Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or its characters or plot ideas. The only things I own in this story are my own ideas and my own characters.
~ Chapter Six ~
It's not everyday you get a group of terrifying looking men crashing through your windows and door saying that they're going to kill you. In fact, I thought that kind of stuff only ever really happened in movies. But here I am, my back pressed against the wall as a boy who's been trying to convince me that his true identity is Peter Pan faces off against the new threat.
"Um, I hate to break it to you gentleman, but… While my name is Karina, my last name isn't Jones…" Truth is, I can't remember what my real last name is. I've always used Emma's last name, Swan. It's another hole in my memory. I can't remember ever having a different last name but I must have. Of course, I'm not going to tell these men that.
I eye their weapons in their hands; swords and daggers… One man is even holding a very heavy looking wrench. A few of them sneer at me while the obvious leader of the group rolls his eyes. "Don't lie to us. We'd recognize you anywhere, Captain."
"So you would be her infamous crew then… How sad your loyalty is so easily swayed." Peter snarls. I have yet to see him act this way, yet the anger appears almost natural on his face. In my dreams he almost always seemed angry. But from the little time I've spent with him recently, he seemed sarcastic and maybe even a little annoyed at times, but never angry.
My crew? I shake my head, looking around the room nervously as some of the men inch closer. My heart pounds in my chest and before I can stop myself I reach forward and grip Peter's wrist for comfort. I half expect him to pull away but I release a relieved breath when he doesn't.
"I could say the same to you… Here you are, spending all your time following her around when your own lost boys are scattered across the worlds." The leader smirks. He's an impressively tall man with deep brown hair and a thick beard. A scar runs from his temple, across both eyes to the other side of his head. I'm surprised he still has sight in both of his eyes.
"My loyalty lies with Karina first and foremost. It always has." I turn to give Peter a wide-eyed stare, surprised by his proclamation of loyalty. His attention is still focused on the leader of this group of men so he doesn't notice my obvious surprise.
"Well, that's unfortunate because if you won't back down we'll have to kill you too. Our leader was willing to let you live. She's heard of you and she'd be willing to let you join her before she burns this town to the ground. But she also promised us Karina's head and if you won't hand her over, well…" The man's grin turns sinister as his gaze turns from Peter to me.
Peter snorts loudly which draws the attention of the man back to him. "Why on earth would I ever join her? We both know who would win if she faced me. She may be wicked, but I can assure you… I'm much worse." He throws his arms out and grins wickedly. "Peter Pan never fails."
"We'll see." One of the other men rumble behind their leader and laughter erupts around the room. It's dark and chilling, sending shivers down my spine as I realize just how truly evil these men are. Even their laughter could make a child run the other way in terror.
"Hand over the girl." The leader snarls, his patience clearly very thin. He puts his hand on the hilt of his sword and takes a menacing step forward. "I won't ask again."
"And I won't tell you to leave again." Peter suddenly seems very calm and that scares me. He's much too calm. His face holds this expectant look as he looks around at the men. It's as though he expects them to leave in a line without any more arguments.
The men look around at one another and the moment their leader nods they rush towards us. I release a shrill scream and cower against the wall just as fire erupts in Peter's hand. I scream again upon seeing him conjure fire out of thin air and hold it in the palm of his hand so easily. The men stop rushing us upon seeing the fire as well and glance at each other nervously.
"Captain?" One of the men asks their leader worriedly.
"C'mon men, there's plenty of us and only one of him! Karina won't fight, not while her memory is gone. Now's our chance!" The leader rallies his men to rush at us again, but then one of the men bursts into flames before they can get much farther. I look at Peter to see that the fireball had left his hand. He quickly conjures another and stares around at the other men, smiling insanely.
Suddenly an image pops into my head of a blonde mermaid erupting in flames and even when she tried to dive underwater to stop the fire nothing would help. She burned alive and Peter had been the cause of it. All because she tried to hurt me…
The man's screams that had once filled the room start to die as he burns alive and slowly loses his ability to live. Soon, a burnt skeleton collapses on the ground, the skull's mouth open in horror. The men look at it and some even curse as they inspect the small remnants of their comrade's corpse.
"Well?" He asks expectantly. Some of the men start rushing out the window while a few try to hold their ground, but they all look nervous. The only one who doesn't is their leader and I wonder if he's really that brave or simply stupid.
"You will regret this." The leader snarls. But he's not looking at Peter. He's looking at me. "Your precious body guard won't always be around and all it takes is one, well-shot arrow." He lifts his index finger and smirks. I swallow thickly. "You will pay for what you did to us."
With his threat lingering in the air behind him he turns and jumps out the window, the rest of his men jumping out quickly after him.
Once their gone I feel like I can finally breathe. Tears well up in my eyes and then flow down my cheeks as my back slides down the wall until I'm sitting on the ground. I start to hyperventilate, gasping desperately for air and releasing it with a deep exhale.
Peter kneels in front of me and wipes away my tears with his fingers. "Are you ok?" He asks worriedly.
I start to shake my head as more tears fall down my cheeks. "It's all real… Everything you said… The dreams I've been having… It's all true. Something happened and I lost my memories… I'm not even who I think I am…" I hadn't truly believed anything Peter was saying before, even if I was willing to test out his idea. I didn't really believe. But seeing Peter handle fire like that, controlling it so effortlessly with magic… Because it was magic. What else could it be? And if magic is real… Whose to say everything else can't be real either?
"Yes, it's all true. I wasn't lying to you. About anything…" Peter murmurs as he takes my hands in his and holds them tightly.
"Those men… They used to be…" I trail off. The words I'm thinking seem too absurd to say aloud.
"They used to be a part of your crew… Joseph, their leader, always had a problem with you and your lieutenant, Drake. He was angry you chose Drake to be your lieutenant over him. When you were a pirate… You were fierce. You may have looked like a young girl but you commanded your crew with an iron fist and they respected you for it. I think… I think that's why he wants to kill you so badly now. Once you regain your memories… He won't be able to beat you. Right now, you're like a sitting duck. A target. Without your memories you are weak."
"But if he kills me before I get my memories back I won't be able to challenge him… Those men, they're already calling him captain. He must want to keep it that way." The pieces click into place as I realize Joseph's plan.
"Exactly. I can beat him down and I can even kill him, but all that's going to do is make him a martyr to his people. You need to get your memories back and beat him yourself. It's the only way we'll be able to save your life. Unless…" He trails off and his facial expression suddenly becomes very angelic. I narrow my eyes suspiciously. "I could just kill them all. Then the threat is gone completely and you won't even have to fight anyone."
"No! You are not going to kill them all." I shake my head vehemently.
"When did you become such a goodie-two-shoes?" Peter grumbles.
"Peter, I don't think they're all evil. Some of them could be following Joseph simply because I'm not around. That doesn't mean they deserve to die. Some of them could still be loyal to me. Like Drake." I shakily get to my feet, still feeling sick to my stomach after that encounter. "Which is why you need to get my memories back. Now."
Peter shakes his head and smirks. "It's good to have you back."
"Well, I'm not back just yet…" I try to say it jokingly but the seriousness in his eyes stops me.
"Maybe I don't have you back completely, but I will… Soon." We stare at each other for a very long time. The tension in the room is so thick I'm sure I could cut it with a knife. I'm tempted to throw myself at him and crash my lips to his but I restrain myself. Just because I think we were romantic, doesn't mean we were. Who knows what parts of my dreams were true or not.
"Um, Peter… What are we going to do about the body?" I ask awkwardly, desperate to break the tension in the room. I point at the charred skeleton and Peter blinks several times, looking at it like he completely forgot about it.
"Oh… Right." He waves his hand and suddenly the room is put back together. The window is no longer shattered, the door closes with no sign of ever having been kicked in and the skeleton disappears.
"Wow…" I breathe. "I'm surprised that old lady who runs this inn didn't come rushing up here with all the noise. That would've been fun trying to explain the burnt corpse."
"It happens in this town more often than you would think." Peter replies nonchalantly and my jaw drops. He continues, acting like he doesn't see my horror. "I could feel a protective barrier go around the room seconds before they burst in. I'm sure the person they're working with cast it to give them some privacy."
"Who are they working with?" I ask curiously as Peter leads me to the bed and gets me to lie down.
"That's a story best explained once you've gotten your memories back." He places his hand on my forehead again.
Just like before I tightly grip his wrist and look up into his eyes. "Peter… Joseph said he was going to kill me when you're not around…"
Peter's face darkens. "That won't be happening. Trust me. I'm not leaving you alone now. Besides, once you wake up you should have your memories again and you'll be able to hurt him in ways that I can't."
I release a long breath and then nod my head. "Let's do this." Peter nods his head and then before I can say anything else I feel this hot sensation envelope my head and my eyes close as I drift off.
…..
My eyes open and I look around, blinking slowly. It takes me a moment to register where I am and remember what happened. My eyes make contact with a set of dark green eyes and I jump, surprised to find someone staring at my so intensely.
"What happened? You were out for a minute… If that! Do you remember anything?" Peter asks curiously, seeming a little annoyed.
"Um…" I search my brain for any new memories but find the same frustrating half memories with all the holes. "No." I mutter, feeling defeated.
Peter growls angrily. "That damn evil queen… I should've known her work wouldn't hold up but would still be enough to annoy me." He starts to pace the room and I sit up to watch him.
"The evil queen?" I ask curiously.
"Regina." Peter mutters, not stopping his pacing or looking at me.
"Wait… The mayor?! She's an… Evil queen?" The words sound strange coming from my mouth but I suppose I should get used to it. I have a feeling I'll never be able to play ignorant again after today. My life has been thrown into danger and now I need to get my memories back for my own safety.
"She's the Evil Queen… Except she apparently sucks at doing memory spells." Peter rolls his eyes and runs his fingers through his hair, causing it to stick up in funny places. "I need to do some research." He heads for the door and I jump up.
"Whoa, hey, wait… What about the crazy pirates trying to kill me?" I ask nervously.
"Don't worry about them. Just because you can't see me, doesn't mean I'm not around. They try anything I'll be there… But, just in case, stay close to other people. I can't put a spell around your room here without Emma or Regina sensing it. I'm afraid they'll recognize the scent of dark magic and I can't risk them discovering me… I will be around. Just not always where you can see me." He winks and then opens the door like he's going to walk out but instead he disappears into thin air.
"Oh, because that isn't disconcerting at all…" I mutter. I wrap my arms around myself and slowly look around the room. Although Peter had gotten rid of any signs of the intruders I still can't help but see the shattered window and dead body on the floor even though it's all long gone.
I see my phone on my bed and rush to grab it. I dial the number of the one person who I know will make me feel better even without trying. Nova.
"Um, Karina?! Where the hell have you been, girl?!" She shrieks the moment she picks up the phone. I laugh as I grab my coat and rush out of the room, eager to find Henry or Emma or anyone to stay with me. I'll even take Mary Margaret and her baby talk.
"I'm sorry, Nov, I've been busy." I figure that's my safest answer. How could I even tell her a fraction of the things that have happened to me since leaving New York without seeming completely insane?
"Busy? Busy?! What is that supposed to mean? I thought you were dead!" She exclaims angrily. I'm about to roll my eyes at her over-the-top theatrics when I realize that I really did come close to death. I could be dead right now if it wasn't for Peter. "Um, hello? Karina! Are you even listening to me?"
"Sorry, I'm just looking for Henry." I say as I walk into the diner, searching all the unfamiliar faces.
"Whatever. What's the town like?" She asks and just like that she switches from annoyed to cheerful. It's always amazed me how quickly she can switch her moods without any provocation.
"Small… And weird." I mutter as I leave the diner.
"Well yea, most small towns are like that. Have you seen Mr. Gorgeous a lot?" Nova asks and I can practically hear her wiggling her brows.
"Mr. Gorgeous?" I ask distractedly. I'm so busy looking around everywhere for any sign of crazy pirates trying to kill me I'm having a hard time following the conversation.
"Emma's friend, Killian!" Nova chirps.
"Oh, um… A little. I haven't really seen much of anyone but Henry in this town. Emma's super busy with her "case" I hardly see her. Did you know Killian actually has a hook for a hand? He might really be a psychopath…"
"Oh, a hook for a hand… That might be interesting in bed…" Nova muses and I can feel the revulsion go through me like a shockwave.
"Ew! Nova, don't be gross!"
"I'm kidding! But speaking of guys in bed… Have you spoken to Zach yet?" Her tone is innocent but I know she's been waiting forever to ask me about it.
I roll my eyes. "Nice switch of topic."
"He really misses you and he's sorry! He wants to talk to you but you always pick up and hang up so he can't leave a message. And you've blocked his texts! I talked about what happened with him and he really feels bad. He was drunk and he didn't mean anything." Nova rambles on but I can't help but think of Peter. I was already worried about my lack of feelings for Zach before I even met Peter… And now that I've met him and my entire life is changing before my eyes I'm finding it even harder to think of Zach the way a girlfriend should.
"Ok, Nova, if I agree to talk to him will you stop talking about it?" I ask desperately. I know she won't stop until I do talk to him. Her and Zach were good friends long before I came along and she'll keep defending him no matter what.
"YES! I'll tell him to call you and you better answer!" Nova cheers. Once I've given in to her request that I talk to Zach she moves on to simpler things, like everything that's happening at school and making fun of her dad's newest girlfriend.
By the time I find Henry Nova had cheered me up exactly like I knew she would. When I finally let her go I have a large grin on my face and suddenly my worries aren't so pressing.
…
The next morning I wake up early. Henry's still sleeping but Emma is nowhere to be found. All the dreams I had last night were ones I'd already seen before and because of that they had little effect on me.
I can smell bacon cooking down in the diner and since I'm wide awake I decide to dress and head down there. I can hear voices, all of them voices of people I recognize and one of them being Emma herself.
I'm about to turn the corner and make my presence known when I hear Emma say, "Because dead men love vacation homes. Can someone explain to me how this is even possible? We all saw Gold, he…"
"Disappeared into nothingness." Mary Margaret finishes for her, sounding far from amused. I press my back against the wall and listen closely, curious to see what on earth they are talking about. Perhaps I'll finally get answers to some of my questions.
"I might have an inkling…" I hear Killian speak up. "When we went back to the Enchanted Forest Neal was talking about the possibility of getting his father back."
"What? How?" David asks, sounding shocked.
"He didn't know how… It's just… He was desperate. He missed his family… Which I could understand… He believed that bringing his father back would be the key." Killian mutters.
"Well if that was his plan than something must have gone wrong… Because if Gold might be alive and kicking, Neal is… We don't know what he is! We don't even know if he made it back to Storybrooke, no one's seen him since this new curse."
"He's out there somewhere." David reassures Emma.
"With all due respect, we have bigger problems than who brought Gold back… The fact that he was in the wicked witch's basement is one. I want to know what the hell she was cooking up with him?" Regina sounds annoyed.
I shake my head as I try to process their words. A curse? The wicked witch? Bringing some man named Gold back from the dead? Seriously? What is going on in this town?
I tune back in to hear Mary Margaret say, "Well there's one way to find that out and it's to ask Gold."
"I'm going back to that farm house to see if that witch left behind a potion or maybe a special ingredient." I hear the shuffling of feet and chairs scuffing on the floor. I inch further into the hallway, nervous they might turn the corner and see me eavesdropping.
I hear Emma warn Regina to be careful and then there's more shuffling and a door opening and closing. I'm about to walk into the room when I hear Killian ask, "How's Karina doing?"
"She's… Doing ok, for the most part. I can tell she knows I'm lying to her, but I don't know what else to tell her. She hasn't been having as many nightmares… I think being back here is good for her. Even if she doesn't realize it." Emma explains. "How are you doing? It can't be easy, seeing her here and she doesn't know who you are."
"I'm managing." Killian replies, but his voice sounds tight.
"You know you can spend time with her… I need people to look after her and Henry, keep them from figuring out too much. Henry could go with Regina for the day and you can take Karina." Emma replies softly.
Is she trying to sell me off to this older guy?! In what world is it ok for a seventeen year old girl to spend time with a thirty year old man? I want to storm into the room angrily and slap both of them but I stop myself as my curiosity gets the best of me.
"Unfortunately, I think Karina thinks I'm not in my right mind… She looks at me like she wants nothing to do with me. But then again, that isn't much different when she had her memories and knew that I'm her father."
I don't hear Emma's response as suddenly my entire world goes into slow motion. I can hear my heart thudding in my chest and my blood rushing through my body, but those noises seem so distant as my thoughts scatter into millions of pieces. Killian is… My dad? That's not possible… Wouldn't I recognize my own father? Even with some spell cast on me that takes away my memories? He's my father… I should know instinctively that we're related… Shouldn't I? Do we even look alike? I guess we sort of do… Same blue eyes and dark hair… But lots of people have dark hair and blue eyes...
Slowly I stumble back to the room, my breathing heavy as I rush inside and slam the door shut behind me. My loud entrance wakes Henry and he sits up, rubbing his eyes.
"Karina? Are you ok?" He takes one look at my expression and then jumps out of bed. "What's wrong?"
"Kid, I…" I start to say and then shake my head as tears roll down my cheeks. "Ugh, I'm so sick of crying." I wipe at my cheeks. "What is happening to me? What is this town doing to me?"
"Karina, maybe you should just sit down…" Henry leads me to one of the beds and just as I take a seat the door opens and Emma walks in, carrying a tray of plastic cups that I'm sure are filled with hot chocolate and a brown paper bag with Granny's Diner written on the side.
"Whoa, Karina, are you ok? Did you have another nightmare?" Emma asks, setting the drinks and food down on the table.
"Yea… Just another nightmare." I try to smile but it feels more like a ghost of a smile than a real one. I look at Henry and he's giving me a confused look, like he can't understand why I would lie to his mom. I silently plead him not to say anything and he seems to get the message because he doesn't say a word.
"Well, maybe the breakfast I brought you guys will cheer you up. Hot cocoa and some sesame bagels… Karina, yours has strawberry cream cheese, like always." She smiles cheerfully. "Look, guys, I'm going to be super busy with my case today… But my friend Leroy, you remember him, right? He's going fishing with some buddies today, do you want to go?"
Henry looks at me and then smiles at his mom. "Yea, we'll go… But only because I love to fish and Karina likes being on the water… Not because we believe you."
Emma's smile drops. "What?"
"You know you're not fooling us, right? Something's up." Henry raises his eyebrows and when Emma looks at me to see if I feel the same way I simply nod my head, still feeling overwhelmed by what I just overheard.
"It's… Because I'm working a case. You guys know how I get focused."
"No, it's more than that. It's this town! All these old friends you never mentioned, people whispering around us all the time." Henry exclaims.
"People openly staring…" I add and Henry nods.
"There's something you're not telling us." Henry finishes.
"It's dirty business being a bail bonds person, I don't want to soil your sweet head." Emma cocks her head to the side and I shake my head.
"Just drop the act Emma. We know you're lying and there's nothing you can say to change our minds." I reply and she stares at me, shocked.
"If you can't tell us the truth than I want to go home, back to New York." Henry pleads. Twenty-four hours ago I would've agreed with him but suddenly I find myself worrying that Emma might actually send us back to New York. Despite the craziness of this town I don't want to go back to New York and be forced back into those therapy sessions. Not when I'm finally coming to terms with the truth.
Emma looks like she's about to say something when her phone rings. "Sorry… Hello?... What? I'll be right there." She hangs up the phone and shoves it back in her pocket. Henry hangs his head as his mother gets up from the chair. "I gotta go, guys."
"Mom, really, what's going on?" Henry tries again.
"You got me, ok? Something is up. And it just got more complicated… So for now can you just trust what I'm doing is for the best and I'll fill you in later?" She asks, doing her best to smile despite the fact that her son just called her out on her lies.
"I trust you…" Henry finally relents, nodding his head.
"Thanks, Henry. I love you." She kisses the top of his head and smiles at me before hurrying from the room.
The moment she's gone Henry turns to me and gives me an expectant look but doesn't say a word. I shake my head and sigh. "Please don't look at me like that."
"Now you're keeping stuff from me?" He asks angrily. "I thought we were in this together. I won't be able to handle it if you lie to me too."
"Henry, I'm not lying, I'm just… Holding back information that I've recently learnt." It sounds lame, I know that and the look on his face confirms that, but I can't think of anything else to say.
"Whatever." He gets up and heads into the bathroom, shutting the door firmly behind him. He doesn't slam it, Henry's way too mature for that (slamming the door is something I'd do), but his brusque attitude and shutting the door without a word hurts just as bad.
I stay sitting on the bed, chewing my bottom lip as I try to think of something to tell Henry. I know I can't tell him anything that I've learnt, not without pushing him into danger, but I'm afraid if I don't say something he'll stay mad.
Sure enough, before I can think of anything to say, Henry leaves the bathroom fully dressed and without a word to me he leaves the room. I slump down onto the bed and rub my temples, feeling a really bad headache coming on.
A/N: Please take a moment to review!