by Chris Colfer
Professor Wallet silenced his son with a hug. The embrace was slightly electrifying, but the professor didn’t care.
“We can talk about the logistics at a different time,” Professor Wallet said. “But right now, I couldn’t be more proud to be your father. It took a lot of bravery for you to save all these people—bravery you must have found on your own. Paris is known as the City of Light, but after tonight, I believe it’ll be remembered as the City of Lightning.”
It was a touching display, and many of the observers teared up. The reporters tried sticking their microphones closer to the father and son, but the Ziblings pushed them back to give Bolt and the professor some privacy.
“It wasn’t all thanks to me,” Bolt said. “If it weren’t for my new friends, I would never have had the confidence to come here. They taught me how to believe in myself. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Bolt led the professor to the rectangular lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower and introduced him to the twins.
“Conner and Alex, meet my dad, Professor Wallet,” he said.
“It’s a pleasure,” the professor said, and shook their hands. “Thank you for giving my son the inspiration he needed to save his brothers and sister. If there is anything we can do to return the favor, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Alex and Conner exchanged quick smiles.
“As a matter of fact,” Conner said. “We could use your help with something.…”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
A CASTLE OF QUESTIONS
After a long and exhausting journey across the fairy-tale world, Emmerich and the Masked Man arrived in the woods of the Eastern Kingdom. They had only stopped to rest once since leaving the Dwarf Forests, and Emmerich was so tired that he was falling asleep as they walked.
“We’re almost there,” the Masked Man said. “Keep up, boy.”
The closer they got to the portal, the more cross the Masked Man became. Emmerich was starting to realize he wasn’t as nice a person as he had first thought. The longer Emmerich accompanied the twins’ uncle, the louder a voice in the back of his mind urged him not to trust the man.
They entered an area of the forest that Emmerich recognized. It was the part of the woods he had entered with Conner and Bree on his first trip to the fairy-tale world. He would never forget seeing the Grande Armée soldiers raining down on the trees after they arrived.
“This is it,” the Masked Man said. “This is where I saw Morina activate the portal. Now all I need is the magic panpipe. Let me think, which tree did the witch stash it in?”
The twins’ uncle searched all the trees in the area. He stuck his hand in every hole, crack, and bird nest in every tree trunk. Finally, he found the instrument in the back of a squirrel’s nest.
“Aha!” the Masked Man said with delight. “I found it. Now I just need to play the right tune and the portal will open.”
The Masked Man played a series of melodies on the panpipe. He waited a few moments after each one, but none of the notes did the trick. Even when he was certain he had remembered the correct tune, a portal to the Otherworld did not appear.
“Blast that damn witch!” the Masked Man said. “Why isn’t it working?”
“Is it the right panpipe?” Emmerich asked.
“Of course it is,” he said. “Morina stole it from the fairies. I watched her open the portal just a few days ago. For whatever reason, it won’t cooperate with me.”
Emmerich thought back to when Conner played the panpipe and opened the portal in Neuschwanstein Castle. He remembered there was something very specific the instrument needed in order to work.
“It needs to be played by a person of magic blood,” Emmerich said. “That must be why it isn’t working. My friend Bree thinks she and I might have magic in our blood. Would you like me to give it a try?”
The magic in the Masked Man’s blood had been taken away a long time ago, so it made sense that the portal wasn’t opening for him. However, if his son was able to do the trick, not only would it grant them entrance to the Otherworld, it would also prove the Masked Man’s plan would work. He glanced down at his son, trying to conceal the eagerness in his eyes.
“Be my guest,” he said, and handed his son the panpipe.
Emmerich licked his lips, held the instrument to his mouth, and blew the eight notes he remembered Conner playing at the castle. Almost instantaneously, a bright light appeared out of thin air among the trees. The light grew bigger and bigger, and it started to spin, sucking all the leaves on the forest floor inside it like a wormhole.
Emmerich smiled. He had activated the portal all by himself! This confirmed Bree’s theory that there was magic in his blood. More than ever, Emmerich couldn’t wait to get home so he could tell her.
Unbeknownst to him, the Masked Man had other plans for the boy. He stared at the portal as it grew, mesmerized by its spinning light. He placed his hand on the back of Emmerich’s neck and pushed his son toward it.
“Good boy,” he said softly. “Very good boy…”
Bree and the Sisters Grimm had spent the entire week in Germany searching for clues to Emmerich’s disappearance. Just as they expected, nothing in the Bavarian countryside revealed where the boy was or who had taken him. There was only one place that might give them more insight, and unfortunately, it wasn’t an easy location to get to.
After days of trading voice mail, Cornelia finally got through to the groundskeeper of Neuschwanstein Castle. She told the man she and her family were private investigators from the United States and needed access to the castle. The groundskeeper wouldn’t hear a word of it until Cornelia mentioned it was regarding Emmerich Himmelsbach. By now all of Bavaria had heard of the missing boy, and the groundskeeper was inclined to help her.
Late one night, once all the tour guides and tourists had left and the janitors had finished their shifts, the groundskeeper snuck Cornelia, Wanda, Frenda, and Bree inside the castle.
“You have one hour,” the groundskeeper said. “I can’t give you any more time than that or I might lose my job.”
“We really appreciate this,” Cornelia said.
“Would you mind showing us around to the lower levels of the castle?” Wanda asked.
The groundskeeper escorted Wanda and Frenda to the stories below, giving Cornelia and Bree a chance to thoroughly inspect the Singers’ Hall without supervision. Bree looked around at all the instruments, the pillars, the chandeliers, and the mural of the enchanted forest: She couldn’t believe it had been more than a year since she and the boys were there.
“That’s where the portal is,” Bree said, and nodded to the mural.
Cornelia removed a cross-dimensional emission-tracking device from her purse and waved it around the painting. The device beeped with gusto.
“If I didn’t know that before, I would now,” Cornelia said. “The detection rates are off the charts. This portal was activated recently—very recently.”
“I knew it. Emmerich isn’t in this world,” Bree said. “Whoever kidnapped him took him back to the fairy-tale world.”
Bree sat on the floor and sighed. Cornelia kneeled next to her and put the tracking device aside.
“Sadly, I think we’ve done all we can do,” she said. “We should think about heading back to the States tomorrow morning.”
Bree would have stayed in Germany for months if she could. She felt like she was abandoning Emmerich by leaving, but Cornelia was right. There was no point in staying if there was nothing they could do.
“Have you contacted the Bailey twins and told them about Emmerich yet?” Cornelia asked.
“I tried calling Conner as soon as I found out Emmerich was taken,” Bree said. “At the time, his mom didn’t even know where he and his sister were. I bet they’re still somewhere in the fairy-tale world.”
“Then perhaps Conner will find Emmerich,” Cornelia said. “The three of you were brought together by chance—we need to have faith it’ll happen again.”
> Bree nodded. “Let’s go,” she said. “I don’t want to waste any more of anyone’s time.”
Just as she got to her feet, the tracking device began a beeping frenzy: Something otherworldly was headed their way. A bright light appeared in front of the mural and became brighter and brighter. It grew bigger and bigger, swirling like a vortex.
“My word!” Cornelia gasped. “What’s happening?”
“It’s the portal!” Bree said. “Someone must have activated it from the fairy-tale world!”
Instead of pulling them in like it had before, the portal blew powerful gusts of air into the room, knocking all the furniture and instruments to the floor. Bree and Cornelia held on to each other so they weren’t knocked off their feet. Leaves from the fairy-tale world blew inside the hall, and Bree could make out the silhouettes of two people stepping through the portal. It was so bright she couldn’t tell who they were.
Finally, the portal closed and the swirling vortex disappeared.
“Bree?” said a familiar voice with a German accent.
As soon as her eyes adjusted, Bree saw Emmerich running toward her. She couldn’t believe it—all her prayers had been answered! She embraced her friend and twirled him around in a circle.
“Emmerich!” Bree cried thankfully. “We’ve been looking all over for you!”
“I was kidnapped by witches!” Emmerich said. “They held me prisoner at their camp in the woods until this man rescued me!”
Emmerich gestured to the Masked Man behind him. Even though Bree was overjoyed to see her friend, there was something very peculiar about the man with Emmerich. He seemed familiar, but Bree couldn’t think of who he reminded her of.
“Thank you for saving my friend,” Bree said. “Who are you?”
“He’s Alex and Conner’s uncle Lloyd!” Emmerich exclaimed. “They sent him to find me and bring me home!”
“You know my niece and nephew, too?” the Masked Man asked. “Well, it’s certainly a small world.”
From the sarcastic tone in his voice, he was anything but thrilled by the connection.
“We go to the same school,” Bree said. “I didn’t even know they had an uncle.”
“We aren’t close,” the Masked Man said.
Emmerich was so happy to be back home in Germany, he hugged Cornelia before being introduced.
“I’m Emmerich,” he said. “Who are you?”
“My name is Cornelia Grimm,” she said. “It’s so wonderful to see you’re alive and well!”
“Cornelia is my cousin,” Bree said. “When I heard you were missing, she brought me here in her very own plane and helped me look for you. She’s part of a secret group of women called the Sisters Grimm—they’re descendants of the Brothers Grimm and they know all about the fairy-tale world.”
Emmerich’s eyes grew wide and he jumped up and down.
“Bree, that reminds me of something I have to tell you!” he said. “I activated the portal from the fairy-tale world all by myself! You were right—there’s magic in our blood! That must mean that you, Cornelia, and I are all related!”
“Actually, Emmerich,” Bree said, “we found out some information while we were visiting with your mom. It turns out you’re not related to the Brothers Grimm like I thought, you’re from the—”
Her train of thought was interrupted when Cornelia suddenly screamed. Bree and Emmerich looked up and saw that the Masked Man was pointing a revolver at them.
“What are you doing, Lloyd?” Emmerich asked.
The Masked Man ignored him. He stepped toward Cornelia and aimed the gun at her. The old woman raised her hands in the air.
“Did the girl say you have a plane?” he asked.
“Well… yes,” Cornelia said. “I do.”
The Masked Man jerked his head and gun toward Bree next.
“And you go to school with my niece and nephew,” he said. “Do you know where they live and how to get there?”
Bree was scared speechless. “I… I… I…” she mumbled.
“JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION!” the Masked Man yelled.
“Yes!” Bree said.
Emmerich was petrified. He regretted not trusting his instincts in the woods. Clearly, the man wasn’t who he said he was.
“You’re not Alex and Conner’s uncle, are you?” he asked.
“Yes, I most certainly am,” the Masked Man said. “Actually, I’m a lot more than what you realize, but we’ll have plenty of time for that later. The four of us are going on a little trip to the twins’ house—right now!”
“But Alex and Conner aren’t there,” Bree peeped. “They’re in the fairy-tale world!”
The Masked Man chuckled. “Stupid girl,” he said. “I never said I was looking for the twins.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
FAMILIAR STRANGERS
In the commissary, the Blissworm was standing on a table entertaining all the pirates and sailors from “Starboardia.” The space worm theatrically re-enacted the twins’ encounter with the polycrabs on Lollipopigust. It used sound effects, large gestures, and impersonations to tell the exciting tale. Although it never articulated any words, the Dolly Llama crew seemed to understand everything the worm was saying. They oohed and aahed at the descriptive story; some even covered their eyes like they were watching a scary movie.
“You’re telling us that Alex and Conner found you in a hole the polycrabs dug to capture prey?” Winking Wendy asked.
“Then you were all captured and taken to the polycrabs’ colony deep underground?” Siren Sue asked.
“And after Conner rescued you from the queen polycrab’s web, he detonated a massive bomb that vaporized the whole species?” Stinky-Feet Phoebe asked.
The Blissworm nodded happily. They were a very attentive audience. All the pirates and sailors were astonished by the story. The Dolly Llama crew had never heard such an adventurous tale, and they were pirates.
The commissary was still segregated. The characters from the fairy-tale world glared at the characters from Conner’s short stories from their table across the room. They were also astonished, not by the events in the story, but that the Dolly Llama crew understood what the worm was saying.
“How do they know what it’s talking about?” Jack whispered to Goldilocks.
“They’re all from Conner’s imagination,” Goldilocks said. “They must share some kind of language.”
Red casually slid into the seat across the table from Jack and Goldilocks. Her eyebrows were raised and she pursed her lips tightly to keep from smiling: She obviously had a secret she was dying to share. Red leaned over the table so only Jack and Goldilocks could hear her.
“Have you noticed how familiar all these strangers are?” Red whispered.
Jack and Goldilocks stared at her blankly. Was she just now realizing that?
“Can’t say I have,” Jack said. “Have you, Goldie?”
“Familiar?” Goldilocks said. “Whatever do you mean?”
Red was so eager to talk about it, she didn’t realize they were being sarcastic. Her eyes enlarged like her theory was scandalous.
“All the characters on that side of this odd ballroom are from Conner’s short stories, right?” Red said. “But I’m not convinced they’re entirely from his imagination. I think many of the people in this room are based on people he knows—people like us.”
Red swiped the table like she was laying out a winning hand of cards. Jack and Goldilocks both sighed. Sometimes Red was so naïve, it was impressive.
“I think you’re onto something, Red,” Jack said.
“Nothing gets by you,” Goldilocks said.
Red was so pleased with herself, she shimmied her shoulders. Captain Auburn Sally walked by their table and Red waved her down.
“Excuse me, lady with the big hat!” Red called. “Come sit with us!”
Red patted the seat next to her. The captain looked around the room to make sure Red wasn’t speaking to someone else, and then sat down next to th
e queen, with no clue of her intentions.
“It’s rather silly for us to share such close quarters and not get to know each other,” Red said. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Queen Red Riding Hood. These are my subjects Jack and Goldilocks.”
Jack and Goldilocks glanced at each other. Subjects?
“It’s nice to meet you,” Auburn Sally said. “I’m Captain Auburn Sally of the Dolly Llama.”
“Tell me everything,” Red said. “Where are you from, what do you do for a living, what are your hobbies, et cetera, et cetera?”
“Well, like I said, I’m the captain of a ship,” Auburn Sally said. “We’re the only all-female vessel in the Caribbean, but one of the most feared in the sea. We spend our days sailing across the ocean, looking for buried treasure. Occasionally we’ll meet other women like ourselves, on the run from their pasts, and we invite them to join our crew.”
Red was so charmed by the captain, she gently placed her hands over Auburn Sally’s. The queen smiled like they were long-lost sisters who had finally been reunited.
“You must be me,” Red said.
Auburn Sally was confused. She understood what Red was insinuating, but the queen didn’t seem to notice that Goldilocks could have been the captain’s identical twin.
“Are you sure?” the captain asked. “No offense, but I would have guessed someone else was inspired by you.”
The captain gestured to the Cyborg Queen in the corner of the commissary. She was sitting in throne mode as Commander Newters tightened the wires around the gears on top of her head.
“Don’t be so humble,” Red said. “I’m certain you’re me. The similarities are uncanny! Both of our names start with colors, we’re both very powerful and accomplished women, and we’re both very flamboyant dressers. My style is more privileged and pampered but the dirty-and-daring look works well on you.”
Auburn Sally looked to Jack and Goldilocks for help.
“Just play along or it’ll never stop,” Goldilocks whispered to the captain. “I think you’re right, Red. Auburn Sally is definitely based on you.”
