The only area by the shore that seemed devoid of them was a little patch of sandy beach with a well-worn footpath heading deep into the overgrown jungle beyond. I could smell woodsmoke even from here and... and I could feel magic. Old magic that seemed familiar in some way I just couldn't place. It seemed neither benevolent nor malevolent, but definitely something you didn't want to find yourself on the bad side of.
As soon as the ship was properly anchored, I noted how the usually talkative and boisterous men were all silent, almost as if they were holding their breaths like they were hiding from an apex predator.
Gerald, Hook's first mate, padded up to us and whispered, “The Devil is secure, Cap'n.”
She nodded as she looked around as if to confirm his words, then she whispered back, “Launch the dory.”
He saluted, “Aye.” Then he was padding off, almost crouching on the deck like he didn't want to be seen by anyone on the shore.
Wendy looked amused as orders were whispered, and a smallish flat bottomed boat with flared sides was lowered into the water. The men worked silently and even stopped to grease a pulley when it started to squeak. It didn't look like it could hold more than four or six people at the most, unlike the two larger cockboats that were secured upside down, amidship.
I said quietly, “They seem terrified.”
The Pirate Queen chuckled and said in a normal tone, “The Sea Hag's reputation is not for naught. She likes her privacy. But I sort of see her as a surrogate mother who is all bluster and no storm.”
I cocked an eyebrow, and she rolled her eyes. “Fine, whatever, she's dangerous as hell, but lives by a code of honor some cannot fathom. So word to the wise, don't upset her and everything will be fine.”
The purser, I believe his name was Ben, ran up to us silently and handed a small package to the captain. She smiled and nodded, causing him to smile back. He took a quick look at our destination, then scurried off like a frightened mouse.
The men gave a signal, and Wendy said to us, “Shall we, girls?”
Mandy put her hands on her hips and scrunched her lips a bit as she pointed out almost in a chastising manner, “You just told us not to leave the ship. Like, just a minute ago. Now we're leaving the ship?” She shook her head, and the overall effect was adorable overload, her getting all puffy in her little pirate outfit.
I snorted and quickly slapped my hands over my mouth to hide the smile.
Wendy sported an amused grin as she again rolled her eyes, then she playfully swatted Mandywolf's behind as she started walking, “Just get in the boat.” Then she simply hopped, and I found us flying smoothly down to alight in the boat, a moment later an amused looking Mandy landed, her tail swishing in excited anticipation.
Tipping her hat back a bit with her hook, the amused captain explained, “This is about the only place it is safe for you, from the Pan. Well, after getting his ass soundly kicked by the Voodoo Queen a few centuries back, he stays far away, and even forbids the Lost Boys from coming to the Grotto.” Then her brow furrowed in distaste, “Just as he has apparently forbidden them from boarding the Sea Devil, or looking at my face.”
She clarified as she cast off the hooks on the fall lines from the gunwales. “He knows he would lose them if they got within the influence of the Sea Devil, and knowing that I was the Hook might be enough to have them questioning his words since he has them all believing that the dreaded Captain Hook, kidnapped their Wendy. I know this much from the Lost Boys he discards once he uses them all up. As adults, they still believe I am this ominous pirate, as his words still enthrall all of Pirate's Landing.”
She sat in the middle seat as Mandywolf stood on the bow, her footing as sure as if she were on solid ground. Then with a motherly smile to the little wolf, the Hook started rowing. I noted one oar was set up to accept her hook.
With powerful strokes that just reinforced the woman's imposing stature, we moved through the water faster than one would believe. Mandy asked as she leaned forward, into the wind generated by our passing, “Why don't we just fly to shore?”
Wendy sighed and explained, “Manners. You don't just drop in from the sky at someone's door. Especially the Sea Hag's. You don't want to be on her bad side. So be on your best behavior, young lady.”
Mandywolf seemed put off that she'd think anything less, and her lower lip jutted out in a pout as she harrumphed then turned away from her mother... I mean Hook. I grinned at my girl, glad that she had asked the question which I had been about to.
As we got closer to the shore, in a murky and reeded area, a large crocodile sliced effortlessly through the water toward us. Amanda growled like a wolf, exposing her elongated canines at the prehistoric beast, and it slowed, then slowly lowered its head below the surface of the water, successfully cowed.
Mandy looked back at us and pointed to where it had been. “Crocodiles! Can I keep one?”
Wendy shook her head and said as she continued her powerful strokes, “No, there's no place on board that we could keep one. And they are dangerous.”
I don't know if Wendy could hear the pouted response as Mandywolf crossed her arms over her chest and kept her back to us while she echoed back under her breath. “They're dangerous. No, you're dangerous.”
I buzzed up to land on her shoulder and lay against her ear. I was warmed when she smiled, almost smugly, knowing I had heard. Then she stiffened a little when it seemed she realized she was acting like a little girl again.
She hopped off the bow and sat in the front seat and grabbed some oars and placed them in the oarlocks. The oars looked huge in her little hands, but she worked out her frustration, bringing us the last fifty yards in three massively deep and powerful strokes with so much power she cavitated the oars.
Wendy chuckled as she brought her oars back onboard. She said with a pride-filled voice, “You're a wonder, Mandy. You've the strength of two men even as small as you are.”
I winced, knowing my girl would likely take that as a slight, as the average wolf was easily three times stronger than an average man. And Amanda Danes? She was no average wolf. But instead, she seemed to beam as she smiled at the praise.
We grounded at the sandy beach, over half the length of the dory slipping up onto the sand from the speed we had gathered with the powerful rowing of my mate. The captain spryly hopped over the edge, her heavily booted feet thudding as she landed. I noted that she always seemed to land heavier than her mass should and wondered if it was the weight of all the magic flowing through her from that amazing hook of hers. But whatever it was, it always made her seem more ominous and imposing, a true leader among the pirates.
She turned, and she put her hands out. Mandy jumped out without hesitating like they had done it a thousand times. Wendy caught her then lowered her to the ground as I buzzed up to take a look around. The pirate looked Mandywolf over and dusted her jacket and straightened her hat, finishing by booping her nose.
Then she turned toward the path and held her hook out, “Shall we, girls?” Mandy wrapped her little fingers around the hook, and again Wendy sheltered me under her collar as I landed on her shoulder. What a sight we must make.
We made our way quickly along the winding path, the sights and sounds had me looking everywhere in excitement. I loved nature, and the plants and animals surrounding us were amazing. She stopped at the treeline of a clearing. There were a multitude of small gardens and animal pens around it, all encircling a large stone cottage that was backed up against the rugged inner cliff face of the volcano.
We had arrived at the Sea Hag's home.
Wendy said as she lifted a hand to the branch above us, stroking a shadow as she said, “Hey Nala, long time no see.”
The half purr, half snarl had me buzzing out in shock, drawing my bow on instinct as guns materialized in Mandy's hands, drawing them lightning fast as she backed up. The woman had her fingers buried in the fur of an obsidian black jaguar who was so well camouflaged in the shadows of the tree, I hadn't seen it. Even no
w, it's striking yellow eyes, and white fangs as it yawned were all that stood out from those shadows.
It closed its eyes and leaned into her scratching hand and purred even louder. She said, “Girls, put your weapons away. This is just Nala, Masika's watch cat.”
We slowly put our weapons away, and I buzzed up to cautiously land on Wendy's shoulder as Mandy jumped up onto the branch in front of the cat to look into its eyes. The cat hissed loudly, showing off its two-inch fangs. Amanda cocked her head at the cat then growled, the vibration of it translated through the tree into the ground at our feet.
The cat started to bristle as Mandy stared it down. Then she gleeped when Wendy twapped her nose with a finger and chastised, “Amanda! Be civil, this is her home, not yours. You don't have to have dominance battles with everyone you meet.”
My Mandywolf dropped her eyes submissively. “Sorry.”
Then she almost fell off the branch when the cat rubbed its chin on her, scent marking her to Wendy's and my amusement. Mandy looked grumpy but smiled anyway when the big cat let her scratch it under her chin.
Then Wendy turned her back to my girl, who just hopped onto her shoulders, carefully avoiding me. Then the pirate started trudging out of the jungle to the cottage. I noted wisps of smoke coming from one of the two stone chimneys on the heavily thatched roof. It seems the Voodoo Queen was home.
The captain didn't hesitate, and didn't knock, she just opened the door and stepped in, calling out, “Masika, It's me, Wendy.”
A familiar young woman's voice called out with an accent I recognized for some reason, “Of course it is, mah baby girl. Else the wards would have signaled. Did you bring them?”
Wendy said as we moved into the spacious cottage that was almost antiseptically clean and well adorned with gorgeous furniture and baubles everywhere, some... I recognized from the mortal realm, “I did.”
My attention was pulled away from looking at the unexpected room by the fact this Masika seemed to have expected our arrival.
With the tinkling of strings of beads and shells covering a doorway, a beautiful black woman in colorful flowing robes stepped into the room, wiping her lithe hands gracefully on a dish towel. My eyes widened as I buzzed up in front of her. I recognized the woman and her heart-stopping smile. I found myself blurting out, “Nefertiti?”
She seemed taken aback for an instant that I had recognized her, until her sharp brown eyes widened in recognition as she asked, “Robyn of Locksley? Is that you?”
Then she caught her composure, and she smirked knowingly at me as she prompted in an amused tone, “Got yourself caught up in one of the Lost Boy's Make-Believes have you? Ah knew two women of power were coming to free Neverland of the demon, but ah didn't know it was you, darling one.” She held her hand out, and I landed on her palm as I beamed a smile at her then looked back at the two confused ladies as Wendy lowered Amanda back down to her feet.
She knelt down in front of Mandy and placed her hands on her arms as she looked her over like a grandmother would her favorite granddaughter. “And ah thought you would be... ah, don't know, older?”
Amanda looked like a fish out of water, not knowing how to react when the woman hugged her.
Then Wendy, looking all kinds of confused said, “Umm... Robyn, Amanda, this is the Voodoo Queen, Masika the Sea Hag. It appears that you and Robyn know each other?”
The woman stood and grasped Mandy's hand, my girl looking awkwardly helpless. “In another life.” Then to me, she asked, “When was the last time we saw each other? Egypt?”
I offered, “Locksley actually, when you documented the fall of Nottingham.”
She nodded. “Oh, of course, mah darling. Nasty man that.”
Then she turned and indicated the couches. “Please sit, we've much to discuss. Your arrival in Neverland was foretold by the stones.”
Wendy handed the woman the package she was handed on the ship, and Nefertiti peeked inside and smiled widely, placing the package on a table ad saying, “Thank you, precious darling.”
She made an ushering motion and we all moved over to sit in the comfortable couches. Then she released Mandy's hand, my girl hopped up on Wendy's lap, who took off their hats, wrapped her arms around my girl's middle and kissed the top of her head. She finished the introductions. “Robyn you apparently know, and this is my daugh... friend, Amanda, from the mortal realm.”
The woman I had known in many incarnations, Nefertiti, Cleopatra, Zenobia... smiled at my mate. Then she said, “Welcome to mah humble home.” With that, she dropped the walls holding back and disguising her power, the power of the long-dead gods of the mortal realm, and it hit us all like a tidal wave.
I took a moment to gasp and get my breathing back under control. Mandy took a moment longer, hugging Wendy's arms tightly, but the captain just seemed to glow, her hook sparkling brightly as it tinged with a tone of recognition.
Masika looked at the proprietary way Wendy held Mandy, and I know she caught the slip when she almost called my girl her daughter. She said, “It appears you two are under a bit of a maternal Make-Believe. Ah, may be able to break one so subtle if you like.”
Both Mandywolf and Wendy blurted out quickly, “No!” Then they blushed, and the Pirate Queen looked at my girl and asked, “Unless you want her to.”
Mandy shook her head and said in a little voice she tried to make sound airy and unconcerned, “It isn't hurting anything. I don't really mind if you don't.”
Wendy shrugged with a little smile.
Masika smirked and said to Hook like she was talking to a child, “You know the longer a Make-Believe is in place, the more real it becomes until it cannot be broken except by another Make-Believe.”
This was interesting if terrifying news. I looked down at my diminutive body as Wendy nodded understanding. Could I really get stuck like this?
The goddess, who was pretending to be human so she could document history, gave her a couple seconds to change her mind. When she didn't, she stood. “Where are mah manners? You all must be famished from your journey, especially the sweet darling cursed one. Ah've been preparing a meal for you all morning.”
Then she disappeared back behind the curtain of beads and shells.
Chapter 11
Elders
We feasted on a huge assortment of foods that Masika had prepared for us, and took our lead from Wendy, asking no questions during the meal. I just helped myself to some nibbles and crumbs from Amanda's plate but found myself forsaking anything else for the thimble full of fresh honey my old acquaintance had handed to me with a knowing look.
I had sputtered out, “By the Goddess, I've never tasted anything like this. Is there more?”
She chuckled and said as she refilled my thimble, “Looks like you've received more than just the looks of the Neverland fairies, Robyn. To them, honey is like ambrosia. They sometimes gather in groups, with improvised weapons to battle the bees of a hive just to retrieve some.”
I blinked, unable to argue that, as the honey seemed to revitalize me and made me feel more... alive. The dust sifting from my wings was brighter, and I could actually feel more of that odd fairy magic emanating from the shed dust.
She warned, “Don't drink too much, darling one, you can get honey drunk, and I hear the hangovers are not pleasant.”
I hesitated at her words, then just sipped at the nectar after that as the others ate.
The ancient goddess smirked as she ate a flaky biscuit and said, “Ah keep five hives in the back, in the butterfly house.”
I squished my lips to one side as I narrowed one eye at her tease. But truly, it did really taste like I would imagine the nectar of the gods did.
I pointed out the obvious. “You, Nefertiti, are an evil woman.” We delighted in her laughing outburst.
Then she sobered, and that joy was replaced with a look of self-recrimination as she said sullenly, “You've no idea.”
Then she stood and said, “Join me in the sitting room, the others will
take care of the cleanup.”
We stood when Wendy did, and I flew to her shoulder as Mandy took her hand. I looked back, wondering what she meant by the others. As we passed through the strings of shells and beads, I caught the flash and twinkle of dozens of wings. Did she have a group of fairies living with her?
We resettled in the comfortable looking couches in the sitting area, the flowers outside the window were colorful, which was only amplified by the odd brightness and clarity in Neverland. The view of the gardens outside and the jungle beyond was almost breathtaking. I could see why Masika chose to live in such a place.
Mandy spoke up from Wendy's lap before anyone. “So, Masika, it sounds as if you knew we were coming. And it also sounds as if this Pan bastard is a demon from the same realm that the ones in the mortal realm are since he and Wendy both mentioned Styche the Trickster.”
Wendy hissed, “Mandy, language.”
Amanda rolled her eyes and offered, “Fine... that Pan poopy butt.” She didn't look repentant, and I was amused at how she deferred to the pirate. I landed on my little wolf's knee, shooting a smile back up at her adorably smug face.
Masika looked amused herself as she inclined her head and said, “Very good, little one.”
“I'm not a little girl!”
I had to cover my smile, as that particular whine seemed to be replacing her “I'm not beta!”
The refined woman held up a hand, inclining her head a little more as she said, “No offense was intended, it is just difficult to reconcile what is presented to our eyes with the truth of things. But yes, Pan is of the same hellish realm of torture and eternal damnation that the Trickster was before his existence was terminated by the Avatars of the mortal realm.” She nudged her chin our way, indicating she knew we were among the Avatars she spoke of.
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