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 tree house.’ 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, but 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 at her with a grim expression. How many people had she seen break up in Neverland? Those who could not let go of 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 complemented 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 see her, Father.’ She finally mustered the courage.
‘Absolutely not! It is forbidden. Go and see the mermaids. They’re usually by the edge of the lake 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 blond 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 and 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 was just as trapped as she was. ‘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 the 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 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 thing he did to you to 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 from 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 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 climbing down the mountain off 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 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, so 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 Hook’s shoulder and shouted again. He jumped and batted Daisy off his shoulder. She flew back over and landed on Stilt’s 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 wan
t 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 tree house, 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 tree house 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 to.’
A smile spread across Stilt’s face. ‘Let’s go and get that key then.’
GONE
Rapunzel returned from the forest and walked over to the tree house. 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 between them. ‘James, 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 are 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, but it 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, and 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.’
Red screamed loudly. Peter shoved his hand over her mouth, but she bit him. ‘Ouch!’ he shouted, pulling his hand back. He made a root go over around her mouth. ‘Create the cage,’ he said to the fairies that were surrounding them. ‘Then take her to Wendy and let her rot there!’
They nodded and flew over to her. Around her, a glittering cage grew larger and larger. Beneath her, a metal sheet grew until she found herself locked inside the cage. The roots broke apart, and Red tried to escape, but nothing she did made even a dent on the bars. ‘Please, I need Rapunzel,’ Red screamed after Peter.
He turned back to look at her with an orange glint in his eyes. ‘She won’t be your Rapunzel for much longer! Goodbye, Red.’
***
As Peter walked back to the tree house, he noticed that Neverland was changing right before his eyes. The air was chillier than usual, and the fairies were more scarce than usual. How had he not noticed? Perhaps he had been focusing his attention on Snow too much.
He worried that Gallisa was behind the changes. Last time she was there, the Lost Boys had started doing things that resembled their previous lives. He shook his head and walked toward the dimly lit windows that sparked from behind the leaves.
He could hear laughing coming from the clearing by the tree house and peered through the branches.
Croon’s gaze flitted to Gallisa. He caught Snow looking at him and turned away quickly. Snow grinned and lifted up her cup. ‘This tea really is delicious.’
Croon smiled in reply and emptied the tea strainer. The sun blinked its goodbye as it set over the hills, leaving Croon, Gallisa, Snow, and Rapunzel sat in darkness. The lanterns lit up around them, as they always did right on time, covering them in a dewy glow. The round table rocked as Croon stood up and adjusted his jacket. He was wearing a sleek red blazer with gold buttons. Matched with fitted green trousers. When he had told Snow what he was designing, she laughed, thinking the outfit would look awful. Surprisingly, he pulled it off.
Gallisa knelt down next to a red and white toadstool and smiled at one of the fairies who then flew on her palm and twirled around. Her aura was almost sparkling in the dark, and Croon couldn’t help but steal glances at her as she instilled kindness into everything around her. ‘Want to see the mermaid pool?’ he asked.
‘Oh.’ Gallisa smiled and placed the fairy back onto the toadstool. ‘I was down there earlier actually.’
‘Not that one,’ he said. ‘There’s another one. The merpeople there have been feuding with Peter since before I was here. I think you’re the perfect person to bring an end to that feud.’
Gallisa raised an eyebrow. ‘Why are they feuding?’
‘Because,’ Peter’s voice boomed out as he walked out from his hiding spot and into the clearing, ‘they are wretched beasts who have no regard for any of us!’ He looked around at the dainty china cups, at the little cupcakes piled neatly in the centre of the table, and
at Croon, who was dressed in elaborate yet handsome clothing. ‘What’s going on?’
Croon gulped and sat down. Snow put her cup down and moved it away from her, and Rapunzel stepped forward. ‘We’re having a tea party.’
He stepped backward, turned, then stomped back to the tree house. Gallisa walked over to Croon and squeezed his shoulder. ‘What was that about?’
‘I told you,’ he said, pouring the last of his tea away and slamming the cup on the table. ‘He doesn’t want any of us to do anything that resembled our previous life, and this,’ he shouted, throwing the cakes on the floor, ‘is!’
Croon marched into the forest. Snow went running after him, but Gallisa put her hand in front of her. ‘Don’t,’ she said. ‘He needs time to cool down. I think the one you should be talking to is Peter.’
Snow nodded and walked over to the tree house. She crept up the ladder and heard shouting from the living room. She edged her way to the door and listened. ‘I can’t believe you’re doing it too!’ Peter shouted.
‘I-I’m reading?’ Snow heard the unmistakable voice of Tide stammer back.
Peter huffed, and Snow heard something smash. ‘Well, you all may as well bloody leave then! Go on, get out of Neverland. All of you.’
She heard footsteps and quickly climbed down the ladder just before the door opened. Peter looked down at Snow. ‘What do you want?’
She raised her eyebrows. ‘I came to talk to you, but I can see that you’re in the middle of a tantrum, so I won’t bother!’
He jumped down, not bothering to climb down the ladder. ‘I think you and your friends should leave!’
Gallisa and Rapunzel walked over to Snow and Peter. Snow’s eyes brimmed with tears. ‘What happened to you wanting everyone to stay here with you? To wanting me here, forever?’ she asked.
His face was bright red, and he turned to Gallisa. ‘I’ve changed my mind. Ever since you have come here, everyone has started acting …’
He paused, looking around.
Gallisa’s hands tightened into fists. ‘Acting like what?’
‘Themselves!’
Journey to Neverland (Haunting Fairytales Series Book 2) Page 10