She Loved Her Brother
Summary: A story about Alma's love for her older brother.
A/N: Barron is replaced with Caul/ Jack.
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own MPHFPC. The books belong to Ransom Riggs and the Movie belongs to Tim Burton.
Chapter One:
Despite what people may think, she had loved her brother. Even when they were younger and he would tear out her feathers or pinch her until she cried. She just couldn't bring herself to hate him. He was her brother, after all. That is, until the day he came to her loop, hand in the shape of some sharp weapon pressed against Abe's grandson's throat. That is the day she lost all love and respect for her elder brother.
She, Miss Avocet, and her children were rushing around the house, packing all of the necessities in each of their suitcases so they were ready to leave first thing in the morning and find a new loop.
Miss Peregrine had just closed the Twins' suitcase and stood up to think over what else they might need when a rapping sounded at the front door. She looked over at it, confused because she thought Jake wouldn't be coming back, and slowly walked over to it. She could hear the children coming down the stairs and stopping at the top. She imagined their expressions would also be just as confused as her own. As she walked towards the door, she saw Miss Avocet, out of the corner of her eye, hiding in the parlour, just in case.
She got to the door, taking her time just in case it was a Wight, and took a deep breath just before opening it. As she did, she felt like the minimal amount of food she had eaten today was going to make its way back up. There, stood in front of her, was Jake. Though apparently not of his own will, judging by the man stood behind him and the sharp object pressing against his neck.
It was like she had forgotten to speak as she stared at the man holding Jake hostage. She stared at his cocky smirk, the sharp glare of his eyes, his jet back hair matching the colour of her own. Her breathing deepened as she mustered up her hardest glare.
"Aren't you going to invite us in?" She heard, bringing her back to the harsh reality where Jake and her children were in danger, "or have you forgotten your manners?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. She clenched her jaw shut as she moved aside to let them both in. He closed the door behind him as he smiled at the sight of all the Peculiars in front of him.
As much as she wanted to, she had to prevent herself from looking back at her wards to see of they were okay.
She, instead, focused on glaring at her intruder as he threatened Abe's grandson's life. She was careful not to make any wrong moves for fear that he would end his life within seconds just to make a point.
The man looked away from her, still smirking, and focussed his eyes on her children instead, calling out, "children, could you make your way downstairs, please?" She narrowed her eyes as she spoke, angrily, "nobody tells my children what to do, but me," for a moment she thought she saw shock on his face before he narrowed his eyes back at her. Turning back to her children, she calmly requested they come downstairs, to which they obeyed. She heard the man start to say something before she angrily shushed him and he, surprisingly, listened, quickly closing his mouth before settling for quietly watching the show.
When all of her children eventually reached the bottom of the stairs, she sadly explained the man's plan. Telling them he wanted her for his immortality project and he needed them to go into a lockable room (the parlour) for fear they would attack him once he let go of Jake. He also needed her to change into her bird form and enter the cage so he could take her to Blackpool.
The looks on her children's face upon hearing the plan were devastating, to say the least. She almost ordered them to attack right then and there but the thought of Jake getting hurt during the attack overpowered that idea and she, instead, said her, maybe last, goodbyes to her children.
"It has been my privilege to care for you all," she choked out as she looked over all of her children one last time, "goodbye, my children," she said, closing the doors to the parlour and turning to the man just in time to see him removing the sharp object from Jake's throat.
He lightly pushed Jake away, knowing he would like to say goodbye to her just like the other children.
She reached up her hands to hold his face, stopping just before she actually made contact with him, "promise me one thing, Jake," she started, "promise me you'll look after them," she whispered, feeling a tear run down her face. He hesitated, probably realising the weight of making such a promise he might not be able to keep, before nodding, "I promise," he told her, his voice full of confidence.
She lightly smiled whilst taking a few steps back from him so she could change into her second form, the Peregrine Falcon. Just before she changed, however, she stopped, looking at the the man watching the display, "I really did love you, Caul. No matter how badly you hurt me, no matter what you said, I loved you. But now you have threatened my children and sisters and I hate you with every fiber of my being," she finished off. Shooting daggers at 'Caul', she spread her arms and changed into a beautiful blue bird, flying around a little bit before landing in the cage.