The Everafter War (8 page)

Sabrina quietly agreed. Only the day before the girls had used a magic weapon to remove the demonic spirit that had inhabited their friend for so many centuries. Now that it was gone, it could no longer torture Mr. Canis, but it appeared he no longer possessed the strength, energy, and keen senses of the monster.

“My yoga and meditation have been invaluable to me. Though it’s coming slowly, I’m starting to access memories of my life before I became the Wolf,” he said as he stepped close to Red Riding Hood and held out his hand in friendship. “Perhaps you would like me to show you how it works?”

Red trembled and hid behind Granny Relda.

Granny knelt down to Red and put her hand on the little girl’s cheek. Red looked panicked and her eyes darted about like a cornered animal’s. Granny tried to calm her. “Red, there’s nothing to worry about. The Wolf is gone,
liebling
.”

Red nodded but did not look convinced. It was clear she was still terrified of the old man who had killed her grandmother so many centuries ago, even though she herself had been controlled by a similar devil until the girls cured her, too. Still, all of these changes had happened so recently, Sabrina was sure it was natural to not want to be best buds with a guy who ate your granny.

“Perhaps another time,” the old man said, breaking into a coughing fit. When he regained control he turned back to Granny Relda. “I’m told that Jacob has been attacked.”

Granny nodded. “The Hand surrounded the house. Nottingham shot him with an arrow when he went out to confront them.”

“The tension has escalated,” Canis said. “Charming predicted something like this would happen.”

“I’m rarely wrong,” Charming said, as if it was a matter of fact and not an opinion. “Now maybe everyone will realize we need to start training an army.”

“An army?” Goldilocks cried.

“So this little camp is really a military base?” Sabrina’s father asked suspiciously.

Charming stood defiant. “Not yet, but it’s clear that the tide is certainly turning in that direction. The Hand has taken over the town and run all the humans out. They’re turning on their own now, pushing Everafters out of their homes and businesses. It won’t be long before they are hunting down anyone that doesn’t agree with them. We need to be prepared.”

“And once you have beaten the Hand you can point your little army toward taking over the town for yourself,” Henry said.

Charming sneered. “I liked you better when you were asleep.”

“What does Snow White think of this?” Granny Relda said, referring to the prince’s on-again, off-again girlfriend. Sabrina was curious as well. There was no way the pretty former teacher would support a war effort. Sure, she taught a self-defense class called the Bad Apples, but Sabrina had taken her class and Ms. White spent most of the time teaching her students how to avoid a fight.

“You can ask her yourself,” the prince said, gesturing to an open field near the far wall of the camp. There, they could see two dozen Everafters doing pushups in the mud while a woman stood over them barking insults and spraying them with a hose.

“Snow is training to fight?” Goldilocks asked.

“No,” Charming explained. “She’s doing the training. She’s in charge of the camp’s security. Unfortunately, the only Everafters who have volunteered are the biggest collection of feeble nincompoops ever to grace a storybook. Ms. White is doing her best to turn them into fighting machines.”

“Ms. White?” Daphne said.

“Trouble in paradise, Billy?” Sabrina asked.

The prince’s eyes lowered and regret filled his face. “She and I are not talking … at the moment. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mr. Seven and I have to check on the state of some cots. The refugees keep coming and the supplies are getting scarce.”

The former mayor and his assistant left the group behind and marched across the field.

“I suppose you would like to say hello to our resident drill sergeant?” Canis said, gesturing toward Snow White and her ragtag collection of soldiers. The group rushed in her direction. As they got closer Sabrina noticed Ms. White was dressed in full army fatigues and was blasting a whistle at her trainees. The recruits quickly got to their feet and ran in place, their boots filled to the brim with the heavy mud. All the while Snow called them “worthless,” “weak,” and “spineless maggots.”

“Snow! What in heavens are you doing?” Granny cried as she hurried toward the teacher.

“Getting these plebes into shape,” Ms. White said, though she never took her eyes off her recruits. “We need to be prepared for hostilities. Have you come to volunteer? We can use all the soldiers we can get.”

“Dear heavens, I think I’m a little old to go to war,” Granny replied.

“That’s a shame. Any other volunteers?” Snow said. “It would be nice to have one of the Grimm boys helping out. What about you, Hank? Now that you’re up and about you could make yourself useful.”

Henry shook his head. “We have no intention of staying in this town any longer than we have to.”

“Can’t say I blame you,” Snow said. “This town is a disaster. Taxes are outrageous, no one is safe, homes are being searched without warrants, not to mention the disappearances. Relda, your son may have a point. I’d go with him if I were you.”

Granny Relda shook her head. “I’m not leaving.”

Henry scowled and stamped the ground.

“So, what’s the scoop on you and the prince?” Daphne asked.

“Daphne! Don’t be rude,” Veronica admonished.

“No worries, Veronica. The girls have been privy to my soap opera for some time. If you must know, Billy proposed.”

“Gravy!” Daphne cried.

“And I declined,” Snow added.

“What? Why?” Granny asked.

“’Cause he’s a jerk. He’s arrogant. He’s mean. He’s selfish,” Sabrina said.

“Sabrina, that’s not nice,” Veronica said, though she didn’t sound convincing.

Just then, a gray goose hobbled over to the group. “New refugees are coming in now. One of them is asking for Geppetto,” it honked.

“Geppetto, what do you know about this?” Snow demanded as she turned her attention back to her troops.

An elderly man covered in mud fell out of formation and ran to Snow White. He saluted her nervously. “Nothing, sir!” he shouted.

“Geppetto!” Granny cried. “You’re training to be a soldier?”

Geppetto nodded. “Things have gotten very bad, Relda. It’s not just harassment and stupid laws anymore. Now if you don’t take an oath to the Scarlet Hand and the Master they just burn your home and business. The toy store is ashes. It’s time to fight back.”

The rest of the troops let out an exuberant
Hoo-ah!

“Well, it appears you have a visitor, maggot,” Snow shouted. “Let’s go see who it is.”

A large group followed Geppetto as he hurried through a throng of excited Everafters crowded into the courtyard. Many were hugging friends and family as they trudged through the open gates. Sabrina and Daphne squirmed their way to the front and watched the toy-maker report to King Arthur, who was making a list of people as they entered the fort.

“Sir, I was told there is someone here asking for me?”

King Arthur looked at the list. “Oh yes, the kid. Over there.”

Everyone turned to find a small boy sitting on a huge traveling bag. He was no older than Daphne and was wearing a pair of red overall shorts and a button-down shirt. He had on a yellow hat that sported a quail feather. His face was angular and his nose a bit pointy, and he had a pronounced overbite. His expression was tired and agitated. He stood up and scanned the crowd until his eyes landed on Geppetto. At once his scowl became a wide, toothy smile.

“Papa?” he said. “Dearest Papa!”

“Papa?” Sabrina and Daphne repeated. The old man was trembling, as if in the midst of an illness, and tears were gushing from the corners of his eyes.

“Pinocchio?” he cried, rushing to the mysterious child. In one quick motion he scooped the boy off the ground, swung him around in his arms, and hugged him tight. “You’ve come back to your father.”

“Pinocchio!” Henry exclaimed. “That’s
the
Pinocchio?”

“It appears so,” Granny Relda said, a happy tear sliding down her cheek. Geppetto was an old family friend and the Grimms knew that the toy-maker’s heart was broken the day he and his son were separated.

“Gravy,” Daphne said just before she bit down on her palm.

Sabrina should have been happy for Geppetto, but an odd bitterness stabbed at her heart. Instead of joy she was filled with envy. It was hard for her to see this family reunion and know that her own experience just that morning had been less than sweet. She looked to her father, hoping the scene wouldn’t be lost on him, but he was busy talking to King Arthur about possible ways out of the forest. Suddenly she knew the moment she had imagined for two years would never come to pass. Her family had chosen to argue. That was their reunion.

“My little pine nut, where have you been?” Geppetto asked his son. “Why didn’t you get on the boat with me? I’ve been a mess for so long worrying about you.”

“I’ll explain it all in good time, Papa,” Pinocchio said. “Just let me embrace you one more time!”

“He talks funny,” Puck said.

“You smell funny,” Sabrina grumbled.

Puck raised an arm and sniffed his armpit. “Can’t argue with you there.”

“I thought Pinocchio was a puppet,” Daphne said to her grandmother.

“He was,” Granny Relda said. “But after he proved he could be good, the Blue Fairy granted his greatest wish—to be a real boy.”

“Where has he been all this time?” Sabrina asked.

“It’s none of our business,” Henry said. “Arthur has given me directions to a path that will take us out of the woods. Girls, say your good-byes. We’re leaving.”

“But, Dad! We can’t leave. Uncle Jake is hurt!” Daphne said. “Besides, that’s Pinocchio. I want to get an autograph.”

“Daphne, I’ve had enough of your attitude,” Henry snapped. “Now, be a big girl and get your suitcases.”

Daphne stomped off to do as she was told.

“Relda, are you sure you won’t come with us?” Veronica begged.

“Veronica, you know I can’t go,” Granny said. “Look around you. The Everafters need us more than ever. If the family abandons Ferryport Landing, the barrier will fall and the chaos will spill out into the surrounding towns. It wouldn’t be long before war spreads all over the world. It’s this kind of thing that the barrier was created to prevent, so I have to stay.”

“Jacob is still here,” Henry said. “When he feels better he can take over the responsibility.”

“Jacob is a free spirit,” Granny said. “I’m surprised he’s stayed here as long as he has.”

Henry shook his head. “If you won’t come with us then you should go back to the house. The protection spells we’ve put on it will prevent anyone from getting inside. A hurricane could hit that house and you’d be safe. Don’t come out until this blows over and don’t get involved! I don’t want you to end up like Dad.”

Granny Relda’s face fell with disappointment, but Henry either didn’t notice or chose to ignore it.

“I’ll keep you informed of where we land,” he continued. “C’mon, Daphne, don’t dilly-dally. We’ve got a train to catch.”

Daphne slammed Sabrina’s suitcase to the ground. “Carry your own bag, traitor.”

“What did I do?” Sabrina cried.

Daphne ignored her and hugged Granny and Mr. Canis, then said good-bye to Puck, Red, and Goldilocks. Then she stormed off to wait by the gate.

“So, you finally got your wish, frog face,” Puck said. “You’re getting out of Ferryport Landing.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Sabrina said, eyeing her grandmother. As much as she had wanted to leave the town, it didn’t feel right to do it now. Not with a war brewing. Some of the Everafters might be hurt. Granny might need them. “But this isn’t how I wanted to go.”

“C’mon, Sabrina,” her father said, grabbing her suitcase and leading his wife to the main gates. They stepped through as the latest Everafter refugees entered.

Sabrina turned to look back one more time as the guards closed the gates. Puck stood in the entrance, hands on hips, his wooden sword by his side. His wings popped out and flapped in the summer sun. Granny was next to him, smiling through tears. Red stood next to her, looking afraid. Goldilocks handed Granny a handkerchief and Momma Bear wrapped a furry arm around her shoulders. Mr. Canis leaned against his cane. Sabrina stared at them intensely, hoping her mind could take a photograph that she could return to from time to time. She wondered if she should say something to these people who had been part of her life for nearly a year. She knew she had been difficult—a downright pain most of the time. Her reluctance, distrust, and general nasty mood had not been easy to tolerate, and yet, they had all in their own way been by her side at her worst moments.
I should thank them
, she thought.
I should express some sort of gratitude. I should tell them that I love them
. But the doors of the fort closed before she could get out a single word. A heavy lock turned. A bar came down across the doors and she was outside. Exactly where she had always wanted to be, with her parents and sister by her side, safe and sound. And yet …