrow night, Olloch will be too strong. I can only do this with your help, Seth. Warren failed because he attempted it alone.
"Once again how was i supposed to know it was a phantom. I literally walked right into it!"
If you refuse, we may as well both go back to bed.
It seems like every decision I make is wrong lately,
Seth said. People keep tricking me. Or I just do stupid things on my own.
Not everybody is out to fool you, Coulter said. And bravery is not always a liability. Often it is quite the opposite.
"My bravery has done a lot of stupid things." Seth said.
I happen to know your grandfather has great admiration for your adventurous spirit. This could be your chance to redeem yourself.
Or to prove that I'm the most gullible person in the world, Seth sighed. Hopefully this will end the streak. Do
I need to bring anything?
Coulter beamed. I knew I could count on you. He patted
Seth on the shoulder. I have everything we need.
Can I grab my emergency kit?
Good idea. Quiet, though. We mustn't disturb the others.
Seth slunk back up the stairs and into the attic bedroom
Kendra had shifted position but was still sound asleep
Crouching, Seth pulled the emergency kit out from under his bed. He felt uncommonly nervous. Was he making a mistake?Or was he just anxious at the prospect of facing a terrible phantom in a cursed grove with a short old man in the middle of the night?
"Eh no biggy"
Coulter seemed to be the most cautious of all the adventurers. He had known exactly what to do when they met the fog giant, and he seemed confident that together they could handle the phantom. Seth stared at his emergency kit. If he just followed instructions, he would be fine, right?
Coulter did seem a little desperate to comply with the assignment from the Sphinx. He was probably putting them in a situation more dangerous than he would normally prefer because the stakes were so high. But he was right. The stakes really were high. Fablehaven was once again heading toward destruction. And Seth knew it was mainly his own fault.
"I'm like really great at destroying and almost destroying fablehaven." Seth said.
Last time, Kendra had saved the day. Now it was his turn.
"Until she one upped me by actually going in and getting the artifact." Seth mumbled.
Seth crept down the stairs.
Ready? Coulter asked.
I guess.
Let's get you some milk