Veiled in Stars and Silver: A Peter Pan Fairy Tale Romance

Chapter 26

I flew for the cave where Tinker Bell most likely hid, the wind rustling my hair. Nerves twisted in my stomach as I debated what to do. I looked out over Neverland, the bushes beneath writhing and shivering like a swarm of mosquitoes. Through the heavy foliage, I made out people and creatures heading in the same direction as me. They’d been doing that since I’d crossed over into fairy territory. I frowned as I saw several of them glance up at me as I soared past.

Strangely enough, no fairies tried to intercept me.

But there would be no surprising Tinker Bell. Ever since arriving, I’d seen precious few, outside of fairies, who could fly. Maybe because Tink hoarded her power? Or because not even she was able to force someone to have genuinely happy thoughts? Either way, as long as I stayed aloft, I hopefully wouldn’t be intercepted.

At least James was safe.

I landed on the ground outside Tinker Bell’s cave. The opening gaped wide, blocked by several large mossy boulders. People and enormous beasts lingered about, staring at me. Their sightless gazes made it clear that none of them were themselves. I slipped a throwing knife into my hand. They could kill me in an instant. All Tink needed to do was give the order. I swallowed, my mouth going dry, and held the spellbook close to my chest. The Dagger of Forgotten Souls hung, strapped to my waist. I was a fighter, but sheer numbers could easily overwhelm me.

I scanned those present. There were pirates as well as those under Tiger Lily’s protection. I assumed the ladies at Madame Pearl’s were too far away to get there in time.

There were also no Lost Boys. Because they were under Peter’s orders. Which meant that Tink didn’t take control of their minds. Or so I hoped. They were the only ones besides me and Peter who could fly, which was my sole chance of getting out of this.

“She forced you to come here today because of me, and I’m sorry,” I murmured to those gathered. “I’m sorry for what she has done to you. And…” I hung my head. “I’m sorry I can’t help you.”

With that, I stepped into the darkness of the cave.

Its mossy walls spanned high overhead. Stalactites dangled from the ceiling, dripping clear water to the floor below.

I fought to calm the tingling that seared through my veins. After I saved my brothers and found a secure place in London for them, I’d come back, find a way to defeat Tink with James. It would be a lot more difficult, maybe impossible, but at least my brothers would be safe. And couldn’t be used as leverage against me. And by then, James would have to believe me about Tink. I hoped. Or in two days, all was lost.

And if I failed, at least James still had a fighting chance to save Neverland, and maybe my brothers.

The darkness soon lifted as a light illuminated a small space. At the end stood a woman dressed in a long flowery flowing gown. Power issued off of her, making her skin sparkle and glow. She rose from an old wicker chair as she looked me over, regal and unexpectedly majestic. Like a goddess who ruled over her land.

Tinker Bell.

“Welcome, Wendy. I see you figured it out. Congratulations, you are the first,” she said in a smooth voice. Her hair was her usual tight blond bun and her eyes gleamed. I didn’t know how to react. I’d never seen Tinker Bell human-sized. And I’d never been able to understand her. I realized now that perhaps the only reason was because the fairy woman had wanted it that way.

My gaze fell to my brothers, curled next to one another, their compact forms laying on a throw rug in the far right corner of the cave. I sucked in a breath. They seemed to be unharmed, but they were also unconscious.

“John, Michael.” I headed for them.

But Tink held up a hand. “Don’t come any closer, or I’m afraid I am going to have to have the princess take action.” She nodded.

I spun around to find Tiger Lily standing in the entrance to the cave, bow loaded and ready.

I faced Tinker Bell, my teeth grit. “I brought what you wanted. The book and the dagger.” I held out the spellbook for her examination.

Tink merely smiled. “Yes, you did.”

“So let”s trade.”

She stared at me, then shrugged. “Fine. Give them to me.”

I stepped back, pulling the book close to my chest. “My brothers first.”

The fairy woman huffed a laugh. “I’m afraid that will not work.”

“That was the deal.”

“What is to stop me from having Tiger Lily put an arrow in your back and simply taking them from you? Come now, Wendy.” Tink’s head tilted, a triumphant smile painting her perfect lips. “I have the upper hand. Cooperate, and I might let you live.”

My heart pounded in my chest, and my limbs trembled. “Give me one brother. I’ll give you the book. I’ll take him to safety and then return and hand over the dagger.” It was silly of me to bargain after what Tink had said, but I had to try.

“You aren’t listening. Oh, what am I thinking? You never understand a thing I say.”

Her gaze shifted, and I realized the truth. Tinker Bell would never let me leave with my brothers. I dove to the side as an arrow shot past me, breaking against the stonewall of the cave. The book fell from my grasp as I drew a second dagger and turned to face off against Tiger Lily.

“Stop.” A voice caused me to freeze.

Peter stood in front of Tiger Lily, his arms out, eyes narrowed on Tinker Bell. Wariness stole over me.

This was not the moment for the inevitable uncertainty that Peter Pan brought to any situation.

For the first time, Tinker Bell appeared caught off guard. “What are you doing here?”

He looked his fairy up and down like he’d never seen her before. “Why are you big, Tink? Is everything that Wendy said true? Do you hold all of Neverland in your power? Do you control them only for my amusement?”

Tink let out a light laugh. “Peter, what a silly thing to say. This.” She motioned to me and my brothers. “This is a game. It always is. And we have almost won.”

“Have we? Or is it you who has almost won? You’ve never taken over me or the Lost Boys. But then that was the point, wasn’t it? This was designed for us, to keep you alive, to keep all the fairies alive.”

“She needed you to be innocent,” I added. If Tink had taken over Peter or the Lost Boys’ minds, the dream of the boyish utopia would have been broken and their wonder destroyed. She had to ensure their continued belief in the game.

Peter’s fists clenched at his sides.

His eyes never strayed from Tink. “And why them?” He pointed to my brothers. “They had left. They didn’t want to be here, and yet you’ve done everything you can to keep them from Wendy. All you needed to do was give them to her, and she would have gladly offered you whatever you wanted.”

“Peter—”

“No more lies, Tink.” Peter’s voice was steel. “Or I swear, I will leave Neverland and never return.”

Tinker Bell took a beseeching step in his direction. “You don’t understand. Before we brought John and Michael here, we were limping along. A fairy bond is limited, and we can unite only one fairy to one boy. That was all. My magic only held so many fairy-Lost Boy bonds at a time, but when these boys came,”—she motioned toward my brothers—”it was like my power had enhanced. Their wonder, their belief, powered me and Neverland a thousand times over. Suddenly, we weren’t limited. We could save hundreds, even thousands, of fairies.”

“But what is so special about them?”

She waved a hand, uncaring. “What does that matter?”

But I knew. At least I had a guess. If James was right and I was a descendant of Stardust, that meant my brothers were also descendants of one of the original fairies that founded Neverland.

“But you didn’t want me because I was too old, too assertive, losing the wonder of youth,” I said.

“You were the one who convinced them to leave Neverland in the first place,” Tink spat at me. She faced Peter. “We must keep them here. We must continue everything as it was. If not, hundreds, thousands, of fairies will die.”

“And yet you hold hundreds of creatures hostage in abject slavery,” I accused.

“Yes. I understand,” Peter said, picking up the spellbook off the cave floor. “You are right, Tink. Tell me what to do.”

“Bring me the book.”

Peter nodded.

“No, Peter. You’re really going to help her after so many lies?” I lifted my knife. “I won’t let you.”

Tink’s eyes glowed a dangerous deep emerald. “You will allow him to bring me the book or—”

“Or what?” I snarled. “You will hurt my brothers? Come now, Tink, we all know you won’t do that.”

Shouts from outside the cave caused my mouth to go dry.

A cruel smile curled Tinker Bell’s lips, her eyes returning to their normal hue. “You are right, Wendy. I won’t hurt your brothers, but I have no qualms over hurting him.”

Several pirates walked into the cave holding a struggling James Hook between them.

“No,” I whispered, nausea making me feel weak.

His gaze met mine, the odd lighting trickling into the dark, highlighting something like regret in his expression as the pirates yanked his arms behind him, tying them together. He grimaced, a sad smile crossing his lips. “Sorry, love, couldn’t let you go through this alone.”

I remained rooted to the spot, my world twisted on its head. I’d come to fight for my brothers. I’d come to sacrifice myself in a foolish effort to save them.

And now I might also lose James.

“Here is the new deal,” Tinker Bell said, her beautiful gown swishing in soft swirls of victory as she faced me. “Give me the dagger and the book, or I will kill your lover boy in front of you.”