The dense forest slowed the house down a little, but with each step its sharp chicken claws got closer and closer, eventually snagging the back of Uncle Jake's overcoat. Desperate, he slipped out of the coat and left it behind.
The house stopped abruptly and lowered itself to the ground. Baba Yaga popped out of the front door, scurried over to the overcoat, and snatched it up in her gnarled hands. She riffled through the pockets and let out a laugh that echoed through the woods. Sabrina turned her little frog head and saw Baba Yaga holding the final piece of the sword high in the air above her head. Her heart sank. They'd been so close to recovering the third piece of the blade and she'd ruined it. Why couldn't she just let the old woman have the wand? Why had she been so reckless?
But then the witch did something incredible. She tossed the blade through the air. It landed at Uncle Jake's feet. "You forgot your prize, Jacob!" she shouted, then held up his overcoat. "I'll take this as payment for the child's thieving ways," she said as she rolled it into a ball. She went back into her house and the gigantic chicken legs lifted it once again. Awkwardly, it turned itself around, and then lumbered back the way it came.
"Uncle Jake, I'm so sorry," Sabrina said. "It's my fault you lost all your magic."
"What's important is we have the last piece of the blade," Daphne said. "Uncle Jake can find a new coat."
"Except I did have a magic potion in my inside pocket we could have used to de-frog Sabrina," their uncle said.
"What am I going to do?" Sabrina groaned.
"I think you should stay like that for awhile and think about how you're behaving," Daphne said.
"I absolutely agree," a voice said from nearby. The group turned and found Mr. Canis lurking in the trees.
"Mom sent you to check up on us, huh?" Uncle Jake said, sounding offended.
Canis ignored the question. He approached the group and stared down at Sabrina, who was still resting in her sister's hands.
"How did you get into this situation?" he said.
"She went back in for the Wand of Merlin," Daphne said. Sabrina looked up at her and flashed an angry look.
"And how did you come across the Wand of Merlin?" Mr. Canis growled, studying Uncle Jake.
"Uh, I gave it to her," Uncle Jake admitted.
The old man' eyes were aglow with anger. "The child is eleven years old. Grown men can't handle that kind of magic."
"He was trying to prepare us for the future," Sabrina said.
"You and I will have words later, child," Mr. Canis barked. "For now, we need to find a way to change you back."
"Why don't we just take her home? Mom is sure to know something in the Hall of Wonders that will fix her," Uncle Jake said.
Mr. Canis turned on Uncle Jake and grabbed him roughly by the collar. "Ever since you were a child you have been nothing but a problem for her. Every mess you made you expected your mother to clean up for you! Well, look at the mess you've made this time!"
"It's a simple frog-spell," Uncle Jake cried. "She's not hurt."
"I'm not talking about the spell! Sabrina risked her life and the safety of her family for a stupid piece of magic wood you gave her. The child is touched. She is addicted and you are to blame!"
"Mr. Canis," Daphne said setting her hand on his arm. "It's OK."
The child's comforting words had a soothing effect on the old man.
"This kind of spell can be broken with the kiss of someone with royal blood. Puck would have been perfect but he's still very ill," Mr. Canis said.
Sabrina wondered if anyone could tell when a frog blushed. She hoped not.
"Well, this town is crawling with princes," Uncle Jake said. "Who should we call?"
"Unfortunately, I am going to have to clean up this mess myself," Mr. Canis said. "Jacob, you're forcing me to ask a favor of my bitterest enemy."
"Absolutely not!"
Sabrina cried when she realized whom he meant.
*
"Absolutely not!"
'Mayor Charming bellowed. "It's the only way," Mr. Canis growled.
Charming looked around his mansion as if he were searching for an escape route. The entire house had become his campaign headquarters and signs blocked most of the windows. When he realized he was stuck, he scowled. "The Big Bad Wolf is asking for my help? The Devil must have his long underwear on today."
The two stared at each other in disgust. They had a long history and none of it was nice. Most of the time when the two got together, Granny Relda had to separate them like two schoolboys bent on fist fighting.
"You can do it on your own or you can do it with a substantial bite taken out of you," Mr. Canis threatened. "Your choice."
"I liked you better when you were dead," Charming said through gritted teeth. He stepped over to Daphne, who held out Sabrina in her hands. "Personally, I think the girl looks better this way. The mustache and goatee were unsettling. She's rather striking as a frog."
"Mayor, if you don't do this, I will follow you wherever you go. I will be your shadow until you relent. You will never escape me. Your scent is one I know well," Canis said.