Page 9 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

My escape to this Realm was not planned but rather a string of lucky mistakes. And even though my ring is lost, more luck seems to have trickled in by landing in the Mortal Realm.

The one Realm the Darling witches are supposedly from.

But Peter also made it sound like a Darling witch would be hard to find, even in this Realm. That they were elusive creatures that liked to stay hidden. And with the ability to perform such intricate and powerful spells, I could understand why.

Glancing down at my bare finger once more, a memory of when Peter gave it to me flashes across my mind. When he told me how hard it was to find the Darling witch he brought to Neverland and how lucky I was to have him. That Ibelongedto him now and he would make sure those looking for me wouldneverfind me.

An icy shiver rolls down my back as I remember the cold dark look in his eyes as he promised me that. And how I made a decision then and there to do whatever it took to get away from him. Even if it meant leaving Neverland for good.

The road beneath us turns rocky, jarring me from my thoughts. I glance out the front window, my eyes widening when I realize we’re heading straight into the open sea, the smooth road and forest long gone behind us.

My stomach drops as we get closer and closer, the machine we’re in not slowing in the slightest.

I glance over at Hook as he stares out his window, his body relaxed, his eyes unfocused as if lost in easy thought and not on the fact that we’re all about to drown.

“What are you doing? Stop this machine before you kill us all,” I grit out, panic leaking through my words.

Hook’s eyes flicker to me with a lazy gaze. “It’s called a car, aMustang,to be exact.”

Mus—tang?I shake my head.He must be crazy. He’s lost all common sense since coming to this Realm. Or maybe he was always like this, and I didn’t realize it.

I look forward, my stomach twisting and turning as I watch us move closer and closer to the sea and only seconds away from hitting the water.

“Hook!” Squeezing my eyes shut tight, I reach out and grab whatever is nearest to me and brace for the rush of water about to hit us.

A low chuckle sounds around me as I hold my breath and damn Hook to Neverland and back. My lungs burn the longer I wait but I hold on, readying myself for the impact that is sure to hit any second… But it never comes.

I finally release my breath, no longer able to hold it and peek one eye open and then another when I realize no water has entered the machine.

Maybe Hook has changed his mind and decided not to kill us after all?

The tension falls from my body as I glance out at the dark glistening water that’s only lit by the moon above and watch on as the machine glides above it like a ship sailing on water.

“Is it magic?” I ask him.

What did he call it? Acar. Can all cars sail atop water like ships in this Realm? I don’t remember hearing about them in the Fae Realm, but most of my knowledge came from books, so it was probably outdated information anyway.

The longer I look at the dark sea, the more it eases my panic, slowly ebbing it away until I’m as calm as the slow dragging waves that pass us.

“There’s a long bridge right under us. It’s invisible to those that don’t know about it and only me and my men can access it. The water around us and under us is just an illusion. Once we touched the water, we became part of it and if anyone were to pass by while we were crossing, they would only see the sea. From the moment we hit the water, we’ve been shielded. The entire island we’re heading onto is.”

Turning, I glance at Hook and the small grin at the corner of his lips. I narrow my eyes on him when something flutters beneath my hand. My gaze drops to it, only to find my hand gripping his like a vise.

My eyes whip back to his.

“I think it’s safe to let go now.” His grin turns devilish as I snatch my hand away and clear my throat, looking back out at the sea just as a large island appears.

Wait… he said shielded… Could it be possible that it was like Neverland? If it was, that would mean I wouldn’t need to find a Darling witch. At least not yet. I would be safe.

But that also meant I’d have to stay on the island… With Hook.

My hope for another option quickly fades with the thought as we pass through a small tunnel leading onto the island.

A long winding path spans out in front of us, one that is lined with large trees on each side. And further ahead, at the heart of it, sits a big and beautiful manor. Its grey and black brick walls act like a beacon even from this distance.

The path we’re on soon curves, winding around a wide bend that leads upwards and towards it.

Up and around we go, until we move towards the center where the manor sits. We come up the side of it and once we’re close enough; I spot a garden sitting off to the side and a glimpse of the large forest behind it.

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