Hook & Jill (The Hook & Jill Saga) (16 page)

“As have I, arrogant boy,” Hook called. The enemies surged, clashed and withdrew, and surged again. Compelled by old animosity, they struck their swords together, making brutal music. Falling back only to renew his grip, Peter whirled and lashed out, slashing. Hook’s rapier flew high and low, blocking Peter’s blows. Boots and bare feet stepped wide, balancing the aggression of the blades, maneuvering within the ring of children. As Hook circled, he faced the house and never turned his back to Wendy. Reversing tack when necessary, he made certain Peter fought in front of her. The boys’ weapons, held at the ready, surrounded the opponents but didn’t interfere. Peter had spoken. Only he would fight Hook.

A grim fascination gripped Wendy. Driven by instinct, she evaluated the situation and found she understood it perfectly. Both parties were skilled swordsmen, but Hook’s superior size and strength gave him the advantage. Clearly, he had mastered with his left hand the skills lost with his right, and far from exerting himself, he was taking pleasure in this fray. Peter was smiling. He was cunning and quick. But he was a boy, his reach insufficient to drive his blade home. His repeated attempts to close in and score were foiled by the slicing claw. Wendy watched, reluctant but intrigued, as it fended off any steel nearer to Hook than the point of his sword.

“Come, Pan, don’t be shy. Shake hands with my hook!” It shot out and shredded a leaf at Peter’s hip. Peter realized his disadvantage and took to the air in one exultant bound.

“You can’t catch me, Hook, on the ground or in the air!”

The pirate snarled his disgust as Peter attacked from on high. Hook fought him off, jeering, “But I can bring you down!”

Peter darted forward and back. Hook beat him away. Finally snaring the boy’s blade in the crook of his claw, Hook slid it down to the hilt of his own, and flung it off with both arms. “Fly away while you can, boy!”

Peter sailed backward, then charged again. “Never!” Hook waited for the attack, dodged it, and spun to take up a position behind Wendy.

He raised his sword to her back. The boys gasped, and John and Michael cried out, “Wendy!” She stiffened as she felt the tip pricking her spine.

Peter froze in mid-air. “No!”

“Afraid I’ll pierce her with my blade? Do you even know what you’re fighting for, Pan?” Wendy stood very straight, very still.

Peter eased lower, deadly earnest. “Give her to me.”

Hook redirected the point, stepping close to Wendy and pressing the flat of his blade to her back. Resting his hook on her shoulder, he purred in her ear, “I do apologize, but needs must.” He raised his voice to Peter. “I present her to you with my compliments. Try to take her.” He shoved her with force, so that she tripped into the center of the ring. Hook smiled derisively at Peter. “Let us see if you are man enough to keep her from me.”

Peter touched down to stand next to Wendy. Watching warily from under his hair, he tucked his sword in his belt, keeping his dagger alert as he returned it to his right hand. He grasped Wendy’s wrist and pulled.

Wendy’s heart sank.
Bravado.
… She knew what he would do, what both of them would do. “No, Peter, it’s just a trap. He has it all planned!”

Peter kept his eyes on Hook. “I have to protect you, Wendy.”

Nearly frantic, she exclaimed, “But he knows that, he knows everything! He’s only using me to get to you. You have to listen!” She struggled in his grip. “I’ll go to him, and you can take the boys away.”

Hook bided where he stood, poised but unmoving. His eyes glinted as he watched the drama unfold. Peter assured himself of Hook’s stillness, then took his eyes off the man to glare at Wendy.

“It’s true? You want to go to him, Wendy?”

The silken voice interrupted. “You can call her Jill Red-Hand now, Pan. I do.”

Peter remembered the story of the lady pirate. He hated her. “Wendy?”

“I don’t want to go to him, Peter. I
have
to. Remember that Jill could defend herself. Just get the boys to safety, now!”

Jewel jingled at the edge of the action. It seemed for once she agreed with Wendy. But Peter only gripped Wendy tighter. “You told me Jill was just a story.”

“Time is running out!” Her urging grew desperate, “Hook’s men may be surrounding us this very moment. You have to go!”

“Listen to her, Pan. She knows me.”

Peter was listening. He was seeing, as well. He used all his senses. His eyes squeezed to slits. “You look different… and you stink of pirate!” He flung her away.

Wendy caught herself, and her shock showed on her face. “Peter!”

Hook was all modesty. “That would be the kiss.”

“
That’s
what you were doing? Together?”

Doubly betrayed, Wendy couldn’t answer. But her eyes, as always, told him the truth. And it had nothing to do with thimbles and acorns.

Peter shook his golden head. “No. I don’t care. I won’t let him have you.” He grabbed Wendy’s arm and pinned it behind her. “She’s still mine, Hook. Whatever you’ve done to her, I’ll take her back.”

Jewel’s iridescence beat in front of Peter. She pleaded in musical hysteria.

“Away, Tink!” Irresistible as always, Peter knocked her aside with the back of his hand. She tumbled, flickering.

Hook looked askance at him. “Pan, you really must cultivate your way with women. Ask this lady her preference, to begin. She appears unwilling.” He took a step forward.

Peter tugged Wendy back. His dagger shot out. “Don’t try it, Hook.”

The boys were confused. They banded together for comfort, breaking the circle. Dizzily, Jewel flew at them and bored into their backs, her tiny hands pricking them toward Peter.

Hook stepped again. “I don’t have to try.” He pointed his sword to its scabbard and thrust it home. “It’s done.” Advancing to the point of Peter’s knife, he looked down at it, unimpressed, then swept his gaze to Wendy.

His voice was intimate, insinuating. “Jill? Open your lips…” They opened in a gasp. He held out his hook to her. “Speak your intention. Will you come to me now?” In a subtle movement, the hook shifted, inclining toward Peter’s wrist. “Or later?” The razor-edged claw paused, hungry, only an inch away.

She lowered her eyes to focus on the danger. “Don’t hurt Peter. I’ll come.” Raising her eyes again, she locked his blue gaze in her own. “Now.” As she uttered the promise, the panic rushed inside her.

Peter acted swiftly. He drew back his arm and slashed the dagger down, clanging against the hook. His blow met no resistance. He dragged Wendy three steps backward while his dagger rebounded to her throat. “I’ll kill her before I let you take her.”

Michael screamed and John seized him. “No, Peter!” Lowering their weapons, all the boys stared. Jewel hung over them, her light fading to its merest glimmer. John pulled Michael’s face to his own chest and wrapped his arms around him, holding firm as Michael fought to free himself. Wendy couldn’t see them, she could only see Hook lifting his chin, triumphant. His gold ring swung upon his ear.

“So!”

Wendy grasped Peter’s wrist with her free hand. He was hurting her arm. Her head tipped up, her eyes turned toward him. She still believed. “Peter, you don’t understand what you’re doing!”

“I do.” His face hung close to hers, his hair scented with myrtle. Keeping his eyes on Hook, Peter pressed his cheek against her own. “I do understand.” He brushed her hair out of the way with his lips, never losing sight of his foe. He whispered in her ear, “I’d rather see you dead than turned pirate.” She inhaled sharply. Hook observed, his muscles tensed.

“Not my throat, Peter. That’s a pirate’s way.” Wendy sought to regain his confidence. “You taught me, remember? The weakest part of any creature is the heart.” And the fairy gauze of her gown was impossible to cut.

Peter turned his head. With his beautiful eyes, he looked into hers. “I’ll remember everything. But I’ll pretend I never knew you.” Breaking Wendy’s grip, he rotated his dagger to point it at her heart. “I’m very good at make-believe.”

He shot a look at Hook, then began to cut away the ivy he once, so gladly, twined about her body. His knife worked deftly. At each snap of the blade a tendril fell, until the garland lay in limp green pieces at her feet— the ever-after end of once-upon-a-time.

Wendy closed her eyes. She felt Hook watching, permitting the scene he had staged to play itself out. He had threatened her. He had embraced her. What did he really feel? It didn’t matter any more. In one lesson, he had taught her to rely only upon herself.

She could hear the boys’ restlessness in the grass behind her. She knew they wouldn’t save her, either, nor would Peter’s spiteful fairy. The creature was strangely quiet. No jealousy interfered now that Wendy’s wish was granted.… At last Peter clasped her in his arms, and she had stirred him to passion.

He set his knife to her throat. “I promised you adventure, Wendy. To die will be the biggest one of all!”

His words cut into her like his dagger. Wendy grasped Peter’s arm and fought against him. She had to act, to rescue herself. Jill would defend her life with any weapon at hand. Wendy would tell a story.

“Peter, let me tell you about the adventure.” She stopped struggling, continuing the fight with words. John released his hold on Michael. All the boys stilled. Hook observed Peter, his gaze keen.

“Today the Pirate King used your Wendy to bait a trap for you. But you were too clever to fall into it. You saw that I was only trying to save you. I know now that I can’t.”

“I’m trying to save you, Wendy.” He returned Hook’s stare. “From yourself.” The cold knife began to burn against her neck. She pulled hard on his arm, trying to tear it away.

It didn’t stop.

Hook sprang at Peter, slashing with a vengeance, raking a red furrow from wrist to elbow. Peter let go of Wendy to double over, exhaling as he grasped his arm. Smears of blood marked both blades, and more tinted Peter’s fingers. Wendy reeled away, clutching her throat. Behind her, she heard chiming alarm and high-pitched screaming.

Peter groaned and stumbled toward the forest as Jewel burned a trail to his side. Shouting, the Lost Boys scrambled to reach him. They gathered him up, each grabbing an arm, a leg, a vine or belt. Amid the skins, knives, and feathers, his chest rose and fell with his gasps. His green eyes sparked, shooting hostility toward the pirate. He vowed through his teeth, “It’s not over yet!” He didn’t look at Wendy at all. The boys leapt into the air, to fly him to safety at last.

But before they were away, Hook strode after them. “You’re right, Pan!” He reached up and snagged Curly’s belt with his claw, plucking him easily out of the air. Curly screamed, still clinging to Peter, and the boys dragged him. They pulled together toward escape while Hook raised his head to hiss at Peter, “I’ve only begun! Now I see how well you care for her. She’ll be better off with me— no matter what I do to her.” He savaged the belt. It fell away to slither into the grass, and the flock of boys sped upward and homeward, led by the brightness that was Jewel.

Standing in the hollow of Wendy’s clearing, Michael rubbed his wrist across his eyes. John yanked him along, and together they braved the black man and rushed to Wendy’s side as he pivoted toward her. Placing an arm around each of her brothers, she let them lift her into the sky to float away from the little house, where the blue smoke would never rise again— because Wendy was no longer at home.

Warm drops slid down her cheeks. Other, thicker drops congealed at her throat.

She looked down into the clearing. She saw the man in black velvet watching her go. She saw him saluting her. There were the violated vines, the severed belt. There, the basket and its beads lying in the grass, the little brown book abandoned on her bench. She saw the colorful clothing of pirates emerging from the cover of the trees that had concealed them, and Mr. Smee bending over his captain’s hat, brushing it off.

She felt her brothers’ arms supporting her and then she supported herself and shook them off to raise her arms and embrace the sky. She dried her tears upon it and soared upward as high as she dared. There were no more limits.

This was freedom. Why did it hurt so badly?

She had so much to think about. So much to decide. Much to do.

It wasn’t just a story any more. It was her life. And she believed in it.

Chapter 16

Back… and Forward

Wendy lay on the chilly grass under a blanket of moonlight. She was listening to the music of the spheres, watching the fairies float above the flowers, like constellations evolving.

Harmony reigned within the limits of the fairies’ circle. It was soothing to give herself up to the garden and the fragrance of its midnight roses, stargazing. How they fanned their way along, these creatures of air. They appeared to be a universe in miniature, but they didn’t feel anything bigger than themselves. Life to these fairies was an airy, merry step such as Wendy used to dance, high in the sky above the Island, and believed she would dance again. She had almost found her smile, while watching them. Almost.

Wendy, in turn, was watched by John. Michael had fallen into a dozing dream. Passion was hard to hold for long in the Fairy Glade. It became one with the ether, and dissipated from the hands and heart. Wendy reflected that Tinker Bell, ruled by her passion, had forsaken this tranquil place. She, too, must be acquainted with its nature.… There it was; the smile lived. Like Wendy, it hadn’t been murdered after all. Just changed.

John was relieved to see the smile. “Wendy? What shall we do now?”

Wendy breathed in slowly to steady herself. “We’ll have to go back, John. There isn’t anywhere else.” The herb garden had provided a poultice for her wounded throat. She removed it and picked up another. “And I have to take care of the boys. They’re all in much more danger than even I imagined.” But she must have imagined it; she had begun the story. She no longer wondered how long ago.

“But what about Peter? Everything that happened!”

“What happened was a pirate’s trick.” She had tried to be rational about this, after the tears had dried. It was so important to understand. Peter was limited by his unlimited youth. It was— it was a weakness.… He lived adventure after adventure, but didn’t learn their lessons. Each one found him in the same place he started the last. And somehow, Hook perceived it.