Hook walked past the men assembled before him, eyeing them critically. Each man flinched as his gaze met theirs and not one could stare back without breaking into a sweat. There was something unnatural about this man. Something not whole. To anger him was a folly; and 'twas fear more than anything else that kept these men from disobeying his slightest whim. It was an enslaving fear, one that made them believe any escape other than death was nonexistent.

However, as strong as this fear was, it wasn't enough to beat down the pride of everyone on Hook's crew.

"Are you saying," Hook snarled, "That you failed to find any children?"

"We combed the island. Wherever these kids are, they're damn good at hiding," Black Murphy offered sheepishly.

"But we did find some redcoats," Skylights piped up, turning to leer at the huddled prisoners. Among them were Henry Oaks, Ben Hughes, Thomas Ridley, and Captain John Waters.

"I didn't ask you to find redcoats, did I?"

"Well, no, but--"

Hook turned too swiftly to give any indication of a warning to Skylights and his fist cracked against the pirate's cheekbone, sending Skylights crashing toward the ground.

"Idiots! All of you! You can capture grown men, but you can't capture mere children?!" Hook bellowed.

"Why are ye so hot to catch the little beasts anyway!?" Skylights snarled back, spitting blood. He staggered to his feet, discreetly drawing a dagger from concealment. "If we're so pathetic, why couldn't you do it yourself? Ask yourself that before you taunt us, you demon-dog!"

"Silence, you putrid--"

"No! I've had it! The witch-boy was right about you, you're not fit to serve! You're possessed by something unholy and I refuse to live under such---" Skylights choked off as Hook grabbed him forward with a hard grip on his neck.

"Poor choice of words, sir," Hook warned in a deadly soft tone of voice. "Very poor choice indeed."

Skylights found himself staring at the wrong end of a sharp hook and despite the fact that his legs were shaking, did not back down. If Skylights was anything, it wasn't someone who let himself cower in the face of adversary. To him, these other men were all spineless idiots! Hook was mortal, wasn't he? Dangerous, yes, but mortal and only one. He sneered at the thought of being bullied into service so easily and his grip tightened on the hilt of the dagger. "If death is the only way to free myself from your tyranny so be it. But I'm takin' you with me!"

With a yell, Skylights drove the point of his weapon hard into Hook's abdomen, sinking the blade up to the hilt. Hook barely grimaced and Skylights looked down to see his hand covered in spurting black blood. "What the . . .?" Hook reached down and awkwardly pulled the dagger out with his claw, letting it fall to the ground. Even as Skylights watched, the wound healed itself, leaving only a trace of dark liquid behind on cloth and skin.

Hook smiled then and Skylights noted how his eyes - even the parts that were normally supposed to be white - were completely black with small red flames dancing in the center.

"My turn," Hook hissed, and Skylight's world ended in a flash of silver and crimson.

His corpse had not yet fallen to the sand before Hook turned to face the other men. "Any other 'rebels'?"

Nobody dared answer.

"You will share his fate if you do not bring me the results I ask for. Do I make myself perfectly clear? Now go out and find those damned Lost Boys and that traitorous gypsy before I hang, draw, and quarter the lot of you!"

Silent nods greeted the Captain's words, and the only sounds to be heard on the beach were that of hearts beating in terror, and a robin's tuneless singing.

* * *

"I don't understand it . . . why did she come to me?"

The calico twitched her ears at the voice and began to purr softly as fingers touched her fur and stroked her gently. It had been an hour or two since she had found the boy . . . the boy who she loved with a nameless strength and yet did not know why. Chief Panther had set her sprained paw, wrapping soft bandages around it and talking to her soothingly. She hadn't been paying attention to anything but the young gypsy holding her and staring back at her in puzzlement.

"She acted as if she knew you," a feminine voice said.

"But I've never had a pet cat . . ."

"Slightly weird if you ask me."

The cat looked up hearing something approaching a few seconds before the flap of the tipi lifted. Two figures walked in side, both taller than the children who surrounded her and she tensed apprehensively as they came near. Jukes' hand on her back eased her back down onto his lap, and it was then she realized there was no scent of fear from any of the children. These adults were not dangerous . . .

"How are you feeling, Maegie?" Cecco asked.

"Just a little sore," she assured both men. Mullins looked over at the creature curled up in Billy's arms and frowned.

"And where did that come from?"

"I don't know, Mullins. She just walked right in . . ."

"And came straight toward Billy . . . as if she knew him!" Slightly added.

"Seems suspicious to me," Mullins grumbled, but did not pursue the matter any further. There were more important things to talk about at the moment. "Look, we got somethin to important to say . . ." Mullins lifted the cat from Jukes' arms and set her on the covers. "One of the braves who was scouting along the beach saw Hook and the other pirates."

"Hook killed Skylights. Beheaded him as clean as a dandelion . . . and what's more, took a dagger in his stomach without even flinching," Cecco informed quietly.

Billy felt a chill go up his spine. Was Hook that far gone? Slightly was looking a trifle pale, and Maegie kept silent with her eyes cast downward.

"They're combing the island for us. Hook is apparently getting out of control; I do not see how any of his actions benefit Arizael. She doesn't appear to be controlling him. It's more as if she gave him a plague of some sorts."

"Aye, a plague that washes all humanity from his soul," growled Mullins softly.

"Which is why," Cecco continued, looking at each youngster in the eye, "We have decided among us to go to Witch's Peak . . . and stop her any way we can."

"What?!" yelled Slightly, and Jukes echoed his disbelief.

"She might kill you . . ." Maegie whispered.

"It's a possibility, we realize that. But --"

"Why are you attacking her? You don't know anything about her! Her weaknesses, her strengths . . ."

"We're running out of time, lass," Mullins said, as gently as he could.

"But she's right, what hope do you have if you just charge in there with your weapons?" Slightly asked.

"What would ye have us do? Just sit around waiting for Hook to find us? He's searching the uninhabited places now so he doesn't lose any men in combat. Next it might be here . . . we're gonna run out of places to hide," Robert replied, somewhat irritably. "And if ye ask me, I'm rather sick of hiding."

"We're just worried you might not come back," Billy said, standing up.

"Ya think we don't know that?" Mullins yelled, forgetting his temper.

Jukes flinched as if he had been struck again and Robert almost cursed himself out loud. But before the older pirate could apologize, Billy was already telling him off. "Listen, Mullins, I don't know if you've realized it, but I care for you! You slapped me for being reckless; I think this is worse! You could all be killed for nothing! We are not just kids who don't know what they're talking about; so why don't you listen to us?!"

"Peace, lad! Peace, allright?" Mullins put his hands on Jukes' shoulders. "I'm not gonna let our last words be quarrelsome."

"These are not our last words, don't say that!"

"Oh, for the love of . . . lad, that's not what I meant," Robert amended, pulling Jukes into an embrace. Mullins could feel him trembling.

"I don't want you to go. Please . . . I have a bad feeling about this," Slightly murmured.

"Don't go there," Maegie begged them, her own eyes brimming over with tears. "Not now . . ."

Cecco looked at the children, sensing their fears were as deep as his own. "If we had any other choice, we'd take it."

"I'm going with you," Billy said, his voice muffled by Mullins' shirt but sounding no less determined.

"No," Mullins began to protest, but Jukes looked up at him.

"I might be your friend, but I'm your shipmate too. Where you go, I go."

"But it's safer--"

"Mullins, I have always fought by your side and you've never worried nearly this much about my safety."

"But this is different!"

"How?"

Robert stared back, realizing how . . . fatherly he was acting. He had never done anything in the past to keep Jukes on board while Hook led the pirates ashore to battle some foe, or to plunder a fortune. Always, Billy had been with them and he had fought as good as any other man; he knew what he was doing. So why am I acting like this? Like ye've never fought a battle beside me before; never bled or drew blood? Am I your father now? Robert thought inwardly.

"It's your choice, boy," Robert said, at length, although the words felt almost forced.

Billy nodded once, solemnly and Mullins sighed.

"Then, I guess that's that."

"But Jukes!" Slightly cried, touching his friend's arm. Billy turned around and faced him.

"I have to go with them," the young gypsy said, looking into the lost boy's eyes. Slightly stared for a moment or two, then his shoulders slumped and he let his eyes close.

"You'd better come back."

"Don't worry, cully, you'll not get rid of us that easily." Slightly smiled a little at that remark.

Mullins looked toward Cecco, and the Jamaican pirate stood and joined Mullins and Jukes at the entrance of the tipi.

"Wish us well. Stay here and look over Peter. And should anything happen while we're gone . . . go back to the cave and stay there."

Slightly and Maegie looked as if they were on the verge of protesting all over again, but Mullins met their gaze and they nodded obediently. They watched Cecco, Billy, and Mullins leave in silence, and heard the other pirates talking and asking questions from outside. The voices grew fainter and the children knew the pirates were leaving for the journey up Witch's Peak.

The calico grumbled quietly and jumped down before Maegie could catch her. She weaved through Maegie and Slightly's attempts to detain her, and slid out the entrance in pursuit of the departing men.

"She doesn't want to let them go alone either."

"I . . . I guess we wait here?" Maegie asked. "I hate this."

"I don't like this one slight bit," Slightly had to agree.

"Then go after them," spoke a hollow voice, making both children jump.

Peter Pan, all traces of fever gone, smiled at them without malice, though his once-blue irises were stained black with something unholy.

Tinkerbell opened her eyes and gasped as she looked upon the revived Peter.

"You're allright! Oh thank goodness, you're allright!" She cried, fluttering up to shed her light in his face. His eyes closed as if in pain from the light, and in a motion too quick to give any warning, his hand reached up and slapped Tinkerbell away from him. The poor fairy cried out in pain and surprise as the blow knocked her to the floor.

"What did you do that for?!" yelled Slightly, shocked.

Tink moaned feebly and Maegie knelt down to pick the shaken fairy up.

Peter looked at them, quizzically. "It was just a little bug shining its light in my face. What's the big deal?"

"What?! Peter, it's me Tinkerbell!" the fairy cried, distraught.

"And what does that matter to me? You may be pretty, but you're still just an insect. If you aren't going to be of any use, then stay away and don't irritate me."

Tinkerbell took the words like a stab to her heart, and her eyes filled with tears. "How could you, Peter?" she whispered, brokenly.

"How could I what?" Peter got up and stretched the cramps out of his body. "Are you coming with me or not?"

"Where are you going?" demanded Maegie, not so much angry as she was alarmed by Peter's odd behavior.

"To kill Hook, of course. He wounded me. Where's my sword?"

Slightly looked at Maegie, warning her with his eyes not to tell Peter anything. The Lost Boy apparently knew something was wrong with his leader.

"We don't know where it is, Peter," Maegie lied, hoping Pan couldn't see through it.

"Then perhaps I left it somewhere. If I don't find it, I guess I'll just have to find a new one," Peter said with a shrug, and quite calmly, walked out of the tipi. They saw his shadow leave the ground and raise up into the sky.

Maegie, still holding a sobbing Tinkerbell in her hands stared after him, shaken. "He's going to get himself killed. Where would he find a weapon?"

Slightly took in a ragged breath, fearing he knew the place where Peter would search first, and the person who would most likely stand in Peter's way upon realizing all was not right. Wendy . . . All Slightly could think of for that moment was Hook cutting down Skylights without a trace of regret; if Peter shared the same madness, what would stop him?

He looked at Maegie and realized the girl was thinking along the same lines.

"I have to warn them . . ." Slightly said and she nodded gravely. Before Slightly could leave, the young woman grabbed the boy's wrist and tugged him back.

"Slightly, take this," she said, pressing a small dagger into Slightly's hands; Peter's dagger. "Don't fight him unless you have to. Just get the others out of there."

Tinkerbell raised her head. "I'll go with you, Slightly."

"Tink?" the Lost Boy asked, looking confused.

"Peter's not himself. He loves me, he would never say that to me unless something was terribly wrong. I'll go with you."

Slightly nodded and Tink held on to the boy's cap as he flew up and away toward the Underground House, leaving Maegie alone.

* * *

"Are you absolutely certain of this, Murphy?"

"Yes, Cap'n, I swear on my life. They're at the Indian village. Brine and I saw 'em walkin out one of them tipis."

"For your sake, you had better be right. Cookson, stay with the redcoats and if you wish to slit their throats and join us, it matters little to me. The rest of you, draw your weapons and form rank! Today we do some scalping of our own!"

* * *

Cecco's arm shot forward, grabbing onto a root as the rocks from beneath his feet crumbled. He fell to one knee then after a moment's struggle, regained his footing. The steep and rocky terrain of Witch's Peak was proving rather difficult to scale, but they would not be driven away or disenheartened from their task.

"There's a ledge up ahead. Might be easier to climb from there on up," Mason called back to the other men. Alf reached the ledge first and pulled himself up, then turned around and started helping his other shipmates who were battling with the uncooperative mountain-side.

The ledge was somewhat narrow but long, and a full grown man could stand up without bumping his head. There was enough room for everyone to stand or sit and catch their breath before continuing on.

Cecco reached down and gave Mullins a hand, while Jukes and Starkey pulled themselves up.

"Begorra, but what's that down there?" Smee asked, peering through his spectacles as he looked in the direction from which they had climbed.

"Drag me ta Hades, it's that blasted cat!" Mullins muttered. Sure enough, the small feline was working her way up to where they were, making steady progress but favoring one of her hindpaws.

"Why'd she follow?" Jukes wondered out loud.

"We ain't gonna wait for a lame cat, Jukes. Let's go," Mason grumbled, and got to his feet.

By the time the men had stood up and started looking for handholds, the cat was already on the ledge. She pawed at Jukes' leg and miaowed until she got his attention.

"Go back, cat. This is no place for you," Billy told her.

The calico flicked back one ear and her gentle pawing turned into a swat.

"What is it?" Jukes asked, somewhat indignantly. His indignance soon changed to surprise when the calico purposefully walked along the ledge to a knobby stone jutting out of the mountainside and pressed her paws against it.

Suddenly, where there had once been nothing but rock, loose earth, and some vegetation, was a tall rectangular entrance.

"What the devil?" Mullins swore softly, and crept toward the opening, his weapon drawn. Darkness enveloped everything inside, and the pirates seemed more than reluctant to enter. The calico looked at Jukes, winked one eye, and sauntered in. Her miaowing from within assured them that nothing drastic had happened to her and that it was safe.

Robert stuck one foot inside and pulled it back out, and when he saw it hadn't been bitten off, cautiously edged into the opening. "It's allright," he called back. "Ain't nothin in here but stairs . . . and cobwebs . . . but rest assured, there's evil in this place!"

"Oh, I say, that last bit was very encouraging, Mullins," Starkey muttered and walked inside with the same amount of unease. Cecco, Jukes, Smee, and Mason followed, Jukes pausing only to bend down and scratch the cat behind her ears. She trilled lovingly and continued on at his side.

"The cat must be charmed," observed Mason, grateful he didn't have to climb the rest of the way to the top. This way, they could reserve their strength for fighting Arizael.

"Charmed? Balderdash! I think it knows too much to be entirely trusted," Mullins grumbled, suspiciously.

"Wouldja rather climb?"

"Well in this case, yeah, I guess we can trust it," Mullins added hastily.

Starkey and Cecco began to walk up the stairs, brushing the cobwebs away as they did so. The other pirates followed, guided through the darkness by light streaming down in lines across the stone steps.

When they got near the top of the stairs, they were greeted with an obstacle preventing them from going any further.

Directly before them, the stairs continued until they reached the landing. Two feet above the landing were wooden floor boards, where dim light was falling through in between the gaps.

"Oh, blast it. A dead end," groaned Starkey.

"Don't be so sure, mate. It's just wood," said Mason, raising his fist and preparing to smash through the barrier. The calico darted between legs until she reached the landing, and stood up on her hind legs, pushing one of the boards up a little. She turned back to Mason and he got the idea and began to move the wooden planks aside to create an opening. The boards were loose already, so there was no need to make noise and give themselves away. Once again; the calico had helped them increase their chances of taking Arizael by surprise.

"That's twice now . . . how we sure it ain't leadin us into a trap?" worried Mullins.

"You have a point there, Mullins . . ." Starkey agreed.

Right then, the calico gave them such a wounded look that the men did not bring the argument up again. She glared reproachfully for a few seconds more, then jumped up to the opening Mason had created and miaowed for them to hurry on up and follow her.

"Can't believe we're bein led around the nose by a cat," Mullins thought to himself. He drew a deep breath and hoisted himself up onto the floor of the witch's larder.

* * *

"Look, Peter's back! He's allright!" exclaimed the Lost Boys, all cheering and whooping with glee as their leader flew down his tree and landed in their midst. Their cheering died quite suddenly, however, at the look on Peter's face.

He stared at them through eyes as black as coal and then turned about to come face to face with Wendy. Her own eyes widened and she took a step backwards.

"Peter . . . what's wrong? Why do you stare at us so?"

"Find me a sword. I go to battle Hook."

Wendy took a long look at Peter, and the Lost Boys watched her face anxiously for the tell-tale frown that meant 'no'. Audible gasps broke forth as Peter shoved Wendy aside before she could answer, making her stumble. Tootles was even so bold as to cry out, "Peter!" in a chiding tone.

Peter ignored him and set about searching for a sword. "My sword is missing. Who has hidden it? Come now, this isn't a funny game!" Peter whirled around, glaring. "My dagger is missing also. If any of you've taken it, give it up at once!"

"W-w-we don't have your sword or your dagger, Peter," stammered John.

"But just because you're missing it-" started one Twin.

"Is no excuse to be --- mmmphhh!" the other Twin started to finish before Curly clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Give me one of your swords then. Nibs, hand over your knife!"

Nibs stood silently, not knowing what to do. His loyalty was urging him to do as Peter commanded, but Wendy was staring at him also over Peter's shoulder, and telling him 'no' with her eyes. The moment of Nibs' hesitation was all it took for Peter to lose his temper.

"When I say to give me something," Peter growled, darting forward, and grabbing the dagger at Nibs' side, "I mean for you to do it now!"

In a flash, Peter had drawn the blade and in one swift motion, sliced Nibs across the chest. The lost boy cried out in pain and shock and stumbled backwards, landing with a crash into the cluttered pots and pans and striking his head against the wall.

"That was a warning, Nibs."

"Peter, how could you!" Wendy burst out.

"Hold your tongue!" Peter snapped, and Wendy's eyes brimmed over with tears.

"Don't yell at Wendy!" yelled Michael angrily, stepping out from behind John.

Peter smirked at him. "I have no problem with cutting you too, little baby! And that goes for the rest of you!"

The leader of the lost boys stared at Wendy next. "And if I ever find that you've hidden my sword or anything of mine . . ." he snarled, starting toward her with his knife raised. Wendy whimpered and backed away, and Nibs groggily tried to get to his feet to come to her defense.

"Get away from her, Peter!" Slightly yelled, flying in through his tree and landing before Peter, blocking him from Wendy.

"Make me!"

"I know where your sword is!" Slightly cried. "Follow me!" And for further goading, Slightly made a face, sticking out his tongue and pulling down his lower eyelid until the red was showing. Peter stepped back, offended and outraged. The sprightly lost boy took to the air and flew out of his entrance, and Peter yelled in fury and pursued.

Slightly could hear Peter gaining on him and his heart began to pound in fear. What if this plan didn't work? Or if Peter managed to grab one of his ankles? He would be in big trouble, that's what! He only hoped Tinkerbell was ready . . .

The lost boy burst out of the tree, sending a shower of green leaves cascading wildly into the air. "Now Tink!" he hollered, and just as Peter came out, the leader of the lost boys found himself caught in a sticky, sparkling web.

"Let me out!" Pan screamed, thrashing about and getting himself even more entangled. Slightly caught a pink flash approach Peter's hand and yank Nibs' knife away. "Sorry, Peter, but I don't want you to hurt yourself."

"Little insect! How dare you do this to me! I'll get you back, just watch! All night long, I'm going to say 'I don't believe in fa---mmmmphhh!!!" Peter cried, choking on a mouthful of pink fairy cotton.

"Peter, I'm sure you'd regret killing me. I'm so much prettier than Wendy and you wouldn't be able to fly anymore," Tink said, landing on the branch next to him and preening her wings. "Slightly, go down to the Underground House and tell them it's safe to come out. I think you should all leave. I'll stay here and guard Peter."

The lost boy nodded and drifted back down his tree. "Guys?" he called, coming into the house. Wendy was standing over Nibs, trying her best to stop the bleeding and talking Nibs out of unconsciousness. Michael was crying and all the other boys were looking grim.

"Tinkerbell trapped Peter. It's safe for the time being," Slightly told them all. Wendy stepped forward and threw her arms about him.

"Slightly, thank goodness, you've saved us! You were so brave!"

"I haven't done anything but lead him away! I was worried I was going to have to resort to using this," Slightly said, holding up Peter's dagger. "Now let's all go; I don't know how strong Tink's web is, or what powers Peter might've gotten from whatever's inside him."

"You mean, that's not Peter?"

"It's something feeding off of Peter. Cecco said it was sorta like a plague . . ."

"Wendy, what's a plague?" asked Tootles.

"I'll tell you once we get somewhere safe. Curly, please grab some food and put it in a basket, and Twins, gather some blankets and pillows."

"No, Wendy, that's not necessary. I think we should go to the Indian village. Mullins once said something about 'safety in numbers' and that makes a slight bit of sense to me."

"Allright, Slightly. Let's go, boys."

"Will we ever get Peter back?" Curly whispered to John, as they flew away from their home.

"I don't know, Curly. I really don't know," murmured John.

* * *

Shortly after Slightly's departure, Maegie became aware of the sudden silence surrounding the camp. No voices, no children laughing or playing at games . . . nothing. Not even a bird squawked. It certainly couldn't be nighttime already?

She touched one foot to the ground, then the other, and stood to creep over to the tipi's opening. Peering out, the sight she saw was a rather unwelcome one. The peaceful village looked abandoned; where was everyone?

A dark figure suddenly rushed at her, and before she could utter a scream, a hand clapped over her mouth. "Shhh! Stay low!" a feminine voice whispered in her ear. Tiger Lily!

Maegie sighed in relief and upon feeling her relax, Tiger Lily let go. "What's going on?" Maegie asked.

"Pirates are coming. Hook and his men . . . we saw them heading toward us; almost missed it, they were so silent. These new pirates . . . they're men used to murdering and used to ambushes . . . not like the other pirates who were loud and noisy. I liked them better."

"So now what?"

"We're at a stalemate . . . We know Hook's coming and Hook knows that we know. Now each of us are waiting for the other to make the first move."

"Where's Great-Big-Little-Panther and Hard-to-Hit?"

"In one of the scouting parties. We're trying to see if we can circle around ----"

"I'm afraid, ladies, that we've beat you to it," came a voice from the other side of the tipi. Maegie and Tiger Lily both shrieked as a hook slashed an opening through the canvas. They stumbled outside and soon after that, the village erupted into chaos.

* * *

The sound of the witch's laughter above them was enough to raise the hair on the back of their necks. Directly below Arizael in the witch's larder, the pirates stared up at the ceiling of wooden planks and saw by the light changing where exactly she was. They could hear her talking to herself and muttering, sometimes laughing and singing nonsense. Her footsteps would dance across the floor, sending drifts of spiderweb, dust, and sand down onto the pirates.

Mullins looked over at Cecco, made a swirling motion near the side of his head, then pointed upward. Cecco nodded. Arizael was clearly insane; perhaps then she had no motive for any of this . . . it was just a game she was playing, regardless of how the living pieces felt about it.

More dust rained on the pirates, and tragedy was about to fall with it. Smee felt an itching in his nostrils, and almost a second too late, Mason reached over and clamped Smee's nose hard between forefinger and thumb, muffling the sneeze.

Arizael's feet stopped dancing across the wooden boards.

"Oh dear me," she sang, in a high, sweet, voice. "I appears I have mice in my larder."

The men saw no threat in these words, but the calico bunching up her fur and hissing was the only warning they received.

Floor boards suddenly yanked up and were whirled away by a powerful wind. Smee yelped as he seized by an invisible hand and pulled up along with them. The cat hissed again and Smee's screaming goaded the men into running up the steps to the Irishman's aid.

Arizael laughed and let Smee crash into Starkey, who was first to clear the landing. Both pirates collapsed, unconscious, to the ground. Two down, four to go.

The witch lowered her hands and smiled at the remaining pirates who stared back in return. The being they had first seen when Hook had taken them to Arizael's cottage had been an old and shriveled hag. This however - whether it be a disguise or her true form - was not the shape of any hag.

Arizael's thick black hair curled around her face in soft waves, and her green eyes held hints of jade, complimenting her fair, brown skin. "Have you come to fight, or just stare?" she asked, smirking.

There's no way . . . there's simply no way . . . Billy thought to himself, trembling and tightening his grip around the hilt of his short-sword until his knuckles turned white. It's a trick to confuse me, that's all it is. So I won't want to fight her . . . please, God, tell me that's all it is . . .

Jukes shook his head fiercely, but Arizael stayed the same.

Robert looked from Billy to Arizael and at once saw what he had somehow missed a few seconds before. "Don't let her fool you, boy," he spoke, firmly.

"Is something wrong?" Arizael asked, in mock concern. The calico spat at her, her tail taking on the form of a bottle-brush. "I see you've taken in my little familiar. Thank you for giving her a good home, but if you came all this way just to give her back, I must apologize. My home is quite full of animals already."

Arizael raised her hands, and a black swarm of birds came tearing through the windows flapping their wings against the pirates and trying to peck at them with their beaks.

Yelling curses, Mason stepped back and nearly fell through a broken floorboard to the hard ground of the larder below. If Cecco had not grabbed him, he might have broken his neck.

Billy raised his arms to ward of the birds beating their bodies against his. His friends didn't have a chance unless someone did something. Arizael could have destroyed them all by now; the only reason they were still living was for her amusement. Billy closed his eyes and told himself grimly that what he was seeing was a lie; it had to be. Nevertheless, his heart won over his mind, and Billy flung his sword aside and plunged forward. He felt his body slam into Arizael's, and hoped it would at least distract her from controlling the birds. It worked; Arizael's hands dropped and the birds no longer attacked Mullins, Mason, or Cecco. They swarmed harmlessly around in confusion, searching for an escape.

Instead, Arizael's hands were now locked around Billy's throat, choking the life from him.

* * *

Hook fought among his men with the deadliness of a double-edged sword and twice the ferocity of any demon. Despite his powers, however, Hook was more in the mood for interrogation than he was for bloodshed.

"Where are they?" he roared, demanding this question of nearly every man who attacked him before cutting them down.

Maegie watched with horror at the battle around her; to think some of these men killing the braves who had sheltered her and her friends were no more than bread-thieves; Hook was forcing them to become murderers . . . and it was bad enough that Hook was doing all the killing.

She saw Noodler get kicked down by a brave and darted forward as the brave began the final downward stroke of his tomahawk, preparing to smash the man's brains out.

"Don't!" she yelled, grabbing the brave, Lean Wolf's, arm.

"Girl, get inside the tipi! Leave fighting to us warriors, you understand?" Lean Wolf barked at her.

"Don't hurt him, he doesn't want to fight; he's only doing it because Hook will kill him!"

Noodler wiped some of the blood out of his eyes. "Maegie?" he asked, faltering. "That you?"

Lean Wolf glanced down at him, looked back at Maegie and nodded, then ran off to help Swift Fox and Deer Star with their attackers.

"Let's go, Noodler," Maegie said, helping him up.

"Where?" he croaked weakly, only able to bring himself to his knees. Maegie struggled and finally managed to help him inside one of the tipis. Brushing aside a hanging dream-catcher, and a few other pouches and tools of shamanism, she helped Noodler over to the bed and eased him into a lying position. Once he was settled, Maegie took the long knife strapped to Noodler's belt and started back outside.

"Wait!" he cried, grabbing her arm. "What are you doing? You can't go out there, you'll get killed!"

"I have to do something! This is ridiculous! All of you fighting a battle that you don't even need to fight! The real enemy is up there on Witch's Peak!" With a scowl and a flash of red hair, Maegie lifted the flap of the tipi and walked back outside.

She noticed a small brown bag on the ground just outside the tipi and picked it up, wondering what it was. An arrow whistled by her ear and she glared fiercely in the direction from which it had come, in such a manner that the brave who had misfired it had the decency to look fairly alarmed.

She was so angry, she wanted to just scream at everyone to stop . . . stop immediately and look what they were doing. But of course nobody would hear her; not over the hell they were raising and the blood they were spilling on the ground. She was helpless and for the first time in her life, didn't know what to do or say. All she had was the clothes on her back, a pouch full of who-knows-what, and a knife. Useless, all useless! Maegie clenched her fist in frustration and upon reaching her boiling point flung the small brown bag into a nearby cookfire.

The result of this was quite unexpected.

With a bang that seemed to shake the ground itself, the cookfire transformed the pouch and its contents into a tall winding pillar of blue smoke. Maegie fell backwards with a startled squawk, and looked in amazement at what she had created. Likewise, everyone's weapons lowered as they turned to stare at this blue monster in their midst. The smoke began to shift and the head of a blue serpent poked out of the billowing clouds, followed by another, and yet another . . .

This was all too much for the pirates under Hook's leadership. With frightened screams and curses, the men flung their swords to the ground and ran pell-mell towards the woods, the serpents winding out of the smoke and playfully snapping at their heels before dissolving into nothing.

Needless to say, within the next few seconds, Hook found himself alone with all weapons pointed at him.

* * *

Slightly, Wendy, and the other lost boys were only half way to the Indian village before realizing something was wrong.

"I smell gunfire!" cried Nibs, carried between both Twins.

"I smell smoke and burning wood!" cried Curly.

"I smell food!" Tootles chirped.

"Aw, Tootles!" the boys complained loudly.

But Tootles was right; just below them on the beach, they could make out Cookson toiling over a cookfire and singing badly from the way his prisoners were all twitching.

"Ohhhh, de fire is hot, and de prisoners are scared; I making my soup an de Cap'n don't care -- "

"Would you shut the bloody hell up?!" yelled Henry Oaks. Cookson just ignored him and went on singing.

"He's not going to try it unless it taste good, so . . . um . . . uhhhh . . ."

"Thank God, he's run out of rhymes," Thomas Ridley muttered.

"How about: so I'll take out the rat tails, cabbage, and mud?" suggested a child's voice.

"That was a good one, John!" applauded Michael.

"Yes, that was a very good --- OY!!!" Cookson jumped up, nearly upsetting the cookpot. "What you tink you doin here?! Cap'n comb island for you and tink you be at Indian village, but he get a surprise when Cookson catch you!"

The portly chef ran forward and tried to grab the kids' ankles but they darted out of his reach easily.

"At the Indian village?! No!" cried Slightly, worried about his friends. "We have to go now! Hurry!"

As the children flew off, Cookson yelled at them and chased them along the beach for a little ways. He shook his fist at them and walked back toward the redcoats.

Cookson sighed and shook his head, then turned back to the cookfire and, much to his prisoners' dismay, his singing.

* * *

Billy gripped Arizael's hands, trying to pry them away from his throat. His world was turning black even as he struggled, and he was dimly aware of Mullins' voice calling out to him.

"And thus you die, little sparrow," Arizael hissed, as Billy's attempts to free himself grew weaker and weaker.

Robert roared in fury and raised his sword, charging forward with the intent of slaying Arizael if that's what it took to free Jukes. But a small feather-weight calico cat beat him to his destination.

All Mullins saw was a brown, tan, orange, and white streak zip past him. The creature lept up to land on Arizael's face, spitting and growling with claws fully extended.

A flash of white light and a force unseen threw Mullins off balance and sent him crashing backwards into Cecco and Mason. All three hit the floor and the light filled the room, so bright they had to cover their eyes for fear of being blinded.

Robert could not hear anything over the rush of blood to his ears, but he knew that he had screamed Jukes' name at least once. The light dimmed into a haze and finally, the pirates could open their eyes.

All was silent in the cottage; the birds had found their escape route up the chimney though some laid still on the ground, having killed themselves by crashing into the walls.

"Billy!" Mullins cried out, hoarsely, and once the spots had stopped impairing his vision, he was able to see Billy curled up on the ground, lying on his side. The cat was immobile beside him and out of the three, only Arizael was showing signs of life. She brought herself to her hands and knees and with a hiss, crawled under the table.

Disregarding her in her weakened state, Robert lifted the boy and turned him over on his back. The boy was breathing steadily, but not unconscious . . . his eyes were open and pupils shrunken to pinpoints in the pools of his brown irises, staring into nothingness.

"Is he blind?" Mason asked, while Cecco checked over Starkey and Smee who were beginning to stir.

"I dunno . . ." Robert admitted. Mason snapped his fingers in front of Jukes' face and the boy didn't even flinch. "Jukes, come back to us, please, come on!" Mullins pleaded, shaking the young gypsy. Mason looked over at the cat and saw that it too was breathing but, like Jukes, with eyes wide open and unfocused.

"What happened?" Starkey asked, staggering to his feet.

"We gotta leave this place, now."

"But what about Arizael? She's in the same condition and if we can finish her off--"

A low hiss came from underneath the table and the men backed away. "I've still enough power left in me to deal with you. If you want to live, then leave."

"What did you do to Billy?" snarled Robert, still cradling the boy in his arms.

Arizael was silent for a while, then with some reluctance she answered.

"You'll find out soon enough."

* * *

Hook sneered as the braves aimed their weapons at him, but made no move to attack. Even with his healing powers, they still had the power to rip him into pieces. And quite a few of them looked as if they wanted nothing more than to see him rendered thus.

Lean Wolf, vengeful for the sake of Clear-Water-Frog and Deer Star who had fallen to Hook's sword, was preparing to deal a potentially fatal blow when a voice commanded the braves to lower their arms.

Chief Panther strode out of the surrounding wood, followed by Hard-to-Hit and other members of their scouting party. They walked with an air of exhaustion more then triumph; even Hard-to-Hit had no pride in his eyes for surviving his first battle.

"He is not responsible for this," spoke Great-Big-Little-Panther. His voice carried over the protests that raised up at these words. "No man of mortal flesh is responsible for what has happened here . . . or for what is happening to all of Neverland."

"Great Chief, that is no man! Hook is a demon!" cried out Lean Wolf.

"He is controlled by a demon, Lean Wolf. But he is no demon. He is being manipulated by the witch, Arizael, who lives there, on the top of that mountain!" The Chief pointed towards the west, and though dusk had fallen and cloaked most of Neverland, the braves could still see Witch's Peak standing formidably against the darkened sky.

The braves stared at it with determination, and turned back to Hook. "Leave, then, Hook," growled Swift Fox. "If you come here again, we will not be merciful."

"Hand over the boy and the traitorous scugs who helped him escape me, and I will have no reason to return," Hook replied, and felt the tip of a spear press against his throat.

"You are in no position to bargain."

"Very well," Hook sneered. With as much dignity as he could muster, he turned on his heel and walked away, letting the darkness swallow him up.

Women and children's voices raised up in surprise and the braves turned to see forms flying toward the village and coming down low to the ground to land there. Soon, the Lost Boys and Wendy had alighted on the ground before Chief Panther.

"What happened to you?" The Chief and Slightly asked at the same time; Slightly noticing the wreckage of the village, and Great Panther seeing the wounded Nibs.

"Peter attacked us!" Tootles cried out.

Chief Panther stiffened. "Peter has awakened?"

"He's got the same thing Hook's got," Slightly informed him. "And he flew out towards the Underground House. Tink and I went after him."

"And shortly after that, Hook and the pirates attacked the village!" piped up Maegie, weaving her way through the crowd. They made a path for her and she ran to Slightly.

"What was that blue smoke we all saw while heading over here?" Curly asked. "It was huge!"

Maegie turned an unsightly shade of red and lowered her head.

"So that was you, young woman?" the Chief asked, raising an eyebrow but smiling nonetheless. "I'd appreciate it if next time you used a little less Blue Water Serpent powder."

"I didn't know what it was," Maegie muttered, sheepishly.

"You saved our village with it, and that calls for no apology."

"And tomorrow, we go to take down the witch. She will not do this to us again!" growled Lean Wolf, and a chorus of assent followed his bold words.

"Don't count on it," spoke a weary voice.

Maegie and Slightly turned to see Mullins, Mason, Starkey, Smee, and Cecco; Mason cradling the calico and Mullins holding Jukes' still body.

* * *

The wounded were not too many; unfortunately, Hook's blade had left little or no suffering in its wake. More cairns were raised than wounds tended to that night, and the women's wailing must have reached the stars, for they would not show themselves as brightly.

Slightly, Maegie, Wendy, and a few other lost boys had wanted to help with the wounded, but the women sent them gently away, telling them to look instead after their children and keep their minds occupied from the sad business. So Hard-to-Hit, Tiger Lily, Wendy, the Lost Boys (with the exception of Nibs who was getting his wound treated), and even some of the pirates sat around the campfires telling stories, comforting, and talking with the Indian children to help them better cope with their fear and loss. Maegie and Slightly did this too, although they went in and out of tipis frequently to check on Billy, Noodler, and Nibs.

Chief Panther did not know what was wrong with Jukes or the calico.

"What did Arizael say, exactly, when you asked her what she did?" he asked Cecco.

"She said that we would find out 'soon enough'."

"Then . . . we can do nothing until something changes . . . until we discover what is wrong."

The calico twitched its paw, suddenly, and blinked, slowly. Anxiously, Mullins and Cecco looked to Jukes for a similar reaction, but there was nothing. "It might take him longer to recover," Panther explained.

The Chief reached out to touch the cat and heard her give a weak mewl in response.

"Chief, Cecco, look!" Mullins cried.

Billy's pupils were growing to their normal size and his breathing had begun to quicken. He closed his eyes tightly, and with a sigh of relief, Robert lifted him into a sitting position and nearly crushed the boy in a hug.

"Robert?" Jukes' voice sounded small and lost, a far cry from the young pirate who had flung himself at the witch to save his friends just a few hours ago.

"Lad, I thought I'd lost you . . ." Mullins pulled him back and from the look on the gypsy's face, there was still something wrong . . . "What's the matter?"

"I remember . . . I remember everything . . ."

"Wh-what?"

"Everything . . . and much more than I should," Jukes whispered. "Her face . . . her voice . . . the way she held me after I was flogged . . . the way she screamed my name when they rowed me to that island and left me there to die . . ."

Tears were beginning to fall from the boy's eyes and Mullins gently wiped them away with his fingertips. "Billy, shhh . . . you don't have to talk about it if you don't want . . . not now. Just rest, lad."

"It's her," Billy said, raggedly. "It wasn't just an illusion. She . . . Arizael . . . is my mother . . ."

Mullins was rendered speechless, and could only hold Jukes as sobs began to rack the young pirate's body.

The look he exchanged with Cecco and the Chief, however, spoke as clear as any words could be. What now?



To Be Continued