Because a simple yes was that easy? I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from firing back some snappy retort. Did he not realize what he was asking of me? Peter might be just ‘one’, but he was the one I’d grown close to. He hadn’t asked for any of this and had called Neverland home long before Jamie had cursed it. None of this was on Peter—yet he was expected to be the sacrifice for all their sorry asses. Mine included.
It was no fairer to him than this dilemma was to me.
Arrive as soon as tomorrow. Gods, that didn’t give me any time to form a proper plan, not even if I stayed up all night. I contemplated asking for another day to think and prepare, but that would only alert Cedric to the fact that I would stop at nothing to undermine him… and secure the map, if I could manage it.
Sighing, I drove my knife into the table. I would fight Cedric as well as the curse until my final breath, but for now… I had no choice but to play their wicked games.
“All right.” My voice hardly sounded like my own. “Set the course. Peter will be there.” There was no way he hadn’t noticed me missing by now. It wouldn’t have surprised me to learn that he was hovering outside the windows at this very moment, listening to every word emerging from my traitorous lips.
I swallowed. Would he still come for me, even then?
Cedric smiled. “Excellent.”
I was only barely aware of him summoning Elvira. My mind fixated on a single thought, replaying over and over in my tormented consciousness. A fresh wave of guilt constricted my chest, and I couldn’t escape the image of Peter’s wounded face the moment he learned of my betrayal. Or the bullet Cedric planned to put between his eyes.
What had I done?
VIII. the night
I’d spent my whole life pining for a room of my own. This was not what I’d had in mind.
What could best be described as a closet reeked of rotting food, stale water, and moldy musk. There was no escaping any of it—not in a space this small—so I remained by the porthole, huddled in the hammock Elvira had hung for me. I clutched my music box tightly to my chest. Night had fallen hours ago, so the only illumination was the moon reflecting off the surface of the water. Watching the endless ripples as we sailed soothed my panic somewhat, but not enough; my heart hadn’t stopped racing since being shoved and locked into this tiny space.
Trapped.
Shuddering, I refused to pay my claustrophobia any more mind. My gaze flickered to the mainland as the ship hugged its shores, sailing north, and my thoughts wandered to Peter. He hadn’t come for me. Perhaps he was simply off making a plan, but my brain refused to linger on the logical, and fixated on the worst-case scenario. It was either a risk he wasn’t willing to take, or he assumed I was dead.
That, or he somehow sensed that I’d betrayed him.
You did no such thing. You’ll come up with a plan—one that saves him and gets him that map. Just concentrate. But I couldn’t. Between my exhaustion, desperation, and lack of resources, I’d thought of absolutely nothing that might spare Peter. I’d scoured that damn curse again and again for clues and had even begged for my mother’s help. She remained silent, leaving me to wonder if she was as disgusted by my actions as I was.
Scarlett may have been a pirate, but even pirates didn’t betray their friends.
I traced the silver plating adorning my music box. Was that what Peter and I were—friends? We’d started off as enemies, transitioned to cautious roommates, then to mentor and student, but I wasn’t sure how we defined our relationship now. Acquaintances? Allies? Partners? No… if anyone was Peter’s partner, it was Tink. And not only would she be devastated if anything were to happen to him, I hadn’t the slightest doubt she would hunt me to the ends of the earth once she discovered it was by my hand.
My fingers clenched. This madness we were trapped in had such bloody beginnings; surely the answer wasn’t more of the same. Why did anyone have to die?
The endless worries were beginning to suffocate me, so before long, I was forced to admit defeat. If Peter was going to come, he’d have shown up by now; what was more, staying awake would do nothing but render me even more useless come the morning. I needed all the strength I could get if I was to survive the band of pirates—survive my father. Settling down, I forced my eyes closed.
Sleep evaded me. Tossing and turning, I couldn’t escape the itchy knots of the hammock at my back, nor could I get comfortable. The gentle rocking of the ship became dizzying, and all my mind wanted to focus on was my father and his curse. Elvira’s haunting voice sang that damned song over and over, completely ruining the melody I’d taken refuge in for so long. Uncertain whether minutes or hours had passed, I eventually gave up, sitting up to stare out the window.
I nearly leaped from my skin when I glimpsed a tiny face staring back at me.
I covered my mouth to keep from screaming, and shock flooded through me when I recognized the warm golden glow. “Tink?”
She nodded before placing a finger to her lips, darting out of sight. It wasn’t long before there came a light scratching at the lock on my door—she must be picking the mechanism. When it finally slid open, I released the breath I’d been holding. I waved her inside before closing it just enough that we wouldn’t be overheard.
“What are you doing here? How did you get past my guard? Where’s Peter? I…”
My voice trailed off as something furry raced across my feet. I’d seen plenty of evidence of vermin aboard the ship but had yet to glimpse one in the flesh. With another stifled scream, I leaped back into the hammock, pointing at the awful creature in horror.
“Rat!”
Almost before I’d finished hissing it, the fairy dove with shocking accuracy. Landing on the rat’s back, Tink wrapped both arms around its neck even as it bucked and thrashed like a wild horse. Its terrified squeaks soon lessened, and with a jolt, I realized why—Tink was strangling it. She remained upright even as the rat slumped, beady eyes glazing over as life left its body.
A shudder rippled through her as the curse performed its work. “That was good timing,” she said once it was done. “I’ve needed a kill for days.”
“Yeah… good timing.” I wrinkled my nose at the dead rat on my floor. “But you shouldn’t be here. Peter is in grave danger—”
“Tell him that yourself.”
“What? He’s here?” My mind raced; he couldn’t be. Cedric would take him captive, and I still didn’t have a plan. It would all be over if Peter got himself caught. “There are guards posted everywhere.”
“You think he doesn’t know that?” Tink crossed her arms. “We’re taking quite a risk for you. But we must go now; the man outside your door is asleep, and won’t be for long. Come on, I’ll keep the rest of them distracted while you two slip away.”
I shook my head, swallowing the lump in my throat. As tempting as it was to turn tail and run, I was part of this now—I’d agreed to it—and needed to see it through to the end… however bloody that end may be. Cedric was my father, and my problem to face. “I’m afraid you’ve wasted your time. I’m not going with you.”
Tink whirled around. “Excuse me?”
“It’s complicated, but necessary, I assure you.” I wanted to say more, but ‘I promised Captain Hook I’d lead Peter to his death and only I can fix it’ turned to ash in my mouth. “You both need to get out of here—now. We’re sailing for Blackbeard’s tomb, and Peter can’t be anywhere near it once we arrive.”
“Neither can you.” Tink’s light flashed with concern. “That awful place is the source of the curse, Wendy, and there’s no telling what might happen to anyone who sets foot there.”
“Please. You have to believe me, and you have to go.”
Tink’s jaw dropped. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Deadly.”
“You know, from the very moment you set foot in Neverland, I wondered if you
actually had a death wish.”
“Tink, please.”
“It’s not me you have to convince.” The fairy crossed her arms. “Peter won’t leave without speaking to you.”
My gut twisted into knots. Facing Peter required going above deck, and going above deck meant dodging bloodthirsty pirates. Gods only knew if Cedric or Elvira were among them, and if anyone spotted us… my nonexistent plan would be over before it began. Cedric would have the upper hand, and Peter and I would become nothing more than pawns to serve whatever end the pirate captain had in store.
Shit.
I nodded despite wanting to scream. Though I didn’t know Peter nearly as well as Tink, I knew enough to agree. It was risky, but the quicker I convinced him to leave me, the quicker he’d be out of harm’s way. “Take me to him.”
“Not without this.” Before I could protest, Tink darted above my head to coat me in her dust. I tried to duck, but more than enough of it settled on my shoulders; I felt the effects immediately and began hovering from the floor.
“Hey! I didn’t ask—”
“In case you change your mind.”
I glowered. “I won’t.”
She didn’t protest further.
After Tink had dimmed her light to near darkness, I shoved open my door; a difficult task given the unconscious pirate slumped against it. Biting back a curse, I turned to Tink. “What did you do?”
“Nothing he won’t recover from. Now shut up and move.”
Once I’d slipped free, we skittered down the corridor. Making our way through the maze of hammocks was easy—all the guards had been stationed above, and those that remained below decks were passed out drunk. They’d celebrated loudly following my capture last night, but the knowledge that they’d be damn hard to wake didn’t stop my chest from tightening. We reached the stairs and remained in the shadows as muttering and footsteps sounded from above.
“This is where I leave you,” Tink whispered. “I’ll attract the guards to one side but won’t be able to hold their attention for long. You’ll only have a minute—two at best.”
A minute to convince Peter to leave me here? I’d have better luck persuading him that the Nightstalkers had suddenly become pacifists, but rather than argue, I nodded. “Be careful.”
Tink zipped away, and I tensed to sprint. After the first warning shout, I bolted up the stairs, half gliding and half running away from the rapidly brewing commotion. Tink had been right; it was getting chaotic fast. I had to find Peter.
Though there was plenty of light thanks to the numerous torches and lamps scattered about, that was the problem. My eyes were accustomed to darkness, and given no time to adjust, I was practically blind as I stumbled through the maze of crates and barrels scattered across the upper deck. More than once I banged my kneecaps on the solid wooden frames, the sharp pain summoning tears that made it even harder to navigate the path ahead.
When hands slipped beneath my armpits from behind, the only reason I didn’t shriek was because one of them shot out to cover my mouth. A familiar voice hissed into my ear with casual confidence.
“Hush—it’s me. I’m going to get you out of here.”
I shook my head, but that didn’t stop Peter. Hovering in midair, he hoisted me over several railings until we were safely out of reach of most of the crew. He placed me down gently, but only so he could leap over the side of the hull, gesturing urgently for me to follow. “Tink dusted you, right? There isn’t much time.”
“No, Peter—”
“She didn’t?” Peter furrowed his brow. “It will be difficult, but I suppose I’m strong enough to carry you at least to shore.”
“I’m not going with you.”
He did a double take. “What?”
“I’m not going with you—I can’t.” I ignored the fact that my voice shook. “There are things I need to do.”
“Yes, like come with me.” Peter snatched my hand, but I tore it from his grip, raising my voice ever so slightly.
“I’m safe here. If the pirates wanted me dead, they’d have done so already.”
“Do you think I’m stupid, Wendy?”
My blood turned to ice. Did Peter somehow know about my relation to Cedric? How?
Peter continued in that same frustrated whisper. “Hook isn’t, either. The only reason he hasn’t killed you is because you’re bait for me. He loses you, he loses that leverage.” Peter’s eyes burned. “Which is why you’re coming with me whether you like it or not.”
Before I could say another word, he tossed me over his shoulder, then huffed. “You liar, she did give you dust.”
“Peter, stop.” I flailed my legs and pounded my fists against his back, but it made no difference. “Put me down, or I’ll—”
“What, scream?” He tightened his grip on the back of my thighs. “That would alert Hook to my presence. You want to remain with him so badly you’d betray me?”
Though blood rushed to my forehead and I was already dizzy, I stilled at Peter’s words, fully convinced that he did know: the deal I’d struck, my lack of a plan, all of it. The accusation dug far too deep to have been a coincidence. I couldn’t speak in my own defense, and in fact could hardly breathe as Peter prepared to take off into the night. Through blurred vision, I vaguely noted that we rose a few feet into the air before a shout yanked us back to the deck with the force of an anchor.
“Going somewhere, Pan?”
Peter whirled around so fast I couldn’t see anything, but the deep, booming voice was telling enough. My father had joined us.
I hissed Peter’s name, squirming once again, but he ignored me, tensing. Why wasn’t he fleeing? Was there a gun pointed at him—at us? Surely he could dodge a bullet. But then I heard bells, and the realization struck me with force.
Cedric had Tink.
“I thought you might think twice. Take another step, and your precious fairy is as good as dead.”
The next time I squirmed, Peter released me without protest. Still facing him, I slid down his front, gasping at the sensation of blood rushing from my head, but I couldn’t afford to wait until the pain went away. Whirling around, I glared daggers at the horde of pirates that now surrounded us, uncaring that a dozen guns could fire upon us in a second.
It took every ounce of effort I possessed not to react to the sight of my father gripping Tink by her wings. The fairy kicked and writhed, but other than making Cedric smirk, the struggle clearly only served to exhaust her. Beside them, Elvira stood completely still, gripping a knife in each hand and staring at Peter as though that alone might kill him.
I stepped in front of him without a second thought, shielding him from bullets and Elvira’s gaze alike. Speaking to my father, I all but spat my words. “Let. Her. Go. Tink has nothing to do with this.”
“On the contrary, I’d say she has everything to do with this.” Cedric nodded his approval. “Excellent job, Wendy.”
Peter gripped my shoulder, attempting to push me aside. “I can handle—”
Ignoring him, I appealed to Cedric’s inner monster. “You don’t need Tink, but you sure as hell need me.”
“All right,” the captain fired back immediately, gaze narrowing. “You want your precious fairy? Come and take her.”
“Wendy!”
I ignored Peter’s warning a second time. Swallowing down my fear, I nodded. “Fine.”
My legs shook as I began weaving through obstacles once more. Though my heart pounded so loud I was certain everyone could hear, I refused to let the terror show on my face. As I passed, the men lowered their guns, turning to watch the standoff play out.
He won’t hurt you. Whatever else he may be… he’s your father. I didn’t fully believe it, even when I stood within arm’s reach.
Elvira alone hadn’t laid down her weapons. She hadn’t moved, and still appeared to be staring at Pet
er; deciding I was as safe as I could be, I focused on Cedric, refusing to meet Tink’s desperate gaze. I spoke barely above a whisper, ensuring none but the three nearest me could make out my words. “You’ll release Tink and Peter, and they’ll both leave this ship unharmed.”
Cedric didn’t react. “We had a deal, Wendy—you’d go back on your word so soon?”
Tink gasped. “Deal?”
“I’ll do anything you ask,” I said, doing my best not to acknowledge the fairy’s furious red glow. “Serve you, aid you, remain with you… whatever you want, it’s yours. But I cannot give you this—him.” In an even quieter voice, I forced a final word. “Please.”
It surprised me to see Cedric even considering my offer. He studied me closely, eyeing me up and down before giving a slight, almost imperceptible nod of his head.
Elvira was upon me in an instant.
Gripping one of my arms, she twisted it behind my back so brutally tears sprang to my eyes. Her opposite hand dug a dagger into my throat, the sting of it momentarily distracting me from the agony in my shoulder, and yanked me flush against her body. I barely registered her breathy whisper.
“I warned you against striking deals with the devil.”
“HOOK!”
The cocking of multiple pistols snapped me back to reality. I glanced at where Peter had stood, only to find the spot vacant; he’d risen a good twenty feet in the air, dagger drawn and face contorted with rage.
“Enough. Let’s settle this like men.”
Hook barely glanced up as he shoved a screaming Tink into a large jar. “Men, you say? Well, between the two of us, I’d say there’s only one of those.”
Rage boiled my blood. “And it sure as hell isn’t you!”
“Besides, I’d rather not lose another hand.” My father pointedly ignored me. “Wendy, however, seems to have one to spare…”
“You wouldn’t,” I snarled, the movement causing Elvira’s knife to bite even deeper into my neck. “What kind of coward refuses to face a boy?”
“A smart one, as that’s no ordinary boy. I underestimated him once: never again,” Hook said.
A Land of Never After Page 10
