Chapter 12 #2
“We want you to meet someone. That’s all.” Cobweb runs a towel over her black, curly hair then down along her deep brown skin. “And we weren’t going to have our meetup in the downpour. Not to mention, the Lost Boys aren’t invited.” She wrinkles her nose.
That doesn’t sound so bad, actually, and the fire is quite nice. I scoot even closer until I can feel my sweatshirt steaming a little.
“Don’t catch fire. That might be hard for us to explain away,” Shiner cautions.
“Explain to who? Who am I meeting?”
“Me.” A woman steps from the shadows, her large brown eyes luminous. Has she been against the wall the entire time?
If there was ever a time for bi-panic, it would be right now, because she’s gorgeous.
Long dark hair, light brown skin, and with delicate features—she’s got to be the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen in person.
She’s wearing a brown leather bodice with a black flowy skirt that flirts with the floor as she walks.
“I’m Tiger Lily.” She gives me a warm smile.
“Moira.” I probably look like some species of drowned rat.
“Welcome to our lodge. I’ve wanted to speak with you since you first arrived, but Peter has kept you all to himself.” She moves toward the fire and sits as something screeches outside.
She must notice me staring out the door, because she says, “They won’t venture in here. We’ve killed enough of their numbers for them to be painfully aware of what happens if they set foot in our village.” She turns to Bunk. “Bring some fruit, please, Bunk.”
“Sure.” He rises and lumbers off into the shadows, which is when I realize there’s a hallway on the side of the round room. That’s where Tiger Lily came from, and it must connect to other buildings.
“Now, tell me about you.” She sits gracefully, her legs crossed as she watches me. “You’re from the mainland, and Wendy was your ancestor. That’s all I know.”
Where do I even start? “Wendy told her family about you, and the story eventually trickled all the way down to me. We all thought it was just a made-up tale, but here you are. She said you were brave, that you fought Captain Hook and defended your people.”
She nods. “Those things are true. I’ve always defended this island. Which is why I was surprised when you arrived. I had no inkling from the island’s magic that you were on your way.”
“You weren’t the only one who was surprised. I was going about my business when Peter showed up and kidnapped me. Though, to be perfectly honest with you, I’m still not sure that this whole thing isn’t a screwed-up dream brought on by a particularly gnarly hotdog.”
Shiner hides a laugh behind her hand.
Tiger Lily leans closer, her big eyes eating me up. “I can assure you this is all very real.”
“That’s what a delusion would say, isn’t it though?” I shrug.
I take a piece of fruit from the plate Bunk hands to me. It looks like an orange slice, but it’s a deep purple. I sniff it, and it reminds me of watermelon. I take a bite. Love it. Then eat the whole slice.
“This is good. Filling.” I chew the pulp.
Tiger Lily leans back and pops a small red berry into her mouth. “How has your time with the Lost Boys been?”
“Fine, I guess. I mean, they make all these meals that I can’t even see.
I’m surviving on neverberries and whatever this is—” I eat more of the deep purple fruit.
“Other than that, I’ve sort of been getting adjusted.
I think Peter is coming up with a plan on how to stop Hook.
I’ve explored a little. I tell them stories every night, and …
” My voice fades away as they all quickly turn to look at Tiger Lily.
“What? What’s wrong?” I wipe my sticky mouth with the back of my wet sleeve—very convenient, frankly.
“Nothing.” She gives me a tight smile. “Putting that aside, what did Peter tell you was the reason he brought you?”
“To save the island from Hook. Hook wants to take over the island and claim it for himself. That’s why the magic is dying, right?”
Another look passes between Shiner and Tiger Lily.
Ugh, more secrets. “Stop doing that! What’s wrong?”
“Is Tinker Bell still with Peter in the cave?” Wraith asks and takes a piece of fruit. He devours it in one bite.
“Yes.”
“How about the Lost Boys in the tree. How many would you say there are?” Cobweb asks.
I chew my fruit and begin to realize how pointed these questions are. It’s like they’re trying to get intel on Peter. Like I’m a spy. No, thanks. “Why don’t you just ask Peter?”
“That’s a good question.” Peter stalks in, his hair flattened against his head from the rain. “If you want to know something, Tiger Lily, you can come to me.”
My breath catches in my throat at the state of him. Soaked through, shirtless, and madder than I’ve ever seen him. He walks right to me and offers his hand. “Let’s go.”
Bunk is already on his feet and standing at Tiger Lily’s elbow. I don’t see Wraith, but I get the feeling he’s still here somewhere, and Cobweb and Shiner both have their blades drawn.
Tiger Lily rises and motions for her people to stand down. “Peter, you don’t have to—”
“I do.” He cuts her off as he pulls me to my feet. “You attack my men and steal my boon from me? What did you think would happen?”
My boon. What does that mean? I know what a boon is, of course, something good like a prize, but why would he use that word?
“Why did you say—”
“Peter, give me some more time with her. She’s soaked, and the moon is high. You’ll both be safe here with—”
“Absolutely not.” He pulls me behind him. “If you pull another trick like this, it will be war again. Is that what you want?”
Tiger Lily’s eyes narrow. “Threats don’t go over well here, Peter. I would think what happened to Hook would’ve taught you that.”
“If you touch her again, what I do to Hook will be nothing more than an appetizer. That’s not a threat, Tiger Lily, and you know it.” The ferocity in him makes me shiver. I’m not used to this Peter even though he’s been hinted at by the Lost Boys.
A beast howls nearby even as Peter draws me away from the warm fire and the warriors still gathered there.
“Maybe we should stay.” I try to pull him to a stop, but he refuses.
Without turning his back on them, he guides me from the round building and back into the rain.
“Peter!” I pull away from his grip. “They weren’t hurting me. We could stay and—”
“They’re not your friends, Moira!” he yells.
I cringe back against the wall of the building.
He takes a deep breath, then meets my gaze again.
“I’m sorry. I just … I heard you’d been taken and I snapped.
I’m sorry. I was so afraid something had happened to you.
” He steps closer. “What if they’d made a deal with Hook?
I couldn’t sit by and let you be handed off to that monster.
” Reaching up, he cups my cheek. “I have to protect you. I will always keep you safe.”
I want to tell him that I felt safe with the Neverians or the Guardians or whoever they are, but I don’t. After all, Peter has kept me safe. He saved me from pirates when I ran away, then pulled me out of the mermaid’s grasp. Peter’s done nothing but protect me.