by R. L. Weeks
Lori smiled. ‘Peter won’t get anywhere near him.’
Hook jumped in. ‘We will kill him if he tries.’
Wendy laughed this time. They all fell silent. ‘And how’s that worked out for you so far, Hook?’ She quickly turned furious. ‘How did it work out for me? For the Piper? For any of you? Don’t you get it?’ she asked. ‘He is more powerful than anyone or anything in all of the lands in all of the worlds! You cannot stop him. Also, Daisy told me that he has a new companion. The sword capturer. The enchantress. Peter has made a very powerful accomplice. They are bound together always, to kill Peter, we must also kill her. Do you really think her friends will let any of you kill Snow?’
Lori shrugged. ‘I’ll kill her. I’ve been trying too for a long time. It will be my pleasure. As for her friends, do you think they’d care after they find out what she has become? What evil pumps through her veins? They will eventually want her dead as much, or even more than I do.’
Stilt stepped forward, swaying from side to side with the waves. ‘What’s the plan then? Peter will come for us should we deliver Wendy to the Piper. If he kills them, we have no way of unlocking the power of the fountain. No way of escape.’
Wendy looked up at Stilt. Stilt noticed that her eyes were just as blue and just as glassy as his late wife’s, just less insane.
Wendy looked at Hook. The man she had once feared and felt nothing but pity for him. The whole time he had hunted her and Peter, he was just trying to get away from Peter, to save everyone from his devilish ways. ‘I think that you should be the one to kill Bell. After everything she did to you. We need her gone! She is just as evil as him and twice as obsessive.’
The ship moved smoothly along the waves as they headed for the next Island. Neverland, which was made up of three Islands, all had different levels of magic. Peter had domain over all of them, but one Island scared him. It took even his power when he stepped on to its soil. That’s why Hook and his men went there to collect more food and water before going back to their ship, which also had power to keep Peter away.
‘Wendy, come with me. We can have a chat in the captain’s cabin,’ Lori said, untying Wendy.
They walked into the red, gold, and brown decorated cabin. A smoky, musky scent hung in the air. Wendy sat on the futon.
Lori smiled. ‘Tell me how you came here Wendy.’
Wendy nodded. ‘When I first came here I was so excited,’ she told Lori. ‘I grew up in London.’
Lori sat down on the cushioned red futon. ‘London?’
Wendy nodded. ‘It’s a totally different world. There’s no magic, that I know of there. The truth is I was unhappy. I think he could sense that. That’s why he chose me.’
Hook walked over to join them. ‘Having a girly chat are ya?’
Lori scowled. ‘It’s not like that. Wendy was telling me about how she came here. It’s information that could be helpful in bring him down.’
Hook laughed insincerely. ‘We already know how to bring him down!’
‘Give us a minute,’ Lori asked, pointing at the cabin door. Hook turned and stomped away. Lori turned back to Wendy. ‘As you were saying.’
‘Right,’ Wendy breathed. ‘It was a long time ago now. I don’t know how long specifically. The year’s sort of blend together, but it feels like forever.’
Lori nodded sympathetically. ‘I’ve been here for a few weeks, yet it feels longer.’
‘It doesn’t when you’re with Peter,’ Wendy added. ‘He has a way to make time feel like it isn’t passing at all. Everything is so wondrous.’
Lori stood up and walked over to the bar. Her floorboards creaked under her black heels. She poured herself and Wendy a glass of wine. Wendy took it and sniffed the red liquid. ‘I’ve never drank alcohol.’
Lori smirked. ‘You’re missing out!’
Wendy placed the glass on the short wooden table next to her and placed her hands back in her lap. ‘I was being forced into a marriage with a wealthy lord. Everyone wanted me to act in a certain way. My sister Alice managed to run away just before she was to be married off,’ Wendy sighed and looked down. ‘She was lucky. She’s out trying to change the world. She wrote me letters from so many different countries. She was always a dreamer, my sister. Or as Mother used to say, she spent so much time away with the fairies that she forgot reality. My parents think she’s crazy. Anyway, she left at fourteen, which left me alone.’
Lori sat back down after finishing her wine. ‘Then he came for you?’
‘I was alone,’ Wendy cried. ‘I knew nothing. I used to sit by my window reading Alice’s letters and wishing I could have that life. I often contemplated running away. I used to dream of places and things much bigger and magic than any of us could believe. I did, though. I believed in other worlds.’ Tears fell down her cheeks. She wiped them away and sniffed. ‘It was late, around midnight. The chimes from the clock sung in the background. My window was open. I saw a shadow in the moonlight across the road. I was three stories up, so you can imagine my shock when a boy then landed on windowsill. I fell backward, knocked over the chair and sent the cat running out of the room.’ Wendy smiled fondly. ‘I miss my cat.’
Lori rolled her eyes. ‘Yes, lovely. Now, what did he say? How did he get you to Neverland?’
Wendy looked at Lori darkly. ‘He told me his name is Peter. He said that he understood how it felt to feel alone. He said he lived in a magical world where he takes the lonely souls of the worlds and gives them a home. Honestly, it sounded like death. Taking your soul to a new world where you’re never alone? Sounds like heaven, right?’
Lori shrugged. ‘I don’t know what any of that is. Must be from your world.’
Wendy nodded. ‘Sorry, yes, it is. Well, he was handsome, cheeky, funny, that I just sort of liked him straight away. There was something so childlike, yet so familiar and mysterious about him. Naturally, I was more than happy to leave my world behind.’
Alice fiddled with her chain. On it was a butterfly charm, blue and silver. ‘He said I had to forget my family and agree to never come back. They were the conditions.’ The butterfly on her necklace sparkled in the candlelight. ‘Alice gave me this,’ she said, showing Lori the necklace. ‘Sent from a far off country. I quickly gathered some of my stuff. He said I could say goodbye to my cat. When I was out of the room I quickly wrote Alice a letter telling her about Peter and place he called Neverland. In the letter I put in my other necklace, so she’d know I will always love her. It was a frosted white rose. I was given it for my seventeenth birthday.’ Wendy sighed. ‘I stamped the letter, put on her latest address and put it in Father’s post pile so he wouldn’t notice and would post it with his letters the next day. I probably shouldn’t have told her. But I hoped she would come looking and maybe join me in Neverland forever. I was so naïve.’
Lori pressed her lips together. ‘How did you get to Neverland?’
‘We flew,’ she admitted. ‘I don’t know how he did it. I haven’t seen him fly much since then. I think his powers have limits. He took me and as I flew away with him I could see my mother go into my room, looking for me.’ Wendy sobbed. Her hands were shaking as she took the glass of wine and took a sip. She scrunched up her mouth then put it back down. ‘When I was here he took me to see the mermaids, the fairies, and Lost Boys. They were all so welcoming to me and so loyal. They accepted me for who I was. I felt loved, accepted and happy. Until,’ she said, closing her eyes, ‘I stuck up for what I believed in, tried to help. Until people started acting like they did before they came here. Then he hated me and the rest is history,’ she finished.
‘So,’ Lori pondered. ‘He doesn’t want to be alone. He must be capable of love, which means I’m right about him and Snow. How did the Piper and you, well, you know?’
Wendy smiled. ‘He used to spend time on the Island. We fell for each other. Peter banished him here. My Piper would have done anything to break me out of that prison Peter had me locked in. Peter knew he would have to get rid o
f his brother somehow. The Piper took the key to the Fountain of Youth and ran for the Island we are going too. It’s the only place where Peter has little magic and the Piper is stronger than him.’
Lori got up and looked out of the small, circular window. ‘We’re here.’
DEATH TO NEVERLAND
Snow looked at Peter and smiled. ‘Looks like you dealt with the problems,’ Snow said approvingly. Red, who had somehow escaped ran past the treehouse in the middle of the night. Peter, who had been up with Snow planning his next move, had caught Red, knocked her out with a sleeping spell, and tied her up.
Rapunzel jumped down, looked and Red and screamed. She tried too free Red, but they didn’t let her. Peter nodded at Snow. ‘It is time, use your powers on her.’ Snow looked at Rapunzel. Her eyes flamed green, Rapunzel quickly went under Snow’s spell. Snow turned and smiled widely at Peter. ‘Why didn’t you let me do this before?’ she asked.
Bell and James appeared by the treehouse, both looking as if they had been dragged through a swamp. ‘Because,’ Bell said. ‘Every time you use your powers, you lose your mind a little.’
‘What?’ Snow turned to Peter. ‘This makes me insane?’
He gulped. ‘She’s lying!’ He scorned.
Bell shook her head. ‘I am not and I am no longer your fairy, Peter.’
Peter tilted his head and James looked incredibly smug. ‘Oh really?’
‘Really,’ Bell said, crossing her arms.
Peter turned to Snow. ‘Do it to them too.’
Snow hesitated. ‘How do I know I won’t lose my mind?’
‘Do you not trust me?’ he asked.
‘Should I?’ She asked.
He shrugged. ‘Up to you.’
She looked around and walked over to Bell. Her eyes flamed green. ‘You’re going to do whatever I want you to do,’ Snow said before her eyes returned to their normal colour.
She turned to James. Peter shuffled uncomfortably before he stopped Snow, putting his hand on her shoulder. ‘Wait.’
‘What is it?’ She asked.
He bit his lip. ‘I don’t know! I’m finding it hard to lie to you. I’ve never had this before.’
James raised his eyebrow. ‘Oh my God! You’re in love with her!’
‘You are?’ Snow asked.
Peter opened his mouth but closed it again and walked off into the forests depths. Snow turned to James. ‘You should go,’ she ordered.’
‘Leave Neverland? Isn’t that the opposite of what you want?’ James asked.
Her smile faltered. ‘I still care for you,’ she admitted. ‘You should go. You don’t want to see what happens next.’
‘What happens next?’ he asked.
She looked up at him. ‘I take everything!’
***
Wendy, Hook, Lori, and Stilt walked the steep steps up the side of the mountain. Peg and the other crew stayed on board. Wendy heard The Piper’s beautiful melody as they grew closer. It consumed her, but the dread of what would happen to them both once Peter found out what had happened, killed her a little inside.
As they walked into the cage, the Piper stepped out from the darkness, smiling widely. Tears fell down his cheeks as he ran forwards, dropping the flute. She embraced him with a hug, one she hoped would never end.
Wendy sobbed into his sweet smelling top. ‘Peter will kill us.’
He hugged her tighter. ‘I won’t let him hurt you. As for me, it’ll be worth it for just a moment spent with you.’
Lori pretended to urge. ‘Touching. Now, where’s the key? She asked.
The Piper looked at the flute on the floor. ‘It’s that.’
‘I knew we should have just taken the flute!’ she shouted at Stilt.
Stilt grimaced. ‘You almost snapped the key to the fountain. You should be thanking me for taking it from you!’
‘Come on,’ Lori said to Hook. ‘Let’s go. Where is the entrance?’
‘Bottom of the mountain, but first,’ The Piper said. ‘You promised to take her with you.’
Stilt looked back. ‘We will come back for her. Let her stay with you until your end.’
‘Your end?’ Wendy asked. ‘No! You’re going to let them destroy Neverland completely. You will die!’
‘I,’ the Piper said, ‘will be free.’
***
As they made their way down the mountain, they saw the empty ship. ‘No!’ Hook shouted. The waters surrounding the ship were red. They saw from the distance strange looking merpeople splashing around in the water.
‘I don’t understand,’ Hook said. ‘They aren’t even on Peter’s side.’
Lori’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Luring your men from the ship, just like before,’ she said. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘Peter,’ Hook growled. ‘He must have found a way to get the merpeople on his side.’
Stilt stepped forward. ‘And now we kill him, we just need to find the entrance. It’ll be somewhere around here.’
Lori sighed. ‘The mountain goes on for miles. We best get looking. I’ll use my magic to reveal any enchantments once we are close. It’ll show us the door.’
The final scream from one of Hook’s men followed them as they searched for Neverland’s undoing.
***
Snow found Peter sat on a log in the middle of the forest. ‘Why did you run off?’ She asked, placing his hand on hers.
‘Love,’ he whispered. ‘Is something that can make someone awfully vulnerable.’
‘And happy,’ she pointed out. ‘It means you will always have someone by your side, a partner, a best friend, an eternal happiness.’
He sighed. ‘Bell was right. The gift I gave you does make you lose your mind. Bell said she wouldn’t have minded, but then she’s scarily insane anyway, even if she doesn’t seem it.’
Snow gasped. ‘Oh, well, thanks!’
‘Sorry,’ he said and lowered his head. ‘I guess I do love you. I love you Snow.’ She smiled as did he. ‘How can I prove it you?’
‘It doesn’t matter, Peter. I love you too.’
He jumped up. ‘It does matter. Here,’ he said, unhooking a necklace form around his neck. He dangled it in front of him. On it was a beautiful pendant. A heart, just like on a deck of cards. ‘It’s my heart,’ he said, dropping it into her hand. ‘It’s everything of mine.’
She put it around her neck. ‘Why is it on a playing card?’
‘Because,’ he said. ‘It’s the King of Hearts. Life is a game, Snow, but love isn’t. I never thought I would be in love. It’s a game of chance. You never know what card you will draw in life. You happened to draw my heart.’
‘I guess,’ she said, grinning. ‘That makes me the Queen of Hearts.’
He nodded. ‘I love you,’ he whispered then kissed her.
When they broke apart she smiled. ‘I love you too,’ she lied.
They headed back to the treehouse. Rapunzel, under Snow’s spell whipped Red until she bled. James was trying to stop her, but she whipped him whenever he came close.
‘I thought I said leave!’ she shouted at James.
‘No,’ Peter said. ‘Let him stay, enjoy the festivities. He is no threat to me.’
‘Croon,’ Snow shouted. He emerged from the treehouse. ‘Coming to the beach. I fancy some tea.’
Peter seemed displeased, but he didn’t care much anymore. He had Snow. His Snow.
***
Gallisa saw each of her friends slowly turn from good too bad. Each of them trapped in Neverland forever. Snow had turned evil, helping Peter trap his victims.
She walked over to Snow who was sat on the beach with Croon, both drinking tea. ‘You make the most delicious tea,’ Snow complimented Croon. ‘Always has been a speciality of mine.’
‘And your hat is beautiful,’ Snow said, smiling.
Croon sighed. ‘Before I came to Neverland, I was a tailor.’
Snow grinned. ‘You’ll have to make me one someday.’
He shook his head. ‘As you
know, Peter doesn’t let us do anything that links us to our lives before him.’
‘Well,’ Snow said. ‘Like I said before, one-day Peter may not be in charge.’
‘What do you mean?’ he asked.
Snow pointed at her necklace. ‘I have his heart.’ She looked up and saw Gallisa.
‘Can I help you?’ Snow raised an eyebrow.
Gallisa gestured to the pool at the far side of the beach. ‘May I talk to you in private?’
Snow nodded and stood up, putting down her tea cup. When they reached the pool, Gallisa sat on a log. ‘You’re like a sister to me. I can’t watch as you walk down this path of destruction. I want my sword back.’
‘It is mine,’ Snow said, holding onto the sword. ‘If I were able to use it on you, I would.’
‘But you can’t,’ Gallisa said. ‘Nor can you or Peter manipulate me with your magic. That means I will always be here to guide you too good, and to protect those who need protecting. I am begging you to stop.’
Snow glowered at Gallisa. ‘You are the Good Queen aren’t you? You think you are so amazing.’
Gallisa teared up. ‘I do not. I just don’t like seeing my friends hurt.’
Snow rolled her eyes. ‘Go home Gallisa, you’re not wanted here!’ She walked back to Croon’s tea party and left Gallisa crying.
Red, one of the last who hadn’t been spelled by Peter and Snow, ran over to water’s edge where Gallisa was standing. ‘Can I come with you?’ she asked breathlessly.
‘You got free?’ she asked.
Red nodded. ‘When Rapunzel’s back was turned, James cut me free. I asked him to come with me, but he insisted on staying. To help Snow.’
‘Let’s go,’ Gallisa said.
‘Where?’ asked Red.
Gallisa pointed at the ship. ‘It’s empty. We go on there for now, it is spelled, then, we go to the only Island where Peter can’t get to us.’
***
When Snow returned with Croon she saw Rapunzel crying. ‘What happened?’
‘Red,’ Rapunzel cried. ‘I’m so sorry, she got free. He cut her free,’ she said, pointing at James. ‘I have failed you.’
Snow pulled out her sword and pointed it at James. ‘I thought I told you to leave.’
