“You’re changing it. Just by being here. If you swear, so will they. If you want this to be more of a mature story, they’ll be more mature. If you’re more modern, they’ll be more modern.” Virtue-as-Peter walked up to her, smiling at her with an amused and strangely hopeful expression. “You’re one of the authors, now.”
“So Tinker Bell’s naked and angry because I made her naked and angry.” Sidney furrowed her brow. That didn’t make any sense.
“Kind of? It’s…a mix. Like that cocktail you wanted.” Peter scratched the back of his head. “Part you, part the original story, part whatever Sasha is doing.”
It was like watching another actor dub over the lines for someone else. Virtue’s voice coming out of Peter Pan’s mouth. It was a little unsettling. But this whole thing was unsettling.
Tinker Bell was now spouting off at Sidney, waving her hands and yelling. Unfortunately for Tink, all her words came out just as weird little bell chimes and happy shimmery noises.
But Sidney knew she was getting cussed out, New York cab driver style. It made her snicker. “Sorry, Tinker Bell. I didn’t know it was you.”
Tink crossed her arms over her chest and let out a visibleharrumph.
Peter smiled, his voice snapping back to his own self. “I know what’ll cheer you up! We should go on anadventure!Wouldn’t that be grand? Let’s go visit the mermaids! Then, we’ll come back here and have a grand feast!”
Ah, shit. That was the part where it all went wrong, wasn’t it? The mermaids. But the smile on “Peter’s” face told her there was no dissuading him. “Y—yeah.” She smiled. “That sounds incredible.”
But part of her couldn’t help but be excited, even just a little bit.Mermaids.She was going to get to meet amermaid.
Everything that was going on was too much for her to process all at once. Being trapped in a book. A game that would likely wind up with either her or her sister dead. And the Hero of all Heroes staring at her with a boyish, lopsided, and extremely handsome smile.
But the idea of meeting a mermaid…made her wonder. Maybe this wasn’t going to be all bad.
Peter held out his hand to her. “Let’s fly.”
I’m going to get to fly…
Maybe a little adventure was just what she needed.
Sasha cameto while polishing a silver goblet. It was really disconcerting, just “waking up” like that. When the ground moved under her feet, it didn’t help matters, and she had to quickly grab onto the piece of furniture in front of her to keep from toppling over.
That meant she almost lost her grip on the silver goblet. Scrambling to grab it before it hit the ground, she caught it at the last second, letting out a breath of relief as finally everything seemed to stabilize.
“You’ll forgive me for not applauding.”
Looking up, she found the source of the voice quickly.
Captain Hook.Vile,she corrected herself. The pirate king was sitting at a harpsichord, managing to play deftly with one hand and a hook. It meant his left hand had to do more work, but if she hadn’t known he was missing a hand, she wouldn’t have been able to guess by the sound of it.
“What—what just happened?”
“Scene change.” He smirked. “I’m always fascinated by who can feel it happening and who can’t. You’ll get used to it. But for a little while, I’m afraid it will be a bit disorienting.”
Scene change. Right. She put the goblet back down on the piece of furniture. It was an elaborately carved wooden dresser. She was once again Mr. Smee, which was a little embarrassing but mostly weird. When she caught a reflection of herself in a mirror mounted to the wall, tarnished and wobbly as the reflection was in the antique style glass, she was glad to see her own face looking back at her. She wasn’t staring at some old, podgy guy.
They were on Captain Hook’s ship, that much was very clear. They were in Hook’s quarters, judging by how roomy and decadent everything was. But like the version of the man himself, this adaptation of Hook’s home looked more suited to a nightmare than achildren’s story. The movement under her feet had been the slight swaying of the boat with the waves.
“I will admit you do make the most attractive Mr. Smee I believe any adaptation has ever given me.” Hook chuckled as he kept playing, the music slow and set in a minor key, which was perfectly fitting.
“Am I talking to Captain Hook or Vile?”
“Yes.” When he glanced at her, looking up from the black and white keys briefly, one of his eyes flashed that strange, inhuman, and glowing purple. A brief wicked smile, and he went back to focusing on the instrument. “I thought perhaps you’d have questions. Concerns. Complaints for management. Things of that nature. You seem to be theinquisitive twin.Best you get them out now before we are in the thick of things, Mr. Smee. Can’t have you pondering the physics of the universe while there are Lost Boys attempting to murder us both.”
“Is my sister safe?”
“With Peter Pan?” He huffed a laugh. He trilled two notes with his metal hook. “That boy wouldn’t know what to do with the Madame of Port Royale if she spread her legs and offered him a free night’s stay. And if you’re asking about my twin, well—far be it from him to ever do anythinguntoward.No, I assure you, she is quite safe with him. He is, after all, the perfect gentleman.”
“And I’m safe with you, because…we’re on the same side?” Sasha combed her hands through her blonde hair, scratching at her scalp as she tried to think things through. “I’m yoursidekick.”
