Fablehaven I (37 page)

that it took a moment to recognize it as hope. There

were no combination locks in the way. She just had to

throw herself at the mercy of an all-powerful being and

plead for her family.

What was the worst that could happen? Death, but on

her terms. No bloodthirsty imps. No witches. No demons.

Just a big poof of dandelion fluff.

What was the best possibility? The Fairy Queen could

turn Muriel into dandelion seeds and rescue Kendra’s

family.

Kendra started down the trail. She felt butterflies in her

stomach. It was an encouraging kind of nervousness, much

preferable to the dread of certain failure. She started

running.

No crawling under the hedge this time. The path led

to an archway. Kendra ran under the archway and onto the

manicured lawn beyond.

By moonlight the whitewashed pavilions and boardwalk

were even more picturesque than during the day.

Kendra really could envision a Fairy Queen living on the

island at the center of the tranquil pond. Of course, the

queen didn’t actually live there. It was just a shrine. Kendra

would have to go petition her and hope the queen would

respond.

Getting to the island would be the first challenge. The

pond was full of naiads who liked to drown people, which

meant she needed a sturdy boat.

Kendra hurried across the lawn toward the nearest

gazebo. She tried to ignore the shifting shadows she saw

ahead-various creatures ducking out of sight. Anticipating

what she was about to attempt, Kendra felt like her

intestines were caught in an eggbeater. She forced away all

fear. Would Grandpa turn and flee? Would Grandma?

Would Seth? Or would they try their best to save her?

She charged up the steps of the nearest pavilion and

started running along the boardwalk. Her shoes pounded

noisily against the boards, defying the silence. She saw her

destination-the boathouse, three gazebos away.

The surface of the lake was a black mirror reflecting the

moonlight. A few twinkling fairies hovered just above the

water. Otherwise there was no sign of life.

Kendra reached the pavilion attached to a small pier.

She dashed down the steps and out onto the quay. She

reached the boathouse and tried the door. Just like before,

it was locked. The door was not big, but it looked sturdy.

Kendra kicked it hard. The impact jolted up the length

of her leg, making her wince. She rammed the door with

her shoulder, again hurting herself instead of the door.

Kendra stepped back. The boathouse was basically a

large shed floating on the water. It had no windows. She

hoped it still had boats inside. If it did, they would be

sitting in the water, protected by walls and a roof but no

floor. If she jumped into the lake, she could surface inside

the boathouse and climb into a boat.

She studied the water. The black, reflective surface was

impenetrable. There could be a hundred naiads waiting in

ambush, or none-it was impossible to tell.

The whole plan would be pointless if she drowned

before reaching the island. Based on what she had heard

from Lena, there would be naiads eagerly waiting for her to

get near the water. Jumping in would be suicide.

She sat down and started bucking the door with both

feet, the same method Seth had used to break into the

barn. She made a lot of noise, but did not seem to be harming

the door at all. Kicking harder only made her legs hurt

more.

She needed a tool. Or a key. Or some dynamite.

Kendra ran back up to the pavilion, searching for something

she could use to pry the door open. She saw nothing.

If only there were a sledgehammer lying around.

She tried to calm herself. She had to think! Maybe if

she just kept pounding, the door would eventually give.

Sort of like erosion. But it hadn’t budged yet, and she

didn’t have all night. There had to be a smarter solution.

What did she have to work with? Nothing! Nothing but a

few shadowy creatures who ducked out of sight at her

approach.

Okay, listen up! she shouted. I know you can hear

me. I have to get inside the boathouse. A witch is setting

Bahumat free, and all of Fablehaven is going to be

destroyed. I’m not asking for anybody to stick their necks

out. I just need somebody to beat down the boathouse door.

My grandfather is the caretaker here, and I give you full

permission. I am going to turn my back and close my eyes.

When I hear the door break, I’ll wait ten seconds before

turning back around.

Kendra turned around and closed her eyes. She heard

nothing. Anytime, just smash down the door. I promise I

won’t look.

She heard a gentle splash and a tinkling sound.

Okay! Sounds like we have a taker! Just break down

the door.

She heard nothing. She suddenly realized that something

could have emerged from the water and be sneaking

up behind her. Unable to resist, she turned and peeked.

No dripping creatures were in sight. All was quiet.

There were ripples on the previously glassy pond. And

lying on the dock near the boathouse was a key.

Kendra rushed down the stairs and picked up the key.

It was wet, corroded, and a little slimy. Longer than a regular

key, it looked old-fashioned.

Wiping it against her shirt, she carried the key to the

boathouse and inserted it in the keyhole. It fit perfectly.

She turned it, and the door swung inward.

Kendra shivered. The implications were disturbing.

Apparently a naiad had tossed her the key. They wanted

her out on the water.

With only the moonlight seeping through the door to

provide illumination, the boathouse was very dim.

Squinting, Kendra could see three boats tied to the narrow

pier: two large rowboats, one slightly broader than the

other, and a smaller paddleboat. The paddleboat was the

kind with bicycle pedals. Kendra had once ridden in one at

a park with a lake.

On one wall hung several oars of varying length. Near

the door were a crank and a lever. Kendra tried to turn the

crank, but it would not move. She pulled the lever.

Nothing happened. She tried the crank again, and this

time it turned. A sliding door on the opposite side of the

boathouse from the dock began to open, letting in more

light. Kendra kept cranking, relieved that she would be

able to paddle a boat directly out of the boathouse onto the

pond.

Standing in the gloom of the boathouse, staring out the

open door at the pond, Kendra began to doubt. She felt

nauseated with fear. Was she really prepared to go to her

death? To have naiads drown her, or to fall victim to a spell

protecting a forbidden island?

Grandpa and Grandma Sorenson were resourceful.

They might have already escaped. Was she doing this for

nothing?

Kendra remembered an occasion three years ago at a

community pool. She had desperately wanted to jump off

the high dive. Her mom had warned her that it was higher

than it looked, but nothing could dissuade her. Many kids

were jumping off it, several her age or younger.

She stood in line at the base of the ladder. When her

turn came, she started climbing, amazed at how much

higher she seemed with each step. When she arrived at the

top, she felt like she was standing on a skyscraper. She

wanted to turn back, but all the kids in line would know

she was scared. Plus her parents were watching.

She walked forward along the diving board. There was

a slight breeze. She wondered if the people on the ground

could feel it. When she approached the end of the board,

she stared down at the rippling water. She could see all the

way to the bottom of the pool. Jumping no longer seemed

like a fun thing to do.

Realizing that the longer she hesitated, the more attention

she would draw, she turned around quickly and

descended the ladder, trying to avoid eye contact with the

people waiting in line at the bottom. She had not been up

a high dive since. In fact, she rarely took any sort of risk.

Once again she was standing on the brink of something

frightening. But this was different. Jumping off a high dive,

or riding a roller coaster with multiple loops, or passing a

note to Scott Thomas-those were all voluntary thrills.

There was no real consequence to avoiding the risk. In her

current situation, her family would probably die if she failed

to act. She had to stand by her previous decision and carry

out her plan, regardless of the consequences.

Kendra considered the oars. She had never rowed a

boat and could easily picture herself floundering, especially

if nasty naiads were giving her a hard time. She examined

the paddleboat. Designed for a single passenger, it was

wider than it needed to be, presumably for additional stability.

The childish craft was not nearly as big as the rowboats,

and she would be close to the water, but at least

Kendra thought she could maneuver it.

Kendra sighed. Kneeling, she untied the little boat,

tossing the slender rope onto the seat. The paddleboat

wobbled when she stepped aboard, and she had to crouch

and use her hands to avoid falling into the water. The bottom

of the novelty craft was completely closed, which

meant nothing could grab at her feet.

After getting situated, Kendra sat facing the dock.

There was a steering wheel to control lateral movement.

Turning the wheel all the way to one side, she pedaled

backwards and slid away from the dock. Cranking the

wheel the other way, she started pedaling forward, and the

boat quietly slid out of the boathouse.

Ripples radiated out from the front of the paddleboat

as she steered it toward the island, pedaling briskly. The

island was not far-maybe eighty yards. The paddleboat

moved steadily closer to her destination. Until it started

moving
away
from the island.

She pedaled harder, but the boat kept sliding diagonally

backward. Something was towing her. The boat began to

spin. Turning the wheel and paddling did nothing. Then

the boat suddenly tilted precariously to one side. Something

was trying to tip her!

Kendra leaned to prevent the boat from capsizing, and

the boat abruptly rocked the other way. Kendra changed

position, counterbalancing desperately. She saw wet fingers

holding the side of the boat and slapped at them. The

action was rewarded by giggling.

The boat began to rotate quickly. Leave me alone!

Kendra demanded. I have to get to the island. This

earned a longer titter from multiple voices.

Kendra paddled furiously, but it did no good. She kept