“Henry, they probably think we’re dead after all the time we’ve been missing, and what are we supposed to do for money? Do you have any for train tickets?”
Henry sighed but his pace didn’t slow. “Yeah, money. I’ve got ten dollars in my wallet. I’m sure our credit cards have been canceled. Just get on the train. They may kick you off, but not before you’re out of the town. Once you’re on the other side of the barrier you’ll be safe. Call your sister in Australia.”
“Henry, I haven’t spoken to her in a decade,” Veronica said.
“Tell her we’ll pay her back whatever she can lend. Our money is still in the bank . . . somewhere.”
Veronica threw up her hands in exasperation but still urged the girls forward. Sabrina stared back at Puck from over her shoulder. He looked defeated and confused, and then it hit her. She would never see him again. He was trapped in Ferryport Landing like all the rest of the Everafters. He would never be able to follow her to the city. This was it.
“The train station is a disaster,” Puck shouted just before he disappeared from Sabrina’s sight. “When we were spying on the old lady, I flew overhead. The Scarlet Hand ripped up the tracks.”
Henry stopped. The hesitation prompted Puck to fly into the air, until he landed to block Henry’s path once more.
“We’ll go to Mom’s house and get her car—”
“That heap of junk got crushed when the house was destroyed,” Puck said.
“Then we’ll walk,” Henry snapped.
“Great idea,” Puck said. “What with all the monsters running around. But I’m sure they’re not all as bad as Grendel. Besides, the rest of the family is trained to fight just like you, right? The baby knows how to throw an uppercut, I’m sure.”
Henry threw up his hands and collapsed onto a fallen log.
“Honey?” Veronica asked.
“I just need to think,” he said, waving her off. Then he shook his head and glared up at Puck. “I’m disappointed in you.”
“Then things are getting back to normal,” Puck said.
“I would have thought your puppy-dog crush on my daughter would make you more protective.”
Puck’s mouth fell open and his ears turned red with embarrassment. Puck, the boy who proudly collected his farts in mason jars, who never cared what anyone thought of him! But her father’s accusation seemed to have upended his cocky confidence. He stammered, as if unsure what to say next, but then the boy fairy shook off his awkwardness and grinned mischievously.
“Well, it’s a little more than a crush, Henry,” Puck said. “I’m going to marry your daughter someday, so it’s sort of important to my plans that she save the world.”
“OMG,” Daphne said, as she bit the palm of her hand.
Veronica’s eyes were as big as pie plates.
Henry fell off his log, and if Sabrina had been sitting on one, she would have done the same. She wanted to dig a hole and bury herself in it.
Puck stood over her father and chuckled. “You can’t embarrass me, Henry. I’m the Trickster King—true King of Faerie, crown prince of the over-confident, leader of the self-deluded, spiritual hero of all who think too highly of themselves. Now, are you going to listen to reason or do I just have to kidnap your daughters so we can get to work?”
“Do I get a vote in this?” Veronica asked.
Everyone turned to her.
“Yes, Mom has an opinion!” Veronica snapped. “So listen up. We’re staying.”
“Veronica!” Henry said as he clambered to his feet.
“I want more than anything to get Basil and the girls away from this town,” Veronica said. “But what if the mirrors are right? What if the girls are supposed to rescue Relda and make things OK again?”
“The mirrors didn’t say the girls would save the world. They said they had a chance,” Henry explained.
“Yes, but they were certain that no one else had one. If they don’t try, then it can’t be done at all. I can’t live with that. I haven’t raised the girls to turn their backs on others.”
Henry looked at his wife for a long time. His face was full of worry and fear.
Daphne nodded. “Mom’s right! Grimms don’t run. Especially when we’re in a prophecy.”
“How many prophecies have we been in?” Sabrina growled.
“Just one, but do you think we’ll be in any more if we screw up the first one?” Daphne said, turning to walk back to the castle. “We need to go back!”
“Daphne!” Henry shouted.
Daphne turned to face her father. “It’s shenanigan time, Dad.”
Red, Mr. Canis, and the Wicked Queen were waiting for them in a clearing just outside the invisible castle. The witch said nothing but nodded respectfully to Henry.
“So, what do we have to do?” Henry said.