Wendy had been told that there were thin spots in the world, places where magic had touched it and never faded but she was soon to find out that there were people like that too. Heading towards Holborn the streets were dark and quiet and the sky above was clear and calm. Wendy looked up every now and then. She knew that Zeppelins liked to attack on nights like these, though she had never experienced such a thing. It was one missed event due to being in Neverland that she was grateful for.
"I told you that this world had been magical once and I was telling the truth," Peter explained as they headed down a narrow street, Wendy's heels clacking on the cobbles. "The magic disappeared and the fairies and other creatures moved on but some remained. The people I'm taking you to are some of those left overs."
"And how do you know them?" she ventured as he helped her up a steep step. After leaving the house he had been particularly courteous and Wendy felt almost shy to take his hand. His touch sent a tingle through her but she tried to ignore it. Peter did not respond to her question as he stopped, looking confused.
"Hmm, last time I was here there used to be a river here and a market," he looked up and down the road as the sound of a train passing underground rumbled around them.
"Oh yes, the Fleet River was covered up, because of the underground. But that was years and years ago..." she remembered and eyed him curiously as he shrugged and took her hand again.
"This way," he lead her across the road and towards a row of dilapidated old houses and shops. This was a poor area of London, one that Wendy did not have much knowledge of even though she lived so close. It was a different world. Peter came to a door with an elaborate but tarnished knocker and knocked. Almost immediately the door was answered by two women, both peering at them happily, as if they knew they were coming.
"Hello again," they said to Peter and he gave them a mock bow and they tittered. Wendy gazed at them wonderingly. They did not look magical, not even a little but they did seem to emit a certain oddness that surrounds the sort of people that do not get out much. They ushered her and Peter in and closed the door behind them.
The room beyond was small and cluttered but not messy, everything was piled in neat rows or stored in boxes or baskets but the thing that drew Wendy's eye was the two large spinning wheels in the middle of the room. The sisters – for surely they were - took their seats at the wheels, a fire at their backs and smiled up at them.
"I take it," one started.
"You have something worth trading this time?" the other finished smoothly and Peter nodded. Wendy narrowed her eyes, now convinced that he had been off doing his own shady business when they were apart. He turned to her, eyebrows raised and Wendy remembered the pixie dust. She hesitated giving it to him but stared at the spinster sisters carefully.
"What will you do with them?"
"Use them," they both laughed kindly.
"But they're useless, look," she showed them the bottle of dull dust but she may as well have offered them a gourmet buffet by the greedy looks that came over them.
"It's been so long. Look, there's still a sparkle left," one of the sisters cooed while the other nodded. They rose as one and went to Wendy and held out their hands like children waiting for sweets. Wendy looked at Peter who was clearly enjoying her discomfort but relented when she did not move.
"They're seers, Wendy. They can tell me what the future holds."
"We are a shadow of our former selves," the one with white hair said with a humble sadness and the other nodded.
"There were three of us once..." the taller sister trailed off, looking morose and though Wendy could not tell what manner of creature they were the pain and loss in their eyes was nothing but human. She felt no malice in them, no ill will and so handed the bottle over and watched what would happen curiously.
They huddled around, heads bent together and uncorked the bottle and sprinkled the dust into the their palms. Then they each took a pinch and snorted the dust like it was no more then snuff. Shocked, Wendy watched as their heads fell back and clear looks of bliss settled on their faces. As one they separated and took to their spinning wheels and Peter stood before them, hands on his hips, looking at each with a clear desperate hunger.
"What do you see?"
"Got to be more specific dear. Agnes, the Wedgwood," the older sister added strangely and the other sister reached for a blue vase and carefully stored it under a table near by.
"Fine. What will happen if I return to Neverland?"
"Insurrection. Death," they said as one and they began to spin, their eyes unfocused and glossy.
"For who?"
"Poor little boys, you've turned them into such terrors," the younger sister said sadly and Peter looked bored.
"Yes, yes but what of the Heart of the Truest Believer? Will – will I live to see him?" he asked and his voice caught and Wendy stared at him. The seers said nothing for some time, both cocking their heads and conferring in whispers before separating. The eldest spoke first.
"Two paths await you: first takes you back to Neverland, to death but also victory. He will come and you'll be there to greet him. You will have his heart if he truly believes," she said and Peter grinned, ecstatic, but the sisters carried on like they could not see them. "However you will be cursed even worse the you are now. All magic comes with a price. Agnes, the cacti," she finished in the same dreamy tone of voice and the other sister gathered a few plants and stored them under the table too. Once back in her seat she sighed.
"The other path, Peter Pan, will be your salvation," she said quietly and Peter stilled. "For centuries your heart has become black and corrupt, polluted by your own selfishness and hunger for power. Neverland was cursed before you ever stepped foot there and can only be truly governed by someone with a pure, childish heart. That was you once but no more. The candle sticks Edith?"
"No, they'll just topple a bit," she responded and Wendy wondered if they were mad but what Edith said next changed her life. "Peter, this is the land of your birth and here you will live as you were meant to. Your heart will be purified here, cleansed. The sand in the hour glass has stopped, your life is not tempered by magic here. Even now your heart is shinning, the darkness retreating -"
"Though not completely," Agnes interrupted, spinning quickly. "Some spots can never be removed. But yes, here you will grow, learn to love and die. We told you, long, long ago that you would find her and here she is," she said happily, moving her glassy eyes to Wendy who looked stunned.
"You know who I am?"
"Of course. One True Loves are a rare thing in this world. Sadly it's your hard luck to be paired with such a stone hearted monster," Edith said distastefully and Peter snorted.
"But If – if he stays here he will be free of Neverland? He won't have to take another's heart?" Wendy asked, shaking.
"Yes. Now that you and your shadow are reattached you are more complete, more whole but there's still something, something that is snagging you back like a coat hooked on a nail," she said in confusion as Peter shook his head slowly. Wendy had been so entranced by what they were saying that she had not looked at Peter and what she saw made her wish she hadn't dared. It was the most monstrous expression she had ever seen.
"Lies," he hissed out, shaking with rage but the sisters kept on spinning, unconcerned. Incensed by their non reaction he suddenly shot forward and drew his dagger. Wendy gasped as he stuck it under the chin of the oldest sister who looked at him calmly and carried on spinning.
"We have no capacity to lie, as you'll have no capacity to love if you return. We see your fear and your hate but you could be free of both if you took her hand and stayed," they said together and Wendy could not look away from his blazing face. He looked like he was about to explode as he stepped back, withdrawing his weapon. So often she had seen his careless calm or his giddy, cruel joy but never this.
"Nothing will trap me, not you and certainly not her! Live and die here? Are you insane? After everything I've done?! You've obviously gone senile in your old age!" he shouted, striding up and down like a lion and Wendy was stuck to the spot. The spinsters carried on spinning, oblivious to his fury.
"Go back to Neverland and be cursed worse then ever or love, live and die here. We have told you what we see, take it or leave it," they said together with flat indifference.
"When I get back, when I rip my shadow away again I'll come back here and set fire to this place and make sure you're still inside when I do! I'll dance!"
"No you won't," they said, bemused and Peter growled at them. "Go, make your decision but be warned if you do take the Heart of the Truest Believer you'll be the most wretched creature alive. Make the right choice Peter. The snuff boxes, quick," they finished together and snatched up a few silver containers off tables beside them and not a minute too late. Peter grinned at them, eyes like stones and then kicked over the tables and threw things off shelves, completely out of control. Wendy moved back to the wall as he destroyed what was in front of him and then stormed out. The spinsters sighed and went about restoring their things and Wendy moved to help them.
"I'm sorry, he's a horrible person," she confided as she placed a chipped plate back on a shelf. The sisters rescued the priceless and precious possessions from under the table and stood.
"He was a lovely little baby though, wasn't he Edith?"
"Oh yes, like a little angel," she agreed and Wendy cocked her head in wonder.
"Well he's certainly something of the contrary now. Are you sure this isn't a mistake? About me and him?" she knew what the answer would be but still felt conflicted when they nodded. "I can't do it, I can't be what he wants and he can't be what I want. He – he can't love and I don't understand why." His heart was black but even the most depraved of monsters still confessed to loving something or someone.
"Yes, it's the riddle of his existence for many."
"He wasn't always like that, of course, before Neverland."
"You knew him?" Wendy asked, intrigued.
"Hmm? Oh yes but that was before," Agnes said and then gazed at Wendy strangely. "That was your dust, wasn't it? The fairy gave it to you."
"Well, I suppose it was," truthfully she half suspected that Peter had just planted it in the bag so he had an excuse to wrestle her to the ground and then be conveniently found by her father. But if she thought like that she would never stop.
"Before the dust wares off we could tell you things, if you like?" They stood before her, brooms held in their hands and Wendy stared between them. Did she want to know? After so long stumbling around in the dark where Peter always seemed to be two steps ahead it would be nice to have some foresight.
"What do you see?"
"Well as we told Peter you could have a life together. Not a smooth one, no, but a life of love eventually. You never marry."
"Girls, all girls. It happens to some women, only baby girls."
"Wh – what?" Wendy asked, amazed and breathless but they had moved on.
"An actress in your spare time, a house filled with orphans...he's doing...no, can't catch it," Edith said, concentrating hard. The dust was wearing off. "You stay here you live and die an old woman but you go with him you – you..." she squinted, trying to see.
"You become an old girl, yes a very old girl," Agnes said, tilting her head. "Cunning as him, as ruthless but still with a heart. Try to convince him to stay dear, it'll be better for you," she said softly while her sister nodded.
Wendy looked between them, not knowing what to think but a doubt gnawed at her. "Peter told me that magic died here and that it would continue to happen in other worlds. He says that if he takes the heart he'll live but also save magic. Is he telling the truth?"
"Yes but he's forgotten the facts. The kind of magic he wants to practise can only be truly accomplished with a selfless act."
"Sacrifice and blood," Agnes agreed, placing the vase back on it's plinth. "He knew that once but he's too consumed with himself to accept it."
"He's frightened," Edith said sadly. "But we were talking about you dear," she said suddenly, rounding on Wendy who jumped. The sisters looked at her intensely and spoke as one.
"You might see many worlds after this night, rule like a queen by his side but still a bird in a cage for all that. He'll love you, in his way but never as he can here. The ones closest to you will try to kill you with kindness so keep the water close by. Watch out for the enemy, they'll strike unseen. Take shelter," they said and then disappeared through a door and Wendy heard them descending some steps. She was utterly confused by their ramblings.
"What do you mean? Who will try to kill me? What enemy?"
"Have you forgotten we're at war? Take to the ground, quick girl and get rid of that dagger he carries while you're at it."
"You have our condolences," one of them added, almost indistinguishable and Wendy frowned.
"What do you mean?"
But they did not answer. Half wanting to follow them and get more answers Wendy left and went looking for Peter, watching the narrow strip of sky through the houses nervously as she ran.
She found him sitting on some steps outside a dark pub, the dagger the sisters had mentioned in his hand. He was twirling the point absent-mindedly around in the dirt but she could tell he must have been stabbing it furiously before she arrived. Gingerly she took a seat next to him.
"Well, they were strange," she started and he snorted softly, still looking down. By Wendy's feet a grate was gurgling, a sewer she thought. Her mind went back to what she had heard, about babies and keeping water close and she gazed at Peter thoughtfully, waiting for him to speak.
"On Neverland there's an hourglass," he began, still not looking at her. "It was a little thing, just ordinary and overlooked but the sand would pour and pour without ever running out. Over time the glass got bigger and there was not enough sand to fill it but it still went on pouring. It was my life pouring away, counting down the seconds until my death," he spoke softly but his eyes shone with a horrible light. He looked damaged.
"That sounds...cruel," she said, imagining how scared she would have been to find such a thing and work out what it meant. "And you were all alone," she thought aloud sadly and he nodded.
"I hated it at first, still do, but it gave me purpose. I have to succeed Wendy, I have to win because otherwise my life has been a complete waste," he confessed, finally looking at her and Wendy suspected this was the first time he had voiced this aloud. He couldn't tell Felix or any of the boys, he would look weak if he did.
"It doesn't have to be," she answered softly, moving closer to him. "You heard what they said. Here there is no hourglass or sand hanging over your head. Here you can live and be free," she had thought that Peter had trapped everyone on the island but she now saw that he was as much a prisoner as them, if not more so.
Peter smiled sadly at her. "This whole world is an hourglass Wendy. I know what you want, I can see it on your face but I can't," he said and touched her cheek gently.
"Why? Peter if you stay here you wouldn't have to trade hearts! You'll get better and, and..." she struggled to say more and he smiled at her, more like his old self.
"And what? Stay here with you? What else did they tell you?"
Wendy flushed and looked down but he lifted her chin and she stared at him sadly. "Just a silly dream," she said and he gazed at her intensely. She could tell him what they had said but why? It meant fighting for him, fighting for a future that she had no clue if she even truly wanted. That he could grow to love was a desire that almost caused her to bleed with want but he was so stubborn, so selfish and narcissistic that she could not even imagine an alternative.
"I considered it," he said suddenly, rocking her doubtful thoughts. She stared at him, not wanting to believe.
"Is that why you were so angry?"
"I thought all this, staying with your family and being with you in this place was just a detour. It was never something fixed and I had never considered another life because what was the point? Neverland is my home and I only want to spend my time there with you."
Wendy smiled with a strange sadness. "All this time you were trying so hard to get me to go back when I should have been trying to do the same with you!" But who could perused Peter Pan to do anything? It seemed preposterous.
"Well the picnics and gallery visits were terribly tempting but I'm afraid I'm unmoved," he joked, still twirling the dagger. Wendy stared at it, realising that the thing he thought was keeping him alive was actually holding him back. Before she could think about the consequences she snatched the dagger out of his hand and dropped it into the grate beside her.
"Wendy!" he shouted, jumping to his feet and looked down at the grate in horror. Below was not truly a sewer but the hidden remnants of the River Fleet that lead down to the Thames. By morning the dagger would be swept out to sea.
"It's all right, it was the snag holding you back. You won't die and now all ties to Neverland are gone," she explained breathlessly and he looked up at her. Her smile fell and she backed away, eyes fixed on his flushed and angry face. But the closer he got the less severe he became until he stopped and started to laugh.
"God you'll drive me mad before the end," he said and Wendy relaxed, back now against a wall. Had it worked? Was the influence of the island now gone and if so would it make a bit of difference?
"You're not angry?"
"I'm fuming but I'm not going to jump into the Thames. That was very naughty of you," he said, advancing again but his demeanour was completely different, playful and coy. Wendy was not sure that boded well for her either. Heart racing and blood pumping she watched him expectantly as he gave her a slow curling smile. Standing a foot apart a shadow suddenly fell on them and they looked up.
It was a Zeppelin.
"Oh my god! They warned me, quick!" she grabbed his arm and ran. They both stared upwards, amazed because neither had seen one with their own eyes before. It was huge, moving faster then she envisioned something of it's bulk could.
Wendy ran back into the spinster's house and Peter followed close behind. He almost collided with her when she pulled a curtain aside and looked down at a flight of steps the sisters had used.
"Down here!"
They ran as fast as they could and though Peter was faster he never overtook her. They reached a dank basement, filled with all sorts of odd things that would have been fascinating to search through. The sisters were not there and Peter pulled on her dress and she followed him through another door and down another flight of steps. Below running water was gurgling and she knew that it must lead to the submerged river. Faintly above Wendy could hear a strange popping noise, followed by a whistle. All was silent and it seemed to suck the air out of her lungs before she heard a distant booming. Terrified she looked back at Peter who was grinning like he had never had so much fun in his life.
"God help me," she moaned and came to the end of the stair. They stumbled into darkness and she almost slipped over a ledge before she felt his arm quickly circle her waist.
"Careful," he whispered, sounding more serious then he looked. Below she could faintly see water rushing along and against the walls were narrow walk ways. Peter looked up and down, concentrating before he pointed left.
"This way, the other way leads to the Thames," he said and began walking. Taking his hand Wendy walked carefully, mindful of her step in the dark while above she could hear the awful sound of bombs falling. There were a lot of factories in this part of London but a lot of poor people lived there too. Would the enemy be able to distinguish that in the dark? At least they can hide below, she thought, and gave thanks that London was basically a city build over tunnels and vaults. Her father even said that one day it would all cave in but she thought it was made of sterner stuff then that.
"They told me this would happen," she said and her voice echoed strangely. "They said the enemy would strike unseen and that I should take shelter."
"Well they were hardly unseen," he said, distracted and Wendy frowned. What else could they have been talking about? It was obviously the Zeppelin. But her thoughts were interrupted when Peter stopped and she could hear another rumbling noise over the water.
"The underground," she said, wondering what station they were close to. Her brothers had told her that people sometimes took shelter in them. Maybe that was where the sisters had gone. Slightly too excited then she had any right to be she followed Peter until he came to a half open door and poked his head in.
"I can hear people. Come on," he said and disappeared inside. Thankfully the steps leading up where even and dry and soon they found themselves in a large tunnel lit with candles. A large group of people were gathered and they did not give Wendy or Peter a second look. She could see that most of them were poor or working class but she could see a few people of her own class there too. Even though there were so many people there from different circles of life they all seemed remarkably cheerful and accommodating.
"They're dancing," she pointed out as they made their way through the crowed and spotted a few couples moving to the music issuing from a scratchy gramophone. Peter smirked, hand still in hers.
"Well they could all die at any minute, might as well go out having a fun time."
Is that what you've been telling yourself to justify your actions? I'm a terrible person with no conscious so I might as well have fun while doing it? she thought darkly but smiled swiftly when he drew her to two free seats by a wall. She sat, smoothing her dress down and tried to banish the thoughts.
"So what now?" Wendy asked and a young man standing near by answered, turning.
"We wait for the all clear."
"Thank you," Wendy said and then blinked, completely shocked because she knew him. He used to deliver milk to her house and she once had the most raging crush on him, something her brothers and even her mother had teased her mercilessly about. But now as she stared at him she had to desperately search for his name as a look of recognition entered his eyes.
"Miss Wendy?"
"...Thomas?" she ventured and he nodded. Wendy sighed and smiled at him and it was genuine. She felt a little tingle, an old small frizzle inside as he smiled back but it was not the same. He moved closer, eyes on her but then paused when he saw Peter. Wendy had forgotten about him for a moment but she realised that as soon as Tom had said her name Peter had stiffened and was now poised like a cat. He was even looking at the milk boy like he was a mouse he wanted to play with.
Torture more like, she thought and then quickly turned in her seat to Peter and took his hand.
"Peter this is Thomas, he used to deliver milk to us."
"How...quint," Peter said and grinned in a way that made Wendy squeeze his hand in warning. To his credit Tom did not look perturbed, on the contrary he held out his hand to Peter who shook it after a beat.
"Nice to meet you Peter," he said politely and then looked down at Wendy. "I haven't seen you in a while 'cause I've taken over for my dad," Tom explained and Wendy nodded, wondering if he realised she had even been gone.
"So you have your own little milk empire then?" Peter asked in that same overly eager tone. It made Wendy want to hit him, he was so conceited and Tom didn't deserve it.
The blonde young man smiled a little. "Somethin like that. So are you back at 'ome Miss Wendy?" He asked and she hesitated before answering.
"For the present yes," she said vaguely and he nodded, hands in his pockets. He really was handsome but in a bland way. He had nothing of Peter's uniqueness, his fire. But he would make someone a good husband, she thought, he's stable and kind and for that she was wistful. Tom looked back at the make shift dance floor and back.
"Will you be dancing?" he asked daringly and before Wendy could answer Peter lifted their clasping hands and pinned Tom with a challenging look.
"Yes, with me."
Getting the message loud and clear Tom smiled and inclined his head, touching his cap and went back to his huddle of friends. Wendy sat back and knew that two years ago she would have cried at having a chance to dance with him hindered. Now she just rolled her eyes and tutted at Peter who still watched his rival closely.
"So childish," she admonished but he did not care.
"So that's who you might have married if it weren't for me," he scoffed arrogantly and sat back, fingers lacing through hers.
"Marry him? Don't be ridiculous."
"Snob."
She pursed her lips, trying not to laugh and spotted a woman going around with a tea trolley. She approached them and generously offered her and Peter a cup. Cradling the mug against her chest Wendy sighed, feeling peculiar. She did not know what fate awaited her in the morning. She could go home, leave Peter behind, and explain to her family the truth as best she could. She could go with Peter and throw away any chance at fitting in here. Or they may be hit by a bomb and she'd never have to chose. She took a sip of strong sweet tea and felt it burning through her warmly and suspected there was something in it other then black leaves and sugar. Wendy watched the couples dance slowly with a wistful expression.
"You could stay here with me Peter, we could live down here."
"Very tempting," he drawled before taking a drink and then the idea seemed to fire him. "We would have all the amenities. Beds, running water and a roof over our heads. Lots of space."
"Don't forget the company and the local transport links," she added as a train thundered overhead. Peter chuckled, eyeing her thoughtfully and she smiled shyly and looked down.
"You're not angry at me any more," he said curiously and Wendy sat back with a sigh.
"I'm too tired to be angry. Doesn't it strike you as ridiculous, the whole affair? We might die here and that would be it. Neverland and hourglasses and shadows, it's all so silly when you think about it down here."
"Well I'm glad my life amuses you so," he said a little sharply and she looked at him steadily.
"It doesn't have to be your life, that's what I'm talking about Peter."
He rolled his eyes, irritable. "You were just talking about me dying a second ago but now I have a whole bright future ahead of me here with you?"
"All right then, as you're so good at pretending, lets imagine that silly bright future is now. Tomorrow might not come and if it does I know you won't consider it but for now, in this place, lets. I'm mad for saying it but if I'm to die then I wish for one night of happiness and if I can't get it with you then I will look elsewhere," she finished hotly and stood, about to head towards Tom when Peter rose and turned her around.
"If you wish it," he said softly and kissed her. Whenever they had kissed before a force seemed to wave through them but now something swelled inside, a tingling warm energy that left her supple but charged. The feeling swelled and swelled until they were both gasping into each other's mouth. She had delved her hands into his hair while he cupped her face and as he pulled back Wendy blinked, dazed and was pleased to see he looked just as stunned. He smiled at her gently, tenderly and then pulled her back for another kiss, his arms wrapping around her tightly.
a.n:
...and that's as fluffy as it's gonna get (though I could expand it, if anyone is interested?) Here on out it's tragic so I thought a bit of levity was needed...
Even though the episode we do not speak of was blah I loved those two strange spinsters who finished each other's sentences.