“He must be mad! We can’t put th’ boys leg in there. It’ll burn right off!” Mullins growled as he stood idly by the kiln, staring in at the unbearable heat.

“Then what do you suggest we do, Mullins?” Mason asked as he knelt on the floor, holding the scrawny body of the cabin boy in his arms. Moans and non-intelligible gibberish were coming from the boy as he convulsed in the carpenter’s hold. Sweat beaded his brow as his body reeled from shock.

“Billy....phral,” he muttered once before falling again into unconsciousness.

“I don’ know,” Mullins responded as he looked around the forge. “There has to be something ‘ere we can use. Dammit, Billy boy, where do you keep everything.”

“I say we just let the little blighter die,” Starkey said as he came down into the forge. “He’s been nothing but trouble for us, and we’re much better off if he’s gone.”

“NO!” Mullins roared at the gentleman pirate. “I promised Billy we’d safe ‘im, and I’m not goin’ back on my word. He doesn’t wan’ th’ boys death over ‘is head and I don’ blame ‘im. So we’s gonna safe ‘im.”

Mullins then began looking around for something he could use to cauterize the wound. Finding several large blades, he grabbed them and handed two of them to Starkey.

“Here, we’ll heat these up an’ put ‘em on the wound. That’ll make Billy boy happy.”

“Not like it matters now,” Starkey sniffed as he held the blades over the heat of the kiln. “Billy Jukes is gone.”

“What?!” Mullins yelled turning on Starkey.

“It’s true.” Starkey didn’t even flinch. “Billy is gone. Left with Miss Wendy. I saw the whole thing. The Captain had him cornered up against the cargo barrels intending to strike him down when Miss Wendy suddenly flew in and lifted him off the ship. Then Jukes proceeded to inform the Captain that he was never coming back and wished him good riddance....Then he and Miss Wendy flew away.”

Mullins let go of the tongs holding one of the blades, hearing it clatter on the wood floor, as he looked at Starkey in disbelief. His eyes stared blankly as he tried to take in what he had just heard.

“Mullins, are you all right?” Starkey asked.

“Billy left? I can’t believe he’d do that....An’ fer th’ love of a w’man?” Mullins then just looked around the forge. “What’s wrong wid ‘im? What’s he thinkin’?”

“Apparently nothing of real importance if he left with Miss Wendy.”

Mullins glared at Starkey for making that remark, but Starkey quickly defended himself. “Well it’s true, and you know that as well as I do. After all he was enjoying himself with her for the past four months, right under the Captain’s nose-”

“I know he was!” Mullins interrupted. “Yous don’ need ta remind me, ‘kay!”

“Well, you don’t need to be so hostile with me. I’m merely stating the obvious, and if you can’t handle that-”

Mullins grabbed Starkey by his shirt, pulling him to him and glaring hard. “I oughta-” he started when Mason spoke out.

“Will you two stop yer goddammed scraping and git those blasted blades ready!”

Both men looked to where Mason was now sitting on the floor cradling the young Roma in his arms. For the first time since he had come on board, Elijah looked the young innocent age he was supposed to be, and Mullins and Starkey noticed this.

“The poor lad,” Starkey replied, suddenly feeling sorry for the boy. The first time he had since the scrawny brat had come on board. He looked at the blades turning red in the kiln and looked back at Mason. “They’ll be ready soon. I just don’t see how this will work though.”

“Well, Gentleman Starkey, if it doesn’t work then I’ll have to resort to other measures to save young Elijah’s life.”

All three turned to see Captain Hook standing before them. He looked around the forge, taking in the blades heating up in the kiln. Then he stared at Elijah; blankly at first, then furrowed his brow as he saw the soaked rag held at the end of the boy’s leg.

“Exactly what do you mean, Cap’n, sir?” Starkey asked, slowly.

“I mean....if the blades do not work, then I will call upon other means. The means by which my life was saved after Peter Pan took this hand!” Hook then waved his curved claw in Starkey’s face, causing the pirate to take a step back.

“Cap’n, you can’t be serious!” Mullins yelled, almost dropping the tongs again after picking them back up and retrieving the blade. “That’s madness. Total madness. Why you, yourself even said it was lunacy that drove you to such a desperate measure. Why would you wanta do that again....an’ now?”

“Because, Mr. Mullins-” Hook turned on him now, “-I have every intention of saving the boy’s life....He deserves that much from me....after finally opening my eyes to the traitorous acts of Billy Jukes.”

Mullins narrowed his eyes at the captain; upset that he was talking bad about Billy, even though he knew what the captain spoke was true.

Hook went on. “I’m sure you don’t want to hear me say forth anything bad about Billy Jukes; I’m well aware of the appreciation you showed for him, but even you must admit if it wasn’t for Elijah there exposing the dreadful truth, there’s no telling how long his treachery would have gone on; and what it would have done to his stand as a pirate; my crewman and your shipmate. And because of that, I will save young Elijah Narczech if it’s the last thing I do.

“Now proceed with the treatment and report to me immediately if more needs to be done.”

With that, Captain Hook turned around and left the forge, leaving an uneasy aire of silence behind him.

Mason looked at the two pirates standing before him and watched them as, silently, they took the red hot blades out of the kiln and brought them over to him.

“I hope this works,” he muttered as he tore away the pant leg and wiped away the blood once more.

“We’ll soon find out,” Starkey gravely replied.

The captain had just reached the deck when he heard a blood-curdling scream come up from below. This was followed by repeated wails and screeches as he could only imagine the sight that was carrying on down in the forge. If he only knew that Mason was holding on to Elijah with every ounce of strength he had as Mullins and Starkey applied the blades to his wound.

A half hour went by, and as Hook sat in his cabin, hearing the heartwrenching wails that came up from the forge several more times, he decided he had to act on the urgency of the situation. “Desperate times call for desperate measures,” he mumbled to himself, as he got up and went to his cabin doors.

“SMEE!” he called as he swung them open.

“Yes-yes Cap’n Hook, sir.” The bo’sun answered as he hurried to Hook’s quarters. “What is it ye be needin’ sir?”

Pulling his bo’sun into his cabin, Hook looked him straight in the eye. “I want you to go to Small Monday Island immediately.”

“Small Monday Island? But why Cap’n?” Smee interjected.

Growling at him, Hook went on. “I want you to fetch the one who saved my life after that damned flying twerp removed my hand. The one who showed me mercy when no others from that wretched island would. The one who I know I can trust to save Elijah’s life.....Whether it be by faery magic or not.”

Smee’s eyes grew wide as the captain said these words. “Ye-ye mean ye want me to go fetch....”

“Yes, Mr. Smee, I want you to fetch Mistress Dandilaya. And I want you to do it now!”

“Mistress Dandilaya?! Beggin’ yer pardon Cap’n sir, but isn’t she the one who-” Smee began, but the captain glared hard and cut him off.

“No questions, Smee. I don’t have the time or the patience for that right now. Mistress Dandilaya and her faery magic is the only hope for Elijah now. So fetch her, IMMEDIATELY!”

“But-but Cap’n sir, are ye sure she’s still even alive? It’s been quite some time since ye last did see her....And....also sir....what about the madness? The madness she told ye of?”

“Of course she’s still alive! She’s a faery you poltroon lummox! And the madness you speak of has not struck me down you dolt. Nor will it ever.

“Now go retrieve her at once. I don’t care by what means you find her, just do it!”

With this, Hook pushed Smee out the door. “I know she can save you, boy,” Hook mumbled to himself as he rubbed his hand lightly over his hook. “She has to. And when she does, I’ll see to it that you get the treatment you rightfully deserve.”
 
 

**********
 

“Right this way, Mistress,” Smee said as he lead a small, delicate looking faery towards the captain’s quarters; it was Mistress Dandilaya.

Dandilaya descended from one of the many races of faeries that made their home on Small Monday Island, and she was of the Brassen kind. Brassen because of the gold undertones that swam beneath her skin and hair, while her eyes shown the color of emeralds. The Brassens were the healers on Small Monday Island, and Mistress Dandilaya was the oldest and most respected; as well as feared out of all her race. She knew all the arts of healing, but she also knew how to use the darker side of her gifts to bring about resurrection, or save a life. The latter she had done for Captain Hook....once.

But the faery was not alone. She was accompanied by another who looked very different from her; different from any of the faeries that lived on Small Monday Island. Much younger in age, this other faery was the color of pale lilacs with eyes that were large and violet; no pupil or iris could be seen, and her hair was mauve in color. Her features were sharp, yet had a delicate touch to them that caught Captain Hook’s eye as the two were shown into his cabin.

“Here she is Cap’n Hook sir. I found her for ye just like you were askin’.” Smee stood in the doorway standing proud as the two Faeries made their way past him.

Without so much as saying a word, Hook closed the door on Smee and turned to greet his guests.

“Mistress Dandilaya,” he said as he removed his hat and bowed, acknowledging the faery.

“Captain Hook,” she replied in a cold voice, hovering as she examined the captain. “I see you are doing well.”

“Yes, quite well.”

“The madness has not taken to you yet.”

Hook smirked at these words as he arrogantly stated, “No. And I’m quite certain it will not. You are well aware I have become impervious to any and all faery magic. A repercussion to you healing I rather welcome. And because it has been so long I do believe that includes the madness you warned me of.”

“You may be impervious to magic now, Captain Hook, but for the madness; only time will tell. I told you once the magic settles into your heart and soul the madness would come on. Slowly, and you would not know it is there until it is too late.” The faery scrutinized the captain and deduced. “But you are sufficiently well....for now.”

A hearty laugh came from Hook as he looked at the small winged woman before him. “I am well because my heart and soul are black and dark, and the magic you used to safe this limb could not - and never will penetrate their cores.

“But enough about this.”

He then turned to look at the exotic purple sprite floating beside Dandialya. “I sent Smee to fetch you for a reason, but first, do tell - who this creature beside you? She is unlike any faery I have ever seen.”

“This is my apprentice, Plumeria,” Dandilaya said as she turned to look at the young faery, who was bright eyed with curiosity, as well as mirth, delighted that she had piqued the interest of the captain.

“Apprentice?” Hook questioned. “Why do you need an apprentice?”

“I will not be of this existence forever. I need someone to carry on in my footsteps, and Plumeria is the one to do that. She is learning the art of healing, and soon, when my time comes she will take over for me.”

“But that still will not be for some time though,” Plumeria spoke out, looking anxiously at her mentor.

“That too. Only time will tell,” the older faery answered calmly.

Looking at the captain now, Dandilaya inquired about why they were summoned.

“I have a request to ask of you,” Hook replied. “A boon you might say.”

“A request?” she paused, then looked at her apprentice.

“What kind of request?” Plumeria asked.

Taking a deep breathe, Hook began to explain what had transpired earlier that day on the ship, not leaving out a single detail. When he finally came to the part about Elijah and how his men were trying to save what was left of his leg, Hook began to speak with an urgency he had not expected to come from his own person, and this caught the attention of both faeries.

“So, what I’m asking you, Mistress Dandilaya, can you please save the life of my cabin boy; meager an existence though he may have....Please save Elijah. He’s owed that much for the treachery he brought to my attention.”

Fluttering to the captains desk, with Plumeria behind her, Dandilaya came to rest on it and let out a sigh.

“How old is he?” she asked warily.

“Eleven,” the captain stated.

Letting out another sigh, the healing faery slowly shook her head and looked at Hook. “He may be too young to handle the magic. Only someone who is strong willed and strong of heart can truly endure the spell as it heals the body. You, yourself trembled when I unleashed the intensity of it. And that wasn’t even the magic’s full potential. What you’re asking for now is so much more - and on such a young body. I don’t know if I can do that.”

“Oh, he may be a young body, but he has the strength and will of an ox. He’s three times what my men are put together, I assure you. He has lead a hard life in a very short time; much harder than what I have ever known. I do not know the idiocentricities of his past, but you can tell he has known hardship just by looking at him.

“That, and the fact he’s a conniving little whelp” the captain mumbled to himself.

“I can assure you he has the strength to endure your spells and magic. Probably much more than I did. He will make his way through the healing; and the repercussions. He will make his way through those just as I did . I guarantee it.

“So please, Mistress Dandilaya, spare the life of young Elijah.”

“But you are aware of the repercussions, Captain?” Plumeria asked with concern.

Getting testy, he answered. “Yes, Miss Plumeria, I am well aware of them, and the madness your mistress speaks of.”

“Then you know what will happen to the boy if my mistress decides to harness and use the kind of faery magic you request on him?”

“Yes, yes, “Hook angrily cut her off. “I know. Once the magic has performed it’s task it will bury itself in the boy’s heart and soul and stay there. Eventually, he will either succumb to the magic; taking it in as a part of his being and gaining some of its gifts, or...he will become impervious to it - as I have. But, ultimately, over time he will be overcome by madness as the magic engulfs his mortal soul.”

Hook couldn’t help but laugh at this last remark he made, convinced that the “madness” he had been warned about was nothing more than mere words spoken to frighten those who were unfit to undergo the healing process as he had. After all, it had been some time since Dandilaya had healed him, and he had no sign of the madness at all in his veins.

“You may laugh now, Captain Hook,” Dandilaya calmly stated. “But how do you know the madness has not taken a hold of you already....You are obsessed with Peter Pan, and destroying him. And you have been for the better part since I healed you. From what I know; day in, day out, you scour the sky and land, determined to find him; to do him in.”

“What would rather you suggest I do? Laugh at the contemptible wretch and forgive him for cutting off my hand?! I think not, Mistress Dandilaya....What you may see as a plight of madness, I see as revenge. And I am obligated to have that.”

But Dandilaya gave him a look that told him she thought otherwise.

Calming himself down, and quickly changing the tone of his voice, Hook stated once more. “Now, please, Mistress Dandilaya, I implore you, save the life of Elijah. I know he has the strength to endure your magic arts; and the repercussions you keep returning to. In fact, I think you’ll be quite surprised by just how strong he truly is.”

Plumeria spoke once again as she asked the captain. “Why is it that his life is so important? What is there about him that is worth saving? Why not just let him die?”

Both faeries looked at each other then back at the captain as he tried not to seethe at the questions put before him.

“Because he has a promise and spark and tenacity I have never seen before. Not even in any of my men. Something similar existed in Billy Jukes once....but the boy betrayed me. So, now I want to make sure Elijah reaches his full potential - and under my guidance he can do that. But he must live in order for that to happen.”

Dandilaya studied Hook’s face, not quite certain what it was telling him. She knew there were other reasons for why he wanted the boy to live, but she couldn’t read them. Still something about the tone of his voice; almost frantic, pleading - told her this was very important to him....and that there was the possibility he cared about the cabin boy.

“Very well. I will do what I can,” she finally defeated. “But I cannot use my full magic on him. He is too young, and the repercussions will be too great. Despite what you may say. Bring him to me.”
 

**********
 

Hook called to Smee to go down to the forge and have the men bring Elijah to his cabin.

Clumsily, Mason, Mullins and Starkey brought the unconscious cabin boy up to Hook’s quarters and placed him on a makeshift cot Smee had set up for him. Hook looked at the gruesome sight that was the stump of Elijah’s leg. He noticed the blackened skin where the blades had been placed and the bleeding had been stopped. But there was still enough of a wound that the captain was now more certain than ever that Mistress Dandilaya had to save him.

As soon as the faery came into view Mullins was quick to grab his sword and react. “What’s that she demon doin’ ‘ere?” He growled, as he raised his sword, ready to strike. Then he caught sight of her apprentice and menaced even more. “And she’s brought one wid’ her? Demons! I tell ye. They’re demons....An’ wid them ‘ere we’s all goin’ straight ta hell.”

Mullins then pointed his sword at Dandilaya. “Whatever devilry you plan on tryin’ yous ain’t gettin’ yer hands on me.”

Glaring at the captain now, he remarked, “ I can’t believe you’d resort to this - again, sir. Allowin’ these devils onto the Jolly Roger....I know why they’re ‘ere. It’s ta save a pathetic worthless cabin boy.” The same one I’m supposed to save - for Billy’s sake. he said to himself.

“Stop your blathering nonsense, you superstitious, melodramatic twit! Hook bellowed as he took a swipe at Mullins.

“Ah, pleased to see you as well, Robert Mullins,” Dandilaya casually remarked. “I see you and your superstitious mind are still intact....Nice to know some things just haven’t changed.”

Mullins just glared at the faery, not liking for one moment that she was onboard, and for the purpose of saving Elijah. But before he could say anything further Hook issued them all out of his cabin and slammed the doors on their faces. He then turned to see the two faeries hovering over Elijah.

Anxiously, Hook watched and waited as the pair examined the boy who body helplessly convulsed, and sweat drenched his skin as he now lied lost in a fever.

“This is much worse than I thought,” Dandilaya said with definite concern in her voice.

“You’ll still save him?” the captain inquired, earnestly.

Looking at Hook, and seeing the urgency in his eyes, the older faery grabbed Plumeria’s hands then turned to her. Letting out a heavy sigh she replied. “Yes. I will try. But it will take both of us to do so.”

Plumeria’s eyes grew wide as she knew what her mistress meant by her words. They were about to call upon the wildest and most dangerous of faery magic in order to try and save Elijah’s life. A daunting task, but one that the younger faery was looking forward to. She had yet to be given a chance to perform such magic and the eagerness to finally do so danced around in her dark orbs like two mischievous flames.

“I will not make you any promises, Captain Hook. Do you heed my words?” Dandilaya demanded. “I will do the best that I can - with Plumeria’s help. But that’s all I can give you. Nothing more. Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes. Quite so. I do. Whatever it is you need to do, Mistress Dandilaya. I will not stop you from your endeavor.”

“Then I insist you leave the room” Dandilaya said in a firm yet toneless voice.

“What? Leave? Pray tell why?”

“Because this kind of faery magic is not intended to be seen by mortal eyes. Now go! Please! I demand it of you.”

“Very well,” Hook grumbled. He then turned and walked out of his quarters without even taking a look back, and closed the doors loudly and tightly behind him. He looked at his men who all stood before him, wearing expressions of uncertainty and a little bit of fear.

The captain turned to Mullins and thrust his hook into the pirate’s face. “I don’t want to hear a single utterance come forth from your mouth about the decision I have made. For if I do, you will be the next one she has to save!

“That goes for all of you. Do you clabber dungeon lummoxes understand?!”

Silently the men nodded their heads in agreement.

He then glared at them all before he strided between them, knocking them into each other, and up towards the observation deck. “Tell Mistress Dandilaya she will be able to find me up here when she is done with her task,” he barked back to his men.
 

**********
 

“Captain Hook, we are done. You can come back in now,” Plumeria said as she floated in front of the captain’s face.

“Is he alive? Were you successful?” he asked.

“Yes-” she began. But the captain was gone from her sight before she could finish. Speaking only to herself now, she looked in the direction the captain had gone. “-To a point, Captain. We did what we could do....What my mistress would allow us to do.” She then flew down to the captain’s quarters.

Hook went bursting into his cabin and over to where Elijah was now sleeping somewhat peacefully. Scanning over the boy’s body, he noticed that though the wound was now completely closed, it was not healed, and a redness and swelling had begun to grow, telling the captain an infection had already set in, and a fever still wore on inside him.

“What did you do?!” Hook railed as he turned to look at the healer faery. “You told me you were going to save his life. From what I can see you’ve barely done that.”

“No, Captain Hook. What I told you was I was going to try and save him. I never told you I would. If you recall, I never promised you anything.

“The injury is too serious and too great, and I cannot risk his life, especially when I am certain he does not have the strength - or fortitude - to withstand the level of magic I would of had to call upon. I just could not risk that.

“I’m sorry, Captain. I did what I could for him.” Dandilaya then came to rest on Hook’s desk as Plumeria hovered above Elijah, watching him struggle still with the fever.

“Did what you could?! DID WHAT YOU COULD?! That is not good enough, Mistress Dandilaya! I humbled myself and made a request of you, and I expect you to grant it.”

He then looked at the younger faery. “Why could not the two of you save him? You said it would take both of you combined to perform the magic you needed to call upon. So why didn’t you heal him - completely?”

Plumeria looked at the captain, uncertain what to say when Dandilaya shot up to his face. Angrily, she spat out. “We did heal him. We healed his wound the best that we could. But I was not about to harness the full potential of the magic we needed when he was suffering to a point that we might have killed him rather than save him.”

“How could you have possibly killed him? Are you not a healing faery, Mistress Dandilaya?” Hook haughtily asked her.

“Don’t trifle with me mortal!” she hissed back. “I didn’t have to do this. But something about your countenance touched me so I agreed. Much to my better judgment.”

“And exactly what do you mean by that?”

Dandilaya scrutinized the captain’s face, noticing the concern hidden behind his steel visage.

“There is a great difference between the two of you. Between then, when I saved you - and now, with Elijah. You can’t see that? You had the strength and fortitude to make your way through the magic. But then you are also a man, hardened by your years at sea.

“Elijah is just a boy. A mere boy. Nothing more. I do not believe he has what it takes to survive the process. You tell me he does, yet when you brought him to me he had already succumbed to a fever; and so quickly. That there tells me he is not strong enough.

“His body is reeling from shock. His mind has shut down. Those right there stand in the way of the magic working right. If I had used the magic to it’s full potential - the magic Plumeria and I together would have called upon - the additional thrust of energy upon him might have very well destroyed his body and mind completely. The human shell you live in can only handle so much. Anything additional to the life force that is beyond it’s own limitations will result in it eventually destroying itself. And to avoid the possibility of that happening I did not allow us to harness and use the magic to it’s fullest. I could have, but I didn’t.”

Finding he understood her reason for withholding on the magic, the captain asked her. “So, now what am I supposed to do. Watch him die?!”

“I’m sorry, Captain. It’s out of my hands. It’s up to fate now. Only by that way will you learn if he lives or dies.”

Captain Hook looked at Elijah, then stormed across his cabin and slammed his hook into his desk. “Twice this day now I’ve been betrayed. First by the one I was certain would follow in my footsteps, and now by you, Mistress Dandilaya!”

He spun around - his face contorted in anger - and pointed to the door.

“Get out of my sight!” he hissed as he glared at the older faery. “Leave...NOW! I don’t ever want to see your face, or hear your voice again. If you cannot grant me one request, I want nothing more to do with you - ever again. NOW LEAVE!”

“I’m sorry you feel that way, Captain Hook. But I never made any promises. I told you that.”

“GET OUT!” the captain yelled as he could feel his anger rising.

“Very well....Plumeria.”

The apprentice was busy examining Elijah, looking at every inch of his body; as though she was looking for something. She looked up when she heard her name, blushing slightly and responded. “Yes, coming Mistress.”

Then, silently, the two faeries left leaving Captain Hook alone in his quarters with his cabin boy. “If fate is listening then it must know it cannot claim you Elijah. Not yet....And I won’t let it.”
 

**********
 

Quickly, quietly, later that night, Plumeria made her way from Small Monday Island back to the Jolly Roger. She peered in the cabin side window and spied Captain Hook sitting at his desk watching Elijah with a troubled look on his face.

“You don’t want him to die,” she whispered. “I don’t understand....but I can help you.

“Forgive me Mistress for what I’m about to do.”

Plumeria then flew in through the window and alighted herself before the captain.

“What the devil are you doing here?” Hook snarled at her, waving his hook in her direction.

Flitting out of the way, she answered. “I’ve come back to help you....and to save Elijah.”

“What?! I told your mistress-” Hook began.

“Mistress Dandilaya doesn’t know I’m here,” she cut him off.

“She doesn’t know you're here?” The captain gave her a perplexed look. “You mean to say you dare to come here alone?”

“Yes. And it will be with a great reprimand should she find out.....But I had to come. You called upon our help. The least we could have done is granted what you asked.”

“According to your mistress, you did all you could. Actually, you did all she would allow.” Hook let out a heavy sigh and looked Plumeria right in her dark purple orbs. “Do you mean to tell my you are here to do more? You alone.”

“I know of the magic Mistress Dandilaya called upon. I know how to harness it and bend it to my will. But my mistress will not allow me to do so. Not alone. She says it’s too dangerous and that I’m not ready.

“But she doesn’t know my race have been harnessing this magic for generations, and I know how to use it.

“So if you’ll just give me a chance, Captain Hook. I’ll show you. And I’ll save Elijah.”

The captain examined the little faery, bemused by her sudden spunk and attitude. “You’ll save Elijah?”

Plumeria nodded her head.

“Why did you not say this earlier?”

“It’s not proper for me to speak against my mistress. And she will not allow me to use the magic until she believes I have full control over it.”

“And you believe you do now?” Hook asked as he felt a sense of hope reappear.

“Yes, I know I do. My race has used this kind of magic to keep ourselves alive and well since the creation of Neverland. It’s a part of our lives. A part of who we are. Without this magic, my kind would have died out long ago.”

Intrigued now, by these words, the captain leaned forward to the faery and asked, “Exactly what kind of faery are you, Miss Plumeria?”

Plumeria’s solid violet eyes began to glow as she explained to the captain. “I am one of the Mauvens.”

Seeing the captain furrow his brow, she went on. “My kind are descendants - or should I say, offcasts of the Porcelaes; the ones who created Neverland so long ago. But we were shunned because we didn’t carry on the appearance of their race.”

“And what’s that?”

“Porcelain,” Plumeria replied. “Hair and skin as white as snow, with eyes as grey as steel. But rather, we look like this. And because of it we were cast out from Neverland and Small Monday Island. We eventually found a place to call home. A place you’ll never see, or find, because it’s hidden. It’s hidden from Neverland, as it is from the Otherland. The world I assume you came from. But that’s where my race presides, along with any others who have been cast out.”

“And this place - your kind. What does it have to do with the magic you speak of?” Hook was getting impatient now. Either this faery could save Elijah or she couldn’t. Either way, he wanted an answer, not a monologue.

Plumeria continued, seeing the anger on the captain’s face. “I’m not quite sure how it happened, but over time my race learned how to harness the magic Elijah needs to keep ourselves alive. Being we are offcasts from the Porcelaes, we were born with a different life source than them. Something in our bodies were lacking that the Porcelaes had. No one knows what it is to this day, but somehow, this magic that is very dangerous to others, became the life source that keeps my kind alive.”

“And this life source you can use?” Hook interjected greedily.

“Yes. This life source - the magic - I can summon at any time....But my mistress will not allow me to use it.”

“Because she feels you can’t control it” the captain growled.

“No, not yet. But I know I can. It’s a part of who I am....Please let me show you. Let me save Elijah. I know I can do it,” Plumeria pleaded now.

A wicked smile curled up on the captain’s face, but then he thought of something. “Dare I say. If the magic is that great. I must ask you....What of the repercussions? What will they be?”

“The repercussions are no different. Elijah will either succumb to the magic; making it a part of him, and he will inherit some of the gifts, or he will become impervious to it; the way you have.....And the madness, Captain. That sadly will come as well. But like my mistress said; only time will tell with that.

“So, Captain Hook, may I finish healing him now?”

Oddly enough Hook found himself wondering if he was doing the right thing. Was the magic too dangerous to be used on Elijah? Dandilaya had not pursued it’s full potential because she had thought so. Was he now just challenging fate to a duel he was destined to lose?

He walked over to where Elijah lay. The scrawny Roma was sleeping, but Hook could see his eyes darting about under his lids, and he was still fighting a fever. “Do I dare try and save you now? Or do I let fate have you?” the captain whispered. “Please boy, give me a sign.”

Just then, Elijah’s hand struck out and grabbed hold of Hook’s forearm. An iron grip wrapped around his arm and Hook actually found himself wincing from the pain. Then a flash of light burst before his eyes and he found himself being bombarded with images as they flashed before him. It took him a few seconds to comprehend what was happening, but quickly enough he knew. The images that ran before him were of scenes from Elijah’s life. Captain Hook saw all the pain and hardship the boy had endured in such a short time.

Hook saw the burning of vardos, and capturing of Elijah’s family; the murder of his brother and father, the water torture he had to endure. The sounds of his sister begging for mercy at the hands of the slave trader. Every hardship Elijah’s family had faced, the captain saw flash before him. There were the ships Elijah hid on. The beating the boy received when he was found.

Then Hook saw Elijah’s time there on the Jolly Roger. He saw the arguing that went on between the two Romas, and the beatings Elijah received from the hands of Hook himself. He saw the cruelty that played out at the hands of his crew. Finally, Hook saw the one image that made him decide the boy’s life was worth it; Billy and Wendy embraced in each others arms under the silver moonlight.

Tearing his arm away from the cabin boy, and knowing he had already started to succumb to the magic that had been used, Hook turned to Plumeria. “Yes, my dear. You can save him. Whatever the repercussions for him may be. Do what you must.

“I will be outside” Then, with that, Captain Hook left his quarters.

“I know you will be the pirate, Billy Jukes was destined to be - if not more....Oh yes, much more. For your heart is as black as mine and your soul is like ice. If there truly is a madness to this....magic, it will not claim you, just as it has not claimed me. Yes, Elijah, you will be the one to follow in my footsteps. Under my tutelage you will put the rest of these pathetic slumgalleons to shame....But I will see to it that no distractions come into play to hinder your education....as was the case with Billy Jukes....Yes, Elijah, you will be everything a pirate should be....and so much more.....Someday, boy, you will be the captain of the Jolly Roger. Then Neverland will know true terror.
 

**********
 

Carefully Hook opened the door to his cabin wondering why Plumeria hadn’t come out to get him. The cabin was black so the captain fumbled around for the lantern. Lighting it he cast it about the room to see what had happened. There, lying on the cot slept Elijah. From what Hook could see the fever was gone and the boy’s sleep was peaceful.

He walked over to the young Roma and waved the lantern over his body. Just as she said she would, Plumeria healed the wound leaving the leg healthy and clean. The stump that was there now showed no indication of infection and any blackened skin was gone. A half smile covered Hook’s face, pleased with what he saw.

But the sight he saw next made him frown. For as he waved the lantern around he noticed a small body lying on the floor; Plumeria. He stopped and kneeled down to see if she was all right, but as he nudged her he was greeted with a far worse answer. Plumeria was dead.
 

**********
 

“Aw Cap’n do I hafta stay ‘ere with th’ little blighter,” Mullins moaned as he watched Hook and the rest of the crew be lowered in the long boat.

They were on their way to pay their respects at the memorial for Plumeria on Small Monday Island. And the captain knew out of all his men, Mullins would be the one to cause the most trouble, especially since he disliked Mistress Dandilaya so much. So he decided that Mullins would stay behind and keep an eye on Elijah.

Hook had summoned Mistress Dandilaya once more when he found Plumeria’s lifeless body on his cabin floor. Explaining to her what had transpired, Dandilaya shook her head in sorrow. “I told her she wasn’t able to control that kind of magic, regardless of what race she was.

“And to tell you the Mauvens live with that magic? She didn’t even know the history of her own kind. Yes, the Mauvens are able to harness the magic; very few races are. But to say it’s a part of their life source. No. They can harness it and bring it into their beings, but to make it a part of them....There is only one result from that, and that result is this,” -she motioned to Plumeria- “Death.

“That is why I never use it to it’s full potential.”

She then glared at the captain. “NOW do you understand why. Yes, Elijah’s life has been saved....but at the cost of another.”

Elijah sat on a cargo barrel whittling away on the piece of wood that would be his leg. He had been saved; his leg healed, but he was still weak. And the idea of missing a leg did not sit well with him. But he knew it was what fate had dealt him after hearing what extremes the captain went to save his life. But this made him angry too. Now he was indebted to two people; though he would much rather be indebted to Captain Hook than Billy Jukes. At least Hook he could learn to tolerate, unlike the former gunner he now called brother; phral. An idea he despised because he still hated Billy Jukes, and he knew he always would. But the captain told him he would see to it personally that he got the treatment he deserved from the rest of the crew. So Elijah was content; for the most part.

Mullins walked over to where Elijah was sitting and watched him work on his wooden leg. “Yer pretty good at that.”

“I know....So.” Elijah then looked at his shipmate sternly.

“So! Sorry fer sayin’ anything! Damned blasted brat!” Mullins then began to walk away. “Maybe the croc shoulda taken all o’ ya.”

“Maybe she shoulda taken Billy instead. He’s the one who betrayed all of us, especially you Mullins.”

The next thing Elijah knew Mullins had him by his collar and was yelling in his face. “Don’ yous ever say anything bad ‘bout Billy a’gin. You understand. I know what he’s done, an’ I don’ like it, but I will not have you or anyone else talkin’ bad ‘bout ‘im.”

Mullins then let go the boy and stormed off.

Elijah watched him stomp away as he couldn’t help but smirk to himself. “Dinili gadjo” he said, then went back to whittling on his new leg.

END