"How did this happen?" Katherine thought to herself. "I must be dreaming! This can't actually be real?
I'm sitting across from one of the most deadly men I've ever heard of, in a place that doesn't really exist!"
Katherine glanced across the desk at him. He was looking at her, but she could not yet bring herself to meet his eyes. His eyes. The eyes that were the shade of forget-me-nots, the eyes that could be icy cold, and then turn blood red with anger. She couldn't even bring herself to think of what might happen to her if his eyes were to turn to that red. Looking at him though, he seemed almost amused. It was as if he knew that she was frightened and found it comical.
His amusement was rather annoying her and she finally she decided that not showing him that she was afraid was the best route to take. She sat up straight in her chair and met his gaze evenly.
Hook's eyes locked on hers and he found that the fear he had seen was being carefully concealed. He decided that this would be the best time to speak to his guest.
"My dear, I apologize if I frightened you before. However, as I said, I suppose my reputation precedes me." His lips twisted into a small smirk. "But as I was saying, perhaps you can tell me how it is you came to Neverland Miss…"
"Black," Katherine finished for him. "My name is Katherine Black."
"Well then, Miss Black, how exactly is it that you managed to arrive here?"
"How did I come to end up on your ship?" Katherine queried in return.
Hook sighed. "A question for a question. As you wish, Miss Black. To be honest, you fell quite literally from the sky. You hit the sails, then slid downward, and dropped onto the deck. I was rather amazed that you did not break your neck in the process." A hint of a smile played over Hook's lips as he continued.
"When the men saw something in the sky, we had assumed it was Pan or one of those little boys he seems to delight in bringing here. Of course seeing it falling led me to conclude that it was not in fact Pan, but something quite different. Of course, upon falling to the deck, I realized how very different from Pan it was." The smirk returned to his lips as he glanced over her. "But if you would kindly answer my question? How is it you are in Neverland? I trust you were not brought here to be Mother to the Lost Boys or some such nonsense."
Katherine shook her head and confusion ran over her face. "I fell from the sky? I don't remember…"
"What is the last thing you remember Miss Black? Before waking up on the deck of the Jolly Roger?"
Katherine looked out one of the windows and racked her brain trying to recall the events of the night before. "I…I was in bed, dreaming. I remember that there was a voice, asking me if I wanted to…" Realization hit Katherine. "I asked for a way out, and I got one… This isn't how I'd imagined it though. Could I really have come here just by wishing it?"
"Indeed, here a wish is a powerful thing. But of course, you must have known of Neverland in order to wish to come here. You must be tied to this place somehow for the magic to bring you here." His last sentence seemed to be directed at himself, rather than aimed at Katherine. He trailed off, wondering what could have brought her here.
They had both trailed off into thought when a hard rap on the door broke them both from their thoughts.
"Come!" snapped Hook. The door opened to reveal a nervous looking Smee. "What is it?" asked Hook in annoyance.
"I'm sorry Capt'n but Cook's just told me that we need to go ashore. We're low on fresh water," said Smee shakily.
"Fine. Prepare the men. A set of eight ought to be able to handle the job, don't you agree ?" Hook's voice still had a deadly undertone.
"Y..Yes Capt'n, they would. I'll go then." Smee turned to leave and then glanced at Katherine. "Good to see ye up off the deck miss," Smee said with a small smile and quickly left the room.
"I think I had better find you something more suitable to wear to the island Miss Black," Hook said dryly. "I don't think walking around in your nightdress is very appropriate."
Katherine blushed but quickly shook off her embarrassment. "I'm coming to the island?"
"I am going to the island; therefore you are going to the island."
"Not that I'm complaining, I'd love to go ashore, but if you don't mind my asking, why do I have to go where you go?"
"I am taking eight men, as well as Smee. The rest of the crew will remain on board. To be perfectly blunt, I would rather not leave you alone with the rather unscrupulous lot that are on this ship. I would not want anything…" Hook searched his mind for a word, "…untoward to happen to you. I think you'll find that I am much more of a gentleman than my crew. Of course if you'd rather stay onboard?" he asked with wickedness in his eyes.
Katherine shook her head quickly. "I'll come to the island."
"Good. We'll just have to see about finding you some clothes." Hook turned and walked toward a dresser and began rifling through its contents. "Hmmm, these might do, they're very small." He pulled out a pair of black breeches, and a white shirt. He then turned to a trunk and pulled out a pair of boots. "These will have to do I'm afraid. They're very small; they used to belong to the ship's cabin boy when we had one. They should fit you."
He laid the clothes out on the bed and walked out of the room. Katherine glanced at the clothes and smiled. Her childhood fantasy come true. A pirate's clothes! She quickly dressed in the clothes and was amazed to find that they fit her perfectly. She turned to the dresser and looked for something to pull back her hair with. She found a leather string and tied her hair back away from her face. She took a deep breath and opened the cabin door. She walked over to Hook who had his back turned. "Captain?" she said softly.
He turned and smiled mischievously as he looked her over. "A finer pirate I've never seen Miss Black. Now to address the crew." Hook walked to the center of the ship and gestured for her to stand beside him. "Men!" All movement and sound aboard the ship promptly ceased. The men formed a circle around their captain and the woman standing beside him.
"This is Miss Katherine Black! She is a newcomer to Neverland and has joined our crew! The deadliest crew to sail the seven seas!" There was a chorus of cheers to this news. Hook turned in a circle pointing at all of them with his hook. "I am going to give you all a single warning. Should any harm befall Miss Black while she is a member of our crew, as a result of any one of you," Hook's tone turned deadly, "I will consider it as a personal insult. Whoever is responsible will answer to my hook! Is that clear?"
There was a loud chorus of ayes to Hook's question, and fear filled the men's eyes as they looked at their captain. "Well then! Get to it!" shouted Hook. "Those of you remaining aboard will continue with duties as usual. There is to be no drinking or slacking off! Anyone found drunk upon my return will face the consequences!"
The men quickly resumed their duties, trying to look as busy as possible. Hook turned to face Katherine. He offered her his arm and she looked up at him hesitantly. She paused for a moment, then shrugged and took his arm. He guided her to the long boat they would be taking to shore. "To the island then Miss Black."