Fablehaven: Journey to the Eternals' Pass (fanfiction) (HIATUS)

13: Questions and No Answers

"I can't believe I spent so long wondering what's in here," Seth muttered as they approached the doors to the Hall of Dread, "and now I'm going in for the second time in a month."

Grandpa smiled painfully. "You made the deal."

Seth had the sense that Grandpa still hadn't gotten over hearing what Seth had promised the Sisters. In all respects, it wasn't that bad of a deal, considering that his other options had been slavery, murder and unsurvivable trials. Still, Grandpa had expressed his concerns over the 'quest' that he had promised to embark on for the Sisters-a quest that could easily involve slavery, murder or unsurvivable trials. Seth had to admit he hadn't thought of that one.

The Hall of Dread hadn't warmed up since Seth had last been there. If anything, it felt colder. "Should I get the same wraith as I did last time?"

Grandpa paused on the threshold and mused thoughtfully. "You promised the Sisters a wraith, with no specification of its power. You could give them a lesser wraith and suffer no consequence, but the Sisters might see that as arrogance."

"So you're saying to give them the stronger wraith." Seth inferred. He started his way down to the right cell. Something occured to him then and he stopped. "How am I supposed to bring a wraith all the way to the Sisters' island?"

Grandpa revealed the thing he'd been hoisting in a sack. It was an ornate crystal ball, filled with swirling grey vapour. "This particular item was a gift from Coulter." He said, cradling it. "It can trap the essence of ethereal beings in order to hold them captive for a short period of time."

Seth took the ball carefully in both hands. It was lighter than it looked. "How short is short?"

"Two days, at best." Grandpa replied. "To release the wraith, all you have to do is verbally speak for its release."

"And to get it in?"

"Touch the wraith with it. There is a sort of spell that gives the same result, but it was written for non-shadewalkers who don't have the leverage you do. Also, it's tediously difficult."

"Touching it is." Seth stopped in front of the last door on the left of the hall. "This is giving me serious deja vu." He cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could he heard the low, chilling voice of the wraith.

"Great One, you are once again returned."

"Yes, and I'm here to make an offer." Seth let the words hang for a short while before continuing. "I would release you permanently from this cell, if you will cooperate."

The momentary silence indicated the wraith hadn't expected this. "You are generous."

And you're suspicious, Seth thought. "Swear that neither you nor your brethren will attack or try to flee once the door is opened." Three voices swore, one by one. Seth took a deep breath and unlocked the heavy door.

Grandpa shuddered as the ghastly chill of the wraiths crept over them. As usual, all Seth felt was the cold, although the wraiths themselves were an imposing presence. The elder wraith glided out and stared down at him with its dark, soulless eyes. 

Seth lifted the sphere, and touched it to the wraith's shadowy form. Immediately, the wraith started to fade away and the smoke in the orb darkened. Seth watched in fascination as the wraith was sucked in. "Convenient," he said, breaking the tension in the air. He quickly sealed the cell again.

"You have found your confidence." Grandpa said. There was an undertone to his voice Seth couldn't really place. "I wish I'd been there to see it." The last time Seth had negotiated with the wraiths, his grandparents had been held captive. They hadn't seen him throughout his entire trip to fulfil Patton Burgess' instructions, from the Singing Sisters to the Totem Wall to finally retrieving Vasilis. Now there was a serious sense of déjà vu coming over him.