Visitors.
"It's good to be back," Doren said as the SUV slowed to a stop in front of a large house with lots of gables and a lone turret.
"Hey, I was the first one to appear out of the two of us! We were mentioned before, but now I'm making my entrance" Doren pointed out to Newel.
"This is unfair, the book should know to have me first." Newel complained.
"Remember, this is just not some fantasy, if Doren talks first, then he talks first." Vanessa said.
"Of course miss Vanessa, you are right about that, thank you." Doren said with a smile.
Seth just rolled his eyes slightly, too used to the satyrs fanboying over Vanessa.
"Really?" Newel replied. "No more fast-food hamburgers? No more curly fries? No more tacos or milk shakes or gas-station nachos?"
Doren inhaled deeply. "I'll miss the food, and the open road, but you're forgetting something very special."
Newel knocked the heel of his hand against the side of his head. "Forgive me, Doren. Lapse of reason. Maybe those witches Seth visited put me under a spell. How could I forget our brand-new television? Nothing tops it!"
Grandpa Sorenson sighed, still not able to believe he had to give such thing due to Seth's promise, meanwhile, the Satyrs high five.
Raxtus seemingly had a thought.
"You think I could join you in some TV sessions? It's really been a long time since I watched a movie, and this would be easier than sneaking in some drive-in cinema." The dragon asked, Kendra randomly remembered Raxtus commented he loved action movies when they first meet.
The satys look to each other.
"Hm... a dragon joining us, now that is interesting." Newel said.
"Sharing the joy of television would be a delight for us, but no one gives anything for nothing." Doren proceeded.
Raxtus looked at the two goat men.
"Since you got those wings, and can actually freely fly around, how about you sometimes bring a good amount of snacks and delicious things, and we let you watch with us?" Newel proposed.
"Deal." The dragon said after few seconds.
Meanwhile, everyone else shook or scratched their heads after the pretty weird conversation between dragon and satyrs.
Seth laughed at his friends. Men from the waist up, goats from the waist down, the satyrs had received a big-screen television as a reward for helping Seth find Vasilis and for their contributions during the battle of Zzyzx. It was a major step up from the battery-powered portable TV they had been using.
"I had hoped that after enough television, the novelty would wear off," Grandpa Sorenson said.
"Honestly Stan, that would never happen, with dozens of channels and thousands of things to see.. television is literally infinite and ongoing." Warren claimed.
Stan sighed.
"Yes, I should have realized that."
"Stan, Stan, Stan," Doren said. "We're not talking about some superficial association. Our relationship with that television only deepens as the months go by."
"Does the novelty wear off when you find true love?" Newel asked. "Or does your devotion increase over a lifetime of commitment and sacrifice?"
"We learned that from television, actually," Doren inserted.
"Right, a talk show," Newel agreed. "That television lets us explore the world! Become infatuated with a million faces! Witness art and music and technological marvels!"
"And watch cartoons," Doren crowed.
Grandpa Sorenson exhaled through pursed lips. "Just be careful. Some humans who watch too much TV turn into couch potatoes. Try not to forget about forests and streams and the thrill of chasing living, breathing nymphs."
"Might be the only time someone ever had to tell satyrs to keep chasing nymphs." Ruth said, shaking her head.
The satyrs high five to that achievement.
Newel winced. "Ouch. I suppose we have been a little off our game lately."
"We'll get back to it as soon as we catch up on the programs we recorded," Doren promised.
The satyrs unbuckled their seat belts and rushed out of the car.
Seth reached for his door.
"One moment, Seth," Grandpa said.
"Sure, what?"
"I didn't want to bring it up in front of the satyrs," Grandpa said, "but we haven't had a chance to discuss your visit with the Sisters."
Seth squirmed in his seat. "I have to be careful. People aren't supposed to know about our arrangement. Bad things can happen if I say too much."
"I understand," Grandpa said. "But it's a long way from Missouri to Connecticut, and you've seemed preoccupied for most of the drive. I expected that having settled your business, you would be relieved."
"Well . . . things are not completely settled," Seth said. "There is another part to the agreement."
Some fire entered Grandpa's gaze. "Have they asked you to do something that makes you uncomfortable?"
"No, it's not the arrangement," Seth replied. "Not that I could tell you if it was. They really will do something drastic if I say too much. They almost came after me just because Bracken mentally spied enough to discover an agreement existed."
Bracken awkwardly scratched his head and turned around when Kendra looked towards him, the unicorn had to admit he did put Seth in potential massive danger, and thought maybe sometimes he really looked too deep into people's heads.
"If the upsetting information isn't part of the arrangement, can't you talk about it?"
Seth thought about that. "Yeah, I guess I can. It was just a prediction they leaked. They said a storm is coming. A storm of dragons."
Grandpa's expression grew sober—and a little guarded. "Did they?"
"You know something."
"Just rumors," Grandpa said. "Nothing definitive. But there has been unrest at the dragon sanctuaries lately. Agad the wizard recently told me to expect a visit. I expect I'll learn more then."
"On this topic, we really should call Agad very soon, we hurried to read so we could know how will be the future, but there will be so much important info, it's better that allies like Agad already knows it." Ruth mentioned.
"You are right, it's getting late, so after reading some more, we'll all go to sleep, and I will contact with Agad, and I hope he is able to come tomorrow, even if he can't stay for too long." Stan agreed.
"Yeah, Agad will have to come and go, with how things are at Wyrmroost, he can't leave for long enough to read all the five books with us." Raxtus pointed out.
"Really? I'd like to see Agad again."
"I'm sure he'd like to see you, too."
"There isn't much the dragons can do from their sanctuaries, is there?"
"I hope not," Grandpa said. "Dragons embody the greatest threat posed to humans by the magical community. I don't want to worry you, but if there is anything I have learned over the past few years, it is that prisons can fail and magical preserves can fall. We have to stay vigilant. Look, there's your sister."
Kendra emerged from the front door of the house. She waved when she caught Seth's eye.
"I should go see her," Seth said. "She was worried about me."
"Go on." Seth got out of the SUV and jogged over to his older sister.
"How'd it go?" Kendra asked.
"It's all top secret," Seth replied
"I guess that not anymore, being able to just speak about this makes everything far simpler." Seth confessed.
"I hope we learn what task the Sisters will have for you so you can fully prepare" Kendra said.
"As long as they don't change their mind now that we'll know about it..." Seth answered.
"You have one fewer wraith than when you left."
"At least I still have you."
Kendra gave a patient smile. "Vasilis is gone too?"
Seth scowled. "Yeah."
"It was fun while it lasted." "Fun for you, hogging all the glory by killing Gorgrog."
"You found the sword. And took out some other demons. It was a team effort."
"You still did the big thing, given that the Eternals quest didn't work out at all, seems like the universe had to make you shine there." Like in the book, Seth complained.
"You seriously think I killed the Demon King just to rub in your face that I'm better?" Kendra questioned while raising an eyebrow.
"Well, not quite that either, but is just kinda unfair." Seth answered.
"Seth, it was one of the most important wars that happened in the world, there just wasn't time to let you kill all the main demons." Tanu reminded.
"I bet you could have killed the King, but tough luck buddy, you were hurt in that moment." Warren pointed out.
Seth sighed, he knew they were right, but still wanted to have a duel with Gorgrog.
"I call the next one."
"You can have him," Kendra said. She paused, looking at him closely. "Are you all right?"
"Mostly," Seth said. "It sounds like we might have some trouble from the dragons."
"Says who?" "I can't really get specific."
"The witches," Kendra said. "A demon just told me something similar."
"Wait, a demon?" Seth asked. "Here at Fablehaven?"
"I went to the fairy realm."
"Bracken finally took you."
"No, I snuck in," Kendra said dryly
"If you ever snuck in another dimension, I will truly consider you interesting." Seth promised.
"Noted, I will remember that if it somehow happens in the books." Seth's sister answered.
"Were there lollipop forests? And candy-bar roads?"
"There were lots of flowers." "Rainbows? Sparkles?"
"It was beautiful."
"How did you meet a demon there? Was it made of gumdrops?
"The most dangerous demon ever." Newel said in a serious tone.
"Indeed, demons are about tempting you... a delicious gumdrops demon? Hoh boy." Doren agreed.
Many laughed at that weird idea.
"Some demons never left," Kendra said. "The astrids are working to expel them."
"I knew I got rid of Vasilis too early!"
"Bracken wouldn't want to endanger you." "I could have been a demon exterminator." Seth's eyes widened. "Is that why he wanted me to settle up with the witches? To protect me from having fun? How much did he know about our deal?"
Seth threw a glare at Bracken, who raised his hands.
"Hey, don't look at me like that, it is just for the best that you settle things early, and if we really needed help, I would ask." He said.
"You wouldn't, you really will want to refuse Kendra's help with Jubaya." Seth reminded.
"That... is different..." The unicorn tried to explain.
"I killed big demons like Graulas and Nagi Luna with the Vasilis, whatever demon is left in the Fairy Kingdom, they'd be even easier." Seth said.
"You can't be sure of that, Seth. Demons are wildly different from each other, with their unique powers and abilities, just because you can take on overall some of the strongest ones, doesn't mean you can take on anything any demon throws at you." Stan said seriously.
"I guess you got a point." Seth agreed after considering that for some seconds.
"I really don't know."
"What did the demon tell you about the dragons?"
"She wanted to warn me there would be trouble," Kendra said.
"It was a lady demon?" "I think she mostly wants revenge against the dragons. I bet a lot of demons feel that way. Who knows how accurate she is?"
A black minivan was coming up the driveway. Seth stared, baffled. Fablehaven almost never got visitors. The sighting of a strange vehicle was a rare occurrence.
The Sorensons and the Larsens looked at each other, they had a small idea on who might that be, as they've been talking about it these last days.
"Who is that?" Seth asked, wondering if it could possibly be Agad.
Kendra started laughing. "Nobody told you?"
"What?" "You're going to love this. Grandma and Grandpa Larsen invited them."
"Who?"
"Your favorite cousins."
"No, nope, no way, absolutely not." Seth said absolutely baffled at the future.
Kendra started to laugh.
"Seth, I know you might argue a lot with Knox... but this is for the best, you and your sister knows, and so do your parents, with so much of the family involved, it will be better if your cousins knows too so we can protect them better." Gloria told Seth.
"Seth, Knox is literally nearly a shorter you, so I find it a bit weird how you dislike him." Kendra stated.
"If opposites attract each other, I guess similar people are the opposite." Seth answered in a smart tone.
"What about Tess?" Hank asked the boy.
"Tess is fine, she daydreams a lot, but she is nice, I'm sure it will be her best day ever when she finds out about the magical creatures." Seth answered honestly, he did like Tess.
"At least try to be nice with your cousin, you matured a lot after finding about this world and you are not the same as when you first came to Fablehaven, so why not Knox?" Ruth reminded.
Seth thought about this for a few minutes, his grandma made a good point, Seth will still always remember how he did things like turning a fairy into an imp, or opening the window... that was worse than anything Knox ever did, he was just annoying.
Seth sighed. "I will think about this." He replied.
"Thank you Seth." Gloria said with a smile, Hank smiled too.
"No," Seth said. He didn't want to speak the name but couldn't stop himself. "Knox?"
Kendra nodded. "And Tess."
The minivan had almost reached the house.
"No," Seth groaned. "This is our place! He'll ruin it!"
"Don't be so dramatic. You usually end up having fun with him. He can't ruin anything. But your attitude might."
"Why would they invite him?"
"Uncle Pete and Aunt Zola wanted to take a trip. Grandma Sorenson wanted me to remind you that we're not supposed to tell them about any of the magical stuff."
"Of course not. I'm not stupid."
"That's debatable." Kendra said.
Hank smirked a bit.
"That's debatable."
"Never change, Kendra..." Seth said low.
The minivan rolled to a stop beside the SUV. A door slid open and a kid hopped out wearing fancy basketball shoes, baggy sport shorts, and a gray Tshirt. His blondish hair was shaved short on the sides but fairly long on top. A pair of military-style dog tags dangled from his neck, and he carried a basketball under one arm. It had been three years since Seth last saw him. Not quite as tall as Seth and a little stocky, Knox looked like an aged-up version of the kid Seth remembered.
"Yep, that's him alright." Seth commented.
"Hey, loser," Knox greeted. "You still have Seth breath?"
Seth held his nose. "It was killed by your Knox socks."
Many of the people there looked weird at Seth.
"Really? That is how you greet each other?" Warren said while trying to refrain from laughing.
"I think you lost your touch right there." Newel said in a sad tone, shaking his head.
"Human interactions are so weird sometimes." The dragon said without knowing if he should be confused or laughing.
Knox shook his head. "I hear you live here!"
"For now," Seth said.
"Do you have enough trees?"
"It's called a forest," Seth said.
"Hi, Kendra," Knox said. "Did you get shorter?"
"I think you got taller," she replied.
"How old are you now?" Knox asked.
"Fifteen." "I'm thirteen, like Seth," Knox reminded her.
"I know," Kendra replied. "You were born the same month."
"I came first," Seth said.
"First is the worst," Knox countered. He looked around. "So many trees. Connecticut needs to share the wealth. They block every view. We couldn't see anything driving here."
"Your cousin is a tree hater? Unacceptable." Doren said.
"Think on all the poor dryads if your cousin could get his way." Newel said seriously.
"Knox has always made dumb comments like that, and seems like they just keep getting dumber." Seth grumbled.
"Some people think the trees are part of the view," Seth said.
Over by the minivan, Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson stood talking to Uncle Pete and Aunt Zola. Uncle Pete looked a little heavier than Seth recalled.
"You didn't drive from Texas," Kendra said.
"No way," Knox said. "We flew into Hartford and rented the minivan. Mom and Dad are going to drive around New England with your parents for a week and look at old stuff. And I'm stuck here." He kept looking around. "Do you have a basketball hoop?"
"Nope," Seth said.
"Really? You're not just scared to play me?"
"Truly. Is that basketball signed?"
Knox held it up and pointed out different signatures. "Magic. Kobe. Jordan. LeBron. Curry." Each name looked like it had been written with a real marker.
"Are you serious? That must be worth a ton!" Knox bounced it on the grass.
"Maybe. I didn't buy it. It's all about being in the right place at the right time."
"No way, Knox actually got that?" Seth said surprised.
Warren whistled. "Wow, seems like the kid is a lucky one."
"You met them?" Seth asked.
"Or people I know did," Knox said, bouncing the ball again.
"I wouldn't bounce it," Seth said. "You should keep that one on a shelf."
"I disagree," Knox said. "It'll look cooler all worn out. A ball that gets used."
A petite blonde girl trotted up to them, her shoulder-length hair softly curled. She wore fairy wings and carried a white wand with a star at the tip. Kendra and Seth shot a look at each other.
"Hi, guys," the girl said. "Remember me? I'm your cousin Tess."
Bracken and Raxtus smiled at that description.
"I've seen several little human children in my long life, I really love how imaginative are so many of them." Bracken said.
"Most children don't realize how dragons really are, just thinks they are those awesome creatures, and I know many wants to meet one, sometimes wish I could show myself for a second." The platinum dragon said.
"You look so much bigger," Kendra said.
"I am bigger. I turned nine last week."
"You came in fairy gear," Seth observed.
"I love fairies." Tess twirled. "Grandma Larsen told me this is a perfect place for fairies. She called it Fablehaven. Get it? Fable . . . haven. A safe place for storybook creatures."
"I bet she's right," Kendra said sweetly. "Grandma Larsen is pretty smart."
"Looks more like a great place for bugs," Knox said, scanning the area.
"Oh, those reactions are gonna be so good when they learn." Warren said smirking.
"I can't wait to see Knox's face, shame I don't have Vasilis anymore, I could style around with a magic sword in front of him." Seth said, imagining that.
"You would just make him want to take the sword from your hands." Kendra warned.
Seth could currently see at least ten fairies flitting about the yard. They were so much a part of the scenery that he hardly noticed them anymore. But of course Knox and Tess were blind to them. They saw butterflies and dragonflies instead. Mortals needed to drink milk from the magical milch cow Viola in order to perceive what was really going on at Fablehaven. Seth had eaten walrus butter from a similar creature every morning on his road trip so he could see Newel and Doren as they really were instead of as a couple of goats.
"I wonder why the Sisters decided to describe things like that, some of those things literally everyone here already knows." Vanessa stated.
Nobody really had an answer for such thing.
"Butterflies," Tess announced, pointing at a fairy. "I bet they know where I can find the fairies."
Seth and Kendra shared another glance. Tess could have no idea how close she was to getting her wish.
"No hoop," Knox grumbled, bouncing his ball again. "This could be a long week. Do you guys have video games, at least?"
"Grandpa Sorenson isn't big on electronics," Seth said.
Knox looked like he had been shot. "That's right. Your other grandparents are here too. Isn't that kind of crowded?"
"They have different houses," Kendra said. "You'll probably be in the old manor mostly with Grandma and Grandpa Larsen. It looks like a mansion."
"That sounds decent," Knox said. "Is it nearby?"
"It's kind of far," Seth said. "They own a lot of land here. Acres and acres."
"Anything cool?" Knox asked. "Or just trees?"
"There might be a few surprises," Seth said. "You have to be careful. The woods can be hazardous. Grandpa will fill you in."
"It really is too ironic that you are the first one to warn about it." Kendra said with a smile.
Seth shrugged. "I know they'll kill me if I just let him go around by the woods."
"The woods can be deadly," Kendra said. "Poisonous snakes. Lots of ticks with Lyme disease."
Knox made a disgusted face. "I hate bugs."
"Old bear traps in the woods too," Seth said. "Some parts are like a minefield."
"That sounds scary," Tess said.
"And fairies too," Kendra said. "So many fairies."
"Be careful now with the teasing, don't overdo it either." Stan said, though he was smiling.
Tessa beamed and waved her wand. Knox gave a huff.
"Right. Fairies and unicorns and leprechauns."
"More or less," Seth said.
"And no basketball hoop," Knox said with a sigh. "I have a feeling this might be the most boring week of my life."
"This is how the chapter ends." Hank announced.
"It is getting pretty late, we should have dinner, and then we can read another chapter before needing to sleep." Stan stated.
Ruth looked at Raxtus, but before she could say anything.
"I ate well yesterday, I won't really need anything on my stomach for about a week." He quickly said.
"And I will return to the Fairy Realm after dinner to tell mother about those important events, and I will return here in the morning." Bracken said.
The others nodded, and Ruth started to cook, meanwhile, Seth approached Kendra.
"So our cousins will come here... you think that they will end up following us in an adventure?" He asked.
"I really don't know, I hope not, a war with the dragons will break out soon... they really are just lacking any experience for this." His sister said.
"Well, we learned during hard times too, right? I don't want Tess to be in danger... Knox neither for that matter, but I feel like there will really be a lot to the future." Seth stated.