Griz must have seen the decision in my eyes because she turned to the prison of fire, pulling the stopper out of the vial. She was going to free Blanc even though she had to know I would hit her with the flames if I had to.
But I didn’t have to. I was never going to feed another soul to this curse if I had any say. The idea didn’t even have a chance to fully form before I put it into action. I grabbed the shoe I’d dropped earlier and chucked it at the Gray Witch. The heel hit the glass and shattered it on impact, spilling the spring water down the front of Griz.
A few sparks came from her vest, and there was a momentary look of surprise and horror as her silver, slitted eyes widened to nearly all black. Then her expression became indistinguishable because everything about her turned to liquid silver with lightning streaking through it. The strikes bounced around inside her, melting everything they hit until only a puddle with a few shards of bone remained.
“Rule #1: Every fairy tale comes equipped with a happy ending. You just have to find it.”
—Definitive Fairy-Tale Survival Guide, Volume 1
36
Use Your Head and Be True to Your Heart
Kato flew back into the room. “He escaped. He was just too—” His voice and paws stopped short when he saw all that was left of the Gray Witch. “Is that—?”
“Yes, it is, and good riddance.” In the end, I had still taken her life, and that was something I would have to deal with. But at least this way I’d starved the curse for now, and Griz wouldn’t be haunting my head for eternity. Looking at Rexi, I was glad the witch was dead. Did that make me a bad person? Maybe. Did I care? Ask me again tomorrow.
As Kato came closer, his claws clicked against the opal necklace. The contact made the stone flash, and a little orange swirl ran through it.
I gasped and clamored over to it on my hands and knees. Sure enough, there were still little flecks of light floating through the darkened and cracked stone. Seeing Kato’s life magic collide with it gave me an idea. Maybe there was still a chance. I snatched the necklace off the ground and grabbed a shard of the shattered glass vial.
“What are you doing?” Kato sat and watched my frantic movements in puzzlement.
Verte’s smile reached all the way into her voice. “She’s doing what I told her—using her head.”
Taking the glass in hand, I pricked my finger, then sliced off a big chunk of my hair. Wrapping the blood-tinged flames around the opal, I made sure to press the green spark against the crack.
Please work, please work.
Nervously, I stood watch over Rexi as I placed the necklace to her skin. “C’mon, take it,” I urged, pushing the flaming hair harder into the stone, thinking maybe the pressure would help transfer some of my life magic into it. “You take everything else that’s not bolted down, so just take it!” The wrapping of hair dimmed, the fiery red strands changing back into the regular old shade of brown they used to be.
Carefully, I pulled the strands of hair away, revealing a bright orange-and-green swirled stone. Rexi’s chest moved with a sharp intake of breath.
I threw myself down on top of her. “I can’t believe that actually worked!”
Rexi mumbled something, but I couldn’t understand it.
“What did you say?” I shifted position so I could see and hear her better.
She opened one eye and her mouth tilted into a half smile. “I said, get off, you pixing cow. You’re squishing me.”
So of course, I squeezed her tighter.
A tear leaked from the corner of her eye. “I’m so sorry. I—”
I cut her off. “Don’t want to hear it right now. Let me enjoy the fact that we are, shockingly and against all odds, alive.” I kissed Rexi on the forehead.
Next I ruffled Kato’s fur and gave him a kiss on his wet nose. And last, I launched myself at Verte and gave her a big smooch on her wrinkly green cheek. Then I hugged and held her lumpy body and let the relief sink into my bones. I had missed Verte so much and couldn’t believe that I finally had her back. She was the closest thing to family I had, and if Griz had been telling the truth, might ever have again. “I don’t know what took you so long, but I’m so glad you’re finally here.”
“I had a few technical difficulties. But if I’d rescued you day one, you’d still be a newt-brained brat, so it’s better that I waited for you to grow up a bit.” Verte lightly pushed me away and waggled those caterpillar eyebrows at me. “Speaking of, think there’s something you oughta see.” She put her hands on my shoulders and spun me around.
In front of me was a boy with dirt- and blood-smudged tan skin, one pale white arm, auburn hair—with a hint of horns—and ice-water blue eyes. Thankfully, this time Kato was fully clothed, so I didn’t hesitate to run into his arms.
“How?” I marveled.