Robin Hood and his burly companions led the family to an office lined with floor-to-ceiling windows with an amazing view of the Hudson River. The sun was creeping over the mountains, and its rays painted the waves a glittery gold. A tiny sailboat floated by, and a few hungry seagulls drifted over the water in search of breakfast. The Sherwood Group offices were tastefully decorated. Bookshelves filled with thick legal books lined the walls. A large mahogany desk sat in the center of the room. The only things that seemed out of place were a bow and a quiver of arrows mounted above the doorway.
The pig-snouted creature was not impressed. He scouted the room, peeking into a potted plant and beneath a leather sofa before crossing his arms and stationing himself near the exit.
"I apologize for the commotion when you arrived," Robin said. "You can take the men out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the men. May I introduce my associate, Little John?"
"Happy to meet you," the huge man roared. Sabrina reached out to shake his hand, but he swatted her on the back in what he must have thought was a friendly pat. It nearly knocked her to the floor.
"Mr. Hood, these are my granddaughters, Sabrina and Daphne, and our security guard."
"Security guard?" Little John said, eyeing the piglike pint-size creature.
"It's a dangerous town," the beast snarled.
"Indeed it is. Mrs. Grimm, I hope you'll call me Robin," he said as he bent to kiss her hand once more. "And I've heard quite a bit about the famous sisters Grimm." He patted Sabrina on the head like she was a beagle, then invited the family to have a seat.
"How can we be of service?" he continued.
"I need a lawyer," Granny Relda said.
"Then you've come to the right place," Robin said as he took a seat and put his feet up on his huge mahogany desk. "Were you injured on the job? A victim of malpractice? Bought some toys with too much lead paint?"
"No, nothing like that. Sheriff Nottingham arrested a friend of mine a month ago, and he has refused to let us visit him."
Robin and Little John shared a worried look.
"The Wolf," Little John said. The man's voice was filled with dread.
"We prefer to call him Mr. Canis," the old woman replied. "Nottingham has not filed any charges against him. I can't imagine it's legal to hold someone this long without evidence of a crime."
Little John shook his head. "It's not, Mrs. Grimm, but I'm not sure we can help. First of all, the town has slipped into lawlessness since our new mayor was elected. Second, we're not criminal defense lawyers."
"He's right. We're litigators," Robin said. "We sue corporations that spill chemicals into rivers or make dangerous products. We help people win settlements when they slip on the sidewalk. We've never argued a criminal case."
"You must have some training," Granny said. "The only two criminal defense lawyers who lived in Ferryport Landing were human, and the mayor has run them out of town."
"Hiring me will only make your problems a million times worse," Robin said. "The Sheriff hates me even more than he hates you and your family."
"We're desperate."
Robin Hood got up from his desk and gazed at the river. Little John joined him, and the two men talked in low voices for several moments. They seemed to be having an argument, but eventually the men nodded and shook hands. Robin and Little John turned back to the family.
"Mayor Heart will shut this office down by sunset," Robin declared.
Granny sighed with defeat and stood up. Sabrina and Daphne did the same. "I understand. We won't waste any more of your time."
Suddenly, Robin Hood leaped forward to block the door. "I didn't say we wouldn't do it!"
"You'll take the case?"
"It's been a long time since I've been a thorn in Nottingham's side," Robin said with relish.
"We wouldn't pass this up for the world," Little John bellowed. "I'll get Friar Tuck started on the paperwork."
"Good thinking, my large friend," Robin said, then gave the family a wink. "As for us, we have an appointment with my favorite sheriff!"
Fifteen minutes later, Robin Hood pushed open the doors of the police station, followed by Sabrina, Daphne, Granny Relda, and Little John. The ugly little bodyguard, who Sabrina had learned was a miniature orc named Barto, was close behind. Sabrina found him painfully annoying, but Granny refused to send him home.
The police station was a mess. Boxes of files were scattered everywhere, many tipped over and rummaged through, then abandoned. There were huge maps of the town taped to the walls, all covered in scribbled writing. The front desk was stained with coffee-cup rings.
Robin rang the tarnished brass bell on the front counter. The chime was answered by an enraged growl from a back room.
"WHAT NOW?" a voice shouted.
"There he is," Robin said as his face broke into a mischievous smile.
"As pleasant as ever," Little John added.
A door flew open, rattling the full-length mirror that leaned nearby. Nottingham barreled into the room like an angry bull, his black cape flapping behind him. When he spotted the Grimms, he snarled-but when he saw Robin and Little John, he looked like his head might explode.
"You!" Nottingham roared as he pointed an angry finger at the lawyers.
"Us," Robin replied. It was obvious to Sabrina that these three men shared a long, bumpy history. She made a mental note to read up on Robin Hood's adventures when she got a chance.
Nottingham stood silently, studying the group the way a hyena watches its prey. The scar that started at the tip of one eye and ended at the corner of his mouth seemed to pulsate with every angry breath. Sabrina had seen the same expression on his face the night he tried to kill Daphne.
"Interesting outfit you've got there, Nottingham," Robin commented.
Aside from the cape, the sheriff was wearing leather pants and knee-high boots. His shirt was black and billowy, with silver buttons carved in the shape of human skulls. He had a sheathed dagger strapped to his waist.
"Is this what they mean when they say something's old-school?" Little John added. "You do realize this isn't the fifteenth century, right?"
"There's nothing old-fashioned about this," Nottingham said, brandishing his dagger.
"Oh, Nottingham, you've always enjoyed your dramatics," Robin said. "We didn't come here to fight you. We came to see our client."
"Client? What client?"
"Mr. Canis."
Suddenly, Sheriff Nottingham's rage was replaced by roars of laughter.
"I'm glad you're amused," Robin said. "I find what is passing as the rule of law in this town just as funny. You arrested Canis four weeks ago and have yet to charge him with a crime. If you aren't going to charge him, you must set him free-that's the law in Ferryport Landing."
"I AM THE LAW!" Nottingham shouted. "I'll do what I want with that monster. He's a murderer, and he'll hang for his crime, if I have anything to say about it."
"I remember a time when you used to say the same thing about me," Robin replied. "As for Canis-a murderer? Who was the victim?"
Nottingham chuckled. "Don't tell me you haven't heard the story? It goes a little something like this: A child wearing a red cloak journeyed to visit her poor, sick grandmother. A monster came along and ate the grandmother. No one lived happily ever after."
"That happened six hundred years ago!" Granny exclaimed.
"Justice has no time limit," the sheriff replied.
"Well, if justice is what you're after, then there must be a trial. I need to meet with Canis to prepare his defense," Robin said.
"Trial?" Nottingham scoffed. "You don't give a rabid dog a trial-you put him to sleep before he can hurt anyone else."
"You're going to kill him?" Sabrina asked, horrified.
Daphne burst into tears.
"Oh, here come the waterworks," the sheriff said, his face full of mocking concern. He bent over and took Daphne's chin in his gloved hand. "Save your tears, little one. You're going to need them."
Little John grabbed Nottingham by the arm, jerking him away from the girl. The sheriff wrenched himself free, and he and Little John glowered at each other.
"Let us see the old man before my friend here loses his temper," Robin warned.
"Never let it be said that I don't have a kind heart," Nottingham growled. "I'll let you all see your precious pet one last time before he goes off to doggy heaven."
The sheriff led the group down a long, filthy hallway to an iron door. He pushed it open with a creak. Inside was a large room split into four separate jail cells, two on either side with a walkway down the center. A lone fluorescent light dangled from the ceiling, blinking on and off.
"You've got visitors, mutt," Nottingham said, running his dagger along the bars of one of the cells. The high-pitched screech it made was deafening. "Have your chat and make it quick."
In the farthest corner a hulking figure was huddled against the wall. His limbs were bound by enormous chains. Sabrina felt a tingle in her belly that grew stronger and stronger as the family approached: It was clear the chains, the cell, and maybe even the entire jail were enchanted. Magic was the only way to keep the old man imprisoned. Normal chains could never hold a creature as strong as the Big Bad Wolf.
Sabrina smelled something rank: a combination of filth, sweat, and something less identifiable, something wild. It reminded her of a visit to the Bronx Zoo. While she'd watched the lions in their pit, a zookeeper tossed in slabs of raw meat for the animals. The lions fought over the scraps, roaring and snapping their jaws.
Granny approached the cell, unfazed. "Old friend," she said softly.
There was a rustling in the dark, and a deep voice broke the silence. "Go away, Relda."
"We've come to help you," Daphne said, joining her grandmother at the bars. "We hired lawyers. We're going to get you out of here."
Nottingham laughed again.
Robin took a small recording device out of his suit pocket and turned it on. "Mr. Canis, we're working to release you. I'm sure we can clear this up soon. In the meantime, you've been arrested for murder, and it would be in your best interest to tell me everything you remember about the crime."
"You're wasting your time," Canis said. "I have no memory of the event. I rarely know what the Wolf does."
"If you don't remember anything about the crime, then we can't be sure you're guilty," Little John said.
Canis shook his head. "I'm guilty."
"Mr. Canis, I don't think you understand, we-" Robin Hood began.
Canis leaped to his feet and let out a horrible roar. It was only then that Sabrina realized how much the old man had changed during his imprisonment. At his full height, Canis was nearly eight feet tall. His arms were so long that his ugly, clawed hands dragged on the ground. His ears, pointy and sprouting hair, were not on the sides of his face, but on the top of his head. His nose and mouth had become a furry snout with glistening fangs, and his once-white hair was now brown flecked with black.
Sabrina's mind reeled. How could Canis have changed so much in four short weeks? She was sure this had to be a twisted joke, some kind of terrible prank cooked up by Nottingham for his own amusement. But then she saw the proof that this creature was her old friend: The beast was wearing a black patch over his left eye. It covered a wound Nottingham had inflicted not long ago. There was no denying it. This monster, this vicious Wolf, was breaking free of Mr. Canis's control. Out of instinct, Sabrina leaped forward and pulled her sister and grandmother to safety.
"Sabrina!" Granny cried, bewildered. There was disappointment and anger in her voice. "You have nothing to fear."
"Do not scold her, Relda," Mr. Canis said. "She may be the only one in your family who sees me for what I truly am. You'd be wise to pay more attention to her."
Granny shook her head, denying his words.
"What have you done to him?" Daphne demanded, lunging at the sheriff with her fists clenched. It took all of Sabrina's strength to hold her back.
"Control your brats, Mrs. Grimm, or they'll be enjoying the cell next to your hound," Nottingham said.
"Relda, I appreciate what you are trying to do for me, but nothing will help," Canis insisted. "Take the girls and leave. I don't need your lawyers. I'm right where I belong-in a cage. Fighting the Wolf for control over this body is a constant battle, one I am quickly losing. When I can no longer fight him, it is best if I am under lock and key."
"That's not going to happen," Daphne said. She reached through the bars and took Canis's huge hand in her own. A memory flashed in Sabrina's brain-once, not so long ago, the Wolf had grabbed Sabrina around the neck with that hand. The memory made her shiver down to her toes.
Sheriff Nottingham ran his dagger against the cell bars again. "Time's up!" he snarled. "Get out of my jail."
"We'll be back," Little John promised Mr. Canis.
Canis crawled back into the shadows, into the corner of his cell. "Do not waste your time on me," he murmured as they left.
That afternoon Robin Hood called to update Granny Relda. As he'd predicted, Mayor Heart and Sheriff Nottingham had come to the Sherwood Group offices with an order to seize the property and premises. The merry men were tossed out into the street. Robin and Little John were forced to continue their work from an empty table at Sacred Grounds, a coffee shop run by Uncle Jake's girlfriend, Briar Rose. Much to everyone's surprise, Robin and Little John were thrilled.
"I don't know if Briar's coffee shop can handle that crowd. The whole bunch of them sound rip-roaring drunk," Granny Relda said when she hung up the phone. "They're celebrating being Nottingham's biggest annoyance again."
"Being as merry as those guys are can't be good for their livers," Uncle Jake said.
Unfortunately, Robin had some more bad news: He and Little John were running into one roadblock after another in their efforts to free Mr. Canis. The town's government had collapsed since Mayor Heart's election. Nottingham hadn't made a single arrest other than Mr. Canis, and it seemed as if he and Heart were making up laws as they went along. Worse still, there was nothing the family could do to help with Canis's case. When Granny offered, Robin informed her that the best thing they could do was to stay by the phone and wait for updates.
The Grimms all tried to keep themselves distracted. Uncle Jake kept an eye on Goldilocks. Granny busied herself making earthworm crepes. Puck lay on the couch trying to break his personal record for most farts in an hour. Sabrina and Daphne turned their attention to the family's enormous book collection, researching everything they could find on the Big Bad Wolf.
The girls' father had kept fairy tales out of their house, leaving the sisters at a tremendous disadvantage now that they were knee-deep in the family business of investigating Everafter crimes.
"No one told me this story," Daphne said, pointing to the book she was reading, her face pale and frightened.
"Which story, liebling?" Granny Relda asked as she came in from the kitchen.
"The story of Little Red Riding Hood," she said, as she held up a copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales. "Jacob and Wilhelm called it 'Little Red Cap.' This version is…gross."
Puck leaped up and rushed across the room, suddenly interested. "Gross, how?"
"He eats Red's grandmother," Daphne said.
"That's awesome!" Puck exclaimed.
Sabrina ignored Puck. "I thought he killed her."
"Eating someone usually kills them," Puck said matter-of-factly.
"It says here that Red's mother sent her into the forest with a basket of food," Daphne explained. "She was supposed to take it to her sick grandmother, but along the way she met the Wolf."
"What kind of mother sends her kid into the woods alone? What did she think was going to happen?" Sabrina asked.
Daphne ignored her sister and continued. "Red made the mistake of telling the Wolf where she was going and he raced ahead, ate her grandmother, then put on her clothes."
"Creepy," Puck said admiringly.
"When Red showed up at the house, he ate her, too. But that can't be right," Daphne commented, looking up from the book. "Little Red Riding Hood is alive."
"And crazy as ever," Sabrina said. Just thinking about the little girl gave her goose pimples. Luckily, Red had been admitted to the Ferryport Landing Memorial Hospital's mental-health ward. Just a few months prior, the little girl had stomped through town with her pet Jabberwocky, causing serious mayhem. She'd even tried to kidnap Granny Relda in a delusional effort to recreate her own lost family.
"We can't completely trust this story," Granny explained. "There are a lot of facts that don't add up, and there are many, many versions. The brothers didn't actually witness the crime, either. It happened hundreds of years before they wrote it down."
"My father told me the story once," Puck said. "There was a hunter or something-a woodsman who saved Red and her granny by cutting the Wolf's belly open and freeing them. Then he loaded the Wolf's belly up with stones and tossed him into the river to drown. I'd like to meet that guy. He's totally hard-core!"
"Who cares how many versions there are of the story? The Wolf eats people in all of them, doesn't he?" Sabrina asked as she glanced at the open pages of the heavy book. There was a gruesome illustration of the Wolf attacking the little girl.
Puck nodded. "He tried to kill the Three Little Pigs, too, and a whole family of talking lambs."
Uncle Jake and Granny shared a knowing look.
"Mr. Canis used to have some anger-management issues," Uncle Jake admitted.
Sabrina's mind was spinning with all the new information. "Did he really do all this?" she asked the old woman.
Granny lowered her eyes.
Sabrina was dumbfounded. "And you let him live here with us? You left us alone with him! He slept in a room right across the hall!"
"The Wolf is the murderer, Sabrina. Mr. Canis is not responsible," Granny said.
"Mr. Canis is the Wolf!" Sabrina insisted.
"No, Sabrina," Granny snapped. "Mr. Canis and the Wolf are two separate people. My friend would never hurt you."
"Your friend shares a body with a monster," Sabrina replied. "We've seen him tap into the Wolf's power. And he's been gradually transforming into the beast for months."
"OK, everyone, let's calm down," Uncle Jake said.
But Granny kept arguing. "Mr. Canis has always been in control, ever since the pigs got ahold of him. It wasn't until recently that he has struggled, but he will find the strength to fight again, and then everything will go back to normal."
"Mom, you saw him today," Uncle Jake said. "What are we going to do if he can't fight the Wolf?"
"Mr. Canis is right. The best place for him is behind bars. If the Wolf takes over, there will be no way to stop him," Sabrina cried.
"Mr. Canis is our friend!" Granny Relda shouted. Her face turned red, and her lips quivered in anger. Sabrina had never seen the old woman lose her temper so quickly or so fiercely. "Sabrina Grimm, go to your room!"
Sabrina reeled back. "What? I haven't been sent to my room since I was seven years old!"
"Then it's long overdue!"
"Mom, she hasn't said anything that isn't true," Uncle Jake said.
"Another word out of you, Jacob, and I'll send you to bed, too!"
Rattled, Sabrina marched up the steps and slammed her bedroom door. She threw herself on the bed and fought back tears. Crying would mean admitting that she was a child and that her opinions were easily dismissed. No! This time she was right. Granny could punish her all she wanted, but someone needed to speak up.
"Are you well?" a voice asked from under the bed.
Sabrina leaped up. "Who's there?"
"I'm part of your security detail," the voice said. "I'm guarding your bed."
"I could really use some privacy right now," she groaned.
"Sorry, boss's orders. I can't-"
"If you don't get out of here right now, I'm going to punt you through the window," Sabrina snapped.
A moment later, a little creature with a bright red nose, batlike ears, and furry feet crawled out from under the bed. He brushed a few dust bunnies off of his fur. "I suppose I could take a coffee break," he grumbled, then was gone.
Sabrina expected her grandmother to come apologize for losing her temper and to tell her that everything was going to be OK. But, after several hours, the old woman still had not appeared. Daphne and Uncle Jake were no-shows, as well. So was Puck, whom she expected to stop by, if only to gloat. Once, Elvis poked his head in. She called to him, but the big dog disappeared down the hallway. Even the family pet was against her.
She was hardly surprised. Sabrina never seemed to do or say anything right. She knew she was a constant source of disappointment to the others. She had been trying very hard to embrace her responsibilities, especially her detective training. She had resisted for months, but now she was actually enjoying some of it. She excelled in tracking criminals, finding clues, and self-defense. Just last week, Granny had praised her for her quick thinking and eye for detail.
How could her grandmother think Sabrina was so smart last week and, now, so wrong about Canis? He'd admitted to everyone that Sabrina was the only one in the family who saw him for what he was.
Around suppertime, there was a knock on the door. Someone left a tray with chicken baked in a gravy that smelled like pureed crayons and blueberries. She took a few bites, then pushed it away.
Later that evening, there was another knock. Daphne poked her head inside. "Is it safe to come in yet? The bed troll said you threatened to kick him out a window."
"It's safe. In fact, I'm glad you're here. We need to talk."
"Fine," Daphne said, crossing the room to the desk, then opening a drawer. She took out a string of pearls, tried them on, and then finally turned to Sabrina.
"Mr. Canis's not dangerous anymore. You know it, too. We've been here for months, and he's never hurt any of us."
"He's changing, Daphne."
"What should we do, then? Turn our backs on him? Let Nottingham and Heart kill him? That's what they're going to do, you know."
Sabrina couldn't argue with her sister. The mayor and the sheriff would kill Canis. She didn't think it was a bluff.
"We should get the weapon," Sabrina suggested.
Daphne reached into her shirt and pulled out a chain. Hanging from it was a small silver key. "Mr. Hamstead gave us this for emergencies only."
"This is an emergency," Sabrina argued. "If we're going to free Canis, we need to be prepared. Let's face it, the guy is getting hairier and angrier by the day. You saw him freak out at the jail today. It's only going to get worse. It's best if we have the weapon, just in case. If he finds a way to get ahold of himself, then great-we'll just put it back in the safe-deposit box. Or, even better, we could use it to fight the Scarlet Hand. If whatever is in the box can control the Wolf, it can certainly take care of them. We might even be able to get rid of Puck's stupid security team."
"That would be nice. I found an elf munching on my socks in the hamper this morning," Daphne said.
"Then it's settled. Give me the key. I'll sneak out tonight and go get the weapon."
Daphne hesitated. "No. Whatever is in that box is magic, and you shouldn't use magic. It does bad things to you. Besides, Mr. Hamstead gave the key to me, so I get to decide when we use it."
Sabrina was furious. "Daphne, if this is part of your 'I'm a big girl now' routine, you need to cut it out. This is important!"
"I said no, and I mean no," Daphne snapped.
Sabrina was tempted to snatch the key right off Daphne's neck, but a knock at the door distracted her. Uncle Jake entered.
"How's it going?" he asked.
"Great! The whole family hates me!" Sabrina said sarcastically. "Is Granny still mad?"
"Let's just say the last time I saw her this angry, your father and I had used a magic wand to turn a teacher into a billy goat. Ms. Junger nearly ate her own desk by the time Mom found out and forced us to change her back."
Sabrina groaned.
"I tried to defend you, but listen, I don't even have a bedroom to be sent to. She might have made me sleep on the porch," Uncle Jake continued. "But, Sabrina, what did you expect? Mr. Canis is your grandmother's best friend. Did you really think she'd give up on him? Your father and I learned long ago that when it comes to the old man, you have to hold your tongue."
Sabrina's brow furrowed. "You've argued with Granny about him, too?"
"Sure. So did your grandfather," Uncle Jake replied. "When Canis showed up on our doorstep, my father refused to help him, but Mom has always seen the good in people. She invited him to live here, and it drove Dad nuts. He was sure Canis would change back and eat us all in the dead of night. Your father and I used to block our bedroom door with heavy furniture when we went to sleep. We kept baseball bats under our pillows. We all felt like you do now, Sabrina."
"If all of you felt like that, then how come I'm the bad guy now?" Sabrina asked.
"Because after all this time, after everything he has done for our family, you still won't give Canis the benefit of the doubt. He's proven his loyalty to us time and time again. He's saved all of our lives a million times over, and he has never allowed anyone to lay a hand on my mom. When the Jabberwocky killed my father, Canis dug the grave. I was destroyed. I blamed myself and didn't even stick around for his funeral. I decided to leave. I found Canis waiting for me on the edge of town. He begged me to stay, told me Mom needed me, but I wouldn't listen. He promised to watch over my family for me until I returned. Then he gave me a hug."
"No way!" Daphne cried in disbelief.
"It was the most uncomfortable hug of my life, but I knew I was leaving my family in good hands. I've never spoken badly about Canis since, and I never will again. I trust him with my life."
"But even he told us to leave him alone," Sabrina argued.
"He's giving up, but we can't. My mother never will, and that's why she's mad at you, kid. It breaks her heart that you can't see the goodness in others. Listen, I didn't come up here to give you a lecture," he said. "In fact, the warden has given me permission to release you, but I do have one last word of advice. If you want to know who a person truly is, you need to look. Now, if we're all done with our squabble, I could use your help."
"With what?" Daphne asked.
"I have an idea for how to communicate with Goldilocks," he said.
Suddenly, the argument was forgotten, and the girls dashed into the hallway, eager to help their uncle find the elusive Everafter. Mirror was waiting for them when they arrived.
"Mirror, show the girls what you just showed me," Uncle Jake said.
Goldilocks appeared in Mirror's surface. She was standing on the balcony of an elegant hotel. There were vines climbing along the walls and pretty boats floating on the water below. She looked radiant as the sunshine lit up her face.
"She sure is pretty," Daphne said.
Uncle Jake smiled. "Your dad has always had great taste in women, though I never understood what they saw in him."
Sabrina glanced over to her sleeping father. From what she had managed to piece together, he and Goldilocks had once been in love, years before he met Sabrina's mother. The tragedy that killed Grandpa Basil split them apart. Goldilocks was not at all how Sabrina had imagined her. She'd assumed the mysterious Everafter would resemble her own mother, Veronica, but they were complete opposites. Goldilocks wore fancy dresses, and her hair was never out of place. Sabrina's mom, who could easily have been a beauty queen herself, had an easy, casual style. She loved blue jeans, flip-flops, and baseball caps. Sabrina realized she was comparing the two women, and a twinge of betrayal stabbed at her heart. Goldilocks might be pretty, but she was no Veronica Grimm.
"After her trip to the pyramids, she headed to the airport and hopped on a flight," Uncle Jake said, filling the girls in. "I couldn't tell which one, but she seemed like she was in a hurry. She didn't even check any bags."
The image in the mirror dissolved and was replaced with a view of a flag fluttering in the breeze. It was bright red with a border of thorny vines, and at its center was a golden winged lion. The lion wore a halo and brandished a sword. Sabrina had never seen anything like the flag and wanted to study it further, but once again, the image changed. This time, she saw a mailbox labeled with the number 10 and stuffed with mail. Sabrina squinted at the letters, hoping an address might reveal itself, but what little she could make out was not written in English. Then the mailbox was gone, too, replaced with an elegant sign mounted on the side of a luxury hotel. It read HOTEL CIPRIANI.
Uncle Jake was smiling from ear to ear. "Cool, huh?"
"I'm confused," Sabrina said. "We've been watching her travel around for a month. What's different about this time?"
"The difference is, this time we have the name of her hotel!" Uncle Jake exclaimed. "All we have to do now is find out where this hotel is located, and we can contact her."
"I think that flag we saw might be a big clue," Sabrina said.
"I agree. If we can find the country it belongs to, we can narrow down our search. The language on the letters looked like Italian to me, but that doesn't necessarily mean she's in Italy. Italian is spoken all over the world. She could be in Slovenia or San Marino. Italian is even an official language of Switzerland."
"So how do we find out for sure?" Sabrina asked.
"The library, of course," Uncle Jake said.
Sabrina and Daphne groaned in unison. "Not the library."
"What's wrong with the library?" Uncle Jake asked.
"Nothing. The library is fine," Sabrina reassured him. "It's the librarian who's the problem."
"He's a complete idiot," Daphne explained.
Uncle Jake laughed. "There's no arguing that, but he's still the smartest guy in town. The two of you need to get over there right away. We have to find this hotel before Goldie flies off somewhere new."
"We're going to need the flying carpet to get to the library," Sabrina said.
"Then I need the key to its room," Mirror replied.
Sabrina reached into her pocket for her keys, but before she could hand them over, Puck charged into the room.
"Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh," he said. "You two aren't going anywhere without protection."
"Forget it! You're not sticking us with another one of your so-called bodyguards," Sabrina snapped.
"The last one was very gassy. Even gassier than you!" Daphne complained.
"Then put clothespins on your noses. Almost everyone in this town wants you dead. Not that I can blame them. But if you croak, the old lady will want to have a funeral, and if there's a funeral, she's going to make me take a bath. So I will superglue a hobgoblin to your back if you don't cooperate," Puck declared, then turned to Sabrina. "Do we have an understanding, dogface?"
Sabrina fumed. She was so angry she thought she might burst into flames. It wasn't Puck's stupid security team, it was his insult-dogface. It shouldn't have mattered to her-he insulted her all the time-but this one stung. Why did it suddenly matter to her that he thought she was ugly?
"What? No comeback?" Puck pressed, clearly surprised.
"Fine, then you have to be our bodyguard. You can fly us to the library," Daphne suggested.
"Excellent idea," Uncle Jake said.
"Bo-ring!" Puck yelled.
"Am I hearing you right, Puck? I was told you were a master of mischief. I guess you're too mature to sneak out without my mother knowing. These days you seem to act more like a good little boy than the so-called Trickster King. In fact, I'm surprised people don't mistake you for that other boy who won't grow up. What's his name?"
"Don't you say it!" Puck warned Uncle Jake.
"You know, the one who hangs out with the little girl and her brothers. He can fly, too," Daphne said.
"I mean it! Don't insult me by saying his name! That guy is a washed-up has-been!"
"Oh, I remember," Uncle Jake said, pretending to ignore the angry boy. "You're acting like Peter-"
Puck suddenly morphed into a lion. He let out an angry roar before returning to his true form.
"FINE!" he shouted. "I'll take you, but let's get one thing straight. I am not some silly flying boy in green tights. I am the Trickster King: the spiritual leader of hooligans, good-for-nothings, pranksters, and class clowns. I am a villain feared worldwide, and don't you forget it!"
"Of course you are," Uncle Jake said, giving the girls a wink.
Puck extended his wings, snatched the girls by their hands, and whisked them out the open window. Sabrina watched her uncle wave good-bye as the trio soared high over the forest.
