Authors note: What has happened to Jake? Is there something between Izzy and Cubby? What is the nefarious Hook up to in the bushes? These questions and many more will be answered in the seventh chapter of nine in this thrilling saga of good vs. evil.
Chapter 7: A slight detour
Darkness…that is all that awaited Jake…that and the feeling of coldness dripped in wetness. Someone's voice was calling to him…was it Izzy? No, it sounded…more musical, so concerned and genuine that touched him way deep inside. A flood of emotions cascade through his body and as he sits bolt upright he notices two blue orbs staring at him. Staring at him was none other then Marina, the mermaid. "W-Where am I?"
"Jake…you're alive!" Marina wept as she threw her arms around him. Holding him tight she felt so relieved after finding him afloat in the water.
"I can see that…but…where am I? That fall was pretty steep…I thought I would've fallen into a canyon or such." Trying to sit up more he grunted as pain shot through his body.
"Don't try and do everything right away Jake…your still hurt. Far as where you are you are at Mermaid Lagoon. I took you here after finding you. I didn't really catch what happened up above but had your course not veered any you would've died on the rocks or worse."
Heaving a sigh he wished he had died…at least then he would know his friends were safe. Now with his fate saved there was no telling what evil would befall his friends and lure him from the dead. The last thing he wanted was to come back and tell his friends by pure luck and a little mermaid help he was saved and had been living fine while they mourned him. "Marina…I have to find my friends-."
"No Jake, I mean, you can't rush off with these injuries. You need time to rest, plus, I'm sure whatever task you gave them can be done without you. I mean…you push yourself so much…you deserve some rest." Marina smiled shyly as she pulled back so her mermaid tail rested in the water.
"I can't rest knowing they are in danger. Plus it has never been just me doing all the work, we work as a team. If one of us puts up more effort than the other…it'd be wrong. They were in Neverpeak…which means they will be heading to-."
"Jake do you ever think about our kiss?" Marina asks out of the blue, well, not to her at least. It had been sitting on her mind since her rescue. She gushed about it to her friends and they told her that Izzy had feelings for Jake, or from what they observed. Marina didn't want to feel guilty or the very least jealous of their time together, nor did she want to feel like the kiss was just her way of thanking him for saving her. No…this kiss had huge significance in her life.
"Well, I, uh…you see…it's complicated. I like you Marina, a lot, but…" Jake trailed off wishing he felt better instead of looking into those big blue eyes of hers stranded with his pains.
"Is it because I am a mermaid…and Izzy isn't? Don't tell me nothing is there…I see the way she looks at you, and, my friends do too. I try and push past that, but, she always is there Jake. I want there to be an us, but, I'm bound to the sea and you to your friends and crew." She bowed her head as she rubbed her arm.
Jake reached over and took her hand in his. "Marina…there is nothing going on between Izzy and me…we are just friends. You shouldn't play too much into what you or your friends see. If Izzy feels something about me, well, I wish she would come out and say it. At least…well…you aren't afraid to say how you feel-."
"That is because I feel it in my heart and know it in my mind Jake. I know deep down you are the one I want to be with…even if I can only follow you in the sea…you're my one and only Jake. Yes Mermen are technically better suited for mermaids, but, I want to break tradition and stick to my song. Will you hear it Jake?"
"I'm not going anywhere anytime soon." Jake laughed lightly and placed his hands on his knees.
"I love a boy who sails the ocean blue
He leads a crew almighty and true
I wish that he would get a clue
Cause our love is so long over due
Oh Jake can't you see
You're the one for me
I sing this for I know
From the bottom of my soul
Our love transcends any other
I wish I could tell my mother
That I found my one and true
My one and only love…you
Marina had stopped singing as she looked into Jake's eyes. A smile was on her face as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Is that really how you feel Marina?" Jake asks, unable to speak for many minutes as he looks into her shimmering eyes.
"Yes Jake, in fact, it was from the very first moment we met that I first fell for you. I've never been good with words, but, I knew that if I kept putting it off…I would never forgive myself. I call the song, love of a pirate on the deep blue sea, and though in short it is Jake's song, for you are the only boy I will ever sing it to."
"That and it has my name in it." Jake joked lightly. The two laughed and in that moment embraced. Their bodies were pressed together in a long awaited kiss not shared since the rescue. Jake holds her tight as he kisses her wet lips, unafraid of being caught in such a position knowing that he and Izzy would always be friends.
Marina cried into the kiss, content and happy for the first real time in her life. She never wanted to let him go, though; she knew that his concern for his friends would override what they shared eventually. Pulling from the kiss, after a bit she kisses his hand, "Jake you have to go to your friends-."
"But what about you?" Jake hates to leave her now…considering the fact they had just found each other and all.
"I will be fine. If this business about Solzarth comes to light your friends will need you. I will find you again Jake and we can pick up where we left off." Marina gave him a peck before diving back into the ocean.
Jake smiled as he got to his feet. He wished he could stay longer, but, circumstances and fate pressed on him to leave and put this key business finally to rest.
Izzy and Cubby sat around the blazing camp fire huddled together. The howls of the late wind stirred up shivers the two couldn't fight by themselves. The loss of Jake was still fresh on their minds but neither could breach bringing up the subject without one or the other subsiding into reminisce. Cubby had his arm around Izzy being extra protective of her. The fear that usually seeped into his behavior and made him cowardly was lost in the fact that Jake had entrusted Pan's sword to him. His eyes stared into the night while Izzy was lost in her own thoughts.
"You miss him don't you?" Cubby asks. Seeing her stir he laughs lightly. "You don't need to feel embarrassed or afraid to tell me, I can see it clear on your face anytime you two are together. Were you going to tell him?"
"What I felt for Jake…or what feelings I may have held for him…they are in the past. Plus…I…well I was thinking of letting Marina have him." Izzy pushed at the fire with the sticky she held and knew Cubby was looking at her like she was crazy.
"But why Izzy? Marina hasn't known Jake long as you have, plus, you two have history so-."
"Much as growing up is forbidden among us since our vows with Peter say as much, I think a simple hop in that direction won't hurt me any. I realize Jake will never return my feelings for him, and, I'm ok with that. Truth be told…I kinda like someone else."
"Who?" Cubby asked. Most of the people they met on their travels were girls and if there were any young guys about who were single they had yet to cross their path.
"Here…I'll try and explain:
Time and again my hearts been in peril
Of being broken without a prayer
Then you come along to save it
I can't tell you how long I've been waiting
Coconuts may fall from the sky
Danger may arise in the form of a hook
But you stand firm and true
Never changing always staying
Fear may grab your belly
Anchors may fill your doubts
You always have that silly smile
I'm so glad you're in my life…Cubby.
So you see Cubby, the one that I can't stop thinking about, the guy who has always been there for me, is you. I thought it was Jake, but, truth was it took Jake to open my eyes to who really mattered." Izzy reached out as he took his hand in his.
"But I'm nothing like Jake," Cubby fretted, "I don't look good as him, I have weight on me, and I am constantly fraught with my own peril. I'm not supposed to get the girl-."
"Cubby…you don't get the girl…cause the girl would be lucky to have you." Izzy squeezed his hand and laughed lightly.
"Aw how sweet…and here I am without my hanky." Hook stepped out and kicked loose a sleeping lizard from his boot.
"Aw coconuts…can't you let things be Hook?" Cubby stood up and stared hard at the Captain, whom seemed heavy with bags under his eyes.
"No…not until I get me treasure! Hearing you get all mushy and your singing just made me want to hurl. Now I know Jake gave the keys to the person he trusted the most…so…Izzy if you wouldn't mind being a dear and giving me those keys-."
"Never! Jake risked his life to ensure the keys didn't fall into your hands…and I will die before I even give them to you!" Izzy stared defiant like at him.
What are you doing Izzy? Cubby had Jake's sword and the keys so he wondered why Izzy was doing this. Hook already proved he would do anything to get the keys…even kill them.
"Very well…if you insist." Hook pushed her down and in the moonlight his hook shined brilliantly as he held it up ready to plunge it down into her.
Izzy didn't look away even though inside she was crying. He had shoved her down pretty hard and she was certain she had a cut on her arm that needed tending to. Still she didn't regret what she did, if only to give Cubby time to leave she would die happy. Solzarth had to be stopped…even if her journey had to end here to keep Neverland at peace.
"Stop there Hook!" Cubby stepped in just as Hook made ready to plunge, his sword blocking Hook from proceeding any further.
"Blast it! Even though he is gone from this plane of existence that sword still is here to plaque my existence. Move aside Cubby…this does not concern you." Hook withdrew his sword and swung at him.
Cubby held his own but fell to one knee as the sword went flying out of his hand. He was not a fighter, in fact if anything he was just a navigator with their map. Feeling Hook's blade under his chin he feels a stinging pain as he is then kicked down by Hook's boot. Hot tears stung his face as he tried to be brave…but even that was hard to do staring into those cold eyes of Hooks.
"Oh dear, sir, perhaps we should pull back till you have thought over a more measured plan. I mean perhaps they don't have the keys after all-."
"Quiet Smee…I have tried to give them a chance but they utterly refused, now is the time for action. I will not be beaten again…not when so much is at stake." Hook looked them over and raised his sword again.
"If I give you the keys…will you leave us alone...?" Cubby felt Izzy's hand on his shoulder but right now he was thinking of her. I wonder, would Jake find me a disappointment if he were still alive?
"I suppose so…yes." Hook saw a glint of gold and as he held out his hook he saw four keys hanging off it. "You did the right thing. I will leave you two to what you were doing before…but if you choose to sing wait till I have left the clearing."
"Cubby what have you done? Now that Hook has the four keys he will release Solzarth and there is nothing we can do about it." Izzy looked after Hook.
"I know Izzy…I know." Cubby looked down and cursed his weakness. He had just set about motions for the return of Neverland's most reviled and evil form ever to exist, Solzarth.
Authors note: Uh oh, looks like Hook has all four keys now. This can only mean danger is afoot for Neverland and Jake and his pirate crew. What did you think of the songs? Original lyrics by myself, not sure I have a knack for it, still I hope I expanded upon the characters even adding something that hasn't been seen yet. Chapter eight will be up shortly so stay tuned.