Page 36 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

“Always use every tool at your disposal,” he says in a deep voice that seems to vibrate along my nerves.

Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t useevery toolat my disposal. My powers were too destructive to be unleashed.

I’m not resentful of it. But ever since he told me about these hidden abilities and this side to him I never knew, my mind has been running over memories from our past, picking apart everything, and trying to figure out if he ever used it when he was on Neverland.

I suppose he wouldn’t have a need for it. The island had everything we needed. Plenty of fresh food, a handful of freshwater streams, and lots of materials you could use to build a shelter.

But that was Neverland before Peter got his hands on it. Before he tainted it with memories of pain and torture. Before the soft brush of warm sun in the morning became a stifling heat I longed to hide from. Before the fresh sea air and cool ocean became tools to torture me with.

The only reprieve I had was at night with the stars. My hand built wooden house was already destroyed, burned down by Peter for daring to question him. And along with it my collection of tools and handcrafted possessions. My collections of unique stones and the handheld mirror with glittering gems. Gems that were placed all over my room to mimic that night sky that always had a way of soothing me.

The gems… that Hook had found.

I turn to look at him. “Is that why you were always able to find those shiny gems and stones for me? Because of your ability?”

He turns to me, his blue eyes twinkling. “Yes. That little collection I found for you would be worth millions in this Realm by the way.”

“Too bad I left them all behind then,” I mutter, more to myself. I didn’t care for pretty things, but those gems and stones were special. They did more than just soothe me, they lit up the spacious room, glittering off the sunlight outside to bring the stars to life in the day.

“I can always go back and get them for—”

“No!” I shout before realizing it. “I mean. I don’t need them anymore.” I clear my throat, trying to cover my little outburst but it’s too late. Hook is already watching me closely. A meaningful look in his eyes.

“Tink—”

“What does this Arden do for you?” I quickly change the subject, not wanting to talk anymore about Neverland or him going anywhere near it.

The air in the car turns stagnant as I wait for his reply. I look away but I can still feel his eyes on me as I shift nervously.

Another beat of silence passes before he finally answers, his tone controlled, lacking any mirth or emotion.

“Arden is one of my many eyes and ears. He’s in many of the social circles I deal with and has a certain talent for overhearing useful information. He’s someone I call on every now and again when jobs are a little morestraightforward…” A shadow of a smile curves his lips as I look at him. “And less interesting.”

His words finally filter through the jittery feeling rushing through me.

“Lessinteresting? Then what kind of jobs aremoreinteresting?” I’m assuming most of the items Hookprocuredweren’t simply handed over so easily.

His smile turns wolfish, and I know his reply will be something that irritates me.

“The kind that gives you one hell of an adventure.” There’s a dark underlying tone to his words that makes me pause.

“What kind ofadventure?”

A mocking smile flickers across his face.

“That precarious fine line between life and death.” His tone is almost wistful, making my irritation grow.

“Is everything just a game to you?” I snap. It made no sense to me how he could treat life so recklessly. Especially when I’ve fought so hard to keep mine. When I’mstillfighting so hard to just have my freedom.

His smirk turns into something twisted, something dark. “Like everything else in this world, death is just another adventure. Why fight against it? Why fear it when you can fly alongside it?”

I didn’t fear death. I know no one lives forever. But there was a difference between knowing your limits and pushing beyond that, all for the thrill of an adventure.

Death was not a game.

It was resolute. Final.

It was pain and suffering. And agony to all those left behind.

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