Journey to Neverland (Haunting Fairytales Collection Book 2)

by R. L. Weeks

  Rapunzel and Red both sat on the ground and looked up at the wondrous beauty surrounding them with awe. ‘Welcome to Neverland,’ Gallisa said. ‘Now, we have a two-day trek to get to the beach. We should leave now.’

  SHIPWRECKED

  The waves licked the ship hungrily, waiting to drag the souls on board into the watery depths.

  Lori’s hair stuck to her face. Water sprayed her and Stilt. Belle rocked from side to side underneath, desperately trying to get free.

  ‘Where are the crew?’ Stilt shouted across the howling wind, holding onto a sail.

  Lori looked around. ‘We must be in Neverland. They can’t come into Neverland. We are close.’

  ‘We won’t make it!’ Stilt screamed. He held onto a pole as a wave pushed over his head. Lori was knocked to the floor. The sea carried the broken ship to shore. Water lapped below deck. Belle screamed out for help as the water rose dangerously high. She submerged into the water, looking for something sharp. She saw a sharp corner. She had managed to pull her feet out of the rope binding her ankles, with a lot of pain and rope burns. But her hands were bound too tightly. She took a deep breath and swam over to the corner and ferociously cut the rope until it snapped.

  She swam back up to the door and pushed it up. She saw that Lori and Stilt were unconscious. The boat crashed into the rocks, throwing her backward. She jumped off of the ship and into the shallow waters. She ran onto the beach and desperately looked around for help.

  Belle ran into the forest, panicking. As she delved further into the forest, the happier she felt. She walked in a daze, watching the beautiful lights fly around her.

  Shortly after Lori and Stilt woke up. The ship rocked them side to side, making them both feel a little nauseous. Lori rubbed her head and got to her feet. They both felt weak. Lori lifted her dress above her ankles and walked down the few steps to the door. It was already open. She looked inside and saw the cut rope. She climbed back up the steps and ground her teeth. ‘She’s gone.’

  Stilt wrung out his jacket. ‘No matter. The most important thing is we get onto the beach.’

  They waded through the shallow waters and stumbled onto the sand. Lori sat down, taking off her boots, emptying them of water. ‘Belle may be gone, but the important thing is she’s trapped here with no way back. James will still come,’ Lori said, trying to catch her breath.

  Both of them turned at the same time, gasping at the sheer beauty surrounding them. Silver fairy dust lined the clouds. Waves scattered the blue hue from the moonlight, and the leaves danced in the breeze. The shimmering pool reflected the rich brown branches that hung above it. Suspended from each branch were little lanterns, shining light on the wooded area. The sea, a rich blue, stretched out as far as the eye could see. Stilt smiled as the cool sea breeze blew over his sweaty neck and arms. He took a deep breath, smelling the fruity smells, salty sea, and moss.

  The beach was made up of the richest golden sand that Lori and Stilt had ever seen. Even the rocks seemed to glow in the moonlight. Everything about Neverland was magical, more magical than either one of them could have imagined.

  However, as breathtaking as it was, Lori and Stilt could feel the surge of magic pulsating through every grain of sand, every tree, and every wave. Neverland was alive with magic, and it was more powerful than them or anyone they had encountered.

  ‘We’re going to have our work cut out,’ Stilt said under his breath. Lori leaned in, not daring to move from their spot on the beach.

  ‘He is powerful. He has managed to make an entire land outside of Cantata’s magical domain. I’ve never seen anything like this,’ Lori admitted. Stilt could notice a hesitance in her words. If Lori was nervous, then they truly were out of their depths.

  An orb of light flew past them at lightning speed. Then another, and then another, leaving a trail of sparkling dust behind them The faintest giggling could be heard around them. Stilt turned, watching an orb grow bigger and bigger until it was the size of him. Mouth open, he smacked Lori’s arm. She turned and gasped.

  The orb turned into a five-foot blonde girl. ‘Hello.’ Her voice was soft, lulling, and it had the slightest sound of bells ringing to it.

  ‘Uh, hi,’ Stilt started. ‘Who- what are you?’

  The blonde girl giggled. ‘I name is Bell and I am one of Peter’s fairies.’

  ‘Peter,’ Lori perked up at the sound of his name. ‘We are here to see him, to talk to him. We need his help.’

  Bell smiled sweetly and turned. ‘Of course you are. I will go and find him. Stay here.’ She turned back into a small orb and flew over to Stilt’s ear, and in the faintest whisper said, ‘oh, beware of the pirates. If you see them, shout for Peter. Liars, they are.’

  After she had flown away, Stilt sat on a nearby rock and got out a hipflask. ‘Ah, something to take the edge off.’

  ‘Can I?’ Lori asked, holding out a gloved hand.

  He laughed. ‘Get your own,’ he said and drank the last of the whisky. ‘Hopefully, she won’t be long. It’s getting cold.’

  Lori nodded and tried to summon magic. A faint green mist danced above her hand. ‘I can use magic here. That’s a relief. Although, it is weaker than usual.’

  Stilt rolled his eyes. ‘Of course, you can. You don’t use a moral compass. Only those who do have their magic tied to Cantata. We are tied to no domain, but, of course, as we get our magic from Cantata, we are more powerful when in our own lands. That’s one thing I want to know,’ he said, moving nearer to Lori. ‘Where did you get your unlimited power?’

  She tapped her nose. ‘Need to know, and you don’t need to know.’

  Stilt turned on hearing a loud splash. ‘What was that?’ Stilt asked, looking out to where the water was rippling.

  Lori shrugged. Then a grubby hand wrapped its way around her mouth. She tried to scream, but the hand muffled her screams. She was cuffed and knocked out before she could summon magic to aid her. Stilt looked at the grubby man with a wooden leg. ‘No need. I will come peacefully.’

  The pirate laughed. ‘Captain’s orders,’ he said in a thick accent that Stilt didn’t recognise, then knocked Stilt out with a club.

  Lori’s eyes fluttered open. The floor beneath her was rocking slightly from left to right. The sound of waves crashing against the side told her that she was on a ship. She tried to free herself of the cuffs. Stilt woke up shortly after and looked at Lori. She gave him a knowing look and used her magic to try and melt their cuffs. They both jumped as the cuffs heated up to unbearable temperatures, burning their wrists. ‘You know,’ he hissed, ‘you’re getting rather sloppy.’

  ‘At least I’m trying,’ she whispered back. He snorted and tried to summon his magic. A shadow covered them as they both struggled to escape from the pole they were cuffed too. Lori slowly turned her head. The man, at least six foot four, took a step backward. The moonlight hit him, showing him off in all of his drunken glory.

  His black and red hat marked him as the captain of the ship. He wore the finest fabric gold could buy, and the glistening gold and silver chains hanging around his neck showed that he was a successful pirate.

  One piece of jewellery caught her eye, a talisman with a ship; the gold was old, therefore the most expensive.

  The pirates skin was sun kissed from long days in the heat, and his hair was jet black and untamed, cut down to the top of his shoulders. He looked at her with eyes as cold as the ocean, following her gaze with sly calculation.

  ‘The names Hook, Captain Hook.’ His accent surprised them both. His voice was gruff and thick, but he was surprisingly well-spoken, unlike the pirates who sailed the waters near Dolorom and Forosh.

  ‘How lovely to meet you,’ Stilt said sarcastically. ‘I would shake your hand, but I’m otherwise unable.’

  Hook knelt down, stroking his short beard, which was as dark as his hair. ‘Who are you both and what are you doing in Neverland?’

  Lori cleared her throat. ‘I am the Queen of Northmanni, Passion, and a sor
ceress –’

  ‘Evil Queen,’ Stilt whispered. She shot him an icy glare and looked back to Hook, who was watching her like a predator watches its prey.

  ‘Evil Queen, eh?’ Hook asked. ‘Well, anyone with evil in their title is welcome aboard my ship.’

  Stilt rolled his eyes. ‘We are here to see Peter. Now, let us go before I make your ship a home for the fishes.’

  Hook knelt down and dragged the sharp end of his hook along Stilt neck, making sure not to cut him, but pressing deep enough to make him tremble. ‘Such big threats, from such a little man.’

  Stilt growled, and Lori laughed. ‘I like him,’ she said to Stilt.

  ‘Of course you do, he’s a bad guy –’

  ‘Now,’ Hook said, interrupting them. ‘Tell me what your business is with Peter.’

  Lori smirked. ‘I’d be happy too. First, release us and we will go with you to somewhere more… private.’

  Stilt’s eyes widened. ‘What?’

  Lori rolled her eyes. ‘For the discussion.’

  ‘Oh,’ Stilt blushed. ‘Sorry. Yes, release us and we will talk somewhere more private.’

  Hook looked at one of his pirates and jerked his head toward Lori and Stilt, giving the order for them to be freed. The clumsy pirate who wore an eye patch and had a wooden leg, freed them, but accidentally stood on Lori’s foot. ‘Idiot,’ she screamed.

  ‘Sorry mam,’ the pirate said and hobbled back to the sails.

  They stood up and followed Hook into his cabin.

  After Lori had told Hook almost the whole truth, Hook slammed his hook onto the wooden table. ‘Excellent. I will come with you to the fountain of youth.’

  ‘No, no, no,’ Stilt said, shaking his head. Hook raised an eyebrow and looked at Stilt slyly. Stilt cleared his throat. ‘We are already sharing with too many.’

  ‘You think Peter will help ya?’ Hook laughed. ‘He’s more evil than you, I, and her together.’

  Lori jumped in. ‘The stories talk about how he’s a nice boy, powerful, but a child.’

  Stilt added, ‘what harm can a kid do?’

  Hook pointed at a scar on his cheek which bore around to the thick of his nose. ‘He did this. He killed my beloved Jane. He was responsible for drowning some of my best men. He cares for no one. He knows not of love or compassion, he only knows power, manipulation, and greed. Neverland is a prison for the poor souls who venture too far and make deals with the Devil. He will look into your hearts desires and trap you. Lulling you into a false sense of security,’ Hook stopped, took a breath, and drank some of the red wine which filled his silver goblet. ‘He’s an old, powerful man, trapped inside the body of a boy. Never ageing, never dying.’

  Silence protruded the room and the waves splashing against the sides of the ship were all that could be heard. ‘We met a fairy,’ Lori admitted. ‘She was alerting Peter to our arrival.’

  ‘Bell,’ Hook spat. ‘She’s just as bad as him. Obsessed with him. She is one of his fairies. Channelling some of his magic. Once he finds out you’re both sorcerer’s, he will be delighted. All those who are trapped here, they have their life force taken from them, their kindness, their desire, their greed, all of it is transferred into magic to keep this prison alive. Neverland is his personality. He is happy, because he has everything he wants, and imaganitave, he never wants to grow up. Neverland is a series of Islands, all of which show his true personality. The main one he lives on is a paradise.’

  Lori leant forward. ‘And the other two Islands?’

  Hook coughed and pointed at the window to a small Island not far from them. ‘That one is Piper Island. Peter won’t go there, but we do. It’s safe from him. It’s just mountains, a forest, a wasteland of dead things.’

  Stilt raised an eyebrow. ‘Why won’t he go there?’

  ‘The third Island is bare. Empty of magic. Like his heart. No crops can grow there, no flowers, it’s just death,’ Hook said, leaving Stilt’s question unanswered. ‘So, you both have a lot of magic you say? Well, he will take it from you. I’m sure both of your magic will be enough to fuel this soul cell for another thousand years.’

  ‘No,’ Lori stood up, almost knocking over Hooks goblet. ‘He must be able to be killed.’

  Hook swigged more of his wine. ‘Nope.’

  Lori slammed her fist down. ‘Then a weakness. Why is he doing all of this?’

  Hook grinned. ‘Because, Lori, quite simply, he is greedy.’

  ‘We need his power,’ Stilt said to Lori, who was downing the rest of her wine. Stilt noticed that he had not been offered any and scowled. ‘Regardless of all of this, we need to somehow persuade him to come with us.’

  ‘He will not come,’ Hook said.

  ‘Why?’ Stilt and Lori chorused.

  Hook grinned. ‘What you seek is the fountain of youth?’

  ‘Yes,’ they replied.

  ‘Well, what do you think you’re standing on?’

  Lori smiled back. ‘You’re coming with us, Hook. We can bring Neverland down, that’s if you want Peter gone and you out of this prison?’

  Hook and Lori chinked their glasses. Stilt sat, cross armed, and thirsty. Hook opened the door to the cabin. ‘Crew, set sail for Pirate’s cove.’

  ***

  Hook stumbled a little as they jumped out of the little boat that took them from the ship to the beach. Lori wasn’t sure if it was because he was drunk, or if he was not used to walking on ground which didn’t moved with waves. ‘I help you find the source of the fountain, and you’re sure you can get me out of here?’

  Lori smiled. ‘Once we take the source, he will have nothing to base his magic through. He will perish, and we will all have more power than we thought possible.’

  Stilt grinned. ‘Yes, all of this power, just for one little boy. It’s unfair.’

  ‘Where do we go?’ Lori asked.

  ‘We need to get to the far edge, to the mountains. The keeper of the fountains source lives there.’

  WELCOME TO NEVERLAND

  Red, Snow, Rapunzel and Gallisa finally reached the beach. All they had seen so far was tree after tree. They looked around and took in the beauty of it all. The shimmering pools. The lanterns hanging from the low branches, the rich blue sea, and the golden sand. It was like a dream. Bell appeared, her blonde hair in a loose bun, showing off her diamond-shaped face. Her thin lips spread into a smile.

  Her eyes flashed gold. ‘Welcome to Neverland. Why have you come here? Dreams, desires?’

  ‘We’re here to find a woman. We were told she came here, her name is Lori,’ Snow said.

  ‘Ah,’ Bell said. ‘Yes, I believe it was the woman who showed up with a man, he had golden hair, quite short.’

  ‘Stilt,’ Snow said through gritted teeth. Gallisa looked around anxiously, but Bell didn’t seem to remember her or she was pretending not too.

  Bell looked at Snow. ‘They asked to see Peter. I went to get him, but when I came back, they had gone.’

  ‘Do you know if they’re on the Island?’ Snow asked.

  Bell shook her head. ‘We have been keeping a lookout, they could be, but we have not spotted them so far. I’m worried that the pirates got to them first, or worse, the captain,’ Bell replied.

  Rapunzel stepped forward. ‘Oh, well, if you don’t mind, we’re going to look for them,’ Rapunzel said sweetly.

  Bell smiled. ‘But you must be tired after your journey. Come with me. I can give you food, drink, and a bath before you set off. Peter may be able to help you.’

  ‘That’s very kind, thank you,’ Rapunzel said and skipped after Bell. Gallisa walked with Rapunzel, and Red and Snow, who were less than innocent, looked at Bell suspiciously.

  ‘Anything happens, I’ll use my sword,’ Snow said to Red.

  Red looked at Snow tight-lipped. ‘Anything happens; I will fight them.’

  They both nodded and walked after Rapunzel, Gallisa, and Bell.

  Bell led them through the trees and up a trail which had been created
from many footprints. Bushes obscured the path, but they walked on anyhow. Orbs floated around the branches, lighting the way for them. The forest had a certain warmth to it, and even in the night, was alive with wildlife.

  ‘You’ll love him,’ Bell promised. ‘Peter’s wonderful,’ she added, dreamily. ‘And the lost boys are a lot of fun. I’m sure you’ll like it with us.’

  Rapunzel grinned. ‘Sounds wonderful.’

  ‘Who are the lost boys?’ Snow inquired.

  ‘Boys who wandered into Neverland. They had no home, no love, and found a home with us. They’re lost but found.’

  ‘Right,’ Red said, looking deadpan. ‘You should call them found boys then.’

  Snow and Red both laughed, Rapunzel scowled, and Bell pretended not to hear them.

  They approached a tree house. Fallen leaves surrounded it like a barrier. A wooden ladder led up through the branches. At the top of it, the underside of the large treehouse was covered with ivy, all except for the square door. They climbed and pushed open the door and pulled themselves into the warm room.

  A roaring fire in the most magnificent silver fireplace lit up the room. The entire house was made of slabs of wood. On the wall, ivy wound its way around the room. There was a dining table to the left of the room, big enough for fifteen people. Beneath their feet were rugs embroidered with pictures of Neverland and fairies.

  Priceless vases were used to hold glistening pink and purple flowers. They sat on various little shelves. The doorway at the back of the room led to a small, country-style kitchen. To the left were three doors. Red peeped her head around one door. In there was a four poster bed, draped in silver and gold.

  In the other room were eight smaller beds with cabinets next to each one. And in the third room were four beds, slightly bigger in size.

  Bell walked them back into the living room and pointed at three four-seater sofas that sat in a rectangle in front of the fire. ‘Please, sit. Peter should be back soon. He found another guest roaming the forest. He’s gone to get her.’

  Red and Snow nodded, looking around for ways to escape if needed. There were three windows and a door. Rapunzel smiled kindly at Bell. ‘Thank you so much for your hospitality.’