Disclaimer: Holy Jiminny! I'm sick this weekend so what better to do with
the time when I'm not allowed to do anything then to update! I don't own
Peter or his untapped sexual energy, and by god I wish I could say I owned
Hook, but (le sigh) I DO!! Not really but I call him!
The boys I found were dear little ones. The red haired boy was Speckles, a rather rambunctious and brave lad. Then there was the raven haired, Black, who was kind and gentle by nature and had the odd ability of asking strange and out of place questions. The chestnut twins went by Dum and Dee, they hardly did anything without the help and the companionship of the other. Finally, there was Elf, who had been the first to accept me into their hold. It was whispered to me by Peter that he was a changeling boy. An elf child traded shortly after birth for a human.
So these were my little men and I loved them like only a mother could.
They had moved their ingenius fort to the top of the trees, rather than under them as it had been previously. They were light enough to rest in the woody boughs without fear of falling. I was too heavy for the tops of trees and settled for living under one. Someway away was a drooping willow, with strands of leaves so thick it made a domed ceiling above heads and circular walls. It reminded me of the canopy of sheets I had often made as a child for my secret hideouts. Warm and safe, upon beds of Queen Anne's Lace, Babies Breath, with the perfume of Lilies of the Valley, and the presence of every type of butterfly imaginable. This was my house, and outside on warm nights (every night was warm in Neverland) we would sit around a small fire and read stories.
Peter had a bad habit of sneaking up behind the young ones and myself. He would startle us when we were in the midsts of a spine tingling ghost story.
This night we were finishing the tale of the Velveteen Rabbit and after consoling Speckles and Black over their tears of happiness at the end, we sat in a sweet silence as I rocked Elf's small form in my arms. Peter, himself, sat quiet, as if musing over the story.
"Mother?" Elf murmured, half asleep.
"Yes, sweet?"
"Is that the last story?"
I looked down at him, his small fist closed about the blue velvet sash of my robe.
"Hardly." I smiled at him, "Now the adventure begins........"
Everyone straightened up at this, coming to life.
"There are others." I reminded them.
"The Lost Books!" Dum and Dee chorused frantically.
"Yes. The Lost Books for the Lost Boys."
"They will be found!" Speckles declared valiantly, getting to his feet.
"Later." I told them severely, "Now, I believe it is.......BEDTIME!"
There were groans and protests of the strongest nature.
"No arguments! Now wash your faces, clean your teeth, and prepare for bed."
With grumbling they moved to do as I bade.
"But Mother, we never so such things." Elf tugged on my sleeve.
"Why, so you are right!" I shouted happily, "So we shall not break tradition and start now! In bed and I shall sing you asleep."
They scrambled up the trees into their nests, crawling into bed.
"What's it to be tonight, boys?" I asked when it seemed everyone was settled.
"Hansel and Gretal!"
"No, we heard that last night!"
"My Lagan Love!"
"BLACK!!" The twins shouted annoyed, for he always asked for the same song.
"The Lullabye." Came the feather soft reply from Elf's nest.
"Ah, yes, but of course......" I murmured, remembering.
The others sighed in disappointment as the song was now picked, and then sighed again drawn into sleep by the song.
"I'll set you aswing in a purple bell
On a Lady's finger
Where brown bees linger
And loiter long
I'll set you aswing
In a fairy dell to the silver ring
Of a fairy song........"
The music flew from my lips, seeing each of them safely into their many dreams. When I finished and the last note hung heavy on the full exotic air, I made my way quietly down from the trees and to my own house.
Peter was still on the log, not having moved in all this time. The fire had burned to embers, and still he sat, his head resting upon his knuckles, deep in thought.
"Peter........?" I asked softly approaching him, "Peter, what is it?"
"It all seems so very familiar........." He stated softly, "The stories.......and a mother telling them.......but....." He faltered. I sat down next to him. "But........I do not believe she was you, Kate." Peter said finally looking up into my eyes.
I blinked away the second of jealousy I had felt for whatever mother he had had before me.
"What was her name?" I asked of him. All the while screaming at him to remember, "Wendy! Wendy!"
His brow furrowed in distress, "I can't remember." He whispered.
I looked at him a moment longer.
"You will." I couldn't tell him then, I found myself unable. I wanted this all to be mine, I wanted him to be mine if only for a while. I didn't want to share him yet.
I flicked a piece of hair that hanged down in his face, and smirked, "Come on, we have a rescue mission to conduct tomorrow, and even wonderfully marvelous boy need rest before yet another adventure."
He smiled back, flashing those boyish whites at me. "Dawn. When the first cock crows." He exclaimed cheerfully.
"Or when you do." I added thoughtfully.
We fell to a heap on the mossy ground, clutching our sides, rolling in laughter, as tears of mirth slid down our cheeks.
We both found the comment completely ridiculous but all the same that fact seemed to drive us into a frenzy of giggles.
I felt as if I were ten.
And it felt good.
"Form ranks!" Peter commanded.
The Lost Boys scrambled into their assigned places.
"As you all know, we have lost some brave comrades of our spectacular library." I addressed them, coming forward. "The time has come to set out on a perilous journey to find them."
"Pear-u-lost?" Speckles repeated the word in his mouth as if it were a whole grape fruit.
"You lost some pears, Mother?" Black asked concerned.
"Oh dear me, no!" I cried, shaking my head, my dark red hair swirling about with each jerk, "Perilous means full of peril, Black, darling."
"You dolt." Dee and Dum sniggered.
"Soldiers!" Peter barked, "Attention is requested!"
"Yes, well," I continued, swallowing back a laugh, "It is a game. A race! And the person who brings back the most number of books shall win!"
"Win what? Mother win what?" Elf asked, positively shaking with anticipation.
"The surprise!" I whispered back, pulling on his ear. He swatted me away playfully, giggling.
"Well," Peter said, "there you have it. The race starts right about....." He paused.
The boys held their breath, almost as if afraid to miss the signal.
"NOW!!" He shouted as he soared forward.
The boys yelled protests at his having had a head start and followed swiftly behind, trotting on short little legs.
I stood for a moment by my willow made home. I then walked inside, returning a few seconds later, a delicately thing sword, in my hand.
"I'll be damned if I let them have all the fun." I claimed, swinging the sword in a graceful arch through the air, and I set out for my own adventure.
I had no plan of where I wanted to go or what exactly I was looking for, but whatever it is you search for you always find it in Neverland.
Strangely my search was quiet enough, with only distant shouts of the boys carried on the wind now and then. More often then not I stopped not to pick up a book but to rise up on my toes to smell an enticing flower, spotted deep purples, or closed in a tight bud to have them open under the light brush of my fingers.
After a while I forgot that I had gone in search of any books at all. The breeze had me distracted as it played in my skirts, whipping the folds around my legs, pulling at my hair, and pushing me boldly forward into some unnatural, breathtaking dance.
The butterflies had followed from the willow and they clung to my hair, and followed the sweeping motion of my arms as I danced, creating elaborate designs in the air.
Notes of a song came unbidden to my lips, but not unwelcome. It was in the air all around me. Like a heavy perfume, of summer days, grassy hills on which to roll........innocence.
I felt innocent and pure, untouched by my grown up worries.
The dance became triumphant, as I moved faster. After five spins in a row, the wind ceased to blow. It just stopped. I stood slightly dizzy in a clearing of trees, breathing heavily. It seemed to dawn on me then that most of the fluttering wings of the butterflies had stilled and only one was left now. It hissed my hand with it's fine feelers and then it floated off. Instead of making me smile, it instead settled a deep uneasiness in my middle.
My ears tried desperately to hear even the chirp of insects nesting in the deep of the ground, but I heard nothing in the forest. Nothing at all.
Something was coming.
'Hide.' A voice seemingly behind my ear whispered.
"What?" I asked, spinning around to ask whoever had spoken.
'Hide." Came the breathy, familiar voice again, with urgency.
I asked no more question and resting my eyes on a wild tree in front of me I hid my sword behind a bush of bright pink and orange flowers, and then began to climb the great height of the tree.
The erie silence continued. Not even the living tree beneath me dared to breathe. I climbed a good way up, enough so that I could still see the jungle floor.
A strange sound stated to grow, like the sound of a great snake slithering beneath the ferns. I strained my eyes and peered forward a bit. The sound grew in volume and I caught a few words of a boisterous song.
Yo ho, Yo ho
He fell into the sea
They thought that this could stop him
But he's alive as alive can be
Yo ho, Yo ho
His eyes were black, dark deathly black
They thought him gone
But look!
He's back!!
Loud, jarring laughter hit the silence like a slap. The tree quivered in fear, and I clung to it in excitement.
"Pirates!" I whispered, gleefully, as the large group of bullies entered the clearing. Why, I could even recognize a few from Wendy's descriptions of them. Rock, a slit across his eye from falling down a mountain side. And Pale Pat, the deathly white Albino! They were perfectly horrid, and I was quite enjoying myself watching them.
An elegant carrier entered with four more pirates carrying it on their backs.
"Stop!" A cold demanding voice barked from the interior.
That one word seized me in an iron grip and I found that my arms were wrapped around the trunk as if it would save me from the feeling of being dragged under by that voice.
The men stopped.
"Wait......." The voice murmured. My hands clutched the bark beneath my fingers, cracking some in between them.
A strong looking hand was thrust through the curtains, and there it waited until one lone butterfly, perhaps the one that kissed me, flew down and landed gently on it, unfolding it's wings.
In one quick and deadly jerk the hand was clamped shut, swallowing up the small creature. I gasped in silent horror as the hand opened and dropped the crush yellow wings to the ground.
"There's one here.........search high and low. And do not stop til the maggoty scum is found!" The men scurried to do as they were told, almost as if they had been whipped into action.
"Search the trees if you must, you know how the little urchins operate!" The voice cried, then suddenly proclaimed, "Smee! My hat!"
If they searched in the trees I would most likely be found. I looked wildly around for any means of escape.
"Cap't! Cap't!" A shout rang out from the base of my tree. I looked down to see Rock, "I found it Cap't!"
"Then climb up," The voice said as if losing patience with a small child, "and GET it."
Rock began to climb, and I began to pray. A scabby, rough hand clawed at my ankle. With a disgusted shriek I kicked out and I heard the cry as Rock fell.
"That is the last time I pray." I muttered. A vine greeted my eyes to the right. I couldn't see where it connected and had absolutely no idea if it would hold me, but more were climbing up now.
"Oh hell," I shrugged my shoulders, "What else can I do?"
As an answer to my own question I grabbed a hold of the vine, squeezed my eyes tightly shut, and jumped from the tree.
A cry of outrage assaulted my ear, "After it you scugs, or you'll meet with a fate worse than cruel death!"
Wind whistled in my ears as I opened my eyes to find I flung past the many pirates trying to surround me. Their arms lashed out to catch me but I was far too fast for them. I threw my head back and let out a laugh. They leapt back as if the sound stung them. I laughed again, a carefree sound. Like music. Like Peter.
One pirate stepped in front of the path. I screamed in delight as I put my legs forward and knocked him off his feet with a grunt.
A shot broke the air as well as the vine and I toppled down, rolling a couple times, to land on my side. I picked up my skirts still laughing. It was all a game. Hide-and-Seek! Tag! I was hitching on gulps of air as I stood, shaking with suppressed laughter and only realized they were dry sobs when I was caught from behind, spun around and dragged back. But never being one to accept defeat I fought them for everything I was worth.
"Knaves! Blackhearts!!" I screamed in fury, "Get your disgusting hands off of me this instant! I doubt your precious Captain could teach the pain I'll wreak on you if you do not unhand me!" I growled, twisting in their grasp.
"Oooooo!" One laughed, " an' what be that?! Girlie!" He laughed again.
Now Wendy and I had similar tempermants and that was simply the last straw!
I threw myself at him while the Albino held my other arm, enough to kick him where I knew ladies kicked when their virtue was compromised.
"Never call me, girlie!" I shouted as he sank to his knees in obvious pain.
Pale Pat knocked me to the ground savagely as he went to help his comrade. The needles and wildthorns on the ground scratched into my palm. I pulled in a sharp breath and when I expelled a harsh, "Bastard." A dark chuckle roared in my ears.
I stiffened as I realized I was inches from a pair of well polished black boots. I slowly inched my back straight, taking in the finely tailored pant legs, but not any further than that. I was suddenly more afraid than I ever had been. The chills were sweeping me like a horrible winter wind, the ones that often made the moors howl in despair in the country. A strong hand was offered to me, one finger bejewled with a ruby, the hand that took the life of the butterfly.
Hesitantly, I slipped my hand in his, and I was pulled to my feet. I kept my eyes lowered. I couldn't' bring myself to look. I wanted it to be pretend, another game. For it to be Peter dressed in a pirates clothing, putting on one of his voices, saying loudly and clearly, "Aha! I have caught you! Now you must read us all stories! And even worse you must sing!"
But it was not Peter's boyish and small hand that tilted my face up, nay, not even a hand, but a cold steel hook.
My eyes were leveled with a strange shade of peri-winkle blue orbs. Pale skin. Curled black hair, as any darkness could be, the oppressive darkness of shadowed corners at night. The corner of his cruel mouth raised in a smirk, accenting his stylish moustache and slight beard. He wore all black as the perfectly evil should do.
"Well......" His deep voice purred. A black voice, just like Wendy had said. Black with poison, threatening, chilling, and.........forbidden. "I must say this is quite a surprise."
I gulped. The ice covering my throat shattered painfully, I found my voice, and spoke.
"Likewise.........Hook." I spat.
The man before me merely smiled, disarmingly.
The boys I found were dear little ones. The red haired boy was Speckles, a rather rambunctious and brave lad. Then there was the raven haired, Black, who was kind and gentle by nature and had the odd ability of asking strange and out of place questions. The chestnut twins went by Dum and Dee, they hardly did anything without the help and the companionship of the other. Finally, there was Elf, who had been the first to accept me into their hold. It was whispered to me by Peter that he was a changeling boy. An elf child traded shortly after birth for a human.
So these were my little men and I loved them like only a mother could.
They had moved their ingenius fort to the top of the trees, rather than under them as it had been previously. They were light enough to rest in the woody boughs without fear of falling. I was too heavy for the tops of trees and settled for living under one. Someway away was a drooping willow, with strands of leaves so thick it made a domed ceiling above heads and circular walls. It reminded me of the canopy of sheets I had often made as a child for my secret hideouts. Warm and safe, upon beds of Queen Anne's Lace, Babies Breath, with the perfume of Lilies of the Valley, and the presence of every type of butterfly imaginable. This was my house, and outside on warm nights (every night was warm in Neverland) we would sit around a small fire and read stories.
Peter had a bad habit of sneaking up behind the young ones and myself. He would startle us when we were in the midsts of a spine tingling ghost story.
This night we were finishing the tale of the Velveteen Rabbit and after consoling Speckles and Black over their tears of happiness at the end, we sat in a sweet silence as I rocked Elf's small form in my arms. Peter, himself, sat quiet, as if musing over the story.
"Mother?" Elf murmured, half asleep.
"Yes, sweet?"
"Is that the last story?"
I looked down at him, his small fist closed about the blue velvet sash of my robe.
"Hardly." I smiled at him, "Now the adventure begins........"
Everyone straightened up at this, coming to life.
"There are others." I reminded them.
"The Lost Books!" Dum and Dee chorused frantically.
"Yes. The Lost Books for the Lost Boys."
"They will be found!" Speckles declared valiantly, getting to his feet.
"Later." I told them severely, "Now, I believe it is.......BEDTIME!"
There were groans and protests of the strongest nature.
"No arguments! Now wash your faces, clean your teeth, and prepare for bed."
With grumbling they moved to do as I bade.
"But Mother, we never so such things." Elf tugged on my sleeve.
"Why, so you are right!" I shouted happily, "So we shall not break tradition and start now! In bed and I shall sing you asleep."
They scrambled up the trees into their nests, crawling into bed.
"What's it to be tonight, boys?" I asked when it seemed everyone was settled.
"Hansel and Gretal!"
"No, we heard that last night!"
"My Lagan Love!"
"BLACK!!" The twins shouted annoyed, for he always asked for the same song.
"The Lullabye." Came the feather soft reply from Elf's nest.
"Ah, yes, but of course......" I murmured, remembering.
The others sighed in disappointment as the song was now picked, and then sighed again drawn into sleep by the song.
"I'll set you aswing in a purple bell
On a Lady's finger
Where brown bees linger
And loiter long
I'll set you aswing
In a fairy dell to the silver ring
Of a fairy song........"
The music flew from my lips, seeing each of them safely into their many dreams. When I finished and the last note hung heavy on the full exotic air, I made my way quietly down from the trees and to my own house.
Peter was still on the log, not having moved in all this time. The fire had burned to embers, and still he sat, his head resting upon his knuckles, deep in thought.
"Peter........?" I asked softly approaching him, "Peter, what is it?"
"It all seems so very familiar........." He stated softly, "The stories.......and a mother telling them.......but....." He faltered. I sat down next to him. "But........I do not believe she was you, Kate." Peter said finally looking up into my eyes.
I blinked away the second of jealousy I had felt for whatever mother he had had before me.
"What was her name?" I asked of him. All the while screaming at him to remember, "Wendy! Wendy!"
His brow furrowed in distress, "I can't remember." He whispered.
I looked at him a moment longer.
"You will." I couldn't tell him then, I found myself unable. I wanted this all to be mine, I wanted him to be mine if only for a while. I didn't want to share him yet.
I flicked a piece of hair that hanged down in his face, and smirked, "Come on, we have a rescue mission to conduct tomorrow, and even wonderfully marvelous boy need rest before yet another adventure."
He smiled back, flashing those boyish whites at me. "Dawn. When the first cock crows." He exclaimed cheerfully.
"Or when you do." I added thoughtfully.
We fell to a heap on the mossy ground, clutching our sides, rolling in laughter, as tears of mirth slid down our cheeks.
We both found the comment completely ridiculous but all the same that fact seemed to drive us into a frenzy of giggles.
I felt as if I were ten.
And it felt good.
"Form ranks!" Peter commanded.
The Lost Boys scrambled into their assigned places.
"As you all know, we have lost some brave comrades of our spectacular library." I addressed them, coming forward. "The time has come to set out on a perilous journey to find them."
"Pear-u-lost?" Speckles repeated the word in his mouth as if it were a whole grape fruit.
"You lost some pears, Mother?" Black asked concerned.
"Oh dear me, no!" I cried, shaking my head, my dark red hair swirling about with each jerk, "Perilous means full of peril, Black, darling."
"You dolt." Dee and Dum sniggered.
"Soldiers!" Peter barked, "Attention is requested!"
"Yes, well," I continued, swallowing back a laugh, "It is a game. A race! And the person who brings back the most number of books shall win!"
"Win what? Mother win what?" Elf asked, positively shaking with anticipation.
"The surprise!" I whispered back, pulling on his ear. He swatted me away playfully, giggling.
"Well," Peter said, "there you have it. The race starts right about....." He paused.
The boys held their breath, almost as if afraid to miss the signal.
"NOW!!" He shouted as he soared forward.
The boys yelled protests at his having had a head start and followed swiftly behind, trotting on short little legs.
I stood for a moment by my willow made home. I then walked inside, returning a few seconds later, a delicately thing sword, in my hand.
"I'll be damned if I let them have all the fun." I claimed, swinging the sword in a graceful arch through the air, and I set out for my own adventure.
I had no plan of where I wanted to go or what exactly I was looking for, but whatever it is you search for you always find it in Neverland.
Strangely my search was quiet enough, with only distant shouts of the boys carried on the wind now and then. More often then not I stopped not to pick up a book but to rise up on my toes to smell an enticing flower, spotted deep purples, or closed in a tight bud to have them open under the light brush of my fingers.
After a while I forgot that I had gone in search of any books at all. The breeze had me distracted as it played in my skirts, whipping the folds around my legs, pulling at my hair, and pushing me boldly forward into some unnatural, breathtaking dance.
The butterflies had followed from the willow and they clung to my hair, and followed the sweeping motion of my arms as I danced, creating elaborate designs in the air.
Notes of a song came unbidden to my lips, but not unwelcome. It was in the air all around me. Like a heavy perfume, of summer days, grassy hills on which to roll........innocence.
I felt innocent and pure, untouched by my grown up worries.
The dance became triumphant, as I moved faster. After five spins in a row, the wind ceased to blow. It just stopped. I stood slightly dizzy in a clearing of trees, breathing heavily. It seemed to dawn on me then that most of the fluttering wings of the butterflies had stilled and only one was left now. It hissed my hand with it's fine feelers and then it floated off. Instead of making me smile, it instead settled a deep uneasiness in my middle.
My ears tried desperately to hear even the chirp of insects nesting in the deep of the ground, but I heard nothing in the forest. Nothing at all.
Something was coming.
'Hide.' A voice seemingly behind my ear whispered.
"What?" I asked, spinning around to ask whoever had spoken.
'Hide." Came the breathy, familiar voice again, with urgency.
I asked no more question and resting my eyes on a wild tree in front of me I hid my sword behind a bush of bright pink and orange flowers, and then began to climb the great height of the tree.
The erie silence continued. Not even the living tree beneath me dared to breathe. I climbed a good way up, enough so that I could still see the jungle floor.
A strange sound stated to grow, like the sound of a great snake slithering beneath the ferns. I strained my eyes and peered forward a bit. The sound grew in volume and I caught a few words of a boisterous song.
Yo ho, Yo ho
He fell into the sea
They thought that this could stop him
But he's alive as alive can be
Yo ho, Yo ho
His eyes were black, dark deathly black
They thought him gone
But look!
He's back!!
Loud, jarring laughter hit the silence like a slap. The tree quivered in fear, and I clung to it in excitement.
"Pirates!" I whispered, gleefully, as the large group of bullies entered the clearing. Why, I could even recognize a few from Wendy's descriptions of them. Rock, a slit across his eye from falling down a mountain side. And Pale Pat, the deathly white Albino! They were perfectly horrid, and I was quite enjoying myself watching them.
An elegant carrier entered with four more pirates carrying it on their backs.
"Stop!" A cold demanding voice barked from the interior.
That one word seized me in an iron grip and I found that my arms were wrapped around the trunk as if it would save me from the feeling of being dragged under by that voice.
The men stopped.
"Wait......." The voice murmured. My hands clutched the bark beneath my fingers, cracking some in between them.
A strong looking hand was thrust through the curtains, and there it waited until one lone butterfly, perhaps the one that kissed me, flew down and landed gently on it, unfolding it's wings.
In one quick and deadly jerk the hand was clamped shut, swallowing up the small creature. I gasped in silent horror as the hand opened and dropped the crush yellow wings to the ground.
"There's one here.........search high and low. And do not stop til the maggoty scum is found!" The men scurried to do as they were told, almost as if they had been whipped into action.
"Search the trees if you must, you know how the little urchins operate!" The voice cried, then suddenly proclaimed, "Smee! My hat!"
If they searched in the trees I would most likely be found. I looked wildly around for any means of escape.
"Cap't! Cap't!" A shout rang out from the base of my tree. I looked down to see Rock, "I found it Cap't!"
"Then climb up," The voice said as if losing patience with a small child, "and GET it."
Rock began to climb, and I began to pray. A scabby, rough hand clawed at my ankle. With a disgusted shriek I kicked out and I heard the cry as Rock fell.
"That is the last time I pray." I muttered. A vine greeted my eyes to the right. I couldn't see where it connected and had absolutely no idea if it would hold me, but more were climbing up now.
"Oh hell," I shrugged my shoulders, "What else can I do?"
As an answer to my own question I grabbed a hold of the vine, squeezed my eyes tightly shut, and jumped from the tree.
A cry of outrage assaulted my ear, "After it you scugs, or you'll meet with a fate worse than cruel death!"
Wind whistled in my ears as I opened my eyes to find I flung past the many pirates trying to surround me. Their arms lashed out to catch me but I was far too fast for them. I threw my head back and let out a laugh. They leapt back as if the sound stung them. I laughed again, a carefree sound. Like music. Like Peter.
One pirate stepped in front of the path. I screamed in delight as I put my legs forward and knocked him off his feet with a grunt.
A shot broke the air as well as the vine and I toppled down, rolling a couple times, to land on my side. I picked up my skirts still laughing. It was all a game. Hide-and-Seek! Tag! I was hitching on gulps of air as I stood, shaking with suppressed laughter and only realized they were dry sobs when I was caught from behind, spun around and dragged back. But never being one to accept defeat I fought them for everything I was worth.
"Knaves! Blackhearts!!" I screamed in fury, "Get your disgusting hands off of me this instant! I doubt your precious Captain could teach the pain I'll wreak on you if you do not unhand me!" I growled, twisting in their grasp.
"Oooooo!" One laughed, " an' what be that?! Girlie!" He laughed again.
Now Wendy and I had similar tempermants and that was simply the last straw!
I threw myself at him while the Albino held my other arm, enough to kick him where I knew ladies kicked when their virtue was compromised.
"Never call me, girlie!" I shouted as he sank to his knees in obvious pain.
Pale Pat knocked me to the ground savagely as he went to help his comrade. The needles and wildthorns on the ground scratched into my palm. I pulled in a sharp breath and when I expelled a harsh, "Bastard." A dark chuckle roared in my ears.
I stiffened as I realized I was inches from a pair of well polished black boots. I slowly inched my back straight, taking in the finely tailored pant legs, but not any further than that. I was suddenly more afraid than I ever had been. The chills were sweeping me like a horrible winter wind, the ones that often made the moors howl in despair in the country. A strong hand was offered to me, one finger bejewled with a ruby, the hand that took the life of the butterfly.
Hesitantly, I slipped my hand in his, and I was pulled to my feet. I kept my eyes lowered. I couldn't' bring myself to look. I wanted it to be pretend, another game. For it to be Peter dressed in a pirates clothing, putting on one of his voices, saying loudly and clearly, "Aha! I have caught you! Now you must read us all stories! And even worse you must sing!"
But it was not Peter's boyish and small hand that tilted my face up, nay, not even a hand, but a cold steel hook.
My eyes were leveled with a strange shade of peri-winkle blue orbs. Pale skin. Curled black hair, as any darkness could be, the oppressive darkness of shadowed corners at night. The corner of his cruel mouth raised in a smirk, accenting his stylish moustache and slight beard. He wore all black as the perfectly evil should do.
"Well......" His deep voice purred. A black voice, just like Wendy had said. Black with poison, threatening, chilling, and.........forbidden. "I must say this is quite a surprise."
I gulped. The ice covering my throat shattered painfully, I found my voice, and spoke.
"Likewise.........Hook." I spat.
The man before me merely smiled, disarmingly.
