Beneath the waves of the.., p.1
Beneath the Waves of the Neversea, page 1
Beneath the Waves of the Neversea:
A Peter Pan Retelling
Wonder in Neverland Book 1
K. A. Last
www.kalastbooks.com.au
Copyright © 2022 K. A. Last
All rights reserved.
Contents
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Dedication
The Promise of Everything
It’s Always Time for Tea
An Intruder on the Island
So Much Trouble
He Doesn’t Like Liars
Stalemate
There are Pirates?
The Promise of Escape
Everything Like That
Half a Giant TeaCup
Drowning
Impossible things
Chasing Shadows
A Pirate in a Top Hat
Still Alive
All Good Things
Playing for Keeps
Game Over
Seeking Vengeance
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About the Author
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Dedication
For Jayden, my biggest supporter, I love you, even when I’m yelling at you to get off the Xbox.
The Promise of Everything
WENDIE
The wind buffets my face as I spread my arms wide. Strands of hair whip my cheeks, leaving behind little stings of pleasure. The ocean is a dark inky expanse below, and the churning surface of the water reflects the stars like distorted flickering diamonds. My stomach tightens as a chill rolls over my skin.
We’re actually flying!
I focus on the black shape ahead. The boy—almost a man—flits about under the moonlight, twisting and rolling as he shouts with glee across the waves.
He told me his name was Peter, and that he could show me wonders I had never even dreamed of. Take me to a place where we would be free to do whatever we wanted.
But it wasn’t just the possibility of freedom and adventure, of leaving behind a crumbling family and the gloom of London, that made me jump from my bedroom window.
Peter is ... intoxicating, and I’m drawn to him in a way I can’t explain.
I study the curve of his shoulders, his arms, his chest, and a desire rises within me to find out what hides beneath. His enthusiasm and eagerness are infectious, and when he speaks, I’m pulled into his net, snared by the melodic sound of his voice, until I believe every word he says.
Peter is the promise of everything I have never had.
Excitement.
Passion.
Love.
He could have told me anything, and I would still have gone with him.
I glance to my left, catching the eye of my brother, Jonathan. At sixteen, he’s almost two years younger than me, but he refused to allow me to go with Peter alone, and I don’t think he is regretting his decision. He grins, His arms stretched wide and his hair streaming back from his face.
“This is magnificent!” our little brother, Michael, yells as he drops like a stone from above, halting himself so he hovers an arm’s length below Jonathan.
At ten years old, his biggest fear is missing out, and I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him behind. I laugh at their obvious happiness, but the sound is ripped away by the wind. My nightdress flaps around my legs, and I drop suddenly, my heart stuttering as the hem dips into the sea.
“Peter?” I call, but again my words are lost.
“What’s wrong, Wendeline?” Jonathan asks, drifting as close to me as he can.
“I ... I fell and I can’t get higher again.”
I look around, brushing the hair from my face. There is nothing but ocean and stars, as far as the eye can see, and it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. I press my palm over my racing heart.
What are we doing?
Then Peter appears, hovering at my side. His perfect lips curl into a smile, and his eyes sparkle like the stars above. My stomach flips, and for a moment I’m lost, tumbling into the depths of Peter’s gaze. Into his soul.
“Tink, Wendie needs a top up,” Peter says.
I drag my stare away from his face. His skin and clothing sparkle green. Something darts past my ear, followed by a mischievous giggle. I catch sight of Tinker Bell as she lands on Peter’s shoulder. The little green faerie pokes her tongue out at me, then ducks behind his head.
My lips part, but a shriek stifles my words as I drop again. My nightdress drags in the water and weighs me down.
“Wendie!” Michael cries.
“Help her,” Jonathan adds. “She’ll fall into the sea.”
I stare up at Peter and he is laughing. Tinker Bell peers over the top of his head. Her pixie eyes are wide and a sly smile curves across her mouth.
My toes dip into the water, soaking the tips of my slippers, and I wave my arms to gain some height. “Peter!”
His laughter stops and he grabs my hand. “Okay, Tink. That’s enough.”
The faerie huffs, but Peter shakes her off and she tumbles towards me. The air shimmers as her green glitter settles on my skin, instantly lifting me away from the water. I glance over my shoulder and glimpse Tinker Bell as she darts away towards Jonathan and Michael, leaving more green sparkles in her wake.
My heart pounds in my ears, the frantic beat drowning out the rush of the wind. Peter pulls me closer. His grip is firm. His warm touch is as compelling as his stare, and I’m lost in him again. Everything fades around the edges, my heart now racing for a different reason, until it’s only him and me.
I don’t doubt that if Peter hadn’t intervened, Tinker Bell would have let me fall into the sea. It’s obvious she doesn’t like me, although I’ve given her no reason not to. I’ll have to make sure I stay out of her way when we get to wherever it is we’re going.
“There,” Peter says, jolting me from my reverie and pointing to a light shimmering in the distance. “That’s Neverland. Where the sun rises and sets everywhere, and the moon is always full.”
“Truly?” Michael asks, his voice filled with wonder.
I glance at Jonathan. His silence, wide eyes, and open mouth mimic Michael’s joy.
Peter lets go of my hand and puts his arm around me, tucking me into his side. His temple presses against mine. I’ve never been this close to a boy before, and my body thrums uncontrollably in his embrace. I breathe in his scent of cinnamon and pine.
“Are you ready?” he asks, his voice a whisper on the wind.
All I can do is nod and stare at the light. At first, I think we’re flying towards some sort of beacon, but then a gleaming shape rises from the horizon.
Neverland stretches out below us, radiant in the darkness, its jagged coastline tumbling from a mountain range at the centre. Peter guides us around the edge of the island, and even though it’s night time, I’m able to discern the shapes of trees and rocks and hills.
“Why does it glow like that?” I ask.
“Magic,” Peter says, as though it’s the most normal thing in the world.
What kind of magic?
“It’s beautiful.”
“Is it?” Peter pulls away, his fingers trailing along my arm as we fly. He grabs my hand, and we tumble through the air, dipping suddenly towards the trees.
“Peter!” I shriek.
“It’s okay.” He spins us until we’re upright, taking my other hand as though we’re dancing. “I’ve got you.”
He pulls me back to him, and we rise into the air, spinning again. My stomach drops away as he leans into me, forcing me backwards until we’re horizontal. In the moment it takes for my heart to lurch, we roll and Peter is beneath me. My chest presses to his, his closeness stirring heat low in my belly. A feeling I know is all too improper, but one that I can’t control.
We fly above Neverland and follow the curves of the coastline, passing coves and cliffs and rocks. waves crash against the shore. Birds fly with us, and when they screech, it sounds as though they are saying never, never.
“I’ve not thought of Neverland as beautiful before,” Peter says, catching my stare. “Do you really see it that way?”
Stars swirl in his eyes like tiny galaxies, and I fall into their depths again, pulled in by an unknown force I can’t seem to resist. He brushes a strand of hair from my cheek, and the warmth of his fingertips sends a thrill over my skin.
“It’s the most beautiful sight I’ve seen,” I whisper.
I realise it’s a lie, because Peter is more beautiful than words can describe, and my heart aches looking at him.
I drag my gaze away from his and stare out to sea. Another dark form emerges from the fog that blankets the water off shore. No light lives there, but I can make out the shapes of other land masses.
“What’s out there?” I ask. “In the darkness?”
“Nothing of concern,” Peter says. “All the adventure is right below us.”
Peter swoops us down, like stones falling from the sky, and I grip his arms as we skim the treetops, dropping between the branches into the forest. My nightdress catches on a stick, ripping a hole in the hem, then my feet hit solid ground and my knees buckle.
Peter catches me, holding me tight, his gaze searching mine. “Are you a ll right?”
“Yes,” I say, but the word comes out more like a stifled gasp.
Because Peter has taken my breath away.
A loud snap makes me jump, then something falls through the trees and tumbles onto the ground. Jonathan groans as he rolls onto his knees and gets to his feet. Michael touches down beside him, holding his belly as he chortles.
Peter drops his hand from my face, turns to my brothers, and laughs, too. “Welcome to Neverland, boys. Your greatest adventure awaits. Come on.”
He heads off through the darkness with long strides, leaving me to traipse behind the three of them, hitching my skirt so it doesn’t drag in the dirt or get snagged on sticks. I already have one tear to mend.
A moment ago, I was the centre of Peter’s universe, but now, it’s as though he has completely forgotten I’m here. I quicken my steps, determined to catch up to him and find the connection we had while we were flying.
He could at least hold my hand.
“It’s just trees,” Michael says, stomping through the forest.
“Not just trees,” Peter replies, his voice a little too loud. “Neverland trees. Lots of things can be concealed by trees. Now, keep up!”
Peter’s voice penetrates the night, sending birds flying from the branches, and an uneasiness settles into the pit of my stomach. It’s as though the birds are fleeing an impending storm.
Should I be following them instead?
I expected Peter to be a little more chivalrous after dumping me into a dark forest. Instead, he’s raced off with my brothers. When we were flying, I wanted Peter to tell me I was beautiful. He had the perfect opportunity, and he certainly looked at me as though I am, but if he has never seen Neverland in that way, why would he think it of me? Am I foolish to think he ever will? All he seems to care about now is his next adventure.
Is this already the end of one and the beginning of another?
Am I nothing more than a stupid girl who fell out of a window, hoping to fall into love?
Something buzzes past my ear, and I spy Tinker Bell as she comes around to land on Peter’s shoulder. He flicks her off, sending her tumbling head over wings through the air. She rights herself and huffs, then darts away into the forest.
That wasn’t very nice.
We weave through the undergrowth, picking our way over tree roots and fallen logs, until we reach a clearing filled with moonlight. The remains of a campfire smoulder at its centre, wisps of smoke rising into the cool air. I catch sight of Tinker Bell’s glittery trail as she disappears into the trees on the other side of the clearing.
Peter clicks his fingers and the fire roars to life.
“How ...?” I ask, staring at the crackling flames.
“Magic,” Peter says, as though it explains everything.
“Will you teach me?”
Peter stares at me for a heartbeat, his eyes darkening as though the very thought of teaching me magic disgusts him. Then his mouth turns up at the corners and his face brightens, but he doesn’t answer. I smile back, the annoyance that tightened my chest a moment ago already dissipating.
“This is amazing.” Michael rushes over to the campfire.
Jonathan follows, sitting on one of four big logs that form a square of seating around the fire. Spears, axes, and other weapons lie in a haphazard pile near them. Off to the side of the clearing is a table, formed from a large flat rock and surrounded by several smaller rocks for seats.
Michael searches through the weapons. “Look at this!” He picks up a handmade axe.
“Be careful.” I step forward.
Peter grabs my arm. “It’s all right. Let him play.”
“With an axe?” I glance at Peter’s grip on me.
“He’ll be fine.”
Peter loosens his hold and trails his fingers up my arm to rest his hand on my shoulder. He tilts his head as I stare at him, and his lopsided smile lifts the unease in my chest. I step closer to him, until his warm breath caresses my cheek, and his smile changes from jovial to mischievous. I suck my bottom lip between my teeth. His gaze drops to my mouth, and I lean closer still.
At almost eighteen, I’ve not been kissed before.
Although, I have witnessed my mother during one of her afternoon trysts, when she thought no one but her and the gardener were about. I saw more than kissing, and it both delighted and disgusted me, but it made me long for that first experience that will make me feel less a girl and more a woman.
The desire to feel Peter’s lips on mine burns through me like lava.
I watch my brothers for a moment, but thankfully they are both pre-occupied with their newfound toys, and my worry over my ten-year-old brother playing with an axe has dissipated.
When I look back at Peter, he’s studying me, his head still tilted.
“What kind of adventure do you fancy, Wendeline?” he asks.
The way he says my full name sends another ripple of desire through me, and I fall into his starlit eyes. How can I tell him he is the adventure I crave? We’re removed from the real world, free to do as we wish with no one here to tell us to behave.
Fear and passion race through me, hand in hand.
My pulse roars in my ears. “I ... would like to give you a kiss.”
“A kiss?” His smile doesn’t falter. He steps back, releasing me, and holds out his hand. “Go on, then.”
I frown. “You do know what a kiss is?”
“I’ll find out when you give it to me.” He raises his eyebrows.
How can he touch me like he has been, and look at me with stars in his eyes, and not know what a kiss is?
“Peter, how old are you?”
He scratches his head, his unkempt blond hair gleaming white in the moonlight. “I don’t know, exactly. I’ve been in Neverland a long time, but I’m sure I’m no older than you.”
“Well, when’s your birthday?”
“What’s that?”
I chuckle. “The day you were born, silly.”
“I don’t remember being born, so I mustn’t have one.”
“Everyone has a birthday.”
Peter shrugs. “If I do, I don’t know it. Maybe you could give me one.”
We stare at each other, and the urge to grab him and kiss him overwhelms me. Why am I drawn to this boy who is obviously ignorant in so many ways? I am uneducated in the finer details involved with what a man and a woman can do together, but I can’t seem to fight the heat that he stirs deep in my belly.
I shove my hands into my pockets in an attempt to quash my feelings. My fingertips brush something hidden between the folds of the fabric, and I curl the object into my palm. Peter watches me intently, and he leans a little closer when I bring my hand out and open it.
“What’s that?” he asks.
I glance at the silver thimble, holding it out to him. “A kiss.”
“Really?” He plucks the thimble from my hand and holds it close to his face. “It’s so small. Would you like a kiss in return? I’m sure I have something that will do.” He closes his fist around the thimble and locks his stare onto mine.
I bite my lip and lean a little closer to him. “I would very much like that.”
Peter digs into his pocket, then grabs my hand and splays my fingers. He drops something onto my palm. I stare at the button shaped like an acorn, and my heart sinks into my feet.
Maybe I should have shown him what a kiss is.
“Thank you.” I press my lips into a tight smile.
I take the chain from around my neck and feed it through the loop at the top of the button, sliding it onto the necklace where it hangs beside a silver star.
I fumble with the clasp and sigh. “Could you help, please? I can never get it back on.”
Peter moves to stand behind me. His fingers brush my neck as he does the necklace up, and I lean back into him, hoping he is feeling what I am at this moment. He rests his hands on my shoulders and puts his lips to my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Now it’s time to have some fun,” he whispers.
Peter releases me, his touch lingering on my skin. As he walks towards my brothers at the fire, my eagerness follows him, but it’s quickly replaced by annoyance at his obliviousness. I stomp to the table and sit on an animal-skin covered rock, resting my chin on my hands. My eyelids droop.
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