The Council of Mirrors (21 page)

Daphne approached. “There’s no sign of the book,” she whispered.

“Keep looking.”

Daphne raced away.

Snow White approached. “I just don’t understand the plan.”

“It’s better that you don’t,” Sabrina replied. “Just keep your bo-staff ready.”

“Are you going to blow this place up?” Mr. Boarman asked. “Seems like a waste.”

“Just remind everyone that when they hear the signal, it’s time to go. They will only have five minutes to exit, and if they don’t, they’re in for a world of trouble.”

Red and Canis rushed forward. “What can we do?”

“Go with the kids,” Sabrina said, though before she finished she could already feel Canis’s disappointment. “Listen, I know you’re used to being in the action, but I need someone I can trust to keep things calm. I will never ask you to babysit again. I promise.”

Canis sighed, and his backpack fell from his shoulder. A glass jar rolled out onto the ground. Inside it a terrible black shape snapped and scratched. Sabrina felt sweat form on her brow as she eyed it. The Big Bad Wolf was in that jar. Canis scooped it up and put it back in his bag. Then he turned to Red. “Gather the little ones, child, and any animals that are slow-moving.”

Red smiled and ran off to complete her task.

“You’re good for her,” Sabrina said. “You’re like the father she never had. It would be sad for her to lose you.”

The old man lowered his eyes and hobbled off after Red, picking his way carefully with his cane.

By mid-afternoon, the birds reported that the supplies and children were safe in the woods. The army was checking the castle one last time for any useful weapons or supplies. Most of the cabins had been torn down for firewood, so it was easy work. Sabrina poked her head into the blacksmith tent and found a hammer that might be helpful, so she shoved it into her belt loop. The kitchen was empty, as was the medical tent. Her people had done an excellent job. She took a quick peek at the cemetery and found her uncle and Morgan standing over the graves of the ones they loved.

Morgan noticed Sabrina standing behind her. “I see the
necessity of this and I support your plan, but . . . it’s more than I can . . . It’s just so wrong,” she said.

“I’m sorry,” Sabrina said. “I knew you two would suffer the most from what we’re going to do.”

“I feel like I’m abandoning her,” Jake whispered as if he were afraid Briar Rose might hear.

He leaned down and took a rose off of his love’s grave and slid it into one of his shirt pockets. He closed his eyes tight, as if preparing to jump out of a plane. “OK, I’m ready. Let’s do this before I change my mind.”

Sabrina took his hand. “I couldn’t do this without you. I think she would be proud.”

“Just be careful,” he said. “If that piece of paper lands in the wrong hands, things are going to go from terrible to nightmarish in Ferryport Landing.”

Uncle Jake and Morgan headed for the castle yard and Sabrina followed. As they turned the corner, she took a look back at the little graveyard and remembered those who lay there. She said a quiet prayer for their eternal peace, then ran to the yard where her army was gathered. Many of them had never held a sword or a bow in their hands before. More than a few had never been in a fistfight, but they were the bravest people she had ever met.

“Your mother and Basil are safe,” Henry said as she approached.

Relieved, Sabrina turned to the assembled crowd. “Thank you all for being so patient. I know you’re all a little freaked out because I’ve kept what we’re doing a secret, but you can’t be sneaky if everyone knows what you’re up to. So let me explain. We’re going to lure the Hand into this castle—as many as we can. You’re going to fight until you hear the signal. Then you’re going to run! Get out of the castle. We’ll meet at the gathering site, and that’s when our war will really begin. I wish you all luck. Daphne, are the witches ready?”

“They are,” Daphne said.

“All right, Buzzflower, drop the cloaking spell,” Sabrina said.

“Are you sure about this?” the fairy godmother asked.

Sabrina nodded, and Buzzflower waved her wand into the air. Suddenly, the sky went from blue to sparkly purple. Tiny crystals drifted down from above like snow and blanketed the ground, then vanished.

“Here we go,” Henry said.

Sabrina took her sister’s hand. “Any luck with the book?”

Daphne shook her head. “We can’t leave it here.”

“I’m not worried about that. I’m sure whoever took it has got it with them,” Sabrina said, scanning her army and feeling sad to know one of them was a thief. “Don’t worry. It’s too important to leave behind.”

Then she turned to the crowd.

“Open the gates,” Sabrina ordered.

“Wait? Really?” the Frog Prince croaked.

“Yep,” Sabrina said.

“Have you lost your mind?” the Cheshire Cat cried.

“She knows what she’s doing!” Snow White said. “Now stop with the blubbering and get ready. They’ll be here any second.”

And Snow was right. Sabrina could already feel the rumbling of feet and the clanking of swords. The first attackers rushed through the door and were met by Arthur and Robin Hood’s men. Steel crashed against steel, shield slammed against shield, and a mighty roar filled the air. While they fought, Henry, Uncle Jake, Sabrina, and Daphne crouched beneath a hay cart and prepared for the next part of the plan.

The next onslaught from the Hand came courtesy of the Ice Queen, standing in the open gate. The temperature of the air dropped wildly, prickling Sabrina’s skin. The Ice Queen waved her hand at a few of Arthur’s knights and they were immediately encased in solid blocks of ice. Luckily, Mordred cast a spell to warm them rapidly. They were soggy, but at least they were alive.

The third wave of attackers was a motley crew of monsters in all shapes and sizes. They swung clubs and hammers with vicious intent. Two of King Arthur’s knights were killed within
moments, and dozens more creatures piled through the doorway every second.

“Widow, how many more are coming?” Sabrina shouted.

The Widow flew up into the air and circled the battle. A moment later she returned. If a bird could look worried, the Widow was troubled. “At least a thousand, with more on the way.”

Puck was in the middle of the action, and Sabrina kept a close eye on him. The boy was arrogant—too confident in his abilities. He fought like war was play, and though he slashed and poked and leaped about, his opponents meant to kill him. She cringed to watch him, but she reminded herself that Puck had been alive nearly four thousand years. He knew how to take care of himself.

Her attention was torn away as another massive wave of fighters stormed into the castle. In this group, there were wizards and witches and mechanical men. They roared as they raced across the drawbridge like they had already won the battle. Sabrina couldn’t help but smile. It was exactly what she wanted them to think.
Keep coming
, she thought to herself.
Every last one of you
.

Magical animals followed. Sabrina saw the Swan Brothers and Hans My Hedgehog. Shere Khan and the Ugly Duckling. Large
bearlike creatures with the faces of cats leaped into the fighting with merciless ferocity.

And finally a sixth wave stormed into the yard. Strange Everafters she had never seen before. There was a woman who carried her head in her hands, a cat who appeared to be made of glass, a girl made from patchwork quilts, a giant serpent, a stampede of intelligent horses, and a fleet of forks that leaped about, stabbing at anyone close enough to feel their tines.

It was time for the signal. She turned to Daphne, and the little girl nodded.

“Retreat!” Sabrina shouted.

“Sabrina, what are you up to?” Henry asked.

“You don’t want to know yet, Hank,” Jake said.

Sabrina grabbed her father and her sister by the hands and they darted from their hiding place and raced for the drawbridge. Uncle Jake led the way, delivering punches to anyone that got too close. Bunny, Morgan, and Baba Yaga followed, unleashing spells that hit the charging army like a tidal wave. The Old Mother’s house brought up the rear, charging through the crowd and sending bodies flying in all directions.

They ran past the Cowardly Lion, who was mauling a troll.

“Time to go,” Sabrina said.

The lion leaped off his victim and followed them. Along the way, Boarman, Swineheart, and the Pied Piper joined them. Goldilocks and her bears were next, trailed by Rapunzel and the Scarecrow, shedding his straw.

And then Uncle Jake came to an abrupt stop. On the ground in front of him lay Mayor Heart, injured. He looked down at her, initially in disgust, but then reached down and helped her to her feet.

“I won’t—I won’t go quietly,” Heart stammered.

“You’re not a prisoner, but I suggest you come with us. We’re your only hope,” Jake said.

“Jacob, what are you up to?” Henry said. “She can’t be trusted!”

Jake ignored him and turned back to Heart. “It’s your last chance. Are you coming, Your Majesty?”

“Absolutely not!”

“Come with me or I will turn the lion on you.”

The Cowardly Lion roared and Heart shrieked. She nodded to Jake, and then joined those escaping into the woods. They charged through the iron gate and across the drawbridge.

Once outside, Daphne took a folded piece of yellowing paper from her pocket. “Wilhelm’s barrier spell,” Daphne said, marveling at the ancient paper.

“Let’s get this started,” Sabrina said.

Daphne signaled the coven, shoving Uncle Jake’s spell into Morgan’s hands. “OK, girls, as we discussed, Morgan does the reading, Bunny handles the stones, and Baba puts on the light show.”

More of Sabrina’s fighters darted across the bridge. Robin Hood and Little John helped Friar Tuck, who had a deep gash on his leg.

The Cheshire Cat was next across the drawbridge. “I think they got the Scarecrow. I can’t be sure but—”

The Scarecrow was the next out the door. The Frog Prince followed with his wife and daughter in tow.

“My husband won’t listen!” Beauty cried as she raced into the woods. Tears were streaming down her face. “I begged him.”

“I’m sorry!” Sabrina said.

More and more members of Sabrina’s army came through until nearly their whole group had escaped. When they saw Sabrina’s ragtag group retreat, the Hand roared from behind the castle walls. As Sabrina had hoped, their enemies wanted to demoralize her army by celebrating their conquest of the castle. Little did the Hand know the castle was a gift.

“Close the gates,” Henry shouted. “We’re all here!”

“Wait! Where’s Puck?” Sabrina asked. Panicked, she searched the crowd, desperate for a sight of his filthy green hoodie or his
unruly mop of hair, but he wasn’t there. She searched the sky, but he wasn’t there, either. She ran for the gates.

“Sabrina, no!” Henry cried after her.

“I can’t leave him,” she shouted. “Daphne, don’t you stop that spell!”

“I’m going with you!” Beauty shouted, and chased behind the girl.

The two found themselves in the midst of a celebration, and so they were able to slip by unnoticed. They pushed through the rowdy crowd, weaving in and out of monsters, until they found Puck. He was still fighting and completely outmatched. His opponent, a disgusting-looking creature with a pig snout and huge tusks, had his foot on the boy and would not let go.

“Oh, hey ugly,” Puck said when he saw Sabrina. “Sorry, I’m a little busy.”

“Is this yours?” the creature snorted.

“Yes,” Sabrina said.

“Then fight me for him,” he grunted.

Sabrina looked up into his face. He stood several feet above her, but as she was trembling she noticed the creature’s leaky pale eyeball. He was going blind on his right side. What had her father said? Look for weaknesses?

“Fine, piggy, let’s fight!”

The creature swung at her, but she darted to his right, where he couldn’t see her. She noticed a nasty red wound on his rib cage, fresh and bleeding. She leaped and kicked the spot, and the monster bellowed in pain. None of the other villains noticed the fight, as they were too busy ransacking what was left of the castle. When the creature bent over, Sabrina noticed the green ooze coming from his furry ear. It was infected, and she did as she was trained. She punched it as hard as she could, and the monster fell over, shrieking and sobbing. As he did so, he set Puck loose.

“You saved my life,” Puck said, standing. “Well, that’s a change of pace.”

“Fly us out of here,” she commanded. “Wait, where’s Beauty?”

Sabrina once again scanned the crowd but for only a moment, as she was soon airborne. Puck had her by the waist and the two were flying skyward, narrowly dodging the spears and arrows flung at them from below.

“Do you see her?” Sabrina said. “We can’t leave her.”

“There!” Puck shouted, pointing toward the castle gate. Beauty and the Beast were arguing and Beast had his wife’s arm clenched tight in his hairy claw. She was sobbing.

“How could you turn your back on us?” the Beast said.

“Please come with me! I’m begging you! The Master lied to you. He lied to all of us.”

Sabrina frowned but knew she had to do something. “Set us down, Puck.”