Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
WENDY
When Roc insists on coming into my dressing room in the Dark Cathedral, just an hour before we are to walk down the aisle, I know something must be wrong.
My heart is racing in my ears. This is it, I think. He’s changed his mind.
But when he pushes into the room, there’s fury on his face.
“What is it?”
“Someone has taken our Captain.”
“What?” I shout, because I’m certain I misheard him.
Asha is beside me in an instant.
“We think it was the Gutter Snakes,” Roc goes on. “They had been paying Yal Mertz for port entry of stolen goods. With Mertz gone, and Captain in charge, they haven’t been getting their way so I suspect they decided to take a different route.”
What he’s saying makes sense on the surface. Hally used to take bribes all the time to allow bad people to do bad things in Everland.
But what doesn’t make sense is that someone would be stupid enough to take James when he’s…well, James Hook.
“So what are you going to do?” I ask.
“I’m going to go get him,” he tells me matter-of-factly.
“I’m coming with you.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Roc. You didn’t come here to tell me James has been kidnapped, expecting me to sit down and wait patiently while you go get him. Did you?”
“Wendy,” he says, sounding a little exasperated.
“I’ll be her shadow,” Asha says.
“And what Asha can’t cover, I’m sure Hagan can,” I say pointedly.
Roc raises a brow.
“What, you thought I wouldn’t notice that our house manager is always watching my every move?”
“I had hoped you wouldn’t, yes.”
“Don’t insult me like that ever again.” I’m still in my silk robe and I didn’t bring an extra set of clothing other than my wedding dress. I can’t really run into a hostage situation wearing a robe.
“I have something for you,” Asha says and unzips the bag she brought with. She pulls out a black outfit not unlike her usual attire. It’s close-fitting and unassuming. It’ll be perfect.
“Five minutes,” Roc says. “And then we leave.”
When Asha and I emerge through a side entrance of the cathedral, as Roc instructed, we’re greeted by him, Vane, Winnie, Kas, Bash, and Smee. Peter Pan is missing but I’m assuming that’s because the sun is still out.
I was confident in our odds when it was just me, Asha, and Roc. But with the rest of them? I almost feel sorry for these Gutter Snakes.
“Are we allowed to toss anyone off a cliff?” Bash asks, his wings fluttering behind him.
“No,” Roc answers. “There’s always a possibility someone could survive being tossed off a cliff.”
“What are you thinking, then?” Vane asks his brother.
“Let’s make their entrails into necklaces.”
Vane steps forward. “We should be back in time for the wedding then.”
“And then drinks!” Bash yells.
Oh gods. This new life I live is sometimes impossible to reckon with.