Hooks and Poison Apples

Swords and Shells

Hooks Inlet and Shack.

Evie stared at the shop across the street, her menacing scowl putting pedestrians walking by her on edge.

It was an interesting building, the front part shaped to look like a pirate ship. The store sign was written in cursive, each letter gleaming gold, two silver hooks placed at either side. There were barrels lined up outside the shop by the large porthole windows, filled with rods, harpoons, nets and other large fishing goods. The shop was popular with the locals, renowned for being the best place for fishing gear on the Isle.

Although it was a shop primarily for fishing gear, rumour had it they also sold the best seashells there were to be found. And that was what Evie had come here looking for. She needed a seashell, one to complete her latest outfit design, Evil At The Beach! She had searched everywhere and had been about to give up when a few of her friends assured her that this was the place to go.

Evie, hands on hips, began tapping her foot. She glanced at the clock tower to her right. She couldn't keep lurking around out here, fifteen minutes was fifteen minutes too long. It really should not have been an issue. Never had she hesitated to go into a shop before, but this one's owner gave her reason to pause. Or rather, the owner's son... Harry Hook.

He had stolen her tiara. He had made her walk the plank. He had ruined her outfit that she had worn that day, along with her hair and makeup. These were sins that were not easily forgiven. She knew if she encountered him again he would be more than happy to add to her list of aggrievances against him.

Suck it up, girl! You can do this! Evie berated herself. She was the Evil Queens daughter! Of course, she could do this!

Besides, there was next to no chance of him being there. According to her sources, he hated working at his father's shop and seldom went there. To be extra cautious, she had found out that today was one of his days off.

With a renewed confidence that she wouldn't encounter the rift raft pirate, Evie squared her shoulders and strutted across the street.

The door jingled as she entered. The inside of the shop was large and spacious. Most of the walls were lined with shelves, filled with all manner of boxed fishing products. The other walls had pirate flags, maps and tapestries of sea monsters draped across them. Around the room were tables with nets for table cloths, various items displayed on top, with the odd skull, pirate ship figurine or candlesticks as decorative displays.

Evie could not see anyone tending to the shop. With a shrug, she wondered in, browsing around until she found a table with a wide selection of shells on display. The collection here was certainly better than any she had come across so far, all the other shells in shops were either tiny, bland, dirty or broken. These shells were dazzling! And there was such a variety of shapes, sizes, types and colours to choose from that Evie felt spoiled for choice - a rare feeling on the Isle.

"Hmm, maybe this one?" Evie murmured, lifting up a pinkish shell.

Then again, beautiful though it was it wasn't really bright enough and would be drowned out by the other colours in her outfit. What she needed was something bright. Something bold. Something like-

"How about-" a voice drawled.

Evie jumped at the sound of the voice. A second later a hand clad in a black fingerless glove appeared in her vision, clutching a red shell by the tips. Evie blinked at the shell being presented in front of her.

Something like that!

It was gorgeous and just perfect to go with her latest outfit! It was a vibrant red colour and just the right size too!