Chapter 5 #2
She turns sharply, still pacing. “That’s true.
He’s always had … tendencies. A prideful streak.
Some cruelty. But Peter had a code, one he lived by above all others—fairness.
He believed in fairness, as if it was his personal touchstone.
So much so that he’d change sides mid-skirmish if he found the Lost Boys far outnumbered their foes.
” Another sigh. “But that was long ago, long before Wendy Darling came. His code vanished, right along with our friendship.”
“Do you think Wendy has something to do with all this?”
“Of course.” She sinks beside me again and wipes my forehead.
“Your line is tied to the island. When she came, I feel as if she awoke something here. And it grew and grew, pulling in Peter, Hook, and anyone who came near. Hook succumbed first, visiting the heart of the island. The sun stopped rising, the creatures became more vicious than even our elders could remember. And then Peter followed, making things so much worse.”
“He wished for love.” I’m drifting now, my mind dark at the edges. “Hook. He wished for love, and he thinks the island gave me to him.”
Her hand stills. “Love?”
“Mmhmm. He told me.” I don’t mention what Hook and I did after he told me, though I suppose Tiger Lily can work that out on her own. She heard it that night at Hook’s Hideaway.
“Do you suppose Peter made the same request?” she asks.
“No.” I answer so quickly it startles me back into the pain of being awake. “Peter would never ask for anything like that. He’d only ask for something for himself, something he could use.”
“And the island gave you to him, too?” she prods.
“I don’t know.” I meet her eyes. “I don’t know what the truth is. I never have, apparently. Peter said …” I swallow hard. “Peter said Hook is the reason my mother faded away, the reason she succumbed to her illness.”
“I see.” She wipes my cheeks as if she can swipe my fever away with gentle strokes. “But you must remember, Peter is a liar.”
“So is Hook.”
“Fair.” She puts the cloth in the bowl of cool water.
“But who does your heart believe?” Rising again, she stokes the fire then turns to me.
“Rest. We’ll protect you. If Peter shows up, I’ve already instructed Bunk to get you as far away from here as possible.
” Her eyes are sad, the weight of the island resting on her shoulders.
I suddenly wonder what the rest of her story is.
Has she had love and lost it? Something in her demeanor tells me yes, but she turns and walks away before I can even formulate a question.
Tiger Lily remains a mystery. But I’m beginning to suspect she may also be turning into a friend.
“You’re looking better.” Shiner sits beside me and spoons me something with the consistency of oatmeal. “Not great, but better.”
“Thanks, I guess.” I take another spoonful. It has the slightest bit of heat, as if the cook knocked over the hot sauce bottle into the pot before setting it upright again. But it’s also sweet. I actually enjoy it, though I won’t tell Widow or Cookson. Which reminds me. “Where’s Hook now?”
She shrugs. “I took off as soon as Nessie raised the alarm that you were in danger.”
“How’d you get through the woods?”
“I’m a Guardian. There’s nowhere on the island I haven’t been. Even into the Silver Mountains.” She shivers. “But I hope I never see those razor-sharp peaks again. Not up close, anyway.”
I pause for a moment, looking for the courage to ask what I really want to know.
I shouldn’t care if Hook is all right. I know that.
He hurt my mother, maybe killed her. I don’t know if Peter was lying, but when I think back to some of the things my mother said when she came out of her catatonia, I begin to see the truth filtering through, like motes of dust in a ray of sunlight.
She’d talk about someone, someone who asked questions about me.
Could that have been Hook? My gut says it is.
Hook’s voice haunts my mind, whispering from dark corners: “I’ve done every sort of villainy you can dream up.
More. Any black speck your beautiful mind can create, it rests on my heart, marking it like a piece of coal.
There is nothing you can accuse me of that would roll off and leave me blameless.
” He told me exactly what he is. What he’s done.
Even so, I can’t stop myself from wondering if he’s okay.
I want him to be all right. It’s sick and wrong, and I shouldn’t worry about that evil man.
But I do. Even now, knowing what I know, I still do.
I clear my throat. “That night that Peter took me, did you see Hook and Peter fighting?”
She feeds me another spoonful. “Peter was already flying away by the time I got to the clearing where the Lost Boy had been drained.”
“Geo. His name was Geo.” I didn’t particularly like him, but that doesn’t mean I wanted him to meet that horrible fate.
“Hook had gotten the best of Peter in the fight, so of course, like the coward he is, Peter took flight and headed north. I bypassed Hook and kept going, picking my way up through the forest and farther until I reached the Grove. It took me two moonrises to get to the cave. By then, Peter had you firmly in hand. The Lost Boys were on high alert, and there was no way to sneak into the cave unnoticed. I climbed into a section of the Nevertree where I had a good view of the Grove and settled in to wait for my shot to get to you. It took another two moonrises before I heard your voice. It must’ve been when you were climbing up the waterfall.
By the time I tracked you to it, you were gone, and Peter was on your trail.
The werewolves kept him at bay—and he kept enough of them occupied—so I could cut around and find you in the pool. ”
“You never gave up on me.” I don’t want to tear up again, but I can’t help it.
“Don’t go all mushy.” She shoves my arm, but I notice how gentle she is. “I just didn’t want Peter to win. That prick wins far too much, if you ask me.”
“Thank you.” I take her hand in my bandaged one. “Thank you for finding me.”
“It was nothing.” Then her eyes get a sharp glint in them. “How’d you like that underwater kiss, eh? Nice, right?”
“That wasn’t even a real kiss.” I roll my eyes. “You were giving me air.”
“Look, if you don’t want to admit to all the feelings between us, I understand. But it’s only a matter of time before all that emotion comes pouring out, and when that happens—”
“Oh my god.” I laugh. “You are ridiculous.”
She grins. “I know. But at least you’re smiling now. Not thinking about that ponce in the cave. He isn’t worth all this bother. Not from me or from you.”
“He isn’t,” I agree. “Do you think the island will let me wish him away?”
Her eyes pop as she puts her hand over my mouth. “She was just kidding,” she calls to no one in particular before giving me a hard look. “Too far, mainlander.”
“Sorry,” I say against her palm.
Once she realizes that we aren’t going to be struck by lightning or swallowed up by the island, she relaxes.
“But what’s our next step? I know I need to get to the Fairy Village. I’m just not sure how.”
“The Jolly Roger. I’m still going with you. In fact, I’ll be by your side from now on. It’s what Tiger Lily wants.”
“She doesn’t trust me?”
“She doesn’t trust you to stay out of trouble. Somehow, it just finds you. Wouldn’t you agree?” She offers me another spoonful of the not-oatmeal, and I take it, though it’s a bit gummier now that it’s cooled.
“I do agree. I’m a lightning rod for it.”
“Anyway.” She dips out the last bit of not-oatmeal and feeds it to me before dropping the spoon into the bowl.
“As soon as you’re able to travel, you and I will head out toward the sea.
I’ve no doubt that the Jolly Roger is already stationed offshore nearby.
Hook won’t let you get away for long. I’m surprised he isn’t here yet.
Then again, even with the truce and alliance between our peoples, Hook hasn’t been welcome in the village ever since he went into the heart of the island against Tiger Lily’s wishes. ”
“What will she do if he comes for me?”
“She might kill him.” She shrugs. “She only needs his ship to get you to the Fairy Village, I suppose.”
“So, you know how to navigate the sea on a pirate galleon?” I ask with one eyebrow raised.
“I’m sure I could figure it out.” She stands and stretches, then grabs my empty bowl. “I’ll be back later.”
“When you do, I want you to tell me a story.” I snuggle down beneath the blankets. “I’m getting pretty bored of being laid up in bed because of the things this island likes to do to me. I need entertainment.”
“As long as you promise you won’t suck out my soul—or laugh at my horrible story-telling—then I’ll be happy to.”
“Good.” I watch as she retreats through the hallway that links the round house to the other structures in the village.
“I can tell you a story.” Wraith materializes from the gloom on the far side of the room.
“Jeez. You need a bell, mister.” I point to my neck.
He sits beside the fire, legs crossed as he watches me. He’s dressed in dark gray, knives strapped across his chest. Wraith always looks like he’s on the edge of a battle, only moments away from plunging into a deadly fray.
“But yes, I’d be happy to hear a story. Hit me with your best shot.”
“It’s sad,” he warns.
“Make me cry,” I challenge. “But not really,” I add quickly. “I feel like I cry too much as it is.”
He smirks. “No promises.”
I settle in and watch him, though I have to admit I’m surprised he’s volunteered to talk to me. Usually, I can’t get more than two words out of him at a time. But I won’t toss away this good fortune just because it comes in an odd package. “Go on.”