Henry stepped forward. “You’ve got a bigger problem than that, Prince. Bringing the troops inside the Hall of Wonders might have saved their lives, but I’m afraid we’re all stuck in here unless you’re planning on rushing through one of those other mirrors we saw in the Room of Reflections.”
“I wouldn’t recommend it. There’s no telling where they might lead or who might be on the other side,” Granny Relda added.
“Not at all,” the prince replied. “I was thinking we’d march right out your front door.”
Henry shook his head. “If you can fight your way out you’re free to try. Last time we checked the house was surrounded by the Hand.”
“I’d be surprised if there were any of them still outside,” Snow White interrupted. “I think the Master threw everything he had at us today.”
Nurse Sprat appeared. “Excuse me, I don’t mean to interrupt, but I was hoping I could borrow Veronica and the girls.”
“Of course,” Veronica said, then turned to Henry. “We’ll be right back. Nurse Sprat needs some help with the wounded. Will you save me a dance?”
Henry kissed Veronica. “I’ll save them all for you.”
Veronica and the girls followed the nurse into the crowd and far from the ears of the rest of their family.
“I’m so excited,” Daphne said.
“I am, too,” Veronica said, then looked down at her belly. “Please be OK.”
Once they were safely out of earshot, Sprat turned to the group and took Veronica’s hands in her own. Her expression was serious and troubled. “I have to tell you something—”
“It’s the baby,” Veronica said, finishing the nurse’s sentence. Her voice trembled as she slid into a seat.
“You are not pregnant,” Nurse Sprat replied, leaning down to take Veronica’s hands. “Anymore.”
A tear rolled down Veronica’s cheek and she looked to Sabrina and then Daphne. “I’m sorry, girls.”
The girls hugged her tightly, as if squeezing her might prevent the tears from escaping.
“Oh, Veronica, you didn’t lose the baby,” the nurse said. “This is so confusing. That’s why I brought in some help.”
Morgan le Fay approached. “Sorry I’m late. I’ve had to turn down a dozen marriage proposals in the last fifteen minutes. I got here as quickly as I could.”
Nurse Sprat nodded. “Did you bring your magic?”
“Everywhere I go,” the witch said, waving her hands in the air. A blue mist materialized and swirled around Veronica’s belly.
“Mrs. Sprat, what is this all about?” Veronica said, startled.
“Just a moment,” the nurse replied. She watched the vapor as it changed colors from blue to red. Then it vanished into the breeze.
“Just as you suspected,” Morgan le Fay said. “Something magical happened.”
“Can someone let us in on this big secret?” Sabrina snapped. She was tired and impatient.
“Veronica, I have a theory, but it’s not good news if I’m right,” Nurse Sprat said.
“Just tell me,” Sabrina’s mom said, grabbing the armrest of the chair as if to brace herself.
“You were pregnant. The baby was healthy but when you and your husband were placed under the spell the baby was not affected. It continued to grow at a normal pace.”
“I’m not sure what you’re telling me,” Veronica said.
“Veronica, I found something unusual in your blood sample, a peculiar compound I’d never seen before, but it was clear it was magical. So I called in Ms. Le Fay for consultation. She’s got centuries of experience with herbs and roots.”
“What we found is called Donnoga Root,” Morgan said. “It was used back in the old country by women who were expecting difficult births—you know, human-giant infants, things like that. The Frog Prince and his wife used it when they had their daughter—as did Beauty and the Beast and Mrs. Arachnid and the Spider. It helps the impossible birth occur.”
“And this Nooganar Root was in my bloodstream?”
“Donnoga Root,” Nurse Sprat said. “And yes. I found a large sample of it in your blood.”
Daphne stepped forward. “My mom wasn’t having an impossible birth. She was having a normal baby.”
“A normal baby for sure,” Sprat explained, “but not a normal birth. Someone used this on your mother when she was asleep. See, when the baby was born your mother would have had to do certain things she couldn’t do if she was unconscious. Whoever gave you the root gave it to you while you were unconscious and we think—”
“They took my baby!” Veronica cried. Her voice shook with panic.
“Is that possible?” Daphne asked.
“Who would do this?” Sabrina said, but all of a sudden she knew. She had seen a crib in Red Riding Hood’s insane asylum. She had heard a child crying in the halls and seen a baby in Red’s hands. The little lunatic had called him her baby brother. The former Wizard of Oz had said her parents were giving birth to a new future. That little boy she had seen with Red. He was her brother and the Master had him! There had been hints and clues all along and she had never stopped to notice. Why had the Master taken the baby and where was he now? There was only one person that knew. “Where’s Red Riding Hood?”