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In the swirl of passion	By : Lywhn Category: M through R > Peter Pan > Het Views: 35043 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Peter Pan, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Chapter 12 – Captain Blackbeard

The sun struggled to break through the clouds, which were even thicker over the island. The jungle was full of mist, and it was cold as Wendy alighted near the Never-Tree. Shivering she wound her arms around her and looked up to the fairy-queen. “Thank you for your help!” she said kindly.
The magical creature smiled softly and waved quickly before it flew away. Wendy sighed and turned to the hidden entrance to the underground hide-out. Moments later she slipped into the great cave and blinked into the darkness. Not one candle burned and this was strange, because Peter always took care that a light was on for the case that one of the boys wanted to drink or to eat out of the ‘kitchen’ during the night.
The girl groped her way along the wall and hoped she would soon find the table to light a candle, as she suddenly felt two small but strong arms around her and a blade was pressed against her throat. She yelped a terrified scream and instantly the blade disappeared, while she was pulled roughly around and found her arms full with a half-clad boy, only slightly less tall than she. A scent of sun and jungle, ocean and freedom surrounded her and even without his joyful “Wendy!” she knew that it was Peter, who had assaulted her.
She calmed down and returned his embrace with a small smile. “Hello!” she greeted softly, and stroked his tousled gold-blond locks.
“You’re safe!” he whispered, holding her tighter. Lights were lit, and a moment later she was surrounded with more than a dozen boys; every one of them cheering and shouting questions. Peter stepped back – he seemed to be a little bit abashed -- a very rare view – and grinned from one ear to the other. “You’ve done it again! You’ve tricked him!”
Wendy had to repress a giggle. ‘Dear Peter, if you only knew the way I tricked him! Poor James certainly has problems now!’ Her eyes met John’s, who stood quietly with his friends and looked at her in a way she didn’t like. “Brother-heart. Aren’t you glad to see me?”
The elder of the two Darling brothers smiled briefly, and asked one question: “How have you managed to escape Hook’s clutches this time?”
Wendy smiled, while her mind quickly worked on a story. “You want to know too, eh?”
Peter chuckled. “Let me guess: you tricked him again and he’s presently furious!” Then he narrowed his eyes, as he took a closer look to the girl. “What are you wearing? Where’s your nightgown?”
“I’d like to know as well!” said John quietly, and Wendy suddenly felt very uncomfortable under his piercing gaze.
‘He suspects something!’ she thought, and tried to look as innocent as possible. She knew her brother well enough. He was no fool, and he knew of her secret weakness for the pirate-captain, a weakness which showed up in her stories for years. She decided to stay as near as the truth as possible. She told the boys that Hook had tried to convince her to stay with him by showing her the ‘wonderful life of a pirate’. He even had set sail to give her a glimpse of the travel at the High Seas. During the voyage, she had stumbled down a stair. He had caught her in time, but her nightgown had been ripped -- the reason why she now wore other clothes. “That evening, he offered me dinner and even my own cabin. I had to pretend to think about his offer to join him. In the morning--”
“-- you were able to escape before he woke!” Peter finished and folded his arms across his chest; his sky-blue eyes were flashing. “Stupid codfish! The only thing he managed to do is to challenge me to another battle!”
“No!” Wendy cut in, ignoring John’s sharp gaze. “I think we all have another problem right now!”
“What?” Peter asked, irritated yet curious.
“As we sailed yesterday afternoon near Neverland’s frontier, we saw another ship.”
“Another ship?” Tootles squeaked and the other boys stepped nearer.
Wendy nodded. “Hook tried to reach it but--”
“-- he couldn’t cross the frontier!” Peter grinned. “I don’t know how often he tried it but it is always the same result: he ended back here.”
The girl felt herself tense. “What do you know about it?” she asked quietly, hoping the eternal boy could give her the information James so longed for.
But Peter only shrugged. “Not much. I only know that he is bound to the island and cannot leave it. But don’t ask me why.”
“If he could leave, you and the others would be safe. And by the way, he is a prisoner here.”
“Serves him right!” John grumbled. “And he can be glad that he is in this ‘prison’. In a real one, he holed up with the rats; on bread and water and a good lashing before they take him to the gallows!”
Wendy felt a stab in her stomach. The mere thought that James might be executed hit her like a knife in the belly and sent ice through her veins. Never would she simply watch him dying, and she prayed with all her heart that they would never be in such a situation. She felt the gaze of her brother upon her and decided to ignore it.
“So what big problem do we have now?” Peter asked. “He saw another ship, but this couldn’t be such important to--”
“It’s here!” Wendy blurted out, and saw the boyish faces with open mouths and wide eyes.
“What?” Peter was the first who found his voice again.
“You’re heard me right. The ship was here this morning. It’s a sloop and belongs to buccaneers as well!”
For a moment, everyone was silent, and then they all started shouting at the same time; except for Peter. He stared away, and a genuine smile widened upon his lips. He stepped closer to Wendy. “It’s a second pirate-ship for sure?” he asked her, while his friends were still talking to each other.
The girl nodded. “It flies the black flag!”
The eternal boy was very excited. “How was Hook’s reaction to it?”
Wendy hesitated, then she answered: “He was uneasy and excited at the same time.”
“Uneasy?” Michael shook his head. “Why? I thought pirates didn’t hurt each other!?”
“This pirate-captain isn’t just anyone. He’s very dangerous and fearsome.”
John cocked his head. “You know who the other captain is? Where from?”
“From Hook. When the night watch spied the other ship, they gave alert and the whole crew came on deck. A little later, Hook identified his ‘colleague’ by his flag. It nearly caused a riot--"
“--and during it, you were able to get away!” Peter nodded. “Very clever, Wendy.”
The girl had to smile; then grew serious again. “It’s possible that this new pirate is an even greater threat than Hook.”
“Why?” one of the twins asked bewildered.
“Because all I’ve ever read about this man said that he was… is … insane. Really insane! Hook may be dangerous for us because of his cleverness, and his hatred of us. But Blackbeard has absolutely no scruples and…”
“WHO?” John, Slightly, Nibs, Curley and Michael asked at the same time with shrill voices. Of course they had heart the stories of Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard.
Wendy nodded slowly. “You heart me right: it’s Captain Blackbeard himself!”
Peter lifted one brow. “And he’s famous?”
“Yes, Peter. Very. And he is dangerous. Believe me. I think he only followed the Jolly Roger because he is curious why we first tried to reach him and then heaved to.”
Peter nodded and started to grin. “Hey! A second pirate-captain is good! All right, maybe Hook will find an ally, but on the other hand, he really needs a tutor. His tricks are old as he and I know them all by now.”
Most of the boys started to laugh, excepted John, Slightly and Wendy. “Be careful, Peter. Even you might have trouble with two pirate-captains,” Slightly said quietly. Of course he had heard of Blackbeard during the last four years in London, and he really didn’t know how a pirate – one that should have been dead almost 200 years -- could show up in Neverland.
The eternal boy only shrugged. “We’ll see. And I think I’ll look in on them!”
Wendy started as she heart that. Hook’s warning rang in her ears and she touched Peter’s shoulder. “I don’t think that this is a good idea. Maybe it simply would be the best to avoid them and wait until Blackbeard sets sails and leave Neverland. I don’t believe that he will stay for long.”
Peter’s face was full of cockiness and adventure-lust. “Wendy, if he is really such a big bad guy, then I want to see how he’s different from Hook. I’ll never have a second chance to meet a legend – if he really is this well-known!”
The girl was near to wringing her hands. “Peter! Please don’t go. Not now! I…”
“Of course not now!” he interrupted and laughed loudly. “Because just now, I’m hungry. It’s time for breakfast!” Everyone -- especially Tootles -- cheered his idea while the boys ran to the ‘kitchen’. Wendy lowered her head and sighed. She didn’t know what to do to stop Peter’s ‘visit’ Hook and Blackbeard.
John stepped over her side. “Can you tell me how it is possible that a DEAD pirate comes here to Neverland? We both know that he was killed almost 200 years ago!”
The girl shook slowly her head. “No, John. I have no clue. But I think this is a theme we should speak of later, because right now I have to talk Peter out of visiting the pirates. And I don’t know how!”

It wasn’t the most difficult maneuver to bring the both ships alongside. Both helmsmen were competent, so it only took several minutes until the both crews were practically shaking hands – if they made themselves ‘very long’. The first greetings were shouted back and forth. “Hey, I know ye!” and “Devil, ol’ mate, ye remember me?”. Hook stood at the stairs to the bridge and nodded to several crewmen to fix the gangway from one ship to the other one, where the name could now be clearly read: Revenge.
James wore his heavy dark-red coat with the many golden applications and embroideries –similar to the one he had worn on this special day four and a half year ago, the day he thought he would finally conquer Peter Pan and his friends. Beneath the coat he wore a fitted waistcoat, likewise decorated and in the same manner as the coat. Black breeches and his favorite boots as well as a gorgeous black hat with mighty black and red feathers completed the uniform.
Hook was tense – more than he was ready to admit. The next minutes could decide all of their futures. The strange words of the fairy-queen stuck firmly in his mind and they unnerved him. He didn’t know how his behavior and decisions could influence even Neverland along with the lives of his crew, but he had learned this much during his stay at this bizarre island that it was better to listen to the older fairies and the mermaids. Sometimes he almost believed that these magical creatures were able to look into the future.
The renewed cheering of his men woke him from his thoughts and he looked up. The gangplank had been fixed, and Smee stood near it, holding his pipe to his mouth. A great shadow appeared on the plank, accompanied with applause from the other crew.
And then he came: Captain Edward Teach, better known as Captain Blackbeard. He was a tall, mighty figure, who seemed to be more solid than he really was. He wore a dark lined overcoat with heavy sleeves, a beige waistcoat, a white ruffled sleeve shirt and white seaman’s trousers, which ended at his calf. His feet were clad with dark socks and black buckled shoes. A huge elaborate weapon-sash was slung over one shoulder, holding three pistols. At his side was a cutlass, held by a wide waist belt. His face was shadowed by a brown tricorn hat, which was almost odd in its simple makeup. The most impressive things on this man were one: his deep brown, small eyes, and two: the reason for his nickname: the long, thick black beard, in which several braids were plaited.
Proud as a king he stood for a moment, motionless on the plank, before his piercing gaze found the other captain and a wide grin rushed over his dark face. “Jas!” he bellowed the ‘personal’ name of Hook and went with long, heavy steps over the wood. “Ol’ boy, I t’ought you in hell!”
‘And there I certainly am!’ Hook thought for himself with his own black humor, before another thought flashed in his mind: ‘Until a sweet angel showed up her face here!’
Blackbeard’s gaze found the older man with the white beard and hair, a stout figure and a pipe in his hand and stopped at the rail of the Jolly Roger: “Do I have permission to come aboard, bosun?”
Smee could only stare at the tall imposing man and nodded. He heard Hook clearing his throat and corrected his stance. He took position and declared: “Of course, Sir!” Then he whistled the signal for ‘Captain on board’ and watched the heavy visitor stepping on the deck.
Hook had closed the distance to him and grinned wide. “Edward! Welcome on board of the Jolly Roger!” He offered him his left hand. “I am sorry that I couldn’t properly shake hands!”
Teach’s eyes widened for a moment as he recognized the sharp silvery hook in the place of the right hand. “Devil and demons! I am sorry, Jas.” He took the slender, well-formed left hand of his host with his mighty paw and shook it like a pump-handle. “Yes, we earn our money in a difficult way, eh?”
James smiled slightly. “Aye!”
“I couldn’t believe my eyes as I saw your ship yesterday afternoon. Why did you heave to?”
Hook tried to stay collected. “The currents hindered us reaching your position. So we had no other choice but to heave to.”
Blackbeard made a face. “Aye! We’ve passed these currents. Nasty things! We had our hands full just holding course.” He cocked his head. “Where have you been the whole last year? I really thought you and your men dead.”
“The last year?” Hook repeated slowly.
“Aye! We shared a bottle in Nassau almost 12 month ago! So where have you been all the time?” In the next moment he waved as he would scare away a fly. “Never mind! We have enough time to talk.”
Hook tried very hard to hide the shock that had hit him. He had been away from the real world for ONE year? This was not possible! The log books, which he kept religiously, told of the time he had spent in this land. And beside, he had come to Neverland long before Wendy and her brothers, and she had grown older since then by more than FOUR years. Suddenly he remembered her words in the early morning, as she tried to tell him that Blackbeard been dead for very long now. Damn it! What nasty trick was this blasted island playing on him now?
Smee had arrived besides his captain and Hook laid his good hand on his shoulder to distract himself from this bewildering thoughts. “May I introduce you to my boatswain, quartermaster and confidante: Mr. Bryan Smee!”
Teach looked at the older man. “I think I met you last year in Nassau!”
Smee nodded. “Aye, Sir. T’e captain and me were in t’e same tavern as you, Sir.”
Blackbeard grinned. “I remember now. You were t’e man with t’e three whole dinners!” The whole crew started to laugh and even Hook had to chuckle at this statement. The memory of this episode rushed back to him even as Teach mentioned it. His memory even supplied all the details of the interior of the tavern, from the laugh of the innkeeper to the smell of the wood fire. Blackbeard made a gesture backwards. “T’is is Lieutenant Jack Roberts, my substitute and normally the commander of the Revenge.”
Hook looked at the slender man, who wore his blond hair bound at the neck, dressed in light blue trousers, a shirt made of fine white linen and a black waistcoat, matching his boots. He was quietly handsome, even with the thin scar on his left cheek. “Lieutenant! Welcome aboard!” he greeted courteously.
The man bowed his head. “Captain! Thank ye for t’e invitation!”
Blackbeard let his gaze roamed over the Jolly Roger and whistled. “A fine ship you have here. My respect!”
A slow smile played around Hook’s mouth. “Your sloop isn’t too shabby, either. She seems to be very quick.”
“Aye! Quick and small. Almost too small for all my men I have with me on this travel.” His gaze took in the riggings. “I’ve captured a French galleon a half year ago. She’s my flagship now and is called Queen Anne's Revenge, but I don’t think that she could hold to your ship.” He pointed to the stag-sails between the masts. “Very clever! I never saw a galleon with this kind of sails. Is it your own creation?”
“Aye. And my carpenter is a very qualified man.”
“Maybe I can hire him from you? My carpenter is better with a bottle than a plane!”
James laughed slightly and raised his voice. “Mr. Mullins?”
The man hastened to his commander, lifting his hat, and bowed in front of the two captains. “Aye, Cap’n?”
“Robert, Captain Blackbeard fancies your work.” His voice was unusually kind, but Mullins wasn’t fooled by it. He knew his commander well enough to recognize that something wasn’t quite right. Therefore he decided that prudence would be the better part of valor, and so he bowed again in front of Blackbeard. “T’hank ye, Sir!”
“Captain Blackbeard offered to hire you. What do you think?” Hook continued, and the carpenter now knew where the difficulty lay.
But even without the hint of an irritated captain, he would never take this offer. He looked straight into the small, almost black eyes of the strange buccaneer and answered, “T’hank ye fer yer offer, Sir, but me loyalty lies with Captain Hook. To him I swore me life and me word is somet’ing I’ll never break!”
Blackbeard lifted one thick brow and started to laugh, while he gave Mullins a friendly whack on one shoulder that nearly knocked him over. “He’s a little bit unsteady on his legs, but loyal. You can be proud of him, James!”
Hook smiled. “That I am.” He looked at his carpenter, the satisfaction in his blue eyes let Mullins took a deep breath of relief. “Thank you, Mr. Mullins. That will be all. You may return to your comrades.”
Mullins bowed again. “T’hank ye, Cap’n and t’ank ye as well, Cap’n Blackbeard, Sir!” With this he turned and went back to his comrades; his chest swollen with pride. A praise from the famous Captain Blackbeard AND from Captain Hook was unheard of, and almost too much to bear!
James gestured toward his quarters. “May I lead the gentlemen to my quarters, where we could take a modest breakfast and talk in private?”
Food was something even a Captain Blackbeard was eager for and so he grinned again. “After you, old boy. Jack and I will follow you. And then you have to tell us how you lost your hand. I mean, you were one of the best sword-fighters in the Caribbean Sea and…”
“It was a crocodile!” James cut in as he climbed the steep stairs up to the bridge and his quarters.
“A crocodile?” Roberts asked and winced slightly. “Nasty beasts. In Sout’-Carolina t’ey killed my brot’er!”
Hook looked back. “I’m sorry. It is crazy: you can defeat hundred men and don’t get one scratch and then there comes an animal and you’re almost helpless.”
“Aye!” the lieutenant nodded. “T’ey had him t’is quick down in t’e waters I couldn’t help him anymore!”
Teach made a face. “The stupid lizards also managed to get into our store of food and had a free lunch!” He pointed as James’ hook as they reached the bridge. “They’re damn quick, as you know best.”
“Especially when they were feeding – in this case on my hand!” His voice was dark now and Edward furrowed his forehead.
“So you have lost your hand in battle?”
“Aye!”
“You killed the bastard!”
Hook sneered. “No. The damn boy is, to my regret, very much alive and has slipped through my fingers at every—“
They were in front of the captain’s door and Blackbeard stopped dead in his tracks. “BOY?”
His host only nodded. “A boy. But be sure of one thing: he isn’t an ordinary boy. Far from it!” He opened his door and gestured his both visitors inside. “I’ll tell you about him.”
Blackbeard could only stare at him and nodded finally. “Please. I want to learn more about this boy who was able to defeat YOU!”

It was early midday, and the sun had managed to drive away the thick clouds. The air was heavy and sweltering, and if it hadn’t been Neverland, you could swear that a thunderstorm was due. But that didn’t diminish the good mood on both ships. The crews sat together and drank, talked, sang, and made jokes. The crew of the Jolly Roger was excited to meet fellow pirates, and to hear the latest news in the Caribbean Seas, while the crew of the Revenge were proud to tell of their last raids. Of course both crews told many fish stories, and if you were a storyteller, the tales of their ‘adventures’ would have filled three books. But this was normal.
Lieutenant Roberts and three of his men, accompanied with two men of the Jolly Roger, had rowed ashore after breakfast to refill their barrels with fresh water, to collect fruit and to hunt for dinner. The two men of the Jolly Roger showed them where to find everything they needed.
Both commanders sat in James’ quarters, drinking wine – Blackbeard changed after awhile to rum – and spoke of all that happened in the last year(s). They agreed to make the next raid together, which would mean that both ships started from the island the day after tomorrow, after James had filled his stores with food and water. Hook hoped above all that he could manage to leave Neverland in this way for good. And he would take Wendy with him! He would give her a choice the following night, and if she said no, he would simply keep her. He knew that she would be outraged and that possibly her friends and brothers would come to her rescue, but this didn’t matter anymore. He was even ready to let Peter Pan alone, if he only could escape this hell and have Wendy at his side. The talk with Blackbeard had been enough to help him realize what he truly was and ever would be: a pirate! And a pirate had to be on sea and to capture other ships and even harbors. He needed the salt breeze in his nose, the waving of a ship in full speed under his feet and the freedom of the ocean. And – in James’ special case – a beautiful girl with him! Females were normally forbidden on pirate-vessels, except female pirates. And if it was ever necessary to explain Wendy’s presence on board, he would simply declare her as Red-handed Jill, another pirate of his crew and – by the way – his lover!
Blackbeard emptied his fourth glass of rum and watched his host with sharp eyes. “Do ye think I will see t’is boy before we set out to our next raid?” He was damn curious about the child, a child that had defeated a man who was even feared by other pirate-captains.
Hook made a grimace and refilled his goblet. “As far as I know, this flying brat will be here to--”
“It’s amazing how well you know me, codfish!” said a lighter, teasing voice from one of the open windows, a voice able to awaken Hook even from the death.
His gaze found the small figure on the windowsill and he almost jumped up. “Pan! You really have the nerve to come here?” he hissed and fingered after his pistol.
Teach saw the movement and stopped the other captain. “Not now, Jas. I want to meet him!” He turned around and looked the boy up and down. He had to be around twelve, and wore a kind of knee-long trouser made out completely of leaves, winding in an odd way up his torso and one shoulder. His smooth skin was tanned and his thick locks shimmered sandy and golden. Great blue eyes sparkled in his handsome face, and as he grinned, he showed two lines of snow-white teeth. He had dirty bare feet and was slim and well-muscled. His only weapon was a knife at his waist, held by something like a liana, and on the other side was an instrument Blackbeard had never seen before, a kind of flute, even if the buccaneer didn’t know how it was possible to get a tone out of it. Beside him was a little flying ball and Teach thought in the first moment it was a glow-worm but then his eyes widened, as he recognized it correctly. The tiny creature looked like a girl or a young woman and had wings.
Edward looked down into his empty glass, then to the bottle of rum, then to James and back to the boy. “James,” he began slowly, “please tell me that I don’t see over there what I think to see!”
Hook didn’t need to look at Peter and his companion to know what his guest meant. “Sorry, Edward, but it would be a lie. It is really a fairy – one of the very pertinacious ones!”
Teach blinked several times and swallowed. “And I thought you were serving me sailor’s yarns when you told me about fairies and flying children.”
Peter had warily watched the both pirate-captains – especially his mortal enemy – but at Teach’s word he drew his attention back to the stranger. “You’re Captain Blackbeard?” he asked, curious, and lifted in the air, never taking his gaze from the man with the oily shoulder-length dark hair and the mighty beard.
Teach lost his control and jumped up. “Devils and demons! The boy really can FLY!”
Hook refilled his glass. “Told you so!” he growled.
Peter cocked his head and he and Blackbeard looked at each other with fascination. The strange pirate-captain was tall – even taller than Hook – and he seemed to be heavier. Teach, on the other hand, could only gaze at the slender boy who soared before him in the air and had a real FAIRY on his shoulder. “You’re looking exactly as I have imagine you”, the eternal boy continued. “Maybe a little fatter but …”
For a moment, Blackbeard narrowed his eyes, then he grinned. “These are all muscles, my boy, be sure of it!”
Peter smiled and looked closer to the enormous beard of the man. “You really do have braids in it. Exactly as Wendy and John told me!”
Teach lifted one brow. “Wendy? Is this a female name?”
The boy folded his arms in front of his slender chest and smiled a smile that made the sun seem dark. “Aye!”
“A friend of yours?” Blackbeard wanted to know, and had to laugh as he heard the cheerful answer:
“She’s my friend and mother and companion!”
Hook groaned inwardly and prayed that the boy would not tell more about the girl, but Blackbeard’s next question destroyed his hope: “And? Is she at least a little bit pretty?”
The boy was almost indignant. “She is the most beautiful and best girl I ever met! And she is a super storyteller as well!”
Edward scratched his beard, chuckling slightly, while Hook behind his back signaled Peter to ‘shut the hell up!’
“And she told you about me?” Teach seemed to be flattered.
The boy nodded. “She said that you are one of the most fearsome pirates in the world and that you have captured many ships.”
This was balm for Blackbeard’s ego. “He maybe is a plague for you, James, but he has knowledge!”
Hook took a sip of his wine and sneered: “He even doesn’t know what a letter is! Anything he had in his head is pranks and mist and the little that he knows he learned from the little girl and her brothers!”
He hoped that his voice was filled with disinterest and loathing enough not to betray his real feelings for Wendy – feelings he wasn’t so sure of after all – so that it wouldn’t wake Teach’s interest too much.
“Just have a look. High as three cheeses but has a girl-friend!” Blackbeard grinned. “Well-done, boy. Ye cannot start early enough to find a girl for ye.”
Peter grinned back. “This is something codfish over there will never get!”
“Codfish?” Blackbeard asked flabbergasted, looking at Hook’s sour expression and laughed again: “He has a feeling for giving names. I always thought you walked too straight!”
“Someone has to!” James retorted, resisting the urge to simply shoot the boy out of the air. The warnings of the fairy-queen were stronger in his mind, and he liked the weather as it was right now -- he didn’t want any ice and snow in Neverland, which is what he’d get if the boy died.
Blackbeard stepped nearer to the intruder. “I’m impressed, Peter. May I call you t’at?”
Peter shrugged, making Tink lose her balance, and with an irritated jangle, she took to the air beside him. “If you like!” he answered, relaxed.
“That means: ‘It is an honor for me, Captain Blackbeard!’ ” Hook hissed; his blues eyes narrowing.
“This kind of language is more for you, Hooky!” Peter retorted, earning further laughter from Teach. Peter chuckled and sat himself in Indian style in the air in front of Blackbeard, who looked at him with amazement.
“You’re right, James. He really is special.” .
The boy lifted both eyes and flashed Hook a teasing smile. “You hear what he said about me? Thank you, captain!”
“Aye. And as a special boy you will get a special treatment. This I promise!” James’ voice was nothing more now than a deep growling.
“When do you intend to keep your word?” Peter retorted, challenging his enemy.
“Pray that it won’t be soon.”
“Words, words, words… Have you ever succeeded in getting me?”
“Aye! Two times to be precise. Just have a look at your chest!”
“You mean this scar? Aw, that’s not nearly as obvious as my souvenir!”
Hook jerked slightly. “Be sure, boy, the next ‘scar’ will be for the whole world to see – even if it only lasts a few seconds. Because then you will be dead!”
“And again: words, words, words!”
Teach was roaring with laughter by now. “You both fight as well with words as swords!” he bawled.
“I told you that he is the monstrous product of impudence!” James said slowly, never allowing his gaze to waver from the boy.
Blackbeard chuckled, returned to his chair and pulled his sword out of the sheath that he had taken off. Almost instantly Peter’s hand dove to his knife. This did not escape Teach’s notice. “It seems by the look of Jas’ arm that you are quick with knife,” he said thoughtfully. “And your reflexes are well-trained as well.”
Peter cocked his head and ignored Tink’s warning ringing. James was alert as well, but waited what would come. He knew Blackbeard a little, and Pan very well. As sure as hell the two would fight against each other. Teach’s next words proved his anticipation: “Would you dare to fight a round against me?” He moistened his lips. “Of course it would be only a training-session. I don’t want to deny James his satisfaction to finish you off personally.”
Peter’s feet touched the ground, while he pulled out his knife. “This is nice of you – from pirate to pirate!” he mocked.
Teach grinned. “You dare it?” Hook knew what would come. He and Pan had one thing in common: They couldn’t resist a good challenge.
“Aye!” Peter nodded and moved in the opening-position, lifting his knife and his left hand for balance. “And don’t worry. Your beard screams to be cut off, but you are foreign in the waters of Neverland and therefore I will hold myself back.”
This came out with so much confidence that Blackbeard had to stare at the boy before he laughed again. “Now just look at this little brat. Son, be lucky if I don’t trash your arse the way you deserved it and--”
Peter was tired of talk and attacked. “En garde!” For a fraction of a second, Blackbeard was surprised, then he reacted in such a quick way that his arm seemed to fly. He blocked Peter’s strike and started an own attack. For several seconds the two weapons flashed on another and then the boy made a clever move, pretending to make a sally, and as Teach tried to parry it, Peter under-ran the pirate’s sword, linked his foot behind Blackbeard’s calf, and pushed with all his considerable strength against the tall man’s shoulder. There was a loud ‘thud’ as the heavy pirate went to the ground, sitting a moment in perplexion on his wide butt and stared uncomprehendingly at the laughing boy, who soared before him in the air. Then Teach started to laugh so hard, that his whole body was shaking. “Good form, boy! Very good! You caught me at the wrong leg!”
Hook emptied his goblet and sat down, knowing that this little success was the only one Pan would get. And to his own amazement the whole situation amused him this much that even his deep hate for the boy was almost silent in the moment. His gaze found Tinker Bell, and he shot her a warning glare to not interfere.
The tiny fairy simply ignored him. She would interfere if necessary. And that this moment would come was more obvious than the sun in the sky. Peter could not stand against this tall, strong man – not if he fought in the normal human way without using his ability to fly.
“Are you giving in, Blackbeard?” Peter asked cheerfully, and James threw him an angry look.
“That’s CAPTAIN Blackbeard, you pathetic offspring of a fly and a cockroach!” Hook hissed Peter blinked for a moment, then he had to chuckle while even Tinker Bell was giggling.
“Hey, that was a new one! Did you get help from your guest in finding new insults for me?”
“I make another promise, Pan. Before I am done with you I will lash manners in you until you are blue, green and bloody red like a rainbow!”
The boy only stuck his tongue out in his direction, and returned his attention back to Blackbeard, who lifted calming his left hand. “Slow down, Jas. Just let me have a little bit more fun!” He looked back at Peter. “How is it boy? Another round?”
Peter only grinned, his pretty face shone with joy and mischief. “Why not?”
Teach heaved his weight up with a speed you would never have thought him capable of, and lifted his sword. “Ready, boy?”
Peter only nodded. “Where you want to land now? In the chair or on Hook’s bed?”
Any other time, Blackbeard would have been outraged, but the whole scene really amused him. Chuckling he shook his head, looking shortly to James. “He has a big mouth, but also courage.” Then his eyes narrowed while he gazed back at the boy. “Be careful that your mouth doesn’t outreach your blade, lad.”
This time it was Teach who made the first move. Peter parried the attack immediately, and made a sally in return. Many times sword and knife met, then the boy jumped in the air, flew over Teach’s head and sliced through his heavy weapon-sash in the process. For a moment Blackbeard was distracted, shouting “Hey, that was my best!” and then Peter used his advantage instantly. Pretending again to make an attack, he tricked Teach – the tall buccaneer was still irritated over his ruined sash – and managed it to make him lose his balance again. Blackbeard landed on his chair, which groaned under his weight, but bore up.
Peter sat in the air before Blackbeard, whose face began to darken. “Very good, boy!” he said in a low voice. “You have bravery in your bones and know how to use a knife.” He bent forward. “And now let us see if you are able to fight like a man.” He was on his feet before Peter could blink and attacked.
Peter held his knife before him, standing in the pose that would reduce his area of attack, but as Teach’s sword met the knife he had almost lost it because of the mighty stroke. Again Blackbeard’s weapon hit the small knife and this time Peter wasn’t able to hold it any longer. The little weapon flew through the air in a high bow and only a quick duck saved his life. He plunged after his knife, reached it in time and brought it up in the very instant Teach brought his weapon down. Peter mustered all of his strength to fight the larger man off, forcing him back. Instantly Blackbeard was after him with incredible speed and agility, striking at Peter with such force that the boy was nearly unable to hold his weapon with both hands.
Teach gave him no time to recover. He chased the boy through the cabin, and Peter now didn’t care as he smashed several dishes and knocked down the great glove from his stand. His only intention was now to hold Blackbeard at a distance and to avoid the deadly blade of the robust cutlass. Hook closed his eyes for the shortest moment, as his possessions were destroyed – adding one more reason to the very long list of payback! – and followed the uneven fight between his guest and the eternal boy.
Tink watched as well and her little heart beat faster and faster. It was impossible for Peter to win. Hook was a very strong man, but this strange pirate-captain seemed to be even stronger. And Peter was still only a small boy – no ordinary boy of course – but a boy nonetheless!
Peter realized that he didn’t stand a chance against Blackbeard in this way and took to the air, ready to fly. The only way he could defeat the tall man was to use Blackbeard’s puzzlement about Peter’s ability to fly.
But Teach had already overcome this amazement, and lashed out with his cutlass, driving it through the leaves at Peter’s hip and nailing him to the ceiling – never cutting him in the process. For a moment, Peter felt the first pang of fear, then he tore away from the blade and tried to escape Teach’s grip, but it was no use. The mighty fist of the strange pirate-captain caught him and hurled him down on the floor. The impact took Peter’s breath away and before he was able to jump up he felt Blackbeard’s knee in his back, brutally holding him down. Peter tried to wriggle free, stabbing backwards to force Teach to let him go, but the big hand of the buccaneer caught his wrist and pressed it with such strength the boy had to release the knife; or allow Blackbeard to break his arm.
“Look, Jas,” Teach grinned, “here is the little rat!” Peter bucked and kicked out but was unable to touch Blackbeard. A shrill ringing sounded through the cabin and Hook reacted without hesitation, throwing his napkin after the fairy, capturing her in it and throwing her to the ground. “Stay out of it or I will say the killing words!” he snarled.
Blackbeard grinned from one ear to the other. “How is it, James? Would you let me keep him for a few days? He has wits and courage – absolutely fitting for our trade. I think he will make a good cabin-boy!”
Hook refilled the glass of his guest, keeping a wary eye on the moving napkin on the floor. He understood a little bit of the fairy-language and he had never thought that such nasty words could come out of the pretty mouth of Tinker Bell. A low sneer escaped his throat. “With all respect, Edward, this one even you couldn’t manage!”
Blackbeard laughed again. “After I am done with him he will be tame as a lamb!”
Hook knelt beside Peter and looked straight into the hostile eyes of the boy.
“I’d rather die than serve you, Hook!” Peter snarled, eliciting a smile from his enemy.
“This wish, my boy, I will be glad to fulfill!” He gripped Peter’s thick, dusty locks and forced the boy’s head around to look at him. Peter only gave him a glare filled with hate.
Blackbeard chuckled slightly. “A shame! I really wanted to raise you, but I think Jas has the first rights to you.” He nodded to his host and both men get up, taking the boy with them. Teach gripped Peter’s neck and smiled politely at Hook: “Here! Take it as a present for the great breakfast!” He threw the boy into James’ arms and returned to his seat, took his glass with rum and sat down.
Peter looked up into the cold eyes of his deadliest enemy. “You don’t know what I have planned for you, Pan!” James whispered, holding him in check with one arm around him and his hook at his throat.
Peter swallowed. He realized his danger, and that it would only take one strike of the hook to finish him off.
The one-handed pirate-captain looked down into the suddenly very wide eyes of the boy. One movement and Peter Pan would be history. They both knew it. And James knew one thing more: if he would kill the boy right now he would perhaps forfeit his only chance of freedom and possibly any luck available to him. His gaze roamed over the handsome, innocence face of his ‘young’ enemy. He had seen him this defenseless once before – on that special evening more than four years ago. And since then, he had longed to get another chance to finish this little plague off again.
But something in him made him hesitate. What if the fairy-queen had been right? And Wendy -- How would she react if he killed Pan now? Besides, she would be in danger because of the ice that would cover Neverland if its golden child died. Damn it all to hell. Here he had the chance to free himself of his most hated enemy - and that would mean putting his young lover in danger as long as she was on the island.
In that very moment, Tinker Bell had managed to untangle free from the napkin, cursing in several human and animal languages, looked around, saw her beloved Peter in the clutches of his mortal enemy and attacked without another thought. She flew with flashing speed to the pirate-captain and tore at his long hair with such force that it almost broke his neck. Hook screamed and struck at the fairy, releasing Peter in the process, who took his chance immediately. He kicked violently at Hooks leg – but the heavy leather protected the pirate-captain well enough – and was the next moment in the air.
Blackbeard jumped up and was after him in a trice, only to find a tiny female body with wings dancing in front of his face. The next second two little fists hit his nose with surprisingly strength. This hurt enough to bring tears to his eyes.
Peter soared in an elegant bow to his knife, snatched it up, and was on the windowsill, in the next moment. Glaring back he started to laugh. Both pirate-captains seemed to be stiff as pokers and looked totally perplexed at him. “Have a lovely day, gentlemen!” Peter mocked and took the skies. His words “Oh, this cleverness of me!” echoed through the air long after he and his magical companion had disappeared.
Blackbeard sat down and stared for a full minute into his glass. Never before had someone managed to escape him. And then there came such a small boy and…
Hook pulled out a second bottle of rum and filled his own goblet with it. “Do you know now why I told you he’s special? He always gets a chance to escape. Always!”
Teach nodded slowly. “He really is a golden child, eh?”
Hook snorted and took his own seat, emptying his goblet with one long draught. That morning he had sworn to drink not too much, because he was eager to have his ‘revenge’ on Wendy when she came in the evening, but right now he could use a good rum. Oh yes!
Blackbeard looked down on his sliced sash and made his decision. “All right, Jas. I will help you to get him! Before we leave this strange island, his head will be dangling from your bowsprit!”
Hook made a face. In earlier times he had been convinced of this as well, but in the meantime, he knew that it was almost impossible to catch the boy. He would love to get him and to give him a slow, painful death and… And then he saw before him the angelic face of Wendy, desperate and begging like she had looked on that special evening, as she had fallen into his arms to save Peter. A pain drove through him, and the gnawing fear of losing her, if he were to kill the boy. James groaned. Damn it to the deepest hell, but the girl had really started to ruin him! Not his wealth, because the enormous booty he had raided would last far more than one lifetime. No! Wendy Darling had started to ruin another thing deep in himself: the ruthless pirate!

TBC…
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In the swirl of passion