Amid firebombs exploding everywhere, they zigzagged across the courtyard. One explosion was so close it knocked Sabrina off her feet and rattled her brain. She staggered upright and resumed the chase. She found her father standing with her uncle over the grave.
“You have to come, Jake,” Henry said.
“I won’t leave her,” Uncle Jake cried.
“You have to. Do you want to join her?”
“Maybe I do, Hank. Maybe it’s time to stop running. That’s what we’re all good at, anyway. We all run away. The girls do it. You did it. I did it. Maybe it’s time to stay put.”
“Jake, this isn’t what she would want,” Henry said.
“What would you know about what she would want?” Jake asked. “You didn’t love her. You didn’t hold her in your arms and feel like you just got your happily ever after. You don’t know anything about her.”
“I knew her,” Sabrina shouted over the noise. “She would not want you to stay here and die. She was a fighter. She would want you to fight, too.”
Uncle Jake looked at Sabrina. His face was thin and tired. Tears escaped his eyes. “I can’t go. I can’t run away anymore.”
“We’re not running anymore, Jake,” Henry said. “I’m here. Mom’s here. The girls are here! We’re all here. We’re not going to run. We’re going to fight, but right now we have to go.”
Uncle Jake looked down at the grave. He leaned down and snatched a rosebud from the magical bush that grew there and put it into one of his many pockets, right over his heart.
The three of them raced back to Charming’s cabin, counting the lucky stars that kept them alive during all the chaos. They arrived just in time to see Mr. Canis and Red Riding Hood stepping into Charming’s mirror. Henry picked up Reggie and hoisted him onto his back and together the rest of the family stepped through. It was clear that the universe wasn’t in jeopardy when they reached the other side.
“Are we tru, man?” Reggie said as he looked around the lobby of the Hotel of Wonders. “Hey, nice digs.”
“Thanks!” Harry said. He was busy placing fresh Hawaiian leis around everyone’s necks as they milled around the massive lobby. “Have you seen the boss?”
As if on cue, Charming tumbled through the portal. He was followed by a dozen fully armored knights. Many fell to the floor with a clang and begged for help righting themselves.
“Get into the Hall of Wonders, now!” Charming shouted as he pointed to the elevator door that acted as its portal.
“Why? What’s the matter, William? We’re safe in here, aren’t we?” Granny asked.
“Not at all,” Charming shouted, nudging Granny toward the portal.
They heard a massive crash. Sabrina turned to the portal and saw Sheriff Nottingham with a heavy sledgehammer in hand. He swung it as hard as he could, and it slammed into the reflective surface on the other side.
“He’s trying to break this mirror,” Charming said.
“Uh-oh!” Daphne said.
“Didn’t you say that when a mirror is broken everything inside it is cut to ribbons?” Sabrina asked.
“You have a good memory, kid,” the prince said. “By the way, your tail is showing.”
Sabrina blushed and shoved her long tail into the back of her pants.
“Boss, what can I do?” Harry asked.
“There’s a box in room nineteen. It’s in the bureau and very important. Can you fetch it for me?”
“In a jiffy.” Harry took off for the elevators. Meanwhile, Charming was literally shoving people through the portal into the hall.
“This is a little rude, pal,” Daphne said as he pushed her toward the magical doorway.
“Pardon me if I try to save your life.”
Soon, Sabrina found herself sprawled out on the floor of the Room of Reflections, where the rest of her family was waiting. Elvis flew through and skidded across the floor, then turned and barked angrily at the portal. Henry grabbed him by the collar and ushered everyone out of the portal’s path so that others could enter as well. As they moved Ms. White came through, nearly falling to her knees.
“He shoved me!” she cried, angrily.
“Who else is left?” Robin Hood asked. He had a terrible burn on his right arm. His wife was by his side, looking distraught.
Sabrina poked her head into the portal and saw Charming, standing alone by the elevators. “What are you waiting for?”
“It’s none of your concern,” the prince said. “Go help the others get settled.”
She saw Nottingham charge through the other portal with his serpentine dagger in hand. He was met with a haymaker punch from the prince that sent the villain sprawling backward the way he came. A massive Cyclops took his place at the mirror, pounding on the reflection with a concrete hammer. His blow caused a tiny crack in the reflection.
“It’s happening!” she cried to the prince.
Charming scowled and ran toward Sabrina. She ducked inside as he took a flying leap, knocking her to the floor. Without offering to help he scampered to his feet and turned back to the magical hole.