Chapter Five
One hundred and thirty years ago, Before Neverland
(This chapter is longer than usual, Kira's life before Neverland is now explained, hope you enjoy!)
I look at myself in the full length mirror that is right in front of me, narrowing my eyes as I silently criticise every detail of the dress I'm to wear for the masquerade ball. I run my hands over the smooth, dark rich blue material of the dress which trails down to the floor, enraptured in lace and tied to the back with ribbon. My maids are occupied with the tying of my corset, tightening each string, perfecting each ribbon and ensuring that it's tight enough that I can just barely breathe. I'm used to this, others attending to me, wearing beautiful dresses and going to extravagant events. My guardian, the Lady Grenela Mistlethwait, has decided that I have come of age to be paraded around and find a husband. Thankfully I have persuaded my Lady to allow myself to choose a suitable husband, she says I have the qualities to proclaim an extremely eligible suitor, yet I only wish to marry one that is kind and…different to other men.
My maids pass me my mask and I smile at its beauty as I place it on. My hair is pulled back into an elegant bun and the mask is wondrous. The under layer of the mask is the same colour as my dress, a royal blue yet there are emerald green flecks on the outer layer and long blue feathers parading around the edge. After I deem myself ready, I dismiss my maids and I head downstairs to greet my guardian, who to her hindrance I refer to as my Aunt despite the fact we have no blood relation. My Aunt is waiting by the door and as I walk downstairs half a smile reaches her lips. "Well, I can ensure that all eyes will be on you tonight Kira. The carriage is here, we must make haste." My Aunt says and the butler opens the door.
My Aunt and I walk out into the cold air, surrounded by the night sky and we head towards the black encased carriage. The henchman holds open the carriage door for us and we slide onto the seat. "Remember Kira, everyone is a candidate. I do hope that you choose the most prestigious marriage offered to you."
"I wish to find a man that I can love, if not eventually fall in love with. Power, wealth and prestige are small factors compared to love." I reply, noticing my Aunts grey eyes narrow beneath her red, sequin encrusted mask.
"Sometimes love must be sacrificed, if you wish to remain a woman of high reputation." My Aunt attempts to advise me, but how can I listen. What is the point of marrying when two souls are not in love, nor share no affection towards one another? I have seen women whom marry for wealth and high title, I see no love in their eyes but unhappiness. Why marry for something that pales in comparison to true love and happiness? I can never imagine it.
/
After the rest of the carriage ride, being quiet and unnerving for the whole journey, we finally reach our destination. The Grand Duke and Duchesses home, well more rather a collaboration between a castle and a mansion. Many well-known Lords and Ladies will be here, along with the citizens and royal guards of the King and Queens court. My Aunt and I step out of the carriage and head towards the towering golden doors, and they open. "The Lady Grenela and the Lady Kira, of the Mistlethwait household." The doorman announces, being informed of our attendance and my Aunt gives me a look as if to tell me to venture off and to mingle. Grenela walks away, leaving me to my own vices. Not that I'm perturbed by the thought of being left alone in a masquerade party, but more the daunting fact that I must be open to finding a husband.
I feel many eyes upon me as I walk through the crowds, both from masked men and women, the women eyeing me with either jealousy or interest. I hear music playing, laughing and voices chattering away. I head towards the main hall, seeing men and women dancing and observing the competition. At events such as these, the games preceding in such a household is always played and one must play the game with cautiousness and relentlessness. I observe all of the men, none yet catching my eye yet I am catching theirs. I then try to refrain from letting out a sigh, and as I turn around abruptly already feeling overwhelmed I almost knock a man, dressed in light blue formal attire, over. I realise he must be one of the Kings men, one in the Kings army. "Forgive me, I wasn't looking where I was going." I say to him in apology as I look up, my eyes meeting his. I don't know what to say, his eyes are so striking from under the silver base of his mask. Blue, such blue in those eyes, bright like his clothes and kind yet lively, like spasms of blue electricity.
The man looks at me too as if startled and then he replies softly, "No, my lady the fault was all mine." Before both of us can say anything else another man walks up to us, patting the man I bumped into on the back in greeting with an endearing smile on his face.
"Forgive me my Lady, my little brother isn't accustomed to speaking with such a beautiful woman." The presumably older brother replies and I see a look of warning from the younger brother.
"Younger brother…" The man with the bluest eyes murmurs in correction to the term 'little brother'. Sibling rivalry can't help but make me smile.
"You flatter me sir, then again I seemed to have lost my words also when I nearly knocked your kind brother over." I reply and a look of interest bestows the older brother's strong features.
"May I know your name my lady?" He asks, hopeful.
"Sir, this is a masquerade ball where mystery is key, so forgive me if you don't already know my name then I shan't tell you until it's time to take our masks off." I show him my most enticing smile and he reacts calmly to it, he seems like such an assertive man.
"Midnight is far away, but very well, then perhaps a dance later?" The older brother knows how to use the right words, dancing is something I can't help but love.
"Perhaps." That one word is the last I reply, then I leave them with another smile as I turn around a slowly walk off, scarcely hearing a lasting sentence from the endearing older brother.
"Killian, whoever that mysterious beauty is, I intend to marry her someday." His voice seems enraptured, yet I do not hear the reply of his younger brother Killian as I head to get some refreshments.
/
After many unsuccessful attempts at small talk and unworldly conversations, I look upon the crowd of the dancing masked faces. While holding a glass of red wine in my hand I make sure I'm pacing myself sensibly. I sway to the lulling and mesmerising pull of the music, slightly hoping that the man who promised me a dance earlier before would offer up on his promise. Then as if my thoughts were heard I feel a tap on my right shoulder and I see it's the older brother from before.
"I'm surprised you are not dancing yet." He greets me with a slightly satisfied smile bestowing his face.
"What can I say, no one has made enough an impression on me to be offered such a luxury." I tease with him, the man knowing very well that other suitors have most definitely asked.
He then lets out a relieved sigh and hold his hand out towards me. "Then may I have the honour of dancing with the most beguiling woman in this room?" I can't help but smile at his charm.
"Well I suppose I could spare one dance." I reply, slipping my hand into his. I lead the mysterious suitor towards the music and he places his hand on my hip, we start to dance. We move with the music, parading around the room in dance smiling and exchanging pleasantries. "Tell me your dreams." I say to him without hesitation, other people would think that my topic is uncalled for, but if I am considering marrying someone I barely know, I need to know who they are.
First I see him narrow his almost silver blue tinted eyes and then he shows me a calming smile. "My dream is to explore other worlds, worlds beyond this realm." He replies honestly.
"Worlds only dreams are made of…do such places exist?"
"Of course they do my Lady, well one likes to hope. All I can ride on now is hope, I'm setting sail with my men in five days to find a different land and acquire something that will aide our people in the battlefield." He tells me and I'm immediately enamoured at the concept of mysterious worlds other than the one I've grown up in all of my life. Of course people say there are so many other worlds, other realms, my Aunt told me it was all nonsense and not to believe a word of the very idea I crave to explore.
"Take me with you." I request, those four words already deciding my future and my fate.
"A lady cannot go on such a journey, it'd be too dangerous." He warns me and I shake my head, smiling despite the fact he's warning me off the very idea.
"I know how to handle myself, I am not one of those ladies that parade around in their frocks and frills, naïve and giggling about the world. You told me your dream, so let me tell you mine. I must admit, I've always felt out of place as if my life…as if everything is a lie and that the person who my Aunt wishes me to be isn't the person I am destined to be. I crave adventure and other realms, I wish for magic and…freedom. I want to escape, from everything. Take me with you, I'm a quick learner and I know how to handle a sword after my friend had taught me. Please." Even I can hear the eagerness in my voice and so can the man who can show me the world.
"Unfortunately…I can't bring myself to not let you come. To not let you achieve your dreams when it is definitely possible would be cruel of me. So yes…come with me, but only on one condition." He tells me and I nod, ready to accept anything. "The moment I saw you tonight, you were the only one I saw, a beauty in a room full of plainness. I told my brother…that I wish to marry you, one day any day, as long as you accept."
Midnight chimes and everyone claps as they take off their masks. The man who may very well be my future husband, takes off his and I do the same. We look at each other, he smiles at me and I at him. "I am Liam Jones, Ship Captain of the Jewel of the Realm. May I know your name, and hopefully your answer?" He says to me softly and I smile.
"My name is Kira…if I may, my last name my Aunt had gave me isn't my name and she is merely my guardian, yet I wish to leave my name behind as I do not yet know my real one and only be called Kira until I find my real parents, if I ever do." The Captain accepts my request. "My answer is yes, I will be your fiancé and I will travel to other realms with you and when you wish it, when the time is right I will marry you."
/
I reach the dock, where the ship the Jewel of the Realm is and I grin, trying to contain myself as I head towards it, already spotting Liam and his brother Killian, along with the rest of the ship's crew. "My ship has never been in finer hands." The Captain, my fiancé, announces and I stand at the entrance of the ship.
"Well he is your little brother Captain, I wouldn't expect any less." I say to them light heartedly and as Liam smiles to me, Killian narrows his eyebrows in confusion, if he's pleased to see me he doesn't show it.
"Are you here to see us off?" Killian asks yet I think he already knows the answer.
"I'm part the crew, Liam said I could come on the adventure with you."
"It's hardly an adventure, Captain this won't be safe for her, the sea is dangerous and we have no idea of what dangers will be in this other realm." Killian's voice is hilted with anger and accusation.
"Dangers are everywhere Lieutenant Jones, then again if you're so concerned for my safety and wellbeing, you can mentor me on swordplay. Well further mentor me as I already have some set skills." I say to Killian and he looks at his brother, his captain one last time before seeing that he's already set his mind, as have I.
"Very well. Brother, you have my word that I shan't let any harm come to her and that I'll prepare her for any dangers we may encounter." Killian says to his brother and his sense of loyalty makes me smile slightly.
"Good chap, well then crew set sail!"
/
Swords chime and clink as they hit against each other. "Watch your footing." Killian orders me and I let out a frustrated sigh.
"My footing is fine, Killian." I tell him, walking almost like dancing around each other, then I step in, our swords clashing against each other again. I hear him let out a grunt as I step on his foot. "Sorry, maybe you need to work on your footing too, placing your foot under mine and what not." I try to supress a laugh and I almost see a smile from him.
"It was you my Lady who stepped on mine."
"Kira, no my lady. I'm on a ship surrounded by only men, they don't need to be reminded and nor do I." I say to Killian and this time he grins.
"Oh I think that would be a hard task to make them forget." Now he's being cheeky with me and I narrow my eyebrows.
"My swordplay would make them forget, I fight better than any other man." I say dangerously.
"Cocky, you still have faults." He tells me still smiling, his blue eyes enjoying every moment of this.
"As does any man." I end the debate, with another clash of my sword and in the moment of distraction and disarm Killian. "You were saying?"
He bends down to pick up his sword and laughs. "Cocky, is what I said if I recall." I punch his arm lightly. "We've been practicing for hours, you should rest."
I shrug. "Rest is for the wicked."
Liam emerges from his Captain Quarters holding a book of what I presume to be star charts. "I hope my little brother is playing nice." He announces in greeting and I hear Killian murmur 'younger brother' again.
"Perfectly." I respond, hiding my sarcasm.
"Well I apologise for interrupting, but I thought it was time to show you both this." The Captain hands Killian the book and Killian flicks through the pages.
"Star charts." Killian says in recognition, then he looks up at his older brother with narrowed brows. "I've never seen these constellations before." I glance at the star charts myself, running a finger over the constellations, wondering where they lead.
"No one has." Liam replies, sweeping his gaze from Killian to me with certain excitement. "That's right, we're going to a new land brother."
"So it is real, other realms are real." I let out a breath of astonishment, of course I had my doubts but now seeing the evidence makes me beam with wonder.
"They are and we going to one." Liam tells us, his eyes hovering as they look into mine. That is before a crew member starts shouting.
"Enemies sighted above the boarder!" One of the crew shouts and Liam and Killian tense up, suddenly both springing into action. I keep a tight grip of my sword still in my hand, more for a sense of safety and Killian immediately reaches for the telescope, looking upon the enemy ships. "It's Frigate and two Corvettes gaining fast!" Killian announces as his brother looks in the eye of another telescope. "Master Gullar roll out the port cannon!" He orders the ship master. My heart beats fast from the intensity of the situation and I look over at the Captain, who seems to be slightly calm. I see him take out the sextant which he gave Killian just as a cannon which lands in the sea beside the ship splays us with water.
"That was close." Liam laughs and I narrow my eyes, wondering what he's thinking.
"We'll never outrun them." Killian says, his face and voice worried.
"Have faith Lieutenant. Apply the Pegasus!" The captain orders his men and they respond in shouting the order to the rest of the crew. The bell starts ringing, rope is getting pulled and suddenly the most beautiful and unusual set of sails raises into the air, thriving graciously in the wind. My mouth opens in awe and I can't take my eyes off it.
"What is that?" Killian asks in equal wonder, his eyes also shining with bewilderment.
"That is a sail woven from the last remaining feathers of the great creature Pegasus." Liam's words run through my mind like silk. Pegasus, the stories I have heard of the creature and it all turns out to be true.
"Legend has it the horse could fly." Killian responds, a crease forming between his brows as he puts the story of Pegasus together.
"Indeed." The Captain says and on a final note the ship starts to move and fast. It rides, with the wind on its side and eventually with enough force the ship starts to tilt skyward. The ship rises into the air and it shakes harshly to the impact of the wind force. I move my hand to grip the edge of the ship and Killian's hand reaches the same place as me and ends up holding mine.
"We're flying." I say to him and can't help but grin, uncaring that his hand is on mine. Apparently my grin is contagious and Killian's smile beams, then as if he's just noticed my hand in his, he removes it, sparing a glance over to Liam who is too busy looking wondrously to the sky as we rise into the clouds. It's beautiful.
Through the chilling air of the skies we go and the ship starts gaining even more speed in the air. My hair blows wildly and I laugh, throwing my hands in the air. I hear a warm chuckle come from behind me and Killian is laughing at how excited I am. The clouds start to clear and a flash of light erupts, I cover my eyes with my hand and then the ship is calm.
As I look, I see everything, an Island so green, ocean so blue and the vastness of this world astounds me. "What is it called?" I say breathless at the beauty I'm faced with, yet somehow feeling a small insecure sense of eeriness.
"I do not know, I guess we'll find out soon enough." The Captain says as the ship lands. We have reached our destination and I haven't felt so free in my entire life, not even knowing that this world, this Island will actually be the place that takes my entire freedom.
/
I stand by the edge of the ship, gazing into the beautiful blue sea, still irked by the fact that the Captain and his 'younger brother' has gone onto the Island without me to search for what Killian described to be a flower that can be used as medicine, the flower that the King wants for his army. I had hoped to explore, to go on an adventure not to be told to stay on the ship away from whatever hypothetical dangers plague the Island. But how could a world so magical and beautiful be described as dangerous?
I rest my chin on my hand and I let out a sigh. They've been gone since sunrise and it will only be an hour until the sun starts setting. Of course I did think about sneaking off the ship to explore the Island but Killian and Liam took the only boat, also my actions would've just been a hindrance. I'm hoping that eventually Liam will trust that I can look after myself and will let me explore whatever other realms and lands he takes me to. Yet I'm happy, magic has happened, I'm in a different land.
I suddenly feel a chilling breeze sweep by me, not a wind but as if something had flew by. I quickly turn around and find that nothing is there, I must be imagining things and I blame being cooped up on this ship. I let out another sigh and start to walk to the Captains quarters for a lie down, then I feel something stab into my foot. "Ouch." I say and as I move my foot I see that I've stood on a small acorn. I pick it up and roll it around in my palm, gazing at the dark green, brown tinge of an acorn. Uninterested I throw it over board, but I don't hear a splash. I look over and narrow my brows in confusion, then I shake my head thinking that my mind is playing tricks on me. Then once I turn around, I let out a small gasp. "What is the matter with you Kira?" I scold myself as I see the acorn on the wood of the ship floor again. I pick it up and this time decide to pocket the object.
As soon as I do, I hear the announcement that the Captain and the Lieutenant have returned and once they board the ship Killian looks pale and is worryingly gazing upon his brother. Liam seems almost angry, or disappointed I can't really tell. "What happened? You both look so forlorn." I ask them and then the Captain motions for me to follow him into his quarters, Killian follows.
"It was poison." Liam tells me angrily as soon as he closes the door.
"What?" I ask astonished at what he's getting at.
"The plant, it wasn't meant for medicine, the King lied to benefit his army." Killian explains to me, I've never seen him this way before, he's been deceived by his King, they both have thinking that they were finding medicine when really…
"To wipe the opposing army out, each and every one of them. This wasn't meant to cause further bloodshed, it was supposed to put a stop to it." Liam shouts, his voice rising from frustration and deceit.
"So what are we to do now?"
"We're going home, the people must know what type of King he really is. As the boy said, he's ruthless." Liam says, defeated. "Killian tell the crew and sail this ship back home."
"Yes, Captain." Killian says quietly, glancing briefly towards me and then heading off to give orders to the crew. The silence is deafening between Liam and I, so I grab his hand softly in comfort, not needing to say a word but letting him know that I am here.
The speed of the ship starts to drift and then the whole ship shakes as it hits the waters of the Enchanted Forest, our home. This is when hell broke loose, everything collapsed, Killian didn't mention to me that Liam was poisoned by the Dreamshade, of course the boy they mentioned showed him a cure, but he didn't explain the price of taking it. The moment I heard Killian's gut wrenching shout for help, my blood ran cold. I ran from the front of the ship and towards Liam's Captain Quarters only to find both of them on the floor, Liam unmoving and Killian grasping his brother, with tears streaking down his frightened face. "Liam…" I whisper, unable to say further words, it's as if my heart has stopped, why? Why would this happen, why has it happened?
I collapse beside Liam and Killian, tears starting to run down my cheeks and I reach a shaking hand towards Liam's face. Suddenly I break, my body shaking from shock, he can't be dead not when we have shared so much of our dreams together, we hadn't lived our dreams, I promised him we would I promised Liam we would be married and we would explore every land there was to offer. Killian, crying beside me grasps my hand and I fall into him, not hearing the alert voices of the crew members surrounding us, instead I continue to grasp onto Killian as he starts to shout at the crew for trying to take his brothers body away from him. His brother…Killian lost his brother he's loved, the brother he grew up with and I've lost the man who's dreams were like stars, the man who I thought I'd be exploring those stars with. Killian's lost his brother, I've lost my wanderer and the crew have lost their Captain.
/
I sit on the armchair of Killian's quarters, my legs clenched to my chest and my face buried in them. I then look up to see Killian still staring at his hands, in the chair opposite me. "The King will pay for this." He finally says to me, his tone laced with anger, this isn't like him.
"I'm sorry Killian. Liam…I didn't expect this…I can't even imagine…this wasn't meant to happen. We had so many worlds to explore." I say, my throat feeling raw, I can only guess what Killian is feeling, he must feel so lost.
"I promised him I would sail to the end with him and be by his side. I failed him." He tells me and his words make me stand up and head towards him. I kneel down to Killian's level and cup my hand on his cheek, he closes his eyes.
"Don't you dare blame yourself for what happened. The King sent you for the Dreamshade, no one knew it was poison except for him and Liam…he paid the price for the King's attempt at power. Now it's up to us to ruin the King, let the people know of his…his madness." I say, claiming my vengeance and suddenly before I can react Killian's lips press desperately against mine, his hand moving towards my hair and clasping the strands eagerly between his fingers. I stand up and so does he and my hands hesitantly reach for his face, getting lost in the kiss. This shouldn't be happening, it's the grief. My thoughts pull me back to reality and I immediately back away from Killian. "We can't do this…what am I doing…this, can't happen..." I cry and I turn around and dash out of Killian's quarters. I hear him shouting my name as I embrace the biting cold air of the wind in the darkness.
The night sky blazes above and I run towards the front of the ship, throwing my hands onto the wood and gazing into the water, trying to catch my breath. "Kira, I'm sorry I didn't know…I couldn't think, all I saw was you and I…" Killian tries to explain to me but I turn around and shake my head.
"What are we doing Killian, your brother my fiancé has just died and we-," I can't even finish my sentence nor look at Killian for guilt and suddenly I hear a shout erupt from him.
"KIRA!" His shout is deafening and before I can do anything I feel darkness collapse around me.
Something dark, something cold and unworldly pulls me from the ground and I rise into the air. My eyes meet Killian's and I'm sure mine how frightened his are, I reach out my hand to him and it feels like everything is in slow motion.
"Killian!" I scream and he runs for me, continuously shouting my name, then suddenly I get lunged back, the…the shadow clutching onto me and flying me away from my safe place, away from Killian and away from what I had considered my home. Then I am pulled into oblivion and darkness erupts around me. The shadow is taking me away, as its prisoner and to the world I naively wanted to explore, thinking I would be free there only to be taken to my end. Taken to Neverland.