You think somebody was controlling him? Kendra asked.
Such things are possible in numerous ways, Grandpa said. I may be wrong, and I have no concrete proof, but I
suspect we may have yet to discover our traitor. And so I
have set a plan in motion. It may cause some commotion tonight, so I thought it was only fair to warn you. Look under my cot.
Under the cot Kendra saw a six-foot-long, ornately carved box. Grandma peeked as well. What's in the box?
Kendra asked.
Less than an hour ago I called in Vanessa, Tanu, and
Dale. I told them I believed we had caught our traitor, but that I was worried about Christopher Vogel's presence on the property, undoubtedly with designs for more mischief. I told them that I had decided to hide the key to the artifact vault under my cot, and that I wanted them to know where it was in case of an emergency. Then we went on to discuss plans for tracking Olloch tomorrow, as well as how we might discover the whereabouts of our other uninvited guest.
Big box for a key, Kendra said.
It's no ordinary key, Grandpa said.
You're not actually using the key as bait, Grandma said, sounding certain he would not be so foolish.
Of course not. The box contains a thief's net. The key is hidden elsewhere.249 Grandma nodded approvingly.A thief's net? Kendra asked.
If anyone opens the box without deactivating the trap, the net will spring out and wrap them up, Grandpa explained. A magical tool for apprehending would-be robbers.
Where's the key? Kendra asked.
I'm not sure you should be burdened with that knowledge,
Grandma said. That kind of information could make you more of a target. Your grandfather and I are the only people aware of the key's location.
Okay, Kendra said.
Grandpa rubbed his chin. I've debated over whether to send you away, Kendra. On one hand, I strongly suspect that the crisis here at Fablehaven has not ended. On the other, the Society of the Evening Star will start trying to track you down the moment you exit the gates. At least the fences of
Fablehaven provide a barrier against them. With the register hidden in a new place, we should have no new undesired visitors.
I'd rather stay here, Kendra said. I don't want to put my parents in danger.
I think for now that is the best move, Grandpa said. I
recommend you sleep with your grandmother tonight in our room. I don't want you sleeping alone. The attic provides extra protection against magical creatures with bad intentions, but I'm afraid our remaining foes are mortal.
Because Olloch ate Seth and is now out of the picture,250 Kendra thought morbidly. Whatever you want, Kendrasaid.
Bedtime arrived much too soon for Kendra. Before she knew it, dinner was eaten, painful condolences were shared, and she was lying in a king-sized bed beside Grandma
Sorenson. Kendra loved her grandma, but she was becoming aware that she smelled too much like cough drops. Plus she snored.
Kendra tossed and turned trying to find a comfortable position. She tried lying on her side, her stomach, and her back. She bunched the pillow in different ways. It was no use. Having slept all day, she was more ready to go play soccer than she was to fall asleep. It didn't help that she was sleeping with her clothes on in case somebody really did get caught in Grandpa's net during the night.
In her own home she would have watched TV. Or made herself a snack. But the only ones at Fablehaven with a television were the satyrs. And she was afraid to get up for a snack for fear of running into somebody trying to sneak into
Grandpa's study.
There was no visible clock, so time began to feel indefinite and endless. She kept trying to construct a scenario in which Seth was not dead. After all, nobody had seen Olloch eat him. They weren't a hundred percent sure. In the morning, after they tracked the demon, it would be more certain, but for tonight, she could still hope a little.
A sudden disturbance downstairs broke the restless251 monotony. Someone shouted and something clattered.Grandma awoke with a start. Grandpa started calling for help.
Kendra tugged on her shoes and raced into the hall. She turned a corner to the hall that led to the stairway. Grandpa was yelling excitedly from downstairs.
On the stairs Kendra met Vanessa and Tanu. Vanessa carried her blowgun; Tanu held his pouch full of potions.
Kendra could hear Grandma right behind her.
After tromping down the stairs, they all dashed across the entry hall and into the study, where Dale lay tangled in a net on the floor. Grandpa sat at the edge of his cot, a knife in his uninjured hand. We caught somebody with a hand in the cookie jar, he announced.
I told you, Stan, Dale panted. I don't know how I got here.
Tanu put the potion he was holding back into his pouch.
Vanessa lowered her blowgun. Grandma engaged the safety on her crossbow.
Why don't you explain to everyone? Grandpa suggested.
Dale was on his stomach. The net was so tight it squished his features and only allowed him to partially turn his head to try to face them. His arms were crossed awkwardly on his chest, and his legs were bound together.
I went to sleep and woke up like this on the floor, Dale asserted. Simple as that. I know it looks bad. Honestly, I
had no intention of stealing the key. I must have been sleepwalking.252 Dale looked and sounded desperate. Grandpa narrowedhis eyes. Went to sleep and woke up here, he repeated thoughtfully. Understanding dawned in his gaze. The traitor is clever enough to realize that I now know the secret, so it will do no good to pretend otherwise-the clues lead to an obvious conclusion. Trusted friends acting out of character.
Drumants released to explain the bite marks. And now
Dale asserts that his strange behavior happened in his sleep.
I should have connected the dots earlier. I'm afraid this will end in a scuffle. Dale, I'm sorry you're stuck in a net. Tanu, we mustn't blow this.
Grandpa threw his knife at Vanessa. Raising the blowgun to her lips, she arched her body, barely dodging the knife, and fired a dart at Tanu. The large Samoan caught the dart on his pouch. Vanessa lunged gracefully at Grandma, swinging the blowgun like a switch and knocking the crossbow from her grasp. Tanu charged Vanessa. She dropped the blowgun, producing a pair of tiny darts, and pricked Tanu on the forearm as he reached for her. Instantly his eyes went wide and his knees turned rubbery. His potion pouch tumbled from unfeeling hands and he fell hard to the study floor.
Grandma reached for her fallen crossbow, a red welt already rising on her hand. Vanessa sprang at her, stabbing her with the other tiny dart. As Grandma swayed and toppled,
Kendra dove, snatched the crossbow, and tossed it across the room to Grandpa an instant before Vanessa slammed into her.
Grandpa pointed the crossbow at Vanessa, who scrambled behind the desk, putting herself out of his line of253 fire. Kendra saw Vanessa close her eyes. Her face becameserene.