The Hook Family Secret (Former Title:Harry Hook's Secrets) (BOOK ONE)

Chapter 12

Present…

The memory was jolted out of his thoughts as the wagon they were currently in hit a bump in the road. They had been on their journey for the past 5 hours, 10 hours since they lost Harry and it was fresh on everyone’s minds. Diego refused to leave Harry so he stayed with Anthony to make sure Harry got a better resting place. Harriett and CJ had left the group and said they would be back later on. Leaving the kids with Thomas who was a total stranger, no one knew who he was. Lonnie being herself didn’t really care about what she said as she spoke, “Oi Thomas, who are you exactly to the Hook family”. It was evidently clear the way she spoke that she hated the Hook family as she allowed her voice to be laced with negativity. Mal wasn’t expecting Thomas to speak from where Jay was upfront with herself and Thomas. “If you must know princess, Harry is my younger twin and I do not take lightly to negative comments about my family. Also watch your mouth because I couldn’t care if you were a girl, boy or anything else, I will show you why the Hook family are so well known”. Jay could have sworn there was passion and pride in his voice as he bitterly answered Lonnie. 

“We are here your majesties. I will wait here. I am not exactly welcome. The royals prefer Harry over me”, he joked as he led them into the palace as he smiled at the guards who took defensive positions watching the group enter, “Wait Thomas how can we just walk right in without being questioned?” Evie asked from next to Carlos and Jay. The Ak’s still kept themselves separate from the Vk’s except Mal and Ben who had to walk together. Ben avoided his wife’s gaze though. Mal gave up trying to help him and just turned to check on Carlos who hadn’t said a word since Harry’s death. Thomas shrugged, “Well what can I say. I basically live here?” he laughed as he walked into the throne room to reveal two royals sitting on their thrones as if already expecting them. The Ak’s instantly bowed or curtseyed, the vk’s followed in their actions. While Thomas didn’t bother doing any as he stood leaning against a pillar in the room gesturing for Ben to speak.

But before he could the royals turned their gaze on Thomas who was fiddling with his pockets. “Prince Thomas what do we owe the pleasure this time?”, the kids gasped when they heard the term ‘prince’, confusion evident in their features. Silence droned through the room before the royal Queen spoke, “What happened Thomas?”. Thomas uttered two words that shocked the two to the core, “Harry’s dead”, as he suddenly found the floor very interesting. The royals nodded as they watched Thomas leave the room slamming the door on his way out.

“I’m sorry for the intrusion on such short notice” Ben spoke confidently, “I am…”.

“We know who you are, King Ben of the United States of Auradon, we know who you all are. We have been watching over you for a while, isn’t that right Mali?”, “Dad!” Mal spoke in confusion. 

Hades sat on the throne with a crown on his head. Mal turned to the Queen and her thoughts were confirmed. “Yes it is him. For anyone who doesn’t know who we are. I am Queen of the Kingdom of Gems Persephone. My husband is the King of the Kingdom of Gems just below me, Hades”. Her sweet voice filtered around the room. “HADES!” a door slammed open to reveal a pissed off looking Diego who’s eyes were red and his white hair had red sparks in it. Carlos shrunk on himself as he felt his magic threaten to come out thankfully Jay’s arms around his shoulders kept him grounded. 

“Two minutes my Queen” with that Hades quickly sprinted after Diego out the door somewhere urgent. The Queen shook her head at the brash behaviour of her husband but concern spread across her features at the kids who looked to have been through a marathon. She addressed them, “Before we talk, let's get everyone to the dining room for some food as I am gathering you haven’t eaten in a while”, the nods confirming her suspicions. “You can all stay the night and get washed and some food before your journey in the morning. I will be delighted to answer any of your questions but only if you follow me please. I have no intention of separating you guys. So there will be a variety of rooms for your choosing”. Persephone smiled as she calmly spoke to them all as she led them from the throne room. 

The palace was beautiful, it was a dream to even step foot in. The walls were glistened with gems from all around the universe. Stars were painted on the ceiling full of maps of treasures out of reach. Evie smiled as she felt safe within these walls, as she took in everything. There was a smell of freshness and freedom within the palace as colours mixed perfectly in sync. The floors were polished to the point, a reflection of oneself could be seen by looking at them. A chandelier was in the middle of each ceiling, Evie found herself twirling in a circle unaware she had fallen behind the others, she smiled to herself as there was so much to take in of this beautiful building. She stopped spinning to look forward only to gasp, she had lost the group. Shaking her head to straighten her thoughts out she looked in the directions deciding on which way to go. Laughing to herself she could almost hear Carlos in her head playing a game called eeny meeny miny moe, as he would decide which way to go. 

Evie was overworking her exhausted body as she over thought everything. She felt all sorts of emotions come to her. ‘Dammit’ it was a simple task but Evie couldn’t focus. It got worse as the room started spinning and her breath caught in her throat. She had been left behind, she felt abandonment. Her breathing quickened in pace as black spots blurred her vision, her thoughts ran wild. Her knees buckled as she fell to the floor as sudden pain exploded in her head. Her hands gripped her head as she screamed in agony. It felt needles prickling her skin as she grabbed her head as the pain only went up. Within the pain she could see visions and one was of Harry kneeling in front of her whispering words of encouragement for her to fight it that she was powerful enough. Evie looked up as she heard a chuckle and her eyes met the Crocodiles who waved his hand as he evilly smiled down at her as she fought for control of herself, still hearing those encouraging words from Harry. Despite it being a past memory of him, it made her feel stronger as if he was right next to him. A thudding of footsteps down the hall made Evie smile as she faced her opponent. Her shaking knees holding her body up, as she connected eyes with those of the Crocodile who stepped back at the sense of power emitting from the daughter of the Evil Queen in front of him. Her eyes were glowing a lapis blue and sparkles of blue covered her hands. She thrusted them forward in the direction of her enemy. Within seconds he vanished but the room was full of twinkles which was almost like standing in the middle of all the stars in the galaxy. She smiled looking at her hands in fascination, turning around turned out to be a big mistake as the dreaded Crocodile thrusted some object at her chest. Evie gasped in disbelief as a sword was impaled in her chest, she screamed in agony as he twisted it before pulling it out. She took notice of the sword to see that it was Harry’s, and probably the same one Harry was killed with. She screamed as her powers took control, throwing him backwards as exhaustion clawed at her and her body crumbled to the floor. Alone she still was as she felt weak, her body was putting up a fight but due to the lack of sleep and food the past day or two. It couldn’t stay awake anymore. Before her head hit the floor she was caught by strong arms as she embraced the darkness unaware of the cries and screams of her name. “Evie!, EVIE!” and “Evie love stay awake, keep them eyes open…”. The darkness had claimed another victim or so it thought.