Whilst trudging towards the beach where Amily came in with the shadow, she was lucky enough to walk up front with Pan and Felix and listen to their conversation. She was sure that they knew she was eavesdropping but they made no move to stop her listening.
"Why do you think he came back so soon?" asked Felix. The concern gone from his voice replaced cool amusement.
"No clue. But he must be desperate to come back so soon" Pan hadn't stopped grinning since he had concluded that pirates were on the island. Amily wasn't sure of that grin, it brought out the mischievous boy in him and that scared her.
"Who is he? Who are we talking about?" she asked, sick of being kept in the dark.
"Oh no-one you need to worry about. Just a certain one-handed pirate with a drinking problem"
Amily was confused at that but let it go. If he was in fact one-handed and drunk all the time then what kind of threat could he be to this island? She didn't want anyone ruining her chance at a new home.
Once they reached the bushy part before the beach, Pan turned to her and the rest of the Lost Boys.
"Nothing to worry about here, lads... and Amily" Pan bent his head in acknowledgement at her and both Amily and the Boys chuckled. "Hook and I go way back. You could say that we're business partners"
Amily didn't want to know what 'business' went on between him and some drunken pirate. Pan turned his attention directly to Amily.
"Once we reach the beach, I'll need you to stay there with the rest of the boys while Felix and I board the ship" She supposed she should've seen this coming but was nonetheless disappointed. She tried to argue but the expression on Pan's face said to not bother.
"Don't worry, it's just good business" he smiled before continuing on with Felix. Amily had no choice but to follow.
Oh yes, his new game was going nicely. Pan had time to think about his actions on the trip from the beach to the ship. He could see the Amily settling down on this beach with his boys and almost had to stifle a fit of hysterical laughter. Things were going perfectly. Amily was adjusting just right to the lifestyle and things in Neverland were exciting again!
Pan wondered how long it would be before she wanted to go home again or even if she wanted to go home. Even if she stayed forever it wouldn't be enough. Pan was having too much fun. But he also liked action. So for the entire trip he thought about ways he could sweeten the game, bring it to the next level.
Once at the ship the crew didn't argue as Pan insisted that Felix and himself needed to board to speak with the captain. He was welcomed like the nobility they assumed he was. Pan was the closest thing to a king they had in Neverland.
"Gentlemen, I require an audience with your captain" he said politely.
A crew member wearing a bright red beanie stepped forward. He looked calm yet defensive as though wary about both boys. Though being broad-shouldered the man was plump and looked like he had seen few too winters. Pan knew that if things came to a fight, this crewman would not be a problem.
"What's your business here, boy?" he asked.
"Thats for me to know and you to find out" Pan was toying with the man. His face turning as red as his beanie, he nodded uneasily before gesturing to the boys to follow him.
Pan and Felix were led below decks and down a short hallway before the man with the red beanie stopped before a wooden door carved with the initials 'K.J'. He knocked on the door twice and, upon a hearing a rough "Come in", opened the door to lead the boys to the Captain's Quarters.
This part of the ship looked completely different from the rest. This room was furnished to perfection and represented it's captain's status perfectly. A table was laden with gold cutlery and brass goblets. Each shelf and chair was polished wood which gave the room a touch of elegance.
Most of the walls were decorated with maps of different realms and pictures depicting sailor's tales of wrecks, monsters and ghost ships. But the wall behind the captain's desk had no pictures or maps. Instead, on it hung a portrait of a woman's face and shoulders. It hung there from a flimsy nail as if whoever had hung it was in a hurry. The woman in the portrait was very pretty in a simple sort of way and her hair flowed down to her shoulders in graceful waves.
And there at the desk sat the captain himself. Pan could recognise the smell of rum and leather from miles away and laughed as he noticed his old friend bent over some paperwork. Hook didn't look up as the boys approached.
"Back so soon, Killian?" Pan asked. Hook's head snapped to attention and he stood up from his desk.
Killian Jones was a very attractive man, handsome and confident in his appearance. Pan supposed the woman on the wall behind the desk was one of the captain's many love affairs. But what confused him was that she wasn't here with him now.
Dressed in all leather, Hook might've looked intimidating to some, but Pan could just see through the tough exterior, the broken man beneath. He eyed the hook that stood in place of Killian's left hand but didn't feel afraid.
"Pan. What can I do for you?" Hook forced a fake smile and looked at both boys individually. His brow furrowed when he reached Felix and his club.
"You brought a friend? Anyone would think you didn't trust me" said Hook playfully. Pan looked over at Felix and muttered:
"Wait outside" Felix looked like he was going to argue but didn't. He gave Hook one last scowl before retreating back out the door, club slung over his shoulder.
"Smee!" Hook yelled. Pan forgot about man with the red beanie altogether. He scurried forward to await his master's orders.
"See to it that the boy is fed. Get him some rum while you're at it" Hook nodded towards the door and Smee hesistated before scurrying back out into the hallway.
"Please" Hook gestured to the one seat that sat across from his desk and Pan sat.
"So how have you been?"
"You can drop the act now, boy. I know you're not here for some cosy catch-up" said Hook. Pan smiled and rolled his eyes. The smile was gone from Hook's face as he sat back in his chair, booted feet on his desk.
"I trust you found what I sent you for?" Pan asked, pleasantries aside.
"It was no easy feat, I can tell you. The witch was not very happy to part with it" Hook shuffled in one of the drawers in his desk before revealing a scroll tied with twine
"I knew you could manage it" Pan said, as his partner passed him the scroll. Hook made a face as if he remembered something.
"I've been meaning to ask... A girl? Not really your style is it Pan?" Hook grinned. Pan thought about this for a moment not bothering to ask how Hook knew about Amily.
"It's my new game. An experiment" He nodded to himself and Hook sneered. Deciding everything was setlled, Pan got up to leave. Hook held up his one hand to stop him.
"Ahem...payment? I don't offer robberies from witches for free" said the pirate. Pan scoffed.
"You remember what we discussed?" said Pan.
"Aye, and I need it now" Hook was getting desperate now, Pan could hear it in his voice.
Pan smirked and rolled his eyes. He felt around in his pocket for the trinket.
"Now who's being untrustworthy?" he said as he pulled the small shell out of his pocket.
Barely larger than whistle, Hook was surprised at how simple it looked. Just like an ordinary shell. But if it could do as Pan said then he'd take it. Hastily he reached out and plucked the shell from Pan's hand and grasped it tightly.
"How does it work?" asked Hook. Pan turned serious, all business.
"You must be next to the person for it to work. When you are, blow through it and they should come back"
"Does it matter how long they've been dead?" Hook's voice shook.
"Something tells me this isn't just some collectable trinket for trading?" said Pan, entertained. It was exciting to see the emotional man underneath the pirate. It made Killian look weak.
"I don't need to tell you anything" Hook's eyes flashed murderously and Pan raised his eyebrows.
Everything taken care of, Pan strode across the room to the door to leave. But before he did, he turned to look at Hook.
"She's pretty. I can see why you like her. You've always liked stolen things" Pan was staring at the picture behind the desk.
Hook was shocked at how Pan could possibly know Milah wasn't his to begin with. When he went to ask, Pan was gone. The doorway looked as if no one had been there to begin with.
