Chasing Pan_Tales from Neverland

by S Cinders

  “We need Peter and Ebony back,” I bit my lip in concentration. “Charlie, did you see Hook or Silver?”

  Charlie shook his head, “No. But I did see that the men were heavily armed.”

  I looked down at the small dagger that I had tucked into my belt and swallowed nervously. If there was to be a war, they would quickly demolish us.

  Puck had come to the same conclusion, “We can’t beat them, so we need to outsmart them.”

  Charlie, who wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, wrinkled his brow, “How do we do that?”

  “How many lost boys are on the Island?” I asked, remembering that we were not without resources.

  Hangman’s Tree wasn’t far from where we were hiding, an hour at most.

  Charlie brightened, “Thirty or so, I would say.”

  “Will you go there and gather as many that will fight?”

  Charlie nodded, “Right away, Tink!”

  I put my hand on his arm, “Make sure they know what they are getting into, Charlie. The younger ones need to stay behind.”

  Charlie rolled his eyes, “You sound like a mother hen, Tink. Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

  No one had ever accused me of being motherly. My cheeks heated, “Be careful, my friend.”

  Charlie grinned, “Always,” and was off.

  I turned to Puck who was eyeing me with a strange expression.

  “What?” I felt my already hot cheeks burst again with color.

  “Are you and that large fellow...” he broke off, “I apologize, it’s none of my business.”

  The dejected note in his tone shocked the hell out of me. I suppose that is the only reason why I did what I did next.

  I cupped his cheeks with my small hands, “I am not seeing Charlie. I won’t lie to you and say that I haven’t messed around.”

  I saw Puck’s gaze harden.

  “But that is long since over, and to be honest, was merely boredom.”

  Puck’s violet eyes searched mine, and it was then that I realized I was touching his face. I could feel his whiskers pricking the delicate skin of my palm, and I immediately released him.

  “I beg your pardon,” I tried to step back, but Puck’s arms curled around my waist faster than lightning.

  “You do not need to apologize for touching me, Tinkerbell. You, of all people, can touch me anytime you like.”

  He leaned in, and for a terrifying moment, I thought he would kiss me. What was even more surprising. was that I wanted him to kiss me, desperately.

  But he didn’t. His eyes closed as he pressed his forehead against mine. Then his arms loosened, and he stepped back.

  Clearing the gruffness in his throat, he added, “We had best keep an eye on Ebony and Peter, until Charlie and his band of lost boys return.”

  I nodded in agreement but secretly, I was devastated that he hadn’t taken things further.

  Perhaps, I wasn’t as immune to him as I wanted to believe.

  CHAPTER 27 – Puck

  WEAVING ANOTHER SPELL of invisibility, Tinkerbell and I snuck into the camp with the intent of untying Peter and Ebony. Charlie had returned with twenty-seven boys from the ages of fourteen to twenty-five.

  Four of the twenty-seven were near to wetting themselves, so we left them in the forest to watch over home base. Charlie and the other twenty-one armed themselves with bows, axes, and clubs. True, they were crude weapons, but it was the best they had. Armed and waiting they stood in the shadows, just outside of the Indian camp, awaiting the signal.

  The moment we reached Peter and Ebony, I whispered into Peter’s ear.

  “Why are you hanging around here, mate?”

  Peter blinked as if surprised and then a slow smile briefly flashed before dying.

  He indicated his head toward Ebony, and I knew what he was asking.

  “Tink,” I whispered and then sliced through the ropes with my blade.

  I gently placed a sword at Peter’s side not wanting to disrupt their jailers. We were cloaked with the spell, and thankfully the sun had set at least an hour past.

  Once they were untied, I snuck back around to the two men who had been guarding them. With a swift chop of my wrist, the first dropped to the ground. The second man bent of the first.

  “Mad Dog? What the hell are you...” but he wasn’t able to finish his question as he joined his friend on the ground.

  I felt Tink’s presence. There was a need that always arose when she was near.

  “Are they dead?”

  “No,” I grabbed her hand, and we made our way back to Peter and Ebony who had risen to their feet.

  “It won’t be long until they notice,” Peter gripped the sword, “What is the plan?”

  I waved my hand and removed the spell. This was the signal that Charlie and the boys had been waiting for. Quietly, they crept in to greet us.

  “Find Hook,” Ebony commanded, “Do not kill unless you have to.”

  I couldn’t cover everyone with invisibility. There were too many. But I did cast a safety spell, whether it was wishful thinking or not remained to be seen.

  With Tink’s hand in mine, we crept along the outside of the camp. We hadn’t gone far when we heard voices talking.

  “She is my daughter, you cur!”

  It was Silver.

  The other man mocked him, “It would seem that you have a difficult time keeping track of the girl. She is my prisoner now.”

  Tink turned to me with wide eyes, “It’s the Indian chief.”

  “How would you like Princess Tiger Lilly tied to a stake?” Silver growled. “Ebony is of no use to you, Old Man. I have means. I can offer you gold and jewels. That is a far sight better than Hook will do.”

  The chief huffed, “My daughter betrayed me when she left with Ebony Hook.”

  Tink wrinkled her nose in confusion, “The chief loves Tiger Lilly,” she whispered.

  He had to still be under some kind of spell or enchantment, all points leading to Captain Hook.

  We heard a cry and then the sound of fighting. Someone had been discovered. The chief and Silver raced out of the teepee. Pirates and Indians alike were flooding the camp looking for the source of trouble.

  “The prisoners have escaped!” another screamed, as swords clashed, and weapons sliced through the air.

  The metallic smell of blood filled my nostrils, and the screams of dying men and women filled my ears.

  I knew only one thing. I had to make sure that Tinkerbell survived this night.

  I fought like a madman, and indeed I was filled with fire as I sliced and cut through those that tried to harm us.

  I saw good men fall along with the others. I knew that we were outnumbered.

  Tinkerbell fought by my side. There were only a few instances where someone got too close. We were covered in blood and mud, but much of it was not our own.

  I saw Peter a few times as I had some of the others.

  “STOP!” the command rang out louder than humanly possible, but the fighting continued.

  “I WILL KILL HER!”

  I then noticed who commanded us to stop. Hook had Princess Tiger Lilly with a sharp blade to her throat.

  It was strange how an entire battle could go silent in an instant.

  The Indian chief cried out, “You promised her safety if I helped you!”

  Hook’s evil smile turned my stomach in disgust, “She can be safe in the next world, I guarantee it.”

  “Bastard,” Tink whispered, and I was inclined to agree.

  “Ebony!” Hook motioned for her to come forward. “You had one task, girl. And that was to kill the Pan.”

  Ebony tilted her chin up in defiance, “Am I your daughter?”

  Hook’s smile broadened, “I see you have been telling tales, Silver.”

  Long John Silver walked up, “James, it has been an age since I have seen you.”

  Ebony’s jaw dropped, “This isn’t a tea party!”

  Silver ignored her, “Your fight is with
me, James not that pretty little thing.”

  “Are you offering to take her place?” Hook raised a brow.

  Silver chuckled, shaking his head, “Goodness, no! Slice the bitches, throat it is of no concern to me.”

  Hook pressed the knife against Tiger Lilly’s perfect skin. A thin line of blood trailed down her neck.

  “STOP!” Alex raced through the masses to get to Hook. “Do not harm her.”

  Hook rolled his eyes, “Smeed’s boy.”

  I wasn’t sure if Hook owned a looking glass because standing next to Alex there was no question of his parentage.

  “Alex is your son,” Ebony’s tone was dangerously low. “Everyone here can see it.”

  Hook rolled his eyes, “Are you jealous? I assure you, there is no reason to be.”

  Alex swallowed looking pointedly at his father, “You admit it?”

  “I dare say, I must have had dozens of children scattered about here or there.”

  “Release her,” Alex moved a fraction closer, “I will do whatever you ask, just release her.”

  “You?” Hook scoffed, “You were told to keep Ebony safe. What did you do with my trust? You brought back the Jolly Roger along with the Henrietta, do you have any idea what you have done?”

  Alex looked confused, and Ebony stepped forward.

  “Take me instead, father.”

  Peter gasped and grabbed her arm, “The hell you will.”

  “You don’t understand,” Ebony said sadly. “We made a grave mistake.”

  Hook’s smile widened, “You always were a bright girl.”

  “What are you talking about?” Peter demanded.

  “Where I did Silver go?” Hook’s face turned dark, “Where is that bastard?”

  Ebony shook Peter’s hand from her arm and walked bravely up to Hook.

  “The treasure,” she put her hand on the blade hilt, and Hook allowed her to pull it away. “It contains the Never Stone, doesn’t it?”

  Hook shoved Tiger Lilly into Alex’s arms, “And now you have brought him here.”

  “Why is the Never Stone important?” Peter asked.

  Ebony looked up, “It is what gives Neverland life. If he takes it, we all die.”

  I hauled Tinkerbell alongside me as I approached Hook.

  “You are a right bastard!” I grit out.

  He turned and twirled a long black curl, “A pleasure to meet you as well.”

  Peter made the introductions, “This is Robin Goodfellow, but most know him as Puck.”

  Hook’s eyes lit, “The trickster king?”

  I inclined my head.

  Hook turned to the crowd, “Burn the dead and gather yourselves. We are no longer on opposing sides.”

  There were a few murmurs, but they did as he said.

  The Indian chief’s gaze was no longer clouded as he approached his daughter.

  “I did my part, Hook. We are not going to be involved in this war of yours.”

  Tiger Lilly raised her head, the blood still drying on her neck.

  “We are residents of Neverland. This attack is against us all. I will fight father and so will our people.”

  CHAPTER 28 – Tinkerbell

  I HAD MY OWN PLACE on the island, but it wasn’t for the life-sized version of myself. So, I followed the group back to the makeshift base we had created. I could have stayed in the Indian village. Tiger Lilly had graciously offered it to anyone in need of a place to rest their head.

  But a part of me wanted to be as far away from Hook as possible. He was a tricky bastard, and I still didn’t believe his motives were purely to save Neverland.

  There were too many holes in the story.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  I glanced away from the fire and saw Puck take a seat on a fallen log near mine.

  “Hook,” I saw no reason to lie, we were in this mess together. Whether I trusted him long term, that was another matter.

  “I don’t trust him,” Puck said simply, “Why would he be angry at Ebony for not killing Pan and in the next breath accuse Silver?”

  I shrugged, “I don’t think Silver is innocent in all of this either.”

  Puck sat there for a moment, “Long John Silver is a man who is in it for himself. I have a feeling there is something large we are missing here. Something neither pirate wants us to know. But I cannot put my finger on it. Why does Hook hate Peter so badly?”

  I shrugged, “Peter and Hook used to fight over the treasure. Each one, stealing it from the other and hiding it in a new location.”

  “What caused Peter to leave, Neverland?”

  Wendy, Michael, and John popped into my head.

  “Peter was growing bored of the game. More and more, I found him leaving here and flitting around on earth. He even brought a girl and her brothers here for a time. When he took them back home again, he stayed there.”

  “He left you?” The incredulity in Puck’s tone brought a faint smile to my lips.

  “I don’t think I factored into the equation,” I murmured, looking back into the fire.

  Puck frowned, “Why would he take you from me only to abandon you?”

  I winced. I didn’t want to remember those days. Not when I had been left behind by Peter, and I certainly didn’t want to recall those times with Puck.

  “It was a long time ago,” I tried to play it off as if it didn’t matter.

  I hadn’t realized that I was so taken in by Puck. Peter had told me how controlling Puck was behaving towards me. It had chaffed because I had thought we were something more than master and servant.

  When I asked to go about more in fairyland, Puck had adamantly refused. He wouldn’t say why, only that I was to obey him.

  Those seeds of doubt had festered in my mind, and we argued more and more until I began to hate Puck. I wouldn’t allow him to touch me and I certainly didn’t obey him.

  “Why?” I didn’t realize that I had spoken, until Puck answered.

  “Why, what?” he said gently.

  “Why were you so controlling in fairyland?”

  Puck stilled, his face turning to granite, “I was wrong, Tink. I am sorry, you can’t know how sorry I am.”

  I nodded, “But that still doesn’t explain why?”

  Puck ran a hand through his dark hair, “Must we rehash all of this?”

  It was the closest I had seen him to losing his temper. I had to wonder if the old Puck was about to make an appearance.

  “If you want me to understand and forgive you,” I replied honestly.

  Puck groaned and swore under his breath, “I fear you might hate me more, when you learn the whole of it.”

  “I suppose you will have to tell me and find out.”

  He stared, “Alright.”

  “You will tell me?” I felt my heart skip a beat.

  He nodded, “Just let me tell the whole of it, before you pass judgment.”

  I agreed, and he began.

  “You were working out in the forest the first time Oberon, and I spied you. He was taken aback by your beauty and immediately commanded that you become one of his concubines. I convinced him that I would be the best person to claim you as his slave. I weaved all kinds of lies about the guard taking you for themselves or being too rough with you.”

  My eyes widened, “You never claimed me for Oberon.”

  Puck swallowed, “My deceit knew no depths, only that I couldn’t allow him to take you. I told him that you had fought at the claiming and perished by my sword. You see, I couldn’t allow you to roam free in fairy, you were dead. And I took away your chance to be a favored concubine for the king. You could have lived in riches at the royal court and instead were confined to my chambers. I never told Peter the truth. He had noticed how secretive I had become. Peter had commented to the king that I wasn’t myself, no longer whoring or drinking to excess.”

  My cheeks heated. I remembered many nights tangled in Puck’s arms.

  “And then Peter found out about you. He t
hreatened to tell the king I was abusing a slave. I was terrified that the king would find out about you. I had come to care for you so deeply that I thought I would die if I lost you. I suppose that should have been my first inclination that it wasn’t meant to be. True love and the trickster king are not synonymous with each other.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” I choked out.

  Puck continued to stare at the fire, “We were fighting all of the time. I had come home in several instances and found you and Peter plotting and scheming. I was jealous, goddess, I was so jealous that you wanted to spend time with him and not me. And then you were gone, Peter had lifted the claim, and you escaped.”

  By the time you both were discovered by Oberon, he had drawn his own conclusions. He blamed Peter for keeping you from him and faking your death. He had taken away your life-size form and banished you alongside with him.

  “And you kept silent?” I murmured, more to myself than to him.

  “And I kept silent,” his words were wrenched from him. “I thought you loved Peter. I was letting you go. I told myself that I had never loved you, for centuries I tried to convince myself that it was true.”

  “I never loved Peter,” I turned to Puck, and he rested his violet eyes on my face.

  “I know that now,” he said sorrowfully. “I never should have taken you as my own. My actions got you kicked out of fairyland. I can understand if you can’t forgive that.”

  “Puck,” his name slipped out, like a prayer. “You should have trusted me.”

  He closed his eyes, regret covering his face.

  “I don’t hate you,” the words tumbled out of me. “I was hurt and angry. I thought you were embarrassed by me, and that is why you kept me hidden away. I began to doubt everything. Peter knew that something wasn’t right. I should have come to you instead of running. Puck, I would have hated being Oberon’s concubine.”

  He opened his eyes, “Really?”

  I took his face in my hands. His whiskers were gently abrading my palms.

  “You claiming me? That saved me from being taken by a man that could never have loved me. All of the jewels and riches of the world wouldn’t have changed the fact that I was a glorified prostitute for the king.”