This chapter goes out to all the wonderful, wonderful people who reviewed! I love you all. Not in a gay sense. Not that I have anything against gays or lesbians. They're wonderful, wonderful people. Okay, I'm gonna shut up now... so enjoy!
BTW, I found a correction in my own story and I'm very ticked off about it... when I'm describing what Granny Relda/Mirror is wearing I described something so completely wrong! I said she was wearing a turtleneck sweater or something-well she's not! She's wearing a purple dress with a matching hat with a sunflower applique on it... I think. Well, I'm very sorry about that.
6
There were several things Sabrina hated doing. One of which was being flung through the air like an over-grown parcel. And that was exactly what Sabrina was doing.
"Pus-brain! Put me down right now!" Sabrina shrieked in fear as she flew high into the air, arching across the sky, and coming down to the ground like a bullet, stopping just short of the rocky terrain. No, Sabrina could not fly, but she was in the arms of someone who could-Puck. Yes, the devilish fairy was flipping through the air like a professional gymnast flinging Sabrina here and there.
"I would say okay," Puck started. Sabrina's eyes looked up to him hopefully, "But I would be lying." He smirked and did the most complex flying stunt yet-a burst of energy from his wings had them arching nearly three hundred yards from the ground, Sabrina screaming her head off. He then did several flips, air hand-stands, cartwheels, and various gymnastic stunts until they landed softly onto the ground.
"Well, that's the last of the gate-perimeter check, done!" Sabrina said, recovering slightly from her "flight".
"Really?" Puck asked, "I think that there's some more unchecked perimeter over there!" Puck insisted and, before Sabrina could protest and run for her life, Puck grabbed her by the arm and flew her high up into the sky and the ran the perimeter of the tower, Puck doing his usual antics.
It was twenty minutes later that a gleeful-looking Puck and a slightly-green-looking Sabrina returned to the camp. Veronica was the first of the Grimm-clan to meet them, as she was running for some bandages.
"How was the perimeter check?" she asked, looking from Puck to Sabrina and Sabrina to Puck.
"Great!" Puck shouted.
"Traumatizing!" Sabrina exclaimed.
Veronica didn't even bat an eyelash at the two remarks, she merely shrugged her shoulders and said in an even tone, "Well, we're almost all set with the medical tent, go ask Snow and Charming what you can do to help them."
The couple then stumbled away to find Prince Charming staring adoringly at Snow, who was barking orders at several new army recruits.
"What are you two lovebirds doing here?" Charming spat.
"What?" Sabrina and Puck cried in unison.
"Oh, never mind!" the Prince exclaimed.
Sabrina shook off the remark and asked, "So. . . is there anything we can do to help, Billy?"
"Unless you can help me get a date with Snow. . ." Prince Charming mumbled before realizing that Puck and Sabrina were listening intently, whereupon he turned bright red.
"What were you saying?" Puck asked, devilishly.
"Nothing-nothing to concern yourself over here! I know! The outhouses need a good scrubbing!" he exclaimed and pushed the couple in the direction of a smelly building. "Go! Clean!"
The outhouse in question was a narrow building that was rather rickety and built extremely poorly. There wasn't much inside, except for a couple of rolls of toilet paper and a bucket. The bucket was filled with . . . waste.
"Wow! We really need to tell the mess-hall to stop serving beans!" Puck said, plugging his nose.
"You're one to talk! Didn't you have seven servings of beans last night?" Sabrina asked.
"Hey! This isn't about me!" Puck defended himself.
A few silent moments passed.
"Okay. . . you can go ahead and clean it now." Puck said.
"I'm not cleaning that thing!" Sabrina retorted, crinkling her nose in disgust.
It was Snow White that found Puck and Sabrina locked in mortal combat, trying to persuade the other into cleaning the outhouse.
"What are you two doing?" She exclaimed.
"Cleaning the outhouse," Sabrina grumbled, rubbing her head with her newfound headache.
"Well, don't waste your time on silliness like that. I've got something special I want to show you guys." Snow beckoned the two children and they walked for about five minutes, twisting in between cabins and tents until they came upon Snow's tent. Snow opened the flap, allowing the two to pass before she walked in.
The two took a seat on two chairs. Snow offered them coffee, which they both declined. She then offered them a round of freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies which they ate greedily. She then sat down on the couch across from them.
"I remembered something else about Atticus. But first I want you to see this. It's getting dangerous out there. The humans are getting wise." She said softly before picking up a small remote control and clicking a few buttons. Her television set turned on to a Channel Four News.
'Hello Janice, I'm here with Channel Four News at the scene of a crime. A mysterious murder occurred this afternoon. The surgeon general declares the crime must have taken place around ten o'clock this morning.'
'John and Margaret Remington were walking through the streets of a busy New York street when they were attacked by what many eye-witnesses called "a vampire". The police have put these remarks down as shock from the occurrence. Other, more accurate-sounding reports have come in saying that the perpetrator was in fact a very pale, tall man with blood red eyes and sharp teeth. It appears as if John and Margaret were attacked and their blood sucked from their very veins. On their shirts was a blood-red handprint. The detective on the case believes that this was the work of a homicidal maniac and is now searching every asylum for an escapee. It is important to be on the look out for "a vampire" so be on guard. This is Edward Collins-worth for Channel Four News.'
"Wait. . . what?" Puck asked as Snow flipped off the TV.
"It appears as if word of the Scarlet Hand has gotten out of Ferryport Landing. This is only one of many murders and injuries from so-called "fairy-tale creatures". New York City will soon get wise and the Everafters will be found out."
Sabrina was silent a moment, "Wait a moment. . . I thought that vampires weren't real."
"Actually, they've always just been kind of urban-legend. But you never know, they've been able to 'hibernate' or stay locked in a tomb for hundreds of years. For all we know, someone could have opened his tomb and released him. A vampire who's been 'hibernating' for a long time normally have extreme blood-lust and will do anything for blood, even work for the Scarlet Hand," Snow explained.
Sabrina was satisfied with her question but discontented with the news they had just heard. Even Puck looked worried. Things were going from worse to terrible.
"But that's not why I wanted you guys. I forgot something-something about Atticus," she said, "Atticus wasn't exactly. . . human afterwards. I know I told you that but. . . it's different. He isn't just not human. He's a monster. It's like his very presence is evil. You see, the thing is. Everything he touches-well, dies."
Sabrina stared blankly into the wall. "Well, we're fighting a huge, blood-thirsty army and one of their fighters kills anything he touches. . . fudge."
Granny Relda was sitting in the dark with her head hung back over her chair. Her mouth was slightly open and her eyes were closed. Her arms, hands, and fingers were trembling and she was as cold as ice.
The door opened and Mayor Heart stalked in, followed my Nottingham. The door was then shut and Mayor Heart's voice rang through the cold room.
"Master. The army is ready."
"Nearly," Mirror said, "I want Atticus. He will bring our army to victory. Fetch him for me. Just be careful-don't touch him."
Without a word the two left the room, not quite sure how they were going to get Atticus if they couldn't touch him.
Everyone in the camp was there. The mess-hall had been cleared and was now full of crowded, rowdy, Everafters. Sabrina had taken a seat near the front where she had a clear view of a small section that had been cut off, where Prince Charming was going to make the announcements. Sabrina had taken a seat next to Puck. Red was on the other side of her. In the row behind them was her father, her uncle, and Mr. Canis. Her mother, Veronica Grimm, was sitting in the tent with Daphne.
A bell had been rung and the entire crowd shushed. Many Everafters either took a seat or stood near the back.
"Hello, everyone." Prince Charming spoke in a clear voice that penetrated the now-silent room. "We have received word that the Scarlet Hand was made plans to penetrate our forces in, now, three days. Our only plan of action is to beat them to the punch. So, my colleagues and I have decided to attack the Scarlet Hand the day after tomorrow. To do this we have to be at our best. Not just our physical best, but our mental best. We must remain positive in everything we do. With everyone of you fighting your bravest and your hardest we can win this war!" He exclaimed, thrusting his hand high into the air.
"Now, I'm going to turn it over to General White, who will outline the basic plan of our attack."
Snow stepped up to where Prince Charming had been standing. She greeted everyone with her warm smile and dazzling eyes. Her black hair swished around her pale skin.
"Good evening. Before I begin, I want to address a growing issue which I'm sure many of you have heard of. Urban Scarlet Hand members have started to attack harmless humans. Yes, many murders have taken place. This problem is escalating at an alarming rate. Which means we need to nip it in the bud. Which brings me to the next subject. Our attack. We must have a quick attack and a strong attack. It is our only hope to stop the Scarlet Hand in one battle."
"Our plan is simple. It will be a three prong attack lead by our strongest, biggest fighters who will storm the Scarlet Hand headquarters. Our weaker and smaller fighters will come in next. We will have the element of surprise on our attack. Hopefully, none of the fighters will be armed or prepared and we can take down a large portion of their army. Next, Goldilocks will lead the animals in and attack from the rear. With this position, we might be able to penetrate into the Master's inner forces. Tomorrow we shall split into three groups. Group A, group B, and group C. Any questions?" Snow asked.
The room lay still and quiet. No one raised there hand. Snow White nodded her head and returned to her seat in the audience. Prince Charming then stood up again and addressed the army once more. By the end of his short speech the entire camp had stood up and thrust their hands in the air. They were eager for another fight.
It was cool and dark in the tent. The flap was moving slightly from the breezy wind. The sun shone in the tiny crack, but other than that the tent was still and dark. Veronica Grimm could just make out the bare outline of Daphne Grimm. Her daughter, her daughter who was still asleep and wouldn't wake. Veronica Grimm wanted to scream in annoyance; she had put on a mask of bravery in front of everyone but to tell the truth she was as scared as a chicken. What if her daughter never woke up? What if someone got hurt or injured and died? What if the Scarlet Hand won? What would become of them? Where was Bunny? The questions swarmed around her mind like sharks in a fish-tank. She couldn't sleep because of them. She barely ate anything. She got headaches more often than not. But she had to be strong; be strong for her family.
Sabrina would never realize it, but she had a lot more common with her mom than anyone in the family. Sabrina Grimm always believed that she was the only one in the entire world who thought the way she did. But she was wrong. Veronica Grimm was more like Sabrina than she would ever realize.
It was Veronica Grimm, though, who wept bitterly by her daughter's side. She cried tears of remorse, fear, and frustration. She leaned in to see Daphne's face more clearly and one of her tears ran down her nose and drop onto Daphne's face.
The effect was immediate; Daphne eyes flashed open. She gave a short, grunted breath before breathing in deeply once more. She sat up and looked around, though her eyes weren't adjusted to the light and she couldn't see very far.
"Whoa-" Daphne Grimm started. . .
A/N: Oh Em Geezy! I am so extremely sorry to not update in forever. I have had so much going on. We've had Theme Exams all this week and it is so hard! I passed all of my tests though with flying colors and got all over nineties! Whoo hoo!
IMPORTANT! READ! Anyway, I was thinking that Daphne needed to come back with a whole new word from Daphne's ever-growing vocabulary. So, I'm asking my wonderful, wonderful reviewers to give me a word that is not already in the English dictionary that you think Daphne should say. In your review just give me the word, it's meaning, and you're feedback to this chapter and this Fanfic! PM me if you have any questions.