The Neverland Queen (Sequel to Confessions of a Lost Girl) [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 6

Auhora Pavone.

I have no idea what she looks like, where she lived, or how to find her.

I sighed, and slowled to a stop. Coaldust's hooves fidgeted, restless as the short run from Ravada's castle to this little village didn't seem to satisfy him. I dismounted, and walked into a bar called Beside the Castle; Tavern and Restaurant.

I groaned inwardly. I hated these stupid taverns with their drunk and smelly men and slutty waitresses.

On the other hand, I wanted a drink right now, and if a woman as beautiful as Mulan lived here, these despicable men probably knew about her. 

I walked, and the smell of beer and the loud shouts of conversation assaulted my nose and ears.

I walked right up to the bar, pushing past a large, burly man, and sat down on a bar stool. "Can I have a White Lady, please?" I asked the bartender. She nodded, and went to go make my drink.

She came back with my drink. I turned to the man on my left, who didn't look as drunk as the man on my right, and asked him, "Do you know if there is a blacksmith in this town?" I asked him. He turned to me, and nodded. 

"Aye. The Rocklins, a hearty bunch of boys and a single woman, their mother. You be lookin for a blacksmith?" I shook my head, and waved the glass in a small circle to stir the contents.

"No. I am looking for a woman. Her name is Auhora Pavone. Do you know who she is, and where she might be staying?" He shook his head.

"No, I'm sorry lass. But why don't you stay here for a bit, loosen up?" Ugh, typicaly drunken idiot.

"No, I think I'll be leaving now." I slid off of the bar stool only to have his large, meaty hand envelope my wrist.

"What's the rush?" 

 I turned my head to look him dead in the eye. "I've got places to go, people to fnd, stuff to steal." My eyes stare calmly at him. He tugs on my arm again.

"Surely, its not THAT important?" His words are slurred, and his breath reeks of alchohal.

"Well....." I start to say. A smile spreads across his vile lips.

Suddenly, my left hand shoots away from my side and grabs the wrist of the hand he uses to hold me in place. I pull hard, and as he goes flying off the bar stool, I twist his wrist and arm to the side. I let go abruptly, and he goes crashing to the ground.

I pull off my hood, and let my dark hair fall down my back. A gasp rips through the quiet tavern. 

"It is." 

"The Lost Rider!" I hear someone gasp. A thin smile spreads across my face, but doesn't reach my eyes. 

I grab my ordered white lady, and chug the contents as I start to walk. I throw the glass carelessly beside the man's head as I step over him. 

I push the door to the tavern open, and step into the cold night air. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Peter

I was sitting with my back to a tree in the campsite, rubbing small circles on the face of the compass.

 I was thinking over possibilities about why Talia might not be coming back yet.

A) She was being held prisoner

B) She didn't have the bean anymore

C) She didn't want to come back.

The last option filled me with fear, anger, and sadness. 

"Are you alright?" I looked up, and was met with the disturbingly familiar bluish green eyes of Azalyn. Her eyes were so familiar....

"I'm fine." I said flatly. She sat down beside me, giving me a long look. 

"You don't look or sound fine." I grunted, and turned away from her. I heard her sigh in resignation beside me.

"Look Peter, I haven't known you for long, but I do know that no one can be this sad and angry all the time without something being wrong." She replied with a huff. 

I stood quickly, and glared at her. 

"Someone CAN be this angry and sad if the only person they ever loved was taken from them!" I yelled.

All activity in the camp stopped, meeting my words with a dead silence. The Lost Boys stopped practicing, and all conversation stopped. 

I huffed in aggrivation, and barged out of the camp, my mind whirling. 

I heard Tink's voice, but didn't hear what she was saying. Probably trying to comfort Azalyn or something. 

I huffed. She was nothing like Talia.

- - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Citrine/Talia

I poked the fire with the pointed stick I had made a while ago. The end was blackened with soot and was almost going to fall off. 

I felt anger well up inside me. I threw the stick into the forest as hard as I could with a yell of frustration. "Where the hell could she be?" I asked aloud. 

"Who, Auhora Pavone?" A voice asked behind me. I whirled around in surprise, my sword drawn and standing in a defensive position. A man with a sickly green leathered face stared back at me, his shoulder length dirty blond hair oily and frankly, gross.

 He was wearing a black cloak, but I could see the ruby rings on his fingers, the firelight reflecting off of the gems. 

 "You are looking for her, correct?" He asked me. I nodded. "Do you have any idea where she is?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No. But I can help you find her, for a price." I snorted. "You want money? Fine, sure, name your price." I say, going for my money pouch. 

 "No, not money. A favor." I stopped. "A favor, you say?" I ask, turning around.

He nodded, giving me a slippery smile.

"Certainly darling."

 "And who would I owe this favor too?"

He chuckled in a creepy high pitched voice. "In this land, they call me the Trader."

"But in the old land, which I know you remember, they called me Rumplestilskin."