Chapter 18: The Love of a One-Handed Pirate

The first thing Elle noticed was the pain on the side of her head. It was like someone was constantly pounding it with an entire castle. Next, she noticed everything was black. Her eyes were closed. She fought to open them, scrubbing at her eyelids with the heels of her hands to try to pull them. Her hands weren't moving properly, and felt so heavy. Her aching eyes open, she saw metal bars around her. Elle pushed herself into a sitting position on shaky arms, trying desperately to stay calm as she looked at the dark, dusty room her cage was in. The cage was just barely big enough for her to curl up in, and her head brushed the top of it as she sat. She coughed, her lips and throat feeling dry, and gently touched her throbbing head. Her hand jerked back when she felt something dry and warm caked in her hair. Some of it came off on her fingers, it was dusty and dark red. The rest of her sloppy braid was caked in the same stuff as well as dirt and salt, and it smelled like ocean water.

The door banged open and Elle jumped, hitting the top of her head against the cage. Stifling a groan, she stared at the man who walked in, clad in a loose, dirty shirt and torn trousers, holding a wooden bowl. He slid it through the bars, a bit of the water spilling over the sides. Elle snatched it immediately and held it with both hands, gulping the wonderful water. The man picked up a bucket behind him and refilled the bowl when she set it down, making her almost smile. But she was locked in a cage and it was filthy and dark, it was bad no matter how much water she was given.

The man left after her third bowl, only to be replaced by another. This one perked her interest. He had dark hair but bright blue eyes, and was dressed in all black: black vest, loose open black shirt, tight leather pants. The leather boots, overcoat, and sword completed the look, it was exactly like in books she'd read. He was a pirate, and perhaps the captain by how clean he was. Elle didn't know what to think of pirates, she'd read so many different stories and accounts on them. She surprised herself by not being scared, just curious. Fear crept down her spine when he spoke, and she looked into his eyes.

"So, you're Pan's pretty little girl," he said casually, leaning against the side of her cage and looking down at her. His voice was low, but something just sounded off. And his eyes…they looked like broken glass. This man was suffering something, and it was dangerous. He pulled out a flask from his coat and took a large swig from it. "Not bad," he smirked at her. She just stayed quiet and still.

"I'll just get right to the point, then," he stepped to face directly in front of her. "I wish to know your dear Pan's whereabouts," he smiled humorlessly. If anything, he seemed a bit bored. This infuriated her, which was probably the wrong reaction.

"You locked me in a bloody cage," she said flatly. He sighed, and took another sip.

"Yes, I did. Have to make sure you don't run off somewhere," he grinned with a bit more malice and tucked the flask away. "And your magic is suspended, so don't worry about using it to get out." She just glared. Then, looked down, and stifled a gasp. Her normally white hair, underneath all the dirt, was light brown. An impossibly light brown, but still brown. And it wasn't glowing, she couldn't even feel her magic. "Now where is Pan?"

"On the island," she bit shortly. He frowned and pulled out his sword, sliding the blade between the bars until it rested on her shoulder against the side of her neck. She stayed still and looked straight at him, anyway.

"I'll make you a deal, little girl," he said lowly. "You give me what I want, and I'll let you go back to your dear little boys. Sound good?" She looked at him, having never been questioned like this.

"Why would I let you hurt them?" she asked, confused.

"I won't hurt them, love, I just want to talk," he chuckled darkly. He began sauntering about the small room, twirling his sword like Pan does when trying to be intimidating. But Elle knew Pan wouldn't hurt her, this man she had no idea. "You see, little girl, I have something Pan would be highly interested in having," she tilted her head, listening but staying quiet.

"What?" she finally asked when he didn't say anything else. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Pandora's Box," he whispered with suspense, but she just looked blankly at him. He smirked at her. "All you need to know is that Pan does not want it in the wrong hands, or hand," he waved one of his hands at her and she couldn't stop her eyes from widening. There wasn't a hand, there was a sharp, clean hook.

He stopped with his back to her, directly in front of the cage. He turned so his side faced her, and then tilted his head the rest of the way so he looked directly into her face. His brows were furrowed and he looked at her as if she was the most complex thing in the world. Sliding the sword away, he pulled the flask back out and drank, still looking at her. "How did you even get here?" he murmured. Elle blinked at the sudden change of subject.

"Same way all the boys did," she answered honestly. The Shadow had carried her. The pirate chuckled again, not believing her. He shook his head, looked down, then nodded to himself. He faced her completely.

"If you think not answering me will save your dear little boys, you're very wrong, little girl. There are few I deem worthy of gaining my revenge on, but Pan is very high on that list," the pirate practically hissed. Elle narrowed her eyes and tried to quietly summon her magic, but she still couldn't feel it. "Aren't you scared of being all locked up in that tiny, dirty little cage, princess? That's what Pan calls you, isn't it?"

Elle stiffened, starting to get angry at all the taunts. "I've been locked in a room most of my life, cages don't scare me. And I may not know much about the world, but I know you won't defeat Pan, even if I did tell you anything," she hissed.

He chuckled humorlessly and knelt, so his face was inches from hers but she refused to move. "Aww, does the little girl love him? Think you're protecting him by not letting me tell him about what will destroy him?"

At that, Elle got angry. "What the hell would you know about protecting someone, or caring, or love anyway? You'd know even less than me. You're just a one-handed pirate with a drinking problem," she spat out.

She said something very, very wrong. He lunged at her, his face twisted, and his hand was wrapped tightly around her throat. He yanked her forward so her body, and the side of her head, hit the bars. Elle was terrified when she looked into his face, where the most fury she'd ever seen was displayed. His hand was so tight she could feel bruises forming, especially where the rings on his fingers cut into her skin. His other wrist came up before she could even finish processing and she felt a sting, followed by lingering pain. She couldn't stop the cry of pain as the pirate then threw her by her neck to the floor.

"Don't you dare assume such things, you stupid little girl. I know more about love than you ever will," he threatened, jaw and voice tight. Elle touched her stinging cheek and felt something wet and warm. Blood, he'd cut her with his hook. She looked up at him, burning with both hatred and fear, and watched his face twist further in fury and…something else. She tried again to pull up her magic, and she felt a tiny spark, but not enough.

"Magic took my love away. Pan has so much magic, you may not see it yet, but it's what makes him evil. And it's what will make you just as heartless, as cruel," he said, smirking triumphantly. Elle felt her back hit the bars, she couldn't back away any farther, and he was right against the bars, leaving only about a foot in between them. "He'll take your heart and crush it, just like my Milah's was. Did you know I had a brother? I loved him, my big brother. Think about your precious boys, princess, would you like to watch any of them die? How about like mine did, because of Pan? He lied to him, and my brother died because he trusted the boy."

Elle felt tears prick her eyes from fear. He pulled out his sword and slid it through the bars so it pushed against her chest. The man's voice stayed low and he kept that triumphant smirk throughout his speech. He chuckled and swung the sword lazily, making shallow cuts on her. Before she could let herself believe him, and the sword could do any more damage, she pulled the tiny spark of magic inside her and threw it out. The last thing she saw was the pirate hitting the wall, then her vision went black.