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Snow punched him in the face and he fell backward, but he sprang back to his feet almost immediately. He wrapped his arm around her neck and pulled a dagger from his pocket. He ran the tip along Snow’s throat.
“Stand back, folks. Let’s not get excited. I’d hate for someone to lose their head,” Bluebeard said. “Snow and I need to come to an understanding. I am a patient man but my patience has worn thin. I asked you out for a date and you rejected me. Do you know how that hurts?”
“You disgust me!” Snow cried.
“See what I mean? That’s just rude. I’m a very nice man, a pure gentleman, who wanted to take you out for di
Sabrina heard someone ru
“Billy!” Snow cried.
“Charming,” Bluebeard said. “Have they captured the Wolf yet?”
“No, not yet,” Charming said.
“I was just having a conversation with Snow about how to respect other people,” Bluebeard said.
“I see. How is it going?”
“Not well. I wanted to give your ex a chance to redeem herself. She’s no friend of the Hand, what with her relationship with these lousy Grimms. I had hoped that if she were to get involved with me, it might save her life when the Master rises.”
“It’s hopeless,” Charming said. “I’ve tried.”
“Billy, what are you saying?” Snow cried.
Charming approached them and stared Snow hard in the face. “You’ve got yourself into another situation, Snow.”
“William, you don’t mind if I have a little fun with her?” Bluebeard asked. “If you’re done with her like you say you are, then you won’t mind.”
Charming was still, then he nodded.
He turned to walk back to the riot, but in a flash there was a sword in his hand. He whipped around and plunged it into Bluebeard’s side. The villain collapsed with the blade still in him. Snow broke free of his grasp and stumbled away. Bluebeard reached out for her, but then his eyes closed and he was still.
“I didn’t see that one coming,” Puck whispered to Sabrina.
Snow was trembling when Charming pulled her to his side. “You hate me,” he said. “I get that. And I would apologize, but I can’t. I did all of this—the betrayal, the cruelty, joining this wretched Hand—I did it all to save your life.”
Charming released her and turned to Gra
“What? Where did he go?”
“Robin told him about Hatchett. Canis was furious and he ran off,” he said. “Relda, he was injured and something inside snapped. I think the Wolf is finally in charge.”
“Mom, if the Wolf gets to Hatchett before we do, he’ll kill him,” Uncle Jake said.
Gra
The little girl nodded.
“It might be our only chance.”
A caravan of cars raced through the twisting country roads of Ferryport Landing. In the first, there was Sabrina, Puck, and Daphne in the back, with Gra
Uncle Jake pushed the family car to the limit. Driving around the block was more than the old car should have been able to take, but Jake managed to get the vehicle over the speed limit. Small flickers of flame flashed from under the hood. Sabrina tried not to notice. She suspected her uncle and grandmother were doing the same.
Next to her Daphne held the kazoo. She turned it over and over, studying every part of it. Daphne caught her staring and mouthed that she was preparing herself. No one could have a conversation in the noisy car.
Soon they found the entrance to Hatchettland. Uncle Jake slid into an empty parking spot and turned off the ignition. Everyone leaped out and gathered together.
“Do you think we beat him here?” Robin asked.
Somewhere down the path, Hatchett screamed and there was a terrible roar.
“I wouldn’t bet money on it,” Puck said as he freed his sword. Then he turned and raced down the path. Everyone followed until they came to the ancient house. Once there, Sabrina could see the door had been ripped off its hinges and tossed aside.
“Children, you are to keep your distance from Mr. Canis,” Gra
“I came here to fight,” Puck complained.
Gra
“Are you ready?”
Daphne held up the kazoo and nodded.
Gra
“Well, well, well,” the Wolf said. “If it isn’t everyone’s favorite family, the Grimms. And look, you’ve brought friends. Good, I’m famished.”
“Let Hatchett go,” Gra
The Wolf laughed. “Relda, you really do make me laugh. You truly don’t understand me. I am a beast and I must do beastly things. You tried to help Canis keep me locked up. But I’m free now, no longer bound by the old man’s chains. I’m back in action and I’m eager to spill some blood.”
“I know that Mr. Canis is still in there,” Gra
The Wolf chuckled. “You’re right, Relda. If only you’d come closer, reach out to me, take my hand, maybe you could coax him out. Come on, give it a try. See what happens.”
“Let the man go!” Robin Hood shouted. He had an arrow trained on the Wolf.
Hatchett squealed and begged for someone to save him.
“Can you believe this guy? He built this place to honor his bravery,” the Wolf said. “The brave hero who destroyed me is sobbing like a baby.”
“Wolf, I’m going to give you one last chance to stop this now,” Gra
The Wolf raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Relda, you’re threatening me!”
“I’m serious.”
“We should talk about this,” the Wolf said, looking at Howard Hatchett. “Just let me finish my lunch.” He opened his jaws wide and bit down hard on Hatchett’s arm. The man cried out in agony.
“Daphne, do it,” Gra
“That belongs to me!” he growled and leaped forward. He was nearly on top of Daphne when Robin’s arrow sank into the Wolf’s arm. He howled in pain and pulled it out. He continued toward the little girl but was knocked to his knees when Little John pounded him on the back with his staff. Puck leaped into the air and landed on the Wolf’s shoulders, standing. With his sword he smacked the beast on the top of its head, and then he backflipped out of the way. None of this had much effect on the monster, and the beast lunged forward once again.
This time the Wolf pi
The Wolf snarled and struggled as if he had gotten caught in a hunter’s trap. He cursed Daphne, bellowed threats, swore he’d tear her limb from limb, but the wind prevented him from harming her. Sabrina, too, was helpless in the blustery cage. She did her best to let go of the Wolf but she was firmly locked in the wind’s grip. And then the writhing shadow creature was pulled out of Canis. Like Red Riding Hood’s, it was horrible, but this one was more the shape of a wolf, snapping and spitting, with foam dripping from its jaws. It hovered above them, howling and screaming, helpless in the magic of the wind. Sabrina looked down and realized that she was no longer clinging to the Wolf. Lying on the ground beneath her was Mr. Canis. He was unconscious but breathing.