[OLD] Thanks for 60k reads!
The first passage is an edited version of a piece by @ec1aire — their work can be found on multiple platforms, and I recommend checking them out!
SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN GOOD AND ALWAYS FIGHT OFF THE BAD. Some people are born bad and become good through great effort. Others are born in light and fall to darkness. And others are born in darkness and cannot see the light.
Try as you might to believe otherwise, everyone fits into one of those categories. Which one am I? Am I good or bad? Light or dark? An angel or a demon? I think know what I am but I'm not completely sure.
When I came of age I realised the life ahead of me was one of evil and mischief. Of darkness. Did I want that? Yeah. I did. And I wanted all the strings attached, too.
• • • • ♚ • • • •
I grew up in the perfect home. I was groomed to be the perfect princess that everyone hoped for. The funny thing is that princesses aren't perfect. No matter how hard they try, a flaw or two can always be found.
I'm not flawless and I own it. I know I'm not an ideal princess, or even the ideal daughter. In a way I cheated on my boyfriend (who is the most wonderful guy I've ever met), all because I thought it would gain us power. I thought the ends would justify the means, but that wasn't the case.
The pain Haden inflicted upon me was inconceivable through by hands of Harry Hook — he would never hurt me in such ways. Even if he could, he wouldn't dare control my thoughts or actions to accommodate his secretive needs. I assumed that Haden was working with Hades — after all they are father and son. If that was true, Harry and I would be in for a wild ride.
After reflecting upon the night's events, I came to terms with what I was now doing. I was in temporary hiding with a stranger named Felix who I learned was the son of Flynn Rider and Rapunzel. I asked him why he was on Isle and he replied, "I lost a bet a few months ago. Don't worry, I'm not a villain... just a clueless kid who's terrible at keeping his mouth shut." I couldn't help but laugh at his childish bet. How could somebody from Auradon be so stupid to bet such a thing.
"What did your parents say about the bet?"
"Oh, my dad's actually the one I bet." He chuckled, "If I can survive a year on the Isle, they'll upgrade my tourney gear and buy me a new car for my 21st birthday." He told me and shook his head teasingly.
How have I never met him before?
Felix had taken me to a small cottage in the woods where we'd be safe for a while. It was small and cozy, and I couldn't help but feel completely at ease. It was a nice change from the chaotic nightclub.
"So you're a prince, right?"
Felix chuckled once more, "I'm as much of a prince as you are a princess. Our fathers married in, and gained their royalty status that way." I had told Felix who I was, and why I was on the Isle. He hadn't heard of Harry Hook but I told him they'd meet eventually.
With a heavy sigh Felix plopped onto his living room couch. "I've been in your shoes before, so you aren't alone. The moment I saw you on the street I knew where you'd been — because I've been there too." Felix shuttered. "If I'd known you were in there I would've done something sooner." I nodded, and took a seat next to him.
"A while back, a beautiful woman greeted me as I walked past the nightclub. I guess that was my biggest mistake — I should've walked a different route home. Anyways, I uh, I thought I could get her number. After I asked for it, she told me to open my mouth — and keep in mind I wasn't even inside the club and I didn't know her at all. She made me take a bite, and somehow lured me inside." Felix interlaced his fingers together and closed his eyes as he recalled his experience. "I was there for a day and a half. I honestly don't know how I escaped. I could tell that you'd been there longer. You looked terrible."
I grinned and gently shoved his shoulder with my palm. "I still look terrible. And now I have a tattoo to remind me about all of my poor choices." I ran my hand over my neck to feel the raised outline of Haden's creation. "Haden's been trying so hard to make me his queen. He wants to marry me!" I explained. "I'm 17... I can't get married!"
Felix's eyes narrowed as he took in the sight of my tattoo. "Oh no. You're exactly like the others." He muttered and gritted his teeth.
"You said that earlier. W-What others?"
Felix winked, "What? Are you worried about him cheating on you? Cheating on a cheater?" Felix grinned, walking in long strides to his kitchen.
"Hey! I did not cheat on Harry... it was strategical." I scoffed. "Purely strategy. I did it for Harry."
He disregarded what I said with a wide grin, "You're not the first person to catch his eye. Every girl on the Isle has fallen for him at least once. Just like you did." My cheeks burned beneath the skin. I could feel my palms becoming clammy and my stomach knotting up.
"I didn't fall for him." I argued half heartedly.
"Anyways." He shrugged, "Like you, the other girls all escaped. Except he eventually caught them, and imprisoned them in the Underworld. They would eat so many lotus flowers that they were practically zombies." It was as if Felix was reciting a scary story. All we needed was a campfire and some chewy marshmallows.
I couldn't believe it, but I had to. I was next.
"Haden doesn't take rejection very well." Felix added, and disappeared into the kitchen to make me something to eat. "I'm sure you haven't eaten any real food in a while. Here, I promise nothing's poisoned." He handed me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a plate which I wolfed down in seconds.
Apparently his mother provided him with decent food before he arrived on the Isle.
"Thanks again for taking me in. I'm sure Haden's waiting for me." Running my hands over my tired eyes, I couldn't remember the last time I got any sleep. Felix nodded, knowing it was highly likely.
Felix was a great guy. Despite living on the Isle, he was still caring and welcoming. I was glad that the Isle hadn't ruined his friendly personality and charm.
"I have some bad news." Felix frowned, pursing his lips together into a fine line. "You don't have a tattoo. He marked you. Haden and his father are the only ones who possess the ability to do so. The Isle calls it the 'Mark of Death' because death literally left his mark on you." My throat clenched, and a sickening feeling drove away my remaining hunger.
"He used it to control me. It would burn anytime I disobeyed him or did something he didn't like."
"How do you feel now? Do you still feel like doing as he says?" Felix began pacing around the living room, glancing through his blinds every few minutes.
"No, actually. He's either taking pity on me or saving his energy for something worse. I doubt he's out of range." I suggested. "I really miss Harry."
"Haden can still use the mark against you. You and him are linked regardless of how far apart you are. If he tells you to do something or say something, and you even think of doing the opposite, that mark will continue to burn you, each time progressively getting worse. But as long as you don't receive a command, you won't feel the pressure to complete it. But-"
I groaned, "There's a but?" Felix nodded.
"The Mark of Death can make you feel protective of him — as if you have feelings towards him. Seeing him in pain could hurt you, too. Like a werewolf's imprint; It's exactly like that."
"Like Twilight?" I questioned hesitantly, hoping he's say no.
"Yes just like Twilight. Except a wolf didn't 'imprint' on you. A demigod did." He lightly chuckled in disbelief. "Sounds crazy."
I dared to ask, "What is he going to do to me?"
"Well lucky for you, you escaper earlier than the other girls. According to what you told me, I think he liked you more than the rest. You have a high status and promising gifts. I doubt he'll give you up without a fight."
"Then I'll fight him—!"
"No! Not now! He can take over your mind in a heartbeat and make you tend to his every will!" His eyes lit up, "And you won't remember a single thing. I think he's planning something big with you... something Hades is involved in. You're the first princess, and the first girl he's shown urgency towards. You're special."
"I—" I felt my breath hitch and my chest tighten, "I can't let him do this to me or anyone else in the future. So what if he's a god." I shouted, and Felix's brows pushed together with confusion as to where I was going with this.
"Demigod." Felix corrected with a sly grin.
"He's a demigod, okay? But I'm a princess. You know what princesses are good at?" I felt an empowered smile strain against my chapped lips.
"Hmm?" Felix hummed, gazing up at me curiously.
"Just about everything."
Felix clapped his hands together and inhaled sharply. "How do you plan to stop him, oh mighty princess?" He the wiggled his eyebrows, lightening the mood.
"I'm not sure. I think it might involve a crew of pirates, a bit of mermaid magic," I wiggled my fingers before Felix's face, "and a little help from my friends. I can't take on a demigod alone."
Felix nodded, "You won't be alone." His eyes began to gloss over with tears, his voice wavering and straining. I wondered why this was so personal to him; personal enough to go out of his way to protect a complete stranger.
"He took my sister to the Underworld." He brokenheartedly admitted, running his fingers through his hair anxiously. "I miss her everyday."
"I'm so sorry." I followed Felix into the kitchen. He rested his hands upon the sink and stared through a small window. The only source of light was a full moon, which cast its rays into the room.
"We'll get her back. I promise." I tenderly placed a warm hand on his shoulder from behind. A guy as sweet and gentle as Felix deserved a better life than the one Haden left him with. His sister had come to visit him one day, and as far as his parents know, she's still on the Isle with Felix. He didn't have the heart to tell them about her. He felt that it was his fault, and that guilt haunts him everyday.
I could only imagine what it would feel like to lose someone I love; someone as dear to me as Harry Hook. I had to hope that I hadn't lost him already.
"Let me take you back to Harry. I can't let you stay the night here, it's too close to the club. Haden will find you, I can't risk him taking you back. He has eyes and ears all over the Isle, I wouldn't be surprised if he was on his way here." Felix retreated into his bedroom, and returned with two oversized hoodies. He tossed me one to disguise myself, and I willingly did so.
"You're very powerful Erina. Only you can stop Haden. He's planning something big, we just don't know what." Felix motioned for me to following out the front door. "Be the hero the Isle needs... The hero I need."
• • • • •
Luckily for us we were in the woods — and so was Captain Hook's house. What was I suppose to tell Harry? I'm sorry my 'date' with Haden lasted for four days? He would never forgive me unless he completely understood what happened.
The air was unusually thick. It smelled as if the world was burning. Felix and I exchanged worried glances. He shrugged as if to say I wasn't cooking anything so it's not me. We turned on our backs to his front porch, and gaped towards the tree line i front of his house.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
There was a massive forest fire spreading towards the city. I could hear distant screams and cries of the Isle's civilians. The pitch black sky was illuminate by a blueish hue. I could hear tree branches cracklings from the fire's heat. A hot breeze slapped us across our faces. The ground beneath us rumbled, nearly throwing us off balance.
"Run." Felix gasped, taking my hand in his. All I could do was nod — I was completely lost for words. We avoided the fiery woods and sprinted through the city of thieves in hopes that our shortcut would get us Harry before Haden did... assuming that was Haden's plan...
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A/N: Erina is by far one of my favorite OC's. I've written other stories but unfortunately they never turned out the way I wanted. Oh well :)
Erina is too beautiful, it isn't fair *-*
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