was unsure which emotion was which. The rest of the potions could be just about anything. She had thought about sampling one, but became worried that some might be poisons or otherwise harmful concoctions meant for enemies.
Kendra concluded she should save testing random potions as a last resort.
She needed to find a way to free her grandparents. There were tools in the cottage, plenty of items she could use as weapons, but if Vanessa was still controlling Tanu, Kendra had a hard time picturing herself succeeding. Mendigo could help, but Kendra would be surprised if the puppet was able to enter the yard, since he could not enter the cabin. She was pretty sure Grandpa had to grant special permission to any nonmortal visitors. The fairies were permitted in the garden only by his consent.
Mendigo started tapping on the window. She had told him to warn her if anyone approached. What could she do?
Mendigo, protect Warren and me from harm, but stay out of sight until my command.
Mendigo crouched behind a bush near the porch as
Kendra made her way to the window. She peeked out, moving her head slowly, and could not believe what she saw.288 Seth was emerging from the trees, walking up the path tothe cottage.
Initially she was shocked. When she recovered, Kendra ran to the door and flung it open, tears of happiness and relief springing to her eyes. Seth! she cried.
Kendra? he said, stopping in his tracks.
You're not dead!
Sure I am. I'm a ghost. I've been sent back with a warning.
Kendra could not stop smiling. I thought I'd never hear you say something idiotic again!
Who else is with you?
Just Mendigo and Warren. Hurry, come inside.
Ha-ha, Seth said, continuing toward the cottage at a leisurely pace.
I'm serious, Kendra said. Come inside. Bad things have happened.
And I'm serious too, he said. Muriel called me back from beyond the grave to deliver a singing telegram.
Kendra put her hands on her hips. Mendigo, show yourself.
The limberjack jumped out from behind the bush. Holy cow! Seth exclaimed, recoiling. What's he doing here?
And why is he taking orders from you?
Get inside and I'll tell you! Kendra said. I've never been gladder to see anybody. We have a big problem on our hands.288 289Satirical Assistance
Seth sat across the table from Kendra, looking totally shell-shocked. After he had told Kendra about the cocoon and passing through Olloch, she had explained how
Vanessa had been revealed while he was absent. So Vanessa was controlling Coulter, he said. That was why he suddenly seemed so disoriented. He woke up with the revenant right on top of us, and still managed to save me.
If we fall asleep, she may be able to control us, Kendra said.
How? He picked up another cookie from the plate
Kendra had left at the center of the table. She had discovered the cookies in a cupboard.
Since she's a narcoblix, I think the drumants were a diversion so she could bite us in the night without anybody290worrying about the marks. You were bitten by drumants. Sowas I. So was Coulter. So was Tanu. But who knows if all those bites were actually drumants?
I bet you're right, Seth said, munching on the cookie.
You know, I fell asleep inside the cocoon a couple of times.
Once for quite a while. She might know I'm still alive.
To be safe, we better not fall asleep until we solve this problem, Kendra said.
You look tired, Seth said. Your eyes are getting bloodshot.
Vanessa gave me a sleeping drug yesterday, and I slept most of the day. But then I was up all night, and didn't want to risk napping today. Kendra yawned. I'm trying not to think about it.
Well, I had a good sleep after Olloch... got rid of me, so I should be able to go all night, Seth said. I agree we need to free Grandpa and Grandma, but we also need to find the key and keep it away from Vanessa. We have to protect the artifact.
For all we know, she may already have the key, Kendra said. She might even have the artifact!
I doubt it. It will be hard to get past that revenant. I
mean, the thing just froze me with pure terror-there was nothing I could do. But maybe Vanessa knows a trick.
It can't be too easy for her, Kendra said. I think she sent you and Coulter to the grove as an experiment. I'm not sure she knows what she's doing.
Well, if she sent Coulter, she might send others, Seth said. She and that Christopher Vogel