Chapter 2
Well, I loved the reviews I got. I'm so happy that you all enjoyed it! I was glad that some of you commented about Mustardseed...
But, this isn't going to be a complete Mustardseed/Sabrina 'ship thing…so, even if you absolutely hate the pairing, please, keep reading!
Also, I just remembered that I didn't put a disclaimer on the first chapter, so here's one now: I don't own Sisters Grimm.
"Liebling?" Granny Relda questions, looking as Sabrina gets off the train.
"Hi, Granny," Sabrina sets her bags on the platform and hugs her grandmother. "How are you?"
"Oh, fine, liebling."
"Did Mom tell you that I stopped in New York before I came here?" Sabrina asks, sliding into the front seat of the family deathtrap—whoops, did she say that? She meant car.—and closing the door.
"Yes. How's your father?"
"Good. As anti-Everafter as always," Sabrina gives a little laugh. "You'd think that he'd be okay with my boyfriend, at least he's more normal than the resident fairy here."
Relda smiles softly. "I am glad you're home, liebling. Daphne and I have missed you. We were very glad that you decided to stay with us instead of with Henry."
"Dad's not being difficult again, is he? I mean, he's not going to try and take Daph, right?" Sabrina questions, feeling very out of the loop.
"I don't know, liebling," Relda says, getting into the driver's seat.
Surprised that her grandmother had actually gotten her license, Sabrina puts on her seatbelt and covers her ears with her hands. The inevitable rumble never comes, and Sabrina slowly lowers her hands.
Relda laughs. "Oh, liebling, Jacob fixed the car for me," her granny shifts and they're on the way to the home Sabrina remembers most—'the dollhouse' as Daphne called it when they first came to Ferryport Landing.
"So, how was school this year?" Relda asks.
"It was great," Sabrina grins. "University is amazing. Every weekend, a different chef comes to the U-of-M and we can cook with them. Or, there's a Broadway at the U program too. There's even a group of kids that are official event planners for anything that happens on campus."
"It's sounds like fun," Granny Relda says. "You must really like it."
"I love it," her granddaughter nods emphatically. "Mark—" pausing, she adds, "—that's what Mustardseed goes by—comes up almost every weekend. He took me to a Broadway show over Christmas."
"How nice, liebling," Relda says. "Are you planning on working at the Blue Plate again? Farrah says your position is still open, if you need some pocket-money."
"I might," Sabrina says, as they pull into the driveway of the Grimm house. Elvis comes bounding toward the car. "Hey, buddy," she reaches down to pet the large Great Dane. "How's Elvis?"
He gives an appreciative bark and the college student laughs. "Good boy."
"SABRINA!" Daphne screams and tackles her older sister with a hug. "You're back!"
"Yes, Daph," Sabrina laughs, patting the hyper fifteen-year-old's back. "How've ya been, sis?"
Daphne grins. "I've been good. How 'bout you, sis?"
"Better now," she answers lightly. "I have all sorts of things to tell you."
"Really?" Daphne raises an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're dating someone…"
"Actually," Sabrina laughs.
"No! Seriously?"
"Seriously. His name's Mark. He's from New York City too."
"How old is he?"
"Three-thousand something," she says casually.
Daphne's jaw drops. "You're dating an Everafter? But after…" She trails off, not wanting to jeopardize her sister's visit. "Really? Who is it?"
"You've met him," Sabrina says. "Anyways, am I staying in my old room, or what?"
"Actually, we have the magic room open. There's a bed," Daphne smiles, remembering falling asleep on Puck's trampoline.
"Good," Sabrina nods. "I trust that you cleaned it up and kicked the chimps out?"
It was a statement, but it sure sounds like a question to Daphne. "Yep. So, when are we going to talk about Mysterious Mark?"
Raising an eyebrow, Sabrina regards her little sister. "Seriously, Daph?"
"Unless you tell me who he is, that's what he's going to be dubbed for the rest of time," the teen threatens.
With a straight face, Sabrina stares at Daphne. A smile blossoms on her face and she bursts out laughing. "Dubbed? Daphne, have you been talking to Arthur's knights again? I mean, they're not even that hot."
"And Mysterious Mark is?"
"Give it up, sis," the eldest sister laughs. "Just, give. It. Up."
"Fine." Shooting a glare at the college student, she continues, "For now."
"Liebling, I hope you're in the mood for camel hump soup!" Granny says cheerfully, dishing a large portion into the bowl in front of her oldest granddaughter. "And, how is my wonderful grandson?"
"Mom seems to enjoy taking care of Basil. I think she misses us. But, she wants to try and mend her relationship with Dad, and that means staying in New York," Sabrina says, taking a cautious spoonful of the soup.
"Of course," Granny nods. "My boys can be so hard-headed."
"What's Uncle Jake been up to?" Sabrina asks suspiciously.
"He's ignoring Vanessa," Daphne says, crossing her arms. The effect, however, was lost when she uncrossed them and slurps on her soup.
"Vanessa is the princess from the Princess and the Pea," Relda says, a serene smile on her face. "So different from Briar, but we all know that Jacob has an infatuation for princesses."
Looking to her older sister, Daphne mouths 'Infatuation?'
To clarify, Sabrina adds, "Yep. Uncle Jake has a thing for any princess."
Nodding, Daphne continues to eat her soup.
Words ring in her head at the mention of the princesses.
'Keep an eye on your uncle. He's also going through a princess phase.'
Mirror, Sabrina thought angrily. Absently, she puts the spoon in her mouth, recoiling at the sinewy texture and the salty taste. It reminded her of sweat, and she immediately remembers why she never liked camel hump soup. That, consequently, made her think of her first case as a fairytale detective. And, here come the unbidden thoughts of Puck. Joy.
She slams her spoon back into the soup, dragging it to her mouth as she tries to forget the fairy that plagued her during her middle-school and high-school years.
"Sabrina, you okay?" Daphne asks.
"Fine," she snaps. Taking a calming breath, she continues, "I'm fine. Thanks. I'm just tired. I think I'll go up to bed."
"I was thinking that we could have a sleepover," Daphne says quietly, looking as young and innocent as she was when she was eight years old. "But," she finishes hurriedly, "if you're too tired, we don't have too."
"I think I'll just rest for a while, and then we can have our sleepover, okay? Do you wanna watch a movie?"
"Sure," the teen grins at her older sister. "Anything?"
"No chick flicks."
"You're no fun," Daphne laughs, ruining the sarcastic tone of her voice. "Fine."
Giving her sister a wink, Sabrina stands, and puts the soup bowl down for Elvis. Clicking her tongue to call him, she says, "Elvis. Come here."
Happily, the Great Dane gulps down the soup.
Sabrina heads up the stairs, entering the magic room that was permanently branding into her mind as Puck's room. She grabs her cell phone, and walks towards the waterfall that she once was almost drowned in. (She was about fourteen then…stupid Puck.)
She dials a very familiar number, disappointed when it switches to voicemail. "Hi, handsome. I just wanted to hear your voice. Miss you lots. It's harder than I thought, being here. Call me later, M. Love you."
She presses the red button on her phone, and suppresses the urge to throw it in the rushing water.
A buzzing pixie flies by her, stopping and chattering at her.
Sabrina stands, cupping her hands around the pesky Everafter creature. "Slow down. Who sent you?"
"King," the pixie says slowly, as if aggravated with the entire human race. "King of Faerie."
"Mustardseed?" she asks hopefully.
The tiny being snorts. "The real king."
"Did he know I was here?" Sabrina asks urgently. It's only been a couple of hours!
"No," the pixie crosses her tiny arms. "But he will."
"I could squash you," Sabrina threatens.
"Master Puck would be quite unhappy."
"But," the girl continues calmly, "I'm just going to douse you in forgetful dust."
Buzzing angrily, the pixie tries to sting her.
"Ah, ah, ah," Sabrina says tauntingly. Almost slapping herself for saying something Puck said to her, she glares at the pixie. She shoves it into her pocket, knowing that she could deal with the wretched pixie later.
She stares at the water, watching as the sun sets and turns the sky orange and pink.
"Sabrina?" Daphne questions from the door. "The movie's ready."
"Coming," the blonde yells, heading towards her little sister. "Okay, girl time."
Daphne smiles. "Oh, yeah."
So, elligoat brought up an interesting comment, suggesting that I write in past tense.
What do you guys think? Should I continue to write in present tense? Or, should I switch to past tense?
Review, and tell me what you think!
C.E.
