PART 4: CHAPTER 2:
I walked quickly back to camp, my legs moving on their own accord, my brain going a mile a minute. I tried to process the exchange in the forest between the Rumpelstiltskin and Felix, why had the doll affected him so much, the all-powerful Dark One in that moment seemed less like a magical being and more like a broken man fighting his own demons. Demons that I was now sure of were largely because of my master. What had Master Peter done to Rumpelstiltskin? Was it possible that Master Peter was more powerful than him?
"Rosalie!" Felix called after to me, "Would you slow down please?" I continued walking faster almost not hearing Felix's voice, "Rosa!" he called again commanding me to stop, I turned around,
"What was that?" I asked,
"What was what?"
"Don't play dumb with me Felix," I growled, "What did you give him? Why did he react that way over a doll?"
"I don't know what you're talking about,"
"Felix!" I growled, he chuckled putting his hands up in surrender,
"Honestly," he said his smile fading when I glared at him, "I know very little,"
"Well tell me what you do know," I said crossing my arms across my chest, he reached out for my hand, and pulled me close so that we were sitting on a fallen log, "tell me please?" I asked softly,
"Like I said I know very little about the relationship Pan had with Rumpelstiltskin, but what I know for sure is that many years ago when the Dark One was a mortal boy, Pan and Rumpelstiltskin were so close they were like family," my ears perked up at the possibility of Master Peter having kin,
"Like family or where family?" I asked softly, daring my voice not to give anything away, Felix chuckled and shook his head,
"That I do not know," he replied, "All I know is that they had a falling out, and Master Peter abandoned young rumple for the island,"
"Wow," I whispered touching the necklaces that rested around my neck,
"I also know that Rumpelstiltskin grew up to one of the most dangerous men alive," he said grabbing my hand away from the pendant and placing it on my lap, "and even if he could help you, even if by some miracle, him and Pan are related, the cost would be far too great, and would probably cost you your life." I nodded looking down,
"I know," I whispered,
"We should go," Felix said getting up, "Pan will be wondering where we are,"
"Yeah," I said getting up,
"Don't worry little one," Felix said walking into the jungle, "you'll get your powers soon enough," I nodded and followed him my mind racing again with the possibility of getting my powers back. Maybe the Dark One wouldn't help me, but I knew that there was someone out there with the Dark One's blood running through his veins. Bae had left this island many years ago, but during the time we had spent together here, we learned a lot about each other. One of those things was our common parentage. We shared a mother, he was my brother, and he was the only other family I knew I had in this world excluding my father. If I could get off this island, if I could find him, maybe he could help me end this torment. Maybe he could make me whole again. We did say we would do anything for each other; he would surely help me with this.
We arrived back at camp faster than I would have liked, I wished I had more time to spend with my thoughts formulating a plan to get off this island. This new glimmer of hope that Master Peter had kin out there in the world, and that part of that family tree could have a connection to mine as well gave me a new reason to fight to get off this island just as Bae did all those years ago; I smiled at that idea.
As we entered the campgrounds I gasped at the commotion and excitement that lingered in the air. The boys seemed to be putting on a show; a show of happiness, of joy, of excitement, the normal feeling of dread and sadness that filled the camp was replaced with a phony feeling of pleasure and bliss.
"What is going on?" I asked Felix softly,
"I guess the boy made it back safely," he replied walking in, his own body taking the persona of the camp, he acknowledged the guards at the opening of the camp who whistled to Master Peter signaling that we had arrived.
I saw Master Peter standing near by the campfire, the center of the camp, his back towards the entrance; he seemed to be talking to someone. His arms were extended as he excitedly told whomever he was talking to something important. Hearing the whistle of Alec, one of the guards, he turned around his teeth bared in their usual threatening smile.
"Felix, Rosalie," he said his arms extended towards us, "my two best warriors," I furrowed my brow in confusion, "you have returned," he said as we walked closer to him, I looked at Felix who's expression was stoic, contained, ready for anything, "wonderful,"
"Pan," Felix said at the same time I said,
"Master,"
"I trust everything went all right with the errand I sent you on," Felix nodded pulling out a pair of dead rabbits from his pack, I looked at him slightly confused then composed myself quickly when I felt Master Peter glaring at me,
"It went just as expected sir," he replied extending the rabbits towards Master Peter, "they took the bait as usual," Master Peter's grin grew as he took the game inspecting them closely,
"Perfect," he said tossing them back to Felix who caught them easily, "take them to the kitchen," Felix nodded walking towards the other fire where we cooked our food, Master Peter turned to me, "Rosalie you will prepare a special feast today for our special guest," he said taking a step back to reveal the small boy I had helped steal from the couple in the clearing. The boy gasped as he saw me, his body shaking slightly with fear. Master Peter grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to the boy,
"Henry," Master Peter said, "I want you to meet a very special member of this island," I looked down and he squeezed my arm roughly causing me to flinch slightly, "Say hello Rosalie,"
"Hello," I said softly,
"Hello," Henry replied, he turned to Master Peter, "Who is she?" he asked, "I thought there were no such things as a lost girl,"
"Oh, Rosalie is not lost," Master Peter said, caressing my face gently, I swallowed the bile in my throat from his touch, "Rosalie is here because she wants to be, aren't you Ro?"
"Yes," I whispered forcing a smile,
"Rosalie makes sure we're taken care of," he replied, "these boys need a female presence in their lives, don't they Rosalie,"
"Yes sir," I replied nodding slightly,
"Aren't you happy taking care of us Rosalie," he gave me a stern look and I nodded,
"Yes sir," I replied through gritted teeth, "there is no place I rather be," he smiled and patted my head softly,
"Rosalie is going to make sure you settle in well Henry," Master Peter said, "right Rosalie?"
"Yes sir," I replied, "It would be my pleasure,"
"Good," Master Peter said, "Rosalie why don't you take Henry to the kitchen and show him how we prepare food here," I nodded, "then give him his pick of meat, our special guest gets to eat first today,"
"Come on Henry," I said getting up,
"Go on Henry," Master Peter said when Henry didn't follow, "she won't bite," Henry got up and followed me silently towards the other small fire where Felix had already skinned the rabbits and washed them,
"What is that?" Henry gasped when he caught sight of the rabbits,
"Rabbit," I replied sitting down and washing my hands in some well water, "Felix skinned them for me so that I could cook them now," I heard Henry gag slightly and I chuckled looking up at him, "first time?" I asked he nodded, "Don't worry you get used to it, don't think of it like a living creature, think of it like any other food," he nodded again sitting down next to me, I started working on preparing the rabbits, working in silence for a while until Henry spoke,
"Rosalie?" he asked,
"Hmm?" I replied concentrating,
"You serve these boys in more ways than just cooking for them, right?" I froze for a minute before plastering a smile on his face and turning to him,
"Of course, Henry," I replied focusing on keeping my voice light, "I help them, cook for them, make clothes, help them hunt, you wouldn't believe it but I'm one of the best-"
"That's not what I meant," he said cutting me off,
"Well what did you mean Henry?" I asked, he looked around before taking a deep breath, choosing his words carefully,
"Have they…" he cleared his throat, "Have they hurt you?" I flinched slightly not being able to help the involuntary reaction,
"Hurt me?" I asked, he nodded, "No Henry," I replied, "Why would you ask that?"
"Because you remind me of my mom," he said,
"Your mom?" I asked, he nodded again,
"Yeah, she was hurt too," I looked over at Master Peter who glowered at me, I took a deep breath before forcing a smile once again,
"No Henry," I said softly, "They have never hurt me, they are good to me,"
"I don't believe you," he said firmly, "you're lying,"
"No, I'm not," I said firmly,
"Yes, you are," he replied,
"How can you tell?" I asked finally giving in,
"Call it a family gift," he said smiling slightly, "I get it from my mom," he then pointed to my ribs, "also you've been favoring your left side since you walked into this camp,"
"Would you believe me if I said I tripped?" he shook his head and I sighed, "Tell me about your family," I said changing the subject as I turned back to my work, "What are they like?" I felt him perk up and I smiled,
"My family is originally from the enchanted forest," he started grabbing some vegetables from the pile as he began copying what I was doing, I smiled slightly, "but they currently live in Storybrooke,"
"Storybrooke?" I asked, he nodded,
"Yeah, it's in Maine,"
"Maine," I repeated softly, "I don't think I know it,"
"I have two moms and one dad-"
"Two moms?" I asked,
"Yeah well, my birth mom Emma gave me up because she wasn't ready for me, she wanted me to have my best shot so she gave me up for adoption to my other mother Regina,"
"Regina?" I asked,
"Yes, the Evil Queen," he replied,
"Your mother is Evil?"
"She used to be," he said grabbing another vegetable, "she's working on it,"
"Huh," I said softly, "and your birth mother who is she in the other land?"
"She's the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, the product of true love and the savior,"
"The savior?" I asked,
"Yeah," he replied, "She saved Storybrooke from my other mother's curse,"
"Wait," I said my brows furrowing in confusion again, "Your other mother cast a curse on your town,"
"Yeah," he replied as if it was normal, "Regina cast a curse on some of the members of the Enchanted Forest to get back at her step daughter Snow White for telling a secret when she was eleven,"
"Bloody Hell," I said, "that's some convoluted shit,"
"Yeah," he replied chuckling softly,
"And your dad?"
"His name was Neal," he said looking down,
"Was?" I asked,
"Yeah, he died," he replied, "he was shot by Tamara and then fell through a portal,"
"Who's Tamara?" I asked,
"The woman who you shot with an arrow," he said quietly,
"Guess I don't feel so bad about killing her now," I said, Henry flinched slightly, "sorry" I said sheepishly, I cleared my throat, "So tell me, who was your father in our land?"
"He's the son of Rumpelstiltskin," I sucked in a breath, "His name was Baelfire," I hissed getting up,
"Rose?" Henry asked getting up and walking over to me, "Are you ok?" I turned around tears streaming down my face,
"Bae-" my voice broke, "Bae is dead?" Henry nodded looking down, "No" I sobbed, and "he can't be, "I whispered," he can't- "my voice broke again, I turned around and punched the nearest tree I could find, "fuck," I cursed, "how long?" I asked softly,
"Right before I was brought here," he whispered, I cursed again, "Did you know him? Did you know my dad?" I nodded,
"Yeah Henry," I whispered grabbing his hand, "I'm his sister,"
"What?" Henry asked, "but you're not-"
"No, I'm not the Dark One's daughter," I replied sitting down, he sat down next to me,
"You're Hook's daughter aren't you," Henry said putting the pieces together, "from when he was with Milah?" I nodded looking down, "Wow," Henry said squeezing my hand, "small world,"
"Yes, it is," I said running my hand over my face as I wiped the tears away,
"I guess that makes you my aunt?" Henry asked, I chuckled softly,
"I guess it does," I replied, Henry leaned in and wrapped his arms around me, I flinched slightly before returning the hug,
"Welcome to the family," he said softly,
"Thank you," I said my voice breaking again,
"You're welcome," he said when he pulled away, "You know my family is coming for me," he said with certainty,
"How do you know?" I asked,
"Because that's what we do," he replied, "We find each other, and now that you are family, it means they will find you too,"
"Henry no one has been looking for me for a long time," I said softly, he shook his head,
"I don't think so," he said grabbing my hand, "I have a feeling that there are still people out there who would love to see you,"
"How can you be sure?" I asked,
"I just am," I chuckled
"You're an eternal optimist, aren't you?" he smiled nodding,
"I also get that from my family," I shook my head in amusement, "Help me find them, and you can come with me when they rescue me, I'm sure your dad would love to see you,"
"My father is dead Henry," I replied looking down, "I'm an orphan Bae was the only family I had left,"
"Who told you he was dead?" Henry asked,
"Master Peter," I replied softly, "He died trying to escape from here, he never even knew I was here,"
"He's wrong," Henry, said his voice sure and strong, "he's alive,"
"What?" I gasped,
"Last I saw him he was in Storybrooke with my mom," he said squeezing my hand again, "help me and I'll help you look for him when we get back,"
"He's alive?" I asked, Henry nodded "he lied to me," I growled, "That bastard lied to me, I thought-"
"Well he didn't," Henry said cutting me off, "he was hit by a car but he's fine"
"A car?" I asked,
"I'll explain later," he replied smiling, "so will you help?"
"I will Henry," I said nodding, "I don't know how but somehow you and I are going to leave this island and go home,"
"Together," he said standing up, his hand extended towards me,
"Together," I said reaching for his hand, "come on let's get back to the kitchen," I said softly, "Master Peter will be wondering where we are," he nodded and followed me back to the kitchen where we continued to work on the meal.
When we finished, I handed him a plate and served him the best cut of meat, he looked at me confused,
"You're not having any?" he asked, I shook my head
"I'll eat later," he nodded slowly before digging in, devouring the plate in front of him, "you were hungry," I said chuckling he smiled sheepishly, I handed him a cup of water which he consumed at lighting speed as well,
"Rosalie!" I heard Master Peter call and I flinched slightly, Henry looked concerned and I shook my head,
"I'll be right back," I said to him softly before walking over to my Master, "Sir?" I asked when I reached him,
"How is he?" Master Peter said, "How is he settling in?"
"Fine," I said smiling slightly, "he's a good boy, smart, has a good heart,"
"So, he'll be easy to mold," Master Peter said baring his teeth in a smile,
"Yes sir," I whispered looking down,
"Good," he said before throwing my bow and arrow at me, I caught it easily and slung it over my shoulder, "now suit up little warrior, we have a battle to fight,"
