Fablehaven2-Rise of the Evening Star

by Brandon Mull

  Fablehaven Rise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven Series, Book 2)

  Brandon Mull

  The New Student

  Crowding into homeroom with the other eighth graders,

  Kendra found her way to her desk. In a moment the

  bell would ring, signaling the start of the last week of school.

  One final week and she would leave middle school behind

  forever and start anew as a high school freshman, mingling

  with kids from two other junior highs.

  A year ago that had sounded like a more exciting

  prospect than it did now. Kendra had been stuck in a nerd

  rut since around fourth grade, and a fresh start in high

  school might have meant an opportunity to shed the quiet,

  studious image. But this had been a renaissance year.

  Amazing how swiftly a little confidence and a more outgoing

  attitude could elevate your social status. Kendra no longer

  felt as desperate for a new beginning.

  Alyssa Carter sat down in the desk next to her. I heard

  we get yearbooks today, she said. She had short blonde hair

  and a slender build. Kendra had met Alyssa after making the

  soccer team back in September.

  Great, I looked hypnotized in my picture, Kendra

  groaned.

  Yours was adorable. Remember mine? My braces look

  the size of train tracks.

  Whatever. You could hardly even notice them.

  The bell rang. Most of the kids were in their seats. Mrs.

  Price entered the room accompanied by the most disfigured

  student Kendra had ever seen. The boy had a bald, scabrous

  scalp and a face like a chapped welt. His eyes were puckered

  slits, his nose a malformed cavity, his mouth lipless and

  crusty. He scratched his arm, crooked fingers lumpy with

  bulging warts.

  The hideous boy was otherwise nicely dressed in a black

  and red button-down shirt, jeans, and stylish tennis shoes.

  He stood in front of the class beside Mrs. Price while she

  introduced him.

  I'd like you all to meet Casey Hancock. His family just

  moved here from California. It can't be easy starting at a

  new school so late in the year, so please give him a warm

  welcome.

  Just call me Case, the boy rasped. He spoke like he was

  strangling.

  Would you look at that, Alyssa murmured.

  No kidding, Kendra whispered back. The poor kid

  barely looked human. Mrs. Price directed him to a desk near

  the front of the room. Creamy pus leaked from multiple

  sores on the back of his scabby head.

  I think I'm in love, Alyssa said.

  Don't be mean, Kendra muttered.

  What? I'm serious. Don't you think he's a hottie?

  Alyssa was acting so sincere that Kendra found herself

  repressing a smile. That's just cruel.

  Are you blind? He's amazing! Alyssa sounded genuinely

  offended that Kendra didn't agree.

  If you say so, Kendra placated. Just not my type.

  Alyssa shook her head as if Kendra were crazy. You must

  be the pickiest girl on the planet.

  Morning announcements were droning over the loudspeaker.

  Case was talking with Jonathon White. Jonathon

  smiled and laughed. That was strange ---- Jonathon was a jerk,

  not the sort of kid to befriend a circus freak. Kendra noticed

  Jenna Chamberlain and Karen Sommers sharing looks and

  whispers as if they too found Case attractive. Like Alyssa,

  they didn't seem to be joking. Scanning the room, Kendra

  didn't see a single student who seemed repulsed by his

  appearance.

  What was going on? Nobody who looked this weird

  could come into a class without raising any eyebrows.

  And suddenly the truth was apparent.

  Casey Hancock looked inhumanly deformed and

  hideous because he was not a human. He had to be some

  sort of goblin who looked like a normal kid to everybody

  else. Kendra alone could see his true form, the aftereffect of

  having been kissed by hundreds of giant fairies.

  Since leaving Fablehaven nearly a year ago, Kendra had

  seen magical creatures only twice. Once she had noticed a

  bearded man barely a foot tall pulling a length of pipe out of

  a pile of rubble behind the movie theater. When she tried to

  move in for a closer look, the tiny man scurried away into a

  storm drain. On another occasion she spotted what looked

  like a golden owl with a human face. She made eye contact

  with the creature for an instant before it took flight in a

  flurry of gilded feathers.

  Such odd sights were usually veiled from mortal eyes.

  Her Grandpa Sorenson had introduced her to magical milk

  that enabled people to see through the illusions that normally

  concealed mystical creatures. When the fairy kisses

  had made that ability permanent, he had warned Kendra

  that sometimes it was safer to leave certain things unseen.

  And here she was, staring at a grotesque monster posing

  as a new student in her homeroom! Mrs. Price came down

  the aisle handing out yearbooks. Kendra doodled absently

  on one of her book covers. Why was the creature here?

  Surely it had something to do with her. Unless repulsive

  goblins routinely infiltrated the public school system. Was

  he here to spy? To cause trouble? Almost certainly he was up

  to mischief.

  Glancing up, Kendra caught the goblin staring at her

  over his shoulder. She should be glad to be aware the new

  kid had a hidden identity, right? The knowledge made her

  nervous, but it would help her prepare to counter any threat

  he might pose. With her secret ability, she could keep an eye

  on him. If she played it cool, Case would have no idea she

  could see his true form.

  * * * *

  Shaped like a huge box, Roosevelt Middle School was

  constructed so that in winter the students never needed to

  go outdoors. Interior hallways connected everything, and

  the same room where they held assemblies doubled as an

  indoor cafeteria. But beneath the June sun, Kendra found

  herself seated outside for lunch with three friends at a circular

  table connected to curved benches.

  Kendra signed Brittany's yearbook while munching on a

  croissant sandwich. Trina was signing Kendra's, Alyssa was

  signing Trina's, and Brittany was signing Alyssa's. It was

  important for Kendra to write a long, meaningful message

  after all, these were her best friends. Have a great summer

  might work for acquaintances, but true friends required

  something more original. The key was to mention specific

  jokes you had shared, or fun things you had done together

  during the year. At the moment, Kendra was writing about

  the time Brittany couldn't stop laughing while trying to give

  an oral report in History.

  Suddenly, uninvited, Casey Hancock plopped down at
>
  their table holding a lunch tray loaded with cafeteria

  lasagna, sliced carrots, and chocolate milk. Trina and Alyssa

  scooted aside to make room for him. It was almost unprecedented

  boldness for a lone boy to settle in at a table with

  four girls. Trina appeared slightly annoyed. Alyssa shot

  Kendra a look as if she had just won the lottery. If only

  Alyssa could see what her new crush actually looked like!

  I don't think we've met, Case announced, his voice

  pinched and gravelly. I'm Case. I just moved here. Just

  hearing him speak made Kendra's throat sore.

  Alyssa introduced herself and the others. Case had been

  in two of Kendra's classes since homeroom. He had been

  well received each time he had stood up front for an introduction,

  particularly by the girls.

  Case lifted a forkful of lasagna to his toothless mouth,

  affording Kendra a glimpse of his narrow black tongue.

  Watching him chew made her stomach churn.

  So what do you do for fun around here ? Case asked

  around a mouthful of carrots.

  We start by sitting with people we know, Trina said.

  Kendra covered a smile. She had never been so grateful to

  see Trina giving somebody a hard time.

  Is this the cool kids' table? Case replied with mock surprise.

  I'd planned to start at the bottom and work my way

  up. The comeback left Trina speechless. Case winked at

  Alyssa, to show he meant no harm. For a scab-faced goblin,

  he was pretty smooth.

  You've been in some of my classes, Case said to

  Kendra, wolfing down more lasagna. English and Math. It

  was hard to look into those squinty eyes and keep her face

  pleasant.

  That's right, Kendra managed.

  I don't have to take the finals, he said. I finished up

  at my old school. I'm just here to hang out and meet

  people.

  That's how I feel, Brittany said. But Kendra and

  Alyssa get like straight A's.

  You know, Case said, I hate going to the movies

  alone, but I have no friends yet. You guys want to catch a

  show tonight?

  Sure, Brittany said.

  Kendra was stunned by the outlandish bravado of asking

  out four girls all at once on the first day at a new school.

  This was the smoothest goblin of all time! What was he

  after?

  I'll come, Alyssa said.

  Okay, Trina agreed. If you're on your best behavior, I

  might even let you sign my yearbook.

  I don't give autographs, Case replied offhandedly.

  Kendra, you coming?

  Kendra hesitated. How could she sit through an entire

  movie beside a foul monster? But how could she abandon

  her friends when she was the only person who knew what

  they were getting into? Maybe, she conceded.

  The crusty goblin took a final bite of lasagna. How

  about we meet outside the theater at seven? The one on

  Kendall by the mini mall. Just trust to luck that something

  good will be playing. The other girls agreed as he stood up

  and walked away.

  Kendra watched her friends talk animatedly about Case.

  He had won Alyssa at first sight. Brittany was an easy sell.

  And Trina was the sort of girl who liked to be catty but then

  got attracted if the guy stood up to her. Kendra supposed she

  would have been impressed herself if she didn't know he was

  a revolting monster.

  There was no way she could tell her friends the truth

  about Case. Any accusations would sound crazy. But he was

  almost certainly up to something shady.

  There was only one person in her whole town whom

  Kendra could tell about her situation. And he wasn't exactly

  her most reliable acquaintance.

  Seth lined up against Randy Sawyer. Randy was quick,

  but short. Seth had started the school year a bit shorter than

  most of the boys in his grade, but was finishing the year

  taller than average. The best strategy against Randy would

  be to go long and make the most of his height advantage.

  Spencer McCain hiked the football to himself and

  dropped back. Four boys went out, while four others covered.

  One defender stayed at the line counting alligators. Seth

  jerked like he was going to cut across the field, then raced

  straight for the end zone. Spencer lofted a high spiral. The

  pass was a little short, but coming back for it, Seth out jumped

  Randy and hauled it in. Randy immediately tagged

  Seth with both hands, downing him just shy of Chad

  Dupree's sweatshirt, which marked the front of the end zone.

  Third and goal, Spencer declared, jogging down the

  field.

  Seth! a voice exclaimed. Seth turned. It was Kendra.

  His sister didn't usually talk to him at school. Roosevelt

  Middle School was sixth through eighth grades, so Seth was

  at the bottom of the pecking order after having ruled his elementary

  school the previous year.

  Just a second, Seth called to Kendra. The guys were

  lining up. Seth got into position. Spencer hiked the football

  to himself, then threw a short interception to Derek Totter.

  Seth didn't even bother chasing Derek. He was the fastest

  kid in their grade. Derek dashed all the way to the opposite

  end zone.

  Seth trotted over to Kendra. Bringing good luck as

  usual? he said.

  That was a weak pass.

  Spencer only gets to quarterback because he throws the

  best spirals. What's up?

  I need you to come see something, Kendra said.

  Seth folded his arms. This was all very uncommon. She

  wasn't just talking to him at school, she wanted him to go

  someplace with her?

  We're kicking off! Randy yelled.

  I'm in the middle of a game, Seth told her.

  This is Fablehaven-type stuff.

  Seth turned to his friends. Sorry! I have to quit for a

  while. He and Kendra headed off together. What is it?

  You know how I can still see magical creatures?

  Yeah.

  There was a new student in some of my classes today,

  she explained. He's pretending to be human, but he's actually

  an ugly monster.

  No way.

  My friends think he's cute. I can't see what he looks

  like. I want you to describe him to me.

  Where is he? Seth asked.

  Over there, talking to Lydia Southwell, Kendra said,

  pointing subtly.

  The blond kid?

  I don't know. Red and black shirt?

  He is cute! Seth gushed.

  What does he look like?

  He has the dreamiest eyes.

  Knock it off, Kendra demanded.

  He must be thinking the most beautiful thoughts.

  Seth, I'm serious! The bell rang, announcing the end

  of lunch.

  He's really a monster? Seth asked.

  He looks a little like the creature who came in through

  the window on Midsummer Eve, Kendra said.

  The one I salted?

  Yes. What is he pretending to look like?

  Is this a joke? Seth asked suspiciously. He's just some

  new kid you have a crush on, isn't he? If you're scared, I can

  go ask
for his phone number.

  I'm not messing around. Kendra swatted him on the

  arm.

  He looks athletic. He's got a dent in his chin. Blond

  hair. It's kind of messy, but cool. Like it's on purpose. He

  could probably get a part on a soap opera. Good enough?

  Not bald and covered in scabs and pus? Kendra verified.

  Nope. Is he really all disgusting?

  He makes me want to puke. Thanks, see you later.

  Kendra hurried away.

  Mr. Soap Opera was also moving away, still chatting

  with Lydia Southwell. For a monster, he had good taste. She

  was one of the cutest girls in the school.

  Seth figured he had better get to class. Mr. Meyers had

  threatened to give him detention if he was late again.

  * * * *

  Kendra sat in silence as Dad chauffeured her to the

  movie theater. She had tried to persuade Alyssa not to go.

  Alyssa had started to act suspicious that Kendra secretly

  wanted Case all to herself, and since Kendra could not tell

  her friend the truth, she had to drop it. In the end, Kendra

  had decided to join them, concluding that she could not

  leave her friends alone with a scheming goblin.

  What movie are you seeing? Dad asked.

  We're going to figure it out when we get there, Kendra

  said. Don't worry ---- nothing racy. Kendra wished she could

  tell her father about her predicament, but he knew nothing

  about the magical properties of the preserve Grandpa and

  Grandma Sorenson managed. He thought it was just a normal

  estate.

  You're sure that you're ready for finals?

  I've been keeping up with my assignments all year. It

  will just take a quick review. I'll ace them. Kendra wished

  she could talk to her Grandpa Sorenson about the situation.

  She had tried to call. Unfortunately, the only number her

  parents had for him led repeatedly to a recorded message

  informing her that the call could not be completed as dialed.

  The only other way she knew to contact him was through

  the mail. So, just in case the phone was out for a while, she

  had written Grandpa a letter describing the situation, which

  she planned to mail the next day. It felt good to lay out her

  predicament to somebody besides Seth, even if it was just on

  paper. Hopefully she would get through by phone even

  before the letter arrived.

  Dad pulled into the movie theater parking lot. Alyssa

  and Trina were standing out front. Beside them stood a

  hideous goblin wearing a T-shirt and khakis.

  How do I know when to pick you up? Dad asked.