Chapter 7: We're Not Trying to Drown Her

Even in the darkness, Mermaid Lagoon glowed magenta as the insides of a luminescent monster. Locked in the shallows of Neverland, the warm, stagnant water was choked by waterlilies so frangible the petals would break apart in a bouquet. Oblong rocks formed a byway of irregularly shaped stepping stones, providing soft shades of laughter when trespassers lost their balance. The untrained eye would be mesmerized by the glassy water decorated by pink ripples and sparkling mermaid tails. It was a beautiful, deadly paradise.

Wendy knew of mermaid lagoon's allure and its deception. Once before, goaded by fairytales and innocent imagination, she had let Peter Pan introduce her to this place. And the mermaids.

Beguiled by the mermaids, Wendy had eagerly made herself vulnerable for their friendship. She had paid dearly for her naiveté. The mermaid attack had been unexpected and the brunt of Peter's amusement. But it had also been the start of a grand adventure…and a grand friendship with the merman that rescued her: Brine.

Heart pounding, Wendy wished Brine was with her. But he was not. He had vanished from Neverland, giving her only his promise to return and, Wendy suspected with a blush, his hidden kiss.

Now she was alone. Truly alone.

Wendy was afraid. But no amount of fear could erase the sound of Tinkerbell's scream as she was swallowed by the white fish. Resolutely, Wendy ran into the mermaid lagoon, like a minnow into the jaws of a shark. If anyone could help her find Tinkerbell and the white fish…it was the mermaids. Wendy knew she must try.

The moon balanced on the treetops as Wendy pulled herself onto the centermost rock. Suspended in the middle of the lagoon, Wendy waited.

Nothing.

Then, she heard soft, rosy laughter, followed by a turquoise glow beneath the surface. Breath baited, Wendy leaned forward but the stimulus faded, shrinking away.

"Wait!"

The turquoise glow paused for a tantalizing second before swelling through the water. Beckoned by the gentle laughter, Wendy followed. Vaguely aware that the pink rocks were loosing girth, Wendy called out. "Please wait! I need your help! I…oh dear…"

Neverland was far behind as the mouth of the ocean was near. Salty wind kicked up her skirt and tossed Wendy's curls in her eyes. A pirate ship bounded over the waves like a black bull, pointing its bowsprit directly at her. And below her, the pink rock rumbled with wicked laughter and converging turquoise glows.

"Mermaids."

Glistening tails sliced over the surface in a tangle of slithering braids. Cornered, Wendy heaved herself up a diamond shaped rock, using hollowed shell pockets as rungs to climb.

As her toes left the small base, water splashed into her eyes. Mermaids slid across the flattened portion, clawing uselessly after Wendy with weak arms and flimsy tails. Crooning nastily, the mermaids called to Wendy perched safely on the rock.

"Look. An ugly little bluebird. Why don't you fly away?"

"Fly away bluebird! Fly away!"

"Hello Dearie."

Clinging to the tip of the rock, Wendy looked down. Swimming beneath her was a mermaid with a blue tail and red hair shimmering in a golden net. Clearly the empress of the pod, the mermaid regarded Wendy with familiar hatred. Thrice she had tried to drown the girl; thrice she had failed.

"Come on Dearie." Sneered the redhead, snatching at Wendy's dangling toes. Impatiently, she purred against the rock, expressing her siren allure. "Join us for a midnight swim, won't you? You look distraught. So distraught."

Curling her toes, Wendy scooted higher. "N – no. I shant. But I…I need your help. I need to find Tinkerbell – "

The mermaids hissed. Wendy leaned forward to be heard over their vulgarities.

"Please, listen! Tinkerbell was swallowed by a fish! A white fish, clear like a crystal glass. It swam away before I could – before Peter – oh, please! Have you seen it? Do you know where it comes from? Can you help me find Tinkerbell?"

Amused, the mermaids laughed, splashing Wendy in their delight.

"Please!" Frustrated, Wendy hit the rock with her little fist. "Please! Won't you help? Tinkerbell is Peter Pan's best friend!"

A sputtering silence curtailed the laughter. Subdued by Peter's name, the mermaids turned their tails in the water, contemplating.

"Yes. For Peter Pan…" the redhead finally decided, "…because he adores us so. But, my Dearie…you are not off the hook."

Wendy watched the mermaid with wide eyes, afraid to blink. Floating in the moonlight, the redhead gestured to her sisters.

"We can answer your questions. Because we have seen and followed the white fish."

Wendy held her breath, unnoticing the cagey nudges and crafty grins spreading around her. However, she could sense there was more to the bargain.

"But…?"

"But," smiled the redhead, weaving forward. "For every question asked, you take a step down off of that rock."

Excitement itched in the mermaid's face. "Deal…Dearie?"

Wendy's grip tightened around the rock. "Deal." she said.

Giggles bubbled around her, knotting Wendy's heart with fear. As the mermaids licked their lips, Wendy thought furiously, trying to prioritize her questions. She looked down. Only several steps down, she would be within reaching distance. A few steps after that, she would surely be drowned.

"Quick, Dearie!" Wendy jumped as the redhead spit out the command. "No questions, no answers."

"Oh she's quite dumb." Mocked a blonde mermaid, flapping her hands in the water. "Without Peter Pan to lead her on a leash."

"Will you tell Peter?" said Wendy, glaring at the mermaid. "Will you promise to tell Peter the answers to all my questions?"

"Naturally." Simpered the redhead, pointing to Wendy's feet. "One step down."

Wendy's mouth hung. "B – but – "

"That was a question!" sang the mermaids, dancing in the water. "Take a step! One step down!"

Grudgingly, Wendy slid down the rock.

"Next question." Prompted a brunette, toying with the brim of her waterlily barrette.

"Where did the white fish go?" Wendy asked, struggling to hold her balance.

"North. One step down. Next question."

"Where did it come from?"

"The Northern Neverseas, Silly!" spouted the blonde mermaid. "It's an icicle fish!"

"That's two answers you ninny!"

The Northern Neverseas! A string of unexpected joy surged through Wendy as the mermaids rebuked their sister and pulled her blonde hair. The Northern Neverseas – Brine lived there!

Her happiness was abbreviated as the redhead commanded she take two steps down, instead of one.

"That is not fair!" Wendy protested as the mermaids pawed at her feet. They could almost reach her. "I only asked one – "

"Two steps!" snarled the redhead, slashing her fin. "Dearie!"

Slowly, Wendy descended two steps. Cold foam sprayed her toes.

"Will…will Tinkerbell die? Inside the fish?" Wendy whispered, shrinking as far as she could into the rock.

"No." snapped the redhead edgily. "Unfortunately. The coldness will preserve the pixie. One step down! Next question!"

"How – " Wendy asked, lifting a foot as a mermaid lunged. "How can I find her?"

"Go for a swim!" laughed the mermaids. Wendy gasped as the brunette seized her ankle. "To the Northern Neversea!"

"How do I get to the Northern Neversea?" Wendy cried as she was pulled down a step. Desperately she searched for an empty crevasse as the blonde yanked her sash. Slowly, her fingers unlocked from the rock as she was slowly pulled down the last step.

"The answer." Smiled the redhead. "Is that you don't."

Snap! Wendy's fingers slipped from the rock. Squealing like eels, the mermaids attacked. They pounced over Wendy, pinning the girl to the flat rock and covering her with slimy strands of kelp to bind her body.

"If you dare!" Wendy threatened, the redhead leering into her face. "If you dare to pull me under – "

The mermaids stopped. They retreated, slinking off the pink rock.

"Dearie!" laughed the redhead mermaid cruelly, lowering into the ocean. "We're not trying to drown you!"

A shadow fell over Wendy's bound body.

Two, calloused hands turned her over.

And there…fire in his eyes…

…was Peter Pan.