"Call off your goon!" the little man cried.
"Let him go, Tony Fats," Oberon said. The fairy frowned but released the squirming man.
"Fine! But don't expect a miracle," the Wizard grumbled.
"That's what I like to hear," the king said. He turned to his men and gestured at Sabrina and her family. "Keep them somewhere safe. We don't want the community's Christmas present damaged before they get it."
"Will do, boss," Bobby Screwball said as Oberon marched out of the room.
"I will need a little privacy with Puck," Cobweb said as he opened his case. He removed several vials containing powders, a few empty glass jars, a mortar and pestle. Then he began mixing things in the mortar.
"Everyone out," Titania said as she exited the room. Moth and Mustardseed followed close behind, leaving the Grimms and their friends to trail reluctantly after the odd, fidgety Wizard and Oberon's henchmen.
The Wizard took out a silver box that looked like a remote control. He pushed some of the buttons quickly, and when an odd wheeze came out of it he shook it angrily. Then, he pushed some more and shoved it into his pocket. When he looked up he acted as if he was noticing the group for the first time. "Who are you people?"
Bobby and Tony Fats led the family out into the hallway. Sabrina felt Daphne slip her hand into her own and squeeze tight.
"Don't worry," Sabrina whispered to the little girl, wishing she could take her own advice. She had no idea what Oberon's henchmen were capable of. Both Tony Fats and Bobby Screwball had hands as big as pumpkins. They also looked and talked as if they had seen too many mobster movies.
"The boss wants you to wait in here," Bobby Screwball said when he stopped at one of the many doors in the hallway. He opened it and shoved everyone roughly inside. The room was full of boxes and extra tables and chairs that matched the furnishings in the main room. The two men were preparing to leave when Sabrina spun around on them.
"Wait a minute!" she cried. "You can't lock us up."
"We can't?" Tony Fats said to his friend. "I thought we just did." They both laughed.
"No, you can't," Mr. Canis growled as he stalked toward them.
Tony and Bobby opened their violin cases and took out their magic wands. They waved them threateningly and Mr. Canis took a step back.
"You're not very nice," Daphne said. "What kind of Everafters are you?"
"We're fairy godfathers"
Tony Fats said. "I've never heard of fairy godfathers."
"And that's just how we like it," Bobby Screwball replied. "Now, you sit in here and keep your mouths shut and no one will get hurt."
Bobby slammed the door. Sabrina rushed over and pressed her ear against it. She heard the lock turn and the men's muffled conversation. Daphne joined her and together the two girls strained to listen.
"Veronica was a real looker," Bobby said.
"She had great gams, too," Tony added. "What does gams mean?" Daphne asked. "They liked her legs," Sabrina replied. The men's voices faded away.
"This can't be good," Hamstead said.
"Relda, I could easily overpower them," Mr. Canis said.
"And we may need you to do just that, old friend," Granny said. "But they do have Puck and he is not well. I believe it would be wise to just wait and see what happens. I don't believe we are in any danger."
"Not in any danger?" Sabrina cried. "Oberon says he's giving us away to the Everafters. I think we should find Puck and break out of here now."
"I think we should stay. They seem to know Mom," Daphne said. "Wouldn't it be cool if she was a fairy-tale detective, too?"
"Don't be so gullible," Sabrina said.
"I'm not being gullible!" the little girl cried. "What does gullible mean?"
"It means you believe what anyone tells you. They couldn't have known Mom. Remember, this is Puck's family! The Trickster King! This is all some big joke of theirs."
"I'm not so sure," Granny said. "Your mother was a Grimm, after all."
"By marriage," Sabrina said a little louder than she meant to. "My mom was the only normal person in this family. She would never have gotten involved with Everafters!"
"Your mother knew about Everafters. She lived in Ferryport Landing with your dad when you were just born," Granny said.
"She's right, Sabrina," Hamstead said. "Your mother and Henry got into a number of adventures in the short time she lived with us."
"Adventures?" Mr. Canis grumbled. "More like near-death experiences."
"I think that's why she fit into the family so nicely," Granny Relda said with a smile. "Veronica seemed to have a healthy dose of the Grimm women's spunk."
"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" Sabrina cried. She felt she had to defend her mother. Nobody knew Veronica better than she did! The thought that she would have chosen to get involved in the family business when she didn't have to was ridiculous. Her mother was a normal, everyday, predictable person who enjoyed reading, museums, and her children. She was exactly what Sabrina wanted to be when she grew up.
"Well, you don't have to be a jerkazoid about it," Daphne snapped.
"Jerkazoid?" Mr. Hamstead asked. Sabrina's little sister was always coming up with unusual words that made sense only to her.
"It's my new word. It means her jerkiness isn't normal-it's superpowered."
Sabrina ignored the little girl's insult and turned to her grandmother. "We should leave now," she pleaded.
Granny shook her head.
Sabrina wanted to argue but she could see it was pointless. When the old woman made up her mind there was no use trying to change it.
The family waited for over an hour in near silence. After some time, Bobby Screwball and Tony Fats brought them a supper of antipasti, salad, stuffed shells, and lemon chicken. It looked and smelled delicious, and Sabrina was starving, but she refused to take a bite, warning that it was probably poisoned. Mr. Canis sniffed it and assured her that there was nothing unusual about the food, but she still wouldn't eat.
Some time later, the door opened and the Wizard entered. He stepped into the room, wearing the same outfit as earlier, but he was quite a bit more frazzled. He looked as if he had spent the past hour pulling out what little hair he had left on his head.
"I'm very sorry about this, folks," the Wizard said.
Mr. Canis sprang on the little man, knocking him to the ground. Fangs dipped out of his mouth and hovered dangerously close to the Wizard's neck.
"We have questions," Canis growled. "And we're tired of waiting for answers."
"I don't know anything!" the Wizard cried. "I swear. Oberon sent me to retrieve you. The party is about to start."
Mr. Canis turned to Granny Relda who nodded. "Let him up."
Canis allowed the man to get to his feet. The Wizard brushed himself off, checked his neck for puncture wounds, then said, "Listen, I'm sorry this is happening but I'm just the messenger."
"And who exactly are you?" Hamstead asked.
"My name is Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs." He reached into his pocket, took out his silver remote, pushed a button, and waited as a business card spit out from a slot in the front. He handed it to Granny Relda.
" The
Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs?" she said. "The one and only," the man said. "Are you an Everafter?" Daphne asked. "Yes, ma'am. My friends have been known to call me Oz."