CHAPTER 3
LONDON, ENGLAND THE RESINATING LIGHT
Wendy's carriage parried the dense London fog to the best of its ability as it drove along the damp cobblestone street. The small coach bobbed up and down across the uneven rock as it trudged forwards.
"The Labyrinth Miss." The driver's voice came from the fore front of the buggy.
Wendy gazed at him, nodding.
"Thankyou sir."
She reached in her embroidered coin purse, pulling a few shillings out of it. Wendy straightened her light blue skirt, fixing the bunched laces on either side. She grabbed her parasol, opening it above her head with a gloved hand, keeping the snow from littering her hair with its glitter.
The labyrinth was an elegant, ritzy place, known for its exquisite verity of food from all over the world. It was dimly lit, a smoky air about it. The atmosphere Being high class, Wendy felt quite uncomfortable and a sense of displacement overwhelmed her.
"May I help you miss?" a waiter inquired of her rather curtly, looking her up and down with a superior look that made her blood boil.
"I am here to meet Mr. J. Barrie, he is expecting me." She replied in an even tone, her eyes glinting at him coolly.
No more words were said on his behalf as he briskly walked down the
green carpeted hall, Wendy closely in tow. He stopped abruptly at a small table in the corner of the room where sunshine was peeking in through the bay window beside it. An older man, with graying hair, perhaps in his late forties, perhaps early fifties, sat on the left, smoke twirling upward from the embers of his Cuban cigar.
"This woman said that you wished to see her Mr. Barrie, that you were expecting her."
Mr. Barrie took a swig of his whiskey.
"Oh Thankyou Lyman. I have been expecting Miss. Darling." He paused smiling kindly at the girl now sitting in front of him. "She and I have some important business to discuss." He nodded towards the waiter, giving him the ok to be excused with out further commentary. The other man stared at him befuddled before leaving, shaking his had absently.
Mr. Barrie chuckled lightly, watching the reaction on the departed waiter's face.
"I am sorry about that Miss. Darling. I hope he did not leave you in too much discomfort."
The man's eyes twinkled like a boy's at Christmas time. He reached over, pouring her a small glass of whiskey.
"A little strong for a normal lady but, then again, I do not believe that you are a normal lady Miss. Darling." Wendy relaxed in her chair, feeling a wash of relief refresh her soul. She had a feeling that her and Mr. Barrie, were going to be getting along famously. She smiled at herself, in an odd way, he reminded her a little of Peter Pan..just grown up.
"What was it that you have requested my presence for Mr. Barrie?"
Mr. Barrie chuckled again, shaking his head in apparent amusement. She had a feeling that was in her expense.
"My dear, there is no need for formality please, just call me James."
Wendy was taken back. She barely knew this man and yet, he was already giving her complete autonomy to address him by his first name. At sensing her discomfort, he nodded, continuing on.
"I have asked for your presence her today Miss. Darling because I have had the privilege of becoming familiar with your delightfully inspiring stories and I thought that perhaps we could reach an arrangement."
Wendy's ears perked up in curiosity.
"An arrangement? Of what sort Mr. Barrie?"
"I was curious if you should ever like to see your work published on the shelves?"
Wendy nearly spat her whiskey across the table, her azure eyes wide as marbles.
"You are serious?!"
"Oh to be sure!" he assured without hesitation.
His eyes danced warmly at her with a deep fire of genuine excitement. "Miss. Darling.May I call you Wendy?"
Wendy nodded, taking a long sip of water in an unsuccessful attempt to wet her parched throat. James stood, moving to the seat next to the girl, placing a reassuring hand gently upon her shoulder.
"Wendy, how would you like your work to be known abroad, and the stories that you love and cherish so much to be as much apart of other children as they are of you?" he asked softly.
The girl felt her heart tremor and a shiver ran down her spine. Other children, falling asleep to the stories of pirates, fairies, mermaids, of distant lands and magical kingdoms, of Neverland and of the little boy who would never grow up, the eternal youth and very embodiment of childhood, Peter Pan. Wendy smiled heartily, a whisper of happiness burrowing in the depths of her soul.
"That would be lovely." She commented softly.
She glanced up at the man curiously. Surely there was a catch. "What must I do?"
James sighed, removing his spectacles, laying them to rest on the well polished table surface. He reached up rubbing his eyes.
"The catch is only this, unfortunately, because you are a woman, if you're name was put on the book in whole, most men would stereotype the stories you were to write."
"What do you suggest James?" she inquired, never skipping a beat.
He paused a moment in contemplation. After a long instant, he turned towards the girl, smiling softly.
"Wendy, you need not think of anything right now. You worry about that later. If you wish to do this, I'll be you're editor and help you along were you need it. All you need worry about now, it actually writing them with pen on parchment."
A twinkle formed in the young woman's eyes and she nodded.
"Very well Mr. Barrie. I think it is a lovely idea!"
"Wonderful Wendy!" He exclaimed, shaking the girl's hand warmly. "I bet you are very hungry yes?"
she giggled nodding.
"I suppose that I am a little more then famished."
James Barrie chuckled heartily. "Then we must get you some food silly girl! My treat."
The man rose his glass towards the girl as her eyes widened in surprise at the generous offer.
"To fairytales."
After a moment of hesitation, she grinned widely, lifting her own half empty glass of whiskey.
"To Peter Pan!"
The duo broke into a cheery gale as they ignited their new found partnership in a tinkling of glasses.
An hour later, Wendy said her good-byes to the man, wishing not to go for even in the short time she had spent with him, it was like she had known him for a very long time and she found him possessing a very familiar fire that intoxicated her soul.
As she climbed the marble stairs to the wade mansion, she forced the memories of her luncheon to the back of her mind, bringing forwards the important things on hand. These thoughts churned in her belly, upsetting it. She sighed deeply as she reached forwards hesitantly before finally knocking the brass lion's head against the hard oak door.
Seconds later, the front door was opened, and the marble foyer was reviled beyond its barrier. The butler's usually stern face melted to warmth as his eyes met the familiar face passionately.
"Miss Darling! What an unexpected surprise!" he exclaimed stepping aside. "Mr. Wade is in his study, please, do come in!"
Mr. Jenkins lead Wendy to the drawing room, accepting her long lavender cloak, hat and gloves.
"May I entertain the idea of something to drink Miss Darling?"
Wendy smiled shaking her head politely.
"Thankyou anyway Samuel, but I think I'll wait for Mr. Wade."
The butler nodded in understanding.
"Oh very good ma'am. I shall make sure that Master Wade is aware of your presence."
With that, he turned on his heels, leaving Wendy all alone in the room. She sighed, relaxing back into an over easy chair. So, this was the decision that would be responsible for the rest of the change in her life. So, this was growing up.this was what it was like to completely lose herself in the adult world
A new chapter in her life was about to begin, one unfamiliar, uncharted. It was this path that she was about to take, her newest adventure opening up horizons to grasp with her finger tips and yet..She sighed heavily, surrendering her eyes to darkness. She did not know if she was ready for it or if she even wanted it.
The parlor doors opened suddenly, upsetting the quiet in the room, startling the girl so that she let out a sharper cry.
"Wendy, I am sorry!" Wade apologized, taking her hand in his, caressing it with the presence of his lips. "I did not mean to startle you."
She let out a nervous laugh shaking her head.
"No, please, you did nothing. Its just that I was deeply lost in my thoughts."
She smiled at him, slowly reaching to grasp her hand in his own. It was his turn to gaze down in alarm.
"Miss Wendy.I."
Wendy silenced his with a hand lightly touching his lips.
"Sydney," she paused taking a deep breath.
'You wont forget about us will you?'
"I dropped by to give you my reply."
'Me, forget, Never!'
Sydney Wade sat up straighter immediately, awaiting in anticipation.
'I'll never see you again will I, Peter Pan?'
"Go on Wendy." He encouraged, a glimmer of hope captured deep within the essence of his eyes.
'I'll come back to listen to your wild tales of Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty. Then of course, there fare always the stories of Never, Never Land.and me.'
'Don't worry peter, we're not going to forget you either.I promise.'
'I'll miss you Peter.'
'Will you always keep the window unlocked for me.'
'Always.'
"Sydney, I have decided to marry you." She whispered firmly, though inside, she felt herself crumbling as if clay morder.
Sydney Wade's eyes widened in delight.
"Wendy, you're serious?" "Yes, yes I am."
He smiled warmly, his eyes misting slightly. He took both her hands in his gently, kneeling on one knee.
"Wendy, my darling, I promise I will make you as happy as I can."
Wendy could not help but smile for she knew the man's heart and knew this to be very true. She knew he would do every thing in his power.
"I believe you." She reassured.
Sydney reached into the depths of his right jacket pocket, pulling a velveteen box from with in it. He opened it to reveal a simple white gold band, accented with an exquisitely designed cluster of diamonds, arranged in a flower. The girl gasped, a hand flying to her chest.
"Oh my!" she cried in alarm as he slipped it on her left ring finger.
Never had she possessed such a valuable trinket in all her life.
"Do you like it?" he asked, suddenly concerned.
She immediately jumped in its defense.
"Oh no! Not at all, I love it!"
He relaxed, smiling fondly. Wendy watched him swallow hard, contemplating a thought deeply.
"Wendy, might I.may I," he swallowed again. "Would you allow me to kiss you?"
This request took her back and she recoiled in shock.
"I.I'm sorry, I didn't." "Sydney, yes..yes you may." She whispered, biting her lip, cursing the nag within her soul.
The man gazed at her a moment, watching a sweet smile touch Wendy's lips. He reached forwards, touching Wendy's face with his rougher fingertips but in such a gentle way that it shocked her and her heart almost melted away. His palm captured it softly, pulling her chin towards his face, his eyes never swerved from hers. Wendy felt a surge of electricity radiating from with in Sydney's eyes. As he leaned forwards, she saw his face stained with deep love and fondness.
And through this all, she felt something with in shatter though, she could not comprehend exactly what. Her eyes fluttered shut, a tear drifting out of the corner of her the reason, unclear to her, as she felt his lips melt into hers softly.and then only that moment existed. This was her world now, and this was her story.
'Never is an awfully long time.'
The door to the Darling home opened and Wendy stepped inside, out of the frigid air that bit at her heels harshly, as if vengeful of the blood flowing through her veins. That blood that flowed freely, yearning for the taste of the sky against her skin, the wind's breath kissing her lips as she sailed amongst the glittering diamonds littering the velvet night. The very blood lusting for adventure and for freedom of vile things that hindered her hidden, inner soul from its true conquest. Winter's mistress, cursed the ground she walked, and her treacherous heart, whipping branches across her ankles in bitter rage, icy tears falling all around her, in soft mournful flakes. The wind screamed at her, tearing at her cloths in a vast fury but Wendy, ignored them all, shutting the door behind her.
An echoing thunder of feet roared down the stairs and Wendy's heart melted as the sight of an illusionary Michael rushed towards her arms, his bear tucked securely under the crook of his elbow.
'Wendy!' he cried excitedly, skipping two stairs at a time to reach the girl even faster. 'Your home!'
He laughed as she spun the younger in a great circle, flying him high through out the air.
'How is my little brother doing?' She asked, kissing his cheek fondly. 'And what shall we do today?'
'Play pirates with me!' he instructed, a bright twinkle lighting his eyes. 'John can be captain hook and you can be Peter Pan! I'll be your lost boy!'
Wendy laughed in delight at the child. She instantly set him on the ground, placing her hands on her hips, a cocky grinning crossing her lips.
'Very well! To the hideout! Rouse the other lost boys, its time for an adventure!'
Michael gave 'peter' a mock salute before bounding up the stairs again. Wendy (Peter) 'flew' right behind him, climbing two at time to reach the top of 'the tree fort'.
The child suddenly stopped cold in front of the door to the nursery, eyes fixed widely on the window directly in front of him.
Wendy watched him grow pale as a shaky finger pointed towards it. Behind the mask his eyes glowed as he snapped farther into his character.
'Pan! Hook has learned of our hideout, he has breached the walls! And look! He is going to set fire to the whole place!'
'Peter' grabbed his blade from its sheath, pointing it in the direction of 'Captain Hook' who was wearing a fancy pirate hat, and a pirate jacket. His right hand was bawled into a fist with exception to a single finger, hung in the shape of a hook.
'Well, well Pan, it looks as though I'll have the final laugh!' John bellowed, dashing from the window's ledge, madly racing for his sister with his blade pointed out right.
Wendy prepared herself, her blade clashing with the younger boy's a first. She smirked, her eyes burning with a strangely intense blue fire.
'Proud, insolent youth, prepare to meet thy doom.' 'Hook' whispered, leaning in closer to 'Peter's' face. 'Dark sinister man, have at thee.'
Moments later, a gale of laughter, clinking of steel, bumping of books off shelves, breaking glass from a cutlass that missed its human target, coming in contact with a defenseless lamp instead, rang through out the room, echoing into the large rooms of the lower part of the house. Though none seemed to recognize this for they were much to busy having a wonderful time in the world deep with in that of the child's mind. That of imagination and wonder. With these, they could make anything occur and bring to life magic in a world of rules and regulations. A world in where so many adults grew up, forgetting who they once were. Wendy, Michael and John played on, dancing to the rhythm that beat ever so strongly on in drum of their hearts, the pulse of their blood and the flow of everything they were.
Time went on, Wendy grew, getting older and older as did her brothers until suddenly, other things took the place of their silly games, and childhood memories. The fur hats, pirate jackets and cutlasses sat on a shelf now, in the boy's room, collecting dust with the passing of time. A new layer for every moon. Her stories, dreams and adventures, flew out the window, seeking for their freedom, not desiring to be chained by Wendy's adult body. They left for Neverland, where they would remain so they never had to grow up along with the children as they were forced to be molded into their society. Their topics of conversations changed, gradually fading into a mature talk of reality and the future to come in this world in which they now lived their lives. Soon, all such became a passing routine that they each settled into when their own unique wave of the world caught them up in a different part of its whirlwind. Chasing away the childish spirit, as it shackled them to their here and now, not what was or what could have or might have been. The window was no longer open, though, it remained unlocked as always. Perhaps welcoming the tumble weed that just might one day blow in again on the wind's spirit. All that was just a legend that lived on in their hearts now.
Now, slower, more paced footsteps alerted the girl to another body and she gazed up at the stair case where Michael was standing smiling down at her.
"Hello Wendy."
Michael leaned forwards, peeking her cheek lightly.
"Your day fared well?"
Wendy smiled at him warmly as she removed her shall from around her neck. She motioned him to a seat in front of her and her brother sat.
"You know well Mr. Barrie that editor correct?"
The boy nodded, placing his chin in his palm in keen interest.
"Quite, what did he wish of you?"
Michael was surprised to see a mysterious shimmer behind the pools of ocean blue for, it had been sometime since excitement danced across her eyes. Now, they flickered in cool fire that was sweet and always reminded him of a garden after a fresh spring rain.
"Mr. Barrie had quite the proposition. A partner ship Michael! He wanted to know if I'd ever wish my stories printed for the public eye!"
In that second, that twenty year old woman, was replaced by a beaming, bright-eyed girl he use to know once upon a time. She knelt at his side, her hands firmly on his shoulders. A twinkle, surpassing all the wonder of the earth burned deep, churning her soul, filling her lungs until he was sure she was going to burst out of her adult body as she would began to fly around the house, though this wasn't exactly what happened.
"Oh imagine it Michael! The stories we all know, love and grew up on, they have the chance of becoming apart of other childhoods and their imaginations! They have the opportunity to know of worlds filled with pirates, fairies, mermaids, music and magic! They can discover the world where no one has to grow up where they can remain young forever! The magical world of Neverland and its mystical boy guardian, Peter Pan!"
She hadn't realized in her excitement that she had lifted the boy, spinning him in a mini circle. Wendy's excitement was overwhelmingly contagious and soon, both were laughing gaily as they had so long ago. It was like they had been reborn, and an unquenchable flame had been ignited from old embers of youth, now revitalized.
"I now, have only to write it!" she giggled, tapping an index finger against her lips. "Lets see, where shall I begin?"
Michael sat up straighter, grabbing his sister's forearms excitedly.
"Wendy, why not start with refreshing your memory about our adventures by holding story hour just like you use before we all would retire to bed." he was impelled to suggest.
"Oh Michael, what a delightful idea!" she gushed in return. "Isn't this all so exciting?!"
At that moment, John wandered into the room, his eyes meandering between his sister and younger brother.
"Dinner is prepared. Mother has requested that you wash up before joining us at the table."
Wendy nodded, still unable to squelch the big grin shining across her lips.
"Very well then John. Mr. Barrie had the most delightfully compelling proposition for me today and I was moved to accept it for it truly touched me that deeply. Oh John, he wishes to compile all our stories on paper, published for all to see and that way, they can be a part of other children and their imagination. Therefore, I am trying to get reacquainted with them and thus have decided to hold story hour in the nursery right after supper. You will be joining us will you not?"
John Darling's eyes sparkled a mixture of contempt and desperation. He seemed so confused, so bewildered that Wendy was sure the boy was going to burst into a gale of tears. The clear blue orbs swam with the childhood fire but twist of everything the world was thrusting at him now, expecting and molding him to become, swirled along with it. It laughed, taunting the girl from the other side of the cerulean glass almost as if letting her know he was its prisoner and there was nothing that she could say that would break him of it. He had become a slave to the world, chained and shackled to everything they had fought against becoming when they were children. The boy's eyes bored deeply into her, cutting her soul to its quick. Wendy shuddered, retracting her gaze from the frosty irises burning into her.
"Wendy, leave this nonsense behind you! It's enough! Look in the mirror Wendy, you are a twenty year-old woman. You still cling to the childish hopes that once endeavored your soul. Things have changed and you simply need to accept the fact that you grew up, and will never ever be a child again." His eyes narrowed as he leaned closer to her face. "Wake up Wendy, wake up to reality! This is the real world, now, live in it!"
John whirled on intent of exiting the room however he paused long enough to add,
"And for pete sakes, would you lock that bloody window?!" What seemed to be the simplest of statements however, to Wendy, it was what hurt the most for it was like John wanted to forget purposely everything that had been. And even though it wasn't now, they had held oh so close to their hearts for years. Now, in this simple statement, he was telling her to leave it all behind, forget who she was and..grow up. He had forgotten that this very thing was what made her who she was.
Wendy turned away from the boys, her heart becoming intent on the staircase to her left. As she made her leave, Michael did not fail to see a tear seep down her cheek. Anger burned in his heart causing animosity against his brother arise.
"Who are you to dash to pieces those dreams of whom you envy?! Just because you will not allow yourself to see into your past, why must you prevent others from seeing into theirs?! She is your sister whom would drain every last drop of her blood away from her veins for you. She would give her world and the world of everyone else if she could. She would do anything for you! Surly you yourself are not so blind that you can not see that! And yet, in all the goodness of her heart and all her dreams for you, you still cannot hear nor feel her heart."
Michael brought three inches from his brother and his faces, so close to where John could feel Michael's furious breath against his skin.
"You have turned out to be a vicious and selfish man John Darling." He hissed darkly, his voice dripping with every essence of disdain.
A thin yet, steady waterfall dripped over the bridge of Wendy's nose as her eyes fell upon the atramentous sky. Stars twinkled down at her, winking every so often, in and out of sight again. Two stars appeared brighter then all the others though and it was those her eyes became solely faceted upon.
The window had been opened, the curtains blew freely in the rhythm to the nightly wind, dancing to its enticing melody. The lady of the wind, stretched her fingers out every once in a while to the flame sitting on the girl's nightstand, beckoning to it to come join the spirited dance for freedom., causing it to flicker in antsiness.
A light knock upon her door startled her attention away from the vision and to the wooden frame at the other corner of her room. Moments later, the knob turned and a head poked inside.
"Wendy?" a soft voice whispered, one she immediately recognized to be Michael's.
"Oh, do come in."
The door was opened in its entirety and the boy stepped inside the room, a small tray of food in one hand. The door was once again re-shut as the younger started for the girl's bed, in which she now lay.
Wendy couldn't help but chuckle softly, smiling at such a considerate thought.
"Oh my goodness, is that for me? Thank you so much Michael." She gushed, bending to kiss the lad a top his forehead.
"Wendy, are ok?"
Smiled, taking a small sip of her hot tea gratefully. The boy's eyes gazed downwardly until they met with the floor.
"I am sorry for what John said to you, it wasn't fair."
Wendy paused, a spoonful of chicken soup stopping in mid air. She gazed at her brother affectionately, tousling his hair lightly with her left hand.
"No, no Michael. Do not blame John." She whispered firmly, with a wisdom that seemed to surpass her age. "He, in due time will learn a balance, just as all of us must."
The spoon resumed its destination, greeting Wendy's mouth eagerly.
"I wish I was as strong as you Wendy." The boy whispered back, taking in the dignity behind her fair blue eyes.
"You must gather your own strength Michael, and you have a great strength that surpasses many, including my own."
She smiled, setting the soup bowl aside before placing her hand upon his head again.
"But let us not have you concern yourself with that burden at the moment."
With out reluctance, Michael placed his head upon Wendy's shoulder.
"Wendy, will you tell me a story?"
"Which would you care to here?"
"Oh, do tell the one of our adventure to Neverland!"
She grinned, settling in for comfort.
"Certainly."
She took a deep breath before beginning with her all so familiar tale.
"Once, in a sleepy, fog cover city, known as London, there were three children, two boys a girl, of whom we shall call the names: Michael, John and Wendy. These children thrived on stories of adventure and it so happened that the girl, Wendy, was an exquisite story teller, at least, that is what her brothers had told her many separate times. She would dazzle them each with her adventurous tales of pirates, fairies, brave princesses, mermaids and evil villains who would stop at nothing to bring the 'Happily Ever After' to its doom."
"Did they succeed?" Michael asked, becoming inattentive on the story at hand.
Wendy's eyes twinkled in the moonlight as a smirk danced across her lips.
"Never! The heroes and heroines were much too smart for that and always could outwit their opponents! Now, on one such night in which Wendy was telling her stories, acting out with a passion every detail behind the scenes, her father and mother were due at a party, and so, the children were put to bed early. Now, Wendy and her father did not always see eye to eye and in this such case, he felt as though she were being too much of a child. Therefore, his immediate response was 'I wish you would just grow up!'"
"What did Wendy do?"
"Well, she became very frightened for, the very thought of growing up, conjured up all sorts of unpleasant images in her mind so that she tended to shy away from it all. Now, it seemed to be shoved directly into her face. Wendy did not wish to grow up, you see she would have rather stayed young forever, doing many fun and exciting things, taking adventures and making daring rescues of fair maddens, battling off cut throat pirates in the name of trueness and peace. Though, in her world that she knew, that, of course, was not to be. So, she went to bed, befuddled as new and horribly frightening thoughts raced through her mind. What Wendy did not know, was that her wish, was about to come very true in the most unexpected of ways."
"How so?" Michael asked, his eyes drooping slightly as the sound of her soothing voice reached the depths of his ears.
"Later that night, the shadow of a boy, crept along the wall, for the window had been left ajar, and he had blown in. The crashing of books alerted Wendy and she sat aright in her bed to see the lad himself indeed chasing it down. He was desperately trying to stick it to the soles of his feet with soap."
"Soap?"
Wendy giggled nodding. "Yes, soap. At quickly realizing that it was not going to work, the boy sank to his knees, letting a cry of frustration escape his throat. At that, Wendy smiled, realizing the lad was positively harmless. 'Boy, Why are you crying?' she asked, startling him to his full stature, his hands quickly finding his hips.unsmoothly. 'I lost my shadow and.I wasn't crying!' he snapped. After a second of giggling in his expense, which of course he didn't find at all to amusing in himself, he asked for her name. Her reply came 'Wendy Moyra Angela Darling. What's yours?' 'Peter Pan.' He replied cockily. Wendy then asked if she could sow the shadow back on though, it might hurt a little. Peter Pan agreed and sowing soon commenced. From the bed next to the girl's, a deep snore came, startling Peter into the air.in fact, that was where he stayed."
"But Wendy, people can not just linger in mid air." Michael mused sleepily.
"Well Peter could! Wendy quickly arose her brother so they could take in the spectacular sight for themselves. When John commented that to say you could fly was to defy the laws of physics, Peter immediately smirked then cockily floated off the ground. Of course John decided that he wanted to defy physics as well and thus it all began. Happy thoughts became the key and a little pixie dust. With that, they all rose off the air. Peter asked if Wendy would like to accompany him to a place in which you would never have to grow up and worry about all that runs in this world ever, ever again.a place so great that you can unleash your imagination to its fullest potential and reap no consequences. A place known as Neverland. Wendy's reply was 'Never is an awfully long time.' Peter just grinned nodding passionately. Moments later, the children and he were flying high in the air, over all of London, sailing though the clouds to the second star to the right, then straight on until morning.."
Wendy gazed down at her brother's sleeping form several moments later, after going in to detail about the wonderful adventure they all had experienced, what no seemed like once upon a time so long ago. She ran her fingers through his hair lightly as she finished.
"Years flew by, and the Wendy lady never saw the cocky boy with unruly hair again. Though, she watched for him frequently, always keeping her window locked just as she had promised and, every once in awhile, she thought she heard a crowing off in the distance somewhere, blowing past her window from the tops of the towering buildings. Though her adventure was over, it lived on in her heart, from then on and no matter what, she knew she would never forget it as long as she was alive and well. So the Wendy lady continued to live, telling others of this delightful story you just finished hearing about tonight, and that my dear brother, is where this stories comes to its end.for now. And although we can not say all lived happily ever-after, for they are still living, they have a new and exciting chapter unfolding for them, paving the way for another new, exciting adventure to come." Michael's light snore drifted to her ears from where he lay beside her and the girl had not the heart to move him. She smiled, gazing out the window, eyes resting once again on the sky. A creek of the door caught her attention and her had turned sharply towards it, catching a pair of cool blue eyes, as blue as glacier ice, before they could retreat into the darkness once again. Wendy gazed at them gently, not a single strain of animosity held against them. They blinked twice, before fading from the moonlight, back to the bleakness of the hallway. The girl sighed, laying back against her soft down pillows.
'Goodnight.John.'
Wendy was suddenly awakened out of her peaceful slumber by something unknown to her. A cool wind kissed her face lightly as she sat up in the moonlit darkness. Shadows of the curtains danced, swirling in the breeze. She could hear Michael's light snores filling the air in a continuous echo beside her. The girl's eyes lightly played across the room, growing heavy after a short while.
A crash jolted her senses abruptly and her eyes once again snapped open to their fullness, a gasp escaping her lips. Her hair, wrapped around her shoulders as she peered around the room, lingering longer then before. A dead silence replaced it moments later, causing a suspicious air to incur, one that made Wendy flip the blankets off her legs and reach for her satin robe, all the while trying not to disturb her brother's slumber.
The girl glanced at her clock, noting it was indeed close to three in the morning. She grabbed her candlestick, giving a glow to the small aura of space surrounding her. She shielded its flame from the light gust floating in through the window.
Another crash filtering from another room in the house filled her ears and her eyes flew towards her door sharply. In a few swift yet, stelthfull strides, she was turning the knob as quietly as possible. Wendy poked her out into the vast hall cautiously, assessing the safeness.
Footsteps creaked at the end of the wooden planks and Wendy drew her breath in sharply, desperately trying to swallow the fear and panic welling with in her lungs. She tried reassuring herself that it was probably just her brother however, she grabbed for her decorative dagger, received from Peter right before they had left for London again. It had been her going away present.
She slowly stepped onto the unsteady floor boards, trying to desist from as much noise as possible. As she crept along, her hand touched the wall, giving her a point of origin so that she would always know where she was. Her heart jumped as another object clamored to the floor and a sturdy voice moaned to the darkness of the corridor. She gritted her teeth to keep the heavy gasp at the back of her throat. Her hand gripped the blade even tighter as she realized, there was an intruder. She inhaled deeply before attempting to summon her courage.and voice.
"W-who's there?!" she stammered demandingly.
The noise ceased abruptly and an unsettling silence lingered through out the air, making it seem frozen and stale. She swallowed, trying to cure the dryness within the back of her throat though her attempts proved to be nothing but in vein.
A scratching against the wall drew Wendy's attention to all alertness, and a certain boldness, perhaps the rush of adrenalin to her brain, seized hold of her senses.
"What business have you in my father's house?!" she snapped to the cold morning air chilling her skin even in spit of her flickering flame.
Her heart raced against the silence and time spent, her eyes darting madly through the corridor. Her pulse quickened, her sapphire gems burning with coldness.
"Answer me!"
Suddenly, to her left, a movement in the dark met her skin and a hand clamped roughly around her forearm. The girl screamed, fighting back panic as she ran the dagger in her right hand through the air, catching a portion of soft flesh with the tip of its steely wrath. She felt the resistance parry the blade's hateful edge but it was instantly proven to be no match for the spite as it cut through the skin as though it were nothing but melting butter.
A sharp cry pierced the air as Wendy was immediately released. The girl took this small time to take an immense stride backwards, knife outstretched to the unknown being in her stead. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she could plainly make out the figure of a man, average stature though, quite muscular.
Her eyes blazed into him, gazing at him full length to assess her opponent.
"You sir are not welcome here and I advise that you leave this place at once," Wendy pointed her blade directly at his face. "For, if you believe that just because I am a woman that I can not handle my own, that I can not fight to defend, you sir, will be sorely mistaken and shall greatly regret your choice of thought later."
She reached forwards, striking her dagger at him in warning. He easily dodged the on coming blow, moving with almost fluid motion. Eyes blazing, Wendy slashed the weapon forwards, minimally missing her target. The man's body became plastered against the wall as he narrowly missed another swipe at his abdomen.
"What right have you to just charge into one's house unannounced, uninvited?!" she seethed bitterly, embedding the blade's unfriendly tip into the wood above the man's head.
He took the time to grab a candle stick from a nearby end table, bringing it up to his has just in time to avoid another blow.
"What have you come for?!" The blade clashed with the medal holder once again. "You do fight well." The man mused, speaking up for the first time.
Wendy lost her guard momentarily at the sound of his unexpectedly gentle voice, laced with a slight edge of amusement most likely directed in her expense.this seemed to be running the norm as of late.
It her second of hesitation, an object knocked her hand causing her to lose grip upon her blade and it clattered to the wooden flooring. Dazed, she failed to see a hand coming for her shoulder until it was to late to react. The strength was too much for her to bear and it spun her body viciously until it was lined against another, an unfriendly razor tip embedded into the top of her jugular.
Wendy's eyes widened in fright as her hands flew to the restrictive forearm. She realized that it wasn't her blade at her throat but another. It was a similar dagger though longer, with a regularly sharpened tip that was like fine glass against her skin and she could feel the sting of the siring side tearing through her own flesh ever so slightly. And as a thin trickle of blood puddle down her neck line, she quickly stopped all struggling, realizing that it was she herself inflicting all the damage.
"Who are you girl?" A curious voice asked behind her.
"What do you care you pirate?!" she snarled, adjusting her feet to regain at least a semblance of comfort.
"Pirate?" A light chuckle filled her ears, one that seemed of genuine nature. "No, No, No!" he cooed, shaking his head ever so slightly. "Not so! So girl, what are you really?"
Wendy was growing tired of all the questioning bestowed upon her.
"A warrior who brandishes a sword and fly's through the air." She snapped sarcastically.
Out of nowhere, the man's grip dwindled, giving Wendy a chance to re- attain her freedom. She ripped the dagger away from her throat, jabbing him sharply in the stomach causing him to mumble in pain. His blade flew from his hands landing conveniently into her palm. With out thought or hesitation, the woman whirled, impaling the dagger deep into the man's left shoulder, cleaving through tissue, muscles and tendons. She plunged the dagger deeper and deeper until she felt the skin split and rent in two on the opposite side of the flesh.
A shriek of pain echoed down the hall, and it became a surprise to Wendy that no one had been disturbed. After a few seconds, a second grunt of pain ensued as she coldly severed the link of steel to derma.
A silence lingered as Wendy braced the man with a hand on his throat, she found herself regretting her last action and could not bring herself to torture him. A light chuckle filled the girl's ears, startling her immensely. Light from her candle's flame played across the man's eyes, revealing a mysterious glint of mischief within their ocean of color.
"Good form.codfish."
Wendy's fingers dwindled along the hilt of the dagger and it slowly slipped from her grasp, spiraling in seemingly suspended anime towards the floor below. Crimson rain, trickled through the air as dew, landing in small puddles across the mahogany planks. Sapphire pools blinked the world from existence, a sheen a crystal beads forming within them. The clatter of steel sounded distant, dulled somehow although right at her feet.
No it couldn't..but she felt the skin tear, the sobering wail still rang through her ears, piercing her heart with a haunting melody. Crimson trails dripped down her fingertips, down the hungry tongue of her blade, down the cloth of his clothing.his clothing, light, more sparse than an English gentleman would wear, like long johns they were.
Wendy stepped towards the light, her fingers shaking as she reached forwards slightly.
"Peter."
LONDON, ENGLAND THE RESINATING LIGHT
Wendy's carriage parried the dense London fog to the best of its ability as it drove along the damp cobblestone street. The small coach bobbed up and down across the uneven rock as it trudged forwards.
"The Labyrinth Miss." The driver's voice came from the fore front of the buggy.
Wendy gazed at him, nodding.
"Thankyou sir."
She reached in her embroidered coin purse, pulling a few shillings out of it. Wendy straightened her light blue skirt, fixing the bunched laces on either side. She grabbed her parasol, opening it above her head with a gloved hand, keeping the snow from littering her hair with its glitter.
The labyrinth was an elegant, ritzy place, known for its exquisite verity of food from all over the world. It was dimly lit, a smoky air about it. The atmosphere Being high class, Wendy felt quite uncomfortable and a sense of displacement overwhelmed her.
"May I help you miss?" a waiter inquired of her rather curtly, looking her up and down with a superior look that made her blood boil.
"I am here to meet Mr. J. Barrie, he is expecting me." She replied in an even tone, her eyes glinting at him coolly.
No more words were said on his behalf as he briskly walked down the
green carpeted hall, Wendy closely in tow. He stopped abruptly at a small table in the corner of the room where sunshine was peeking in through the bay window beside it. An older man, with graying hair, perhaps in his late forties, perhaps early fifties, sat on the left, smoke twirling upward from the embers of his Cuban cigar.
"This woman said that you wished to see her Mr. Barrie, that you were expecting her."
Mr. Barrie took a swig of his whiskey.
"Oh Thankyou Lyman. I have been expecting Miss. Darling." He paused smiling kindly at the girl now sitting in front of him. "She and I have some important business to discuss." He nodded towards the waiter, giving him the ok to be excused with out further commentary. The other man stared at him befuddled before leaving, shaking his had absently.
Mr. Barrie chuckled lightly, watching the reaction on the departed waiter's face.
"I am sorry about that Miss. Darling. I hope he did not leave you in too much discomfort."
The man's eyes twinkled like a boy's at Christmas time. He reached over, pouring her a small glass of whiskey.
"A little strong for a normal lady but, then again, I do not believe that you are a normal lady Miss. Darling." Wendy relaxed in her chair, feeling a wash of relief refresh her soul. She had a feeling that her and Mr. Barrie, were going to be getting along famously. She smiled at herself, in an odd way, he reminded her a little of Peter Pan..just grown up.
"What was it that you have requested my presence for Mr. Barrie?"
Mr. Barrie chuckled again, shaking his head in apparent amusement. She had a feeling that was in her expense.
"My dear, there is no need for formality please, just call me James."
Wendy was taken back. She barely knew this man and yet, he was already giving her complete autonomy to address him by his first name. At sensing her discomfort, he nodded, continuing on.
"I have asked for your presence her today Miss. Darling because I have had the privilege of becoming familiar with your delightfully inspiring stories and I thought that perhaps we could reach an arrangement."
Wendy's ears perked up in curiosity.
"An arrangement? Of what sort Mr. Barrie?"
"I was curious if you should ever like to see your work published on the shelves?"
Wendy nearly spat her whiskey across the table, her azure eyes wide as marbles.
"You are serious?!"
"Oh to be sure!" he assured without hesitation.
His eyes danced warmly at her with a deep fire of genuine excitement. "Miss. Darling.May I call you Wendy?"
Wendy nodded, taking a long sip of water in an unsuccessful attempt to wet her parched throat. James stood, moving to the seat next to the girl, placing a reassuring hand gently upon her shoulder.
"Wendy, how would you like your work to be known abroad, and the stories that you love and cherish so much to be as much apart of other children as they are of you?" he asked softly.
The girl felt her heart tremor and a shiver ran down her spine. Other children, falling asleep to the stories of pirates, fairies, mermaids, of distant lands and magical kingdoms, of Neverland and of the little boy who would never grow up, the eternal youth and very embodiment of childhood, Peter Pan. Wendy smiled heartily, a whisper of happiness burrowing in the depths of her soul.
"That would be lovely." She commented softly.
She glanced up at the man curiously. Surely there was a catch. "What must I do?"
James sighed, removing his spectacles, laying them to rest on the well polished table surface. He reached up rubbing his eyes.
"The catch is only this, unfortunately, because you are a woman, if you're name was put on the book in whole, most men would stereotype the stories you were to write."
"What do you suggest James?" she inquired, never skipping a beat.
He paused a moment in contemplation. After a long instant, he turned towards the girl, smiling softly.
"Wendy, you need not think of anything right now. You worry about that later. If you wish to do this, I'll be you're editor and help you along were you need it. All you need worry about now, it actually writing them with pen on parchment."
A twinkle formed in the young woman's eyes and she nodded.
"Very well Mr. Barrie. I think it is a lovely idea!"
"Wonderful Wendy!" He exclaimed, shaking the girl's hand warmly. "I bet you are very hungry yes?"
she giggled nodding.
"I suppose that I am a little more then famished."
James Barrie chuckled heartily. "Then we must get you some food silly girl! My treat."
The man rose his glass towards the girl as her eyes widened in surprise at the generous offer.
"To fairytales."
After a moment of hesitation, she grinned widely, lifting her own half empty glass of whiskey.
"To Peter Pan!"
The duo broke into a cheery gale as they ignited their new found partnership in a tinkling of glasses.
An hour later, Wendy said her good-byes to the man, wishing not to go for even in the short time she had spent with him, it was like she had known him for a very long time and she found him possessing a very familiar fire that intoxicated her soul.
As she climbed the marble stairs to the wade mansion, she forced the memories of her luncheon to the back of her mind, bringing forwards the important things on hand. These thoughts churned in her belly, upsetting it. She sighed deeply as she reached forwards hesitantly before finally knocking the brass lion's head against the hard oak door.
Seconds later, the front door was opened, and the marble foyer was reviled beyond its barrier. The butler's usually stern face melted to warmth as his eyes met the familiar face passionately.
"Miss Darling! What an unexpected surprise!" he exclaimed stepping aside. "Mr. Wade is in his study, please, do come in!"
Mr. Jenkins lead Wendy to the drawing room, accepting her long lavender cloak, hat and gloves.
"May I entertain the idea of something to drink Miss Darling?"
Wendy smiled shaking her head politely.
"Thankyou anyway Samuel, but I think I'll wait for Mr. Wade."
The butler nodded in understanding.
"Oh very good ma'am. I shall make sure that Master Wade is aware of your presence."
With that, he turned on his heels, leaving Wendy all alone in the room. She sighed, relaxing back into an over easy chair. So, this was the decision that would be responsible for the rest of the change in her life. So, this was growing up.this was what it was like to completely lose herself in the adult world
A new chapter in her life was about to begin, one unfamiliar, uncharted. It was this path that she was about to take, her newest adventure opening up horizons to grasp with her finger tips and yet..She sighed heavily, surrendering her eyes to darkness. She did not know if she was ready for it or if she even wanted it.
The parlor doors opened suddenly, upsetting the quiet in the room, startling the girl so that she let out a sharper cry.
"Wendy, I am sorry!" Wade apologized, taking her hand in his, caressing it with the presence of his lips. "I did not mean to startle you."
She let out a nervous laugh shaking her head.
"No, please, you did nothing. Its just that I was deeply lost in my thoughts."
She smiled at him, slowly reaching to grasp her hand in his own. It was his turn to gaze down in alarm.
"Miss Wendy.I."
Wendy silenced his with a hand lightly touching his lips.
"Sydney," she paused taking a deep breath.
'You wont forget about us will you?'
"I dropped by to give you my reply."
'Me, forget, Never!'
Sydney Wade sat up straighter immediately, awaiting in anticipation.
'I'll never see you again will I, Peter Pan?'
"Go on Wendy." He encouraged, a glimmer of hope captured deep within the essence of his eyes.
'I'll come back to listen to your wild tales of Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty. Then of course, there fare always the stories of Never, Never Land.and me.'
'Don't worry peter, we're not going to forget you either.I promise.'
'I'll miss you Peter.'
'Will you always keep the window unlocked for me.'
'Always.'
"Sydney, I have decided to marry you." She whispered firmly, though inside, she felt herself crumbling as if clay morder.
Sydney Wade's eyes widened in delight.
"Wendy, you're serious?" "Yes, yes I am."
He smiled warmly, his eyes misting slightly. He took both her hands in his gently, kneeling on one knee.
"Wendy, my darling, I promise I will make you as happy as I can."
Wendy could not help but smile for she knew the man's heart and knew this to be very true. She knew he would do every thing in his power.
"I believe you." She reassured.
Sydney reached into the depths of his right jacket pocket, pulling a velveteen box from with in it. He opened it to reveal a simple white gold band, accented with an exquisitely designed cluster of diamonds, arranged in a flower. The girl gasped, a hand flying to her chest.
"Oh my!" she cried in alarm as he slipped it on her left ring finger.
Never had she possessed such a valuable trinket in all her life.
"Do you like it?" he asked, suddenly concerned.
She immediately jumped in its defense.
"Oh no! Not at all, I love it!"
He relaxed, smiling fondly. Wendy watched him swallow hard, contemplating a thought deeply.
"Wendy, might I.may I," he swallowed again. "Would you allow me to kiss you?"
This request took her back and she recoiled in shock.
"I.I'm sorry, I didn't." "Sydney, yes..yes you may." She whispered, biting her lip, cursing the nag within her soul.
The man gazed at her a moment, watching a sweet smile touch Wendy's lips. He reached forwards, touching Wendy's face with his rougher fingertips but in such a gentle way that it shocked her and her heart almost melted away. His palm captured it softly, pulling her chin towards his face, his eyes never swerved from hers. Wendy felt a surge of electricity radiating from with in Sydney's eyes. As he leaned forwards, she saw his face stained with deep love and fondness.
And through this all, she felt something with in shatter though, she could not comprehend exactly what. Her eyes fluttered shut, a tear drifting out of the corner of her the reason, unclear to her, as she felt his lips melt into hers softly.and then only that moment existed. This was her world now, and this was her story.
'Never is an awfully long time.'
The door to the Darling home opened and Wendy stepped inside, out of the frigid air that bit at her heels harshly, as if vengeful of the blood flowing through her veins. That blood that flowed freely, yearning for the taste of the sky against her skin, the wind's breath kissing her lips as she sailed amongst the glittering diamonds littering the velvet night. The very blood lusting for adventure and for freedom of vile things that hindered her hidden, inner soul from its true conquest. Winter's mistress, cursed the ground she walked, and her treacherous heart, whipping branches across her ankles in bitter rage, icy tears falling all around her, in soft mournful flakes. The wind screamed at her, tearing at her cloths in a vast fury but Wendy, ignored them all, shutting the door behind her.
An echoing thunder of feet roared down the stairs and Wendy's heart melted as the sight of an illusionary Michael rushed towards her arms, his bear tucked securely under the crook of his elbow.
'Wendy!' he cried excitedly, skipping two stairs at a time to reach the girl even faster. 'Your home!'
He laughed as she spun the younger in a great circle, flying him high through out the air.
'How is my little brother doing?' She asked, kissing his cheek fondly. 'And what shall we do today?'
'Play pirates with me!' he instructed, a bright twinkle lighting his eyes. 'John can be captain hook and you can be Peter Pan! I'll be your lost boy!'
Wendy laughed in delight at the child. She instantly set him on the ground, placing her hands on her hips, a cocky grinning crossing her lips.
'Very well! To the hideout! Rouse the other lost boys, its time for an adventure!'
Michael gave 'peter' a mock salute before bounding up the stairs again. Wendy (Peter) 'flew' right behind him, climbing two at time to reach the top of 'the tree fort'.
The child suddenly stopped cold in front of the door to the nursery, eyes fixed widely on the window directly in front of him.
Wendy watched him grow pale as a shaky finger pointed towards it. Behind the mask his eyes glowed as he snapped farther into his character.
'Pan! Hook has learned of our hideout, he has breached the walls! And look! He is going to set fire to the whole place!'
'Peter' grabbed his blade from its sheath, pointing it in the direction of 'Captain Hook' who was wearing a fancy pirate hat, and a pirate jacket. His right hand was bawled into a fist with exception to a single finger, hung in the shape of a hook.
'Well, well Pan, it looks as though I'll have the final laugh!' John bellowed, dashing from the window's ledge, madly racing for his sister with his blade pointed out right.
Wendy prepared herself, her blade clashing with the younger boy's a first. She smirked, her eyes burning with a strangely intense blue fire.
'Proud, insolent youth, prepare to meet thy doom.' 'Hook' whispered, leaning in closer to 'Peter's' face. 'Dark sinister man, have at thee.'
Moments later, a gale of laughter, clinking of steel, bumping of books off shelves, breaking glass from a cutlass that missed its human target, coming in contact with a defenseless lamp instead, rang through out the room, echoing into the large rooms of the lower part of the house. Though none seemed to recognize this for they were much to busy having a wonderful time in the world deep with in that of the child's mind. That of imagination and wonder. With these, they could make anything occur and bring to life magic in a world of rules and regulations. A world in where so many adults grew up, forgetting who they once were. Wendy, Michael and John played on, dancing to the rhythm that beat ever so strongly on in drum of their hearts, the pulse of their blood and the flow of everything they were.
Time went on, Wendy grew, getting older and older as did her brothers until suddenly, other things took the place of their silly games, and childhood memories. The fur hats, pirate jackets and cutlasses sat on a shelf now, in the boy's room, collecting dust with the passing of time. A new layer for every moon. Her stories, dreams and adventures, flew out the window, seeking for their freedom, not desiring to be chained by Wendy's adult body. They left for Neverland, where they would remain so they never had to grow up along with the children as they were forced to be molded into their society. Their topics of conversations changed, gradually fading into a mature talk of reality and the future to come in this world in which they now lived their lives. Soon, all such became a passing routine that they each settled into when their own unique wave of the world caught them up in a different part of its whirlwind. Chasing away the childish spirit, as it shackled them to their here and now, not what was or what could have or might have been. The window was no longer open, though, it remained unlocked as always. Perhaps welcoming the tumble weed that just might one day blow in again on the wind's spirit. All that was just a legend that lived on in their hearts now.
Now, slower, more paced footsteps alerted the girl to another body and she gazed up at the stair case where Michael was standing smiling down at her.
"Hello Wendy."
Michael leaned forwards, peeking her cheek lightly.
"Your day fared well?"
Wendy smiled at him warmly as she removed her shall from around her neck. She motioned him to a seat in front of her and her brother sat.
"You know well Mr. Barrie that editor correct?"
The boy nodded, placing his chin in his palm in keen interest.
"Quite, what did he wish of you?"
Michael was surprised to see a mysterious shimmer behind the pools of ocean blue for, it had been sometime since excitement danced across her eyes. Now, they flickered in cool fire that was sweet and always reminded him of a garden after a fresh spring rain.
"Mr. Barrie had quite the proposition. A partner ship Michael! He wanted to know if I'd ever wish my stories printed for the public eye!"
In that second, that twenty year old woman, was replaced by a beaming, bright-eyed girl he use to know once upon a time. She knelt at his side, her hands firmly on his shoulders. A twinkle, surpassing all the wonder of the earth burned deep, churning her soul, filling her lungs until he was sure she was going to burst out of her adult body as she would began to fly around the house, though this wasn't exactly what happened.
"Oh imagine it Michael! The stories we all know, love and grew up on, they have the chance of becoming apart of other childhoods and their imaginations! They have the opportunity to know of worlds filled with pirates, fairies, mermaids, music and magic! They can discover the world where no one has to grow up where they can remain young forever! The magical world of Neverland and its mystical boy guardian, Peter Pan!"
She hadn't realized in her excitement that she had lifted the boy, spinning him in a mini circle. Wendy's excitement was overwhelmingly contagious and soon, both were laughing gaily as they had so long ago. It was like they had been reborn, and an unquenchable flame had been ignited from old embers of youth, now revitalized.
"I now, have only to write it!" she giggled, tapping an index finger against her lips. "Lets see, where shall I begin?"
Michael sat up straighter, grabbing his sister's forearms excitedly.
"Wendy, why not start with refreshing your memory about our adventures by holding story hour just like you use before we all would retire to bed." he was impelled to suggest.
"Oh Michael, what a delightful idea!" she gushed in return. "Isn't this all so exciting?!"
At that moment, John wandered into the room, his eyes meandering between his sister and younger brother.
"Dinner is prepared. Mother has requested that you wash up before joining us at the table."
Wendy nodded, still unable to squelch the big grin shining across her lips.
"Very well then John. Mr. Barrie had the most delightfully compelling proposition for me today and I was moved to accept it for it truly touched me that deeply. Oh John, he wishes to compile all our stories on paper, published for all to see and that way, they can be a part of other children and their imagination. Therefore, I am trying to get reacquainted with them and thus have decided to hold story hour in the nursery right after supper. You will be joining us will you not?"
John Darling's eyes sparkled a mixture of contempt and desperation. He seemed so confused, so bewildered that Wendy was sure the boy was going to burst into a gale of tears. The clear blue orbs swam with the childhood fire but twist of everything the world was thrusting at him now, expecting and molding him to become, swirled along with it. It laughed, taunting the girl from the other side of the cerulean glass almost as if letting her know he was its prisoner and there was nothing that she could say that would break him of it. He had become a slave to the world, chained and shackled to everything they had fought against becoming when they were children. The boy's eyes bored deeply into her, cutting her soul to its quick. Wendy shuddered, retracting her gaze from the frosty irises burning into her.
"Wendy, leave this nonsense behind you! It's enough! Look in the mirror Wendy, you are a twenty year-old woman. You still cling to the childish hopes that once endeavored your soul. Things have changed and you simply need to accept the fact that you grew up, and will never ever be a child again." His eyes narrowed as he leaned closer to her face. "Wake up Wendy, wake up to reality! This is the real world, now, live in it!"
John whirled on intent of exiting the room however he paused long enough to add,
"And for pete sakes, would you lock that bloody window?!" What seemed to be the simplest of statements however, to Wendy, it was what hurt the most for it was like John wanted to forget purposely everything that had been. And even though it wasn't now, they had held oh so close to their hearts for years. Now, in this simple statement, he was telling her to leave it all behind, forget who she was and..grow up. He had forgotten that this very thing was what made her who she was.
Wendy turned away from the boys, her heart becoming intent on the staircase to her left. As she made her leave, Michael did not fail to see a tear seep down her cheek. Anger burned in his heart causing animosity against his brother arise.
"Who are you to dash to pieces those dreams of whom you envy?! Just because you will not allow yourself to see into your past, why must you prevent others from seeing into theirs?! She is your sister whom would drain every last drop of her blood away from her veins for you. She would give her world and the world of everyone else if she could. She would do anything for you! Surly you yourself are not so blind that you can not see that! And yet, in all the goodness of her heart and all her dreams for you, you still cannot hear nor feel her heart."
Michael brought three inches from his brother and his faces, so close to where John could feel Michael's furious breath against his skin.
"You have turned out to be a vicious and selfish man John Darling." He hissed darkly, his voice dripping with every essence of disdain.
A thin yet, steady waterfall dripped over the bridge of Wendy's nose as her eyes fell upon the atramentous sky. Stars twinkled down at her, winking every so often, in and out of sight again. Two stars appeared brighter then all the others though and it was those her eyes became solely faceted upon.
The window had been opened, the curtains blew freely in the rhythm to the nightly wind, dancing to its enticing melody. The lady of the wind, stretched her fingers out every once in a while to the flame sitting on the girl's nightstand, beckoning to it to come join the spirited dance for freedom., causing it to flicker in antsiness.
A light knock upon her door startled her attention away from the vision and to the wooden frame at the other corner of her room. Moments later, the knob turned and a head poked inside.
"Wendy?" a soft voice whispered, one she immediately recognized to be Michael's.
"Oh, do come in."
The door was opened in its entirety and the boy stepped inside the room, a small tray of food in one hand. The door was once again re-shut as the younger started for the girl's bed, in which she now lay.
Wendy couldn't help but chuckle softly, smiling at such a considerate thought.
"Oh my goodness, is that for me? Thank you so much Michael." She gushed, bending to kiss the lad a top his forehead.
"Wendy, are ok?"
Smiled, taking a small sip of her hot tea gratefully. The boy's eyes gazed downwardly until they met with the floor.
"I am sorry for what John said to you, it wasn't fair."
Wendy paused, a spoonful of chicken soup stopping in mid air. She gazed at her brother affectionately, tousling his hair lightly with her left hand.
"No, no Michael. Do not blame John." She whispered firmly, with a wisdom that seemed to surpass her age. "He, in due time will learn a balance, just as all of us must."
The spoon resumed its destination, greeting Wendy's mouth eagerly.
"I wish I was as strong as you Wendy." The boy whispered back, taking in the dignity behind her fair blue eyes.
"You must gather your own strength Michael, and you have a great strength that surpasses many, including my own."
She smiled, setting the soup bowl aside before placing her hand upon his head again.
"But let us not have you concern yourself with that burden at the moment."
With out reluctance, Michael placed his head upon Wendy's shoulder.
"Wendy, will you tell me a story?"
"Which would you care to here?"
"Oh, do tell the one of our adventure to Neverland!"
She grinned, settling in for comfort.
"Certainly."
She took a deep breath before beginning with her all so familiar tale.
"Once, in a sleepy, fog cover city, known as London, there were three children, two boys a girl, of whom we shall call the names: Michael, John and Wendy. These children thrived on stories of adventure and it so happened that the girl, Wendy, was an exquisite story teller, at least, that is what her brothers had told her many separate times. She would dazzle them each with her adventurous tales of pirates, fairies, brave princesses, mermaids and evil villains who would stop at nothing to bring the 'Happily Ever After' to its doom."
"Did they succeed?" Michael asked, becoming inattentive on the story at hand.
Wendy's eyes twinkled in the moonlight as a smirk danced across her lips.
"Never! The heroes and heroines were much too smart for that and always could outwit their opponents! Now, on one such night in which Wendy was telling her stories, acting out with a passion every detail behind the scenes, her father and mother were due at a party, and so, the children were put to bed early. Now, Wendy and her father did not always see eye to eye and in this such case, he felt as though she were being too much of a child. Therefore, his immediate response was 'I wish you would just grow up!'"
"What did Wendy do?"
"Well, she became very frightened for, the very thought of growing up, conjured up all sorts of unpleasant images in her mind so that she tended to shy away from it all. Now, it seemed to be shoved directly into her face. Wendy did not wish to grow up, you see she would have rather stayed young forever, doing many fun and exciting things, taking adventures and making daring rescues of fair maddens, battling off cut throat pirates in the name of trueness and peace. Though, in her world that she knew, that, of course, was not to be. So, she went to bed, befuddled as new and horribly frightening thoughts raced through her mind. What Wendy did not know, was that her wish, was about to come very true in the most unexpected of ways."
"How so?" Michael asked, his eyes drooping slightly as the sound of her soothing voice reached the depths of his ears.
"Later that night, the shadow of a boy, crept along the wall, for the window had been left ajar, and he had blown in. The crashing of books alerted Wendy and she sat aright in her bed to see the lad himself indeed chasing it down. He was desperately trying to stick it to the soles of his feet with soap."
"Soap?"
Wendy giggled nodding. "Yes, soap. At quickly realizing that it was not going to work, the boy sank to his knees, letting a cry of frustration escape his throat. At that, Wendy smiled, realizing the lad was positively harmless. 'Boy, Why are you crying?' she asked, startling him to his full stature, his hands quickly finding his hips.unsmoothly. 'I lost my shadow and.I wasn't crying!' he snapped. After a second of giggling in his expense, which of course he didn't find at all to amusing in himself, he asked for her name. Her reply came 'Wendy Moyra Angela Darling. What's yours?' 'Peter Pan.' He replied cockily. Wendy then asked if she could sow the shadow back on though, it might hurt a little. Peter Pan agreed and sowing soon commenced. From the bed next to the girl's, a deep snore came, startling Peter into the air.in fact, that was where he stayed."
"But Wendy, people can not just linger in mid air." Michael mused sleepily.
"Well Peter could! Wendy quickly arose her brother so they could take in the spectacular sight for themselves. When John commented that to say you could fly was to defy the laws of physics, Peter immediately smirked then cockily floated off the ground. Of course John decided that he wanted to defy physics as well and thus it all began. Happy thoughts became the key and a little pixie dust. With that, they all rose off the air. Peter asked if Wendy would like to accompany him to a place in which you would never have to grow up and worry about all that runs in this world ever, ever again.a place so great that you can unleash your imagination to its fullest potential and reap no consequences. A place known as Neverland. Wendy's reply was 'Never is an awfully long time.' Peter just grinned nodding passionately. Moments later, the children and he were flying high in the air, over all of London, sailing though the clouds to the second star to the right, then straight on until morning.."
Wendy gazed down at her brother's sleeping form several moments later, after going in to detail about the wonderful adventure they all had experienced, what no seemed like once upon a time so long ago. She ran her fingers through his hair lightly as she finished.
"Years flew by, and the Wendy lady never saw the cocky boy with unruly hair again. Though, she watched for him frequently, always keeping her window locked just as she had promised and, every once in awhile, she thought she heard a crowing off in the distance somewhere, blowing past her window from the tops of the towering buildings. Though her adventure was over, it lived on in her heart, from then on and no matter what, she knew she would never forget it as long as she was alive and well. So the Wendy lady continued to live, telling others of this delightful story you just finished hearing about tonight, and that my dear brother, is where this stories comes to its end.for now. And although we can not say all lived happily ever-after, for they are still living, they have a new and exciting chapter unfolding for them, paving the way for another new, exciting adventure to come." Michael's light snore drifted to her ears from where he lay beside her and the girl had not the heart to move him. She smiled, gazing out the window, eyes resting once again on the sky. A creek of the door caught her attention and her had turned sharply towards it, catching a pair of cool blue eyes, as blue as glacier ice, before they could retreat into the darkness once again. Wendy gazed at them gently, not a single strain of animosity held against them. They blinked twice, before fading from the moonlight, back to the bleakness of the hallway. The girl sighed, laying back against her soft down pillows.
'Goodnight.John.'
Wendy was suddenly awakened out of her peaceful slumber by something unknown to her. A cool wind kissed her face lightly as she sat up in the moonlit darkness. Shadows of the curtains danced, swirling in the breeze. She could hear Michael's light snores filling the air in a continuous echo beside her. The girl's eyes lightly played across the room, growing heavy after a short while.
A crash jolted her senses abruptly and her eyes once again snapped open to their fullness, a gasp escaping her lips. Her hair, wrapped around her shoulders as she peered around the room, lingering longer then before. A dead silence replaced it moments later, causing a suspicious air to incur, one that made Wendy flip the blankets off her legs and reach for her satin robe, all the while trying not to disturb her brother's slumber.
The girl glanced at her clock, noting it was indeed close to three in the morning. She grabbed her candlestick, giving a glow to the small aura of space surrounding her. She shielded its flame from the light gust floating in through the window.
Another crash filtering from another room in the house filled her ears and her eyes flew towards her door sharply. In a few swift yet, stelthfull strides, she was turning the knob as quietly as possible. Wendy poked her out into the vast hall cautiously, assessing the safeness.
Footsteps creaked at the end of the wooden planks and Wendy drew her breath in sharply, desperately trying to swallow the fear and panic welling with in her lungs. She tried reassuring herself that it was probably just her brother however, she grabbed for her decorative dagger, received from Peter right before they had left for London again. It had been her going away present.
She slowly stepped onto the unsteady floor boards, trying to desist from as much noise as possible. As she crept along, her hand touched the wall, giving her a point of origin so that she would always know where she was. Her heart jumped as another object clamored to the floor and a sturdy voice moaned to the darkness of the corridor. She gritted her teeth to keep the heavy gasp at the back of her throat. Her hand gripped the blade even tighter as she realized, there was an intruder. She inhaled deeply before attempting to summon her courage.and voice.
"W-who's there?!" she stammered demandingly.
The noise ceased abruptly and an unsettling silence lingered through out the air, making it seem frozen and stale. She swallowed, trying to cure the dryness within the back of her throat though her attempts proved to be nothing but in vein.
A scratching against the wall drew Wendy's attention to all alertness, and a certain boldness, perhaps the rush of adrenalin to her brain, seized hold of her senses.
"What business have you in my father's house?!" she snapped to the cold morning air chilling her skin even in spit of her flickering flame.
Her heart raced against the silence and time spent, her eyes darting madly through the corridor. Her pulse quickened, her sapphire gems burning with coldness.
"Answer me!"
Suddenly, to her left, a movement in the dark met her skin and a hand clamped roughly around her forearm. The girl screamed, fighting back panic as she ran the dagger in her right hand through the air, catching a portion of soft flesh with the tip of its steely wrath. She felt the resistance parry the blade's hateful edge but it was instantly proven to be no match for the spite as it cut through the skin as though it were nothing but melting butter.
A sharp cry pierced the air as Wendy was immediately released. The girl took this small time to take an immense stride backwards, knife outstretched to the unknown being in her stead. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she could plainly make out the figure of a man, average stature though, quite muscular.
Her eyes blazed into him, gazing at him full length to assess her opponent.
"You sir are not welcome here and I advise that you leave this place at once," Wendy pointed her blade directly at his face. "For, if you believe that just because I am a woman that I can not handle my own, that I can not fight to defend, you sir, will be sorely mistaken and shall greatly regret your choice of thought later."
She reached forwards, striking her dagger at him in warning. He easily dodged the on coming blow, moving with almost fluid motion. Eyes blazing, Wendy slashed the weapon forwards, minimally missing her target. The man's body became plastered against the wall as he narrowly missed another swipe at his abdomen.
"What right have you to just charge into one's house unannounced, uninvited?!" she seethed bitterly, embedding the blade's unfriendly tip into the wood above the man's head.
He took the time to grab a candle stick from a nearby end table, bringing it up to his has just in time to avoid another blow.
"What have you come for?!" The blade clashed with the medal holder once again. "You do fight well." The man mused, speaking up for the first time.
Wendy lost her guard momentarily at the sound of his unexpectedly gentle voice, laced with a slight edge of amusement most likely directed in her expense.this seemed to be running the norm as of late.
It her second of hesitation, an object knocked her hand causing her to lose grip upon her blade and it clattered to the wooden flooring. Dazed, she failed to see a hand coming for her shoulder until it was to late to react. The strength was too much for her to bear and it spun her body viciously until it was lined against another, an unfriendly razor tip embedded into the top of her jugular.
Wendy's eyes widened in fright as her hands flew to the restrictive forearm. She realized that it wasn't her blade at her throat but another. It was a similar dagger though longer, with a regularly sharpened tip that was like fine glass against her skin and she could feel the sting of the siring side tearing through her own flesh ever so slightly. And as a thin trickle of blood puddle down her neck line, she quickly stopped all struggling, realizing that it was she herself inflicting all the damage.
"Who are you girl?" A curious voice asked behind her.
"What do you care you pirate?!" she snarled, adjusting her feet to regain at least a semblance of comfort.
"Pirate?" A light chuckle filled her ears, one that seemed of genuine nature. "No, No, No!" he cooed, shaking his head ever so slightly. "Not so! So girl, what are you really?"
Wendy was growing tired of all the questioning bestowed upon her.
"A warrior who brandishes a sword and fly's through the air." She snapped sarcastically.
Out of nowhere, the man's grip dwindled, giving Wendy a chance to re- attain her freedom. She ripped the dagger away from her throat, jabbing him sharply in the stomach causing him to mumble in pain. His blade flew from his hands landing conveniently into her palm. With out thought or hesitation, the woman whirled, impaling the dagger deep into the man's left shoulder, cleaving through tissue, muscles and tendons. She plunged the dagger deeper and deeper until she felt the skin split and rent in two on the opposite side of the flesh.
A shriek of pain echoed down the hall, and it became a surprise to Wendy that no one had been disturbed. After a few seconds, a second grunt of pain ensued as she coldly severed the link of steel to derma.
A silence lingered as Wendy braced the man with a hand on his throat, she found herself regretting her last action and could not bring herself to torture him. A light chuckle filled the girl's ears, startling her immensely. Light from her candle's flame played across the man's eyes, revealing a mysterious glint of mischief within their ocean of color.
"Good form.codfish."
Wendy's fingers dwindled along the hilt of the dagger and it slowly slipped from her grasp, spiraling in seemingly suspended anime towards the floor below. Crimson rain, trickled through the air as dew, landing in small puddles across the mahogany planks. Sapphire pools blinked the world from existence, a sheen a crystal beads forming within them. The clatter of steel sounded distant, dulled somehow although right at her feet.
No it couldn't..but she felt the skin tear, the sobering wail still rang through her ears, piercing her heart with a haunting melody. Crimson trails dripped down her fingertips, down the hungry tongue of her blade, down the cloth of his clothing.his clothing, light, more sparse than an English gentleman would wear, like long johns they were.
Wendy stepped towards the light, her fingers shaking as she reached forwards slightly.
"Peter."