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Chapter Twenty-Six

Peter

Present Day

T he last thing I wanted was to leave that place. Gwen was in my arms, and I didn’t want to go back to the others. If I had it my way, the deal I had made with the pixies would be null and void, we would all go back to Walden, and I would marry Gwen and never have to leave her side again.

It was still surprising because of my curse, but it had always been different with Gwen. Being away from her on that island was even more proof that my curse did not work with her.

She is the exception. My antidote .

It may have taken me a long time to realize that I loved Gwen, but we finally had each other, and that was what mattered.

We walked back to the others, hand-in-hand. I watched the glowing lagoon as we came closer and closer, but before we reached it, I tugged her behind a large tree.

“Gwen, before we go back and before we save these lost boys and the pixies, I just want you to know how much I love you and how excited I am to marry you.” I kissed her soundly, then ran on to the lagoon without her. I knew she would need a moment to understand her feelings.

“Peter! You cannot say that and then just run away!” she called after me.

I paused and waited for her. “Sorry, darling.”

“Took you long enough,” Dominick said, sitting on a rock beside the pool.

Meria popped up from within the pool. “Nick, it is amazing down there, so many gems–all glowing. They are different from what I have seen before.” She held out some illuminated gemstones. “I don’t feel much inside of them, just a warm power and light.”

Dominick took one of the gemstones and was quickly knocked over by a swarm of pixies. The gemstone was taken from his hand and placed back in the lagoon.

“Note to self: don’t touch the pixies’ gems,” I said with a laugh .

“I wonder what makes them glow? Are you okay, Dominick? Hey, leave him alone!” Meria glared at the pixies. She stepped from the water and walked over to him.

“Ours, Ours, Ours!” they chimed.

“Okay, pixies–I didn’t know,” Dominick said. They drifted away from him. “Pests,” Dominick mumbled under his breath.

“I think they are adorable when not hurting my husband,” Meria said with a laugh.

“You would, Meria,” he grunted. “We waited for you two, so let’s go,” Dominick said, walking up to me.

He motioned for the rest of the crew to gather.

“Alright, I don’t think the pixies want you in their cave, so around we go,” I said.

“Are you sure they are on the north side of the island?” Dominick looked at the dirt map the lost boys and I had made beside our log fire.

Meria and Gwen were tucking the two very young lost boys into bed. I was sure Gwen would tell a story, too.

Wish I could listen .

“Yes, I saw him. There are a few islands to pass before reaching the Mirror Sea. ”

“I still don’t understand how he is getting past the fierce creatures of the sea,” Dominick mumbled.

“He has a pixie; that will keep the creatures of the deep from attacking his ship, right?”

“Perhaps. I thought it had to be a magical creature of the sea to do that, but maybe not,” Dominick said, scratching his jaw.

Meria and Gwen walked up to us. Meria moved to Dominick and Gwen to me.

“Peter,” Gwen said as she stood beside me.

“Gwen,” I said with a nod. “How are the boys?”

“Good.”

“More than just good!” Meria began. “Gwendolyn is incredible. She told the most enchanting story; the boys love her.”

“Do they? I have to say, I am not at all surprised. Who could not love her?” I said, looking only at Gwen; her cheeks were dark and her hands covered her face.

“They barely know me. I am glad I could bring them some joy. They are so sweet–and well-mannered for living here as a pack of just boys.”

“I’m sure you’ll have competition now, Peter. I’d watch out,” Meria said with a smile.

“I’ll be sure to,” I said, winking at Gwen.

“So, we have a plan,” Dominick said.

“What is it?” Gwen asked .

“We cut him off; Peter will fly around and distract them, and we shall sneak up and attack his ship.”

“What about the lost boys on board?” Gwen asked. “And the pixie they stole?”

“Oh—” I said.

“Can you gather them?” Dominick asked. “When you distract the crew, maybe open the cages and they can escape? Can one of the lost boys assist you?”

“Perhaps. Shadow is very stealthy. Stone is their leader, so he would probably help, too.”

“Those are shark-infested waters; they’d need a boat.”

“I can bring a boat,” Gwen said.

“What? So close to the pirates? No,” I said.

“But the boys will not make it, then,” Gwen said.

“I can fly them out if I do it one-by-one.”

“Won’t that be difficult? You would not have enough time,” Dominick added.

“Yes, but—”

“I can be in the water, swim under the waves, and come up and help swim them safely to the shore. Sharks are dreadful, but the boys have the best chance with me,” Meria suggested.

“Are you okay with that?” I asked Dominick.

“If Meria says she will be okay, I trust her. She knows what she can and cannot handle,” Dominick said with a nod.

“I’ll be okay,” Meria said, smiling at Dominick .

“You better end up okay, or I may have to kill every single last shark that ever—”

“I will be fine,” Meria said again, covering Dominick’s mouth with her hand. When she removed her hand, Dominick picked it up, kissed it, then looked up at me.

“So, it’s settled,” Dominick said, tossing the stick he had been using to mark on the dirt map into the fire.

I watched it as it caught fire and bent with the flames before it was engulfed and turned to ash.

Would we be successful, or were we heading into the impossible?