Sisters Grimm 05 Magic and Other Misdemeanors (3 page)

When they were sent to live with their grandmother, Sabrina was sure the old woman was just another whack-a-doodle. After all, Sabrina and Daphne's grandmother was supposed to be dead. Their father had told them this himself. Of course "Granny Relda," as they eventually called her, didn't help her case much. She had a lot of crazy stories, including one in which the girls were the youngest living descendents of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm--also known as the Brothers Grimm. Granny Relda said the brothers' famous book of fairy tales was actually a history of true events. Along with other writing legends like L. Frank Baum, Rudyard Kipling, and Hans Christian Andersen, they had documented what they witnessed in order to warn the world about magical phenomena. In fact, she claimed, most of these storybook characters, who now preferred to be called Everafters, still lived in their new hometown, Ferryport Landing.

That was the good news. The bad news was every Everafter in town was stuck there--trapped inside a magical bubble set up by their great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Wilhelm Grimm to prevent a war between humans and fairy-tale folk. Worse still, a lot of the Everafters deeply resented their imprisonment and many directed their anger toward the Grimm family.

Naturally, Sabrina thought the old woman was off her rocker. Until Granny Relda was kidnapped by a giant.

The girls rescued her and were soon caught up in the fight to stop other deranged Everafters from destroying the town. They discovered that all the bad guys they came across had one thing in common: They were members of a shadowy group known as the Scarlet Hand. No one knew how many Everafters were members or who their mysterious "Master" was, but one thing was for sure--the Scarlet Hand planned on taking over the world.

Sabrina had fought her destiny for a long time. She wasn't interested in becoming a fairy-tale detective like her father, grandmother, and everyone before them, even though her sister embraced the job. For Sabrina, the danger, chaos, and just plain craziness of the family occupation had taken some getting used to. Only recently, after a trip to New York City, had Sabrina realized that there were many ways to be a Grimm. She also realized it was time for her to give the family business a chance.

Unfortunately, avoiding a glop grenade wielded by a mischievous flying boy was part of the package. Sabrina and Daphne's days were packed with training: lessons on clue finding, self-defense, crime-scene investigation, tracking, and the use of magical items. The latter was a class Daphne excelled in, primarily because Sabrina didn't feel right around too much magic. She had learned that she didn't like who she became when she used it--she was addicted, or "touched" as some of the Everafters said. Still, Granny felt it might be useful if Sabrina understood how magic worked and, more important, how she might defend herself and her sister against it. The training never ended and the pace was exhausting. But Sabrina was secretly enjoying herself--especially when it came to things she excelled at, like tracking and self-defense. She was a natural at clue finding, and she enjoyed criminal psychology, taught by former police deputies Boarman and Swineheart. That's where the girls learned that thinking like criminals helped you catch them. All of it was fun... except for the glop grenades, of course.

As Sabrina sat on the bed she spotted a large, bulbous head with thick, muscular features in the ornate mirror she and her family had just stepped through. Mirror's face looked very different when he was peering out at them. He could seem intimidating, almost frightening. Sabrina supposed this face was to protect the secrets that were hidden on the other side of the reflection.

"How are the sleepyheads?" he asked.

"The same," Sabrina said with a sigh.

"Well, that's what the party is for. Maybe someone will have the key to waking them up."

Sabrina nodded hopefully. "Granny asked everyone that's ever been enchanted over tonight. Daphne is nearly jumping out of her pants. She's in a princess phase."

"All little girls have them," Mirror said with a smile.

"Not me," Sabrina said.

Mirror chuckled. "Of course not. You're rough and tough."

"You bet I am," she said, ignoring his teasing. Mirror had become a good friend since she and her sister had moved in with their grandmother. Unlike other enchanted items, the magic mirror was also a person--flesh and blood, though he couldn't leave the confines of the great hall inside his reflection. He had become a confidant to Sabrina, and she turned to him more than anyone else. He always seemed to understand how she felt.

"By the way, you haven't told me what you want for your birthday yet. It's four days away," he said. "It's not easy to shop when you're trapped inside a mirror. My computer is still on dial-up."

"The only thing I want is to find a way to wake them up," Sabrina said, looking at her parents.

Mirror shook his head pityingly. "It'll happen, sugarplum. Now, you better get downstairs. I hear people arriving, and you've got to keep an eye on your uncle. He's also going through a princess phase, from what I'm told."

Sabrina laughed. "That's Uncle Jake. He's girl-crazy."

Mirror's head faded from the reflection. Sabrina leaned over, kissed her mom and dad each on the cheek, and got up from the bed. "We're going to wake you up," she told them. "I promise."

Chapter 2

The house was filled with guests, most of whom were very unusual. Among the crowd were witches, princesses, a dwarf, and a few knights of the round table. Everyone was munching on snacks and drinking punch.

In one corner Sabrina saw a trio of women known as the Three. They were a coven of witches who used to work for the former mayor of Ferryport Landing. They used magic to cover up things the Everafters didn't want the town's human population to see. One of the women was Glinda the Good Witch, whose life was chronicled in L. Frank Baum's

The Wizard of Oz.

She wore an emerald green pantsuit and held a wand with a crystal star on its end. The second woman looked like she was a million years old. Her name was Frau Pfefferkuchenhaus, otherwise known as the witch from the Hansel and Gretel story. Rounding out the group was the exotic and beautiful Morgan le Fay, famous for her part in the story of King Arthur. The Three were enjoying some crackers and soft cheeses while talking about something that had happened on a televised dancing contest.

In another corner was a diminutive man in a black suit whom Sabrina had met on many occasions. Mr. Seven, as he was called, was better known as one of the seven dwarfs. Like the Three, he used to work for the mayor. Mr. Seven ate from a tray of green cookies set out on the dining room table. As Sabrina watched him, she felt something about him was different. It took a minute to realize that he wasn't wearing the dunce hat his former boss had always made him wear.

Sabrina turned her attention to Daphne, who was sitting on the family's sofa wearing a shiny sequined tiara. Elvis, the family's two-hundred-pound Great Dane, lay on the floor, resting his massive head in Daphne's lap. Snow White sat next to them. Looking at the beautiful woman was like looking at the sunrise for too long. Ms. White was tall and lean with skin like porcelain and eyes as blue as the sky. Sabrina wondered how many car accidents Ms. White had inadvertently caused when drivers took their eyes off the road to catch a glimpse of her walking down the street. Besides her incredible looks, Ms. White was a kind and caring person, as well as an expert in judo, karate, kickboxing, and bow-staff fighting. She came to the Grimm house three times a week to train the girls in self-defense. Like Mr. Seven and the Three, Ms. White was out of work, so she had plenty of free time. Ever since the new mayor took office, the school where she used to teach had been closed, and there was no news of when it would reopen.

Unfortunately, the last three months had not been easy for Snow White. In addition to being unemployed, she was also suffering from a broken heart. After she reconciled with her former fiance, Prince Charming, the couple looked as if they were headed down the aisle at last. But Charming had disappeared after he lost his re-election bid for mayor. Granny and the girls had searched high and low for him, but it was as if William "Billy" Charming had ceased to exist. Ms. White was upset, but now she seemed particularly distraught.

"Hello, Ms. White," Sabrina said.

"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry, Sabrina. Did you say something?" Ms. White asked.

"She's a little freaked out," Daphne said, pointing across the room.

Sabrina turned and spotted another breathtaking woman standing with two plump fairy godmothers. Her name was Briar Rose, though most knew her as Sleeping Beauty. She had a dark honey complexion and eyes like hot chocolate. Her ever-present smile was soft and she was a bit shy. She had been visiting the family a lot lately. Uncle Jake had asked her for help finding a cure for Henry and Veronica, and Ms. Rose said she was happy to try. Sabrina knew her uncle had a crazy crush on the princess, but unfortunately, Ms. Rose never went anywhere without her overprotective fairy godmothers, Buzzflower and Mallobarb. The fairy duo had made it clear to Uncle Jake that they would not allow Briar to date him until he cut his hair and became royalty. Sabrina knew there was little chance of either happening.

"Why? What's wrong with Ms. Rose?" Sabrina asked her sister.

"Charming used to be married to her," Daphne whispered. "Awkward," Sabrina whispered back.

"I think I need some wine. Who wants some wine?" Snow White offered as she got to her feet. "Um, I'm seven," Daphne said.

"Of course you are," Snow White said, walking toward the kitchen.

Uncle Jake strutted into the room and over to Ms. Rose. At once Buzzflower and Mallobarb stepped between them, blocking Jake as if they were linebackers protecting a star quarterback.

"Poor Uncle Jake," Sabrina said.

"He's got the googly eyes for Briar," Daphne replied as she gave Elvis's ears a good scratching. The big dog's back leg tapped the floor happily. "You know what? I think we need to find Elvis a girlfriend."

Elvis snorted, got up with a grunt, and skulked out of the room.

"What did I say?" Daphne cried.

"I guess he's a bachelor," Sabrina said.

Someone knocked on the door, and Granny rushed through the room to answer it. Sabrina and Daphne watched as a sun-soaked blond woman and an elderly man with a cane entered the house. Sabrina didn't recognize either of them.

"Cindy! Tom! What a pleasant surprise. Please come in," Granny said. "Let me take your jackets."

Cindy was another rare beauty. She had a button nose and high, freckled cheekbones and a smile so bright it seemed to block out the rest of her face. Tom, on the other hand, was well into his eighties, with a gaunt face and shaking hands. He leaned on his long brown cane and held a leather satchel close to his body. He wore a tweed jacket and an old-fashioned felt hat.

"I hope we're not intruding," Cindy said.

"I heard about the get-together and I insisted we come over. I thought we might be able to help," Tom offered.

"The more the merrier," Granny said cheerfully.

"And if we can't help, at least we can do the dishes at the end of the night," Tom said as he set his bag on the floor near the couch.

"Cindy, Tom, I think you know everyone here but my granddaughters," Granny Relda said, gesturing at the girls. "Sabrina, Daphne, this is Mr. Baxter and his wife, Dr. Baxter."

"Are you Everafters?" Daphne said, shaking the old man's hand.

Tom laughed. "Alas no, but my wife falls into that category."

Daphne cocked her eyebrow and gazed at the woman.

"I'm Cinderella," Cindy said as if slightly embarrassed.

Daphne let out a squeal so loud that everyone in the house fell silent. Even Elvis rushed back into the room and looked around wildly.

"Sorry," Sabrina said to the crowd. "She was dropped on her head when she was little."

Daphne inserted the palm of her hand into her mouth and bit down on it. It was one of the odd quirks she displayed when she was excited or happy or both.

"Yobubbaingalllah," Daphne said.

"Pardon?" Cindy said.

Daphne removed her palm. "I'm so excited I might barf!"

Cindy smiled. "It's very nice to meet you girls. Your father was--I mean, is--one of my favorite people."

"He has such a kind spirit," Tom added.

"We're big fans too," Sabrina said, shaking the man's hand.

"Cindy hosts a radio show here in town," Granny explained. "Or should I be calling you Dr. Cindy?"

"Cindy's fine," the woman said with a laugh.

"We've got good news. We're about to go national," Tom said proudly. "Soon

The Dr. Cindy Show will be giving advice to people all over the country."

"What kind of advice?" Sabrina asked.

"My specialty is family issues," Cindy replied. "I had a bit of a rough childhood, and I use my experiences to help families get along."

Elvis trotted over to the old man's bag, sniffed it, and let out a whine. Granny grabbed him by the collar and pulled him away. "Elvis, behave," she said. The dog let out a little grunt but did as he was told.

While Granny put Elvis in the kitchen, Sabrina watched the old man slip his hand into his wife's. He looked at her the way someone looks at a beautiful waterfall. Sabrina had seen that look on her parents' faces and in the photographs of her grandmother and grandfather. Cindy looked back at her husband with the same expression.

They've got the googly eyes,

Sabrina thought.

Puck made his entrance in typical fashion. He stepped into the middle of the room and let out a tremendous belch. "I'm here!" he shouted, as if the crowd had been waiting for his arrival. When no one responded, he turned to Sabrina.

"I'm not a happy camper. I look like a fool," he said. He was wearing the shirt Granny Relda had asked him to wear. It had a little happy alligator on it, but Puck had taken a magic marker and written i eat people in a talk balloon above its head.

"It's a nice shirt," Sabrina said, trying to cheer the boy up.