Seth fished the medallion out of his emergency kit and slipped it around his neck. Coulter turned on a heavy flashlight.
The initial glare made Seth squint and blink. The bright beam pierced the darkness of the grove, lighting the space between the trees, allowing Coulter and Seth to see much deeper into the ominous woods. Instead of vague, shadowy trunks, the harsh light revealed the color and texture of the bark. There was almost no undergrowth, just rank upon rank of gray pillars supporting a leafy canopy.
Find your courage, and hang on tight, Coulter said.
I'm ready, Seth said, holding the holly wand aloft.
Hugo, if we fall, return to the house, Coulter said.
If we fall?
Just a precaution. We'll be fine.
You're not helping my courage a whole bunch, Seth complained. He started impersonating Coulter. Seth, we'll be just fine. Nothing to worry about. Hugo, when we die, please have us buried in a beautiful cemetery by a stream.
I'm sorry, Seth, I meant if we die. Be brave. When the phantom kills you, don't scream, even though it's going to hurt a lot.
Coulter was smirking. Are you finished?
Sounds like we're both finished.
Everyone copes with nerves differently. Humor is among the better ways. Follow me.229Coulter stepped forward, beyond the plane Hugo couldnot cross, and Seth followed closely. The trees cast long shadows. The flashlight beam swayed back and forth, making the shadows swing and stretch, creating the illusion that the trees were in motion. As they passed the first few trees,
Seth glanced back at Hugo, waiting in the shadows. His night vision had already been ruined by the flashlight, so he could barely make out the form of the golem in the darkness.
Can you feel the difference? Coulter whispered.
I'm scared, if that's what you mean, Seth said softly.
Coulter stopped walking. More than that. Even if you didn't know to be scared, you would be. There's an unshakable sense of foreboding in the atmosphere.
Seth had goose bumps on his arms. You're sort of freaking me out again, he said.
I just want you to be aware of it, Coulter whispered. It may get worse. Keep that holly wand up high.
Seth was not sure whether it was simply the power of suggestion, but as they resumed walking, with each step the air seemed to grow colder, and the feeling inside seemed to become darker. Seth grimly studied the trees, bracing himself for the terrifying form of a phantom to appear.
Chapter Eleven
Coulter slowed and then stopped. The hair rose on the back of Seth's neck. Coulter turned slowly, eyes wide and shimmering. Uh-oh, he mouthed.
The fear hit Seth like a physical blow, making his knees buckle. He dropped his emergency kit as he collapsed to the ground, keeping the hand with the holly wand high. Seth was instantly reminded of when he had sampled Tanu's fear230 potion. The terror was an irrational, overpowering force thatinstantly stripped away all defenses. He struggled to rise and to keep his hand up.
He had made it to his knees and was trying to lift a leg when a second wave of fear washed over him, more powerful than the first, much more potent than the potion Tanu had given him. The medallion around his neck dissolved, evaporating into the chilly air. Vaguely, distantly, Seth was aware that the flashlight was on the ground, and that Coulter was on his hands and knees, quivering. The fear intensified steadily, relentlessly.
Seth crumpled. He was on his back. The wand remained above his head, clenched in a frozen fist. His whole body was paralyzed. He tried to call out to Coulter. His lip twitched.
No sound came out. He could barely think.
This surpassed the fear of death. Death would be a mercy if it would make the feeling stop, the uncontrollable panic mingling with the mind-scrambling certainty of something sinister approaching, something with no need to hurry, something that would not be so kind as to let him die. The fear was palpable, suffocating, irresistible.
Seth had always pictured his life ending much more heroically.
Kendra snapped awake. The room was dark and silent.
She did not often awaken in the middle of the night, but she felt strangely alert. She turned to glance over at Seth. His bed was vacant.231 She bolted upright. Seth? she whispered, scanning theroom. There was no sign of her brother.
Where could he be? Had the traitor kidnapped him?
Had he gone to sacrifice himself to Olloch? Had he taken his gold and left Fablehaven? Maybe he was just using the bathroom. She leaned down and glanced under his bed, where he kept his emergency kit. She could not see it.
Kendra rolled out of bed. She checked more thoroughly, looking under both beds. No emergency kit. Not a good sign. What could he possibly be thinking?
Kendra clicked on the light and hurried to the stairs, descending them quickly. Vanessa's room was nearest.
Kendra rapped gently and opened the door. Vanessa was curled up under her covers. Kendra tried not to think about the unusual creatures inhabiting the containers stacked around the room. She switched on a light and crossed to the bed.
Vanessa rested on her side, facing Kendra. She was perfectly still, except her eyelids were fluttering wildly. Kendra knew from school that R.E.M. sleep was a sign of dreaming.
The sight was eerie, her face placid, her closed eyes twitching spasmodically.
Kendra put a hand on Vanessa's shoulder and shook her.
Vanessa, wake up, I'm worried about Seth. The eyelids kept fluttering. Vanessa showed no sign of feeling or hearing
Kendra. Shaking Vanessa a second time again elicited no reaction. Kendra lifted an eyelid. The eye was rolled back, white and bloodshot. Kendra jumped back. The sight creeped her out.232 There was a half-full cup of water on the nightstand.Kendra hesitated only for a moment. It was an emergency.
She poured it onto Vanessa's face.
Gasping and sputtering, Vanessa sat up, hand clutching her chest, eyes wide, looking not only startled but almost paranoid. She glanced around, eyes darting, clearly disoriented.
Her gaze settled on Kendra. What are you doing?
She sounded angry and bewildered. Water dripped from her chin.
Seth's missing! Kendra said.
Vanessa inhaled sharply. Missing? The anger was gone from her voice, replaced by concern.
I woke up and he was gone, Kendra said. So was his emergency kit.
Vanessa swung her legs out of bed. Oh, no, I hope he hasn't done something rash. Sorry if I sounded harsh; I was having an awful nightmare.
It's okay. Sorry to splash you.
I'm glad you did. Vanessa tied on a robe and led the way into the hall. You fetch Coulter; I'll get Tanu.
Kendra ran down the hall to Coulter's door. She entered after a quick knock. His bed was empty. Made up. There was no sign of him.
Kendra returned to the hall, where Vanessa was leading a bleary-eyed Tanu. Where's Coulter? Vanessa asked.