Chapter 24:
Sebastian noticed Hook step out of his cabin and close his door. Concern got the best of him almost immediately, and he quickly rushed over to meet him before he could disappear somewhere.
"Captain. Is she alright?"
"She's fine," Hook told him, agitated by his presence and his genuine worry over Tala. "I bandaged her wounds, not that they seem to bother her much. She's a very resilient woman."
"Stronger than I could ever be," Sebastian scoffed, running a hand back through his sandy blond bangs. "Ye heard what they said right? That boy wants to take her away."
"He's no boy anymore," Hook muttered, eyes falling to his boots. "He's a man and perfectly capable of doing real harm. He's hurt her before."
"Hurt Tala?"
"Yes. When her chief first offered her as a barter," Hook explained, wanting Sebastian to understand the real danger. If he could count on anything, Hook could count on Sebastian to do everything in power to protect their little wolf.
"What did he do?"
"He stripped her and whipped her for fun. He has the mind of a child, but the body of a man. Causing pain is a game to him. Like a little boy plucking the wings off a butterfly."
Hook was gritting his teeth just thinking of all the unintentionally evil things Pan was capable of. Even though he still thought and acted like a child, Pan was a real threat to both Hook and Tala. Now, he had more physical strength to contend with.
"Can't we kill him?"
"In a direct fight. Probably. But Pan doesn't fight like a pirate. He's sneaky and crafty. He relies on ambushes, traps, and tricks to win battles," Hook explained, having been one of the only people in Neverland that had ever tried to go against Pan.
"Perhaps we should set a trap of our own."
"No. I've tried it before, a few times. He's cautious. He'd sooner send it some other poor Lost Boy before falling into a trap himself." Hook let out a long sigh. "The best thing we can do is have a good defense ready. He will come for her again, next time with more force."
"What if you gave him back the fairy?" Sebastian questioned. "Could we strike a deal?"
Hook was silent for a long moment as he pondered on that idea. It would be easy to return the fairy. He only needed to get close enough to shore to release her and let her fly back on her own. He wondered if that would satiate Pan.
After fighting so hard to obtain the fairy and earn back his youth, he dreaded the thought of letting her go. He wasn't sure if he would age rapidly or if he would age slowly like Pan had over the years after losing her. If it was slow, and it would save Tala, it might be worth it.
If he aged all at once, he would die and lose the fairy. But at least Tala would be safe again.
"I'll see what options we have. Maybe we can strike a deal with the boy." Hook walked away from Sebastian then, not wanting to think about it too much longer. For the moment, he needed to calm his men and fix his broken door.
Tala was growing bored waiting in Hook's cabin. She began to look around, hoping to find something nearby she could read or look at, since she couldn't travel very far on her aching leg.
Eventually, an all too familiar buzzing in the corner of the cabin, left of the bed, caught her attention. Hook never liked her to look too closely at the fairy, but he wasn't there to stop her either. Curious, Tala lifted herself carefully from the bed and hobbled closer to the little glass cage he kept her in.
The fairy inside had a cupped leaf that held fresh water. She was tiny, no bigger than a monarch butterfly, with mostly transparent wings just as beautiful. But her body was human-like, though her face bore the obvious features of a fairy. Pointy ears, sharp nose, and big black eyes.
When Tala peered into the glass, the fairy was washing her face with the water in the leaf. She looked up at Tala after a moment, wings buzzing slightly as she tilted her head.
"Hello, Tinkerbell," Tala said softly. "My name is Tala."
The fairy walked a little closer to the glass, then laid a hand over her stomach. She rubbed her tiny hand in small circles, frowning a bit.
"You're hungry?"
The fairy nodded.
Tala looked around for the little plate of fresh flowers Hook kept for her. She plucked a pretty white one from bunch that smelled of honeysuckle, something she used to enjoy as a treat as a child.
Carefully, Tala just barely opened the door of the glass cage to shove the flower inside and close it again. The fairy surprisingly made no attempt to escape, as if she was content with her confinement for the time being.
Tinkerbell smiled, a weird and wicked sort of expression that was common with fairies. They didn't look quite human, nor quite like an animal. She plopped down in a sitting position, legs folded, then, with great effort, pulled the honeysuckle into her lap to begin nibbling at the petals.
"Better?"
The fairy nodded again.
Tala's curiosity for the moment has been satisfied, so she sat back down on the bed. She figured it was better to let the little fairy eat in peace. No one likes to be watched while they eat, she told herself.
After a moment, Tala decided to lay back on Hook's silk sheets. She reached down to touch the bandages on her thigh, remembering how it felt for Hook's hands to run along her legs. He had surprisingly soft hands for a pirate. It was kind of pleasant.
She thought about what the future would be like for them. Would they live together eternally? Always young, always wild. Or would they age gracefully like all the other inhabitants of Neverland? Like she always planned to. Nobody but the Lost Boys were immortal in Neverland, not until Hook stole the fairy.
Tala ultimately decided both options sounded nice. As long as she lived her life with Hook, then it didn't matter how much longer it lasted.
"Cap'n. There's an island ahead. A little one. Should we stop there to resupply?"
"That's fine," Hook told Smee, using his crude spyglass to look into the distance. "Tell the men to anchor a mile or so from shore, and to approach with caution. Mermaids like to patrol these waters."
"Aye aye Cap'n. Should we be wary of anything else?"
"No. We've been here before. Several times. The men will know where to go to find what we need. They just need to get to shore without being pulled out of the dingys," Hook chuckled. "I'd like you and Tala to remain on board for that very reason."
"What about you, Cap'n?"
"I'll let the first group go to shore. If they survive, I'll go with the next."
"Your little lass won't be pleased about being left behind."
"It won't be for long," Hook promised. "I'll tell her that. I just need you to make sure she stays here."
"Maybe you should have the cook stay behind, too. She's fond of him. She won't be so lonely with him around."
"Don't remind me," Hook grumbled. "Fine. Sebastian can stay, too. But keep a close eye on them, Smee. Report anything you see back to me."
"Pardon me for askin'," Smee twiddled his thumbs, "but what exactly should I be lookin' out fer?"
"I don't want him touching her. And don't let them be alone together."
"I-I'll do my best, Cap'n."
Hook could tell that Smee was a little reserved about spying on Tala, but it was the only way Hook to put his mind at ease. He needed to accompany his men ashore, but he didn't want Tala to risk mermaid-infested waters. They already almost took her to the depths once.
"You're a good man, Smee. I'll steer us close enough, then you make sure that anchor gets lowered. A mile. Remember."
"Aye aye, Cap'n."