Adopted Into Fablehaven Book 3: The Shadow Plague

Chapter Two -- Quiet Box

Starla and Kendra were sitting beside the Quiet Box, a magical cell that kept its prisoner in a suspended state of unconsciousness. Currently, the person inside was Vanessa Santoro, someone who had once been like a sister to Starla but was now an enemy to Fablehaven.

Right before Vanessa had gone into the Quiet Box, she had revealed something shocking and disturbing: the Sphinx, who was widely regarded as wise and clever and patient, was the leader of the Society of the Evening Star, an organization bent on opening the demon prison Zzyzx. The news was received with horror and despair, but the person most upset by this revelation was Drake.

Starla was worried about her boyfriend. She'd seen how close Drake had been to the Sphinx -- the man had raised him, after all -- and she knew Drake was suffering. After learning that the Sphinx could potentially be a traitor, Drake had shut himself in his room for several weeks. She could hear him sobbing every time she walked by the door.

The Loki twins, Drake's honorary brothers, hadn't been as close to the Sphinx as Drake had been, so they were mostly just worried about their brother, and tried to cheer him up with chaotic pranks (it didn't work, just made huge messes for the brownies to clean up).

Drake had come out of his room two weeks later, telling Stan that it was entirely possible that his father was the leader of the Society. He warned them all that the Sphinx had the Oculus and most likely the Font of Immortality. The only good thing was that the Oculus hadn't been charged when Drake had retrieved it, so the Sphinx wouldn't be able to use it yet.

Starla's thoughts were interrupted when Slaggo lurched up to them, carrying a bucket of slop. "Lady Starla," he drawled. "Skulking in the dungeon again?" he leered at Kendra. "We can put you to work. The pay is unbeatable. You like raw hen flesh?"

"No, thank you," Starla said quietly, her eyes on the Quiet Box.

Slaggo bowed a little. "Can I offer you some glop?"

Kendra shook her head, and Starla ignored him. Slaggo bowed again and left.

"Let's go eat something," Kendra said to Starla, standing up and holding out a hand. Starla let her cousin pull her to her feet, and the two of them headed back upstairs.

Drake, the twins, and Seth were in the kitchen when they arrived, looking worried, and Seth a little confused. Coulter, Stan, Dale, and Ruth were setting the table for dinner.

"What happened?" she asked. Jake and Jordyn were usually mischievous; if they were worried, something was definitely wrong.

"I'll explain when Tanu and Warren get back," Drake said flatly. He came over and pulled her into a tight hug, burying his face into her hair. She hugged him back.

Starla expected the twins to tease them, but they said nothing. Even Seth was silent; this wasn't good.

"They'll be here after dinner," Ruth said quietly, concern in her voice. "Let's eat first."

Drake reluctantly released Starla, then sat down heavily. She took a seat beside him and squeezed his hand under the table.

Sure enough, once they'd all eaten, the front door opened, and Warren and Tanu entered. Tanu was wearing a sling over his arm, but he was grinning. His smile fell when he saw the grim and worried expressions.

"What happened?" Warren asked, taking a seat between Kendra and Dale. Kendra blushed a little.

"What happened to your arm?" Seth said.

"This? Butchered manicure." The twins snickered, and Drake pinched his nose. Tanu sat down between Coulter and Seth.

"Drake was going to tell us something when you got back," Stan said.

"A Shadow Plague is spreading in Fablehaven," Drake said bluntly. Jake and Jordyn looked horrified, but everyone else looked confused.

"What's a Shadow Plague?" Seth asked cautiously.

"It's a plague that causes creatures to turn Dark," Drake explained. "It usually starts when one creature is corrupted with a Dark object. I think the nail that Seth pulled from the revenant is what started this one.

"This plague can affect every magical creature, including creatures that aren't supposed to have Dark forms," Drake added. "The Nipsies have been transformed, and they were bitten by a Dark satyr."

"This isn't good," Stan said worriedly. "Fairies and brownies can be affected?"

"We might have to ban fairies from the yard," Drake said tiredly. "I don't know what will happen if a human gets bitten by a corrupted creature. This has only happened once before that I know of, and the humans affected just vanished. I don't think it will affect a human's personality," he added.

"Which means Seth isn't allowed to wander in the woods," Stan guessed. "Even with you."

Drake grimaced. "The Dark Nipsies seemed... worshipful of me. I didn't like it."

Starla squeezed his hand again, and he blushed a little.

"Doesn't that mean the Darkies won't attack you?" Jake asked.

"Or affect you?" Jordyn added.

"Maybe," Drake said quietly. "I think it's best if I'm the only one that goes into Fablehaven, but if an adult needs to come, I can sense if danger is approaching and get them away quickly."

The twins pouted. "So, we can't party with the satyrs?" Jordyn wailed.

"Or the-"

"No," Drake insisted.

"I think it's best if Seth, Starla, and Kendra stay inside, as well," Stan agreed.

"Actually," Warren interjected, "the Knights are having a united gathering for the first time in a while, and along with every single Knight, the Captain wants Starla and Kendra to join."

Drake flinched. "I forgot to tell you," he muttered. "The Sphinx is the Captain."

"Fuck," said Jake and Jordyn in unison.

"You already knew that, you idiots," Drake said exasperatedly, and the twins cackled. Starla giggled.

"The Sphinx wants to induct Starla and Kendra?" Stan asked in alarm.

"Aren't you already a Knight?" Seth asked Starla.

Starla shook her head. "Grandfather and Grandmother thought I was too young."

"This has become more of an issue of safety than an issue of age," Ruth said in concern.

"Starla can take care of herself and Kendra," Drake said firmly. "And if she can't, I will.

"Also, 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer.'"

"We'll keep an eye on them, too," Jake said with a grin.

"You two are Knights?" Kendra said in surprise.

"Yup," Jordyn agreed. "We never wear those stupid silver masks or black robes, though-"

"-terrible fashion sense," Jake added. "We always wear bright iridescent rainbow robes-"

"-and our Insanity Masks."

"You mean your regular faces?" Drake drawled, and the twins cackled.