"I miss you so much, my friend. Well, at least… You are in a better place."
"I WILL MAKE THIS YOUR HELL! YOU HEAR ME, KILLIAN! YOU LET ME OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW!" Artemis shrieked, her hands grinding against the magic binds that held her, tightening the more she struggled. "I'LL—"
Killian stuffing a bind over her mouth, making her scream louder, the noise muffled by the bind and the sound of the ocean waves. Killian Jones had been smart enough to only feed her at high tide. Any threats or screams she made were often than not, washed away by the crashing waves.
"Our new guest is exceptionally noisy." the Queen of Hearts said, approaching them. Artemis jumping and shaking about viscously, she had not forgotten that this woman, had caused the death of the closest thing to a mother she once had. It was cheer dumb luck that Hook had manged to capture her, and even dumber luck that no one seemed to notice.
The Queen of Hearts edged closer, bending down slightly, she yanked Artemis by the hair. Artemis kicked, but really it just made it hurt more. Hook hovered behind her, looking surprisingly anxious. "Don't hurt her." he said.
The Queen of Heart smiled, releasing her hair. "Of course not, I just think it be best if she had a little," the Queen slide her hand around the side of her neck. "A little nap."
She wasn't jealous.
Nope. She wasn't jealous. Not in the slightest.
ARTEMIS. LOCATION: NEVERLAND…A LONG TIME AGO
It was the words she repeated consistently as she stared at Wendy. Honey coloured hair, mingled with blonde highlights that made her large doe brown eyes even wider and brighter. But it wasn't her appearance (she wasn't blind, Wendy was gorgeous) that bothered her, nor was it her meek nature that clashed rather differently with her own. It was like looking in a backward mirror. All her flaws, her personality, (well she didn't really think she had much of a fantastic personality) seemed to be stuck onto Wendy but flipped.
Wendy was soft. She was hard. Wendy was polite, respectful. She was, well she didn't think she was rude, but…Rude and well a straight up pain in the behind to everybody. Wendy was kind. She…not so much. Wendy, Wendy was sheltered and naïve. Wendy…was everything she wasn't. A normal girl, with a home and a family; a princess on the inside with no title. She was…A thief, no home, a princess who abandoned her crown, her title, her people, and her technical brother.
It also didn't help that Peter, seemed to be absolutely infatuated with his, Wendy-bird.
Ugh, it made her seem so sick, she'd have rather spent the time removing her eyeballs with her arrows.
It didn't help that he didn't even have the audacity to tell her that there was another girl here besides Tinkerbell and Tiger Lily. None of the Lost Boys had anything to her of the sort. Stupid, Hook with his stupid face and his stupid beard had, after she asked about that stupid letter, from those stupid people: John and Michael.
Disgusting.
"Oh, do sit," Wendy said, moving about the tree house. Unlike the other homes in Neverland, this one was completely suspended into the air, with a hidden staircase that she found by knocking the bottom of the tree trunk with her bow.
"I rarely ever get other visitors," Wendy said, setting down a large pale blue teapot and three matching teacups. She couldn't help but stare at them; she'd never see anything near porcelain, or dainty in Neverland before. It was quite a grand teapot, and matching set (she spent enough time at the Hatter's to recognise the quality of such a thing).
However, instead of admiring it, the only thought that flew though her head is how much she could sell it for, the teapot? 30 gold coins at best, 50 if she bartered well. The teacups? Probably 10 gold coins, one was slightly chipped at the side. If Wendy pulled out the entire set, with all the plates. A bag of gold coins, easy. Enough to last a family about two months, and her about four if she was good with her money.
"It's so wonderful to finally meet you," Wendy continued, setting down a small tin of biscuits. Artemis blinked back to her senses, sliding into a chair. Pan standing next to the kettle, as it started to whistle.
"Peter's told me about you, since you came." Wendy said, sliding into a chair across from hers. "It's so nice to have another girl on the island now, besides Tinkerbell."
"Hmm." Artemis hummed, choosing to bite down the 'Really, he's told me nothing about you,' remark. The kettle finally stopped. Wendy jumping up, pouring the hot water into the teapot. Pan trudging over, smirking like a cat, sliding into chair in the middle. Wendy carried the teapot over, pouring them each a generous cup, adding a milk from the milk jar and three teaspoons of sugar from the sugar bowl.
Maybe 200 gold coins.
Pan did the same, Artemis awkwardly following in suit. Teatime could be anytime, but she had been too far better, less uncomfortable tea parties. The entire atmosphere felt, different like they weren't even on Neverland anymore. Lace curtains, porcelain jugs and tea sets, a vanity, normal tables and chairs, cupboards that were square and all in a row, a counter-top, a place to cook food without going outside.
"Wendy-bird, here likes to play 'house'." Pan said, as if reading her mind. Artemis nodded. "It's very, nice." she said, giving Wendy her best smile. Wendy seemed happy, smiling back widely. "It's all thanks to Peter, he's been very kind to me." she said, reaching out patting his hand.
Artemis took a sip of her tea, trying to replace the burning feeling in her stomach with a burning feeling in her mouth. She gave another smile. Something, something was wrong with Wendy's big smiles. So, Artemis broke the most important rule of polite tea-partying with strangers.
Asking a very personal question. "So, did you come in a box or what?" Artemis asked, tracing her finger along the rim of her cup. Wendy set down her cup, looking quite startled.
Peter took a large bite of a biscuit, looking quite entertained. He must be, it was the quietest she's seen him.
Wendy paused. "I beg your pardon?"
"How did you come to Neverland?"
"I um," she glanced at Pan, before back at her. "The shadow brought me here, me and my brothers-"
"John and Michael." Artemis said, the pieces of the puzzle instantly clicking into to place. John and Michael were doing whatever Pan asked, millions of miles away, while their sister remained here.
Typical. She didn't know why she felt surprised. Every time she thought Pan could be, not too bad, she found out something equally disturbing. Wendy would do whatever he wanted, for her brothers sake, her brothers would to anything for Pan for the same reason.
On one hand, she respected it. However, a small part of her felt, upset at Wendy. For not shouting, for not throwing the stupid porcelain tea set at Pan's head. How could Wendy sit there and smile so kindly at him and pat his hand.
How could Wendy-
"Artie?" Pan said, setting down his cup. Artemis pulled back the chair, standing up. "I'm leaving."
"Leave- But," Wendy said, glancing at Pan, who remained still in his seat, silent. "You haven't finished your tea." she said.
"I'm allergic, it was nice meeting you, goodbye." Artemis said, grabbing her bow, half running down the steps, and into the woods of Neverland.
She'd seen that look before. She'd seen it on Priscilla when she looked at Jefferson. She's see it on Rumple's face when he talked of Belle, she'd seen it on her own brother's when he talked of Snow, when he looked at Snow. Love. Gross.
Love, Wendy loved him…
She didn't care, but why…why did it feel like her heart was breaking in two? Why did it feel like she wanted to hate Wendy, hate her so much…but couldn't…why did it make her feel so…empty…small…
Nothing…
"Long day?" Hook asked, taking a long drag from his flask.
"Yep." Artemis said, sitting down on the sand. Hook threw out his arm, grabbing her by the neck of her shirt, half-pulling half-yanking her backwards away from the water. "Not too close, if you die, Pan'll gut my entire crew."
"I don't think so," Artemis said, shuffling back to higher area of beach. "You think the mermaids are still mad about that?"
Hook grunted, stretching out his arm. Artemis groaned, lying her back on the sand. Hook glanced at gently tapping her with his hook hand. "What happened?"
Artemis blew some hair from her face. "Pan."
"Ah," he said, taking two long drags from his flask. "Ey. That I know." Hook paused, edging closer to her. "Speaking of our mutual friend, there's something I wish to discuss."
Artemis sighed. "What about him? You want more free time to get drunk and eaten by a crocodiles and mermaids?"
Hook scoffed, rubbing his stubble, clearly swallowing down any retort he'd come up with. He was serious about this conversation. She didn't know if she liked that or not.
"I heard a little rumour my last trip back to the Enchanted Forest."
She froze. The world froze. Did the world freeze? It felt like it. The Enchanted Forest. Home. Yet, not home. She hadn't had a home since the Hatters. But…. David, Prince Charming. David.
"The Queen's reach extended since the last time you were there."
There. Here. How long had she really been gone? It felt like a few months. What was it really, a year? Two? More?
"They seem to be losing, a pity, they seem-"
"What do you want?" Artemis said, sitting up. Hook looked at her, his blue eyes staring into hers, before glancing at his ship, the Jolly Rodger. "Simply, to take you home, love."
"You plotting your escape from Shawshank, kid?" Emma asked, sliding into a seat next to Henry's. "No, they're blueprints. I had some ideas for what to do if David and Mary Margaret move out." He explained, still scribbling furiously on the paper. "Look."
Emma leaned over. "You want to make Mary Margaret's room an armoury?"
Henry, nodding, changing his pen to a different one. "Yeah. You know, for weapon and stuff. To protect us – from Regina." He added. Emma sighed. "She's not going to hurt you. I'm not going to let her."
Henry shook his head, setting down his pen. "She hurt Archie. And no one knows where Artemis is…What if she did something to her? What if she wants to take me back?"
Emma licked her lips, running her hand along his back. "That's not going to happen. Pongo?' Emma said, the Dalmatian getting agitated, growling at the door. "What is it?" she said, opening the door. "Archie…"
Archie, alive and well, Archie stood in its wake. "Hi." he mumbled. Pogo bounding towards him, rubbing his head against Archie's leg.
"What happened?" Emma asked, leading him inside. Henry getting up, from his place at the breakfast nook. "It was Cora. She kidnapped me." Archie said quickly. "Me and Artemis."
"Artemis?" Emma mumbled.
"Archie?"
"Henry. Oh!" Archie cried, Henry flinging his arms around him, nearly knocking him off his feet. "Oh, it's alright. I'm fine. I'm fine."
"Artemis, where is she?" Emma asked, digging into her pocket for her phone. Archie swallowed hard. "I don't know. Cora knocked her out, she was gone the next day."
Emma cursed under her breath, calling the younger girls number.
"I knew it. I knew she didn't do it." Henry said, smiling at his mother. "Maybe we should let her know."
"Yeah." Emma mumbled, dialling David's number. "But something tells me, either way, we're going to pay the price." she mumbled. She barely said the words before David and Mary-Margret said they were on their way.
Emma called again, the dial tone and automated voice repeating its words, again and again, and again. "The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist. The number you have dialled does not exist."
"Shit." Emma cursed. The number you have dialled does not exist. "Artemis, where are you?"
Were more often that no, 'famous last words.'
Blood was all he saw that night. Red. Dark. Agonising. "Well, you know there's a problem when Artie says please." he drawled. "Insolent girl, hardly has any manners."
"Peter." Artemis breathed out. "There we go, Peter. I should put you in danger more often. You seem to remember my name." he said lightly from above looking down on the scene below him.
Artemis was neck deep in water, her blonde hair pressed against her neck. He could already see the purple and red bruising around her neck. The copper-colour of blood in mingling in the water. "Mermaids, Artie. Carry on like this, you'll turn my hair grey." he said, straightening up. He never felt anger like this. It made his own face hot, the magic underneath his skin bubble to the surface, having to physically restrain himself from letting implode. "I must say, Anyaa." he said, jumping down from the rock onto the mermaid's one. "Quite a scheme you've cooked up here."
He should have seen this coming. The mermaids had long prided themselves on being 'Pan's girls' and often coming as close to the surface as they dared and took great pleasure in attempting to 'seduce him'. Futile and easy to manipulate, they thought the same of him.
But mermaids were jealous creatures. And Artemis…beautiful, intelligent, skilful, funny…and close to him…
Artemis's eyes met his, her wide eyes strangely fearful. He'd not seen her scared, not like this. She was terrified. His eyes drifted to the other mermaids. "Pity you wouldn't see it its end. Let her go and swim away. And maybe, maybe I'll show mercy." Peter said, glancing at Artemis from the corner of his eye. He could see her fear, but he knew it wasn't at the mermaids.
For reason, it didn't feel right. He didn't want her to fear him. Instantly a wave of angry and disgust washed over him. Why did he care what she thought? She was on Neverland now, she might as well know who he really was. Everyone knew. Why was she any different? Why did he want it to be different for her?
Anyaa licked her lips, the mermaid's around her sharing looks. He caught a tinge of red noticing the cuts and bruises on Artemis's arms, spilling more blood into the water. The sharks. Clever, if Anyaa and her crew didn't finish her off, the other enchanted wildlife would. "Let. Her. Go. I won't ask again." he growled, clenching his fists tightly. Killing the mermaid's, meant killing one of Neverland's defences. Anyaa paused looking down, her resolve seeming to be weakening.
Let her go. Please.
Anyaa eyes met his, a wicked smile curling onto her face. He knew what she was going to do, before she did it, but he was too slow for her, Anyaa grabbing Artemis by the throat diving deep under the water.
"Artemis!" Pan shouted, flying down. The other mermaids instantly going wide, jumping at him like sharks turning the water violent. He growled, his fingers curling around his dagger. Defences could always be replaced.
He didn't remember most of it, he let the rage take over, while he looked for Artemis and Anyaa. Diving and flying, up and down, singling or stabbing. When he saw that pale pink tale and blonde hair. He dove in again, grabbing Anyaa by the hair, plunging the dagger though her chest. Sliding it out, throwing the mermaid aside, her gently wrapped an arm around Artemis, gently pulling her up to the surface.
He flew her onto the rock, gently touching her face. She was cold. She wasn't moving either. He lifted her head, drifting his hand over her chest, drawing out a thin line of water. Bending down, his ear to her heart. He slowly opened her mouth, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling of what he was going to do. Pinching her nose, he covered her mouth with his.
He lifted his head, looking at her expectantly. "Don't be a pain, Artie." he hissed, bending down again, pinching her nose, blowing air into her mouth again. Her lips brushed onto his, Pan jumped back. Artemis taking a ragged breath, her eyes slowly opening.
Letting out a sigh, he pulled her into his chest, resting her head into the nook of his shoulder. His hand stroking her hair. Relief wasn't even the start. He was sure, he'd forgotten how to breath.
"Are they all dead?" she asked. He took a deep breath. He didn't know the reaction…. "Yes." he murmured. Artemis nodded, sighing. The moon was full, shining even. He didn't want to let her go…but he had too. "Come on," Peter said, getting up, taking her with him, in his arms. Artemis staggering, claw marks from Anyaa's running up and down her leg.
He swallowed hard, regretting he had killed the mermaid too quickly. Picking her up in his arms, holding her close to keep her warm.
"For the record, this is only happening because I'm hurt." Artemis grumbled, making a face.
He chuckled. "Sure, Artie."
He sighed, staring down from the rock that overlooked Mermaids' Lagoon. Silly, as it was, the spot made him feel closer to her. Peter sighed, watching the sunset in the distance, the yellow melting into the ocean, the shadow prowling at the edge of the forest. He twirled his dagger around between his fingers. "Artie…my Artie…where are you?"
Long time no see XD Thoughts?
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