Grip of the Shadow Plague

"Find anything interesting?"

"Nothing useful."

"Me neither," Kendra said. "Nothing new."

"I’m surprised you ever find anything, you go through the book so slowly."

"I’m surprised you don’t miss everything, flipping through pages so fast."

"Who knows how much time we have?" Seth said, closing the journal and rubbing his eyes. "Nobody found anything today."

"I told Grandpa he should let me talk to Lena," Kendra said. "She wouldn’t even make an appearance for him."

"We could sneak down to the pond tonight," Seth offered.

"Are you insane?"

"I’m kidding. Mostly. Besides, Hugo and Mendigo would never let us out of the yard. I was relieved to hear Grandpa saw Doren at the pond. I was sure Newel would have caught him."

Kendra closed her book. "Grandpa got good info from some of the satyrs and dryads."

"Just confirming what we already know," Seth argued. "News flash-the plague is everywhere."

"Warren made it back safe from Kurisock’s domain."

"With no new info except that a fog giant is standing guard. He didn’t even reach the tar pit."

Kendra reached for the bedside lamp. "Should I turn off the light?"

"Might as well. I think my eyes will melt if I try to read any more."

She clicked off the light. "I don’t get why you were so upset about being caught reading."

"It was just embarrassing. What if people found out?"

"They’d just think you were normal and smart. Most people worth knowing enjoy reading. Everyone in our family does it. Grandma taught college."

"Yeah, well, I was making fun of you before, so now I look like a hypocrite."

Kendra smiled. "No, you look like you finally wised up."

He gave no reply. Kendra stared at the ceiling, assuming the conversation had ended.

"What if we can’t fix this problem?" Seth asked as she was starting to fade off to sleep. "I know we’ve survived some scary situations in the past, but this plague feels different. Nobody has ever seen anything like it. We don’t really know what it is, let alone how to repair the damage. And it spreads so fast, turning friends into enemies. You should have seen Newel."

"I’m worried too," Kendra said. "All I know for sure is that Coulter was right-even when you try your best to prepare, these preserves can be deadly."

"I’m sorry some of the people at Lost Mesa didn’t make it," Seth said softly. "I’m glad I wasn’t there for that." "Me too," Kendra said quietly.

"Good night."

‘"Night."

* * *

"Kendra, Seth, wake up, don’t be afraid." The voice boomed through the dark room, as if emanating from the walls.

Kendra sat up bleary-eyed but alert. Seth was already propped up on one arm, blinking in the darkness.

"Kendra, Seth, this is your grandfather," the voice said. It did sound like Grandpa, only magnified. "I’m speaking from the secret attic, where Dale, Warren, your grandmother, and I have taken refuge. The brownies have become infected, and have turned against us. Do not open your door until we come for you in the morning. Without adults in your room, you will be totally safe from harm. We expect to pass the night without incident here as well."

Seth stared at Kendra, not quite into her eyes. She realized that he could not see her as distinctly as she could see him.

Grandpa repeated the message, using the same words, presumably in case they had not been awake the first time. Then he reiterated the message a third time, adding more at the end. "The brownies are only permitted in the house from sunset to sunrise, so we’ll evacuate in the morning. We’re sorry we didn’t see this coming. The brownies are an insular community, virtually never in contact with other creatures at Fablehaven. Their habitations beneath the yard enjoy many of the same protections as this house. Even so, we should have known the plague would find a way. Sorry to disturb you. Try to get some sleep."

"Yeah, right," Seth said, switching on the bedside lamp.

"Just what we needed," Kendra sighed. "Evil brownies."

"I wonder what they look like."

"Don’t even consider peeking!"

"I know, of course not." Seth got out of bed and jogged to the window.

"What are you doing?"

"Checking something." He pulled the curtains aside.

"Tanu is out here. His shadow."

"Don’t you dare open the window!" Kendra commanded, rising from her bed to join her brother.

"He’s motioning for us to stay put," Seth reported.

Looking over Seth’s shoulder, Kendra saw nothing on the roof. Then a fairy glided into view, glowing a deep violet shade as if illuminated by a black light.

"He’s pointing at the fairies and signing to keep the window closed," Seth said. "See, there are more fairies just beyond the roof. They’re tough to make out, they’re so dark." He gave Tanu a thumbs-up and closed the curtain.

"No evil fairies have shown themselves for a while. I bet this was a trap. The brownies were supposed to flush us out so the fairies could transform us."

"I thought Grandpa banned fairies from the yard," Kendra said, returning to her bed.

Seth started pacing. "It must not have worked for some reason. I never knew Grandpa could make announcements to the whole house."

"They have all sorts of cool stuff in the secret attic."

"Too bad they don’t have a door to our side."

"It doesn’t matter. They’ll come get us in the morning. We should try to sleep. Tomorrow will probably be hectic."

Seth put his ear against the door. "I can’t hear anything."

"There are probably ten of them patiently waiting on the far side, ready to pounce."

"Brownies are shrimps. All I’d need are some heavy boots, a pair of shin guards, and a weed whacker."

The image made Kendra giggle. "You said the nipsies are much smaller than brownies, but that didn’t stop them from contaminating Newel."

"I guess," Seth said. He opened a wardrobe and pulled out some clothes.

"What are you doing?" Kendra asked.

"I want to get dressed in case we have to make a hasty getaway. Don’t watch."

When Seth was done, he returned to his bed. Kendra gathered her clothes, turned off the lamp, warned Seth not to peek, and changed. She climbed into bed with her shoes on.

"How am I supposed to sleep?" Seth asked after a couple of minutes.