Page 30 of Veiled in Stars and Silver
His voice darkened. “Kill Pan and you may destroy Neverland and everyone in it. No, Pan’s power must be transferred to another human.”
“I thought you were transferring it to the dagger.”
“The dagger is not a living being. The magic of Neverland is meant to be used. Eventually, it would fade and go out if left in the dagger. According to the spellbook of Stardust, it must be given to another person.”
“So, who? You?”
“Is that so hard to believe?” Annoyance laced his words. Then he paused. “Don’t answer that.”
We walked in silence for a long time. The light from the lantern shone dully ahead, its glow being eaten by the dirt-covered walls. Someone had taken quite the time to tunnel out this secret pathway between the rum cache and Madame Pearl’s. I wondered if it had been on Hook’s orders.
The endless passage came to a dead end. Above us was a wooden trapdoor and a few boards haphazardly nailed into the dirt leading up to the hatch. I moved to climb up it, but Hook caught my arm.
He gazed down at me, his expression so intense it made my stomach curl. He moved closer, and I sensed his energy rolling off of him. “You need to know that the Dagger of Forgotten Souls is more important than life or death. There’s no going back for me. I’d rather die than become enslaved to Pan again.”
Despite my mouth going dry from his nearness, I lifted my chin. “I guess we better find my brothers, then.”
He stared at me for a long moment, his jaw working like he wanted to argue. But finally, he gave a brief nod and released me. “Here. Allow me.” He moved past me and climbed up the wooden boards, where he beat his fist against the hatch several times before it opened. Fresh air rushed in, mixing with the stale underground smell.
I climbed up the makeshift ladder and through the opening, coming up into a wide-open cellar. Light drifted in through narrow windows, giving the room a faded look, but I made out stacks of dresses and crates of wine and spices sitting on the cold stone floor.
Hook motioned for me to follow and made his way up a wooden staircase, before rapping on a red painted door. “I should warn you. Madame Pearl is a bit… Well, you’ll see. Remember that in Neverland, it's best to put some of those London sensibilities behind you.”
“What do you know about London's sensibilities?”
The door swung open before he could answer, revealing a woman unlike any I had ever seen. Tight curls layered at the top of her head and down her back, each one groomed into a perfect position. Her full gown came off her shoulders, revealing more skin than I was used to seeing up close. Strange how I felt both envious and uncertain about how low the other woman’s dress plunged.
“Cora, may I present Wendy Darling,” Hook said. “Wendy, this is Cora Pearl.”
For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. Hook had addressed Cora first, implying she was the one of higher station. I gave a small curtsy, feeling even more awkward because I wore trousers, and I didn’t know where to place my hands. “Pleased to meet you, Lady Pearl.”
Then again, perhaps I was overthinking it. Hook had said to leave London's sensibilities behind.
Madame Pearl cast a critical eye over me, taking in my sand-filled hair and boy’s clothes. “Charmed.”
She turned toward Hook. “How did you get down here,mon cher?”
“Rum tunnel.” Without offering further explanation, he entered, stepping past her. “How are things? Everything normal?” he asked while I followed him inside. Cora wrinkled her nose.
A wave of flowered perfume hit me so hard I almost gagged. The carpets were a plush red, and the walls were covered in a gold-leafed wallpaper. It felt a little overdone and yet oddly welcoming.
“It is better than normal,mon cher. See for yourself.” Cora moved past me and led us down the hall into an open area. There was a kitchen and a couple of tables, almost like a small restaurant setting.
The women sitting at the tables in various stages of dress gasped with delight. “James!” exclaimed a woman with dark, curly hair. “We’re so glad you are safe. Although it appears as if only barely so.”
Hook tapped the makeshift bandage. “Yes. Had a little run-in with your past lover.”
“Lillian? She is seeing someone else now, though she won’t tell me who.” She sighed, looking sad, before returning her attention to Hook. “But With Pan’s orders last night, we feared the worst.”
Hook looked at her, concerned. “He took over your minds, too?”
The surrounding women nodded. “Every one of us. It was an all-out manhunt,” explained Lillian’s old flame. “But now it is as though Pan has left Neverland. Except…” She glanced at Cora.
“Except he is still here,” Cora finished.
Hook blinked. “Are you sure?”
She motioned to Hook as she threw the front double doors wide. I stepped up next to Hook and peered out. Madame Pearl’s large home sat on the top of the hill overlooking Swindler’s Cove. The town stretched out before me. At the bottom of the hill sat a grassy area of tables and fire pits. The main street spread out from there, running down to the seaside port. Mostly pirates, but a few women bustled about. They were talking and laughing. Some were gettingdrunk. A general sense of happiness permeated the air like children on Christmas morning.
