Legit, remember how I was last chapter I was like "Oops, this is 7,000 words"? This is the same, except it's 9,000 words.
The inky, black sidekick of Pan flickered in the corner of Wendy's eye as she lay in bed, unable to sleep. She was sick with worry and her heart had not stopped pounding in her chest as the hours passed by without Baelfire. She knew it hadn't been long, but it felt like forever since her brother had been taken.
She could hear John and Michael's breathing form across her room. The scratch of Nana's paws on the floor had stopped hours ago. She could hear the dog's soft snores from outside her bedroom door, where she slept most nights. Her mother and father's quiet voices had turned into whispers and then into silence hours before. The house was quiet and even outside, the streets of London, were eerily quiet. It unnerved her. It felt as it the world had been paused, holding its breath for her brother to return.
She was still in shock after seeing Baelfire ripped from her hands as he was dragged off to Neverland. She was still trying to wrap her mind around the image that stayed fixed in her mind's eye. She had been trying to convince herself it was a dream, a hellish nightmare. Even more, she wanted to convince herself that she hadn't been the one to summon what tore her family apart.
The Shadow flickered again in her window and she knew who it was there for. It rapped on the glass, waiting for her.
She slowly crept out of bed, pulling her robe on. She wasn't sure just what she would need on Neverland, but she was sure a bag wasn't necessary. She crept across the floor and stood silently before Michael and John. Her heart squeezed in her chest at the thought of leaving them, of leaving Mother and Father. But, she reminded herself, this was her problem to face, the one she had created. She would be back soon and with Baelfire, to reunite her family. She was the big sister. She was supposed to protect her brothers and she hadn't. She was nearly a grown-up and grown-ups owned up to their mistakes and made them right.
She had already wished her mother and father goodbye, telling them how much she loved them before going to bed. Her father had kissed her cheek and not seemed to notice the sad look in her eye. Her mother had and had asked her about it. She had stammered an excuse that she knew her mother hadn't believed, but Mary Darling had not pushed her and for that she was grateful.
She knelt down and kissed her two brothers on the cheek. She smiled at their peaceful faces and hoped that she would see them again soon. She slowly stood to go, but a hand reached out and grabbed her. She turned around quickly to see John, wide awake, staring at her in confusion,
"What's going on, Wendy?" he whispered. "Why are you up so late?"
As she floundered for words, John's eyes wandered over to the window. His eyes widened, seeing the Shadow. He shook his head and dashed out of bed, shaking Michael awake.
"Wake up, Michael! Wendy is about to do a very silly thing! Wake up!"
Michael sat up, rubbing his eyes. "What?"
John told him quickly, "Wendy's going after Baelfire."
Michael seemed to fully wake up at this. "Wendy, don't go," he pleaded, his eyes wide. Wendy felt her heart squeeze in her chest and she almost agreed to stay in that very moment.
"I've got to go, Michael," she said. "I need to save Baelfire. He's our brother. He deserves to grow up and have a good life."
"But you're our sister," John said, his voice was pleading.
"Yes, I'm your big sister, so you will let me go," she told them, forcefully. She tried to sound like a grown-up, confident and sure in her decision. "And besides, I'll be back with Baelfire before you know it. Our family will be whole once again. Now, don't make a fuss. I must go."
Michael and John exchanged a wary look and an understanding seemed to pass between the two. They turned back to her and nodded. They all hugged each other tightly, whispering words of love. She let go of them, slowly and painfully, before turning back to the window. She crossed the room quickly, for fear that if she faltered she would lose her nerve. She opened the window to the Shadow, remembering her brother's words to not do exactly what she had just done.
She refused to look back at her brothers. If she did, she knew she would have turned back then.
The stars and air were clear that night and the city had never looked more beautiful to her before. There was brisk breeze that cut through her night gown. The wind whipped her hair around and burned her cheeks, but she clambered up onto the ledge and then latched onto the Shadow. She immediately felt a deep, bone-chilling cold as she settled in it. Its inky blackness felt like daggers on her skin.
She grit her teeth as they flew up, up, up. They sailed over London and its river and then eventually out to the sea. The ride was so much longer than she remembered, so much more terrifying. The magic was no longer magical. All she was aware of was how the heights scared her and that they were moving too fast and that she missed her brother.
Suddenly, the Shadow made a sharp turn upwards and they raced towards the second star to the right. They raced up and up, so high she was afraid they would burst out into space and all the way over the moon. But that never happened. Instead, the night sky began to lighten. At first it was barely noticeable, but quickly, the dark, royal blue changed into a warm sky, filled with clouds. Far off in the distance, she could see the tiny island of Neverland. The cold breeze from London was far away now. A warm, tropical breeze rushed through her hair and she could smell the salt of the turquoise waters surround the island.
The closer they go to the island, the more details she could see. She could make out the white sand beaches and the coral reef off on the east shore of the island. Soon, she could hear the far-off din of the Lost Boys. In all its beauty, it was still a place of terror and despair.
She could see a small cove, on the opposite side of the island of the Lost Boys encampment. She told the Shadow that that would be a perfect place to drop her off, expect it ignored her and dropped her right then and there, into thin air.
She screamed as she plummeted from a hundred feet above the ocean. Her arms and legs flailed in the air she tried to latch onto anything to stop her fall. She shrieked as the water came closer and closer.
But just as she was about to hit the water, she was caught by a strong pair of arms. She continued to scream, however. Her eyes were squeezed shut and she heard a light laugh. She opened her eyes and was brought face to face with the most handsome boy she had ever seen.
There had been boys in London that she had had crushes on. There was even one who she thought she might marry. They were all had been good-looking, but none of them looked like this boy. He had dark hair and bright blue eyes. His eyes were so bright and light it was hard to meet them. His soft lips were turned up into a delightful grin. She felt her breath go out from her chest.
She stared at him silently and she couldn't form any words to ask who or what he was or how he was flying or how he had caught her. Before she could stammer out even a thank you, he smiled at her and the smile was so gorgeous she thought she might melt.
"Why, you're the funniest looking bird I've ever seen."
She was taken aback. "What—no, I'm Wendy," she stammered. He may have been incredibly handsome, but he was strange.
"Never heard of a Wendy-bird before," he said curiously. He gave her a look up and down and she felt herself blush deeply.
"No, I'm not a bird, I'm just Wendy, a human girl," she corrected. She was a little frustrated and more than a little flustered. It had been long enough that she had regained her bearings and realized just where his hands were on her and how close they were. The boys back in London would never have put her hands anywhere near her, let alone call her a bird.
The boy laughed and it sounded like the most wonderful sound in the world to Wendy. Fitting as he was the most beautiful boy in the world to Wendy. He looked about seventeen, her age. His clothes were completely dishevelled and he looked unlike any of the other boys she had ever seen. There was a glint in his eyes that she found incredibly intriguing.
"A girl, you say?" he asked.
"Yes, a girl," she repeated. For such a beautiful boy, he isn't very smart, she thought to herself.
"Well, I'm a boy," he explained, as if it was the answer to some complicated math problem.
"I know," she said, frustrated. "Now, will you put me down please?"
The boy grinned at her and she felt her heart thud in her chest. "Okay." Then he let her fall and she screamed. He caught her almost as soon as he let her go. She clung to him, furious.
"You stupid boy!" she yelled. "That is not what I meant!
"You've got to be more specific, Wendy-bird."
"Please let me down on the ground." They zipped quickly over to the beach and he set her down. The sand crunched under her feet and she took a couple moments to regain her composure. This was not how she had expected this to go.
The boy walked over the shore and began skipping rocks. His movements were graceful, but lazy, like a cat. He seemed completely unconcerned that a girl had just fallen from the sky, as if it happened every day. She stared at him a moment, frustrated and annoyed before turning to walk off into the woods. She had no time to deal with silly boys who played such mean tricks.
"Where do you think you're going?" he called out over his shoulder.
"I have business here and it's none of your concern," she called back. She didn't even look over her shoulder at him.
"If you want to survive, it should be," the boy said and his voice sounded like it was right behind her. She whipped around and found his face inches from hers. She swallowed back a shriek.
"How do you keep moving so fast?"
"Pixie dust," the boy grinned. He then sobered. "Now, back to the matter at hand. You need my help to survive."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, girls aren't allowed on the island. And the Shadow doesn't bring anyone in without a purpose," the boy explained. He looked at her curiously again. "What's your purpose here?"
"I'm looking for my brother, Baelfire. He was taken. I want to get him back," she told him primly. She tried her best to sound like a grown-up, one who was sure of herself and who didn't need help from ridiculously beautiful boys.
"Well, the Shadow won't let anyone leave this island once they've been brought here. He always has use for them," the boy told her.
"He who?"
"Well, Pan of course, he's the king of all the Lost Boys. He's a terror."
"Are you a Lost Boy?"
"Yes, technically, but I've gone rogue," the boy said. He said it so lightly, as if he was saying he was about to take a stroll, not trying to escape an evil king. "I want to get off this island, too. I can help you find your brother if you'll let me come along." His eyes were earnest, but for some reason, she felt reluctant to accept his offer.
"Why should I? How can I trust you?" she asked. A grown-up would ask this question. She would vet those who helped her.
The boy shrugged. As he shrugged, she was struck by just how tall and lithe he is. He was not slender; he was slim and fit. Despite his ragged green clothes, he radiated power. "You can't, but I know this island and I know Pan. I'm your best bet at surviving here." He stuck out his hands, expecting her to take it.
He really was her best bet. Without him, she would be alone on this island, traipsing around blind. And after all, he did save her and had offered his help willingly, with no strings attached.
She took his hand and shook it firmly.
"By the way," he said. "I'm Peter."
XXX
The jungle's heat clung to Peter as he led Wendy through the forest. It was like a second skin to him. He enjoyed the thick, sweet jungle air, the sound of waves crashing in the distance, the smell of the lush trees and plants. This was his kingdom and he loved it.
It was the third day of his little escapade with Wendy. This was going just as he had planned. The Shadow had dropped her off right where he had planned and she had taken to him like a bird to the sky. She was an entertaining creature. She was very pretty with wild dirty blonde hair framing her face in ringlets, warm golden eyes and a pretty little mouth that curved up into an enticing smile. He was only slightly sad that he would have to kill her.
He talked absently, spouting both lies and truth as he told her about Neverland. "I stopped counting days long ago," he told her. He had told her about the time and the climate and weather. Mundane things that she seemed extremely interested in. He had no idea why. He also spoke of himself, Pan, the boy king and the magic he possessed. He was quite proud of it.
"You must have known Pan very well to know so much about him," she observed as he explained just how the island gave youth to all its inhabitants.
He chuckled. "You could say we're one and the same." She gave him a questioning look, but didn't push it. She would be in on the joke soon enough. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, it worried him that she made that comment, that she had picked that up. He ignored it. He was in control here, as he always was.
"You see, Neverland gets its eternal youth from the heart of the Truest Believer." He whacked away branches as she followed closely behind him. He had many followers who praised him and exalted his power, but having Wendy follow him around like a lost puppy was an entirely different feeling. It was new and that was not something he experienced often.
He thought about it more as he continued to rattle off facts. His followers were different from Wendy. They were impressed with him, adored him, worshipped him because he was their king. He gave them eternal life and endless fun. Wendy, on the other hand, depended on him and trusted him simply because he had offered her his help and kindness. It was strange for a person to see him that way… as a human.
It had been many years since someone had seen him as a human, even more since someone had looked upon him favourably as a human.
"Pan gets some poor sap to believe in him so much that he hands his very own beating heart over to him. Pan uses that childlike belief as a way to preserve the island itself, using the heart as a way to keep the island alive."
"That's terrible!" she exclaimed. She opened her mouth to say something else, but at that moment, they finally broke out of the forest. They stumbled out onto the beach and Wendy raised a hand to shield her eyes. She blinked in the sun glinting off the water. Her jaw dropped as she took in the sight. Peter had long since become used to the beauty of Neverland.
"Home is all grey streets and rivers," she told him breathlessly. "I've never seen such beauty before." She trailed off as she looked passed the beach and over to their final destination.
"Peter, is that truly a skull shaped island over there?" she asked, disbelieving.
He nodded. "It's where Pan keeps his prisoners a lot of the time. But it's not easy to get to if you don't go through his camp. That's why we've been wandering for so long."
He waited, practically on the edge of his seat to hear one of her delightful exclamations at the horror of Pan. "What a deceitful man he is!" she had told him the other day. He had had to walk away so he could laugh at that one. Her naivety was charming and her passion was fun to watch. Instead her voice was soft when she said, "I don't mind the wandering. I was with you." He grinned. He was rather impressed with himself. He had her hook, line, and sinker.
He turned to look at her, wanting to bask in this triumph. He found her looking up at him through heavy lashes with a ghost of a smile on her face. He couldn't be sure, but he thought his heart skipped a beat… not even skipped, perhaps tripped.
He ignored it.
"I don't either, Wendy," he said, smiling down. She stared up at him, her eyes full of hope and trust. It was unnerving to have someone look at him that way. Unnerving as it was though, it was nice to be looked at that way… He shook himself and cleared his throat. "So, uh, to get there, there is a little spit ahead over there," he said, pointing to the west. "That can be walked over when the tide is low. It's a little dangerous."
She looked out at the spit of land that he pointed to. It had a few feet of water over it and the golden sand underneath it rippled in the sun. She then looked back up at Peter, skeptical. He wanted to tell her appearances were deceiving, but the joke would have been too much. Instead, he laughed at it by himself. Perhaps, he would tell it to Felix later.
"The mermaid's cove is close by," he explained. She remained unconvinced."They're dangerous, jealous creatures, Wendy," Peter warned, trying to sound as sincere as possible. "They like to fool around with the Lost Boys, but they are especially jealous of any girls." She rolled her eyes at him and began to trudge along the beach towards the spit. She was uncommonly fearless and stubborn. That would get her into trouble. In fact, it had already gotten her into trouble. "I'm serious, bird."
She looked at him over her shoulder and gave him an exasperated look. "Yes, Peter, I heard you. I understand. Now come on, let's go find my brother." This girl was ridiculous. He was trying to give her advice for her safety and all she could think of was her brother? It was entertaining to watch her launch herself headfirst into danger, just for some sliver of a boy. She supposedly loved him so much she was willing to sacrifice her life for him. She had some strange priorities.
He shook his head, following her. She really was a silly creature.
He followed her down the beach to the spit and they slowly began to wade into the water. It rose from his ankles to his shins, then his knees and finally his waist. He called out, telling her that it was as far as it went.
He could feel the pull of the current, the sea trying to drag them out. Wendy trudged along. She was unmoved by the sea, even though it pulled at her mercilessly. Her nightgown was soaked through, clinging to her body. It was an enjoyable sight.
He slid into the water, enjoying how fresh and clear it was. Although, he loved the oppressive heat of the jungle, it was nice to cool off. He swam on his back, slipping gracefully through the water. She splashed him playfully as he swam by. He stopped immediately, spluttering and she splashed him again. He almost reprimanded her before he saw a wide smile crack on his face. He splashed her back and before he knew it they were both running around, splashing the water. His sides hurt from laughing.
It was not how he played with the Lost Boys, but he enjoyed it.
Suddenly, Wendy's face changed and she stilled. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could even utter a word, she was pulled under the surface. He saw flashes of silvery tails in the water as Wendy was dragged further down.
He slammed his fists into the water, cursing. He had gotten distracted and let his attention slip. If the mermaids got to her, then it would be all over. He contemplated just letting Wendy go. It seemed counterproductive so save her only to have her sacrifice her heart a while later. However, he had already invested so much time in her.
He dove under the surface, propelling himself forward with his magic.
He saw them almost as soon as he broke the surface. They were beautiful creatures with long shimmery silver tails, like moonlight on the sea and long flowing sandy hair. Their skin and eyes were perfect and smooth. He could understand why the Lost Boys were so taken with them.
They swirled around her at a maddening speed. They tugged on her hair and clothes. Wendy struggled against them furiously. For a teenage human girl, she was doing an extraordinary job keeping her own.
He swam faster. He could not hear what they were saying to her, but the longer she was down there, the more likely she would be able to figure it out. He waved his hand in the water, his magic flowing out of his hands, tossing them away into the depths off of Neverland. He reached Wendy and grabbed her by the arms, swimming up, up, up.
They burst from the water and he flew close to Skull Rock. They landed safely on an outcropping of rocks. He patted her on the back, repeating over and over to keep coughinh. She sputtered and cried and didn't seem to really hear a single word he said.
Finally, she sucked in a deep breath of air. She blinked a couple of times and seemed to focus on him. She turned with wide golden eyes to him.
"You saved my life, Peter."
He looked at her and grinned. "What was I supposed to do? Let you drown?"
She let out a breathy laugh. "I suppose not."
She turned and smiled at him. For the second time that day, he was struck by how odd it was to be looked at as if he were a human. It was an odd sensation. He couldn't decide if he liked it or not, but it was most certainly intriguing.
A deep blush had spread across Wendy's cheeks. "Peter," she said quietly. "I should like to give you a kiss."
He raised an eyebrow at her. It was quite bold for a girl from Victorian England to say. He hadn't expected that from her. Was she really so daring? He decided to play coy, testing her. "What's that?"
She lost her edge and sputtered. It was rather…adorable to see. "It's a token of… appreciation," she managed. He could see the gears turning in her head, trying to rectify the situation. He was not stupid. He knew she had some girlish crush on him. He was quite handsome, after all.
He put his hand out, continuing the charade. "I should like one."
She searched helplessly in her pockets. Finally, she pulled out a thimble and placed it in his hand. He stared down at it. He was impressed that she had played along so well. He began to laugh. She was indeed a strange little bird.
He decided that he would take her out of this charade. He could indulge her. "Oh, Wendy! I was just joking! Of course, I know what a kiss is!" He leaned over and placed a kiss on her lips. Her mouth was incredibly soft and she tasted sweet. It was most certainly an enjoyable kiss.
When he pulled back, her mouth was in a soft o-shape and for a wild second, he considered kissing her again. He thought better of it. He had other, more pressing things to attend to.
"I'm glad you're okay," he said. "What happened with the mermaids?" He had to check.
Her eyebrows furrowed for a moment as she thought. "They said that Pan is trying to trick me and that I shouldn't trust him," she said. "They said not to believe him. They said he's dangerous." When she looked up at him, there wasn't a trace of mistrust on her face. She believed him to be simply Peter, a human.
"Hmm. A violent way to give sound advice," he observed. He wasn't even lying just then.
She nodded. "They won't deter me," she told him fiercely. Her voice was full of emotion as she spoke. "Nothing can. I'm here for my brother and that's that."
It was so human of her to speak that way. She was bound up in her love for her brother. She was his sister and that was that. She would put her life on the line for him simply because she loved him.
Her love and commitment to her brother was so foreign to him. It had been a long time since he had witnessed anyone who cared for another soul like that. He distantly recalled that he used to feel like that. He wondered what it might have felt like if someone felt that way about him.
Finally, he said, "Well, then let's go get him."
He took her by the hands and pulled her up. She began to walk towards the mouth of the cave but he caught her by the hand, placing something in it. She opened her hand and looked down at a small, smooth acorn.
He could play the charade, too.
"A kiss for you, Wendy," he said with a grin before stepping into the skull.
XXX
Although the name Skull Rock instilled much fear into the Lost Boys, the name was the scariest thing about it. The outside did resemble a skull, but the inside did not. It was a wide cave of grey stone, yawning open for the seawater. At the back there were rocks stacked one on top of the each other to form a crude stairway that led up to the hollow portion up top. There were two holes above the cave that resembled the eyes. It was much less scary up close and Wendy did not seem one bit flustered by it. She was fearless, dangerously so.
"This is not very dungeon-like at all," she told him over her shoulder as she crept along the side of the cave. " If this is King Pan's idea of a dungeon, he needs a dictionary." He snorted. If only she knew to whom she was talking.
Soon, they arrived at the back of the cave and made their way up the stairs, slowly. He felt the excitement mount. This was the finale of his grand scheme. He wanted it to go off without a hitch.
He helped her up the stairs, graciously, like the perfect gentleman he wasn't. There was still a deep blush on her cheeks. He supposed she had not had much experience with kissing in Victorian England.
He stopped before the opening to the next floor, with a finger to his lips and eyes wide. He motioned that he was going to check to see if anyone was there and for her to stay put. He rushed off quickly.
The upper area of the cave was wide and large. The two holes let in light that only reached so far. At the opening stood a large golden hourglass, his salvation, his lifeline. Nearer to the back were his prisons that were empty. They were crude with metal bars and a small cot. He worked his magic quickly, creating a wonderful illusion of Baelfire. He was quite impressed with his workmanship. He let the spell go and the mirage of Baelfire cried out, "Wendy!"
She came bolting around the corner, looking around wildly for him. Almost immediately, her eyes locked onto to him. This Baelfire was weak and sickly, dirty and dishevelled and behind bars. She looked as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders and she rushed towards, him reaching into the rocky cage. He pulled Wendy back.
"Don't touch him, Wendy. I think Pan's put a spell on him. Look," he warned. She blinked and seemed to see for the first time that Baelfire truly is outlined in a pale green light. She immediately shook off his hands and returned to the cage, clutching at the bars.
"I can't believe you came back for me, Wendy," Baelfire said quietly.
"You're my brother, of course I'd come back," she whispered. Her back was to him, but he knew she was wiping away tears. "Are you hurt? Are you alright?"
Baelfire shrugged. "I'm not too hurt, but I'll be much better once you get me out of here and we can go home." She nodded vigorously.
"How do we get you out?" she asked. Baelfire shrugged and they both turned to look at Peter. For the first time, Wendy seemed to register the golden hourglass. He was surprised she hadn't immediately seen it. It was large and golden, several times her height. However, it was melded into the cavern. It was outlined in a shimmery gold and pulsed like a heart. The sand was almost half done, tinkling as it fell down into the bottom of the glass.
"What is that?" she asked, bewildered. She got up and took a few steps towards the hourglass.
He put on his best frown, trying to seem heartbroken over this. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, trying to make it look as if he were lost for words. He wrung his hands. He would have to tell Felix about his brilliant acting. Finally, in a voice just above a whisper, he said, "It's the heart of the island."
"What does that mean?" Baelfire asked gripping the bars of his cell.
"I never thought Pan would keep it here," he said, almost to himself.
"What does that mean?" Baelfire repeated, growing more and more agitated.
"I always thought he'd keep it some-"
"Peter!" she snapped. Her voice was urgent and she looked desperate.
"Sorry. It's what keeps the island and Pan powerful and immortal. It's a timer of the island's magic. Back at the fort, the Lost Boys would talk about it, and speculated where it was. No one knew. I half-believed it wasn't even real," Peter explained, He meandered over to it, and held his hand up to the glass, just barely touching it, as if touching it might hurt him. "It's beginning to run out." He bent down and began to feel around the wooden bottom of the hourglass. He groped for longer than necessary, but it was part of the show. Finally, he found it and pressed against the wood. A tiny drawer popped out. He grimaced and shook his head. "It's what I believed." He turned around to Wendy and Baelfire. "The hourglass powers the island, but once it runs out, the island and Pan will cease to exist. However, the hourglass can be restarted, in a way. It needs a heart. I believe that Pan intends to use Baelfire's heart to restart the hourglass."
Wendy took a step back, looking horrified. She covered her heart with her hand and turned back to Baelfire. He looked just as terrified as she was. She rushed over to Baelfire and sat as closely as she could. He hung his head, defeated.
"Is there anything we can do?" she asked.
He answered hesitantly, "Yes."
She whipped her head around. She was desperate. "Then what do we do?"
He scratched his head and made a show of looking conflicted
"We could use yours," was Peter's defeated sigh.
Her face dropped, but her eyes remained fierce and determined. "I'll do it, then."
"No," Peter and Baelfire said in unison. They both began to reprimand her loudly. Bae told her that he wasn't worth it and she shouldn't sacrifice herself for him, to go home to her mother and father and her nice warm bed. Peter told her it was too dangerous and that she was ridiculous to even consider it.
"I don't care what you say. Bae is my brother, my responsibility. I said I would get him back home and I am going to get him back home," she said forcefully. Her eyes were bright and full. She was enchanting.
He and Baelfire both continued to argue and she did, too. The bickering and swearing from all parties went on for hours. She held her own extremely well and never once backed down. He was impressed.
Finally, he grew tired of the back and forth. It was time to end it all. Peter threw up his hands in the air. "This is useless," he said. "You're too stubborn to ever agree, aren't you?"
"I'm not going to be swayed, Peter," she ground out. "I'm going to take Bae's place one way or another. You can't stop me."
Peter let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine," he said, defeated. "Fine. This is your decision, you stupid girl."
She pushed at his shoulder and glared at him. She was a small thing, but she was a force to be reckoned with. "I am not stupid," she said vehemently. She raised her chin. "I'm brave, and you know it." He couldn't disagree with her.
Peter had Baelfire continue to argue, for effect, of course. Soon, Wendy grew tired of him and whipped around. She pointed her finger at him as if he was a disobedient child.
"You listen here," she told him. "You are my brother and I love you very much and I am going to do this. You can't change that. Now, you can either spend our last moments together arguing with me or telling me how much you love me. It's your choice." Baelfire immediately clamped his mouth shut and looked sheepishly down at the floor. She turned back to Peter.
"Now, tell me how this is done," she said. She swallowed, pushing down the fear.
"I'm going to take out your heart. It's this trick all the boys learn here. I'll simply grab it and then place it in the box. Once it's in the box and closed, the hourglass will be reset, your brother will be free and you'll be-"
"Dead," she said shakily. "Sounds simple enough." She nodded at him.
"When I take out your heart, it has to be full of belief. Your belief in your family, your brother, in me. Especially, me since I am, after all, taking your heart out." He paused. "You do believe in me, don't you, Wendy?"
"Of course, I believe in you, Peter. With all my heart," she said softly. She slipped her hand into his and squeezed. He was taken by surprise by the sudden show of affection, but was able to regain his composure quickly.
"Thank you, Wendy," he said, smiling slightly. "You can say goodbye to Bae now." She nodded and crouched down to Baelfire.
It was a strange scene to watch. Distantly, he remembered his own brother, small and dependent. He was unable to take the responsibility, the burden. So, he had abandoned him and started his new life here. He was beholden to no one and never had to grow up and take care of others. He took care of himself.
Watching Wendy then, he wondered what it must be like to care for someone that much, to love them that much, that you would give your life for theirs. It was something he struggled to wrap his head around. It was a truly human thing to do.
"I love you, Baelfire. I have since the moment I found you in our attic. And you've been my brother since then, too. I'm going to miss you very, very much," she said, voice thick with tears. "Tell Mother and Father that I love them very, very much and John and Michael that I love them with all my heart. And that they're all in my heart. Please?"
"Of course, Wendy. I love you, too. And I always will and you'll always be my very dearest sister. I'll be good for you and grow up. I'll be the best brother. I love you," Bae said, his eyes shining. Peter had done a rather good job with the illusion
She turned back to Peter, wiping furiously at the tears streaming down her face. "I'm ready," she told him.
He frowned. "You've finished with your goodbyes?"
"Oh," she said softly. She stood on her tiptoes and placed a hand on his cheek. She placed a soft kiss on his lips. Her mouth was soft against his and he wanted more. Peter wrapped his hand around her wrist and pulled her toward him, kissing her roughly, desperately. Her lips were clumsy, but it was still enjoyable.
Finally, he pulled back and smiled down at her. It had been a long time since he had enjoyed someone's kiss that much. Too bad he was about to kill her. "I believe in you with all my heart, Peter."
He smiled softly and then placed his hand over her heart and pulled it very slowly out of her chest. Her eyes widened as she looked upon it and her breath caught in her throat. It was still beating and it was beautiful. It shone gold in the dark cave. Peter looked appreciatively at it and grinned. "My, my, what a fine heart. I daresay this is the most pure on I've ever seen."
She looked at him with total confusion. "You-you've done this before?"
"Oh yes, many times," Peter said, his voice normal. He no longer had to pretend her cared.
"But I-I don't—"
"Understand? Yes, I know. You are a stupid girl after all," he said, grinning. She stared at him wildly and then turned back to her brother, who was no longer there.
"What-what did you do to my brother?" she yelled.
"Oh, he was never there. Just an illusion. That's why you couldn't touch him and he had that odd light about him. I'm very lucky you don't understand magic," Peter laugh.
"Then-then," she stammered. Her eyes were filled with hurt and betrayal. Fresh tears started to slip down her face.
"Here let me explain, you stupid bird," Peter says slowly. "Let's start with the basics. My name is Peter. Peter Pan." She gasped, a hand flying to her mouth. "Your brother was never really here. I just used magic to make him look as if he were here. I needed the heart of the Truest Believer. And you, Wendy," he said, pinching her cheek, and she slapped his hand away, "are the truest of them all. I've been playing you this whole time. I needed you to believe in me and you did it so well."
"You monster!" she cried. She moved to grab at him, but he moved away from her quickly, with elegance and grace. He waved his hand and suddenly, her limbs seized and she stood frozen in place by his magic.
"I know and I love it," Peter laughed.
He turned and walked over to the hourglass. He bent down and was about to put the heart in the drawer when something stopped him. He felt deep within himself something old and strange. It was not just a feeling. It felt like a stone, solidifying him. It was an indescribable feeling. It was something similar to what he had felt before while watching Wendy wish Baelfire goodbye. In fact, it was something similar to what he felt from Wendy. He could not name it, but it told him not to use her heart.
He glared at the heart. He wondered briefly if Wendy had some magic within her that was controlling him. But no, Wendy was as human as they came. She was at the mercy of her feelings, her love for others.
He considered it for many moments. It glowed in the darkness of the cave, shining bright and beautiful. It was a rare specimen and he had not been lying before, it was the purest heart he had ever seen. It would have been stupid for him not to use it. The sand would be running out in about a dozen decades and he did not like to leave things to the last minute, but that ancient feeling, the one that held him, would not let him do it.
He chewed on his lip. He had put so much effort into this charade. But he could not shake that feeling and he knew that if he did not listen to it, it would follow him around for the rest of his days.
"I've decided," he said aloud. He made his voice sound confident to make up for his inner confusion. "I don't want your heart. I'd much prefer you as a prisoner. Much more fun that way." He walked over to the prison and motioned for her. His magic brought her swiftly to him.
"You're a monster," she cursed.
"I may be a monster, but you're just a dumb bird," he said lightly. He shoved her heart back into her chest and then pushed her inside the cage, past the bars. She stumbled backwards and fell with a thud. She heaved herself up into sitting position and glared at him with such fury that he almost reconsidered. He shook off the feeling.
He stood with his hands on his hips, considering her. "And now look, you're a bird in a cage."
XXX
Felix was none too pleased to hear that Peter had decided against taking Wendy's heart and had, instead, decided to keep her prisoner on the island. His second-in-command fumed as he paced back and forth in front of Peter's throne. Peter lounged, watching the tall blonde boy.
He would admit that it was strange, what he had done. Staring at the golden heart, his salvation, what would ultimately save him and the island, he had felt something stir deep within himself. He did not know what it was, but it convinced him not to take Wendy's heart. He decided to listen, because he was King and he could. So, he kept her.
He had given Felix a couple of half-hearted reasons why he had decided to keep the girl prisoner. For one, she had told him she was about to finish nursing school. She knew how to set bones, stitch up wounds, stop infections. The Lost Boys had immortality, but not perfect health. She could act as their doctor, fixing all their various maladies. Peter had neither the time nor the care to fix every one of the Lost Boys's bumps or bruises and it was something they complained about often.
"You won't have to listen to their complaints anymore," he told Felix. "They'll just go straight to her."
He had also lied to his second-in-command. He had said that Wendy's heart was not the best possible specimen. He said that it hadn't been exactly what he had wanted. They could wait for a better one. Of course, it had been. It was golden and had almost blinded him with its glow. It was a pure heart, filled with love and kindness and belief.
Felix had only half-believed that one. He remained skeptical about Peter's true intentions, but if Peter was being honest, he wasn't sure of his own intentions either. He could not begin to describe why he had not taken her heart or why he had decided to take her prisoner. He could have just as easily sent her back to London. But he had stopped himself. Something had told her not to take her heart. But it hadn't said not to send her away. She was intriguing and entertaining. She was a delightful creature.
He told Felix this, as well, but the boy only grew angrier at that explanation. Peter supposed Felix was jealous. Felix enjoyed Peter's attention and enjoyed being his second-in-command. He assured Felix that Wendy was not his second-in-command and would never be. He didn't know what she was, but she was most certainly not going to take Felix's place.
The boy was still skeptical and most certainly was not pleased. But Pan was King and he did what he wanted, so Felix had to bow to that.
For the first couple of months, Wendy was unconsolable. He kept her on Skull Rock and she screamed whenever he came in. She hurled insults and curses and cuss words. She yelled until she was red in the face. He would watch her silently. It was entertaining to see. After while, she would deflate, crumpling on the floor. She wept then and begged him to let her go. She had a family that would miss her, a brother to find. He reminded her that she was silly to believe she could appeal to his humanity. He had none.
When he arrived one day, it seemed as if all the tears and screaming had gone right out of her. She was, of course, not pleased to see him. Her words were acidic and she told him to go to hell, that he was a monster, blah, blah, blah. He considered her for a long time as she glared at him. She was dishevelled and dirty. Her clothes were ragged and she looked as if she hadn't been eating. He figured she hadn't seen the sun in months.
"Perhaps, this is not the best cage for you, bird," he told her when she was mid-rant about his callous nature. She paused abruptly and stared at him. "You can't do much for the Lost Boys here. Would you like to live somewhere else?"
"I'd like to go home," she said.
"Well, that's not an option now, is it? I have use for you here."
"I won't do a damn thing for you," she told him. He considered her and wondered if she really meant that.
"I think you might think differently after a bath and hot meal," he told her. She tilted her chin up defiantly and sniffed, but he had been human once, too. He knew she needed these things.
He turned on his heel and left.
A ten minute walk from the Lost Boy's encampment, he found a large, old tree. Its trunk was nearly twenty feet across and its branches soared up towards the sky. He decided that this would do well. He used his magic to carve out the trunk and fashioned it into a quaint little house. The lower level he outfitted with a bed and shelves and drawers and desks. It would be where she would tend to the sick when she was not at the camp. On the second level, he made a small kitchenette with a stove and sink. There was small dining table with chairs. Curtained off, there was a small sitting area and then a bed for Wendy. He made her a small bathroom as well with a nice luxurious tub. He even created some dresses for her to wear instead of that tattered robe and nightgown. He decided it was a lovely little prison.
Felix was, of course, horrified when Peter showed it to him. It was that pesky jealousy again.
"You made this for her?" Felix demanded. And not for me? hung in the air.
"This is a prison, my dear friend. You should not be jealous of a prison," he told him. He took a moment and considered his friends feelings and constant jealousy. Trying to abate it, he offered, "And besides, I actually enjoy spending time with you."
Felix shot him a look. "I'm not so sure about that," he said darkly. Peter waved Felix's reservations away. Wendy was his prisoner. She needed some coaxing, some incentives. She would be of no use to him if she cursed at him every time he entered the room.
He introduced her to the treehouse the next day. She walked around it, carefully, as if it was a trap. He did not blame her, as he had trapped her last time.
"If you try to escape, there'll be hell to pay," he warned her just before he left her for the night. She gave him a look that told him that the word try was not in her vocabulary.
He was not stupid, of course. He knew she would try to escape. And she was, also, not stupid. She did try to escape. She tried every week for about a year. However, as he observed, she put too much effort into looking for that damned brother of hers. If he was being honest, if she had put all her effort just trying to simply get off the island, she might have made it. Might.
She stopped trying to escape after the fourth year. She continued looking for her brother, though. She wandered the island aimlessly, even if she was no longer trying to escape. She yelled at him sometimes about it, demanding to know where her brother was, what he had done with him. She was red in the face, going on and on about how she would never give up on her brother, never abandon him. He wondered briefly what she would have said if she knew that he had abandoned his very own brother.
He did not tell her, of course, that he had no idea where Baelfire was. The boy had escaped his clutches and remained under the radar. He was unsure if the boy was even on the island still.
She worked well on the Lost Boys. She was very good at playing doctor. And although she had promised not to help him, she was far too kind to leave someone in pain and agony when she could fix it. When she looked down at a wounded Lost Boy, she was moved. She spoke in a soft tone with comforting words. The Lost Boys, in fact, came to actually like her very much. A trip to Wendy's became a luxury to them. They followed her about at the camp when she came to visit.
It was his turn to be jealous then. It irked him that they seemed to adore her. He was their King. He provided them with eternal life and endless fun. Why would they follow her around with such adoration? She just patched their cuts and scrapes. He reasoned that they were lacking a feminine touch, a sort of mother figure. It had nothing to do with her kind words or smiles. No. She was just the only girl around.
He visited her, often. Sometimes, to be entertained. It was fun to watch her fly off the handle, berate him for his evil ways. She acted as if it mattered to him. He reminded her constantly of this, but she never seemed to be able to give up that silly little belief in him. Other times, he came to be patched up himself. He would heal, but taking care of his wounds was bothersome and setting bones was annoying. She worked on him with a sour expression on her face the whole time, never treating him like she treated the Lost Boys. But her hands were always gentle. He would not admit to Felix, or even himself, that he liked those hands.
It was a strange experience to be in her presence. He still had not figured out just what had compelled him to give her back her heart. Although, he tried not to think about it too much, that same feeling came back infrequently. Sometimes, it was when she lectured him on his amorality, saying that it was important to love and care for others. Sometimes, it was when she worked on his wounds with her kind hands. Most of all, it was when she spoke of her brother and family. Her voice was filled with love and hope and something that he could not identify. He felt himself being pulled into it, but just as soon as the feeling had come, he would pull himself out of it. He tried not to think about that much. He reminded himself that he was King of Neverland, the great and powerful Peter Pan and that he would not be at the mercy of these strange feelings. And that was all he needed to know.