“Big Bad is turning into a…” Fable said.
Big Bad’s eyes became slits and turned yellow. A mass of hair started growing on his face, his arms, and the rest of his body. His nails grew longer and sharper, and his hairy feet grew noticeably bigger, ripping out his shoes.
His transformation scared everyone, all but Snow White. She stopped in front of him, and snarled once more.
“So he’s not Big Bad?” Axel wondered. “He’s the—”
“The Big Bad Wolf!” Fable celebrated the weirdness of their town.
Big Bad dared Snow White’s eyes one last time both of them threatening each other with their fangs.
“Clash of the Titans,” Fable commented.
Finally, Big Bad gave in and retreated, crashing out through the second story window and running away on all fours.
“This isn’t happening, right?” Axel rubbed his eyes.
Snow White turned back to them, and snarled at them, too.
“We have to run,” Axel yelled. “How many times does she have to spare our lives?”
Loki and Fable stood fixed to the floor, their faces painted with the color of confusion. This time, Snow White wasn’t going to treat them nicely. She swung her hand at them, and a sudden snowy swirl hit the room and flung them out of her way. They got the point and ran as fast as their legs could carry them out of the Schloss.
16
Baby Tears
Surviving a bad day at the Schloss wasn’t the worst that could happen to Loki. The surprises kept on coming.
Entering the Candy House on Seven, Breadcrumb Street, Fable rushed into her room and slammed the door behind her, cursing and crying.
“I can’t believe how awful you boys are,” she sobbed from inside her room. Loki and Axel heard sounds of moving furniture behind the door. “She saved your life twice, Loki, and you still want to kill her. I hate you!”
On their way back, Fable had begged Loki to give up on killing Snow White. She’d told him that after seeing Big Bad turning into a wolf, it was obvious that something wasn’t right in Sorrow. Loki had to tell her and Axel who he was while driving his Cadillac back to the house. He told them everything about being a half-angel banned from Heaven, about the demon girl he was banned for loving, and about his need to kill Snow White to go home and find out who he really was.
“Cheer up, Fable,” Axel said on his way to the refrigerator. “We have a fallen angel in our house. It’s not like it happens every day.”
“Half-angel,” Loki corrected him politely.
“I don’t care who he is,” Fable snapped. “I don’t even care if he can spread his wings and fly.”
“You can do that, right?” Axel said to Loki, skeptically. “Oh, I remember they gave you two black star tattoos where wings should’ve grown on your shoulders.”
“That’s right,” Loki nodded, wondering what Fable was doing in her room.
“If I get Abe Von Noxious, the tattoo artist on Scrimshaw street, to draw me black star tattoos, you think they will think I am a fallen angel in school?”
“Shut up, Axel,” Fable shouted. “I hate both of you!”
“What did we do that was so bad? Aren’t you glad we all survived the Big Bad Wolf,” Axel chuckled to himself, pounding his forehead with his fist. “I can’t believe I literally met the Big Bad Wolf. This is insane.”
“OK, Fable,” Loki said. “I’m sorry. I know it’s confusing, but the fact that she saved us doesn’t help me go home. I know how you feel toward her, but just think about all the other teens she killed.”
“When are you going to understand that she is my favorite fairy tale character. She killed those who interfered and trespassed in the castle,” Fable fired back. It sounded like she was dropping heavy books on the floor. What was she doing? “We never heard anything about her hurting someone outside the castle.”
“She’s got a point,” Axel said, licking jelly from his fingers. “Why doesn’t she leave the castle and come kill everyone in town? I’d do that if I were her.”
“All Snow White wants is for no one to intrude or interrupt her life in the castle,” Fable continued. “It’s like living in a town with other people who don’t share your lifestyle, and all you ask is to be left alone.”
“Vampire lifestyle, that’s funny,” Axel said with a mouthful. “What are you doing in there, Fable?”
Loki and Axel exchanged looks.
“Oh. No,” Axel suddenly let the plate of Jelly drop to the floor. “You better not be doing what I think you’re doing, Fable.”
“You bet your gluttonous belly I am,” she replied. “Finally, I found it!”
“What’s going on, Axel?” Loki said.
Axel looked terrified, examining the place around him, searching for a hiding spot. “Not good, man. Not good. We need to leave the house, now!” Axel pulled Loki by his shirt. “Remember when you first came to the house? This is worse.”
The door to Fable’s room burst open. She stepped out with another giant book that she could barely hold with both hands. Only this one was called: