I awoke with a knock to the door. I climbed up off the bed and noticed the room was full of sunlight. I ran my fingers through my chocolate coloured hair and walked to the door. I opened it to see Twins stood in the frame. 'Good morning.' I uttered politely.
'Slightly sent me to take you to breakfast.' He gruffly stated and I nodded, following him down the hallway. 'How was your sleep?' He asked.
'Perfect really, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.' I smiled and Twins nodded.
'I'm glad.' He replied, not looking at me. He took me down back to the same level as the ballroom and we walked along to yet again, another golden door. He opened it and led the way to a grand dining room. The table was covered in fruits, pancakes, muffins, juice assortments, eggs, bacon and so many other delicious foods. I sat between Slightly and Twins. Peter didn't greet or look up at me during breakfast. I picked a few delicacies and put them on my plate. I felt out of place knowing I was inferior to them. They began talking about fighting pirates, they made it sound adventurous and daring.
'When do you fight the pirates?' I tried to slip into the conversation.
'Whenever we feel like it, when they cause trouble, etcetera.' Tootles shrugged.
'What do you fight with?' I asked curiously.
'Swords, bow and arrow, occasionally other blades…' Nibs answered frowning.
'And are you any good?' I smiled.
'Obviously.' Peter uttered, narrowing his eyes and took a sip of some sort of juice from his glass.
'It's a bit more of a boy's subject, fighting I mean, one you shouldn't be interested in or know about.' Twins said casually.
'Actually I'm rather interested in the subject. I have taken fencing and archery classes I will have you know, and I got pretty good.' I countered.
'You can't be that good, you're a girl.' Twins mumbled and my blood boiled. How dare he? My gender would not determine whether I was good or bad at fencing or archery. These boys were far too up their own arses to be open minded about anything. Mortals like me were inferior and now girls were deemed delicate flowers that couldn't fight? I narrowed my eyes, took the knife he was using to cut his bacon out of his hand and threw it at the bouquet of fruits, slicing a crisp, red apple in two.
'I taught myself that one summer evening in the garden, I'd say I was good. For a girl.' I taunted.
'Well, if I need my fruit to be chopped again I'll know who to go to won't I?' He smirked conceitedly, his dark eyes looking down at me as if I was dirt.
'Or maybe you'll know who to watch out for when a knife comes hurtling towards your eye.' Slightly laughed and I chuckled to myself. Twins was about to retort until someone's voice interrupted him.
'Your Highnesses.' A man greeted, followed by two other men bowing behind him. They were all dressed in bronze waist coats with white shirts and dark green trousers.
'Birch, Hawthorn, Alder.' Peter greeted them, standing up from his seat.
'Our advisors.' Slightly whispered to me and I nodded.
'You sent us on account of a dilemma?' Birch said. I knew what the dilemma was, or more who.
'Yes, that.' Peter pointed at me and the three men looked my way.
'She's… mortal.' Hawthorn stated, looking at me like I was a mere flea.
'That's the problem. She found a way here, as you know I sealed off all access to her world except what Hook has, she came from Pirate way, following her brother.' Peter explained.
'Her brother you say?' Alder queried.
'Yes, it seems he is in alliance with Kate Hook, thus the Captain himself.' Peter said.
'How terrible… we cannot send her back easily at all.' Birch sighed, looking at me with pity. 'What are you known as in your world?'
'Eden Rebecca Booth.' I replied.
'Eden, you seemed to be trapped here. We cannot offer you a way out without you being caught up with Pirates.' Birch explained.
'Now you see my problem?' Peter huffed. 'She is a burden. She'll bring disgrace to the Palace if she is known in Neverland. I will look a fool.'
'Do not fret, dear Prince. We shall give people a story to go by so they know you are doing this out of the goodness of your hearts and being heroic.' Alder said.
'How?' Peter frowned.
'Eden was kidnapped by Pirates and brought here on their ship, during a fight with Captain Hook you took pity on the bruised and beaten creature. Thinking she was immortal you took her back to the Palace only to discover she was a filthy mortal. Yet you did not have a cruel enough heart to send her back to the ship and you kept her here, under your own gracious kindness as a servant.' Hawthorn gave him the story and I was livid. Filthy mortal? Gracious kindness? Servant? They talked about me as if I was not even here.
'It is plausible.' Peter grinned to himself. 'Yes, spread that around when people question.'
'That story is lies! I will not have people lied to because you want to look heroic! Peter Pan you are anything but gracious and kind! You wanted to put me in the dungeon and you look upon me as if I am subhuman!' I stood up from my chair, face flushed with anger and fists clenched.
'How dare you talk to your Prince like that?! Bow down and beg for his forgiveness!' Birch gasped.
'I would dare not apologise for the truth! And I would never bow down to one of these Princes even if my life depended on it!' I spat. Everyone was silent, I heard Slightly gulp beside me and I could hear Peter's furious breathing.
'Twins.' He said firmly, Twins looked up at Peter. 'Take Miss Booth to her room immediately before I run her through.' He growled. Twins stood up, grabbed my arm and marched me out of the room.
'I hate you!' I screamed at Peter as I was dragged away. I carried on screaming that phrase, over and over again. We finally got to my room and I was still screaming and thrashing against Twins. He wrapped a tight arm around my shoulders to restrain me and covered my mouth with his hand to silence me.
'He can't hear you!' Twins yelled, in an attempt to calm me down. He sat down on the soft bed with me and sighed as he waited for my fit of rage to tire itself. Eventually I stopped and just broke into soft sobs. He took his hand away from my mouth and relaxed his arm around me. 'Done?'
'I want to go home.' I whispered through my tears.
'You can't.' He said.
'Take me home, please.' I begged.
'I can't.' He sighed. I collapsed on the bed and he sat by my side as I allowed tears to fall down my face. He didn't attempt to comfort me, hold me or wipe me tears away; he just sat there. We both jumped as a crash noise was made along the hallway.
'Peter! Calm down, you can't hurt her! Listen to me!' Slightly shouted. I froze and clung to Twins' arm as I sat up. He went to brush me off like dirt until another crash was heard followed by an angry scream and he put a protective arm around me.
'I can and I damn will! She embarrassed me! I'm wonderful; how dare she call me cruel? I should hand her over to Hook this instant!' Peter roared, it even scared Twins. Another smash echoed through the palace and Twins walked over to the door.
'No!' I squeaked thinking he was going to let Peter in but I was relieved when he locked it. He walked over and sat on the bed. 'Thank you…'
'You locked it.' He said, staring at me, his thick brow creased down. I nodded; understanding that if anyone questioned why the door was locked it was me helping myself.
'Peter, go downstairs and calm down! Twins is probably dealing with her as you wanted!' Slightly growled over Peter's violent pacing.
'She's not allowed out of that room! No lunch, dinner, anything!' He screamed and marched down the hall and I sighed in relief. The door handle rattled as Slightly tried to open it.
'Open the door it's me…' Slightly said quietly. Twins got up and opened the door, letting Slightly in, and then closing and locking the door.
'I presume you heard that?' He said to me and I nodded.
'I presume the story they're telling is going ahead.' I sighed.
'Yes…' Slightly dropped his shoulders and then turned to look at Twins. 'Twins I want you to stay in here with her today, Peter will be livid and probably try storming in here.'
'Why can't you?' He groaned.
'I am the only one of us who's firm with him! I'll need to calm him down!' Slightly stated. 'And don't "deal with her" as Peter wanted...'
'I wouldn't.' He said quietly, like he was hurt that someone could assume he would.
'I'll sneak food up to you.' Slightly said and let himself out. Twins locked the door and sighed, turning to look at me.
Review, review, review. xxx
