Hellooo sorry about the delay, but I'm having financial difficulties at the moment, and times are bad. There's few lights in my life right now, and writing this is one of them. Pathetic, but oh well. I love you all!
Chapter 10: The Fall of an Empire
Song used in chapter: Hallelujah by Rufus Wainright. I love this song.
Amanda's condition was nothing short of heat stroke, an easily curable illness. And it made Peter's mind up.
Wendy couldn't believe this! Peter was destroying the cage? But why?
"Are you mad?" Wendy asked. "Where will she stay?"
"Amanda has proven herself to us," He told her.
"What? Peter---"
He gave a low sigh. "Wendy, not this again. She's proven herself with the children, with cooking, secrets, lessons, everything! We cannot allow her to live in that cage any longer!"
"So you let Babes McGee… BABES McGEE…" (Peter groaned) "Who wouldn't sooner look at you than kill you into our home? Who's next? Hook if he was still alive?" Wendy shouted.
"Her name is Amanda," He spat.
"I think you're letting your past feelings cloud your judgment."
"And I think you're as jealous as Tink."
"I'm not jealous!" She cried. "She could act loyal today, tomorrow, six years from now. As soon as you put your faith in her, she'll gut you."
"I have not forgotten what she's done nor will I! But she has given every trace that she's changed. What else can she do to prove it to you?"
Wendy was silent. What had happened? She had lost everything, and now she was losing Peter.
"Look," He said sharply. "I'm tired of fighting about this. Maybe you should go home, Wendy. Go publish your book. It's what you want anyway."
Wendy was speechless. She felt like she had been slapped. "It's her! She's driving us apart! What spell has she got you under to make you push me away?"
"I heard there was a secret cord that David played and it pleased the lord, but you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this the forth, the fifth, the minor fall, the major lift, the baffled king composing Hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah…"
"This is just me," He said impatiently.
"You don't mean it," She whispered. "Peter…"
"Some time away would be good," He said. "I'll have Tink lead you back." He walked off.
"Wait," She said, grabbing his arm. "I don't want to go to London."
"You need some time to sort things out and see your family."
She stared at him. Into the eyes she loved. "Just because I don't trust her doesn't mean I don't love you."
"Your faith was strong but you needed proof, you saw her bathing on the roof, her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you. She tied you to her kitchen chair, she broke your throne, she cut your hair, and from your lips she drew the "hallelujah".
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah…"
"I love you too, Wendy," He whispered, pulling her into his arms.
Wendy sighed. She wasn't sure when he'd ever hold her again.
Wendy didn't notice the figure watching her as she haphazardly threw her clothes into her bag until they spoke.
"Poor Wendy," Amanda said.
Wendy ignored her. It was all she could do to stop herself from strangling her again.
"No one likes Wendy anymore," Amanda sang, circling her. "Not the children, and most importantly, not Peter. I don't even think you like yourself."
Wendy angrily threw her novel into her bag. She didn't think she could hate anyone as much as she hated Amanda. "You think you're so great because you let the children run wild and walk around half naked in front of Peter?"
Amanda smirked. "I get my man. Peter is mine. I grew ever so tired of sharing him with you."
Wendy's fists curled.
Amanda just grinned, "Did he make love to you, Wendy? All the while envisioning me in your place."
Wendy gripped the straps on her bag so tight her knuckles were turning white.
"You can't touch me," Amanda laughed.
Wendy roared, "You have nothing close to what Peter and I share! He came back for me! He stayed on my roof for three years just to watch over me! He grew up for me!"
"Yet when I come back into his life, it is I he chooses."
Wendy felt tears well up in her eyes despite herself. There was no arguing that.
"And do you know why?" She asked. "Because I'm better than you. I'm a better cook, a better mother, and oh yes, a better lover than you could ever dream. Really, what scrawny, ugly girl from London can compete against a pirate?"
Wendy's eyes flashed. "You think so? No. You may have Peter and everyone else fooled, but I know who you are. You're some sea hag that betrayed Peter years ago. And I haven't forgotten that. Either has he. You make one wrong move, and in London or not, I will make you pay."
"Says the English rose to the warrior."
Someone cleared their throat behind them.
Wendy didn't turn around. She knew it was Peter. Amanda walked to him, kissed his cheek, and walked off.
Wendy didn't face him.
"Wendy…"
"I'll be ready to leave in a few minutes." She said.
"I didn't mean what I said," He whispered. "I don't want you to go."
"Baby, I have been here before, I know this room, I walked this floor, I used to live alone before I knew you. I seen your flag on the marble arch, love is not a victory march. It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah…"
"No." She said softly. "You're right. It's for the best."
"But it's not what I want. And I know it's not what you want," He said, putting his arms around her shoulders.
"Then you know what you have to do," She said. "If you love me like you say, you'll do it."
"Wendy…"
"Then we were fooling ourselves," She said, tears trailing down her cheeks. "And you never loved me at all." She ran past him.
"There was a time when you let me know what's really going on below, but now you never show it to me, do you? Remember when I moved in you, the holy doubt was moving too, and every breath we drew was hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah…"
Wendy knew Peter was too proud to let Amanda go. He wanted her around as some sort of trophy or something. Yet, she couldn't help hoping, praying…
Tinker Bell flew down to where she sat in the forest. It was time for Wendy to leave. Without a word, Wendy followed Tinker Bell back to the Hollow. Peter and the children watched as she walked in a grabbed her bags.
"Wendy, please…" Peter begged.
Wendy turned to the children. They all avoided her eyes.
"In a few days, you won't even remember my name," She whispered. "I love you, Peter. I hope one day you could love me." And she turned, was covered in pixie dust, and left the hollow. She didn't think a single happy thought could enter her mind. But she pictured Amanda about to fall into a volcano, and up she rose.
"Maybe there's a God above, and all I ever learned from love was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you. It's not a cry you can hear at night, it's not somebody who's seen the light, it's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah… Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah…"Peter watched Wendy go with a heavy heart. And for only the second time in Neverland, it rained.