Chapter 17
Chapter
Seventeen
The boys on the island vary, of course, in numbers, according as they get killed and so on; and when they seem to be growing up, which is against the rules, Peter thins them out.
Nessie putters around in the kitchen as I snag some buttered toast from the pile on the table. “Did you have fun last night, child?” She gives me a knowing smile.
“Yep.” I still feel Hook, the sweet ache he left behind. “Did you?”
“I had some fun.” She hands me a cup of coffee. “It was good to see the Guardians again. It’s been quite a long time.”
“You know them?”
“I know everyone on this island.” She sips her own coffee. “Where are you off to?” She glances at the cutlass I’ve strapped to my side. “Everyone’s loading up the ship for the voyage. Hook is practically chipper with all his yelled orders.”
“I’m going to do a little sparring before I head down to the beach.”
“On your own?” she asks, her eyes piercing.
I shrug. “I’m sure Hook can’t spare any pirates to practice with me. I’ll just pick a tree and get to work.”
“All right.” She looks at me over the rim of her cup as she takes a drink. “Just make sure the tree won’t fight back first.”
“I’ll go after a pacifist sort of tree. Make it easy on myself. See you in a bit.” I polish off my coffee and put the cup in the sink, then head out the door.
When I look back, Nessie is watching me.
Ugh. She knows. I don’t know how she knows, but she knows. It only makes me move faster, skirting the cottages where a few pirates are grumbling about being hungover.
I’m almost to the edge of the woods when I stop dead. “Kevin?”
“Shit.” He turns as if he’s going to dart into the trees.
“Don’t you dare!” I stomp over to him. “Turn around!”
He does as he’s told, his familiar face like a slap in mine. “What the hell are you doing here?” I hold up a hand. “No, don’t tell me. Hook sent you to spy on me?”
He nods.
“But you showed up …” I think back. “You showed up as the pool boy next door when I was still a kid. Like fourteen?”
“Something like that.” He at least has the decency to have an American accent.
“Who are you really?” I ask with an almost bored tone.
“Ed Teynte. Boatswain. Happy to finally get to meet you. It was odd just watching from a distance and not being allowed to speak to you.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” I want to shake him, to smack him, to demand answers.
“Whoa. I just did what the captain ordered. Watched out for you. Made sure you were all right.”
“How many more were there?” I put my hand on the hilt of my cutlass. “Tell me!”
He holds his hands out, palms toward me. “Me, Mullins, and Alf Mason as far as I know.”
“Just you three?”
“As far as I know, miss.” He backs up a step.
I spin back toward the house, fully intending to cuss Hook out to the best of my non-sailor ability, but I remember he’s down at the beach supervising the crew. I should’ve jumped on him last night about this, but then again, I was somewhat preoccupied.
“Can I go? I’m supposed to be carrying the new sail with—”
“Go.” I swipe my hand through the air.
“Thank you, miss.” He hurries away, then breaks into a run once he’s past the cottages.
Damn. That little tête-à-tête just cut into my time for finding Geo. Not to mention I have no doubt Teynte is running as fast as he can to rat me out to Hook.
I’ve no time to waste, so I take off through the woods, heading in the direction Tinker Bell had pointed. The moon is still low, so hopefully the beasts in the trees will leave me alone. And if they don’t, I’m armed for once. Maybe I can actually defend myself.
I crawl over fallen trees and jump over streams, the forest becoming denser the farther I get from Hook’s Hideaway. No wonder the Lost Boys don’t come here—the trees are becoming thick, almost like toothpicks in rows. If it keeps up like this, I’m going to run into a wall.
Still, I keep going, picking my way past trunks and scrambling over boulders. I can still hear the crash of the sea somewhere away to my left, so I can’t be too far from the cliff that runs along the shore.
I feel the ground rising, and I’m already sweating from the exertion. I know I’m not much for cardio, but this is ridiculous. It has to be from what Peter did to me. A full-on couch potato wouldn’t be struggling as much as I am right now.
When I finally crest a small rise that’s thick with huge trees, I spot a light up the slope and to my right.
My heart leaps. I take a deep breath and pull out my cutlass.
I have to be ready. Geo isn’t going to just hand over the fairy dust. In my mind, the scenario plays out where he’s asleep and I slip it out of his pocket, or maybe he’s off taking a piss, and I steal it from his bedroll, or I smooth talk it out of him, or, worst case, I duel him until he gives it up.
I try to quiet my steps, though it’s difficult given the amount of twigs from all the trees. The ground is almost bare of vegetation, but there’s still plenty of noisy stuff to step on.
Easing through the darkness, I circle around a little to try and get the upper ground. I can see the lantern now. It’s giving out a yellow glow from where it hangs in a tree. I don’t see Geo, though.
I keep going in a steady arc, then stop when I can get a better view of the small space between the trees where the lantern light casts shadows.
I still don’t see him—no, wait. He’s there underneath a blanket. Holy shit, he’s asleep! This is going to work. I slide my cutlass back into its scabbard and pick my way down to him.
His back is to me, and he doesn’t roll over as I creep beneath the lantern light and reach for the small bag on the ground beside him.
With shaking fingers, I loosen the little bit of leather that holds the bag closed, then feel around inside.
When my fingers brush against what feels like a glass vial, a thrill goes through me. It’s fairy dust. Has to be.
I pluck it free and pull it from the bag. Right as I do, the bag shifts forward a little, making a slight scuff sound against the ground.
I freeze and hold my breath, my eyes glued to Geo.
When he doesn’t move, I slide the dust into my pocket and stand, then turn slowly.
“Hi, Moira.” Peter stands beneath the lantern, an amused look on his face.
I gasp. “P-Peter.”
“Missed me?” He moves closer, and that’s when I see a shadow behind him, one that doesn’t match his steps.
Panic tries to blot out rational thought. I swallow hard and try to think of something, anything.
“I missed you,” I squeak out.
“Why are you out here in the woods all alone?” He looks around. “It’s dangerous.” Then he focuses on me again. “There might be pirates.”
“I, um, I’m okay. I—”
“You’ve been with Hook.” He steps closer.
I stumble backwards, tripping over Geo. Landing hard on my ass, I yelp then scream when I find a desiccated corpse wrapped in the blanket. I kick away from it, backing into a tree as Peter steps over the body.
He drops to his haunches. “I warned Geo plenty of times. He didn’t listen. And then I find out he’s conspiring against me? I can’t have that.”
I reach for my cutlass, but Peter grabs me by the throat and lifts me until we’re both standing, my back against the tree as I struggle. He’s strong, so much stronger than I remember.
“Let me go.” I scratch at his hand.
He shakes me, and the back of my head smacks into the tree.
“Moira.” He presses against me, his eyes boring into mine. “You belong to me. You are my boon. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to come for you sooner.” He shoots a dark glare through the trees. “But Hook’s witch is still powerful enough to keep me out.”
“Please.” I try to breathe, to suck in air, but he’s controlling my airway. I start feeling faint, but I can’t let him knock me out. If I do, I’m done.
“Please what?” He presses his cheek to mine and inhales, then rears back. “You stink of Hook.”
“Peter.” I choke on his name.
“Has he touched you?” He looks down my body. “Has he taken what’s mine?”
My vision begins to fade, and I fight harder, slapping at him and trying to break his hold.
He grabs my hair and pulls until I scream, then turns me around and shoves me face-first into the tree. Pain blooms on my cheek as his other hand returns to my throat.
“You are mine.” His hot breath is against my ear. “Every part of you. The island gave you to me. Not him. Now you are coming back to the cave. You are going to do what I say. You are going to tell stories. Do you understand?”
“No!” I yell.
“Yes, Moira.” His grip tightens on my aching throat again.
“When I say that you are mine, I mean it. It means I can do what I want with you. Anything.” He licks the shell of my ear, and I try to break away.
I get nowhere. “That includes killing you if I want to.” He turns me around and forces me to look down at Geo’s corpse.
His face is sunken, the bones showing through.
“I could do that to you, Moira. Maybe I should have.” He pushes me closer to the body. “Is that what you want?”
“Stop!” I try for my cutlass again.
He grips my wrist and wrenches it behind me. “I won’t. Not until I get what I need from you.”
“Let her go.”
“James!” I scream his name at the sound of his voice.
“James?” Peter growls and twists my arm even farther up my back until my shoulder screams with pain. “You two are on a first name basis now?” He wheels me around to where Hook is standing, his blade drawn and fire in his eyes.
“Let her go.”
“Why would I? She’s mine.” He backs away, dragging me with him.
“Moira—”
“Did James tell you all sorts of lies about me?” Peter’s tone is gleeful. “I bet he did. Did he make himself out to be the real hero?” He shouts at Hook. “Did you?”
“Just let the girl go, and you and I can finally finish this.” Hook steps closer.
Peter only drags me back farther until we’re under the lantern. “You want me to let go of my boon? No. I’d rather tell her the truth about you, Captain Hook.”
“You wouldn’t know the truth if it bit you in your lying ass.”
“I’m not the liar, though, am I? You are. Did you tell her about her mother?” Peter giggles. “Did you?”
I meet Hook’s eyes. “What’s he talking about?” I barely push the words past Peter’s grip.
“Did he tell you how he’s the one who drove her mad? When he came looking for you again and again, poisoning her mind with Neverland magic because he thought you were meant to be his? Isn’t that right, Captain?” Peter snarls.
“James?” I don’t want to believe it.
“He can’t deny it. When Wendy left, he realized his life of fighting and murdering wasn’t enough. He wanted more. He asked the island for love, and then he got it into his head that one of Wendy’s descendants was meant for him. He fixated on you. And then he drove your mother mad over it.”
My head begins to pound, my heart hammering in my chest. “James?” I demand.
“I did visit your mother, but—”
“What?” I fight against Peter’s hold, but he doesn’t let up.
“That’s how he knew all about you. Your mother,” Peter whispers in my ear. “He even sent spies.”
“Lass, you have to listen to me.” Hook moves closer, his eyes on Peter. “Peter will say anything to convince you he’s good. Anything at all. You mustn’t believe a word he says.”
“And I’m supposed to believe you?” I yell back. “You’ve told me over and over you aren’t good. That you’re a villain, that you were made into one. You were right!”
Hook has the audacity to look stung.
Peter laughs again. “Caught in your own trap, Hook. Fool.”
“Let her go, and we’ll see which of us is the fool.” Hook’s menace has doubled, his anger seething from him.
Much like mine.
“All right.” Peter releases me, to my shock. “She’s free.”
I step forward, but then I’m covered in darkness.
“Moira!” Hook yells for me as Peter’s shadow lifts me from the ground and carries me over the trees.
The last thing I see is Peter and Hook fighting to the death, both of their swords thirsty for blood.
Read An Isle of Secrets and Shadows, the third book in the Never and Night Series.