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

18: Family Visit

To mutual surprise, First and Warren's cars pulled up at the same time in front of Fablehaven. First was only too glad to get them out of his car; in fact, during the drive he'd arranged four different meetings in the next six hours to prevent any other unwanted chauffeuring solicitations.

"You stink." Kendra scrunched up her nose and shied away from her brother, who was coming at her with a grin.

"You try smelling like roses after three days of driving." Seth lunged, attempting to hug her. She darted away. "And the Singing Sisters don't exactly run a spa."

"Where's Jania?" Evan asked.

"She went home." Kendra said. "Stop it, Seth! Go take a shower, you're really disgusting."

With a bit more pressuring, Seth trudged into the house to clean up, leaving Warren to fill them in on the entirety of Seth's quest. Kendra and the twins said their own piece about their meeting with Estelle, after which Warren paused to comment on the aroma of roasting meat that had just hit them. "Who's cooking?"

It was Kendra's mother. "Do you know how far the nearest supermarket is from here?" Marla asked her daughter. She offered her a tasting spoon. "Very." She put one hand on her hip as Kendra sampled the soup. "How was your day? Grandpa said you were at the twins'?"

Kendra had a brief panic. No one had told her parents they'd gone to Yale? "I was with the twins, it was fine." She handed the spoon back guiltily. "That tastes good."

"Great." Marla didn't look at the soup as she stirred. "Kendra, your dad and I want to visit Grandpa and Grandma Larsen. They want to see you," she explained unconvincingly, "and we think they can give some advice about your schooling. Oh, I know what you're going to say, but the truth is we can't keep up with this arrangement. Your dad and I think it would be best if we moved back home, and you and Seth can come here on weekends and holidays."

The conversation felt like a replication of the previous night's. "I want to go to school, but I want to be here, too, and Seth-Seth wouldn't want to leave here either."

Almost on cue, Seth started hollering for his mother. His voice grew louder and louder, just rising over his dad's, and he burst into the kitchen. He smelt distinctly of lavender and his hair now dripped rivulets over a scowl. "Mom. I can't go visiting; I have to go to Turkey."

"We never said you could go to Turkey." Scott interjected in exasperation, clearly having said so before. "You're not old enough to go to Turkey by yourself!"

"I'll be with Warren!"

"TurkeyI"

"Your dad's right, Seth." Marla said firmly. "We have to discuss this. You can't just go joyriding off to Europe without even telling us."

"It's not a joyride, it's important!"

"When we come back from Grandpa Larsen's, we can discuss it." Scott matched his wife's tone. They both had the stubborn we're your parents and we're in charge voice.

"I don't have time to go visit Grandma and Grandpa!" Seth argued. "This quest is urgent!"

"You can wait, Seth, and that's final." Marla locked her jaw. "This has gone on long enough. We can't allow you to do anything you want, no matter what you might have gotten used to over the past year!"

Seth turned on his heel and stomped off. Kendra was at a loss, sandwiched between her parents. "I'll go talk to him." She suggested awkwardly, extracting herself and quickly edging out of the tension-wrought kitchen. She passed Warren slipping into her grandfather's study, and, in the other eye, glimpsed Tanu and Vanessa coming into the gardens. Fablehaven, as always, it seemed, was either incredibly busy or not busy at all.