That quickly silenced the argument.
“We let them go,” Sabrina said, turning to the Beast. “Get lost and tell Mirror that two little girls beat his big old army.”
The Beast turned to his wife, defeated. When she didn’t say anything, he slinked into the woods with his daughter. The other escaped members of the Hand followed him, with Nottingham bringing up the rear. Just before he disappeared into the trees, he turned and flashed an angry look at the Queen of Hearts, who glared indignantly back.
“Oh, no! Mom!” Mordred cried, rushing to the barrier.
Sabrina searched for what had gotten the warlock so upset. Inside the barrier, trapped with the Hand, was Morgan. Despite the chaos around her she smiled softly.
“We’ll get you out!” Mordred cried. “Don’t worry. I’ll make the other witches break the spell.”
“I couldn’t leave Seven,” Morgan said. “I couldn’t bear to think he was in here with them, all alone.”
Uncle Jake’s shoulders slumped and he stared at the ground.
“Mom, you can’t stay in there. That castle is filled with maniacs,” Mordred said.
“Honey, I’m a pretty powerful witch. I’ll have no trouble getting everyone in line. Don’t worry about me.”
Mordred looked at Sabrina, then back at his mother, and then stepped through the barrier to join her.
“Mordred, they need you!” Morgan cried.
“I’m not leaving my mother,” he said, and then turned back to the others. “I’m sorry. You’ve got all the magic you’ll need.”
Sabrina nodded. “Take care of your mother. Is there anything we can get you?”
Mordred nodded. “I need my video games.”
Sabrina laughed. “As soon as we get a chance, I’ll deliver them myself.”
“We should go. Your mother and the others will be worried,” Henry said.
Daphne said her good-byes as well and the victorious army headed into the woods. Sabrina took one last look at the castle before it disappeared from view.
fter reuniting with Veronica and the children, the army marched single-file toward Mount Taurus. Soon, they came upon a site the Widow had found that looked perfect for the next part of Sabrina’s plan. She let the crowd know they could stop.
While everyone went to work setting up a campsite, Mayor Heart slumped against a tree, her feet straight out in front of her. Uncle Jake knelt beside her and offered her his water canteen. She drank greedily until the canteen was empty.
“He tried to kill me,” she wheezed, bordering on hyperventilation. “Nottingham tried to kill me.”
“I’m not surprised,” Uncle Jake said. “He’s a violent man with a dark past. You’re lucky I was there.”
The queen looked up into his face and her eyes narrowed. “And exactly why did you help me? You should have left me to die after the unfortunate incident with that woman.”
Sabrina was enraged. That woman!! Briar’s death wasn’t an unfortunate incident! Heart and Nottingham killed her in cold blood. How could Uncle Jake tolerate Heart now? Where was his fire for revenge that only days ago had threatened to drive him insane? It made no sense to her that her uncle was now showing kindness to a woman he once wanted dead.
“I couldn’t leave you,” he said. “That’s not what Briar would do.”
The queen’s face softened and she let down her guard. “Well, I suppose I should thank you.”
“That’s not necessary. But there is one thing that would make me very happy,” Jake replied as he reached into his jacket. He withdrew a dagger. Sabrina suddenly panicked. He was going to kill her! But then Jake placed the knife in the queen’s hand. “Stay alive. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of the sheriff. When he shows his face again, I hope to be there to protect you, but if I’m not, you may have to use this.”
The queen looked down and appraised the blade. Sabrina thought she must have had more than a few experiences with deadly weapons.
“I’d hate for you to die before I let you out,” he whispered.
Heart stared at him in utter shock. Then her face parted in a smile filled with yellow teeth.
Sabrina set her pack on the ground and scanned the clearing. It was high on a hill, which was ideal. She and Daphne had once had a foster father whose backyard had a similar steep incline, and the girls tormented him for hours with well-aimed acorns and rocks.
“It’s a good hill—gives us a great view of the surrounding forest,” Pinocchio said as he stood nearby, also studying the camp. “At least for the night. We’ll have to find a new one in the morning and every morning until we got the job done.”
“We?”
Pinocchio nodded. It was the first time she had ever heard him express a sentiment that wasn’t selfish.
“Your father should be proud,” Sabrina said, even though the words sounded funny in her head.