“You won’t need any of those trinkets,” Puck said as he continued to taunt the monster. “I think he’s getting tired!”
With a burst of speed, Grendel landed an uppercut so powerful it sent Puck sailing straight up into the sky and into the clouds.
With Puck in the air and Henry knocked out, it was just the girls and Elvis versus Grendel. The big dog stood between the girls and their opponent, barking and baring his fangs, which only made the hideous creature do the same. It was a momentary distraction, but Sabrina hoped Daphne would take advantage of it.
She turned back to her sister, praying Daphne had found a magic sword or a Sherman tank inside her pockets, but she was sorely disappointed. Daphne waved a long silver wand with a glittering star on its tip. It looked like part of a cheap Halloween costume, but Sabrina knew what it really was—a fairy godmother’s wand. She’d seen one do some amazing things, but could it stop this creature? Daphne must have gone crazy.
When Grendel charged them, the little girl flicked her wrist. The monster vanished into a puff of purple smoke and light—then there was a loud thump, followed by a groan.
“Daphne!” Sabrina cried through the smoke. She could barely make out her own hand in front of her face and couldn’t see Daphne at all.
“I took care of it,” Daphne said as the haze began to dissipate. Daphne stood over the fallen Grendel, her wand in hand and Elvis by her side. Grendel squirmed and struggled to escape a formfitting silver taffeta dress.
“I don’t think he likes the dress,” Sabrina said as Grendel ripped the gown off his back.
“It doesn’t go with his shoes. I’ll try another,” Daphne said, flicking the wand once more. The silver gown vanished in another puff of smoke and was replaced by a clown outfit, complete with floppy yellow shoes, rainbow fright wig, and bright red nose. Grendel looked down at himself, completely perplexed.
“Can’t you put him in a straitjacket or something?” Sabrina cried.
“I’m trying. This isn’t as easy as it looks,” Daphne said, twirling the wand erratically, then zapping the creature over and over again: tuxedo with tie and tails, conquistador suit, ballerina tutu complete with tights and slippers, Raggedy Andy overalls, and a life-size banana costume complete with necktie. Each abrupt change only caused Grendel’s rage to grow, and eventually he snatched the little girl, jerking her off the ground and forcing her to drop her magic wand.
Sabrina jumped to her feet and grabbed the magical weapon but immediately threw it to the ground. She was hit with the rolling nausea that overtook her every time she touched anything enchanted. If she held the wand much longer, she wasn’t sure what would happen. She might lose control of herself.
She was going to have to fight Grendel without magic. But how? What had her father said about the monster’s knee? Yes, it was swollen and infected—if only she could give it one of her patented kicks to the shin. Being an orphan had taught her a lot about kicking and punching.
“Just run to the mirror,” Daphne begged.
Sabrina was incensed. “Now you’re doing it.”
“Doing what?” Daphne said as she dangled high above the ground.
“Treating me like a baby! Since when am I the helpless one in this family?”
She wanted to rail at her sister but she realized Grendel was now standing over her, Daphne in his claw, his good eye staring at her with hungry curiosity. Slick saliva as murky as swamp water dripped from his broken, jagged teeth. His breath was like a coal oven and each blast smelled of charcoal and charred meat. When his jaw opened up to swallow her, Sabrina figured she was about to become Grendel’s breakfast.
“I hope you choke on me!” she shouted defiantly, then swung a fist that popped the monster in the nose.
And much to Sabrina’s surprise, Grendel cried out in agony. She looked down at her hand, unsure of her own strength. Then there was a flash of fur and claws. Something was attacking the monster, but the action was too fast to follow. Sabrina was not responsible for Grendel’s pain.
In an effort to protect himself, Grendel dropped Daphne, and the little girl fell into a wet mound of leaves. She staggered over to Sabrina, who had rejoined their unconscious father, and the two watched the fight. They soon realized that they owed their lives to three massive brown bears. But these were no ordinary bears. The biggest wore overalls, another had on a dress, and the littlest one had a beanie cap with a propeller on the top. Sabrina recognized these bears—all three of them.
“Goldilocks,” Sabrina gasped as the stunningly pretty woman stepped out from behind the trees and extended a helping hand.