Keys to the Demon Prison (Fablehaven #5)(65)

"You know who was here before?"


"I do. Can you turn it down a little?"


"Excuse me?"


"Hit the dimmer or something? You're shining like a lighthouse." Blinking away tears, he made brief eye contact with her.


"Most people can't see my light," Kendra said. "Including me."


"Right, give me a second, my eyes will adjust." Blinking frequently, he turned his head toward her more and gradually widened his eyes. "Okay, I think I can handle it." His wincing expression diminished, replaced by something more like wonder. "Wow, you'll never be dim."


They stared at each other for a moment. His threadbare clothes hugged an athletic build. He had thick, longish hair; expressive, silver-blue eyes; and flawless skin. His boyishly charming features would look much more at home on a magazine cover than in a prison.


"I'm Bracken," he said.


"Does the Sphinx send you to all the new girls?" He was way too good-looking to be anything but a spy.


He held up his hands as if to calm her. "You're wise to be cautious."


"Believe me, I've learned caution. Tell the Sphinx to let me rot in peace."


"Now, don't write me off just yet. I'd have the same suspicions about you, but you're obviously fairykind. Which must mean ... you're his sister?"


"Whose sister?"


"Seth's."


Kendra resisted getting excited by the mention of her brother. Of course he knew about Seth. He was just trying to push her buttons. "Where is my brother?"


Folding his arms, Bracken regarded her appraisingly. "He never mentioned you were so ... bright."


Kendra felt herself blushing. "Answer the question." Her voice was hard.


Again Bracken raised his palms. "Sorry. I will. He's gone. I'm not sure where. Probably Fablehaven."


"What?"


"Somebody brought the Translocator to him and he teleported out of here."


"How is that possible?"


"Your guess would probably be better than mine. Hopefully he'll contact me before long."


Kendra huffed in exasperation. "Are you guys pen pals?"


"I gave him a coin that lets us communicate telepathically. I know he's far from here, because I can't hail him. Once he uses the coin to reach out to me, we should be able to speak."


Kendra frowned. "A magical telepathy coin? Who are you? At least, who are you pretending to be?"


Bracken chuckled and shook his head. "The truth sounds absurd."


"Try me."


"You don't even believe I'm an actual prisoner; you're not going to believe this."


"Give it a shot. You might want to stutter--that could help sell it."


"Stutter?"


"Long story."


He glanced away. "I'm a unicorn."


Kendra's jaw dropped. It took her a moment to recover. "Did you just say a unicorn?"


Eyes hesitant, he shrugged using hands and shoulders. "I warned you."


Kendra laughed incredulously. "Look. Bracken. You need to go back to spy school. In fact, maybe you should just try a different career path. You obviously weren't hired for your brains."


"Maybe you're right. I would be a suspiciously lousy spy."


"What, you're saying I should believe you because you're incompetent? Or just because your story sounds crazy? I don't suppose you can prove that you're actually a horse?"


"I'm stuck in human form. I lost my horn."


Kendra covered her eyes with one hand. "This is actually worse than feeling lonely."


"You're fairykind. Can't you perceive my aura?"


She looked at him. He was undeniably handsome. That was all. "I've never been good at seeing that stuff."


His eyes lit up with an idea. "I am now speaking the secret fairy language. Can you understand me?"


"Yes."


"Can you tell I am no longer speaking English?"


Kendra tried to focus. She heard English, but something did feel different. "I interpret intuitively. Keep talking."


"What should I say? I suppose it doesn't matter. I'm trapped in a dungeon with a girl who thinks I have lost my mind."


"I can tell you're speaking another language," Kendra said. "But I can't tell the difference between the various fairy-languages."


"At least it's a start," Bracken said. She perceived that he had reverted to English. "I can take you to visit some of your friends. Maddox, for example. Mara."


"The guards just let you roam free? Don't they know you're sneaking around in the walls?"


"Our captors look the other way if we stay unobtrusive. I've been here for a very long time. This dungeon is vast and ancient, riddled with forgotten tunnels and unused spaces. The rest we dig-- we meaning the prisoners."