Never

Chapter Nine

Lily knew it was over before they even lowered their rope ladders and descended into their lifeboats, smirking and scrambling like spiders. Their hair was matted and dirty, and several sported rather fresh looking knife wounds as well as eyepatches. A tall, muscled man leered at her has his boat drew nearer. Snapping into action, Lily picked up her paddle, trying desperately to propel herself away from the approaching pirates, only to drop it into the sea, where it sank almost instantly. She groaned, hand tearing at her scabbard, lifting the sword over her head. She stood, wobbly on the slippery floor of the canoe, and adapted her best defensive pose, just the way Pan had taught her.

When the first pirate boat reached her, Lily sprang into action, swinging wildly with Felix's sword, unbalancing the first man as he leaned to get out of the way. The second man in the boat, whose eyes sparkled evilly and whose beard was matted with something that resembled blood, was quicker. He grasped his own sword, parrying Lily's blows with considerable force. But Lily was faster and more agile than him, leaping to stab and slice at his weak spots, her sword moving quickly and with deadly accuracy.

Just as she knocked him to his knees, the second boat reached her, unloading half a dozen armed men. Lily continued fighting for her life, swinging the heavy, bronze sword at her attackers, who merely laughed, lunging at her. After a few more minutes of struggling, the muscled, creepy pirate from before managed to slice Lily's shoulder, shocking her enough to make her drop her sword. It landed with a satisfying splash in the water, glimmering as it sank. Lily growled, flailing out at the pirates armed now with only her fists, striking out but to no avail. Within seconds they had pinned her down, forcing her arms behind her back at a painful angle, lifting her up and depositing her, squirming, in the back of one of their boats. A small, pock-marked man tied her up, rough ropes digging into her arms.

Slowly but surely, the group made their way back to the ship, where Hook waited. After adamantly refusing to climb the rope ladder on her own, Lily was strapped, flailing and yelling, to a giant man's back. As he slowly made his ascent, Lily looked anywhere but down at the churning water. She peered into the distant forest, hoping for some sign of rescue. She'd take Pan over the man who killed her father any day.

When they finally reached the deck, Lily was deposited with an oomph at the Captain's feet, landing rather ungracefully on her butt. Her clothes were bloodstained and torn, the same ones she'd come to Neverland a month ago in, (though they had been washed since then), wet and soggy, hanging off her frame. She didn't like the look Hook gave her at all.

"What's your name, little girl?" he drawled.

"Lily Kantogoi." she held her head high, defiant.

"Kantogoi." murmured Hook, as if tasting the name on his tongue. "Rings a bell, wouldn't you say so, Smee?" Behind him, the large man in the red hat spoke at last.

"Yes, Captain. You burned the Kantogoa village last harvest season...?"

"I did, didn't I." said Hook, looking smug. "But it looks like there was a survivor."

"More than one," said Lily, unsure of why she was lying. "Most of us made it out."

Hook laughed. "I'll believe that when I see it, princess."

"Princess?" asked Smee stupidly.

"Yes." said the Captain thoughtfully. "Her second name... Kantogoi... Kantogoi... She's the chief's daughter. That's why she's named after the tribe."

Lily glared at him, her dark eyes meeting his blue ones. He grinned again, looking more and more evil as the sky darkened.

"Well, princess, how come you're in boy's clothing?"

"Snuck out."

"Of what?"

"Lost boys camp." Lily answered shortly. There was a murmur through the crowd.

"Will they miss you?" asked Hook teasingly.

"Doubt it."

"Take her to my cabin," he ordered, suddenly businesslike. Dress her in women's garb. Perhaps... the white nightgown?" he shared a look with his pirates, who snickered.

Then Lily was being dragged roughly by the arm to a small, rickety staircase, which she was unceremoniously thrown down. She pulled herself to her feet, glaring, as she was shoved into a luxurious cabin, furnished with a desk, magnificent four poster bed, and a row of seats. A trunk stood in the corner, which the tall pirate pushing her opened. He dug through it, tossing dresses aside like trash. Even in her terrified state, Lily marveled at the beauty of the garments he threw about, from the golden embroidered slip to the red ballgown. Finally, the pirate found a white dress which he grinned at before starting towards her, smirking. He tried to undress her, but she pinched him hard enough to make him let go. She took the dress in her hands.

"What happens if I don't put this on?" she asked.

"Hook won't be happy," grinned the man, showcasing his missing teeth.

"Fine. Turn away."

The pirate shook his head eagerly. Lily swallowed hard, fighting back the bile in her throat. She turned, undressing quickly until she stood in her slip, facing away from the man, who let out a tiny noise of glee. She pulled on the dress as fast as she could, buttons and beads getting caught in her long, tangled black hair. Only when it was fully on her did she get a good look at herself in the mirror.

The dress was white and simple, lace trimming down it, soft and delicate, clearly meant to be worn to sleep. It reached only to her knees, letting the rest of her long legs feel the freezing draft that swept through the room. It was low cut and small, and Lily could instantly see why the pirates wanted her to wear it. It show off her slim figure as all of the most fashionable nightdresses did, but this one was somehow even more revealing than the most scandalous lingerie that the orphanage monitor owned. (One night Lily had stumbled upon a trunk full of lace and silk and had spent the next three days washing her eyes with soap and avoiding the monitor.)

The pirate dragged Lily back up to the deck, where the cold wind chilled her bones. It was about midnight now, and the temperature was much cooler than it had been that day. The pirates laughed rowdily as she appeared from the staircase, some even applauding. She felt sick to her stomach.

"Go up there, love, and sit on the top deck. Like a figurehead." snarled Hook, the look in his eyes part amused, part full of desire.

Lily did as she was asked, climbing gracefully until she sat a few feet above them, sitting the way statues of mermaids did. Her mind went numb from all of the emotions she'd experienced that day; elation at escaping, fear at meeting Hook, hatred towards her father's murderers, humiliation from everything they'd made her do. She did what they told her to, never hesitating, feeling nothing.

And then she saw it, a dark shape flitting silently through the sky, headed towards her. As it got closer, she tried boredly to make out the shape, wondering vaguely what Neverland bird would be out this time of night. And then it was flying just above the boat, and the pirates' jovial shouts were suddenly hushed.

"Pan," growled a husky voice from the deck, and Lily's heart stopped again.

Why the hell was he rescuing her?