The Problem Child (The Sisters Grimm, Book 3)

by Michael Buckley

  Finally, they arrived at the Blue Plate Special and pulled into the parking lot of the diner. The girls hopped out and sprinted inside with Elvis in tow. The little bell rang roughly when they came through the door, causing a few customers to turn from their coffees and newspapers to see what all the commotion was about.

  A heavyset waitress with tight brown curls and old-lady spectacles appeared with a handful of menus. When she saw Elvis she frowned. "Oh, girls, I'm sorry. We can't let you bring your… is that a dog?"

  Sabrina ignored the question. "I'm looking for Farrah," she said as she and her sister scanned the restaurant. A horrible feeling crept over her as she eyed the place. Just two days ago this place had been a war zone. The Jabberwocky and Red Riding Hood had carved a path of destruction that only magic could have fixed in such a short time. Glinda the Good Witch and the rest of the Three often took care of such work for the mayor. It was their job to sprinkle forgetful dust on any non-Everafters traumatized by the unexpected appearance of monsters and the unexplained.

  What if Farrah had gotten spooked and made sure she was forgotten as well?

  "Honey, she's not here," the waitress said.

  Sabrina felt relieved. "Do you know where she is?"

  "Why, she's on her lunch break," the waitress said with a slight bit of irritation.

  Just then there was a loud thump that knocked a coffeepot to the floor. It shattered, sending coffee and glass everywhere.

  "That sounds familiar," Daphne said, flashing her sister a worried look.

  Sabrina grabbed the waitress by the shoulders. "Do you know where Farrah went?"

  "Probably down to the elementary school. Today is election day," the woman replied.

  The girls and the Great Dane raced outside and back into the cab.

  "We have to go to the school," Sabrina cried. Just then, a second loud thump actually lifted the taxi off the ground.

  "Uh, we have a little problem," Daphne replied, pointing behind her.

  The girls stared through the rear window. Standing behind the car was Red Riding Hood and her hulking nightmare, panting as if eagerly awaiting permission to rip them all limb from limb.

  Chapter 11

  Sabrina nearly broke off the gearshift when she slammed it into drive. Daphne stomped hard on the gas until her foot was on the car's floorboard and the engine roared. The car lunged forward and raced across the parking lot; unfortunately, it didn't get far. The Jabberwocky leaped into the air and landed several yards in front.

  "Brakes!"

  Sabrina shouted and Daphne obliged. The car slid to a stop inches from the monster's scaly leg.

  Red Riding Hood skipped over to the car and tried to open the door, but Sabrina reached over just in time to lock it. The little girl scowled and pointed to the door. Her pet stepped over and tore it off its hinges.

  "I know you are trying to ruin the game," Red Riding Hood said. "But I won't let you."

  Sabrina slammed the car into reverse and out into the street. Then she put it in drive and made a hard right at the next intersection. When she checked her rearview mirror, the Jabberwocky was still behind them, with Red Riding Hood on its shoulders.

  Sabrina made a hard left and then a quick right. Unfortunately, no matter how fast the cab went or how many turns she made, the monster and its mistress were gaining ground. They raced along the road that lined the Hudson River, and soon Sabrina saw the school. Red, white, and blue banners were everywhere, encouraging people to vote for mayor of Ferryport Landing. A small crowd of people stood outside in the parking lot and a few others shuffled out of the school's wide-open main doors.

  "There it is!" Sabrina said. "Brake!"

  Sabrina made a rough turn, hit a patch of ice, and sailed across the parking lot like a runaway train. "Brake again!" she cried.

  Daphne pumped the brakes over and over but the old cab's bald tires had no traction and the car slid right through the main doors and down the hallway of the school. Voters screamed and leaped out of the way, narrowly escaping as the big car raced past them. The old jalopy crashed through the gymnasium's double doors and skidded to a stop.

  A crowd gathered around the car as the girls climbed out. Many of them were outraged and demanding answers. Sabrina tried to warn them about the monsters chasing them, but no one would listen. Granny and Mr. Canis pushed through the mob and stood between it and the girls. The throngs of people quickly grew quiet. Sabrina wondered why and then noticed Mr. Canis staring everyone down. He sniffed the air wildly and then raised a curious eyebrow.

  "Relda, the monster is coming. We have to get the humans to safety," he growled.

  "A monster?" one woman cried. "Who is this lunatic?"

  "He's right," Sabrina said. "We don't have time to explain to you, but he's not kidding. A real live monster is headed this way."

  "Girls, what's going on?" Granny said.

  "We know who the Blue Fairy is," Daphne said. She reached into the car and snatched the bag that contained the broken sword and handed it to her grandmother. "She's a waitress at the Blue Plate Special. Her name is Farrah."

  "Relda, what is going on here?" Charming demanded.

  "Later, Billy," Sabrina snapped. "We need to get these people out of here. There's a Jabberwocky coming."

  "Mr. Seven, pull that fire alarm," the mayor commanded the little man. Mr. Seven rushed to the alarm and yanked it down hard. A siren wailed, drawing everyone's attention.

  "There is a fire in the boiler room, people," Charming shouted. "Please evacuate to the parking lot."

  "Thanks, Mayor," Granny Relda said. "Now we have to find Farrah."

  "Who in the blazes is Farrah?" the mayor cried.

  From the evacuating crowd stepped the waitress. She still had on her work uniform with its little nametag. She looked bewildered and vulnerable. "I am."

  "I'm sorry to do this to you," Granny said, handing her the sack. "I know how important your privacy is, but we are in the middle of a dire emergency."

  Farrah looked into the sack. "Of course," she said, removing the bubble gum from her mouth. Granny quickly tore a sheet of paper out of the notebook she kept in her purse and handed it to the woman, who used it to wrap up the sticky substance.

  Suddenly, a sky-blue light began to seep out of Farrah's clothing. It engulfed her body and grew so bright it made her impossible to look at. When the light dimmed, Farrah the waitress was gone. In her place was a tall, beautiful woman with light blue hair and skin like milk. Her eyes were twinkling stars and she had two pink-streaked wings on her back that fluttered softly.

  "It's the Blue Fairy," someone said from the crowd. Many of the Everafters who had exited the gymnasium rushed back in to get a good look at the mysterious figure.

  The Blue Fairy held out her hand and a little ball of blue light appeared. It crackled with electricity and Sabrina could hear a soft humming sound coming from it. The ball zipped out of her hand and flew into the sack that held the sword pieces. The bag immediately filled with blue light. After a moment, the light faded and the Blue Fairy reached inside. When she removed her hand, she was holding the Vorpal blade, perfect and whole.

  Granny took it eagerly from the woman and thanked her.

  "Relda, give me the sword," Mr. Canis said. "You can't handle the monster and the child."

  "You are in no condition, old friend. Don't worry; I've had to fight a lot of monsters in my day. I suspect there will be plenty more," she said and then turned to the crowd. "Folks, I recommend that you find somewhere safe to hide. Something wicked this way comes."

  As if on cue, the Jabberwocky, with Red Riding Hood on its shoulders, stepped into the room. The monster set the little girl on the ground and sized up the crowd as if deciding whom to eat and in what order.

  "Grandma! Doggy!" Red Riding Hood cried as she rushed

  toward Granny Relda and Mr. Canis. "I have my family back. Now we can play house." Granny lifted the sword threateningly.

  "My, what a big sword you have
, Grandma," Red Riding Hood continued.

  "Child, I am not your grandmother," Granny said. "The two people you have kidnapped are not your mother and father. Your family is dead. They died hundreds of years ago and nothing you can do will bring them back. Pretending to have a family is not the same as having one."

  "But we can play house," the little girl said.

  "Playtime is over, little one. Where are Henry and Veronica Grimm?"

  Sabrina thought she saw a glimmer of understanding in the little girl's face. As she stared up at Granny Relda, Red Riding Hood seemed to have a million terrible questions to ask. Maybe it was all too overwhelming for her, because she shook her head violently and her contorted, insane expression returned.

  "Kitty! Let's take Grandmother and Doggy home with us," she shouted.

  Granny raised the Vorpal blade to defend herself, but the monster was on top of her in a flash. It grabbed her around the waist and lifted her off the ground. The old woman dropped the sword and it clanged loudly on the gymnasium floor. "Granny!" the girls shouted.

  Mr. Canis leaped at the beast but a flick of its tail sent the old man sailing across the room and into the crowd.

  "I'll go for the sword," Sabrina said. She dashed across the floor, but before she could reach it, the monster slammed its foot down on top of it. Sabrina tried to pull it out from under the beast but it was too heavy.

  Just then, Sheriff Hamstead rushed through the crowd. He had his billy club held high. "Put her down!" he shouted. The monster turned toward the pudgy policeman and swatted the cop across the gym with one of its awesome paws. Hamstead sailed through the crowd and landed painfully at the foot of the podium. Snow White tried to rush to his side but Charming grabbed her arm and held her back.

  "I have to help them," Snow White cried.

  "You'll get yourself killed," he said. "There's nothing anyone in this room can do to stop that thing."

  "Billy, what happened to you?" Snow White said. "Where's my white knight?"

  Sabrina tugged at the sword once more, but still couldn't free it. When the monster turned all of his attention on her,

  Daphne took advantage of its distraction. Sabrina watched helplessly as her sister rushed to the monster's side.

  "First you bow to your opponent," Daphne said and then bowed to the monster who was now hovering over her.

  "Daphne, no!" Sabrina cried.

  "Don't worry," Daphne cried. "Ms. White taught us that these moves will stop an attacker much bigger than yourself.

  "Move into offensive stance," Daphne continued, shifting her body into her attack stance with fists clenched. "Present your warrior face! Argggghhhh!"

  The beast looked down at her and roared so loudly that Daphne's hair flew back.

  Unfazed by the monster's scream, Daphne rushed forward. "Deliver attack!" She kicked the Jabberwocky in the leg, but her assault was like a mosquito biting an elephant. The beast reached down and picked the little girl off the floor with its free hand. Now it had both Sabrina's grandmother and her sister in its deadly grasp.

  Sabrina looked to the crowd of Everafters for help. Ms. White looked as if she wanted to but was held fast by Charming. Mr. Canis and Sheriff Hamstead were still recovering from the Jabberwocky's attack. Most everyone else was cowering in fear. There were no heroes to save them. Sabrina caught a glimpse of the Queen of Hearts. She stood off to the side with a wicked smile.

  Suddenly, there was a pop!

  Uncle Jake appeared out of thin air high above the Jabberwocky. He landed on top of the monster's back and wrapped his arms around its neck. Moments later, unable to hold the beast, he was flung to the floor. But the man's sudden appearance had surprised the beast, and it dropped Granny Relda and Daphne.

  "Sorry to keep you waiting, ladies," Uncle Jake said, helping his mother and the little girl to their feet. He tapped the Nome King's belt wrapped around his waist and shrugged. "Do you know how hard it is to find thirty size-D batteries?"

  The monster roared in frustration and took a step toward the family. It was all Sabrina needed. She snatched the blade off the ground and held it over her head. One swift slice would bring her family home. It would save Puck and get him to safety. Suddenly, there was a hand on her shoulder. She turned and found Uncle Jake.

  " 'Brina, this belongs to me," he said as he took the sword away from her. Sabrina looked into his face and saw a broken heart finally getting its revenge. This monster had killed Uncle Jake's father. It had decimated his family, forcing his mother to erase his existence. It had helped kidnap his brother and sister-in-law. It had brought misery on the girls. Sabrina stepped aside. Uncle Jake walked calmly over to the Jabberwocky as if he had been preparing for this moment all his life. He glanced over at Red Riding Hood as if to say, "It's over," and then plunged the sword deep into the beast's belly.

  The Jabberwocky's death cry was oddly faint and pathetic. Uncle Jake pulled the sword out again, aimed it where the monster's heart might have been, and sank it deep into its flesh. There was a moment of calmness on the beast's face and then it fell over as if it had been pushed. When it tumbled to the ground it caused the gymnasium's shiny hardwood floor to buckle. The monster's little leathery wings flapped for a few moments and then grew still.

  "You killed the kitty!" Red Riding Hood raged. "You ruined the game!"

  Daphne stepped over to the girl, bowed, presented her warrior face, and then punched Red Riding Hood in the face. She fell over unconscious.

  "Crazy talk," Daphne said to the crumpled girl.

  Uncle Jake yanked the blade from the monster and held it in his hands. He looked as if he wanted to kill the monster all over again.

  "It's over, Jake," Granny said.

  "Is it?" he said, as several Everafters approached: Snow White, Sheriff Hamstead, the Queen of Hearts, Sheriff Nottingham, as well as a collection of talking animals, Munchkinlanders, and trolls. The Blue Fairy was at their center.

  "This is an outrage!" the Queen of Hearts screamed. "This was a deliberate action by Mayor Charming and his cronies, the family Grimm, to disrupt this election. I wouldn't be surprised if this was an attempt to sway voters into believing this family has value in this community. Well, it won't work!"

  "If you don't shut your mouth right now, I'm going to shut it for you," Snow White said.

  "You insolent cow," Nottingham said. "You may be the mayor's trollop, but your demands mean little to me." He pulled his sword from his waist and stalked toward the Grimms. "Even if we don't win this election, things are going to change right now."

  Suddenly, an arrow zipped through the air and impaled Nottingham's hand. His sword fell to the ground and he cried out in agony.

  "You won't lay a hand on the Grimms as long as I live," a voice bellowed. Sabrina turned and nearly fell over in shock. Mayor Charming stood on the stage, bow in hand and with another arrow set to fly. A man in a green suit stood next to him. He had bright red hair and a bushy goatee.

  "I told you he was in league with them," the queen cried.

  "Think what you want," Charming said. "But they're going home today, safe and sound. Right after they vote for me, of course. And Nottingham, the next time you call the woman I love a trollop, you'll find an arrow in your throat."

  Nottingham scowled and stormed out of the room. Charming handed the bow and arrow to the man in the green suit. "Thank you, Robin," he said.

  "He saved us," Sabrina said.

  "Ending his career in the process, I fear," Granny Relda replied. "Look at the crowd. He just lost this election."

  "Why would he do that?"

  Granny pointed at the mayor. He and Snow White were kissing passionately as if they were the only two people on the planet.

  "Love can make a hero out of anyone," Granny replied.

  "I knew he was one of the good guys," Daphne said.

  "Well, people, don't let this obvious attempt to disrupt the election stop you from casting your ballots," the queen said. "This is exactly the kind of nons
ense that needs to change in Ferryport Landing."

  "You want a change?" Uncle Jake shouted. "I'll give you a change!" He spun around, grabbed the Blue Fairy around the neck, and held the Vorpal blade to her throat.

  "Jake, what are you doing?" Granny cried. "There's more to fix!" Uncle Jake shouted. "And the Blue Fairy is going to help me."

  "What do you want?" the Blue Fairy asked softly. "Is it true that if I wish for something you have to fulfill it?" The radiant fairy nodded. "Then I want a wish," Uncle Jake said.

  "Uncle Jake!" Sabrina cried. "What are you thinking? She helped us."

  "She's going to help us a lot more! What's it going to be, Blue?" Jake demanded.

  The Blue Fairy looked Jake in the eye. "I hope your wish gives you what you need. You have your wish."

  "I wish I had all of your power!" Uncle Jake said.

  The Blue Fairy smiled and nodded as if what he was asking for was simple. A swirl of light and mist encircled her, then turned into a pulsating orb as big as a baseball. It flew at Uncle Jake, hitting him hard in the chest, and then there was a tremendous explosion that knocked everyone off their feet. When Sabrina stood up again, she saw the Blue Fairy lying on the floor nearby. Her magic was gone and she had changed back into Farrah the waitress.

  "Hey, 'Brina," Uncle Jake said behind her. She spun around to face him. Two pink-streaked wings suddenly popped out of his back. He turned his head to look at them. They flapped and lifted him off the ground, allowing him to hover above the crowd. He laughed like a child on Christmas morning.

  "Can you believe this?" he said overjoyed.

  Sabrina looked to her grandmother. Granny Relda was full of despair. "Jake, what have you done?"