by R. L. Weeks
‘Snow,’ James called out, but she couldn’t hear him. Her focus was Peter; he was all she could see. Nothing else mattered. ‘Snow,’ James shouted louder this time.
Snow did not see him, but Peter did. He looked up at the handsome man who was dressed like a prince. ‘Who are you?’ Peter asked suspiciously.
‘I’m your worst nightmare. That’s my girl,’ he said, pointing at Snow who was seemingly oblivious to the scene unfolding in front of her. ‘What have you done to her?’
Peter laughed boyishly. ‘Nothing, she’s just happy.’
James ground his teeth. ‘Are you with her?’
‘I am with everyone here, not just one person. I am everyone’s friend, nothing more, and nothing less.’
‘Snow,’ he called out again. ‘Come on, we’re going.’
Peter put his hand up, stopping James. ‘She isn’t going anywhere. You, however, are free to stay if you wish.’
‘What? No. We are leaving.’
Peter turned to Snow. ‘Snow, do you want to leave Neverland?’
The smile disappeared from Snow’s face. ‘No, please no. What have I done wrong? Please let me stay,’ she begged. James was sickened at how pathetic she was acting. That was not Snow.
‘Good,’ Peter looked from James to Snow. He could feel something between them. He wanted James to stay. ‘Snow, your boyfriend is here,’ Peter pointed at James and Snow, for the first time, seemed to snap out of her trance and see James.
‘James,’ she squealed and ran over to him. ‘I am so glad you’re here. I’m so sorry. I have missed you so much!’
He embraced her, resting his head against hers. He could smell the sweet smell of cherries and honey. ‘I’ve missed you too, but you’re not my Snow.’
‘What do you mean?’ her eyebrows set deeper towards her nose as he stepped backward. ‘Of course I am Snow.’
‘My Snow would never beg,’ James spat. ‘He’s done something to you.’
Peter was getting crosser by the second, his cheeks flushed, and James was dangerously close to tipping Peter’s anger over the edge. Bell appeared next to Peter and whispered something in his ear. Peter seemed to relax, his shoulders rolled back and his cheeks returned to their normal, tanned colour. ‘James, is it?’ Bell asked.
He looked at her and raised an eyebrow. ‘Yes.’
‘Well, Snow never mentioned how handsome you are,’ she giggled and let hair platinum blonde hair fall out of the bun and down to her shoulders. ‘Welcome to Neverland. You and Snow can catch up later, first, would you like a bath and some food. You must have had a long journey?’
‘Uh,’ he looked at Snow who looked dazed again. ‘Fine, but I will be back later,’ he promised, this time looking at Peter. Peter nodded and forced a smile.
CURSED GIFT
‘You’re my most favourite person on this Island,’ Peter said with a cheeky wink. ‘I’m going to give you something, if you promise to stay here with me, forever.’
Snow smiled widely. ‘What is it?’
He placed his hand on hers and she felt power surge through her. His green gaze locked with hers. ‘Promise?’
She nodded and closed her eyes, smiling. When she opened her eyes, they slowly changed to a jade green, with golden flecks in the iris’s.
‘Entrancing,’ he said, grinning. ‘You have the power to lure people with your gaze.’
‘I do?’ she gasped. ‘That’s amazing. Thank you.’
‘You can help lure people when they arrive here, so they want to stay with us.’
Snow grinned. ‘Great idea, they’d love it here,’ she said and twirled with glee.
Bell had left James to have a bath at the treehouse and looked down at the scene through jealous eyes. Her blonde hair changed too black, her eyes turned red, and her fairy dust changed from gold to blood red.
‘Bell,’ Peter called out, sensing her presence. She shook her head and her hair and eyes changed back too normal.
She walked over to him and smiled. ‘Yes?’
‘I have given Snow a gift. Introducing, the enchantress,’ he boomed. Snow’s eyes glowed as she smiled widely, twirling.
Bell crossed her arms. ‘I thought you were going to give that to me?’ Bell asked, her eye twitching.
Peter touched her arm. ‘I cannot give you that gift, Bell. You’re fine the way you are. Snow would make the best enchantress. You know your still my number two girl.’
‘Number two?’ Bell batted his hand away.
‘Don’t be like that,’ he tried to smooth her hair, but she batted him away again. She turned into an orb and flew away. He sighed and turned back to Snow. ‘You look amazing.’
‘Is it working?’ Snow asked.
‘You enchant me without the gift, anyway.’
She blushed. ‘Really?’
Peter held her hand. ‘Are you happy that James is here?’
She nodded. ‘Yes.’
Peter looked at the ground and took a deep breath. ‘Do you love him?’
‘No,’ she admitted. ‘I only love you.’
‘You love me?’ he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
She nodded and bit her lip. ‘I guess I do.’
***
Rapunzel looked at Red sourly. Everyone was having so much fun and she was just being depressing. ‘Come and dance,’ she pleaded.
‘I don’t feel like it,’ Red replied, aggravated by Rapunzel’s continuous nagging. ‘I’m going to the treehouse.’ Red walked off, huffy, and left Rapunzel alone with the fairies.
‘Does she not care for me anymore?’ Rapunzel asked a little fairy who was sat on a low branch. The fairy’s hair was as brown as the tree trunks surrounding them, and her tiny transparent wings fluttered in the breeze. She flew next to Rapunzel’s ear.
‘She does love you, but she is a sad girl. We must cheer her up.’
Rapunzel shook her head. ‘I have tried, nothing seems to be working. I am so happy here. If she doesn’t want to be a part of it, then that is up to her.’
Rapunzel took off deeper into the forest to explore. The fairy looked after her with a grim expression. How many people had she seen break up in Neverland? Those who could not let go over their dark thoughts? If Peter found out what Red was still being like, he would not be impressed. He’d do to her what he did to Wendy.
Peter had given Bell the power to turn human at will. Treachery. Why would a fairy want to become human? The fairies shunned Bell as much as they could, at least when Peter wasn’t around. They all had blue slits for eyes, transparent wings that shimmered, and clothes made from leaves. The fairy’s father looked down from a higher branch, his nutmeg skin complimented his rich brown long hair.
‘Father.’
‘Daisy,’ he replied.
‘Poor Red and Rapunzel, Neverland is driving a wedge between them.’
He shook his head disapprovingly. ‘We stay out of Peter’s business, you know that.’
‘I miss Wendy,’ she admitted. ‘I want – I want to go and see her, father.’ She finally mustered the courage.
‘Absolutely not! It is forbidden. Go and see the mermaids, they’re usually by the lakes edge at this time in the evening.’
She nodded and flew away, but not to see the mermaids, to see Wendy. She had to put an end to this.
WENDY
Daisy hid behind a brown, crisp leaf that hung off one of the many dying trees. Peering through the cracks, she looked at Wendy with great sadness. The once vibrant girl, eighteen years young, and full of bright ideas and kindness was now pale with a grey tinge, her bright blonde hair had turned to the colour of ash, her nails were chipped, her skin cracked and bleeding, and her blue dress which would have made any princess or queen jealous, was torn and dull. Wendy sat as she always did, at the back of her seven by seven-foot cage, on the cold metal ground with her back pushed up against the narrow bars. She looked at the death surrounding her. If only she had known that there were forgotten parts of Neverland that held such death a
nd desolation, she may not have been so quick to fall in with the place.
The sun was low in the sky which meant it was almost evening. The haunting melody from her pied piper would be playing soon, reminding her that he is just as trapped as her. ‘Wendy,’ Daisy whispered, flying over to the bars of the cage. Wendy heard the whisper, although too faint for the human ear, being in a lifeless and silent part of Neverland meant that Wendy heard everything, even the smallest creature stepping on a leaf. Wendy smiled as the little fairy flew through the bars gracefully and landed on her outstretched hand. She walked up Wendy’s arm until Wendy could see who it was.
‘Daisy,’ Wendy said, smiling. Tears almost fell down her cheeks, but with the class she had somehow managed to retain despite circumstances, she held them back and looked fierce. ‘Why are you here? If Peter knows you have come to visit me, he will kill you Daisy, you and your whole family!’
‘He will not know,’ Daisy promised. She had taken precautions, especially since the last incident. She remembered the massacre that they all tried so hard to hide. The tiny pool which Peter had made for his favourite fairy family at the time, was made of tiny twigs, a basin shaped from bark, and little leaves and flowers. They collected rainwater and bathed in it. However, when the Wendy incident happened, Peter was furious and bit the heads off of each fairy, starting with the children, until the pool was a bath of blood, floating the headless bodies of the fairies that had once been his friends.
‘Need I remind you of what happened last time a fairy betrayed him?’ Wendy asked, with a deep, messed up glint in her eyes.
‘No,’ Daisy gulped. ‘There are visitors in Neverland.’
‘What would you like me to do about it?’ Wendy asked, her voice thick with sarcasm. ‘Sorry, Daiz.’
‘You can tell you’re from London,’ Daisy laughed. ‘I know you’re locked up, but if I could get you out, you can help us, can’t you? He’s doing the same too thing he did to you too Red and her girlfriend too. They’re really nice and he’s going to lock Red away because she’s depressed and in love. Both, he hates. Snow, poor Snow, is so deep under his charm that she doesn’t know left to right anymore.’
Wendy bit her lip. ‘He needs everyone to love him, no one else. Have you told them the truth?’ Wendy asked.
‘They’re not the type to fight sneakily. All swords blazing, no questions asked. They’d be dead in a heartbeat. No, I need to help them without them knowing for now,’ Daisy said. ‘The less they know, the better. We don’t have long. I couldn’t have freed you before because there was no chance I was getting the key, but I believe that I won’t be the one letting you out.’
‘Who then?’ Wendy asked.
Daisy grinned. ‘There are some other visitors, one’s dodging Peter. Apparently they went to the mountain to see him and a deal was struck, involving you. They’re powerful Wendy. They can help us, and I know just how to lead them straight to you.’
***
Daisy flew over to a branch and watched Lori, Hook, and Stilt making their way down the mountain. Daisy smiled and fluttered her wings, flying closer to them. She hovered nearby, close enough to hear their conversation.
‘How do we get Wendy?’ Hook asked gruffly.
Stilt stroked his beard. ‘We use the ship to get to the Island.’
‘Obviously,’ Lori said snidely.
Stilt rolled his eyes. ‘Let me finish.’ He cleared his throat and brushed the dirt from the climbing down the mountain off of his jacket. ‘Then we trick Peter. He knows we’re here. Lori, you go and say you would like to talk to him. Make up some rubbish!’
‘Ha,’ Lori laughed. ‘What, so you can get the girl then the key while I remain trapped. I don’t think so,’ she said and stopped. ‘You be the bait.’
Stilt scowled. ‘So you can get the key and leave? No way.’
Hook stepped in-between them. ‘This will never work. Neither of you trust each other. Instead of distracting Peter while someone grabs the girl, I say we sneak through the forest and if we’re caught, then we fight our way to Wendy.’
Lori sighed. ‘We don’t even know where on the Island she is.’
‘She’ll be somewhere out of the way,’ Hook pointed out. ‘I know Peter. Wendy hurt him, she will be far from him but close enough to make sure she doesn’t escape.’
Daisy rolled her eyes and flew over to them. ‘Hi,’ she said, but they didn’t hear her. She flew onto Hooks shoulder and shouted again. He jumped and batted Daisy off of his shoulder. She flew back over and landed on Stilts shoulder. ‘Hello?’
‘What the?’ Stilt looked on his shoulder. ‘Who are you?’
‘Daisy,’ she replied. ‘I know where Wendy is!’
Stilt grinned. ‘Hey, you two, this fairy knows where Wendy is.’
‘A trick,’ Hook warned.
Daisy shook her head. ‘No. Wendy was my friend. I promise you, I want her freed as much as you do.’
Lori squinted at the tiny fairy and half smiled. ‘Okay, well where is she then?’
They all huddled together. Daisy pointed towards Peter’s Island. ‘She is fifteen miles from the treehouse, but she is in an enchanted cage. You need the key and Peter keeps it on him at all times.’
Lori nodded. ‘We need to fight Peter.’
Daisy shook her head. ‘He has new guests. People who I believe will fight for him. Snow, Red, Rapunzel, Gallisa, and James. Belle disappeared though,’ Daisy admitted. Stilt and Lori’s faces dropped. Hook looked perplexed.
Lori stepped closer. ‘If they’re here, that’s a problem! Belle found them did she? Dammit! And Rapunzel finally escaped from her tower. Well, many, many problems. Daisy?’
‘Yes?’ Daisy replied.
‘Snow has a sword,’ Lori said. ‘Do you think you can get us near to the treehouse without being seen?’
‘The fairies are not really on Peter’s side. They hate him. They won’t tell him you’re on the Island if I ask them not too.’
A smile spread across Stilts face. ‘Let’s go and get that key then.’
GONE
Rapunzel returned from the forest and walked over to the treehouse. Peter appeared by the entrance. ‘How are you feeling? I see your wound is healing well.’
‘Yes, thank you,’ she replied. ‘Your herbal mixtures have done wonders. Have you seen Red?’
He sighed. ‘Oh Rapunzel, I am so sorry.’
‘What’s happened?’ she asked, wide-eyed.
He shook his head and placed his hand on her shoulder. ‘She’s gone. She just disappeared.’
‘What?’ Rapunzel gasped. ‘But she loves me.’
‘Loved, sweet Rapunzel. Let her go, she doesn’t want you. If she did, she wouldn’t have walked off. I’m so sorry,’ he said. ‘Come on up. I’ll have Bell fix you a nice warm bath and we can all have a lovely dinner.’
Tears brimmed in her eyes. ‘But I must find her.’
He bit his lip. ‘I don’t think she wants to be found, but we can look for her in a couple of days if you want. Give her a chance to calm down, eh?’ he lied.
She nodded and climbed up the ladder. She walked into the living area and noticed a man sat on one of the chairs wearing a handsome blazer and trousers. ‘Who are you?’
‘Oh,’ he leant forward as she approached and extended his hand. ‘I’m James, Snow’s, um, friend.’
Rapunzel smiled and pushed back her hair. ‘I’m Rapunzel, Red’s, uh, well I don’t really know what I am right now.’
He laughed. ‘Yeah, me either. Wait, Red’s here? Where is she?’
Rapunzel lowered her head. ‘She walked off. She lost it the other night and hasn’t been the same since. She’s been just depressing and horrible.’
‘Oh,’ James replied and scratched his head. ‘That doesn’t sound like Red.’
‘You’re telling me,’ she replied. ‘How do you know her?’
He smiled. ‘She was my friend back in Northmanni.’
Bell walked in and sat in between them. ‘J
ames, I’d like to show you something if that’s okay?’
He shook his head. ‘First things first, I need to find my mum. You said she took off, but she wouldn’t have just left for no reason.’
Bell took a deep breath. ‘She did. I think she’s left Neverland.’
‘Well,’ he said, standing up. ‘Until I know she’s safe, I am going to look for her.’
Bell blocked the exit. ‘Wait, I’ll go with you.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘You will?’
‘Of course.’ She smiled and followed him out. Snow walked back into the living room with Peter. ‘Where is James and Bell?’
‘Gone to find Belle,’ Rapunzel said and warmed her hands by the fire.
‘Oh,’ Snow sat across from Rapunzel.
Peter looked over at Tide. He was scribbling on some paper and there was a book resting next to him. He scowled at him. Tide had been an author before. Peter shrugged it off and walked over to the door. ‘Be back soon,’ he said before leaving.
When he was gone Snow turned and smiled at Rapunzel. ‘Apparently Croon is having a little tea party in the forest later. Would you like to join us?’
‘Very much so,’ Rapunzel replied.
Snow laughed. ‘Apparently Croon has made an outfit. It sounds atrocious, should be funny to see.’
***
Red ran through the forest, panicked. Peter ran to where he had left Red tied up. Unfortunately, Red had broken free from the ropes tying her to a tree and had run. Peter darted around the trees, the wind whooshed past him as he saw a glint of Red’s cloak. She ran faster but he used his powers and the roots pushed through the mud below her feet, tripping her. The roots wrapped around her wrists and ankles until she couldn’t move. Peter stopped by her, breathless, and looked down. ‘You can’t escape me. You just couldn’t be happy could you? You couldn’t let it go. You were bringing everyone else down and if they’re down, they won’t want to stay.’