Keys to the Demon Prison (Fablehaven #5)(22)

Kendra whimpered involuntarily, her hands going to her mouth. "What will happen to him?"


"Inside the bottle, he won't be able to revert to his normal state," Tanu explained. "He'll be preserved as a gas until released, theoretically for years. He's been imprisoned."


"It could be worse," Trask said gently. "The wizard could have scattered and destroyed him. At least this means they want him alive."


"And as a gas, his wound won't get any worse," Tanu added.


Kendra nodded, trying to act brave as tears leaked down her cheeks. It felt like her heart was being squeezed. First her parents, now Seth! What else would the Sphinx take from her? Rage flared up, helping her resist the grief. She ground her teeth.


"Couldn't I pop in, grab Mara, and pop out?" Elise asked.


Trask shook his head. "I barely made it back. They're ready now. They'll get you. We have to choose a better time."


Elise turned and hugged Kendra. "Seth will be all right. We have a powerful new weapon in our war against the Society. We'll use the Translocator to get your brother back, and your parents."


Kendra wasn't sure how much she believed the words, but they were nice to hear. "Warren," Kendra said softly. "We should get Warren."


"Shouldn't we return to Fablehaven first?" Tanu said.


"No, in case he's starving," Kendra protested, wiping tears from her cheeks. "We've left him there long enough. It should be safe. He's in a room cut off from the rest of the world. I'm not sure what could be less risky. I should teleport to him right now."


"I'll go with you," Elise said.


"I can start treating my scratches and Trask's shoulder," Tanu said, unwinding the chains from his abdomen. Trask gave a nod. "Go bring him back."


"I just picture the room?" Kendra asked.


"I just pictured my apartment," Trask replied, handing her the Translocator.


Elise held the left side of the Translocator. Trying to calm her fatigued mind from the shock of losing Mara, Berrigan, and her brother, Kendra envisioned the storage room, picturing the heaps of junk, the slate floor, the adobe walls. She twisted the center of the device, felt the swooning, folding sensation, and then she and Elise were standing in the very room she had visualized.


An electric lantern illuminated the scene. A small troll with an oversized head, greenish skin, and a wide, lipless mouth whirled to face Kendra and Elise, sniffing suspiciously. Near the troll sat a man in grimy clothes, his face obscured by a beard and long hair.


"How you get here?" Bubda asked, his posture becoming less aggressive.


Kendra held up the Translocator. "A magical transporter."


Warren rose to his feet warily. "Who are you?" he asked, unsmiling.


"You know who I am," Kendra said.


Warren narrowed his eyes, one hand straying to the knife in his belt. "Forgive me if I don't run over and hug you. What kind of game is this?"


Kendra realized that the last time Warren had seen her, Navarog had taken her prisoner before sealing the room by destroying the knapsack. For all he knew, she and Elise might be stingbulbs. To him, their sudden arrival seemed too good to be true.


"It's really us, Warren," Elise said. "You won't need that knife. We're not holding weapons."


Warren smiled sadly. "I'd love to believe you. How'd you escape the dragon, Kendra?"


"Raxtus ate him," Kendra said.


"The little guy who tried to heal me?" Warren exclaimed incredulously. "Word of advice: If you're going to lie, make it somewhat believable."


"We were trapped in that narrow cave," Kendra explained. "Raxtus could fit inside as a dragon, but Gavin couldn't change to his true form."


The corners of Warren's mouth twitched. "I'd love to believe it. How about a quick test? The Society might be able to mimic your form, but not your abilities." He leaned forward and grabbed the electric lantern. "Nobody move. I'm going to shut this off." He clicked a switch, and the light went out.


Kendra supposed that the room was in total darkness for the others. To her it just looked dim.


Warren held up four fingers. "How many fingers am I holding up?" he asked.


"Four," Bubda answered.


"Not you, Bubda," Warren complained. "I already know you can see in the dark. Okay, how about now?"


"Still four," Kendra said. He changed it to two fingers. "Now two. Now three."


Warren clicked the light back on. He looked hopeful.


"If the Society knew how to get in here, they wouldn't need to use subterfuge," Elise said.


"Trask and Tanu are waiting for us," Kendra said. "They're injured."


"So you got the ..." he paused, glancing at Bubda, "the, um, thing we wanted to get with the Wyrmroost key?"


"At a dear price," Elise said. "Seth, Mara, and a man named Berrigan were taken captive. And Vincent Morales lost his life."