"We need to get help," Sabrina said, shivering.
"I'm on it," Puck said. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small wooden flute, and blew a couple high-pitched notes. Within seconds, a swarm of little lights flooded through the open windows and surrounded the children. They looked like fireflies, but Sabrina knew better. They were Puck's pixie servants--or, as he called them, his minions--and they did whatever Puck asked of them, especially if it was mischief. They buzzed around their boy leader and waited for instructions.
"Go get the old lady," Puck said to them, "and bring me something to start a fire."
The pixies buzzed and darted out through the barn windows. Moments later a wave of them returned carrying tree limbs and dead leaves. These they arranged in a pile in front of the children and then zipped away again. Soon, a second swarm returned carrying a single bottle of root beer, which they gently placed in Puck's hands.
"You have served me well, minions," he said unscrewing the top and tossing it into a corner of the barn. He chugged the whole drink and tossed the bottle aside.
"Ahhhh," he said as he wiped his mouth on his sleeve.
"Was that refreshing? I'd hate for you to be thirsty. Maybe you would like a sandwich, too," Sabrina snarled. Puck was always thinking of himself.
"Keep your pants on," the boy said. "Something has to be done to keep you from turning into a Grimmsicle."
He unfolded his wings, stood up, and leaned over the pile of timber. His eyes were watering, apparently from all the gassy soda, and suddenly he opened his mouth wide and belched. The burp was deep and guttural and, much to Sabrina's surprise, accompanied by a fireball that shot out of the boy's mouth and ignited the firewood. Sabrina felt the fire's warmth immediately.
"I didn't know you could do that," she said.
"Oh, I'm full of surprises," the boy said proudly as a rumbling sound came from his belly. "Want to see what I can do out the other end?"
The little pixies buzzed and twittered. To Sabrina it sounded as if they were laughing.
"Uh, no thanks," she said, edging closer to the fire.
"Suit yourself," he said and then turned to his small servants. "I need you to go back to the road and wait for the old lady. Come and get me when she arrives."
The little lights blinked on and off, as if to say they understood, and zipped away. When they were gone, Puck wrapped his huge, fairy wings around Sabrina again.
"I'm sorry we couldn't save your parents," he whispered.
Sabrina wanted to cry. She had been so close to rescuing Henry and Veronica and they had slipped through her fingers. How was she supposed to fight the little girl in the red cloak who obviously had magical abilities and controlled a hulking freak with a zillion teeth? Sabrina was just an ordinary eleven-year-old girl. She was powerless. She looked over her shoulder at Puck. He was a fairy--a creature of pure magic. Puck could turn into all kinds of animals, he could fly, he had pixie servants, and now, apparently, even his obnoxious bad habits were useful. The boy was overflowing with power and it gave him a fearlessness Sabrina envied.
"I'd prefer if we kept the heroics to ourselves," he said now, interrupting her thoughts. "The last thing I need is you yapping to everyone in town about me being a hero. I am most definitely not a hero. I'm a villain…"
"Of the worst kind," said Sabrina, finishing the boy's sentence. "I know." Puck, a.k.a. the Trickster King, had made it clear on numerous occasions that he was one of the bad guys, but lately it seemed that he was always saving the day.
"And don't you forget it!"
"How could I?" Sabrina said. "You tell me every ten minutes." Puck didn't respond, and for a long moment the children were silent.
"Still, thanks for saving me," Sabrina said as she felt herself drift off to sleep. "No problem. I'll just add it to your tab," he replied.
Chapter 2
When Sabrina woke, she was in a hospital room with a clunky plaster cast on her broken arm. Her little sister, Daphne, sat on the edge of her bed, busily scribbling GET WELL SOON! on the cast with a black marker.
Daphne had been through a lot in the last year and a half; both of them had--the orphanage, the insane foster families, their nasty caseworker, giants, monsters, and mayhem. Through it all, Sabrina had protected her little sister the best she could, growing up fast so that Daphne wouldn't have to. It was worth it to keep the ever-present smile on her little sister's face. "Hey, monkey," Sabrina said.
Daphne screamed with joy and hugged her sister tightly. "Are you OK?" Sabrina asked.
"I'm fine,"
Daphne said, kissing her sister on each cheek.
"And Granny Relda?"
"She's good. She went to get a cup of coffee. She'll be right back."
"Mr. Canis?"