#hookedqueenverse

“It is true… Most parents, nomatter how crazy or backwards their motivations may be, do care. Including sorceress’s trapped within mirror prisons.” He shrugged adding. “He is who he is. Once people reach a certain age. The possibility of change slips further and further away.”

“Well, if mother dearest cared about me she has a twisted way of showing it,” Raven replied thinking of the verbal and sometimes even physical abuse she endured from her mother before her imprisonment and how the older and more independent she got the more verbal jabs she received and thinking of those scars she was spared of thanks to the Evil Queen’s present state... “Thankfully my father cares enough for the both of us.”  

“You should give yourself more credit luv, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I could beholden you all day long.” Okay, that was a horrible pun even by James’ standards which he quickly coughed trying to cover

“No worries about the rose, I can always steal another one, not a lack of lovelorn saps at the school looking for their own happy ending.” He turned to flash a smile as he pushed open the door for her. “After you princess.

Raven could feel the looks of her fellow classmates burn into her as she walked down the hall. 

silently judging me like always she thought to herself as she made her way toward her locker shaking her head as she spotted a line up of people waiting for her to arrive.

Arriving at the castle James and his chaperone disembarked from their steeds. Mr. Smee was doing the usual courtesies with occasional awkward fumbling. James had to give the main a slight smile before seeing his chance to slip away.

After all, a little exploring couldn’t hurt. He had heard mention the girl was in the garden. Of course, he hadn’t counted on how lovely or expansive those gardens may be. “Perhaps this was a bad idea…” The youth said to no one in particular. His eyes however caught side of a beautiful Apple tree. Hungry from the journey, and unable to help himself, James plucked a few apples putting them in his satchel before taking a juicy bite of one.

It was then that a silver glinting caught the corner of his eyeline as he saw a figure in the garden.

Raven's stroll had lead her to the center of the garden which was one of her favorite spots in all of the palace's grounds especially in the springtime when the flowers were fully in bloom. Taking a seat on the stone wall that surrounded a small pond, the princess placed her perfectly manicured finger in the water watching the way it rippled at her touch. There was just something so calm and serene, a far cry from the chaos that had been looming within the palace walls with the staff shuffling about to make her future husbands visit a pleasant one after all, father had told her first impressions were everything. The calmness however was short lived as soon she heard the crunching off footsteps echo from behind her. 

“Nothing much,” Raven replied.....”Is it weakness to admit I missed you?”

Raven tightened the belt of her cloak around her waist as she continued to keep her eyes locked on James's with a deep intensity. 

Raven pulled her cloak close to her body as she tiptoed out of the dorm. It was the time between Mama Bears 'bed check' and when the security briars rose up around the dormitories protecting students from any outside evils...a time when a few students would sneak out into the common areas for some last minute socialization. One of those rebellious students was Raven Queen herself. Ducking out of the dorm room that she’d shared with Apple White, the princess soon made her way outside toward the place where James Hook liked to go sit, think, and on occasion drink rum. A sly smile crossed the princesses lip as she spotted the pirate mulling about 

Raven sucked in a deep breath as one of the members of her fathers staff began to pull tighter on her corset. Godmother she hated having to wear one however her father was throwing a ball and while he had promised that the affair wasn't to find a prince who wasn't already attached to a story to be her future King she knew in her truest of hearts that the king would keep a wide eye open toward all the  suitors. 

"Thank You," she replied waving her handmaidens away once they slipped on the lavish violet and black gown that matched her long wave of curls, "I can take it from here." 

As the servants took their leave, the princess couldn't help but step off onto the balcony looking out toward the sea where a familiar ship had stood causing her heart to race thinking of the pirate who had stolen it among his many other treasures. 

"Please let him show up tonight," she spoke to nobody in particular.