Chapter 11

"Um are you sure you want to do that, kid? Chaos asked. I mean from what I've see unicorn boy has some serious combat skills. Are you sure he's not going to use them on you?" "Wha… was all Seth managed to let out, before Bracken grabbed his wrist pulling his arm down and the knife along with it. He ducked under Seth's arm twisting it back and wrenching the knife from his grasp. Seth had no time to react as Bracken had already slammed him against the wall with tremendous force and pinned him there, still twisting his arm back painfully. Their roles had been reversed in a blink of an eye and now it was Bracken who had the knife pressed to Seth's throat.

"I tried to warn you," Chaos muttered. "Shut up Chaos." "I'm really not in the mood for games, Bracken growled. So start talking. Who the hell are you?" "Well isn't he in a bad mood. Can't imagine why." Chaos flew on Brackens bed curling up into a ball. "Okay, okay don't hurt me. I can explain, Seth yelled. Jesus Bracken. Where did you even learn to do something like that?" "How do you know my name?" "Let me go and I might just tell you." To Seth's relief Bracken released his hold on him backing away slightly.

Seth turned slowly rubbing his arm. The unicorn prince looked like he'd seen better days. His clothes were old and torn and his silver hair was a mess, yet he still managed to somehow look perfect. A dark blotch was forming where he'd been hit in the face during his fight with the guards.

Seth had seen what had happened. He and Chaos had emerged from the portal into an alley with tall brick buildings rising on either side. Seth had landed face first on the hard ground knocking the air out of his lungs. The portal that had appeared hadn't been very impressive. It had only been a small weak rift that had closed almost instantly after they had stepped through it.

Seth would have wanted to share his plan with his grandfather and the others, but he knew had he done that, they wouldn't have let him go. Newel and Doren on the other hand had been more open to the idea. They had seen Seth sneak out of the house and insisted he tell them where he was going. Seth had sworn them to secrecy and the satyrs had agreed offering a clumsy excuse as to why they couldn't go with him. Something about missing their favorite soap opera. Seth had assured them that it was probably better that he didn't drag them into it.

When they had stepped out from the safety of the small alley, Seth and Chaos had been met with a confusing sight. Seth had expected blood, gore and demons, but instead he had been faced with normal looking people in a normal looking town. Though everyone looked like they were from a bygone era. If that hadn't been enough the sight of his sister and Bracken talking and even laughing together, had totally messed with his brain. That's when the real drama had started. It had happened so fast that Seth was still trying to wrap his head around the events. The guards attacking Bracken and Kendra. The strange boy with the scar on his face. Bracken being led to the center of the square. Kendra stepping in to protect him. Then Navarog who stepped in to save Kendra after the scar faced boy had tried to hurt her. Bracken had been let go and Kendra had left with Navarog, with no further objections, leaving Bracken standing alone at the square.

The strangest thing though had been Kendras behavior. She had met Seth's gaze, for a short second, but there had been no spark of recognition. She had not recognized him. Chaos had suggested that she'd acted not to know who he was as to stop Navarog from noticing him, but Seth knew she wasn't a good enough actress for that. Navarog had done something to her. Seth was sure of it.

After Navarog and Kendra had disappeared into the crowd, Seth and Chaos had followed Bracken through the city, into the shady looking tavern and up the stairs. Now Bracken was looking at him with one raised eyebrow twirling the knife in his hand.

"Okay. I'm listening. What do you want from me?" "Like I said. You are going to help me kidnap the princess." Bracken stopped twirling the knife, pointing it at Seth." "What do you want with her?" "Okay, okay just take it easy. Let me explain. My name's Seth. Seth Sorenson. Kendra's my sister. We live on a magical preserve called Fablehaven. Or at least we used to until… She was taken almost a week ago, by Navarog the demon prince of dragons and now he's holding her captive. I came here to rescue her, but I need your help."

"Okay, but what does any of this have to do with me." "Well, she's also your fiancé. You disappeared on the same day as she did. I thought Navarog killed you." "You're not very good at subtle are you kid," Chaos remarked from his spot on Brackens bed, but Seth ignored him. Right now he didn't care about being subtle. All He cared about was getting Bracken to believe him.

Bracken gave an amused laugh. "Sure whatever you say kid." "You don't believe me do you?" "You catch up fast." "I'm telling you the truth." "It's a fascinating story for sure, but it has a couple of flaws. I've been here for as long as I can remember. Besides I think I'd remember having a fiancé." "Well normally you would, but Navarog clearly has you both under some kind of spell." "And that's another thing, Bracken continued. Todays the first time I ever saw him. Or the princess for that matter and she didn't exactly look like she was being held captive." "That's because of the spell. It's the only possible explanation. It would also explain why you can't recognize true love even when it stares you straight in the face." "She's not my true love. She's engaged to someone else. She's in love with someone else." "No she's not. She loves you and you love her. You know I'm right, why else would you be so eager to protect her from me, when you've only met her once? Why else would you care what happens to her?"

"And who said I care?" Bracken asked crossing his arms. "I saw you with her. With that stupid grin on your face. The one you always get when you're with her. Only when you're with her. So you can pretend all you like but I see right through you. You have a connection with her and that can't be broken by some spell." "That sounds romantic and all and I hate to break this to you kid, but I've never seen her before.

"Give it up kid he's never going to believe you," Chaos urged clearly defeated. Damn it. He was right. How was Seth supposed to get Bracken to realize that he was right. He should have known there was no point in arguing with someone who was under a spell. Whatever he told him, Bracken would find a more sensible explanation to it. There had to be a way to convince him. Something so obvious Bracken couldn't deny it.

"I can prove it, Seth suddenly remembered. Bracken looked at him skeptically. She has your first horn. The ring you gave her when you proposed. It was made from it." "But that's impossible, Bracken protested. I lost my connection to it years ago. It's been lost ever since." An idea was beginning to form in Seths mind. Maybe Bracken didn't have to believe him.

"Okay fine I give up. I'm not going to argue with you anymore. Are you going to help me or not?" "Okay so let me get this straight. What you're basically asking of me is will I help you rescue your sister, my fiancé, the princess, from the demon prince of dragons even though she doesn't want to be rescued." "Exactly. That's why I said kidnap not rescue, try to keep up." "Important distinction, Bracken admitted. And what then?" "We take her back to earth and figure out a way to get both of your memories back." "Back to earth?" "To Fablehaven." "And how were you planning on getting there? Portals don't just grow on trees you know." "Via magic cube. I bought it from a witch before I came here. It was a pretty bumpy ride and I ended flat on my face but it did the trick." "So if I were to agree to help you, you would take me with you back to earth?" Seth sighed. "You still don't believe me do you?" "Not a chance." "Fine. Good enough I suppose. Help me rescue my sister and I promise to take you back to earth with us." "It's a deal." "Good, because I have a plan."