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

17: Light and Truth

"Vanessa left very early." Grandpa informed a still-groggy Kendra while sliding waffles onto her plate. "She told me what happened last night."

"Where did she go?" The waffles were fluffy and sugary-a perfect wake-me-up.

"She didn't say. But I'm going to meet someone, and your parents are going grocery shopping," he said. "You'll be alone here, unless you want to go to the twins'."

"Sounds good." Kendra said. She took a few bites before saying, "mom wants to move back. She thinks we're messing up our education."

"She's not entirely wrong." Grandpa admitted. He sat down across from her and folded his arms thoughtfully. "Honestly, your grandmother and I have discussed this too. You can't keep having a two hour, highly illegal commute just so you can get to school, and Fablehaven is far from everywhere."

"What did dad do when he was a kid?"

"He was homeschooled." Grandpa said ruefully. "We'd partly hoped that if he grew up in Fablehaven he'd take to it more easily, but..." He waved the regret away. "You wouldn't want to be homeschooled, would you." It wasn't a question.

Kendra shook her head in confirmation. "And Seth would hate it more than I would. I think mom's concerned Seth's missing so much school, too."

"Says the girl not currently in school." Grandpa pointed out. He sighed. "We'll sort it out, don't worry. I can drop you off at the Long's after breakfast."

He did just that. Rather than take the usual route, however, Grandpa went out of the way and pulled up instead to the Long house that still held the ominous cloud of death. "Grandpa-?" Kendra started, confused. An air of neglect now hung over the building, only amplifying its shroud. Unease raised goosebumps on her skin. Out of the corner of her eye she could've sworn she saw a pale face at the window, and she violently pushed that image away.

"Sorry about the detour." Grandpa stepped out of the car and surveyed the house with arms akimbo. "I realised you should come along for this meeting." He frowned. "She should be here." The face from the window appeared now in full in the door and his eyes brightened. "Ah-Ariadne."

It was an ancient name for an ancient face. The woman sheathed in white had a regal set to her features, beautifully aged. She looked vaguely European, and you could have believed she was the betrayed princess from Grecian times. There was something else, however-her hair was silver and her skin worn, but underneath the years Kendra spotted an unnervingly familiar face.

Cygnus.

Surprise arrested her and she watched Ariadne grasp Grandpa's hand fleetingly. "Stan. It's good to see you." Her voice was rich and full.

"And you. This is my granddaughter, Kendra."

Ariadne smiled at her. "I've heard a lot about you."

Kendra couldn't shake the strangeness of Ariadne's resemblance to the proud dryad. It was one of those things that you could never unsee. Ariadne caught her gaze and she looked away quickly, embarrassed. The lady, however, did not. "Are you fairy-touched, girl?"

Kendra glanced quickly at Grandpa for clearance. "She is." Grandpa replied. He didn't disclose the full extent of it.

Ariadne's eyes glinted with the type of unnerving intelligence Kendra had come to associate with those who'd lived many years and seen even more. "You've been in the fairy realm." She said shrewdly. "Or come close, at least." Without letting Kendra respond, she went on, "very few strangers find me familiar nowadays. I can only assume you've met my granddaughter."

"Granddaughter." Kendra gasped, unable to help herself. Cygnus had been around before Bracken's incarceration in Living Mirage, so.... "But then how old is she-how old are you?"