“Happy birthday to you –”
The crowd began to sing, pulling throaty and high-pitched voices out across the table. The celebration continued as though Maggie and Peter weren’t there, as if her future wasn’t on the line. The singing finished with a flourish, the sparklers shooting into the air above Neptune’s head before bursting into a series of flashing colors. The spectacle was over with a flash, and the honored guests ate alongside their King.
Neptune dug a sterling silver fork through the Honey Cake and did not hesitate to devour it. Not once did his expression reveal his true thoughts in regards to it, but he went on to swallow every last crumb that was left on his plate. By the end of it, he was dabbing a cloth napkin to the stray frosting that dirtied his long and regal beard.
The King rose from his seat and drifted to where Maggie waited. He towered over her, a dark shadow crossing over her entire frame. Neptune’s eyes narrowed as he leaned over, smelling of moss and algae.
“That meal,” he began, his voice quivering with something Maggie could only assume to be anger, “was absolutely…spectacular!”
Cheers erupted through the dining hall as Maggie blinked up at him. “You…what?”
The King reached for her hand, grabbing a hold of her with a firm and friendly grasp. He shook her hand like an old friend, a handsome smile tugging across his face. “What a spectacle,” Neptune said. “What a show! Nothing failed to deliver. And that cake was by far the most delectable treat. Who could have ever asked for a better birthday?”
Maggie almost fainted with relief. The Princesses were at his sides, cheering for her with broad smiles. Peter was instantly at her side, his grasp on her waist the most relieving part of it all.
“Captain Hook’s statue waits for you at the palace gates,” Neptune said. “You are welcome to leave.”
Maggie bowed to the King, though she wasn’t quite sure if she was meant to. The Princesses eyed her funnily before giggling, giving her a wave goodbye. Peter was already pulling her away, already racing to put as much distance between them and the kingdom of Atlantis as soon as possible.
The water pulled and pushed as Neptune moved through the dining hall, suddenly standing in front of the doors, effectively blocking their way out. Maggie gulped as they neared him, not at all finding the smile on his face to be entirely friendly.
“Maggie Hart,” King Neptune said, “you have managed to surprise me in more ways than one. If you should ever wish to return and cook in our kitchens, you will be regarded as an honored guest of the King’s Court.” Neptune bowed graciously, in a much more dignifying way than she did moments before. “But be warned – if either one of you feel the need to steal from me again,” the merman drew incredibly close, his eyes painfully bright, “then I will not be so forgiving.” Neptune swayed out of the way in his next breath, the threatening demeanor entirely wiped away.
And without a moment to lose, Maggie and Peter raced out of Atlantis.
15
Maggie
The moon treaded high over their heads as Maggie and Peter landed on Hook’s pirate ship. Crocodile Waters was exceptionally quiet that evening as they arrived, not even a pair of beading eyes watching them from the darkness. What Maggie once considered to be a sign of good luck, that there would be only smooth sailing ahead, now appeared to be nothing more than a haunting omen. Perhaps Hook and his crew lingered in the shadows, taking the opportunity to end their Peter Pan problem once and for all. Maybe Maggie’s insistence upon handling things through a peaceful deal wasn’t the right way to do it all. Could that be the very thing that brings them more harm than good?
Hundreds of questions and speculations danced through Maggie’s brain as they cautiously walked across the quiet wooden deck. Hook’s statue was tucked beneath her arm, and though the thing was rather large for a simple statue, it barely weighed a thing. It was an odd and unique thing, which made sense as to why Neptune wanted to keep it amongst his treasures. Her eyes landed on the shelf where their good luck charm was supposed to stand, but the mermaid statue was nolonger there. Maggie inched toward it, her heart racing. They couldn’t have backed out on their deal, not when everything was finally falling into place.
“Looking for this, my lady?” Hook stepped out of the shadows, the smoking scarring on the pirate ship dark enough to have him and the rest of his crew obscured from their view. One by one they piled out, slipping out of the captain’s cabin to meet them head on. Hook tossed the mermaid statue above him before catching it in the same motion. Behind him, a small crew of pirates drew their glistening swords, the sharpened tips pointing in Maggie’s direction.
“She’s got it,” one of the pirates murmured.
Another gasped. “They’ve really done it!”
“Our good luck charm is returned!”
Hook’s leather boot slammed onto the creaking wood, effectively silencing his eager crew. He paced in front of them in the way he had once done before, when Maggie had first met him. Steely grey eyes lingered on the statue tucked beneath her arm, his grip only growing tighter over the prize she sought.
“So,” Hook cooed, his brow raising, “you two managed to retrieve the statue from Neptune’s Treasury. I must say, I’m rather impressed.” His eyes landed on Peter in a mocking fashion. “I did not realize that this was all it would take to make the King of Neverland into a thief.”
The sound of Peter drawing his blade shrieked through the air. Maggie felt the whistle of the sword being brought forward, the tip aimed directly at the sarcastic pirate Captain. Maggie reached for him, covering his fist that was tightened over the leather bound hilt. Peter’s eyes flicked over to her.
“Relax,” Maggie whispered to him.
He looked uncertain. “But –”
“But you need torelax,” she repeated. “Look around, Peter. There aren’t any Lost Boys to back you up this time. We’re outmanned.”
Peter grinned, though it wasn’t entirely believable. “We can take them, can’t we?”
“No, Peter,” Maggie whispered. “We need this exchange to go through, or I fear there will be a prison waiting for us, one that won’t be so quick to grant us a way out.”
Peter opened his mouth as if to argue some more, but his bravado was quickly fading. There was only one way forward, one path that saw the statues returned to their rightful owners, without any unnecessary pain shed. Even then, as Hook and his crew had their weapons drawn, Maggie had the feeling that none of them wanted violence. The one thing they were searching for, that they werevyingfor, lay in each other's hands. Maggie pulled the statue out from under her arm and turned back to Hook as Peter lowered his blade. The surrounding pirates shared a baffled look as the King of Neverland sheathed his sword to his rivals.
