"Beats me! I'm trying everything."
While Sabrina searched, Uncle Jake did his best to stay out of the way of the hermit crab's legs. It was no easy feat. The crab used them as impaling spikes, bringing them down hard and pulverizing the ground. If one of them connected with Uncle Jake, he'd be a goner.
"Let me help," Daphne said as she dug through the overcoat's pockets as well.
"I thought you said magic was bad," Sabrina said.
Daphne scowled at her sister and stuck her tongue out to give her a raspberry. Together they pulled out a variety of odd-colored rings, carved totems, voodoo dolls, and some amulets made from bones. They tried to activate each of the trinkets, but with zero knowledge of what they did or how to use them, they failed every time. Nothing was working, and the hermit crab had nearly made a shish kebab of their uncle.
"Look for something that gives you a jolt," Uncle Jake shouted. "You'll feel the magic if it's going to work down here."
Sabrina dug through more pockets, discarding anything that didn't feel powerful. Finally, she reached into a pocket and it felt as if something inside had given her an electrical shock.
"What are these?" Sabrina asked, yanking out a pair of slippers.
"The Shoes of Swiftness," Uncle Jake shouted. "Put them on!"
Sabrina eyed the slippers closely. "What do they do?"
Uncle Jake was too busy with the crab to answer, so Sabrina kicked off her shoes and pulled on the slippers. She immediately felt an energy, much like the one the Wand of Merlin gave her. It was incredible and powerful.
Just then, Uncle Jake cried out in pain. Sabrina spun around and found him up against a wall with nowhere to run and the crab raising a deadly spike to skewer him. There was no escape for him.
"No!" Sabrina said, instinctively running to his side, and as she did, something marvelous happened. Her feet moved so fast she was able to snatch her uncle out of the way of certain death. In a flash she and her uncle were standing next to a dumbfounded Daphne.
"OK, that was cool," Daphne admitted.
"I've got an idea," Sabrina said, staring up at the hole. "Grab on to my arms and hold on tight!" Daphne slipped her hand into her sister's. Uncle Jake reached down, grabbed his overcoat, and then slipped his free hand into Sabrina's. The Cruel Crustacean charged at them, but in the blink of an eye they were gone. Sabrina's legs became a blur and in no time the trio were propelled upward as if they were attached to a powerboat motor. They rocketed to freedom through the hole, shocking the merman guards. Sabrina spotted the Vorpal blade, still in the chubby hands of the mermaid princess, and darted in her direction. As they passed her, Uncle Jake snatched it away.
"Thanks, beautiful," he quipped.
The Little Mermaid screamed with rage and a gurgling alarm was sounded. A second later, Sabrina watched as the massive doors to the chamber began to close.
"They're trying to trap us inside!" Uncle Jake warned.
"Hang on!" Sabrina cried and started kicking, this time aiming for the narrowing gap between the doors. Again the group rocketed forward, just slipping through before the doors crushed them to death. They streaked across the main hall, out through the gate, and into the busy streets. Kicking as hard as she could, Sabrina propelled the family down the road, sending mermen and mermaids leaping out of their path. Once they were safely away from the palace, Sabrina angled toward the surface. "Any idea where the boat is?" she said.
"Over there!" Daphne said, pointing to the bright orange anchor they had tossed over the side.
"I recommend we get there as fast as we can," Uncle Jake said, pointing below. Sabrina looked down and saw an army of angry merman guards swimming toward them. Following on their heels was the enormous hermit crab.
Sabrina kicked faster toward the surface. Unfortunately, she misjudged the power of her feet and the group exploded out of the water, flying fifteen feet into the air. A moment later they came crashing back down into the river. Uncle Jake was the first to struggle to the surface again. He pulled Daphne and Sabrina over to the boat and they all climbed in. Uncle Jake snatched up the oars and rowed furiously, but they'd forgotten to pull up the anchor; it held them in place.
"I can't breathe!" Daphne cried suddenly. Uncle Jake dropped the oars and yanked the sticky starfish off the little girl's head with a slurp!
Daphne gasped at first but soon she was breathing fine and helped Sabrina pull off her own starfish. Uncle Jake shoved his into his overcoat.