Checkmate

37. Shadows and Daggers

Having left the shop, I noticed a familiar yellow bug on my journey back to Neal's, prompting me to pop my head through the open window to see Emma sitting silently, steaming travel mug of coffee in her hand and a box of donuts on her lap. "You seem busy," I said quickly, making her jump a little.

"It's nearly midnight, kid. What the hell?" I opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat, reaching over to grab a donut before she could protest. "I thought you and the boys were with mom and dad."

"And I thought you were with Henry, but here we are," I retorted, before taking a bite of the sugar glazed ring donut in my hand.

"The shadow on Killian's ship." I hummed through a mouthful of the sweet treat, encouraging her to continue. "It decided to set itself free." I hummed a little more worriedly now, feeling my brows twitch together slightly.

Slowly, I chewed and swallowed before speaking. "So, what exactly are you staking out? The road?"

"I didn't really know where to start looking, so I just parked up for some coffee."

I raised my donut slightly to look at it. "And donuts?"

"And donuts." I took another bite of the confection as we stared out of the windscreen, rather unsure of how to advance the search. "When Pan gets his memory back," she began. "What will happen if he likes it here?"

"I guess we stay," I said through an almost mouth full, careful not to spit any in the car. I chewed a little more before swallowing, the sugar starting to scratch my throat. "There is a girl Nibs says he doesn't fancy, but that is obvious. Pan is with that red head too, so he might actually want to stay with her. I'm sure Tootles won't want to return to berries and fruit now that he's discovered hot meals and baking."

"Those cookies he made were good."

"Agreed."

"What about Devin? He seems determined not to grow up."

"Devin has never been a fan of authority; he will be an issue in the long run for sure."

"And the twins? They have names now?"

"They're still testing out trial names for now, but yeah, finally embracing their unique selves instead of being the same." I rubbed the left side of my neck, feeling an aching pull under the skin. "I guess I will have to find a way to earn a living here."

"Is that hurting?" Emma asked, leaning closer to see, but careful to put the rest of the donuts up on the dash. I put by half eaten one back with the rest before sucking the sugar off my fingers and wiping them on my leggings.

"Only a dull ache."

"I never actually checked it out closely, may I?"

I nodded and moved my hand, tilting the left side of my neck closer to her. Under the dimness of the inside car light, she examined the scar carefully, her fingers lightly grazing the ridges of Pan's teeth marks. I felt her magic tingle in the tips of her fingers as she scanned it with more than just her eyes.

"He put his magic into it. It won't be removed unless he wills it," I said sadly, recognising her attempt to be futile, but appreciated.

She pulled away and sighed heavily, her eyes facing ahead. "Did he control you with it?"

"Not necessarily, but it kept me close, like I said to Archie..."

"Like a dog and a leash," she finished for me as I nodded slowly. Automatically, my hand returned to be back up and covering the mark, as if subconsciously ashamed. "Kid," Emma whispered; her eyes wide as she stared at something in the darkness.