Keys to the Demon Prison (Fablehaven #5)(85)

The four centaurs pounded away into the woods. As the hoofbeats faded, Newel glanced back at Seth. "Are you starting to grasp why satyrs hate centaurs so much?"


"I kind of am," Seth replied. "At the same time, considering how messed up everything has become, it might be good to have them protecting Fablehaven."


"If you say so," Doren mumbled. "After that exchange, I would have joined your quest without a reward. This used to be a fun place. I suspect it will soon be unrecognizable."


"Things are tough all around," Seth said heavily. "Thanks for the support."


"We still want the generator," Newel hastened to add.


"I get it," Seth assured them. "We should hurry to the house."


***


Seth found the stingbulb version of Kendra in Vanessa's cell listening to a love song. He tried to ignore the dead body under a blanket in the corner. Newel and Doren murmured to each other about how authentic the false Kendra looked. Hugo was standing guard up by the back porch.


"Have you been all right?" Seth asked. "It's been quiet," Kendra confirmed. "Are you ready for me?"


"I think we'll need Vanessa's help," Seth said.


The stingbulb switched off the sound system and followed Seth out into the hallway. After the accommodations at Living Mirage, the Fablehaven dungeon seemed simple and cozy. Seth hurried to the tall cabinet that contained Vanessa. He opened the door, and the stingbulb stepped inside. He closed the door, the cabinet turned, and when the door reopened, Kendra was gone, replaced by Vanessa.


Vanessa exited the cabinet, regarding Seth and the satyrs curiously. "Why do I get the feeling that something has gone terribly wrong?"


"Because it has," Seth answered frankly.


"I know the others intended to rescue you," she said. "Start there."


Seth recapped all that had happened, openly taking his share of the blame. Vanessa listened quietly, asking a few clarifying questions. By the time he had sketched out the basics of what Patton had advised him to do, she began to look very tired.


"Why didn't you give us the full rundown?" Newel asked when Seth had finished.


"I figured I'd wait until we were all together," Seth said tactfully.


"So we need to set up some wraith guards, catch a leprechaun, and get off the preserve before sundown," Vanessa summarized.


"Those would be the first steps," Seth agreed.


"Have you any idea how perilous it will be to visit the Singing Sisters?" Vanessa said.


"Not entirely," Seth replied. "Do you have a better plan?"


She stared at him silently. "I wish I did. We're so close to utter defeat that the reckless schemes Patton proposed probably do represent our best hope for success. But that only holds true because we basically have no chance for victory. We are talking about pulling off multiple miracles before we earn even a small chance of slightly harassing these demons."


"You don't have to help," Seth said, a little crestfallen.


"I'll help," Vanessa said. "It would be criminal to let you attempt this alone. Any chance of saving the world is worth pursuing. I don't want to crush your faith in the plan. It does offer a glimmer of hope, which we would otherwise lack. Who knows? With luck, Kendra, Warren, and your hornless unicorn friend may find unforeseeable ways to be useful at Living Mirage. And if the new dynamics of the situation are forcing the Sphinx to work against the Society, we may have acquired a very powerful ally. That said, I want to make sure we're all clear that we're probably marching to our deaths."



Newel raised a finger. "Doren and I actually have an escape clause. We're free to withdraw our support and flee at any time."


Vanessa gave him an incredulous glance. "Keep in mind that by the time you know you should flee, it will probably be too late."


"Noted," Newel said.


"Seth will be doing the most dangerous work," Vanessa went on. "If he falls, we'll all cut and run."


"No more cheerful thoughts," Seth said. "All this optimism is giving me a headache. Now, I want to know if a wraith can beat up a bunch of centaurs."


"A wraith in the sunlight would fall to centaurs," Vanessa said. "But in the dark, or underground, or in a building, a hundred centaurs would retreat from a wraith."


"Then I need to go to the Hall of Dread," Seth said. "Can you help me figure out which ones are wraiths?"


"I can."


Seth led the way to the bloodred door. Although they had to walk some hallways and round a couple of corners, the Hall of Dread seemed much nearer to the Quiet Box than it had before his time at Living Mirage. The instructions from Patton explained that he had to say some words before turning the key to open the door to the Hall of Dread. Seth opened the letter and found the words. They were not in English.


"Can you read these?" he asked Vanessa.


She peered at the letter. "Yes. Give me the key." She inserted the key into the keyhole, placed a palm against the door, muttered a few incomprehensible words, turned the key, and pushed the door open. She handed Seth the key and the letter.