"David, he's the only one who's been on this island before. We need to at least listen to Hook's suggestions."
"I did listen and I think it's better to go down the other path, Emma. What are you two giggling about back there?"
Lowering his sword, he glanced towards the back of the small group where Riley and Seth were whispering and laughing quietly to themselves. If he already struggled with trusting Riley, having her reunited with her twin brother, who was just as dangerous as her or possibly more, only deepened his trust issues. Emma vouched for his inclusion in their rescue mission, insisting that they needed any kind of magical assistance against Pan and Riley was more than capable of handling her brother. In less than ten minutes, she seemed to regret her decision as she learned that while Seth was just as snarky as Riley, his remarks could be even more offensive.
"Didn't think you knew what laughing was…you know, since you've got that stick up your ass," said Seth, making Riley giggle into her sleeve.
"We're not here to make jokes. Can you focus on finding Henry? That's what's important."
"My apologies, your majesty. I'm curious. What's your plan? Just keep whacking at bushes until you find wherever Pan is hiding him?"
"Do you have a better idea?"
"Maybe but I don't appreciate your tone so I'll keep it to myself. Shame for you."
Mary Margaret rested her hand on David's shoulder. "David, don't let him get to you. Let's get back to the camp and we'll figure out our strategy from there," she whispered.
Their camp was nothing more than piles of logs in the middle of a clearing. Riley scrunched her nose at the makeshift beds and the choice of food being between green or red berries. Seth flicked his wrist, conjuring a peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich, and ripped it down the middle, handing half of the sandwich to her. She rolled her eyes, suppressing a smile, and took a small bite.
"You know, you could do that for the rest of us," said Emma, throwing more wood onto the fire.
Seth nodded. "Sure I could but the question is will I? The answer's no."
"Riley, can you help me get more firewood? It's probably best if we don't use a lot of magic or it could draw attention from Pan."
"That's the best excuse you can come up with, huh? At least try to sound convincing."
Riley smacked his chest. "Play nice. I'll be back," she mouthed.
She led Emma to the farthest part of the jungle, with the clearing still in view, knowing that Seth would cast a spell to eavesdrop on their conversation. It was blatantly obvious that David was not the only one that was distrustful of her brother.
"Say it already, Emma. You don't like Seth."
"I've been around you long enough to know what I think doesn't matter. He's your family. You never mentioned him for your own reasons and whatever happened is between the two of you. I just want you to be careful. A little while ago, you were kicking the crap out of each other and now he's making you sandwiches."
"It's a sandwich. That doesn't erase all the problems between us but if you want to get Henry back, he's useful. I'm not naïve, especially around my family. Trust me, this isn't the first time that Seth and I have gotten in a fight. It's better to let him think that I've forgiven him or else he'll go on a rampage."
"And I want to apologize for the journal thing. I swear that it wasn't intentional. Your past is yours to discuss and you never had to tell me the truth about Marcus."
"Is this conversation over?"
"Just one more question. Why do you go by Riley?"
"What?"
"It's not your real name. At first, I thought it was nothing but when I saw those memories and Ethan's doppel…magical twin person's friend called you Alice and I saw you with your brothers, it got me curious," she explained, taking out a piece of paper from her jeans pocket.
The paper was a detailed family tree of the covens, including her own bloodline. Towards the bottom of the paper, she saw the names of her parents and her siblings, along with the dates of their births and deaths and their most recent locations. Emma confessed that she found the family tree in August's trailer when she, Marco, and Mary Margaret searched for him in the woods back in Storybrooke. It was not the only information he had gathered on the covens but she left behind his massive folder in the trailer. In red marker, a circle had been drawn around the name next to Seth's: Marina Renato.
"Is that you?"
"No."
"Riley, this is obviously your family tree. I mean, there's—"
"This isn't me. Marina is dead. I gave up that name a long time ago for reasons that don't concern you. It also doesn't matter why I go by Riley. That's my name now. What else was in the puppet's trailer?"
"Nothing. Just a folder on…don't get that angry look in your eyes. August is a little seven year old boy now. You can't hurt him. He wouldn't even remember where he got any of the information in that folder. Back to your family. It's pretty clear that two of your siblings and your mother died but what about Lukas?"
"He was killed by a Lost Boy. End of story."
"And your dad? What's with the question mark? Is he actually dead or—"
"He's not a threat to anyone, Emma. I think it's best if you forget about whatever you found in that trailer."
"You don't want to talk about your family? That's fine. Can you at least me tell me why Pan wants you? I mean, I never expected him to be the one that I was protecting you and I get why you didn't tell me yourself. I probably wouldn't believe you considering how I've always pictured him and reality don't match up at all."
"Pan isn't who you've been protecting me from, Emma. I'd rather you not tell David this because I'm like one accusation away from ripping off his head but I set up getting kidnapped by Greg and Tamara. Before you yell at me, I had a good reason. It was to find something to protect myself. It's on the island and if I came here on my own, the council would be furious. Pan is nothing compared to the person I've been hiding from all this time. You better pray that you never meet him."
Riley picked up several logs and returned to the clearing. Seth, the paranoia already pervading his thoughts, was eyeing Emma suspiciously and absentmindedly conjuring a flame in the palm of his hand. She tossed the logs onto the fire and sat beside him, brushing off his concerns that Emma and the others were plotting against them as mere delusions. As she bit into her sandwich, she noticed all of them staring in her direction. Hook, the only one to not look anxious or frightened, gave her a subtle nod towards Seth. Blackened veins were protruding under his eyes as he stared at his fingers stained with strawberry jelly, rubbing them together silently.
"When's the last time you ate?" she hissed, recognizing the signs of hunger.
"Don't remember."
"Come on, we'll find something."
Grabbing the back of his leather jacket, she dragged him into the jungle. "Seriously, when's the last time you ate?"
"Not since that night…when you left."
She crossed her arms. "Don't start. I'm not falling for it, Seth."
"It's not a lie. I thought if I didn't eat and you heard about me hurting people, then you'd come back. Bash kept it under control with a spell. Just let me take a chunk out of the prince."
"That would be bad form, mate," said Hook, pushing back a tree branch.
"What are you doing here?"
"As Swan said, I'm the only one who's been on the island before. My knowledge of the island is very valuable. For example, just down that path, you can find some nice rabbits to satisfy your hunger."
"I don't eat rabbits. I like a challenge."
"Then perhaps you'd prefer the wolf den over the ridge. I should warn you that they put up quite the fight."
In a split second, Seth jumped over the cliff, vanishing beneath the thicket of trees. Riley heard several growls, some of them coming from her own brother, followed by loud yelps and snaps.
"What are they saying?" she asked Hook.
"Nothing."
"Liar. I saw how they were looking at him. I've seen that look a million times."
"They are far too young to know the truth of his affliction. It was believed to be eradicated when the covens were destroyed. It was only a matter of time before they found out about him, Renato. You should be glad none of them were harmed or the prince may have sliced off his head in the middle of the night."
"They wouldn't have found out if he didn't starve himself. He's trying to guilt me into forgiving him. He always pulls this kind of trick."
"Perhaps it's best if you do forgive him. If we're not on a united front, Pan will use that to his advantage."
"No. It's easier if I don't forgive him."
"What's easier?" he asked, curiously.
"Everything."
"If you like, I can tell them that he was cursed by Pan to sidetrack the mission."
"Why do you care what they think of my brother?"
"Who said I would be doing it for him?"
Seth reappeared by her side, wiping blood from his lips. As they walked back to the clearing, he kept her pinned beside him, a tight grip around her wrist, and ensured that Hook was at least ten steps ahead of them. Riley was surprised when Hook lied to the others about Pan's supposed curse on her brother. She played along, pretending that she reversed the curse and Seth was back to his normal self. Despite their convincing lie, it did not assuage their reservations about him. Emma decided that it was best for them to rest for the night and continue their search for Henry in the morning. Before Seth could conjure an actual bed, she suggested that their magic use should be limited in case Pan used it to track them. Riley slept by his side, like when they were children, in case he had another sudden bout of hunger. She fell asleep with his arm around her waist and her head buried into his shoulder.
Their moment of peace and quiet was short-lived as Emma practically shook them awake the next morning, waving a blank map in front of their faces. The map had been given to her by Pan, who visited the camp minutes before and claimed the map would lead them to Henry. Like with all of his acts of kindness, there was a catch: the parchment remaining blank until Emma accepted her true self. Riley remembered that Pan was a boy who loved his riddles and breaking the spell on the parchment was not as simple as Emma reciting her name. An argument broke out among them, with Regina wanting to use magic to reveal the map despite a warning from Hook that breaking Pan's rules was unwise. For the first time, David and Mary Margaret were on his side, agreeing that magic as a quick solution was not worth the risk.
"If you want to find your son, then you have to follow Pan's rules," said Riley.
Regina scoffed. "And what makes you such an expert, Miss Renato?"
Riley refrained from mentioning that she had taught Pan the same spell on the parchment during their first encounter. Though it was at a time when Neverland's magic was very strong, he was struggling with channeling his belief and wanted to prove his power to the Lost Boys. She had made a deal to teach him how to control his magic in exchange for an object hidden on the island.
"Do you really think he'd make it that easy? For once, use some common sense. He said that Emma has to unlock the map so it's all up to her."
"Thanks for not putting too much pressure on me," replied Emma, sarcastically.
Emma attempted to unlock the map by mentioning different things about herself. After several tries, the map remained hidden and Regina was slowly losing her patience. It seemed that they would have an easier time finding Henry on their own than with the help of the map but Mary Margaret and David continued to encourage her with their unfaltering optimism.
"I'm the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, which apparently makes me the product of true love," said Emma, awkwardly.
"If we're going down this sappy road, I'm going to side with the evil queen on this one. Just use magic," said Seth.
"No, I've got this."
"All you've got is—"
Simultaneously, Riley and Seth shivered, feeling a chill run down their spines. "Are you two okay?" asked Mary Margaret, concerned.
"He wouldn't be that stupid," whispered Seth, shaking his head.
"I told you what happened at the club. You can thank your stupid ex-girlfriend. You just had to try to impress her with that, didn't you? She was a complete ditz. I don't think you needed to tell her about it to get her in bed," hissed Riley.
"It's not my fault. I was drunk. He shouldn't even be able to see it. How—"
"Something you want to share?" asked David, crossing his arms.
"I thought I heard something but it was probably just a bird."
Fed up with wasting time, Regina snatched the map from Emma and cast a locater spell. The map emitted a faint golden glow and floated into the jungle. Following the map, Riley and Seth kept their guard up, checking for anything suspicious hidden in the trees. Riley knew that using magic to unlock the map was a terrible idea and fully expected it to lead them into a trap. The map stopped moving in the middle of the path, simply floating in mid-air, and Regina suggested that Pan was nearby, sensing his so-called smugness.
David twirled his sword. "Shall we? While we still have the element of surprise on our side?"
"You go right ahead, buddy. Riley and I will stay here in case they try their own sneak attack," said Seth.
"What are you talking about? You're supposed to be helping us," said Emma.
"Well, my sister isn't supposed to be using too much magic. You should know that as her protector. Since we're related, it's not too much of a stretch to think that whoever is after her will be tracking me too. Like I said, we'll guard this spot. No Lost Boys will come running up behind you with their pointy sticks. Good luck."
"As soon as we get Henry, we'll come back. Maybe you can figure out a way to get us off the island."
"Got it."
As they continued down the path, Seth looked at Riley. "It's a trap, right?"
"Of course it is. I've told you what Pan's like and he's never easily tricked. Let the idiots figure it out on their own. We have a more pressing matter."
"That we do, little sister. What's the plan?"
"I'm going to find out what he's up to and make sure that tomb stays untouched. You know how risky it is, especially across realms. If they make it back before I do, make up a good story."
"Be careful. If you get hurt out there, I can't help you."
Riley laid down on the ground, her eyes shut, and clasped her hands together on her stomach. She felt Seth's hands over hers and together, they recited a spell. Their voices slowly began to fade and it was like her body was being lifted into the air…
~Killian~
Heading back towards the camp, Killian wiped a spot of blood from his hook. As he expected, the map had led them straight into one of Pan's traps, due to Regina's own impatience and refusal to heed his warnings. They managed to escape the Lost Boys without any physical injuries but Swan was clearly upset over their failure to find her son. She kept her eyes on the ground as she followed David down the dirt path. Killian noticed the prince clutching his side for the tiniest second and him biting his lip as he fought back a painful groan.
"This is just a tiny setback. We'll find Henry," assured Snow.
"How? Unless we get the map to work, we have no way of getting to him. We're no closer to him than we were this morning," said Regina, frustrated.
"Maybe Riley and Seth can try a different spell. There has to be a way to locate Pan's camp."
"Yes, let's rely on the two brats who—"
Seth was kneeling beside an unconscious Riley, muttering to himself. His eyes were wide open but he appeared to be in some sort of trance.
"Hey!" shouted Swan, speaking for the first time.
As she raised her leg to kick him in the back, he stood up swiftly and caught her leg, knocking her to the ground. "I wouldn't try that again, sweetheart. That's your one warning. Next time, I won't be that nice."
"What the hell did you do to her?"
"My sister's fine."
"She's unconscious and you're saying a spell over her. That doesn't look fine to me. You better be honest. Trust me, I'll know if you're lying."
"What, your little super power? Yea, I know all about that. I do my research when my sister gets a new little protector. Since you're in such a bad mood, I'm guessing you didn't get Harry back."
"Henry."
"Right. Well, my sister and I have our own problem."
Seth explained that their strange whispers when Swan was struggling to reverse the enchantment on the map were about Marcus. He was attempting to flee his own prison in New York and refusing to allow that, Riley cast a spell on herself to prevent his escape. She had sent her essence into the body of another person to spy on her eldest brother and as it was a very powerful spell, her own body needed to stay untouched until she was finished with securing the prison. Though he sounded sincere, Killian was unable to shake the feeling that he was not telling the whole story.
"And how is this magic not too big to draw attention?" asked David.
"It's an easy spell. We learned it when we were five."
"Possession isn't easy magic," countered Regina.
"Maybe not for you. For what it's worth, I'm sorry that you didn't find your son. I can tell that you're upset, Emma. You know, I could probably find Pan's camp in two seconds and get him back for you."
"Oh, really? Then do it," said Swan.
"I don't do rescue missions for free."
"If you want me to convince Riley to forgive you, that won't happen."
"I know that. My sister rarely cares about the opinions of others. She's stubborn like that. I'll be honest. I didn't think you'd last this long, considering what I've heard about you. Most of her protectors just give up out of fear or because they can't handle the pressure. I guess you've had it easier though, never leaving Storybrooke. I mean, if you were out of that little bubble, you wouldn't last a day with her. The only reason you've kept your job this long is because no one wants to the face the Dark One."
"What do you want, Seth?"
He brushed a stray strand of hair away from Riley's cheek, tucking it behind her ear. "When you get back to Storybrooke, I want you to write to that stupid council and tell them that you don't want the job."
"First of all, I have no idea how to do that and second, even if I did, that would mean losing my own life."
According to Seth, the binding contract that linked Swan as Riley's protector contained a loophole. She was able to relinquish her duties without the cost of her life if she offered the job to another of her choosing. Killian quickly realized that Seth was insinuating that he wanted to take over for Swan. He found his request suspicious, particularly because he suddenly reappeared in Riley's life, seemingly hoping for forgiveness for his past transgressions. Swan was not easily swayed by his claims of brotherly concern.
"You weren't with her for months and now you want the job? Are you kidding? If you deserved it, the council would've picked you."
He chuckled. "And you think you deserve it?"
"No, but—"
"You're all the same. You get that note and it gives you an inflated sense of self-worth…makes you think that you're something special. All you are is a guard dog until you die and someone else takes your place. You idiots come and go but I am the constant. "
"No offense but something tells me that the council would have given you the job by now if they thought they could trust you. If you know a way to find Henry, you'll do it because it's the right thing to do. You want Riley to forgive you? Start by being a decent person. Prove that you're worth her forgiveness."
David stood protectively in front of her, wary of a possible attack. With a defeated shrug, Seth stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Maybe you're right. I can try a spell to find Pan's camp. Hook can probably recognize it since he knows the island better than anyone. Give me a minute."
Seth walked over to the nearby lake and waved his hand over the water. Checking that Riley was still breathing, Snow questioned Regina about the length of the spell. Regina was unsure, never attempting such powerful magic herself, but in one of her old spellbooks, she once read that the spell could last days, depending on how long the caster needed to be in another body.
"I'm starting to see something in the water. I think I just saw a boy. He's wearing a scarf."
"It could be Henry. Let me see," said Swan, joining him by the lake.
She squinted her eyes. "I don't see anything, Seth."
"Give it a second. I'm trying to see inside the camp without Pan noticing. Get closer so you don't miss it. See the trees reflected in the water?"
Swan bent down on her knees, leaning closer to the edge of the lake. "Maybe only you can see it because—"
Killian's eyes widened as Seth shoved her head into the water. "Emma!" shouted David.
As they hurried towards the lake, watching Swan flailing her arms to fight off his grip, an invisible barrier knocked them back several feet. Seth sniggered at Regina's attempt to lower the barrier.
"I tried to go about this the nice way, Emma. I've done this plenty of times. After you're gone, the binding contract is broken."
"That council will simply choose someone else. Do you plan on killing them all until you get the job?" asked Killian.
"Brilliant deduction but that would imply that the council is still around. Sadly, they were all killed in a mysterious accident shortly before your little trip. No one knows who was behind it but I heard their deaths were pretty gruesome. Such a tragedy. Just another minute and—"
A black blur smashed into Seth, sending him flying into the jungle. With his concentration broken, the barrier vanished and both David and Snow rushed to Swan's side, helping her out of the lake. She coughed up a heavy amount of water and stood up weakly, clutching her chest. Killian assumed that Riley had protected Swan from her grim fate but when he glanced down at the ground, she was still unconscious. Seth emerged from the trees, his eyes turning pitch black.
"Looks like the savior has a little magic after all."
"That wasn't me but you want a fight, you son of a bitch? You've got one."
"While I do understand your eagerness to hit him…" he heard.
A dark-haired boy, not much younger than Swan and dressed in a crisp suit, appeared by the edge of the lake. Killian instantly made the connection between the young, well-dressed boy in Riley's memory and the boy standing not more than a foot away from him, knowing that he was Sebastian, another one of her brothers. Despite his sophisticated attire, the intense gleam in his eyes gave him quite an intimidating appearance. Seth himself looked truly frightened, nearly tripping over his own feet.
"I'm afraid that the only one allowed to punish my brother is me. Are you alright, Miss Swan?"
Swan was at a loss for words. "I uh…I've had better days."
"B—Bash, you're…all better. I guess the poison wore off already. Riley told me I was wrong to bite you. No need for another lecture," said Seth, his eyes darting around his surroundings.
Sebastian did not look amused. "You know, I agree that the council can be a bit overzealous sometimes but they were right about something. Riley and I are truly as mad as they come for thinking that you will ever learn your lesson. All these years and you still act like that seven year old boy. Chance after chance and yet you remain the same. I'm sure you'd like to know that your little stunt failed. The council is unharmed."
"Always can count on you for the heroic rescue, even when you're suffering from a nasty poison. I know you're going to accuse me again but I assure you my intentions are pure."
Swan scoffed. "Pure? You just tried to drown me."
"I was doing you a favor, Emma. You'll wish that you drowned if you ever meet—"
"Enough. I almost believed you that you had every intention of reconciling with our sister but as always, you have an ulterior motive. We could've mended all the bad blood between us and you go behind our backs to conspire with others," said Sebastian.
"Conspire? Someone's being dramatic. I'm the only one doing something that ensures our dear little sister can survive another day. All these months, you've just been wasting your time, counting down the minutes until the end instead of finding a way to protect any of us. At least I care about her. It's not like you give a damn, Bash."
Sebastian pinned him against a nearby tree, squeezing his throat. "Do not ever question my loyalty. I have denied every nagging voice in my head that tells me you are a lost cause out of respect for her misbegotten insistence that you can be a better person."
"You better let me go, Bash. I'm warning you—"
"I am warning you, little brother. If you lay a hand on any of these people, especially our sister or Miss Swan, it will be your last moment in this world. I have forgiven all of your transgressions in the past and stood by you as a brother should but do not push me, Seth. My patience with you can only go so far. Now apologize."
"Good joke."
He pointed towards Swan, who was shocked that he was defending her. "This woman has sworn to protect our sister with her life. You will show her the respect that she deserves. Apologize."
"Of course. I am so sorry, Emma. I'm sorry that you are going to die a slow, painful death instead of the quick one I offered you because my brother is a—"
Sebastian snapped his neck in one quick movement and his lifeless body collapsed to the ground. Not a single word was spoken yet all eyes were on him. He apologized for Seth's rude behavior and promised to keep him under control.
"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked Swan.
She nodded. "I uh—he's not dead? You snapped his neck."
"It takes far more than that to get rid of my family. He'll be unconscious for a few hours. Enjoy the silence. How long has Riley been gone?"
"No idea. We came back and found her like that. Do you think Seth was lying? Maybe he hurt her."
"He would never hurt her."
"But you said that he didn't just come here to make up with her so why did he really come to Neverland?" asked David as Sebastian removed his coat.
Swan's eyes flickered between him and the coat as he handed it to her. Though their similar features were an indication that all three were related, Sebastian seemed to be quite different from his siblings in his personality. He was respectful and chivalrous and had not thrown a single insult since he arrived on the island. Silently, Swan grabbed the coat and placed it around her shoulders.
"I have my suspicions but I don't know his true intentions. He clearly has some scheme up his sleeve if he was willing to incapacitate me with that bite," he explained, bending down beside Riley.
As he checked her pulse, Killian caught a glimpse of an intricate tattoo on his left wrist. It depicted a red dragon with its long tail wrapped around an ornate sword. Killian recalled seeing similar tattoos during his adventures as a lieutenant in the navy. Swan went off on her own to figure out how to reverse the enchantment on the map, though her parents followed close behind, while Regina cast a spell over Seth to prevent him from attacking them when he awoke from his unconscious state.
"You don't seem like the sort to have one of those, mate," said Killian, indicating the tattoo.
"It has…sentimental value."
"Were your ancestors from Camelot?"
Sebastian's head snapped up at lightning speed. "Why would you think that?"
"I recognize that mark from when I was a boy. The crew had stopped in a pub and a few knights from Camelot were having a pint. I remember seeing that mark on their wrists."
"Forgive me but have we met before?"
"I highly doubt that. I may have a youthful glow but I am older than I look."
"Of course. You spent a long time on this island to prepare your revenge against the Dark One. I expect he's in Storybrooke, grieving his son's death."
"You may have better manners than your siblings but like them, you know very much about that town and its inhabitants. He accompanied us on the trip."
His grip tightened on Riley's wrist. Beneath the curious expression on his face, there was a hint of surprise and panic, as if he feared being in the same place as the Dark One.
"Is he waiting back at your camp?"
"He chose to rescue the boy on his own. Haven't seen him since he left the ship. Afraid of him?"
"Isn't everyone?" he replied, though Killian doubted that his anxiety was due to fear of meeting the Dark One face to face.
"Not your sister."
"He's spoken to Riley?"
"From what I hear, he's been giving her lessons. I wouldn't fret over it. If he wanted her dead, she would be in the dirt by now."
"I suppose you're right. She failed to mention these lessons."
"Have you been in contact with her while she was in Storybrooke?"
"No. As I have the wonderful task of controlling my little brother, their spat meant that we were estranged as well. I've reached out to her but I'm afraid that she inherited my father's stubbornness. I haven't the slightest idea how she'll react when she sees that I am on the island."
Golden sparks bounced off of Riley's fingertips. Killian was nowhere near an expert on magic yet he had lived long enough and spent time with plenty of people with magical abilities to learn all sorts of spells and magical phenomena. Sebastian's tense gaze suggested that it was not a random display of magic. Before Killian could question him, thinking that Riley was possibly in danger, he overheard Swan yell that she was able to locate Henry. He walked towards her, seeing a detailed map of the island in her hands…
~Riley~
Possession spells were at the top of her list of most detested magic. While she maintained all of her magical abilities, she disliked being trapped in another person's body, mostly because whoever she ended up in was chosen at random. She was now in control of a ten year old girl who wore her hair in two low pigtails and had an affinity for floral dresses. The girl's overall appearance was enough to make Riley want to throw herself off a bridge but the one upside was that no one would perceive her as a threat. If any concerned people approached her, wondering if she lost her parents, she simply batted her eyelashes and lied that they were inside the nearest shop.
She had just unlocked the last of over a dozen enchantments on the gate to St. Louis Cemetery. Pushing open a gate, she conjured a tiny ball of golden light. The deeper she ventured into the cemetery, following the ball of light, the temperature dropped considerably, making her hug her cardigan closer to her body for warmth, and like a scene straight out of a horror movie, the ground became covered in a dense fog. She stopped in front of an enormous mausoleum, the walls overgrown with moss and the cracks in the stone adding to its decaying appearance. Beside the wooden door was a porcelain doll's head on a metal spike, the head turned towards the door. She placed both hands over the head and whispered a spell under her breath. The shadow creature that she had sent away from Storybrooke jumped down from the roof of the mausoleum and let out a low, rumbling growl, digging its paws into the dirt.
"It's me," she said, letting her eyes shine through the contacts.
The creature lowered its head. "I expect we may have some visitors soon. Keep them out."
Riley entered the mausoleum and tapped the farthest stone wall three times in a triangular pattern. The wall slid open, revealing a winding stone staircase. At the bottom of the staircase was a circular red door with an etching of a snake eating its own tail. She pricked her thumb with a hair pin and pressed it over the snake's mouth, repeating the same word over and over as its eyes glowed silver.
"Sepulchagor."
The snake spun counterclockwise, faster with each passing second, until the door swung open. She stepped into the room where a man in his early sixties, his disheveled dark hair greying and matted with blood, was shackled to the ceiling by his wrists and his feet were encased in a thick black goo that glued them to the floor. He raised his head and upon seeing her, his eyes turned scarlet red.
"Afraid to face me as your true self? You need to hide behind petty disguises?"
"I'm surprised you recognize me."
"I'd never forget my own child, especially ones who betray me. To what do I owe the visit, my sweet girl? Have you finally gotten the courage to kill me? At least free me first so it's a fair fight."
"Since when do you care about fair fights? Just checking on you. It's been awhile."
He smirked. "No, that's not it. You'd be content to never visit this prison again. Someone's found out your little secret and you're worried that they'll free me to get to you."
"You think far too highly of yourself. Even if you were free, you'd stand no chance against me. I would think you'd show me respect."
"You may remember your past but it doesn't erase the years I spent raising you."
"Don't give yourself any credit. I'd hardly call you a father. I'm sure you've been counting the days since you're stuck down here all by yourself. You know the merge is only in a few days and I can already imagine what you've been plotting in your head. You think that during the merge, the enchantments will be weakened enough for you to escape and take my magic but I'm going to disappoint you. There won't be a merge. I'll be the last one standing and you'll never make it out of this tomb. I'll leave you to rot, which is generous considering I could just rip out your heart right now."
"And what's stopping you? It's because you are weak. Underneath all that arrogance, no matter how many lives you live, you are still that pathetic little girl who lets her feelings get in the way. It is something the two of you share, you know. You boast about wanting to kill him but in the end, neither of you can do it. Vilify him all you wish but he means something to you."
"Shut up."
"This silly rivalry could've ended the day it started but your feelings have kept it going. I suppose I did fail at raising you. No child of mine would ever be this weak and cowardly. You think that you've got control but even those right under your nose are plotting against you. I predict that your end is very soon. Perhaps you'll learn from your mistakes next time though you won't be able to do much until you remember it all again."
Her nostrils flared. "I said sh—"
Panicked shouts pierced the stone walls of the mausoleum. She threw a contemptuous glare at her father before leaving the room and walked outside, nearly stepping on a torn off, bloody leg. Several body parts were strewn about the cemetery, including arms, legs, and heads. The shadow creature had a middle aged man pinned to the ground and tore into his shoulder with its sharp teeth. She picked up one of the severed arms, her finger tracing the skull tattoo on the wrist. As the shadow creature disposed of each intruder, all sporting the same tattoos, Riley spotted Elena sneaking towards the mausoleum. She was knocked back by an invisible barrier that rose up from the ground when she reached the doll's head.
"One of you idiots come here and reverse this!" she shouted, showing little concern for her companions being torn to shreds.
"I wouldn't do that."
She glanced down at Riley. "Where did you come from, little girl? You shouldn't be here at night. It's when the monsters come out," she said, revealing her fangs and bright yellow eyes.
"Cool trick. Do you want to see mine?"
Riley flicked her wrist and Elena was thrown across the cemetery, landing near a series of tombstones. Roots shot up from the ground, wrapping tightly around her body from her neck to her ankles.
"You've always been a stupid mutt, Elena, but this has to be your dumbest plan yet."
Riley listened to Elena's heart beat quicken at the realization that she was more than just a little girl. "N—no, you can't…you're in Neverland."
"My body is, yes, but magic helped me with that problem. Is your stupidity an act or are you really that dense that you thought you could just walk through that door? You know, I wanted to wait to end your pathetic life…you know, savor the moment. I think you want me to kill you. Why else would you purposely keep pushing me?"
"I—I'm more useful to you alive. I can tell you—"
"You have nothing of interest to me, mentally or physically. I'm sure this little display will be enough to dissuade this pitiful uprising so I could just let you go but then again, there's nothing wrong with sending a very clear message. Quick and painful or slow and painful? Your choice."
"R—Riley, please. I am useful to you. I can go back and find out what they're planning. I could—"
"Time's up. I'll make the decision for you. One second, sweetheart. Desinis!"
The screams immediately ceased and the shadow creature returned to its post on the roof of the mausoleum. Riley appeared in front of the remaining intruders, some of them missing limbs. The men and women, covered in many cuts and bruises, stared up at her in confusion while nursing their injuries.
"Let's cut to the chase. I know who you work for, whether willingly or by force, and though some of you may regard him highly, I can assure you that he hasn't told you the entire truth. I'm guessing he just told you to break into that tomb over there without mentioning who it belonged to or why he wanted to get inside. He likely didn't tell you because then only a few of you would be dumb enough to still come here. The tomb belongs to me but don't be fooled by my appearance."
She pushed up the sleeve of her cardigan, revealing the dove-shaped mark on her wrist. All at once, they scurried back, ignoring the pain of their broken limbs. Only one of them, a girl around Riley's age with wavy golden blonde hair and a willowy figure, chose to fling herself at her feet and beg for her forgiveness. She kicked the girl in the face but the girl stayed still, letting the blood drip from her now broken nose.
"I deserve that. If I had known—I beg your forgiveness."
"Groveling bores me but you're lucky that you might have some use to me. I'll give you all a choice. You can either switch your allegiance to me and live another day or you can choose to stay loyal to the man who would allow you to die for his own foolishness and you'll be part of a message that I'm sending to him."
"You're not as intimidating in that body, girl. What's stopping one of us from taking you out once and for all?" asked a man with arms the size of tree trunks and murderous intent in his eyes.
Riley twisted her wrist and in an instant, the man's neck snapped with a deafening crack. He collapsed to the ground, his dark eyes staring up at the cloudy night sky.
"Anyone else want to question my power? Then you're finally being smart. He may have blindly accepted your loyalty but I'm much more cautious."
As she bit into her wrist, she conjured a plastic cup into her hand and let the blood flow into the cup until it was halfway full. The cut on her wrist healed with seconds and she silently cast a spell over the blood. She handed the cup to the blonde girl and one by one, they sipped the blood, their eyes briefly flashing silver. In the middle of giving out a few orders, she felt a sharp pain in her side.
"You have all your orders. No need to be standing around."
Two of the men headed in Elena's direction, conjuring shovels. The girl stayed behind, eyeing Riley up and down, instead of returning to Boston.
"I'm Circe."
"I don't recall asking your name. You should be in Boston by now. I like things done quickly."
"I think I'm more useful somewhere else."
"Are you questioning my orders?"
"No, just giving an alternative."
"And why should I care about your opinion?"
"Because it may help you get what you truly want. I know much more than the others…about you and him and your interesting past, your majesty."
"If you knew as much as you claim, you'd say my lady."
"Perhaps I believe you deserve more than that," she said with a coy smile.
"Do not overstep. My problems have never been with my brother. He has no part in any of this. Is that understood?"
"My apologies. As I said, I think I am more useful outside of Boston. I could get information straight from the source. We've met briefly before and he wouldn't think it strange that I am siding with him, what with this uprising and all. Those who don't want to be part of it are scrambling to find protection for themselves."
She felt another kick to her side. "Then what are you waiting for? I expect constant updates. You seem eager to prove yourself so keep the others in line. The girl's going to be very confused when I leave her body. Make sure she gets home safely and have her think that she was at the park or something."
Her surroundings began to shift between the cemetery and the Neverland jungle. She blinked several times and found herself back in her own body, laying on the ground. Pan was staring down at her from above, tossing an apple into the air.
"Hungry from your trip?"
Riley sat up, brushing the tufts of grass from her hair. "Is there a reason you were creepily staring at me?"
"Well, it was the perfect time to meet now that they're all busy with the map. Emma figured out how to break the spell. It wasn't wise to do a possession spell out in the open. My boys rarely see girls and if they stumbled upon one as pretty as you…"
"Even unconscious, I could beat up your little boys. One of my brothers showed up here."
"I'm well aware. He scared half the boys with his late night hunt. Do keep a better eye on him."
"He's harmless. I need you to use some magic to make a crystal. It just needs to look real. As far as Seth is concerned, I came here to find it."
"My magic is weakened these days. Perhaps you could give me some of yours."
"Nice try. You're going to do it for me or else I'll take Emma straight to Henry. I know where your camp is and you could try to hide it but even your strongest enchantments can be broken. You know what? I could do something much worse. I'll tell your precious Lost Boys the truth about you."
"You're getting into very dangerous territory. I'd watch yourself," he said with a sneer.
"Then make me that crystal and hide it in some random cave out of the many on this island or they find out that you're a fake…just an old man in the body of a teenager. Don't think I won't expose you, Malcolm. We go a long way back but that doesn't mean I won't destroy you for getting in my way."
"We do have a history so I would like you to remember that I know things about you as well. If I fail, I'll take you down with me. I'll get you your crystal. Keep them away from the camp until I've finished my business with Henry or the deal's off."
Riley headed back towards the camp where the others were discussing the best path to Pan's camp. Regina, never learning her lesson, vouched for using magic to materialize into the camp instead of trekking through the jungle. As Hook pointed out the risks of a magical approach, Emma glanced up from the map.
"Riley, you're awake. Did you stop Marcus?"
Guessing that Marcus was her brother's cover story for the possession spell, she nodded. "Yep. He's locked up again."
"We were worried that you wouldn't wake up."
"I wouldn't say we," said Regina.
Emma rolled her eyes. "I uh got the map to work. We'll leave soon but there's something we need to talk about first. You might not agree but—it's about Seth."
"Your brother needs to leave," insisted David.
"What, did he make you cry?" asked Riley.
Emma rubbed the back of her back. "He uh…well, something happened while you were gone."
"Where is he?"
As Sebastian entered the clearing, it was as if she lost all feeling in her body and her feet were frozen to the ground. She gripped her leather bracelet behind her back, hoping that he was a hallucination. Behind him was an unconscious Seth, his head resting against a boulder. She did not take a single breath as her older brother walked towards her and just barely heard Emma explain that Sebastian saved her from drowning. Her body turned stiff as a board at his mere touch but he persisted, embracing her in a warm hug. His lips softly grazed the top of her head.
"I've missed you," he whispered.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, shrugging away from his embrace.
Sebastien looked hurt by her coolness though he hid it well with a smile. "Riley, did you hear me? He saved me from drowning. Seth tried to kill me," said Emma.
"Do you have some alarm in your head that tells you when someone is in trouble so you can be the hero? Typical of you, Bash. Are we just snapping necks for any reason now?"
"He tried to kill me. Do I need to write it down for you to understand that?"
"Emma, let me handle this. It's a very delicate situation," said Sebastian.
Riley's eyes flickered between Emma and her older brother. "Ooh, first name basis already? Another hour and you'll probably be humping her against a tree. I don't think she's gotten laid in years so you might even accomplish it in ten minutes."
"Hey!" said David angrily, held back by Mary Margaret.
"I wouldn't be angry about that. My brother would probably be the best she's ever had though it's not much competition, considering her history."
"Riley, enough. You will not speak to her that way. I came here to keep Seth under control. He's gotten increasingly unstable since your departure and with the merge only a few days away, it is imperative that we stick together."
Riley refused to believe that Seth attempted to murder the council. Sebastian had saved them from the attack at the last minute, while suffering from the effects of Seth's bite, and after ensuring their safety in a secure location, he traveled to Neverland. She knew that Seth had issues with being impulsive, some calling him a lunatic, but he would not risk his life to take down the council. Her hands were shaking in anger as Sebastian suggested that Seth had wrongful intentions for finding her on the island.
"He traveled to Boston. We both know there is only one reason he would travel there and with all these whispers going around, it's not hard to believe that he put the idea in their heads."
Riley punched him with all the strength she could muster, causing him to stumble back with his hands over his nose. "Riley!" said Mary Margaret, shocked.
"Screw you. You're no better than Marc if you can accuse him of something like that."
"You've always been blinded to the less desirable side of his personality. You know that I would not say such things unless I had reason to be suspicious. I'm not entirely sure why he is here but it is not of concern for you," said Sebastian, using a handkerchief to wipe away the blood.
"If you say one more word, I'll give you straight to him and let him tear you apart piece by piece," she hissed.
"We were going to look around to see which path is the least dangerous. Do you want to help, Sebastian?" asked Emma.
"Yes, of course."
Passing by Sebastian, she kicked him in the shin. She sat beside Seth, pulling her knees up to her chest, and cast a spell to prevent anyone else from getting near him.
"Do you plan on sitting there until he wakes up?" she heard.
Hook was standing behind her. "Yep."
"You're behaving like a child."
"Am not."
"Your brother is right, Renato. You're refusing to see what is obvious to the rest of us. It's understandable but—"
"I forget when I signed up for a therapy session with a one-handed pirate. Why aren't you helping them find the best way to get to Henry?"
"Ensuring you don't poison our food or water."
"You're hilarious," she said, sarcastically.
"I can see how much he cares for you…both of them. If Seth intended to harm you, he could have done it while we were off facing the Lost Boys but you are being foolish if you believe that he is simply here out to fulfill his duties as an older brother. He was willing to murder Swan and this council all to become your protector. You don't find that odd in the slightest?"
"No, but you know what I do find odd? That you think I give a damn about your opinion."
"Insult me all you like but deep down, you know the truth. Burying it will only make everything worse when the truth comes to light and you'll find that it's too late to stop it. Blinding yourself to cling to the past memories of what he was like before will only hold you back. I am going to catch some fish for dinner. If you would rather help me with that instead of caring for your unconscious brother, by all means join me. It's your choice."
As Hook headed down the path towards the shore, Riley reached into her coat pocket. Something thin and warm materialized into her hand. Checking her surroundings, she pulled out another dagger, with a reddish tint on the tip, and held it directly over Seth's heart. He shifted in his sleep, his head falling onto her lap. The dagger trembled in her hand and with a heavy sigh, she stuffed it back in her pocket.
"Damn it," she muttered.
Carefully placing his head on the ground, she walked away from the camp, running her fingers through her hair. Hook was standing on the edge of the shore, repeatedly stabbing at the water with a wooden spear. Riley flicked her wrist and a handful of fish rose out of the water and into the basket that she conjured on the sand.
"Using magic is a cheat, love."
"Well, you look like an idiot poking the water with a stick. Besides, if we had to rely on you to catch something, we would be waiting for hours and you'd come back with two fish, at most. Do you want to keep wasting your time or do you want this to go quickly?"
He lowered the spear. "Cheat away."
After a few minutes, the basket was filled to the brim with fish. She stared out at the calm water, arms crossed.
"I'm sorry."
He looked at her, surprised. "You may need to say that again. I must've heard you wrong."
"I rarely say it so cherish the moment. I said I'm sorry. You and my brother are right. When it comes to Seth, I make excuses because I don't want to admit that he's a bit crazy sometimes. The minute I do, it feels like he's beyond help and I'm already messed up so he has to turn out right."
"You're not a mess, Renato. Maddening as hell and as stubborn as a mule but not a mess."
"Yea, I am. I just hide it by being a bitch. I know that Seth didn't just come here because he was worried about me getting brought here or to get my forgiveness. I don't know why he came here. For the first time in forever, I'm clueless and it scares the crap out of me. The last time that happened was the worst day of my life. I need you to take this."
She handed him the dagger. "What is it?"
"A special dagger. If anyone in my family gets stabbed with it, we're essentially dead but not really. Think of it like a sleeping curse but the only way to reverse it is if another member of the family takes it out. My father had one for each of us and would use them for punishments. It feels like getting stabbed by a million knives at once. When he—wasn't around anymore, Seth got them. This one is different. It's one of the original daggers from my first ancestors. It's why I was in the Enchanted Forest that day with my previous protector…to get the daggers."
"You have more than one?"
"That doesn't matter. I can't give it to Emma or her parents because they'd use it on Seth right away. I would've trusted Emma but after Seth almost killed her, she probably wouldn't think twice about using it and I don't trust Regina at all. Bash would try to reason with them before he ever used a dagger. I can't…no matter what Seth does, I can't bring myself to use it on him. He's used his own on me plenty of times but—this is different. If he gets really bad or tries to hurt Bash, you need to use it. Just get him right in the heart."
"And what if he attempts to harm you?"
"No, only Bash. I don't care what happens to me. You'll know what I mean by really bad. Think of it like how Seth is right now times a thousand. You need to promise me that you'll do it. Pinky swear."
"Pinky what?"
Grabbing his hand, she wrapped her pinky around his and he looked at her like she had grown a second head, unaware of its meaning. She was unsure if she could trust him to use the dagger but with her limited options, she did not have much of a choice.
"Neither of them know you have this dagger. If they did, you would openly threaten Seth with it to guarantee his compliance."
"No one is going to know but us. Can I trust you or not? If you can't do it, I'll erase your memory of this conversation."
"I can but if you expect me to idly stand by if he attacks you, then you're mistaken."
"I told you—"
"Yes and I've told you before that I do not take orders from you."
"I'll just compel you to listen to me."
"Try it. I dare you."
"Are you challenging me?"
"No, I happen to be telling the most stubborn lass I've ever met that I will act as I see fit. If you have a problem with that—"
"Several."
"As I said, you can try to compel me but I've learned a few tricks over the years regarding such magic. It can be fought if one feels strongly opposed to the command."
"True but if you don't listen to me and you dagger my brother when I told you not to, I will string you up by your ankles and put you through so much torture that you'll beg me to kill you."
"Then I suppose it's a good thing that I can withstand most torture, love. You'd be a far better sight than those who have done it in the past."
With an angry scoff, she stamped on his foot and stormed back towards the camp…