It's a magical sword and supposedly the only thing that can kill a Jabberwocky."
"He's right," Sabrina added. "I read about it in the family journals. It not only killed the other Jabberwockies, but it also cut a hole in the barrier. The Black Knight used it to escape Ferryport Landing."
"So you see," Uncle Jake said. "We could use it to kill the Jabberwocky, rescue Hank and Veronica, and cut a hole into the barrier big enough to get Puck out so we can take him to the Faerie folk."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Daphne cried.
Granny Relda lowered her eyes. "Spaulding Grimm had the Vorpal blade destroyed. After he trapped the Jabberwocky in the asylum and had Baba Yaga cast the spell, he figured the sword was too dangerous to keep around. Someone could have used it to escape town. He had it broken into three pieces and scattered them. I don't know who has the pieces…"
Sabrina's heart sank. Puck would certainly die now.
"Except for one," Granny finished. She opened a drawer in her nightstand and took out a swatch of green velvet. Inside was something long and heavy. She placed it into Uncle Jake's hands.
Uncle Jake unwrapped the object. It was metal and shiny. He lifted it to reveal the hilt of a sword. Only a small jagged portion of the steel remained. An inscription was carved into the metal.
"What are we going to do with a broken sword?" Daphne said.
"I don't know," Granny replied. "But maybe we can find the other pieces. I believe the inscription is a clue Spaulding left for us in case we ever needed the sword again."
Uncle Jake read it. "'Find the daughter of the water.' Who is the daughter of the water?"
"Even if we find this daughter of the water and get the other pieces, is there someone in this town who can put the sword back together?" Hamstead interjected.
"The Vorpal blade was supposed to be indestructible," Uncle Jake said. "Spaulding needed to find someone with some seriously powerful mojo to break it. There's only one person in this town who can do something like that."
"The Blue Fairy," Canis said.
"From the Pinocchio story?" Sabrina asked.
"The same. The Blue Fairy is like a nuclear reactor of magic. She can grant any wish. She turned a wooden doll into a real boy. Even Baba Yaga doesn't have power over life and death."
"So, problem solved. We'll find the other pieces and take them to the Blue Fairy," Sabrina said.
"No one knows who the Blue Fairy is," Granny Relda said. "I
know she lives in town, but the spell she uses to disguise herself is powerful. I suppose I would want my privacy, too, if I could grant wishes and bring things to life. People would always want to take advantage of a power like that."
"Then what's the point of all this?" Daphne cried. "Even if we find the pieces, we can't put them together. We can't kill the Jabberwocky or get Puck to the Faerie folk."
"Have faith, liebling"
Granny said, wrapping her arms around the little girl's shoulders. "If Spaulding left us clues for finding the pieces, I'm sure he gave us a clue for finding the Blue Fairy so she can put them back together."
"I'll return to the forest and continue to track the girl and the monster," Mr. Canis said as he stood up weakly.
"I've got to get a handle on what happened at the diner," Hamstead said. "If too many humans drive by and see the destruction, I'll have to dust the town again. Good luck with your search."
The Sheriff and Canis left the room.
Granny sat down on the bed and took both of the girls' hands in her own. "I've tried to keep you away from this for as long as I can." The old woman sighed. "I thought if we hid from all of it maybe it would go away. Sabrina, I know you thought I didn't care but I did. I lost my husband, my son, my daughter-in-law, and thought I would never see Jacob again. I couldn't stand to lose the two of you. I didn't want to put you in danger."
"Don't worry, Granny," Daphne said as she hugged the old woman.
"We are Grimms. This is what we do," Sabrina added as she hugged the old woman.
"We should get started on research, girls," Uncle Jake said. "I'm sure if we dig into the journals, we'll find some reference to this 'daughter of the water.'"
"Maybe it's a fish," Daphne said.
"I've had that sword for decades and I've had a lot of time to think about what Spaulding meant. I don't think it's a fish, but I think you're close," Granny Relda said. She cupped her hand around Daphne's ear and whispered something that made the girl's eyes grow as big as Frisbees.
"No way!"
Daphne cried as she inserted her palm into her mouth and bit down hard.
*
The sun was near the end of its decline by the time the girls and their uncle rowed out to the middle of the Hudson River in a tiny boat. Uncle Jake had been tight-lipped about his plan. When he reached the spot he was looking for, he dropped a bright orange anchor overboard.
"The Little Mermaid is the seventh daughter of Poseidon, the ruler of the sea," he said as he fumbled in his pockets. Eventually he took out a small fishing rod. On it was a lure and a hook.