Megan leaned her head against the window as the plane soared over the waters of the Atlantic. She was running low on options. Hopefully her brother Dale was having more luck on his end.

Dale was a hired hand at a magical preserve known as Fablehaven. He had worked there for years helping Stan and Ruth Sorenson run the perilous preserve. She didn't hear from him very often, but his most recent letter had informed her that their brother Warren had not improved.

A couple years ago, Megan and Warren had ventured to Fablehaven in an attempt to find the special artifact hidden there. Unfortunately, one day, when Warren went off alone, he didn't reappear until several days later and he was totally catatonic. His hair and skin had turned completely white and he wouldn't respond to anyone. Since then Megan had been on the road searching for something that could save him, but all she had reached up to this point was a bunch of dead ends. They had no idea what had happened to him, which made finding a cure particularly difficult.

Now, Megan was soaring over the ocean to a preserve in Europe to visit a creature that was said to have incredible healing powers. This was her last chance. If this didn't work, she didn't know what she would do next. She stared absentmindedly out the small round window as the plane came to rest on a long paved runway.

Meeting up with one of the attendants of the preserve, Megan rode through the crowded streets of London. Soon the driver took her out of the city into a vast meadow with scattered trees. Up ahead she could vaguely see a white picket fence stretching into the distance in either direction. She had always been good at seeing through distracter spells, but it was getting really hard to focus as they neared the stout little barrier. Once the car had passed the simple fence, a whole new world came into view. Rolling hills buffeted the landscape like the waves of a green sea. A crystal lake glistened in the early morning sunlight, sparkling like a thousand stars. She noticed several shadows dart out of sight as the car jounced past on the rather unkept gravel road. Fairies of all colors, shapes, and types floated lazily around the sprouting flowers, coaxing them to more vibrant shades.

As they rounded a final bend, the huge main house loomed into view. It looked more like a castle than a house with a soaring central tower accompanied by several lesser structures. The whole building was constructed from huge stone bricks with elegant archways, expert carvings, and impressive gargoyles leering down from the wall. A massive fountain spouted jets of water from an intricately carved dragon positioned at its apex, head thrust skyward. The basin bloomed with petite lily pads and dozens of dazzling fish of all different kinds. Megan stared at the fish, mesmerized, her bag slung over her shoulder.

"This way, madam." The driver stood near the towering oaken doors.

Megan pried her gaze from the enticing pond and followed her driver into the house. He had a large build with broad shoulders and an impressive height. His thick brown hair was cropped short and his skin had taken on a rough tanned tone from many years working outdoors. His clothes were rather shabby, which clashed violently with their elegant surroundings. He didn't respond when she prompted a conversation so she gave up and walked along in silence.

Her mind strayed to the last time she had seen Warren. He had worn a blank expression, the opposite of his normal slightly arrogant smirk. His thick hair had been pure white and his skin was as close to white as you could get. He had continually muttered to himself and he didn't do anything. Dale had had to lead him around the cabin where he stayed and feed him. There hadn't been a day that went by when she didn't think about him. Sure, Dale was her brother too, but she had never been as close to him as she was to Warren. Warren and her were just so similar. Dale was very practical. He was a hard worker, but if Megan was being honest, he could be a little cold. Warren, on the other hand, loved adventure. He would seek out a thrill and relish the danger. He made horrible, cheesy jokes and he would laugh it off when he got hurt.

The two had been partners in crime their whole lives. As kids, they would try everything to prank or scare Dale. When Warren had joined the Knights of the Dawn, Megan had begged him to let her join him, until finally he had taken her on a mission when she was sixteen. It had been the first real risk she had ever taken and after that first step, she couldn't stop. She joined the Knights soon after that and loved every minute of it. Most of the time she was assigned to a mission with Warren. They had grown to trust each other more than anyone else on those missions. You develop a special relationship with the people you share hard times with and she and Warren has spent plenty of hard times together. After his mysterious incident, she had basically dropped out of the Knights of the Dawn. She couldn't imagine going on a mission without him.

The silent man opened a thick, intricately carved wooden door into a great hall. Another man with reddish brown hair and a short beard lounged on an elegant throne crafted from wood and studded with iron. At her approach, he rose, his arms outstretched. He wore a loose, white button up shirt, dirtied pants made of a thick tan material, and leather boots that vaguely reminded Megan of a cowboy.

"Welcome Miss Burgess." The man embraced her. "We've been looking forward to your arrival."

Megan accepted his affection awkwardly. Pulling away, she cleared her throat. "I need your help." She pulled a picture of an ancient carving from her pocket. "I was told that there is a creature here with great healing powers."

"Yes, there is such a creature." The man examined her curiously. "What is your interest in such a beast?"

"It's a personal matter." Megan tried to suppress the catch in her voice. "My brother is catatonic."

The man nodded solemnly. "I will help you in whatever way I can." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "My name is Ramon."

Megan clasped his hand. "Thank you."