“Funny.” Peter smiled. “You didn’t tell your little boy toy, did you?”
“What’s he talking about, Lace?” Zane sheathed his sword swiftly, yanking off his helmet to shake out his sweaty hair.
The waves lapped against the beach lazily as I gazed over the mess we’d barely dodged. Hundreds of bodies littered the battlefield, hundreds of men and women that didn’t deserve to die. Enemies that, if not for the darkness, shouldn’t have, either. A huge plume of smoke slithered into the sky, coming from the many bright-orange flames in the distance, where the fighting was still taking place, the surviving dark creatures being picked off one by one.
“Yeah, Lace, what’s he talking about?” Peter mocked.
“I—”
This attitude toward me, I hated it. I just wanted him to feel something, anything.
Smirking, Peter motioned for Zane to come closer to hear him whisper, “I gave up my shadow.” His laughed sounded slightly insane. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
Zane blinked over at me in shock but then started to nod. “Of course you would do something like this.”
“Giving up your shadow is just going to make things worse, Peter. You were almost killed because you hid it,” I told him.
“Oh, save it for your world, savior princess.”
I tried not to be offended by this dig, turning to him as he was getting to his feet, the wind blowing through the trees offering my sweaty skin some relief.
“I’m surprised you didn’t just blow up both armies whole, since you’re this selfish when you have no heart.”
Peter scooted away from me with a glare and gave me the cold shoulder, gazing out into the sea. He was such a child. I didn’t understand it; if he wanted to leave so badly, why didn’t he just fly away? What was keeping him here?
“Mom always wondered what had become of you,” Zane said abruptly.
I blinked at him and then at Peter; slightly shocked he was bringing it up right now. It couldn’t wait until we were, like, out of the way of a giant battle?
“She liked to think it was something worthwhile, that you’d gone someplace where you’d become something extraordinary,” he said, not looking at his brother, keeping his eyes on the waves. “And for a long time, I thought that’s what you were, too.” Zane’s gaze bounced up to look at Peter. “Extraordinary.” His sweaty hair shifted in the breeze. “But now I know that’s not the truth. You’re something much worse.”
Peter snorted. “And what’s that?”
“A first-class, immature little arse.”
My eyes visibly grew wide, and I stopped to stare between the two. The way Peter was acting, it was like…
“You knew,” I said, squeezing my locket tightly. “You knew all along but didn’t say anything. Even when you had your shadow.”
Peter just shrugged, acting as if he didn’t care. “Yeah? So?”
I was taken aback. “You knew Zane was your brother this whole time, and you didn’t say anything?”
Zane’s jaw clenched tight. “He didn’t care either way; he’s selfish like that.”
A mocking laugh left Peter’s lips. “Yeah, I’m the selfish one. You never wanted to admit it, either. Why is this my fault?”
There was a glaring match between them now, and I found myself holding up my hands. “Would both of you just stop? This is ridiculous!”
“No.” Zane narrowed his eyes. “He’s ridiculous. Just a little kid.”
“Zane!”
“And you’re just a bit too grown up, don’t you think, pretty boy?” Peter glowered right back.
“Peter!”
Zane let out a low whistle. “Oh, so this is what this is about? Because I stole your Mainland girl?”
Wait a second.
Peter’s jaw clenched, ready to retort, but I was quick to intercept. “I am not some little toy to be thrown between you two,” I growled. “This is ridiculous! You two are brothers.”
“Brothers?” Peter snorted and turned away from us. “He’ll never mean anything to me.”
Briefly, the hurt registered on Zane’s face before it disappeared just as quickly, and he silently turned to grab his discarded helmet as the soldiers on the battlefield let out a collective shout of victory. We’d won. We’d done it. Neverland was safe.
But there was still so much brokenness to mend.
I shot Peter a glare, despite his stubbornness, and grabbed his arm roughly to help him up. “You’re hurt, and if the troops see you like this, we’ll have an even bigger problem on our hands.”
“Whatever you say, princess,” Peter mocked, winking at me, and I clenched my teeth with anger, following Zane toward the forest in order to head back to the camp where the medics were.
Finally getting to the trees, Peter began to walk on his own, shoving me to the side. Thankfully, Zane was there to grab my arm and keep me upright.
I looked up at him, trying to get him to look me in the eyes. “Zane, I—”
“Just don’t bring it up, all right?” He didn’t say it to be mean; there was more sadness in his tone, a breath of defeat.
Guilt prickled in my throat. I didn’t want this for him. I didn’t want this for either of them.
“How can I help? How can I fix this?” I begged, not letting anything else come between us in this moment. He’d given up everything to not only save me, but to stick with me and defend me, and I felt like I needed to do something to repay him for that. Especially after his own brother wanted nothing to do with him.
We were both members of the Peter Pan Hates Me Club now.
But, suddenly, I felt the hairs on my neck rise, and our conversation ended as quickly as it had begun.
It wasn’t just us here at the outer edge of the beach.
I inhaled sharply, seeing a woman’s figure lurking in the shadows of the Neverforest. Peter quickly jumped in front of Zane and me.
Oh, so now he’s choosing to be heroic?
It was Rhiannon in her hag form, her eyes bulged and dangerous. And in her magical chokehold was Lox. My mouth went dry.
Just when we thought things couldn’t get any worse, Jack stepped out of the forest beside the witch, bloody and seething with rage.
“Put her down!” I insisted, but it sounded weak even to my ears. To my dismay, the long, golden braids Lox was so accustomed to had been cut away, sawed off so her natural curls jutted out in all different directions and lengths. As I blinked back tears of fury, I saw Jack’s eyes flicker in amusement as he stepped toward us, holding a gun to my friend’s head as the witch held her close. Zane reached behind his breastplate for his gun, but with wide eyes, he realized it wasn’t there and flashed me a startled look.
Lox’s eyes were wider than the now emerging moon. And Jack had Zane’s gun, ready to shoot her into the stars.
“And you thought Hook was the only bad guy, huh?” Jack rolled his head in laughter. “Well, you shoulda known I’d be back. You, girl, I want you. My boss’ll be pretty satisfied.” He motioned to Rhiannon, who breathed flickers of angry fire up and around her shoulders.
“If you don’t hand her and the necklace over”—Rhiannon pointed at me, speaking to Peter—“she dies.” She jerked her arm that was around Lox’s neck, which made her yelp. Jack raised the gun to point it directly at her face.
“You can’t have her,” Zane growled.
“You have five seconds to change your mind.” Rhiannon smiled maliciously. “Before she dies.”
The gun in Jack’s hand shook with his anger. “One…” He began.
“No! Peter, please. Let me go with him!” I stumbled forward.
He shook his head, pushing me back to Zane, who looked compassionate and sad.
“Two…”
“Lacey.” Zane tugged me to him as I started to sob. He pointed to one of my chains dangling around my neck, the piece of scrap metal he’d welded together. The ring that, before everything started to go downhill, brought us closer together and made my heart skip ten beats becaus
e of its significance. “Don’t be scared.” He motioned for me to step forward, and I nodded in understanding.
“Three…”
“No! God, no! Please, Peter. You can’t let him kill her!” I pleaded, shoving at the Lost Boy’s back and trying not to notice Lox’s horror-stricken face. Peter didn’t care, still preventing me from moving forward. He didn’t care who died or who lived. He only cared about winning.
“Get her out of here, Zane. She’s too powerful to be disposed of,” Peter said, his voice very stern and unlike himself. I didn’t understand why he was acting like this. How could he let this happen? How could he let Jack murder my best friend and his one and only apprentice, right in plain sight?
Zane began to pull me away, but he planned for me to get away from him. So I did, threatening a mock kick to his soft spot, and he was forced to let go.
“I’ll go. T-take me instead,”
Both Peter and Zane were forced to back up as Rhiannon’s face perked with excitement.
“Oh, how heroic of you,” Rhiannon purred, moving to shove Lox into the sand, where she crawled to get away, weak and bruised. My heart was in my throat as I watched her, trying to appear more confident than I felt. As I stepped forward, the hag towed me to my knees by my wrist, her skin searing mine like acid. Crying out in pain, I looked up at her with blurry vision as she cackled. “The Netherworld will love you, my dear.”
“The Netherworld? Why would you send her there? She’s powerful.” Peter seemed to be interested in what was happening, shockingly. He looked over me with a complacent expression. “Well, her controlling the locket is, anyway.”
Zane, bursting with hot anger, went to shove Peter as hard as he could, towering over him at least half a foot. “You indecent little pri—”
Rhiannon was apparently fed up with delaying her plan. “Oh, shut up already.” She flicked her wrist, sending the brothers sprawling in different directions. She sneered at me next. “The Netherworld will set you into a realm of constant chaos and destruction, perfect for containing and enhancing your power. And I’m the only Neverland dweller who has been there and back. You will become a slave to do my bidding, Daughter of Rose. Just like those before you.”
“W-what do you mean?”
Letting out an annoyed sigh, the witch spoke a spell into the air, dancing her hands to create a swirl of mist and flames a few feet away. A small portal of sorts opened, showing only a deep-purple background and black, slithering threads twisting through it. The image reminded me of the darkness that had overcome the Anthology back at Merlin’s tower.
“Poison.” Lox coughed, getting to her feet shakily, beside Peter now.
Seeing Rhiannon was momentarily distracted, Zane stepped nearer to me. But the witch saw him, sending him flying back onto his butt with a stirring of her hand. Spitting out sand, he cursed. “You poisoned the Anthology.”
“There is much more to this story than a silly captain and his men, children.” Rhiannon’s eyes darkened, the portal she’d opened flashing with lightning within its depths, igniting another bout of fear in my heart. The witch grinned. “There is a darkness beyond this realm that cannot be stopped. And I’m sending my newfound weapon there until I am in need of her again.”
Jack looked bored, balancing Zane’s gun on one of his arms. “Can we hurry this up, by chance? I never did understand why villains had to explain everything they planned. Just do i—”
Rhiannon whirled on him, baring her teeth in a growl. “Know your place, boy.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zane sneaking in an arch toward us, his eyes keeping careful track of all the distractions around us. He was heading for his gun, which Jack was carelessly waving about as he glared at his boss.
“You could’ve already sent the blasted brat into the hole by now!” he grumbled, aggravating the witch so much the fire wrapped around her shoulders grew in height.
“The hole?” I asked, trying to continue making small talk to give Zane more time. I prayed even when he got the gun, I’d be able to make a diversion strong enough to allow him to take down the witch. But if my necklace hadn’t destroyed her in the first place, then what would?
Rhiannon wrenched back toward me. “Yes, girl. The Rabbit Hole. Where you will live in torment for all of your days and never, ever escape… unless, perhaps, you beg. And even then, I may decide to just drain your power source as a—”
In that moment, the witch jerked at the sound of Zane jumping to tackle Jack, wrestling for the gun while kicking up sand and falling back into the tree line. Before she could react, I leapt for her feet, yanking her ankles toward me so she would stumble. Thankfully, she was distracted enough to not—I don’t know—ignite me on fire or something, but instead, she jerked me up by my hair to face her. Luckily, her flames had been extinguished. Bald wasn’t really my style.
I hadn’t noticed, but my locket had fallen onto the ground sometime between when Peter had shoved me behind him and when I’d been forced to my knees. Seeing this, the witch’s eyes widened in alarm. “Where is it? Where is it you little—” Her nails dug into my scalp, sparking new tears into my vision, but I kept my mouth shut, praying Zane got to the gun first.
But this wasn’t a fairy tale. It never had been.
Throwing Zane to the ground, Jack brought the gun up, mouth bloody again, and aimed for my chest as I dangled in the witch’s grasp. “I’m going to shoot!”
The witch growled. “Don’t you da—”
“Five.”
I waited for the gunshot. But as the witch shoved me to the ground, trying to spare my power, and jumped after the two boys, Zane raced forward to grab for Jack’s gun. And that’s when I heard it. A ringing in my ears I’d never, ever be able to forget, striking right into my heart and slicing it open, though the bullet wasn’t anywhere near me.
As Zane fell, taking the bullet for me, Jack ran. And Rhiannon screeched as, hands locked onto her cloak, Zane went tumbling into the Rabbit Hole. With a sickening slurp and a large crackle of fire, the portal to the Netherworld closed shut, taking my biggest enemy and the not-so-mysterious boy of my world with it.
I lay on the sand, watching everything as if it were all a dream.
Peter ran forward after Jack, and Lox moved toward me, her hand on her mouth as she shook her head, the sand sticking to the dampness of my face.
This wasn’t happening. I was just dreaming again.
“No, no, no, no, no!” Screeching like a madwoman, I chucked handfuls of sand where the portal had been moments before. “It was supposed to be me. I-I was supposed to go. Me!”
Forcing my vision to Lox, I shuddered. “Where do the dead go after Neverland?” When she hesitated, I shook her shoulder. “Where do they go?”
“The Netherworld,” Lox answered miserably, holding on to her stomach as if she were afraid she was going to fall apart. “But… Lace…”
“The Netherworld?” I was in a panic, straining to understand all my options. “C-can we get there from here? Can people come back despite what the witch said?” I ran my sandy hands down my face. “Please. Please, we have to get him back. He sacrificed himself for me!”
Lox shook her head painfully, dropping to the ground beside me. “Lacey, I’m sorry. But no one has ever gotten back from Wonderland… alive.” She held me while I shook, my heart shattered and my hope dwindling.
Hope.
Hope was a beautifully dangerous thing. But it didn’t matter anymore.
Because felt none.
Chapter Thirty-Two
FIVE WEEKS LATER …
“Are you sure about this, Lace? I mean really sure? There’s still time to change your mind and go home.”
Setting down my bag, I looked up to Lox, clenching my teeth. “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my entire life.”
Nodding in understanding, she began to assemble her own things. Since her glorious golden braids had been cut off, Lox had decided to go natural with her curls, letting them tumble
out in a pillow around her head. She was stunning, but every time the new hairstyle caught my attention, I tried not to think about how much she’d had to sacrifice for me.
How much everyone I loved had to.
All of our crew’s supplies were laid out in front of the Nevertree: canteens, tents, pixie dust, clothes, food. Essentials when moving through Neverland, or so I’d been told. The journey we were about to take had only been made successfully a few times in Neverland history, and Merlin had the scrolls to prove it. Once by flight, when Peter went by himself. And then another when Alice went to Wonderland. Yes, Wonderland, another world I’d thought to be imaginary. But soon, it was going to become very, very real for me.
Lox had explained it to me over the weeks before our departure. The Looking Glass was the only physical way to get to Wonderland. Though Alice had fallen down the Rabbit Hole in Lewis Carrol’s story, in the transition between the Mainland and the Netherworld, she’d passed through Neverland. Like a four-layered dip at a party, Mainland first, Neverland to follow, Wonderland, and the Netherworld beyond them, the worlds stacked one after the other. Wonderland was the only way good magic could get to the dark, desolate place called the Netherworld. The White Rabbit led her there amidst the marvels of Neverland, and when getting to the Looking Glass, she entered Wonderland and was the third known dream catcher in Fairy Godmother’s existence. Since Alice had been a dream catcher, she was able to leave Wonderland whenever she wished because all her trials there had just been dreams.
As for me, I was going there in real world. Not in my dreams, not through the Rabbit Hole. It hadn’t been too hard to fathom the existence of another realm beneath this one, the one that held my world together. But just as there was light in the Mainland, there was also dark, and according to Merlin, that was where the darkness festered—Wonderland. So I was going to travel to the whereabouts of the Looking Glass, enter Wonderland to find and rescue Zane, assuming he had survived, and possibly never return in the process.
But I wasn’t going alone.
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