by Dee Garcia
My eyes widen, lips parting ever so slightly around a sharp inhale. “You’re a wolf?”
Tavi tips his head, a warm finger sealing over my lips. “Shhh, just listen to me. When they take those shackles off, keep your mouth shut and cooperate. If that means lying to keep them happy, then so be it. And whatever you do, do not let them take you upstairs. If they get you out of this room, I won’t be able to get to you. Think you can do that for me?”
I nod, although I’m not so sure. I’ve begged to be freed from this obscure, damp hole on more than one occasion now. If Tinksley finally decides to follow the Captain’s lead and gift me the comfort of a real room, what am I supposed to do? Tell her I’ve had a change of heart and ask to stay down here?
“Perfect.” His voice cuts through my internal struggle. “There’s something else I need you to do right now.”
I’m almost afraid to ask, my throat bobbing through a swallow as I work up the courage. “And w-what is that?”
“Scream. Scream just as loud as you were when I found you.”
“Why?”
“Because it’ll drown out the sounds of me ripping those boards apart, that’s why.”
Oh. “O-okay,” my voice trembles. “Okay, I can do that.”
Tavi seems appeased by my acquiescence. I’m so hypnotized by the content look on his handsome face that I don’t notice when his hand swoops up to cup my face, his thumb caressing my cheek almost as tenderly as Hook had done with Tinksley. He leans in closer, our noses nearly grazing as our stares collide anew in a solid hold. “I’ll be back for you, Wendy Darlington. I swear it.”
♫ Born Ready - Zayde Wolf ♫
“She really is one of them now,” I tell the boys as I pace the base structure of my soon to be home, loosened bow tie now hanging around my neck. “The Tinksley this island knew and loved is dead and gone.”
“I don’t know if I can blame her,” Niko chimes. “Didn’t you hear what happened?”
“Of course I did,” I snap, stopping to look him in the eye. “How do we know that’s true, though?”
“Because why would anyone lie about that?” Soren’s disgust is etched on his bearded face. “It’s vile, one of the crudest acts out there.”
“Exactly, and the Fae are vile by nature. It adds up perfectly,” Niko agrees.
“But his Fae side was subdued by that spell,” I toss back, leaning up against one of the odd trees still standing. “So, no, it doesn’t add up.”
Niko shakes his dark head, scooting to the edge of the wood pile he’s occupying. The loose waves of his hair swish with the motion. “His capabilities were subdued, Tav. Genetics are always present. It’s like if your wolf side was made dormant. You wouldn’t be able to shift, but you’d still have the same temperament.”
Wrong.
“The whole purpose of the spell was to keep him in check after he murdered his mother. Clearly, whatever spell the Sacred Six casted upon him was one that controlled him wholly. I mean, think about it. The kid wasn’t aggressive by any means. In fact, if I remember correctly, he was kind of a pussy.”
“Kind of?” Levi snickers, prompting Cortez, Elias, and Talon to follow suit.
Soren isn’t amused. He’s in full-on business mode, analyzing the information I’ve given them from every angle. The moment the boys catch his keen stare, they swallow down their amusement and return their attention where it belongs.
At their silence, Soren continues. “I’m sure it dumbed down violent urges and kept him more level-headed than the average Fae, but I doubt he was emotionless.”
“Sure about that?” I arch my brow. “He was fucking his sister, man. The bastard had to have been pretty emotionless to go through with that. On more than one occasion.”
I cringe just thinking about it.
“The logistics behind the spell is pretty irrelevant at this point; Pan is dead. What we need to worry about is Tinksley. While I think most of us can agree that we can’t fully condemn her for her current mindset—we’ve all had moments of rage—I think we can also agree that she’s a threat regardless. A double threat even, considering her newly re-wired genetics. Two predatory species running rampant through one tiny body. If Hook doesn’t control her properly, she can cause a lot of damage all on her own.”
Soren is right, but he’s not getting that the island isn’t my main concern at the moment. “Quite frankly, I’m not worried about what damage she can do overall. What I’m worried about is the girl and getting her out of there.”
“You sure you’re really gonna be able to get her out, though?” Cortez jumps in.
I nod, sure as all hell. “I told you already…that door led exactly where I thought it did. All I have to do is go back in the way I came and—”
“That’s not what I mean,” Cortez blurts. “You said there’s a possibility they could move her out of there. What happens if you go in and she’s gone. Then what?”
His question—while valid—thins my lips. “I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. I’m banking on Tinksley remaining in her vengeful, stubborn mindset for another day or two. It’s Hook that wants to relocate Wendy, not her.”
“I have a question,” Elias says.
I motion for him to continue.
“Let’s say everything goes according to plan, yeah? You get the girl out, bring her here. What happens then? They’re obviously going to realize she’s missing at some point or another.”
“Hook will know it was you, especially after you disappeared so abruptly,” Talon adds, to which I shrug.
“He can come for me if he’d like. I don’t particularly give a flying—”
“I’m going to fucking kill you!” My sister’s voice rings out not too far away, rising the hairs at the nape of my neck.
The boys all snap their heads toward the sound right as her stomping form appears through the thicket. She doesn’t acknowledge any of them, storming up to me with a snarl on her lips. I can already feel the force of her shove and she hasn’t even laid a hand on me yet.
Sure enough, the moment she’s within arms reach, she pelts my chest with her palms, backing me off the wooden base and into a rough oak. “In case you didn’t hear me the first time, I’M GOING”—shove—“TO FUCKING”—shove—“KILL YOU!”
I shouldn’t be laughing, I really shouldn’t. Only riles her up more, but this little act of hers is comical.
As fuck.
“What the hell did I do?”
Shouldn’t have said that either. If smoke could literally blow from her ears, it would.
“Are you kidding me right now?” she shrieks, shoving at my chest again. “What happened to ‘I’ll be right back?’”
The boys commence their usual snickering when Tigerlily tries playing mommy, tilting the corner of my mouth in a devilish grin. “What can I say, ‘lil sis? I got caught up.”
“Yeah, caught up with shit you have no business worrying about! The only reason Hook didn’t come after you was because I kept him occupied. Then Pa showed up and helped, too, despite not even knowing he was aiding your defiant ass.” She swings, but I dodge her fist of fury with ease, chuckling as I rise to tower over her once more.
“I don’t know why you insist on playing my keeper. I’m a big boy, Lil, I can handle myself.”
“Actions speak louder than words, big bruh. Tell me, did you find what you were looking for?” Her stance is identical to mama’s.
Weight on one hip.
Arms crossed.
The stare. You know, that stare women give you when they think they’re right.
“Actually,” I lean into her, “I did. Which leads me to my next point. Why were you deflecting earlier?”
Her head flies back, face screwing up in confusion. “Deflecting?”
“Yeah you know, changing the topic, shrugging it off.”
“What could I have possibly been deflecting from?”
“Hook’s dungeon,” I tilt my head aside as her expression contorts all the more.
“This again, Tav? Really?” She sighs, barely restraining herself from sending her eyes in a 360 spin. “For the last time, Hook doesn’t have a dungeon. It was a damned example of the nonsense you seemed to have been imagining the entire time I was gone!”
Nice try.
“You sure about that?”
“Seriously? Yes, I’m sure!” Frustration oozes off of her in waves as her arms fly to her sides.
“EHHH!” Niko squawks behind her. “You’re wrong, little flower.”
This time, she does roll her eyes. Doubtful lips curl, silently daring me to agree with him.
“He’s not fucking with you, Lil. It’s true,” I tell her, tone even, genuine.
“Oh pleaseee. Yeah right! You’re just looking for another reason to—”
“Hate him? Sure. There could always be another reason to add to the list, but this is all facts. There’s a dungeon at the bottom of that castle and they have a girl down there in chains.”
My sister just blinks.
And blinks, and blinks, and blinks some more.
Then she throws her head back and howls a laugh. “Sure they do, Tav. Sure they do.”
“I’m serious,” I stress. “Her name is Wendy.”
Another bout of laughter as she holds a condescending finger out at me. “Wendy, huh? And what does she look like?”
“She was Peter’s girl,” Soren deadpans, instantly bringing my sisters amusement to a screeching halt.
She cuts him a glance, to which he nods solemnly. When she turns back to me in question, all I’ve got for her is a brisk nod. Paling in shock, her mouth pops open, head pivoting to where Soren and the boys sit a second time.
Soren affirms my claim yet again. “She’s in chains, Lil.”
“And they’ve got a bucket for her to piss in,” I add, heart thrashing anew at the distasteful memory.
“A bucket?” my sister whispers.
“A literal bucket. She’s got shackles on her wrists and ankles. She doesn’t appear malnutritioned, but they returned only days ago. It’s too early to tell. Judging by the way Tinksley was with her, though…”
“Tinksley? Wait, she caught you?!”
“No.” I shake my head. “I heard someone coming down and hid in the shadows.”
Brown eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets at my concession. “Tavi! Are you serious?”
“Uh...yeah?”
“Are you stupid?” Her palms smash into my chest once more. “Their sense of smell is heightened, you idiot!”
“So is mine, Lil,” I chuckle. “Trust me, she didn’t know I was there.”
She’s about to counter my claim when Cortez jumps in to solidify my point. “The wolf scent doesn’t linger unless it’s intentionally left behind. One of our perks.”
“Oh…” My sister considers this for a second, probably ransacking her mind for what I’ve shared with her about my abilities. “Right. Well, that’s good, I guess. What happened then? What did you see?”
I don’t want to be the one to tell her but… “Let’s just say she’s not the Tinksley you remember.”
That dubious look she loves to give me reclaims her features. “Now I know that’s bullshit. I’ve seen her since she transitioned. She’s still the same.”
“Perhaps at first,” I agree, “but the girl I saw in that dark, damp hole was not. She doesn’t even look the same.”
“Immortality changed her, Tavi. It claimed the light of her hair and the gold of her markings. She’s still the same on the—”
“She’s the one who has Wendy down there, not Hook!”
Tigerlily recoils at my tone. “What?” she breathes, incredulous, almost scandalized.
I nod gravely and reiterate, “Wendy is Tinksley’s prisoner.”
My sister shakes her head and retreats a few steps. “That’s not possible.”
“It’s not? Think about it—Wendy was Peter’s girl.”
Silence settles upon us. The only sounds to be heard are those of birds chirping high up in the trees and the light howl of the soft breeze rolling through. My sister’s frozen in place, blanching more and more by the second. She doesn’t want to believe such accusations about a friend, but what reason would I have to lie to her?
“Is she hurting her?” she finally asks.
“I didn’t see any scars or bruising, but given the way she was treating her, I’d say it’s likely she will...and soon.”
“There’s no way. Tinksley would never.”
“She killed Peter, Lil,” I stress, taking three hulking steps toward her, my hands flying to her shoulders. “Did you know that?”
“I...I—I mean, Hook let me go because they were crossing the realm—for revenge he said, but—”
“But what? What did you think that meant?”
“I don’t know.”
“She’s dangerous, Lil,” Soren chimes evenly. “Like double threat dangerous.”
“The Fae, I know,” she agrees dismissively. “But it’s not active until she—”
“She triggered it when she ended Peter,” I disclose, shooting a gasp free from her mouth.
“I told you.” My head bounces gravely. “She’s not the same girl you once knew.”
Tigerlily rips herself from my hold and backs away further, cutting her disbelieving stare between me and the boys. “I refuse to believe it until I see it. Let me talk to her.”
“And tell her what? ‘Hey, my brother went snooping and found your dungeon. He told me you have a girl down there?’”
“Well no, not like that, but I’m sure I can get her to tell me without realizing.”
“Not gonna happen,” Niko voices. “Your brother left and I’m sure Hook noticed. If you randomly show up there asking questions…”
“I’m welcome there whenever,” she snaps at him. “Tavi heard Hook say as much himself. I’ll just say I wanted to see her now that they’re back.”
Like Niko said, not gonna happen.
Sighing, I rub a hand down the back of my head and sidle up beside her. “Now it’s my turn to play keeper. Don’t you dare go over there, do you hear me? Let us handle it.”
My sister glares at me like I’ve grown five different heads. “Oh no. No. No. Absolutely not!”
“Let. Us. Handle. It,” I grit.
“You’re nuts! You’re too impulsive! What do you plan to do anyway?”
“Like I said, let us handle it. Go home and read one of your books.” I’m not trying to be an asshole, but she needs to trust me on this.
“Tavi, I swear to God…”
“Just go, Lil,” my tone booms, “and keep your mouth shut. No need to involve anyone else for the time being. I’ll tell dad when the time is right, don’t worry.”
“Why are you like this?” She’s genuinely concerned, but it’s just one of those things.
She wouldn’t understand.
“Duty calls.” I shrug. “What they’re doing is wrong. If Peter is involved, you know she’s innocent.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Believe me, I just know.”
I can feel it.
“Ma would be proud of your heart, you know? I am, too, because your intentions come from a good place—but as your sister who’s only trying to help you, I’m asking you not to, please—”
“It’s happening. Just roll with it, okay?” I cut her off. What’s the point of going back and forth? “We’re going to get her out of there and that’s that.”
Let the chips fall where they may.
♫ Ready or Not -
Mischa “Book” Chillak feat. Esthero ♫
Why is fear all I feel these days?
I live and breathe it in consciousness, can’t escape it in my sleep.
And I know I’m asleep right in this moment, claimed by a deep slumber, but the sense of fear coursing through my body is still so crippling.
So overwhelming.
I want to curl up in a ball and fend off the terror behind the saf
ety of my own embrace, but I can’t. My body remains stiff, flat as a board, despite the fact my mind begs it to respond.
It’s like I’m a fly caught in one of those sticky traps, buzzing about in an attempt to wiggle free.
And the worst part?
I can’t see. My eyes refuse to open, weighed down by figurative anchors. Every few minutes or so, I can crack them open long enough to see slivers of pale blue, but it’s a momentary reprieve.
Ironically enough, it’s the only time that gnawing fear seems to dissipate.
Why?
The color, I guess.
That pale blue reminds me of the walls in my room, and a part of me somehow feels the odd comforts of its confines. Like the particular squeak of the bed that meets my ears when I shift, and the chill of the air hitting my cheek that always creeps through the vents by the door.
But these things aren’t real. They’re all fabrications of my imagination, memories of a life I’ll likely never see with my own two eyes ever again.
“Wendy,” a voice whispers, racking an instant chilling shudder down my spine.
It’s not so much hearing my name that disturbs me. It’s the fact that I can’t make out who that voice belongs to.
That I can’t see or move.
A true sense of panic sweeps in then, melding with the fear that’s consumed me since Tinksley and Hook hurled me out the window into the cool London night. I’m twitching in place, trying my damnedest to move even a single limb, but that feeling of restraint intensifies tenfold.
“Wendy,” the whisper sounds a second time, an added weight keeping me pinned to whatever the plush surface beneath me may be.
More panic. More fear. I’m almost desperate now, whimpering, because for some reason, I can’t speak, either.
I can’t scream.
I can’t do anything.
Heart thrashing, my whimpers echo as I wriggle beneath whatever this hold may be. It doesn’t feel like the weight of a body and yet, in the same hand, it does. As though someone’s pinning down my wrists, ensuring my range of motion is nonexistent.
“Wendy.” There it is again, whatever the grip on my wrists is tightening all the more.