“What the—”
Sally flies into the room right for Tinker Bell who flashes into the little orb and flies straight out the window. Sally follows. I run to the sill and watch as Tinker Bell and Sally disappear through the trees.
When I look down, plenty of pirates are staring up at me from their spots around the bonfire. All except Bill Jukes, who is singing as loud as he possibly can to a mermaid statue in front of one of the cottages.
I pull my window closed. If Tinker Bell comes back, I have no doubt she’ll figure out how to get in. But I doubt she will. She already gave me my answers. The last one wasn’t quite as clear, but I think I’ve known the truth of it ever since I saw my reflection here. Maybe even before when I kept getting those odd headaches and horrible dreams.
Peter brought me here to tell him and his Lost Boys stories. I thought it was sweet, and if I’m being honest, I was flattered. I love stories. I lovetellingstories. I live in my head more than anywhere else. Which is scary, given my past, but it’s also who I am. Peter somehow knew that, and he brought me here to tell my stories to him. What did Clytemnestra say? That I was giving away my magic for free? If stories are magic—and I’ve always believed that’s true—then my stories are what erased the crow’s feet from Peter’s face and slapped them onto mine. My stories are what fed him, made him younger, kept all of them going while I faded away. And heknew. The whole time he knew what he was doing to me. Did Coy know? I swallow hard and think back to some of the looks he gave me. In hindsight, it’s perfectly clear. Guilt. He felt guilt. He knew. Yet he didn’t stop it.
I sit heavily on the bed and glance up at the window, half expecting a Yeti or some other fantastical creature to come crashing through. But there’s nothing, no one. Just Bill Jukes singing in a language I don’t know and the crackling of the bonfire.
Lying down, I let myself mourn for the Peter I thought I knew. God, I’ve been so completely clueless. About him, about Hook. I can’t afford to be that way any longer. I don’t know how to burn off my naivety, but I think hearing the truth from Tinker Bell was the first step. She wants Peter for herself? She can have him. I’m done with him. I won’t be used by anyone.
I close my eyes, letting my mind drift. My resolve grows even as I begin to fall asleep. I’m not going to be a soft target anymore. I’m going to get strong, learn from Widow and Bill, and then I’m going to make a break for the mainland on my own terms. Of course, I have no idea how to get there. Then again, there’s a Lost Boy waiting in the woods with a pouch full of fairy dust. If I can get to Geo and somehow snatch it from him, I’ll be one step closer to getting out of this mess.
I’m not waiting for anyone to save me. This time, I’m going to save myself.
ChapterFourteen
“Hey!” I go sprawling face first onto the mossy ground.
Starkey chuckles behind me. “Your balance is atrocious, darling.”
“Shut up!” I scramble to my feet and wipe my sleeve across my forehead.
Nessie claps from her seat on the back porch. “Give it to him good, girl!” she cries.
“What she said.” Widow nods.
“Is the little mainlander going to hurt me?” Starkey has the nerve to turn his back on me and speak to Bill who’s sitting near the fire pit. “Am I going to lose my life to a darling girl?”
Bill shrugs.
I lunge for Starkey, my wooden sword aiming right for the center of his back.
He turns and easily deflects it.
“Ass,” I grumble and back up a few steps.
“I thought Widow taught you a thing or two.” He tsks. “Doesn’t look like it.”
“Go easy, Starkey,” Widow shoots him a nasty look.
“Why should I? No one else will.” He lunges forward, his sword slashing perilously close to my face.
I drop low and smack my sword against his knee.
Widow jumps to her feet and yells as I fall back onto my ass again. “You got him!”
“That?” Starkey pushes his blond locks off his forehead. “That was nothing.”
“That would’ve been a gusher if her blade had a bite,” Bill intones.
Cecco, shirtless and with an amused smile beneath his mustache, sits in front of Bill and leans forward.
“Ready?” Bill asks.
“As I’ll ever be.” Cecco looks over his shoulder. “Make it beautiful. Something the ladies will love,si?”
