“You?” the Frog Prince cried.
“Fifteen years ago I tried to do my brother a favor by letting his then-girlfriend out of this town. I snuck into Baba Yaga’s house, found Wilhelm’s spell in one of her books, and stole it. Then I turned the magic off long enough for her to leave.”
“It’s true,” Goldilocks said as she stepped forward. “He let me out. I lived outside of the town for fifteen years before I came back to help save Henry and his wife.”
Jake reached into his pants pocket and took out a well-worn piece of paper. He unfolded it gently and held it up so everyone could see it. “Turn your back on the Master, help us save my mother, and I will free you. This is the spell to lower the barrier.”
“Jake, what are you doing?” Mr. Canis said. “You’ll ruin everything.”
“What do you mean?” Sabrina asked the old man, but he brushed her off in frustration.
Nottingham took the megaphone and was ready to hurl more insults, but Heart snatched it back. “Sheriff, let him talk,” the queen said.
Sabrina looked out on the crowd. The angry faces were fading. People were considering Jake’s offer.
“We will join you,” said voices from below. The Three Blind Mice pushed forward, their canes clicking on the ground as they walked. As they climbed the stairs, a number of threats were hurled at them.
“Traitors!”
“You will pay for betraying the Master.”
“You have signed your own death warrants!”
“Wonderful!” Veronica cried, ignoring their anger. “Who else?”
“Can you protect me?” a lion said, though he was bigger than any lion Sabrina had ever seen in the Bronx Zoo. This one was as tall as a horse and wore a shiny gold medal with the word COURAGE around his neck.
“Ab . . . abso-solutely,” Sabrina sputtered before the gigantic beast.
“Then I’ll come with you,” the lion replied as he leaped onto the stage.
“Good to have you, old friend,” the Scarecrow said.
Sabrina shook her head in disbelief. Had her father been right? Would the Everafters do the right thing if presented with the opportunity?
“Please, James,” Beauty said to her husband, who stood defiantly within the crowd with his overgrown daughter, Natalie, at his side. “Bring our daughter and come up here and join us.”
Beast shook his head and Natalie looked at her mother with disgust. Poor Beauty’s face fell.
Several goblins and a troll pushed through the crowd on their way to the stage before Nottingham stopped them.
“You fools! This is the Grimm family,” Nottingham said. “They can’t be trusted.”
For a moment, Mayor Heart looked as if she was ready to take Jake’s extended hand, but Nottingham pushed past her. He had his dagger in hand and murder in his eyes. “I’ll put a stop to these lies for good!”
Charming pulled his own sword and waved it in Nottingham’s face. The sheriff stumbled backward, fearful of the prince’s deadly blade.
“My quarrel is with them!” Nottingham shouted.
“Then your quarrel is with all of us,” Charming said. “This man extends his hand in peace and you move to slice it open? You disgust me.”
“I will kill you, Charming,” Nottingham seethed.
“Is there courage in those words, Sheriff? Perhaps you should prove it.”
“If it’s courage you seek, little brother, I have it in spades,” said a strange, deep voice.
“Who said that?” Charming asked, scanning the crowd. Sabrina did the same and spotted the mane of greasy red hair moving through the mob.
“Atticus,” Sabrina gasped. She turned to Bunny, who stepped in front of her daughter. Mr. Seven joined her.
“Don’t you remember me, brother?” Atticus cried. “You destroyed my family and stole my rightful seat at our father’s side. But your most wicked of crimes was stealing my wife while I have been away.”
“I am not your brother, and I have never stolen any woman,” Charming said.
Atticus leaped onto the gazebo. He stared at Charming for a long time, his face contorted with amused hatred. For the first time, Sabrina could see the resemblance between the two men. They had the same eyes and jawlines. Their cheekbones were identical, as were their lips, but while all of Charming’s features combined to make him handsome, Atticus’s features were twisted and rough, making a person want to look away in disgust. Charming stared back, mouth agape, at the strange man. Atticus reached for his sword but then seemed to think better of it. Instead, he turned to the crowd. “The Master has sent me with a message, people. He is disappointed in you and wants you to know that being here, speaking to your jailors, is treachery. Turn away from the Grimms or blood will spill.”
“Who in the blue blazes are you?” Charming asked.
“Who am I?” Atticus said, then snatched Snow White by the wrist and pulled her close to him. “Surely you remember me, my dearest. Surely you remember your husband?”