‘You have such a lovely head,’ Croon said.
Gallisa laughed. ‘I’ve never been complimented on my head before.’
He lowered his voice to a whisper. ‘Before I came here, I made hats. You have a lovely head for a hat.’
‘Oh, wow! Why don’t you do it here?’ she asked.
He leaned in closer. ‘Best if you don’t mention it.’
She leaned in and noticed how good Croon smelled. ‘Why?’
He glanced over at Peter. ‘He doesn’t like us to do anything that resembles our life before here.’
She looked around suspiciously. ‘That’s a bit weird. Oh, when did you come here? You weren’t here when I was here last?’
Croon gasped. ‘You were here before and left?’
She nodded. ‘Yes. Is that weird?’
‘Uh, yes! No one leaves here,’ he admitted.
She shrugged. ‘Well, I did.’
Peter looked over at Croon and Gallisa and smiled. ‘Ready for a real party?’ he asked. They both nodded and shuffled away from each other. Peter sparked a fire, magnificent and bright, in the centre of the fairy ring. Everyone clapped as he marked his face in a warrior fashion and danced around the fire. His face was the epitome of youth, innocence, and happiness. His eyes were brighter than the bright green grass beneath him. He flashed his pearly white teeth as he smiled widely at Snow.
‘The music is amazing. I could stay here forever,’ Snow sang as she took off her boots and danced with Rapunzel. A breeze danced with them as the music took over their senses. They all smiled, smiled wider than they ever had. Everything was perfect. They had never known happiness like this.
‘Edward would have loved this,’ Belle said. The thought of Edward took her away from the music, taking her away from Neverland just for a moment. Something flashed across Peter’s eyes, something sinister, as Belle sat down, depression falling on her features.
‘Belle, dear Belle, what is wrong,’ Peter asked, taking her hand.
‘My heart is broken,’ she admitted.
He huffed and forced a smile. ‘Bell,’ he called. Bell skipped over to the log where they were sat.
‘Yes, Peter?’ she asked. Obedient and dazzling, she was his perfect ally.
‘Belle has a broken heart.’
‘No,’ she gasped. ‘I must help you. You are safe here, with me. Come with me to the tree house, and we can see what we can do about your broken heart.’
Snow, Red, Rapunzel, and Gallissa continued to dance, and Peter joined them. He took Snow’s hand. ‘May I have this dance,’ he asked with a mischievous smile.
‘Just one,’ she said and smirked.
THE PIED PIPER
The canopy of trees stretched out into the distance. Sea surrounding them, Peter’s Island was just a small, safe dot from the island they stood on. The red sky reached into the clouds, the fairy dust lining them lit up like smouldering ashes.
Squawks from the birds echoed out from the forest. They stood on the golden beach. Each grain of sand was ablaze from the red hue, footprints left behind from the pirates marked the way for Lori and Stilt. They approached the rocky mounds with caution. The rocks stood taller than them with deadly jagged edges.
Hook ushered them through the narrow gap in the rocks. The smell of smoke still lingered from the stoked-out fire that lay in the centre of rocky mounds, its ashes still burning from the pirates last visit.
They sat on the seats that Hook and his crew had made from logs. ‘I’m glad we’re back on land,’ Stilt admitted. He wiped the sweat from his head and brushed back his golden blond hair. Lori stretched her legs.
The crew stayed behind on the ship as Hook, Lori, and Stilt gathered food. After they had dropped the supplies on the ship, they walked into the forest.
At first, the forest seemed to mirror the one on Peter’s Island, but the further they ventured into the depths of the forest, the wider the trees became. It reeked of age. The ancient trees seemed to have little life left in them; old ones left to die on the outskirts—out of sight, out of mind.
As a wasteland for dying creatures, skulls, both human and fairy, littered the ground. The trees fell away, revealing grey mountains with snowy peaks, looking picturesque against the red sky. The last of the morning stars were like pinpricks against the sunset.
A haunting melody entrapped the air, calling them to the mountains. Lori dressed in one of the garments that Hook had gifted her. The off-white corset curved around her small waist and chest. The skirt fell down to her feet. Her shoes were ballet style, pink, with ribbons wrapping around her ankles to her knees. White laced gloves reached her elbows. She took her hair down, feeling the freedom of no constraints. The tight gowns, the itchy fabrics, and pulling headdresses were gone. She couldn’t help but feel happier in Neverland.
Stilt noticed how the river surrounding the mountains were the same colour as Sadie’s eyes. He dearly missed his wife, but everything felt okay for the first time. He even felt a smile spread across his face.
‘Wipe those smiles off your faces; that’s what he wants!’ Hook barked and walked ahead of them, his brown boots squelching as he walked through the mud. Lori walked around the muddy puddles and followed Hook, with Stilt strutting shortly behind.
They subconsciously swayed their hips to the melody. It spoke to each of them in different ways. Lori could smell Edward’s rich, musky scent. She could feel the warm embraces on her skin from each loving hug she had ever had.
Stilt could hear his wife singing a familiar lullaby to their child. He could hear his daughter’s laughter echo around his mind.
Hook felt his late wife’s soft touch on his face, and everything around them morphed into images of her. Her lips were in the red of the sky, her eyes were in the greens from the leaves, her smile was in every footprint.
The closer they bore to the base of the mountain, the more the happiness faded from their spirits. Green mist lingered in a ring around the base, and the haunting melody grew louder. The sound of the river crashed in their ears. Death hung in the air, a reminder of the truth about Neverland.
Lori’s eyes scaled the mountain. ‘The keeper of the entry to the fountain lives here? Really?’
Hook smiled. ‘Peter will not go near him. As powerful as he is, the keeper has a flute which can entrance even Peter. It lures animals, people, fairies, and even mermaids. The beauty of his tunes will breathe life into you, but they will also be the last thing you hear before your inevitable end,’ he warned. ‘So we must proceed with caution.’
‘Why doesn’t he just leave?’ asked Stilt.
Hook looked up at the cave. ‘Because the Pied Piper is Peter’s slightly less evil brother.’ They made their way up to the cave, following the winding, dangerous path that led toward the songs of souls.
They watched their shadows dissolve into the impenetrable darkness as they stepped into the large cave. You couldn’t tell where the roof ended and the ground began. They were careful not to catch themselves on the jagged rocks as they pushed forward into the blackness. Lori summoned up a ball of light, which followed them, offering little comfort from the eerie surroundings. It highlighted the skulls, bones, and lost treasures of those who had entered the cave and did not live to tell the tale.
The most beautiful music filled their minds. Covering their ears did nothing; the melody stretched out its musical hand and pulled its way into your soul. All they could hear was the haunting melody, it surrounded them and filled their being. Lori felt elevated; she danced, taking Hook’s hand, who, Stilt was surprised to see, danced with her too.
Stilt felt his worries melt away; a smile spread across his face with each sweet tune. He felt lightheaded as if he could fly.
‘Who dare enters my cave?’ a booming voice asked, breaking the melody. They snapped back to reality. The melody was replaced by the sound of dripping water. The light disappeared, leaving them in a chilling blackness, only slightly illuminated by the green hue ahead of them. They had not rea
lised in their daze that they had ventured half a mile into the mountain.
Their gazes locked with the man in front of them. They wanted to stay trapped in the dreamy haze for they had just awoken to a nightmare.
Edward stood before Lori, the axe wound on his neck was dripping with blood. ‘I loved you!’ Edward gurgled. Lori fell back against the wall, tears falling down her soft cheeks.
Stilt’s wife sat in the corner of the cave, rocking back and forth, holding their daughter’s rattle, which was covered in blood. He could taste the blood. He ran his tongue along his teeth and felt the chunks of the flesh from his daughter’s fragile body.
He heard Sadie’s anguished screams as their daughter cried out for her mama and papa. Her beautiful blue eyes filled with tears as she looked at her father’s warped face. The dangerous glint in his eyes instilled fear into the sweet child. She tried to wriggle free, but he took another bite from her. With each bite, the hunger in him satisfied. His daughter’s cries ran dry until the only sound left was Sadie’s heart-breaking sobs.
Stilt looked down at his blood-soaked hands and fell to his knees. He hadn’t meant to kill her, but something evil had rotted into his core, forcing him to do the unspeakable act that he’d never forgive himself for. It was happening again and again until Stilt was an empty shell, rocking like Sadie on the cave floor.
Hook wept tears of relief as he felt his sweet Jane’s fingers entwined with his. They were lying in bed, her head on his chest. He ran his fingers through her fruity smelling hair and smiled down at his little Jane. She nuzzled up to him.
They both jumped on hearing a loud bang outside. He stood up to find out what had happened. As he walked out of the cabin, sea spray blinded him, throwing him onto the floor.
They had almost escaped Neverland; they were so close to home, but Peter had seen, as he always did, and flew to them. Large rocks grew from the waves, preventing them from passing.
Peter, unable to step foot on the enchanted ship, called the mermaids. Hook could hear their screeching laughter as they grabbed the sides of the ship.
He caught the gaze of one of them. She was beautiful; in her eyes, calm waves swam across her irises. He could smell nothing but her enchanting scent. He walked over to her; she took his hand, and he followed her almost overboard. Ensnaring him into a trap, the mermaid sunk her teeth into his wrist.
Jane’s cry brought him back to reality. He ripped his hands from the mermaid, but his hand tore off into the mermaid’s mouth. Screaming with pain, he looked over at his wife. She had been dragged overboard by a mermaid. She called to him to save her and over again.
She trembled as she was lifted out of the water by Peter. He laughed evilly, and he held onto Jane.
Hook pleaded, begged even, for Peter to let her go. Tears streamed down, but Peter’s eyes had already flashed black. He dropped her into the water below. A crocodile—larger than any he had ever seen, and the size of the ship itself—ate Jane as if she were a grape. Her head crunched under its teeth, blood squirting out. His men screamed as they were dragged into the murky depths of the ocean.
A voice broke their nightmares. ‘Who are you and what do you want?’
Hook looked around. He was back in the cave, as were Lori and Stilt. It was an illusion, using their memories or desires to crush them, warping them to terrify.
Lori tried to catch her breath. She had lived it again, walking in and catching Edward with another woman, in their bed. Not just any woman, but her mother!
She remembered each promise, each ‘I love you,’ and finally, the beheading. She took his life, and he kept telling her that he loved her, but it was too late. Every time she tried to drag him back to life in this nightmare, he’d say it was too late, and the memories of them were lost in a sea of nothingness. ‘Why show me those memories. Why show me Edward dead? Why?’ Lori wept.
‘Who are you?’ A man stepped out of the shadows wearing green and brown. He looked uncannily like Peter but less cheery. The youth in his face was replaced with tiredness. His green eyes were just as or even more vibrant than Peter’s were. He stood at six-foot-four, looking down at Lori who was still crying.
Lori spluttered, ‘I’m Lori, Queen of Northmanni.’
The Pied Piper knelt down and looked into her eyes. ‘Queen of Passion too? The woman who takes others’ beauty and happiness to feed her own but will never succeed. With each revenge, your heart will grow blacker until you are nothing. You will become as ugly on the outside as you are on the inside,’ the piper smiled evilly and turned to Stilt. ‘You, the man who can spin gold, the one who has tried to right his wrongs. The man who has been kicked down over and over again but keeps coming back. The one whose child will always lay as a reminder in his stomach. The one who will never get his daughter or wife back. They now float in the sea of your own darkness.’
Stilt couldn’t stand; he gave up hope and stayed on the floor, sobbing into his brown top. ‘And Hook,’ the piper said, looking into his cold, blue eyes. ‘The man who let his wife die because he was lured by another. The one who watched his men die as he stayed safely on the ship. You will never escape their screams.’
‘Make it stop,’ they begged.
The piper shook his head. ‘I cannot. Everything you feel, everything you see,’ he said maddeningly, ‘are your own demons. I just helped bring them out physically!’
Hook grabbed the piper’s arm with his hook and tugged. The flute flew out of his hand and landed with a chink on the floor.
Lori grabbed it and held it in both hands. ‘I’ll snap it.’
The darkness they felt faded as the flute stayed in Lori’s hands. Hook laughed. ‘Oh dear, not very powerful without your musical toy now, are ya?’
The piper raised an eyebrow and grinned. ‘Oh, you’d be surprised.’
TRAPPED IN A NIGHTMARE
Belle sat by a tree and looked out feeling lonelier than she had ever felt. ‘Come on,’ Bell said, extending her hand. ‘Let’s go chat in the tree house.’
Bell sat with Belle on the sofa by the fire. It crackled as Belle sobbed into a pillow. ‘He was a cursed man, trapped in a castle, and he fell in love with me. He loved me when he loved no one else. Then Stilt made Edward forget who I was until the day he remembered. He came back, but Lori tricked me. After a lot of lies and tricks, Edward and I found each other again and started a relationship. It was short-lived because it was shortly after that …’ She cried harder until she managed, ‘he was killed in front of me. I watched his head bounce away …’
Bell rubbed her back, adding in the odd ‘aww’ and ‘I feel for you’ when appropriate. Bell waited patiently for Belle to finish sobbing. Tide brought them hot cocoa and went back down to enjoy the party.
Bell’s blue eyes sparkled as she looked at Belle’s brown eyes. ‘We could bring him back, you know?’
Belle looked up in shock. ‘What? That’s not possible.’
Bell smiled excitedly. ‘Peter can do anything. You and Edward could stay here. Honestly, he’s so powerful.’
Belle shook her head. ‘I don’t know if I could trust him again. He did so many terrible things.’
Bell pressed her lips together. ‘But you said that love changed him. He loved you. He cried for you not to watch when he was killed. He shouted for you to look away. All he cared about was you.’
Belle smiled. You’re right, he-’ Belle stood up and gasped. ‘How did you know that? I didn’t tell you that he called out for me.’
Panicked, Bell stood up. ‘Yes, you did.’
Belle shook her head. ‘No, I didn’t.’
‘Does it matter how I know?’ Bell asked. ‘The main thing is we can bring Edward back from the dead.’
Belle furrowed her brows. ‘If we stay here in Neverland, you said? Would I have to give myself to Neverland? Become a prisoner here?’
Bell bit her lip. ‘No, well, you wouldn’t want to leave, would you?’
Belle grabbed her bag from the table and ran to the door.
Bell called after her. ‘Belle, come back,’ but it was too late. Belle hurried down the ladder and disappeared through the foliage.
Bell ran down to Peter who was dancing closely with Snow. Too close. Bell’s eyes flashed with jealousy as she watched Peter twirl her around.
THE WOLF WITHIN
Depression fell on Red’s features. The music lifted the others, but it was pushing Red further and further into herself. She could hear the wolf trapped in her head, pushing itself forward. She tried to supress it, but howling replaced the music. Panicked, she tried to step forward, but she felt as if she were being pinned down on the log. She tried to scream out, but no one could hear her. Redell, the wolf that inhabited Red’s body when she was a child, finally managed to push his way to the surface. She had pushed him back for so long using herbal drinks, but she had forgotten to drink any while in Neverland.
Red’s eyes turned black. The wolf was angry; he had befriended Red, asking her to help him find another host. He had helped her get rid of her brothers, and how did she repay him? By forcing him to live as a prisoner in the far reaches of her mind. Well, he was back, and nothing would stop him. He looked through Red’s eyes, taking over her body.
He stepped forward, looking at Rapunzel with hungry eyes. This would be his ultimate revenge. Rapunzel glanced at Red, and the smile dropped from her face. She looked like Red, but her eyes were demonic. Her teeth were growing longer, into canines. Her fingernails turned into claws, and she was hunched over, saliva dripping from her teeth.
Peter pulled Snow into the bushes as Red lunged at Rapunzel.
Rapunzel ran to the tree house, climbing the ladder frantically. She looked down from the top of the ladder. Red was licking her lips, climbing quickly. Rapunzel pushed open the door then barred it shut. She ran into one of the bedrooms and hid in a wardrobe.
She could hear Red banging on the door, trying to break it open. Rapunzel’s heart raced. She put her hand over her mouth, trying to quieten her breaths.
Journey to Neverland (Haunting Fairytales Series Book 2) Page 8
