Raz hesitated in front of the cabin door, fiddling with the edge of her shirt. She was suddenly very shy. Why? It seemed stupid to be nervous about seeing someone who was in a constant daze. Warren couldn't even talk, and she highly doubted he could fully understand her when she spoke to him. It had just been so long, the thought of seeing him again made her anxious.

She shook her head, clearing away her shyness. I can do this, it's no big deal.

With excitement replacing her nervousness, she pushed open the door and entered the cabin quietly. It was just as she remembered it; six chairs, one long table, fireplace, firewood, loft, Warren's bed and the piano. Glancing at the pegs on the wall, she smirked. So the sombrero was still there. Her gaze fell on Warren, who was curled up under the covers of his bed, staring in her direction blankly. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she walked over to the bed.

"Hey Warren." She sat by him on the covers and brushed some hair from his forehead. Her small smile turned gentle and warm. The back of her hand lingered on his cheek as she drank in his face. Even with white skin and silver hair, he was still as handsome as she remembered him being the first time she had laid eyes on him. "I wrote a new song while I was in Moscow, do you want to hear it?" He showed no sign that he had heard her but her smile brightened and she nodded. "Of course you do." She pulled the covers back and helped him into a sitting position, patiently guiding him until he sat on the edge of the bed next to her.

"The preserve in Moscow, Teeming Valley, was actually pretty peaceful after my team took down the troll that had been terrorizing the caretakers. Their little daughter, Galina, reminded me of you. She had a shy little smile and blonde hair like silver." She sat on the piano bench and looked expectantly at Warren. "I wrote this one for her," she shifted her gaze shyly, "and you." Sighing, she shook her head. "I guess I should stop talking and just play the song, huh?"

With that, Raz's gaze rested on the worn piano keys. How many times had she sat in that same position? How long had it been since the last time she'd been able to play on her favorite piano? She spread her fingers over the keys, relishing the feel of their cool, smooth surfaces. She'd missed this piano. With a smile on her lips, she closed her eyes and began to play.

"Do you hear that?"

Kendra looked up from her painting; she had been so busy thinking about the strange message in the Journal of Secrets and so wrapped up in painting within the lines that she almost hadn't heard Seth's question.

"Hear what?"

"That music."

"What music?"

"The music". Seth was standing by the window, which he had apparently thrown open, leaning towards the woods. "How can you not hear it? It's so loud; I think it's coming from the woods."

"Seth, aren't you getting tired of pulling pranks?" Kendra returned to her painting, dipping the small brush in the silvery blue meant for the water.

"Why do you always think that I'm pulling a prank when I have something interesting to say?"

"Because you usually are." She didn't look up from her painting, it was almost finished and she really wanted to see what it would look like once all the lines had been filled in.

"Fine suit yourself; I just thought you might like to hear the magical music coming from the woods. Oh cool! The butterflies look like they're dancing!"

"Seth!"

"I'm being totally serious! Come check it out!"

Rolling her eyes, Kendra gave in. It would only take about three seconds to walk over to the window, peek out, confirm Seth was joking around and return to the easel. She put the brush down and stood, pulling her hair out of her face. "You better not be lying."

"I'm not."

Seth sounded so sure, there was no way he could be lying; he wasn't that good of an actor. Kendra walked over to the window, sincerely hoping that there would be something interesting outside of it. Standing next to Seth, she placed both her hands on the windowsill and leaned out a bit, peering into the garden.

"Whoa…"

Beneath her, an exotic array of butterflies flitted about the garden in what seemed to be an eccentric dance. Ruby red dragonflies tangoed with royal purple and sapphire blue butterflies. Hummingbirds and bumblebees spiraled through the sky, creating meandering spirals. Gilded wings led the parade as golden butterflies weaved in and out of the other acrobats. "You were serious."

"Told you so." Kendra didn't have to look at Seth to know that he was smirking. "Can you hear the music now?"

Kendra closed her eyes. A soft breeze blew through the window, bringing with it a piano piece full of cascading notes. The melody was a complex pattern of high notes, weaving in and out of each other like the butterflies below. The pianist's bottom hand was a simple harmony to the top; it kept a steady rhythm, constant and unwavering. Whoever was playing was obviously skilled, Kendra knew that if she were to try and learn this song it would take her months, maybe a year.

"It's so pretty. Do you think it's what's making the butterflies dance?"

"Yeah, probably. What else would be causing it?" Seth placed both hands on the windowsill, gave a little hop and swung his legs out towards the garden.

"What are you doing?" Kendra demanded, her voice high with terror.

"Relax, will ya?" Instead of jumping down three stories to the ground below like she thought he would, Seth sat down on the windowsill, swinging his legs. "I'm not stupid enough to jump out the window."

"Geez, give me a heart attack."

"It's what I do best."

Fingers flying over the keys, eyes closed, Raz was lost in her song. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this free. There were no boundaries, no time limits. Only music. She couldn't help but smile. The piano beneath her fingers was so familiar that it seemed to be a part of her; an extension of her soul rather than a combination of wood, strings and ivory put together by a caretaker nearly one hundred years ago. The song seemed to pour from her on its own accord; she didn't have to think about what she was doing, the notes just came from her, like breathing.

"You plan on pulling the other naiads out of the pond?"

Her fingers froze. She had been so lost in playing that she hadn't heard Stan enter the cabin. She looked over her shoulder, then turned around on the piano bench to face Fablehaven's caretaker. "Hey Stan. What's this about me pulling naiads out of the pond?"

"Well I figured," the older man said, pulling the chair behind Raz from under the table and taking a seat, "that since you've already got the fairies dancing as if the Fairy Queen were visiting, the naiads would probably be the next magical creatures to be entranced by your playing."

"Wha- I thought I was…" Stan shook his head.

"I could hear you from the woods, and I'm sure Lena and Dale could hear you from the house."

"Man, I guess your grandkids are going to figure out the secret now, huh?"

"My grand…how did you?"

Raz bit her lip. Oops, that one slipped the system. "Lena told me about them, I can't wait to meet them."

Stan gave her a skeptical look, but apparently let whatever he was thinking slide. His gaze shifted to Warren, "Did you get any ideas on how to help him while in Moscow?" Shaking her head, Raz followed his gaze and smiled sadly. Warren had been in his current condition for years, and no matter how hard she tried, there was nothing she could do to help him. It was killing her. Of all the things she could do, why couldn't helping Warren be one of them?

"Where's Ruth? I didn't see her."

His shoulders tensed and his eyes grew hard. "I better get back to my duties." he stood up with a heavy sigh, "and I believe you have a plane to catch."

She rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I was trying to forget about that…going to Brazil isn't really my idea of a fun excursion."

Stan's eyebrows shot up. "Brazil?" Raz coughed uncomfortably.

"Secret stuff."

"Got it. Well, good luck with whatever you're going to be doing."

"Thanks."

As Stan exited the cabin Raz pushed the piano bench in and walked over to Warren. She sat next to him and clasped her hands together, staring down at her feet. "I know you probably can't understand me but…" she looked up at his pale, vacant face. What she wouldn't give to see his smile. "I'll miss you. A lot." Chuckling darkly, she shook her head. "I mean, it's different with the Knights when you're not there…" she blinked back unexpected tears. "I promise Warren, I'll find a way to help you."

Standing, she brushed off her jeans and looked at Warren with sad eyes. "I'll come back as soon as I can." She squeezed his hand, hoping to see something, anything, flash in his silvery eyes, but his face remained expressionless. Sighing sadly, she released his hand.

Pausing in the doorway she looked over her shoulder one last time. "Good bye, Warren."

"Come back soon, alright?"

"I will."

Lena wrapped her arms around Raz in a warm farewell hug. "I have something for you before you leave." The elderly woman held out a sketchpad and purple pencil case. "I hope it helps with the boredom I know you'll have to endure on the flight."

"Oh Lena, you didn't have to." Raz was hesitant to take the sketchpad, it looked expensive, and she was sure the intricately designed case wasn't empty.

"I want you to have them, practice your drawing skills. They may come in handy someday."

Laughing, she took the gifts from Lena's hands. "Thank you, I'll be sure to fill the whole thing."

"I wouldn't expect anything less." Lena gave Raz one last hug and Dale gave an awkward little wave.

"Have fun flying."

"I plan to; don't get eaten on Midsummer Eve." It was meant as a joke, but something made the words seem heavy, like a warning rather than a lighthearted jest.

Dale and Lena nodded and waved as Raz headed back to her car. Sighing heavily, she unlocked the rental car. "Well," she said out loud as she slid into the driver's seat. "Goodbye Fablehaven, hello Brazil."

I'd like to thank Ofweaponarydefences for reviewing (: your comments make writing and editing worth it lol If anyone has any ideas or tips they'd like to share with me feel free to message or review, I don't bite....much *shifty eyes* hahaha I'm working on chapter 3 now, I just need to get out of school. Only 7 1/2 days left, I really hope I can make it.