by Davis, Lia;
Pan’s Curse
Sheri Lyn
Chapter One
“Why must you torment me like this? Is it not bad enough you’re always behind me, but must you tick and remind me of how the time passes slowly?”
“Captain?”
James sighed and turned to face his left hand and longtime friend. “This farce grows more tiresome every day.”
“What else are we to do, my old friend? You need to give up your fixation and move on. Things have changed. These waters are not the ones we once sailed in search of treasure and adventures. Stop waiting for things that won’t come.”
“Ah, Smitty, if only it was that easy.”
“How long has it been?”
“Fifteen years, two hundred forty-six days, twelve hours, thirty-six minutes and…”
“Exactly, you don’t see the problem with this? It’s been almost sixteen years. Why torture yourself?”
“Hearts want what they want, I can’t change it. It decided and that’s the end. Do you think I’d choose to long for him, to wait day after day for him to return if I could get him out of my heart? If he returns, there is nothing to say he will want me, too. I may only look twenty- three, but inside I’m ancient. I’ve lived on this cursed isle for one hundred fifty years.”
“He was still a kid when he left, what does he know of love?”
“A kid you say? You do realize he was one hundred seventy-five years old when he flew away. In appearance no more than fourteen, but those eyes of his showed his true age. He was old, in some ways older than me.”
“James, it’s late. You need sleep. Go to bed, rest and let tomorrow come what may.” Smitty sighed, “Have you removed the hook? Do you need any help?”
James rolled his eyes, “It’s fine, I’ll take it off in a few minutes.”
“Just don’t forget to do your exercises or that hand will never get stronger.”
“Night, Smitty. See you tomorrow.”
James waited until the cabin door was shut before he resumed his perch on the ledge overlooking the water and the ticking crocodile below. He absently pulled the hook off, let it drop to the floor at his feet and stretched his cramping fingers.
“Am I a maudlin old fool? Pining away for something I never really had in the first place?” A soft splash came from the water below and James smiled. “Yeah, yeah, I know what you think. But everyone knows you are cold-blooded, what do you know of love?”
James jumped up and stared into the night sky. “Did you see that, you old pair of boots? I swear a saw his shadow cross in front of the moon.” James searched the night sky, frantic for any sign that it hadn’t been illusion.
The minutes ticked by but he saw nothing more. “It’s true then, I’ve gone mad. Seeing things that aren’t there, longing for what was never meant to be. I long for the day when we find an escape. A real life again. Is that too much to ask?”
He glanced at his bed with a wistful longing that he knew was fruitless. His soul was tired, but his brain wasn’t. The hours would only tick by slowly, driving him ever closer to the edge of sanity. James paced the confines of the large room before finally collapsing on the bed and staring out the small porthole to the night sky.
“Where ever you are, Peter, I hope it’s worth it,” he whispered to the twinkling stars far above.
***
The morning sun woke James from his fitful sleep. He yawned and rolled over with a growl of frustration. It never failed, he’d just fall asleep and the sun would rise. The nights were too long and yet, too short.
A soft knock at the door preceded Smitty’s entrance into the cabin. “Morning, Capt’n. The crew’s up and awaiting your orders.”
“Blast it to hell, Smitty. Come in and shut the door,” James snarled as he covered his face with the pillow from under his head.
“It’s a pleasure to see you in such a fine mood this morning.”
James grunted and ignored his first mate’s cheery tone. He tossed his pillow with a huff and climbed to his feet. “Let me guess, they want orders? Like we haven’t done the same thing every day since we got here.”
Smitty chuckled and rocked on his heels in amusement. “And that would be the same comment you have made every day for the past fifty or so years. It’s always nice to know what to expect through the day.”
“Shove it up yer arse, Smitty,” James said as he tried to hide his smile. Leave it to his best friend to cheer him up even on the darkest of days.
“You need any help…you know...with the hook this morning?” Smitty cautiously asked.
James sighed and gave a weary shake of his head, “I got it, but thanks. Let’s just get out of the harbor for a few days and enjoy the farce of an ocean we have out there. Maybe with luck we can torment some of the mermaids. Anything to make this day bearable.”
Today was the day that always left him wasted in his cups, bemoaning the fates and Peter at the same time. Let this year be at sea, away from the curious eyes of his crew. Keeping them busy with sailing the ship in waters they could all navigate blindly would give him the peace to mourn privately.
A soft shuffling of feet drew James’s attention to the doorway where Smitty still stood debating with himself.
“Spill it, before you give yourself an ulcer,” James barked out suddenly just to see if he could make his friend startle and jump.
“Bastard,” Smitty grumbled as he grabbed at his chest in surprise. “What type of friend are you again?”
“The very best, of course. You would have stood there worrying yourself sick about saying whatever was on your mind, I just saved you some time and energy. Besides, you know your husband will be thankful for it. We all know how you love to fret and worry shit to death.”
Smitty frowned and sputtered for a few seconds before he gained the courage to look up into James’s eyes, “Aye.”
“What is wrong? I’ve never seen you like this before. Has something happened? You’re scaring me, Smitty. Please not today, I can’t handle bad news today,” James said as he took a few faltering steps closer, fear lacing each word.
“No, Hook, no one is hurt or sick. It’s just something…shit, I knew this was going to be impossible. I had to forbid Louka from coming with me today, he wanted to be here when I told you for support. I fear I will have one very irate husband when I see him tonight.”
“Stop stalling and explain,” James demanded, his fear threatening to choke the breath from him.
“I locked Louka in the bedroom and sent one of the town’s kids to let him out. He’s going to kill me.” Smitty sighed and nodded. “I know that wasn’t what you meant, but I’m trying. You’ll understand in a minute. I’m waiting for something that we are both gonna need.”
Seconds later, a tentative knock sounded at the door and Smitty turned and spoke softly to whoever was on the other side out of James’s line of sight. As much as he needed answers, his fear begged for a few more minutes of ignorance.
“Here, let’s sit and have a drink and I will explain what I know,” Smitty said as he closed the door and headed to the small table carrying a decanter and tall cups. “I had one of the deck hands fetch this from the local alehouse.”
“Well, fuck. It must be bad. You throw a shitfit if I even look at alcohol before the early afternoon and here you are at what, a couple hours past daybreak?” James closed his eyes and tried to steady himself for what was to come, but it was no use. “Get out, I’m going back to bed.”
He turned and made it two steps before Smitty’s words froze him mid-stride.
“He’s back, and he brought kids with him again.”
“How?” James whispered almost inaudibly.
“I don’t know.”
“No, how do you know that he is back?”
“He was seen last night flying thru the sky…and the crow was heard as well. The mermaids and fairies are going crazy spreading the news. It’s true, my friend.”
James sank slowly to the floor and stared at Smitty
. His whole world had once again been capsized by that boy.
“Okay, forget the table, the floor works, too,” Smitty said as he grabbed the bottle and sat beside James. “Who needs glasses on a day like this?”
“I was sure it was a hallucination from too little sleep and too much rum. I saw his shadow in front of the moon, just like I used to.” James’s words trailed off as he stared into space processing the events of the last few minutes.
“Captain, you need to know something else. He’s not the same boy who left. Something happened while he was gone.” Smitty waited for a response or indication that James was listening before he continued. “James, are you listening to me?”
“Yes, yes, I heard you. What happened? Just tell me. I need to know.”
Smitty gave a weak smile, licked his lips and spat the words out in a torrent of breath with no breaks. “Peterisbackandheisn’tthesameageashewashe’sanadultnowlikeyou.”
James growled, “Smitty, you are trying what little patience I have. Say that again and make sure youenunciate or you will be walking that plank.”
“I said that Peter is back and he isn’t the same age as he was, he’s an adult now like you.” Smitty cringed, waiting for the response but as the seconds ticked by, he questioned if James had been listening at all.
“Did you…”
“I heard you, but this changes nothing. Who’s to say he is here to stay? He might just be here to drop those kids off you said he brought and he will disappear again. No, I don’t care. I can’t care again. If he leaves again after showing me the sun after so many cloudy days, it will kill me.”
Smitty didn’t reply. He couldn’t, the pain in his words was answer enough. He stood and moved to the door. “It’s okay, Captain. I’ll have the men circle the lagoon and just take us away from the prying eyes of the townsfolk for a while. Rest, old friend.”
James waited until he heard the door close before he forced himself back to his bunk, bottle in hand. Too many memories were assailing him, he couldn’t do this and pretend. Peter was back, but would he survive another encounter with the boy who had vowed to never grow up? Guess that was his answer. He’d lied about that, too.
Chapter Two
The hours passed in a blur of sleep, rum and enough food to soak up some of the alcohol coursing through his body. “Capt’n?” a soft voice called out from the doorway. “First mate Smitty asked me to bring your dinner and to tell you all was calm.”
“Leave it on the table and be gone,” James replied in measured tones. “And thank you.”
The cabin boy fled in fear. Never in all his years as part of the crew had he ever heard those words uttered from Captain Hook’s lips.
James stumbled his way to the table and slouched in the chair, staring at the bottle sitting inches from his waiting fingers. He couldn’t remember how many bottles he had consumed, or how many times he had cursed the gods for the inability to get drunk and forget.
“The infamous Captain Hook being nice to his crew. I must have been gone longer than I realized,” a shocked voice called out.
James stiffened and dared not turn around. He knew that voice, had heard it in his dreams every day for more years than he cared to admit.
“Not going to face me, old man? Have I been gone so long that you have forgotten me? Or is it simply you are scared to see what changes time has wrought?”
He closed his eyes and steeled himself for the sight standing before him now. Peter had slowly approached as he spoke. He could feel him with every fiber of his being. Peter was right, he was scared, no, petrified to open his eyes and see that this was all a delusion, a dream his addled brain had created for his comfort.
“Yes, James, it’s true. I really am here. Open your eyes and talk to me. Hear what I have to say. Let me explain, give me a chance to ask your forgiveness.”
A bitter laugh rolled out of James at those words. “Forgive you? You really ask for the impossible with that request.”
“You think it hasn’t been hard on me to be away? I left my whole life, my existence, and the man I was falling in love with. There wasn’t a day that went by I didn’t question my reasons for leaving. Thankfully, my love was stronger than my weakness. I toughed it out, because I knew in the end my reward would justify the years.”
“Hard on you?” Hook bellowed as he slammed his hand on table. Bottles shook and fell, some crashing with a clatter of breaking glass. “I woke to the news you had left with that shrew and her brothers, never to be seen again. I waited day after day for some sign of you returning. Eventually I had to face it, I was alone in this hell. Everything was gone, my will, my desire and my heart.”
James looked into Peter’s eyes and could see the boy he once knew in the stunningly beautiful man before him. Wavy brown hair that wouldn’t stay tamed and fell slightly over one bright blue eye. A mouth that begged to be kissed and taken. James could feel his body instantly betray him at the sight of the ruggedly handsome man. He ached to run his fingers over the stubble upon his Peter’s face.
“Go, I have nothing to say to you tonight,” James spat out as he fought to control the urges taking over his body.
“I’ve waited too long to leave as soon as I saw you. I can’t stand the thought of being apart for another day,” Peter ground out between clenched teeth as he took a step closer to James.
“I can’t do it,” James pleaded as he raised a shaking hand to Peter, before dropping it as he realized what he was doing. “I can’t take it again if you leave. I’m not the same man you left behind. I am but a shattered, scrap of him. You destroyed me, and if you leave this place again, I won’t survive it.”
“That’s just it, I’m here for good. I left for us. I’m home, here with you and the kids. This is where I belong. I don’t ever have to leave again. I swear on all that I am.”
James sighed and turned his back, “Words are meaningless, easily said and just as quickly forgotten. Go, leave me to sleep off the ale and with the morning light, I’ll know if this was real or not.”
“I’ll do as you ask for now, but I haven’t given up. I have things to take care of. Kids to get settled and teach the way of things. Be prepared, the games are about to begin and the biggest prize is still up for grabs.”
“What prize is that?” James asked as he flopped down on his bunk and yawned.
“Your heart, and our future. Nothing will stop me from winning this time.”
James vaguely heard the words as he drifted off to a dreamless sleep, the rum finally catching up and allowing him to find the first bit of peace he’d had since the boy left.
***
“A nightmare masquerading as a dream, that’s all it was,” James muttered as he crawled out of bed the next morning and stumbled to the table, looking frantically for a bottle with at least a sip left in it.
Smitty knocked softly on the door as he opened it and stepped inside. “James, how goes it today?”
“Bloody hell, what kind of question is that?” James snarled as he dropped empty bottle after empty bottle on the floor.
“You need to give up, I took it all away. I need you with me, there is something you must see,” Smitty said as he approached with a yellowed piece of paper in his hand.
“What is that and how did it get to us if we are sailing the lagoon?”
Smitty raised an eyebrow at the question, “You know how it got here. He’s back and the adventures have begun.”
“Fuck my ass raw, you have got to be kidding me,” James fumed as he threw the bottle in his hands to let it smash against the cabin door. “He really was here? Let me guess, a treasure map? Well, he can go back to wherever he’s been. I’m not playing these games.”
“Well, I don’t think we have a choice. The stakes are too high.”
James scowled, “What in the seven seas are you going on about? What stakes?”
“The treasure this time, it’s not gold or jewels or anything like that. It’s much more precious to some,” Smitty said wit
h a twinkle in his eye that didn’t bode well for James.
“And just what are the stakes, if I may ask?” Hook asked in a sarcastic bored tone.
“Peter.”
James stiffened, narrowed his eyes in speculation and took a step closer, “Explain now.”
“Simple, we have a set time. If we don’t find the treasure before the date is up, then Peter has to return to London.”
“I don’t understand, how…why…explain, damn you. He said he wasn’t going to go anywhere ever again. He lied already?”
“No, I don’t think he did. This isn’t his doing. That bitch fairy is jealous; she has had a curse laid on him. I don’t know the particulars, just that we have to win and find the treasure before the lost kids do.”
“This isn’t making any sense.”
“They were given the same map and instructions as we were. We have one week before the hunt begins. Peter has that time to train his kids the ways of the land and then he can’t help them anymore. It’s a race.”
“She’s in love with him, always has been. Why would she send him back? Why would she lay a curse on him?” James asked in bewilderment.
“You, of course. He loves you, as you love him. She is jealous of that and would rather have him gone than with someone else.”
“Why can’t we start now then and get a head start? We are pirates after all. No one ever said we played fair.”
“This is only the announcement, the first clue will be delivered in a few days. All we can do is gather supplies and wait. Try to be prepared to go directly to the spot as soon as we are given the map beginning.”
James growled and began to pace the confines of the cabin. “I can’t believe that manipulative little bitch would do such a thing.”
“Capt’n, I think we should have the men start training to fight again. We’ve become complacent and if the kids are back, they will want to battle. You know how those little shits are, so aggressive and smelly. I swear if we catch them this time, I am giving them a bath before setting them free.”
