Page 49 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

“We’ve been watching him and his men. There’s definitely something sketchy going on. There’s been murmurs of the hunters working with him,” Ryland says.

“Did you get anything from Arden?” Hook asks him.

“He backs up what we found. Apparently, Lord Basilius is trying to make his own setup in the Mortal Realm, away from the Dark Realm.”

Hook hums. “Let me guess. The hunters are only too happy to help?”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

“But what are they getting in return?” Hook asks.

“We haven’t figured that out yet,” Cash grunts.

Hook sighs. “Let me know when you do.”

“Will do, boss.”

A set of footsteps disappear but the other stays. I hold my breath, not wanting to get caught for eavesdropping. It takes a couple of seconds before the footsteps move in the opposite direction and further away from me.

I release the breath I was holding, feeling foolish for holding it in the first place and head to the kitchen.

After a couple of weeks with nothing to do but roam this place, I noticed that if you pay enough attention to the halls, there are some features and slight differences in the design that helps you distinguish one hall from the next. And since then, I’ve been able to make it to the kitchen in half the time.

I quickly take out the pod coffee machine and start it up. The other coffee machine with the glass pot tastes much better but with how tired I am feeling, I need something fast.

My stomach growls, making me realize I also need to eat.

Peter used food as a way to keep me weakened and because of it my stomach no longer needed the amount of food I used to eat.

But it wasn’t long before Hook noticed I wasn’t eating much. And now whenever I forget a meal, he has someone send something to my room.

Breakfast is usually there by the time I wake. But I’m up earlier than usual this morning.

I inhale my coffee before glancing around the kitchen to try to figure out what I can use to make something to eat.

My gaze falls on the eggs in a little tray on the counter. They’re not as tasty as the kind I had in Neverland and they’re at least three times smaller. But I enjoyed them the last time they were mixed and made for me.

But how to make them?I never watched it happen but surely, I can figure it out myself.

My eyes land on the glass coffee pot. I know it boils the coffee so surely it must be able to heat up other things too.

Turning on the glass coffee machine, I find a bowl from the cupboard and look around for what else I’ll need. The eggs definitely had some of that small white grainy salt the humans use on everything, but it also had something else in it. Something creamy and slightly sweet but familiar. But from this Realm, not Neverland…What was it?

I walk over to the fridge and open it, looking through a couple of items and tasting a few, but none of them smell or taste creamy or sweet. A small, yellow rectangular block of something catches my eye. I hesitate before reaching out and sliding my finger along the side of it and taste it.

The minute it hits my tongue, I know it’s what I’ve been looking for.

I take it over to the bowl and add a piece before cracking the eggs and adding a bit of salt. I mix it together with a fork until it’s all one color and then add it to the empty heated coffee pot.

The eggs start cooking immediately but I notice I have to keep a slow stir so they don’t burn. They’re done in minutes.

I’m emptying my mixed eggs onto a plate when I hear someone come into the kitchen behind me.

It’s probably just one of the staff here. They usually keep to themselves and never talk back to me any of the times I’ve tried, so I ignore them and focus on not burning my hands.

“What are you doing with the coffee machine?” I pause, surprised to hear Hook’s voice. He moves over to me and the scent of musk and sandalwood drifts over me reminding me how good he always smells.

“Cooking breakfast,” I mumble before placing the coffee pot down.

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