A/N: Hello! Yes, I am back! This chapter is a little fill in and more of a stepping stone but here it is! Make you sure you check out the other fic I am co-writing on PointlessyPoetic's page called We Thought It Was Over!
Kendra sighed, closing her eyes as the others kept arguing over the best way to find Luca.
They had finally arrived back at Fablehaven after a long tiring trip. Hours on a airplane and even longer hours in the car have left everyone tired, cranky, and sore from sitting in uncomfortable seats for so long.
"I'm telling you! We should have interrogated those traitors they had in custody back in Iceland!" Trask said heatedly.
"They already tried and they didn't give anything up! We've been over this." Warren lazily said sounding annoyed and tired from where he sat next to Kendra.
"Oh, I could've made them talk." Trask growled.
"Doesn't matter now anyway, we aren't in Iceland so now we need to figure out the next step." Vanessa said, tired of the back and forth arguing.
"I'm going to go talk with my mother. There must be something she can help with." Bracken said, standing up with a sigh. Kendra met his eyes and gave him a pout, unhappy he was leaving.
"Should I come?" Kendra asked, standing up to walk him out.
"No, stay and rest. If you are needed I can come get you." Bracken said. Taking her hand he brought it up to his lips and kissed it lightly.
They reached the backdoor and they paused. Looking into her eyes Bracken gave her a smile and tucked some free hair behind her ear gently. Kendra smiled back at him tiredly, she could tell Bracken was just as tired as she was but pushing on.
"I'll be back before supper." Bracken said softly. "I promise. But I mean it, go rest, you look just about ready to fall asleep standing up."
"That's because I am." Kendra mumbled quietly, actually closing her eyes for a second, opening them to see Bracken grinning.
"Then go to sleep up in your bed and stop standing around stalling me." He teased, quirking an eyebrow.
"Caught me, red handed." Kendra sighed dramatically before giving in. She leaned up and kissed him softly, saying a small goodbye before making her way into the kitchen to grab a drink and some Advil before heading off to sleep.
She had just chased a few pills down with some water when she heard Seth speak up from behind her.
"So, I guess you and the unicorn finally stopped dancing around each other?" He said, trying to sound disgusted and annoyed but the smile on his face betrayed him. Kendra rolled her eyes and put her glass in the sink.
"You aren't getting any steamy details from me, Sethy." She said, reaching up and ruffling his hair. "Try your magic coin to Bracken, maybe you'll have better luck!"
And with that, Kendra sauntered out of the room and off to her comfy bed to escape to dreamland.
"We have an artifact from the old prison here in the realm, we can use the old to get to the new, my son." The Fairy Queen spoke in his mind, calm reassuring emotions were sent his way, but Bracken was still confused.
"I get the concept, but how can we possibly use this artifact? It's strength is immense and dangerous. We don't know anyone who used it and survived that is alive and fully trustworthy." Bracken spoke, but not out loud, opting for a full in mind conversation.
"Yes, we do." His mother answered, sending a picture of that person in his mind.
"You don't mean…" Bracken was horrified.
"Unfortunately, we have no other choice."
"Kens, wake up." Kendra woke up to Warren lighting shaking her shoulder, it felt like she had only been asleep for five minutes. She blinked a few times before sitting up, yawning.
"Hey, is it supper time already? Time flies when you are sleeping, I guess." She grinned at him but realized something was off when he only managed a tiny smile. "What's wrong?"
"I.." Warren started, looking conflicted before sitting on the bed in front of her. "They figured out a way to find the sword."
"That's great!" Kendra exclaimed, before noticing the look on Warren's face. "Oh...or not. Do I want to know what it is?"
"I hate to ask you to do this, I really do." Warren started, running a hand through his hair. "I tried to convince them to try anything else but they were adamant that you needed to do it and there was no other way, which personally I think is bullshi-"
"Warren!" Kendra interrupted. "What are you talking about, what do they need me to do?"
"They want you to use the Oculus to find Luca and the Sword."
"...I'm sorry, what?"
"I know, Kendra. It's a lot to ask an-" Warren started, sounding like he truly hated this conversation and asking her to do this.
"I almost lost my mind!" Kendra exclaimed, standing up and beginning to pace. "I can't do that again, what if I go crazy or I die or-"
"Bracken will be with you and in contact with your mind ready to pull you off if needed!" Warren said, getting up and placing both hands on her shoulder, stopping her pacing. "And The Fair Queen said she will personally keep her mind directed on yours in case she senses anything as well, they sounded sure that it would work."
"B-but...I…" Kendra stammered, heart, pounding with dread at the thought of having to use that horrible artifact. Warren sighed and hugged her tightly.
"Even though I don't like this plan and I wish there was another way, I know that if you decide to do this, you will make it work. I know you can do it." Warren whispered.
"I'm scared Warren, I'm terrified of that artifact...it's given me nightmares about how I felt during my time using it last time, about what I saw...how it made me feel...I can't, I'm too scared, I can't." Kendra took a few shaky breaths to try and calm herself but to no use, tears started slipping out and by the time she was don't talking she was sobbing in Warren's arms.
Kendra was so so sick of being asked to go above and beyond for people when she has already done so much, given up more, and been through hell. And now she had to keep giving and carrying the weight of worlds on her small shoulders because people can't just be decent people.
No! They had to be evil and steal artifacts. Now, Kendra is left picking up the pieces and being expected to us one of the most dreadful artifacts that have haunted her memories since her kidnapping. She remembers her Grandfather being furious The Sphinx made her use it, but now she has to use it again.
"I'm so sorry Kens. I know. You're a very brave and strong young girl, but at the end of the day, you are just a small kid that we keep forcing traumatizing things on." Warren said as if reading her mind. "It's not right, and it feels so wrong to be hurting you like this."
"I know it's not your fault, Warr." Kendra said, pulling away and sitting back on the bed. Warren followed but crouched down in front of her, looking up with teary eyes.
"You can do this, okay? And when it's all over, I will be right there. So will Bracken, and Vanessa, and anyone you want. You won't be alone, not for one minute." Warren promised her, taking her hand.
Kendra tried to smile and nod the best she could but she struggled while the thoughts of if she would even have a sane mind to register them at the end of this whole ordeal, or would the artifact make her lose her mind?
The daunting questions of 'what if''s haunted her mind until it was time to go downstairs.
Bracken walked into the living room in the main house at Fablehaven feeling a heaviness that had nothing, yet everything, to do with the weight of the artifact in his bag. The last thing he wanted to do was ask Kendra to use the most powerful and dangerous artifact, but his mother had insisted so here it is. Dreading what's about to happen.
The whole group was there minus Warren and Kendra. Elise and Mara sat on the love seat in the far window, whispering nervously. Tanu sat in the chair by the sectional and anxiously arranged his potions. Trask and Dale stood at the far right, the two not saying much but body language screamed tense. Stan and Ruth sat on the far end of the large sectional, hands clasped. Seth sat next to them, leg bouncing up and down.
"Hey, Bracken." Seth said. Bracken wondered if he ever seen Seth look so serious. "So, I guess we are really doing this, Kendra really is gonna have to use that?"
"Unfortunately." Bracken sighed, placing the Oculus on the coffee table in front of the couch. "I was told that this was the best option and the only one that we stood a chance with. I disagree but I'm going to trust my mother."
"Are we sure you will even be able to reach her mind once she is using the Oculus?" Vanessa asked, no bite to her tone for once.
"I'm going to be honest with you," Bracken started. "No, I am not one hundred percent sure. But my mother is, and if I didn't think she had a chance at being right I would have disobeyed and refused. I would not put Kendra in unnecessary danger."
"Promise that you will take care of her, unicorn." She said, eyes flashing as if daring him to say no. He resisted the urge to scoff at the unspoken accusation, remembering she was probably just scared. He was too.
Bracken nodded, finding himself unable to speak as his heart jumped to his throat.
"I guess that we will just have to trust you and your mother, then." Vanessa sighed.
"And Kendra. We will have to trust Kendra." Trask spoke up. "If she succeeded once, we must believe she can do it again. She hasn't let us down in the past, let's trust in her."
Everyone in the room nodded, but no one else spoke until Kendra had entered the room.
Kendra walked down the steps, Warren holding her close to his side, feeling the dread pooling in her stomach build with every descending step. She wondered if this would be one of her last sane memories. Would she even remember it when this was over? Would she remember anything at all?
No.
She couldn't think like that. She just couldn't. She had to do this and she had to survive with her mind. There was no other option. Kendra hoped that the false confidence would help her stay connected to herself while using the Oculus.
Plus she had Bracken, right?
As Kendra and Warren entered the living room, Kendra swore she could practically feel the tension with her fingertips. Her entire body was shaking uncontrollably by now and she knew everyone in the room could see it. Warren tightened his hold on her and whispered something she didn't quite hear in her ear.
All she could focus on was the shining Oculus that sat on the coffee table.
Suddenly, her vision was blocked by Vanessa, who put both of her hands on Kendra's shoulders and looked her in the eye.
"Take a deep breath, mija." She said in a calming voice. "My goodness, you're shaking. It's going to be okay, just breathe."
"We're all right here for you, Kens." Warren said, still holding her close. "Whenever you're ready, okay? No rush."
Kendra nodded and took a deep breath before she walked over and sat down on the couch, in front of the Oculus. Warren and Bracken took a seat on either side of her. She listened as Bracken started going over the plan, yet again.
"We'll be with you the whole time, dear." her grandmother said.
"Don't worry about anything else except the sword." Trask spoke up.
"I wish I could take your place, sis. I would." Seth mumbled quietly.
"It'll be okay!" Elise encouraged, a nodding Mara at her side.
"Just focus on your-" Stan started but Warren interrupted.
"Guys! You're overwhelming her, just let Bracken guide her." He half yelled, squeezing Kendra with the arm around her shoulder
"Just focus on finding Luca and the not to let your mind wander and resist looking for anything other than them. If you feel unsteady or not in control anymore then take your hand off the Oculus." Bracken started. Kendra nodded along to let him know she was listening but other than that did not react.
"If you find you can't control your body then do your best to send warning signals or an S.O.S out. Me and my mother should be able to sense danger before this but any help from you we can get will be helpful, we will be with you the entire time." He finished, sending a boost of confidence through their connected hands.
Kendra was grateful for Warren's hand rubbing soothing circles on her back and Bracken's hand holding hers and sending waves of comfort at the moment because they were the only things keeping her from completely losing it.
Kendra steadied herself. Took a deep breath.
A placed her hand on the Oculus.
A/N: I KNOW I KNOW IM EVIL! I get it y'all hate cliffhangers, too bad I love them! And yes I am updating this story still, but to Guest reviewer, I am very certain it hasn't been 2 years since my last update ;) Hope you gues like this one! See you soon!