Chapter 3

Chapter Three IN WHICH Stories Are Told and a Theft Is Discovered We've seen goblins and a troll and a griffin," Jared told her eagerly as they arranged themselves at the foot of the hospital bed. It was such a relief to be believed. Now if she would just explain how important the Guide was, everything would be okay. "And Thimbletack," Mallory put in, picking up a cookie and taking a bite. "We've seen him, although we're not sure if he counts as a brownie or a boggart."

"Right," said Jared. "But we need to ask you something important." "Thimbletack?" Aunt Lucinda asked, patting Mallory's hand. "I haven't seen him in ages. How is he? The same, I expect. They're all always the same, aren't they?" "I... I don't know," Mallory said. Aunt Lucy reached into the drawer on her side table and brought out a worn, green cloth bag embroidered with stars. "Thimbletack loved these." Jared took the bag and peered into it. Silvery jacks next to several stone and clay marbles glinted inside the pouch. "They're his?" "Oh, no," she said. "They're mine, or they were, when I was young enough to play with such things. I'd just like him to have them. The poor

thing, all alone in that old house. He must be so glad you've come." Jared didn't think Thimbletack was all that glad, but he didn't say so. "Was Arthur your dad?" Simon asked. "Yes. Yes, he was," she said with a sigh. "Have you seen his paintings in the house?" They nodded. "He was a wonderful artist. He used to illustrate advertisements for soda pop and women's stockings. He made paper dolls for Melvina and me. We had a whole folder of them, with different dresses for each season. I wonder what ever happened to those things." Jared shrugged. "Maybe they're in the attic." "It doesn't matter. He's been gone for a long time now. I'm not sure I'd want to see them anyway." "Why not?" Simon asked. "Brings back memories. He left us, you know." She looked down at her thin hands. They were trembling. "He went out for a walk one day and

never came back. Mother said she had known he was going to leave for a long time." Jared was surprised. He'd never given much thought to what Uncle Arthur was like. He thought of the stern, bespectacled face in the library painting. He'd wanted to like his great- great-uncle, who could draw and see faeries. But if what Lucinda said was true, then he didn't like Arthur at all. "Our dad left too," said Jared. "I just wish I knew why." Aunt Lucy turned her head away, but Jared thought he saw the glint of tears in her eyes. She pressed her hands together to make them stop shaking.

"Maybe he had to move for his job," Simon offered. "Like our dad." "Oh, come on, Simon," Jared said. "You can't really believe that load of crap." "Shut up, morons." Mallory glared at them. "Aunt Lucy, how come you're in this hospital? I mean, you're not crazy." Jared winced, sure that Aunt Lucy would be mad, but she only laughed. His anger faded. "After Father left, Mother and I moved one town over to live with his brother. I grew up alongside my cousin Melvina—that's your grandmother. I told her about Thimbletack and

about the little sprites, but I don't think she ever really believed me. "Mother died when I was only sixteen. A year later I moved back into the estate. I tried to use what little money there was to fix the place up. Thimbletack was still there, of course, but there were other things too. Sometimes I saw shapes skulking around in the dark. Then one day they stopped hiding. They thought I had Father's book. They would pinch me and poke me and insist that I give it to them. But I didn't have it. Father had taken it with him. He never would have left it behind." Jared started to speak, but his aunt was lost in her memories and didn't seem to notice. "One night the faeries brought me a piece of fruit—just a little thing—the size of a grape and red as a rose. They promised not to hurt me anymore. Stupid girl that I was, I took the fruit and sealed my fate." "Was it poison?" Jared asked, thinking of Snow White and apples.