The witch cocked an eyebrow at her and sneered. "You don't want me as your enemy, child."
Suddenly, Uncle Jake reached into his pocket and removed a small fire-red stone. Energy emanated from it and filled the room, and suddenly a shocking force yanked the wand out of Sabrina's hands, sending it sailing across the room and into Baba Yaga's hand. The energy running through Sabrina quickly faded, only to be replaced with a rage at her uncle for betraying her.
"OK, old mother," Uncle Jake said. "You've got your payment. Let's see the merchandise."
"Very well," the witch said as she stepped across the room to a table where an old mug sat that read FOXY GRANDMA. It was filled with wands. She carelessly stuffed Sabrina's in with the others and opened a drawer in the table. Inside was a shiny piece of metal. She took it out and handed the piece of blade to Jake.
He studied it. Sabrina noticed that unlike the other portions of the blade, there was no inscription carved into it. There was no clue to finding the Blue Fairy.
"We need help putting this back together," Uncle Jake said.
"The Blue Fairy is the only one who can do it. If the price was right, could you tell us where she is?"
The old crone shook her head. Mounds of hair fell from her head and onto the floor. "Some things are not for sale," the witch said. She clapped her hands and Red Dawn, Bright Sun, and Dark Midnight entered the room.
"My knights will escort you out," Baba Yaga said.
Jake nodded to her respectfully and led the girls toward the door.
"Well, that was easier than I expected," Uncle Jake said.
"Jacob," the old witch called out. "Your mother saved you from my hungry teeth this time. She paid quite a price for your past intrusion. You should go home and thank her. But know this: If you ever invade my home again, I'll suck the marrow out of your bones while you watch."
Uncle Jake's face turned white and Elvis let out a surprised yelp.
"Tell your mother I said hello," Baba Yaga continued, changing her tone to that of a sweet old lady. The cat, the hawk, and the terrier led the family outside into the cold clearing and left them at the gate.
Uncle Jake looked down at the blade and smiled. "We did it!"
Daphne hugged Elvis tightly. "You were so brave!"
"Let's get this home and see what Mom has to say about it," Uncle Jake said.
"No," Sabrina said softly. "I can't leave the wand with her. It belongs to me and we need it. You saw her. She tossed it aside like it was nothing. Well, it's not nothing! That wand might save our lives."
"Sabrina, get ahold of yourself," Uncle Jake snapped. "We've got the blade. That's what's important. We're lucky all she wanted was the wand. It's gone. Forget about it."
Sabrina couldn't believe he was so willing to surrender. Before her uncle could stop her, she reached into his overcoat pocket and snatched the Shoes of Swiftness. She slipped them on and turned to her family. "I'm going back for it! She won't even know I was in there."
"Sabrina, no!" Uncle Jake demanded, but it was too late. Sabrina ran back to the house, opened the door, and in a flash she was racing into Baba Yaga's room. She snatched the mug off the little table at a speed faster than the human eye. Unfortunately, Baba Yaga stuck out a bony leg and tripped her. Sabrina slammed hard onto the floor and the little mug shattered, spraying magic wands all over the floor. Sabrina snatched up the nearest one before being yanked off her feet by her hair. Baba Yaga's inhuman strength allowed her to dangle Sabrina in front of her.
"Your grandmother would be disappointed to know you are a thief," the witch said. "Cooking you would save her the anguish of finding out."
Sabrina fumbled with the wand and eventually aimed it at the witch's face. She thought of thunderstorms and flicked the wand with her wrist. Nothing happened.
The witch cackled. "I'll give you some credit. You're braver than your uncle. He snuck in here and ran like a rat when I found him. You're still putting up a fight. Sadly, your passion is fueled by your addiction. It's made you so blind you can't even tell that you're not holding Merlin's wand. All that little trinket does is turn people into frogs."
"Well, then I hope you like flies, ugly," Sabrina said as she conjured a big fat, slimy frog in her mind. There was a sudden zap and a cloud of dust and the sound of laughter filled her ears.
"You really have to be sure to point those things in the right direction," the witch said as the smoke cleared. Sabrina was no longer in the witch's grasp; in fact, she was staring directly at the woman's crusty, corny feet.
Fudge, I made her a giant,
Sabrina thought to herself as Baba Yaga's gnarled hand reached down and scooped her off the floor. Sabrina squirmed but she couldn't get free.
"Oh, goodie for me," the witch said as she held Sabrina close to her face. "I haven't had frog legs since the last time I was in Paris."