Killian Jones—Present
"What the hell are you doing here," Killian demands, hand on his hip as he stares down at his daughter. He'd left her just three days ago and here she was, up to trouble with neither of her temporary guardians in sight. Aveena kept her head up defiantly, not a timid girl of six anymore. He may be proud when she acts like this to other people, but he's her father and he expected some respect when he's berating her! "In what way did sneaking away from Agrabah sound like it would be a good plan? What if Pan had realized you were away from Mozenrath and came after you?"
"Mozenrath and Aladdin knew I was coming here," she retorts, mirroring her father's stance. "Mozenrath needed this for a spell he's working on." She holds up the gem for Killian to see, the strange gem looking almost see-through. "He said this would help us to get revenge." Killian tenses at her words and he notices her flinching right after they left her mouth. So she knew what happened to Milah, but who told her about it? Mozenrath wouldn't because Aladdin would kill him if he did, Aladdin wouldn't because he felt it would be wrong, and Killian sure as hell didn't because he didn't want his daughter being tainted by the darkness revenge brings.
"Who told you?" Now her head lowers, nimble fingers fidgeting with the brass chain as she avoids his stare. "Vee... Just tell me, sweetheart." He moves closer, the fingers of his good hand resting under her chin and forcing her head back up. Her blue eyes show hatred and deep sadness, though there was some fear there as well. "You know you can tell me anything."
"Rumpelstiltskin told me." Killian's mouth went dry, his hand started to shake, his vision went red—white-hot fury swept through him at the thought of the Crocodile being anywhere near his daughter and Killian clutched her tightly against his chest, his cheek resting against the top of her head as she wrapped her arms around his waist. How could that have even happened and how is she still alive? Rumpelstiltskin made it plain that he would destroy all the good things in Killian's life, so why spare his daughter? Could it have to do with Baelfire? The pair did share very faint similarities; could that be what stayed his hand? "He said he wanted you to know that my life was in his hands."
"Why wasn't I told?"
"Because I knew how you'd react. The only place he can't get to me is Neverland, and I'm not sure I want to go back there." She was right, of course, Pan would protect her from Rumpelstiltskin if only to keep Killian in line, but what would Pan do if Killian brought her back there after her two years away? "I have to go back, though. No one can protect me, but the magic on Neverland is still strong and I can use it against Rumpelstiltskin if he comes."
"And what about Pan?"
"I...I don't know." Killian holds her tighter, squeezing his eyes shut and praying that his daughter would be kept safe. "That's why we needed the Nevergem, Mozenrath intends on dissolving it and having me drink the leftovers. It'll slow my aging process, the closest I can get to immortality without becoming the Dark One."
"Then you won't need to go to Neverland?"
"It'll only start when I'm there, but Pan won't be able to get his hands on the gem, which is good I guess." He feels her shrug before she pulls away, stuffing the gem in a small pouch tied to her belt. "I'll see you back in Agrabah."
"Be safe." And then, lavender smoke curling around her and whisking her away, Killian was left in the alley with the merchant beginning to regain consciousness. The man was mumbling and growling under his breath, quickly getting on Killian's nerves. With a scowl, Killian brings his boot down on the man's head, forcing him back into a comatose state. "Shut up."
Aveena Jones—Two Months Later
Aveena watches as the gem breaks down in the bubbling potion, the moonlight draining color from everything as it shines down on the cauldron through the skylight above. A full moon was needed to complete the potion because Aveena was born on a full moon and any thing less would kill her the instant the potion touched her lips. "Alright," Mozenrath sighs, using his magic to lift the potion out of the cauldron and into a small vial with a stoppered top. "It's ready." He turns to face the room's occupants, expression solemn as he hands the vial to Aveena. "Drink it when you're touching the ground and not before."
"I know," Aveena murmurs, taking the vial from him and holding it tightly in her fist. "We've gone over this a hundred times since you found out about it." She gives the older man a hint of a smile.
"I don't need you screwing this up after all the hard work I put into making it." He was surly that night, scowling at everyone including his husband, but it didn't phase Aveena. She raised up onto her tip-toes and wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug, Mozenrath freezing for a moment before returning it with a worried frown. He'd gotten close to her, closer than he had most people in his life, and he wasn't too happy about sending her away. "Be careful, brat."
"Remember your manners, Necromancer." She moves to Aladdin next, the pair sharing a hug and exchanging a few words; Trista was next, the woman practically sobbing as she hugged Aveena until James came between the two of them for his own hug, followed by their son. The last one she met with was her father, standing apart from the group and trying not to start pacing again lest Mozenrath go through with his threat of turning the pirate into a toad. Aveena hugged him the longest, tears stinging her eyes. "I love you, Daddy."
"I love you too, Vee," he returns, voice choked with the tears he refuses to let fall. "I'll see you as soon as I can."
"I know." With a shaky breath, she pulls back and moves to the balcony across the room, the cool desert breeze almost making her shiver through the light clothing she wore. It would be hot on Neverland, so lighter material was needed. She climbs up onto the railing, perfectly balanced after doing this for years, and then she allows herself to fall forward into the magic. It wrapped around her like a blanket, keeping her warm and making her feel safe. She could smell something different though, something that stuck out against the usual smell of rain—it was almost like the Sweet Pea perfume her mother used to wear that Killian kept with him at all times.
Before she could ponder it for too long, the magic dropped her and she landed on the sandy beach, rolling into a crouching position before allowing herself to straighten up. Wet sand clung to the pale fabric of her pants and cloak, but she paid them no mind as she pulled out the stopper of the vial. The liquid was black and thick, a foul odor spilling out as she brings it closer to her face.
"I knew you'd be back, Aveena," Pan states confidently as he walks through the trees, but his grin falters when he spots the vial. She could feel his magic reaching out, reacting with the Nevergem's and entwining with her own. "Don't drink that, Aveena."
"I don't take orders from you, Pan." And then she tilted the vial back and forced the sludge down her throat, coughing and sputtering after she swallowed. It tasted even worse than it smelled and she had to struggle not to vomit it all back up as she fell to her knees. The Nevergem's magic was reacting badly with Aveena's, causing her to fall onto her back and stop breathing for a moment. She tried desperately to suck in air, she could hear her pulse pounding wildly in her ears, and then things began to dim. Her heart was beating too slowly, her limbs were going numb from the loss of blood flow. She could dimly make out the shape of Pan hovering above her, and then felt a sharp agonizing pain blaze through her chest before she started to breathe again. Pan had stabbed her with an arrow dipped in Dreamshade.
The next time Aveena opened her eyes, she was lying on a cot in Pan's camp and unable to even wiggle much. Someone, probably Pan, had tied her hands above her head, but it wouldn't have made a difference since she felt too sore to move. "I told you not to do it," Pan says smugly as he enters the room, a bottle of black poison in one hand and another arrow in the other. "Your precious Necromancer missed one key ingredient." He holds the bottle up higher to make sure Aveena could see it. "Dreamshade. You have to die briefly before the Nevergem will work on you."
"Why save me, then," she croaks, barely able to keep her eyes open as more of her strength drained away.
"Because you're mine, my darling." He sits beside her on the cot, dipping the arrow tip in the poison, then holding it up in the pale rays of dawn sunlight to watch the black ooze spread further over the wickedly sharp edge of the arrowhead. "I can use you later on, so there's no point in your permanent death quite yet." With an almost lazy movement, Pan twirls the arrow around and plunges the tip back into Aveena's chest, having to hold her down when her back arks on instinct.
And then Aveena Jones was dead.
Sorry that this one is so short, but I couldn't think of anything else for this chapter and the next one is where we'll be diving into S2! Be prepared for sassy Hook and some arguments between Vee and Cora. :)
