Keys to the Demon Prison (Fablehaven #5)(135)

During their three days at sea, the undead sailors had never raised a single sail. In fact, once the sailors had dispersed after Seth returned from the captain's cabin, Kendra had not seen much of her undead shipmates. They mainly stayed down in the hold, never venturing into the forecastle where she and her friends were sleeping.


Bracken had wakened her a few minutes ago. Their voyage almost over, her friends were readying their equipment. Kendra had come up here to peek at Shoreless Isle, but she had not yet glimpsed land.


"See anything?" Seth asked, startling her.


"Not yet."


"How far can you see?" he asked.


"I don't know. A few hundred yards, I guess."


Her brother chuckled. "I can't even see the water."


"We'll all see land soon enough."


They stood together in silence.


"Have you smooched Bracken yet?" Seth asked.


"No, sicko," Kendra replied with annoyance. "That's none of your business!"


"You've been pretty cuddly," Seth observed.


"He's just keeping me warm," Kendra said. "He's trying to comfort me. And he might need a little comfort."


"I know what might give him some extra courage," Seth said, puckering his lips.


Kendra shoved him. "Don't be an idiot."


Seth laughed. "Just for the record, you may not have many more chances."


Kendra scowled. "I know. Hey, I see something."


"What?"


"Mist."


Seth rolled his eyes. "Mist doesn't count as news."


"No, lots of mist. A wall of mist. You'll see, we're getting closer to it."


"See anything in the mist?" Seth asked after a moment. "No. It's too thick."


Kendra watched as the bowsprit pierced the vaporous wall. A moment later, she felt the dampness on her face and hands, and tasted it when she inhaled.


"You're right," Seth said. "That was sudden."


Bracken came up from behind. "All our gear is ready."


"Any word on reinforcements?" Seth asked.


"Agad is on his way," Bracken said. "I can't get into specifics. Nagi Luna has been watching us a lot lately. We caught her eye once we boarded this ship. She's watching us right now."


Kendra shivered. "Can you tell where she is?"


"She's nearby, on the island," Bracken said. "Inside the dome. I can't discern much else. She's not really worried about us, just interested."


"Can you brighten up the mist?" Seth asked.


"I'm not sure you'd like what you saw," Bracken said. "Undead guardians on jagged teeth of rock."


"I'm starting to hear them," Seth said. "Most of them are moaning. A few sound thirsty. Some are inviting us to join them."


"You can see them?" Kendra asked Bracken.


"I can sense them," Bracken said. "Huge beasts in the water as well. They keep away from our ship, though."


As the ship continued forward, Kendra heard a churning, sucking sound up ahead and a little to the right. "Do you hear that?"


"The whirlpool?" Bracken asked. "It will get louder."


The Lady Luck passed right by the gurgling vortex, never swerving or rocking. As the ominous sucking of the whirlpool receded, the mist began to thin.


"I see the island," Kendra said. "It's big. I can't see the whole thing. There are lots of sharp rocks in the water. I don't see any beach, just waves pounding rugged stone."


A moment later, the Lady Luck slowed to a halt.


"This must be our stop," Bracken said.


They descended to the main deck, where a pair of undead mariners ushered them over to the side. Down below, two rowboats awaited them, crewed by more undead sailors.


"They even brought Hugo a boat," Seth said.


"These zombie pirates think of everything," Warren said. "I'm going to recommend the Lady Luck to my friends."


Kendra climbed down the side of the ship between Bracken and Seth. All of them went in one boat, except for Doren and Hugo. Once the passengers were situated, the rowers began maneuvering away from the ship.


As the launches glided toward the island, the moon broke through the clouds, brightening the scene. Everywhere Kendra looked, water sprayed against treacherous rocks, the frothy foam reflecting the moonlight. She could not envision how they would reach the shore without drowning.


In the volatile water, the smaller boat did not enjoy the same supernatural stillness as the Lady Luck. Kendra clung to the gunwale as the boat pitched and rocked, cold spray slopping over the sides. Fighting hard, the rowers guided the craft through a turbulent slalom course of menacing boulders. Three times Kendra closed her eyes as a crash seemed imminent, but each time the undead seamen managed to dodge the obstacle.


The forbidding shore drew near, fountains of brine exploding over angular rocks and blasting up through blowholes. The rowboat surged forward with the breaking waves, and Kendra braced for the inevitable collision, ready for the craft to shatter against unforgiving stone. At the last moment, oars thrashing, the rowboat veered left, lurching sideways under a stone arch into a small, hidden cove.