Neverland

Chapter Twenty-Eight

"What is it?" I ask.

"I did it," Hook says breathlessly.

"Did what?"

"I got her," Hook says. "Look, there's no time to explain. Jack and his boys will be catching up to me soon." I don't have magic to spare, so we go on foot.

I follow Hook blindly, turning where he turns and ducking when he does. I see a glimmer of water up ahead. To the right of it, a ship is docked. The Jolly Roger is here, here in this land. I want to laugh with joy.

"Time to go, mate," Hook says. A plank is set between the ship and the sand. We run up, and I see an empty forest behind me.

"Are you sure Jack and his boys haven't left?" I say. Hook shrugs.

"If they have, they're probably headed the same place we are," Hook says.

"And that is?"

"Neverland, of course," he answers. "Time to return to the land of magic."

The wind blows through my hair. Time away from Neverland has changed me. My hair is longer, I've grown, and my voice is deeper. It seems so long since I was brought to Neverland. In mortal terms, it was about two hundred years ago. And in all that time, I feel the same.

My story will never have a happy ending. One of my first thoughts when I arrived in Neverland. As time wears on, that seems to becoming true. And I am scared.

Hook stands at the wheel, calm and collected. He gently turns the wheel from side to side, guiding us through the waters. Hook's eyes seem dark and dangerous. I've always wondered what secrets the captain holds. So much anger and deception.

"Almost there," Hook calls. The stars above seem to shift. I sigh heavily.

"You know, mate," Hook says to me. "There is something you should know." I walk over to Hook. He doesn't look at me, but keeps his gaze on the sea.

"I am about to tell you something important." His voice is low and steady. "You have to promise not to change your feelings towards Wendy." I can feel my face turning red.

"What does Wendy have to do with anything?" I say sharply.

"Easy, mate," Hook says. "Calm yourself." He takes a deep breath. "Wendy was still watching for me."

"As in your spy?" I say slowly. Hook doesn't answer. I can only assume that means a confirmation. That means for me... it was all for nothing. Everything was nothing. Whatever was between me and Wendy... nothing.

"I do believe she still cares for you, mate," Hook assures me.

"Do you now?" I say dangerously. He nods in the night air.

"That I do," he says. With one quick move, I shove him up against the side of the wooden mast.

"Let me get one thing straight," I say quietly. "We are getting your little spy, destroying Jack, and then you and Wendy can sail to wherever it is you wish in the Jolly Roger while you pray that I don't kill you, Lyam." In the dim light, it looks like Hook is suppressing a smile, but I feel my anger ebb away. I release Hook and he takes his position back at the wheel.

I know he hates that name, the name he shed when he took transformation. I can relate to that, as I despise my own past, that thankfully very few people know about. But stating Hook's true name is like an act of revenge, to remind him of those wistful years he can never take back.

"Well, mate," Hook says softly. "We're here." I look, and refuse to believe what I see.

Black clouds spiral above Dark Ridge. Lightning flares from the heavy blankets of water vapor. An aftermath of thunder rattles the air around us. But the dangerous scene is not what disturbs me.

In the center of Neverland, a thick, long, green, leafy trunk shoots up into the mass of the swirling storm. A streak of lightning flashes, lighting the world. This must be why Jack came here. For this huge stalk growing up into the sky. But why?

Hook docks the Jolly Roger and proceeds to slide a ramp off the ship. With my magic, I don't require the ramp, but Hook walks down with Wendy in his arms. I had almost forgotten about her. She is unconscious, from either the trip to Neverland or from when Hook abducted her. It doesn't matter, anyway. She doesn't matter.

I push the thoughts away. I fly way above Hook and Wendy, heading straight for the stalk and my brother. As I near the thing, I can see purple energy coursing through it. Magic. Of course. The magic shields it when I attempt to near closer, forcing me to fly back down to the ground.

Hook has made good timing, he is only a little ways behind when I touch my homeland. Before catching his breath, he sets Wendy down against a tree untouched by the green stalk. She starts to wake, and I pull Hook aside.

"You stay here," I hiss. "I'm going to climb this thing and find Jack." Hook arches an eyebrow.

"And if you don't return?" he says. "What would you like me to do then, Captain?" He is mocking me.

"You may be captain on your ship, Hook," I say carefully. "But here, in Neverland, this is mine. And no one is going to change that." He spreads his hands apart.

"What do you think is up there?" Hook asks, craning his neck.

"I intend to find out." I walk steadily over to the stalk and set my hands on it. The magic sends chills through me. My fingers brush a small plant on the stalk, a bean. I carefully pick the bean and hold it between my index finger and thumb.

"A beanstalk," I whisper, and I start to climb.