cat and pirate | j.hook

PROLOGUE

In a bright flash of light, reminiscent of an aurora, two teenage girls appeared out of thin air in the courtyard. The two looked at each other in a daze, shocked and confused before looking around at their environment, wondering what had just happened.

"What was that?" Chloe Charming questioned, gripping her sword as she started pacing. "Where did everybody go?"

She looked at the tall stone walls they seemed to be inside of, noticing vines were growing wildly across them. The Charming girl could've sworn they had been in this exact courtyard just a moment ago, spotless and decorated as it was filled to the brim with new and returning families and their children. The Queen of Hearts was missing, as was everyone who was held captive by the Queen's royal guards, including her mom, Cinderella.

"Where's my mom?" Chloe raised her sword in Red's direction with a hard glare. "What did you and your mom do?"

Red Hearts ignored the other girl, looking down at the large pocket watch in her hand with an intrigued yet confused look. "It works."

"What works?" Chloe looked pointedly at the rebel, believing she was behind this. "Where are we?" The princess lowered her sword and continued to pace around the courtyard, not even attempting to lay low or blend in.

Red's eyes darted across the area, gaze catching on a pin board with posters for Merlin Academy and its upcoming Castlecoming.

"Not where." The redhead corrected, looking back down at the watch with a grim look, "When."

Red felt eyes on her in this strange place, unsettling her with a frown. She glanced up at a tree to her right to see nothing but a fading smile floating from a branch. The Wonderlandian felt herself go tense in recognition.

It couldn't be... Could it?

This wasn't good...

The two girls turned to the voice they heard from behind, realising there was someone else in the empty courtyard with them. Red was immediately on the defence, stealing the Charming girl's sword from its sheath and pointing it at the girl on the bench.

"...Boo." There sat a younger Fairy Godmother, pointing a small wand at her book as she attempted to spell it.

Red dropped her arm in disbelief, looking to Chloe to find the girl not putting two and two together.

Fay tried the spell again, face scrunching up in concentration as she chanted, "Bibbity. Bobbity. Boo!" She gasped and stood up as her book flew away from her, landing at Red and Chloe's feet. The young fairy pouted in frustration, rushing to the book as she complained to herself. "No, I wanted to speed-read, not make my reading speed off-"

Before she or anyone else could grab the book for her, it started floating in the air. All three girls started grabbing at the book that was moving in and out of their reach like it was teasing them.

There was a giggle heard before a floating grin appeared by the book, surprising all three girls. Red was immediately on edge, realising who was behind this. The grin formed outwards as it revealed someone; a girl with curly lavender hair and piercing aqua eyes that were filled with mischief.

The mystery girl tutted with a faux pout directed at the young Fairy Godmother. "Again, Fay?" She sighed, shaking her head like a disappointed parent, "I can't keep cleaning up your messes, little fairy."

Fay nodded frantically, eyes wide and shoulders to her ears."I'm so sorry, Cheshire-"

The girl, Cheshire, raised her hand and let Fay's book fly out of her grasp with mock shock. They all watched as it flew to the other side of the courtyard, laying on its cobblestone. The girls watched as Fay grumbled and ran after the book as it continued to escape her capture.

When Fay was out of sight, Red and Chloe turned back to the other girl to find her grinning in satisfaction.

Chloe gasped as she finally realised who this was. She pointed a finger at the girl with a shocked smile, "You're-"

The girl cackled as she bowed to her audience, eyes lingering on the two new girls as she continued to grin. "Katerina Cheshire, at your service." The girl giggled, her grin seemingly permanently plastered on her pale face. "And who are you?" She leaned forward, inspecting the Charming girl with a curious gaze.

Chloe looked beside herself to see Red on edge, watching them closely with her guard up, not noticing Cheshire had disappeared until all that was left of her was a mischievous grin that faded into glitter.

Chloe looked back to Red for an answer, the feeling of being watched now becoming increasingly aware to her. "Who was that?"

Red gave the princess a grim look. "Not someone we want to mess with."

~~~~~~