Chapter 31: Message in a Bottle

"Uoof!"

Peter pitched towards The Graveyard. Swerving from the hooks, he shoved two mer guards off his back.

"Dirty codfish." Peter muttered. He turned, making a point to brush his arms.

An armada of mer swayed behind him. Each with black-green hair, blue tinted skin, and silver eyes, they lingered just beyond the Graveyard boundaries.

The royal family preceded the gathering. Despite his contempt, Peter was impressed at their stateliness. The attack on King Basalt's grandson, Littoral, had upset Peter. Peter knew without question that it had also upset Wendy. He had expected the Underturned Palace and the entire Northern Neversea to be upset. After all, the seawitch had struck King Basalt's protected realm. She had attacked the smallest mer. Safety was not guaranteed. Panic should have broken like a wave.

But there was hardly a ripple. Save for the immediate outburst between Lorelei and Hadal, the advent of Littoral's curse was innocuous. Instead, the Neversea mer waited for the royal family's cue.

King Basalt and Queen Celadon retained an icy decorum. Their children responded in kind. The effect was staggering. The royal family's confidence diffused across the kingdom, hardening the resolve of every maid, mer, and fry. The Neversea mer trusted their king and queen would defeat the seawitch and pirates. They believed they were safe.

But Peter knew better. He saw the doubt in the king and queen. After all, he was lord of Neverland. Peter understood the burden of monarchy and, more importantly, the art of hiding fear. It was the only way he could ensure the safety of The Lost Boys, Michael, John, and…

Peter blinked. Gazing sweeping swiftly across the mer, he found Wendy. He stared. As the guards pushed her forward, Peter was struck by a sudden thought.

He had not kept Wendy safe.

"If the magicked icicle fish is within the Graveyard, you have nothing to fear." Queen Celadon waited for Wendy to upright herself.

"Should the fairy be found…" Queen Celadon continued as the guards corralled Peter and Wendy closer to the hooks. "...you will hand her either to King Basalt, Herman, or myself."

Peter snorted. "Fat chance, Codfish."

Queen Celadon glared across her trident, speaking directly to Peter. "If you find the fairy and do not deliver her to me…"

Peter nodded, that was exactly his intent.

"Then…" Queen Celadon motioned to Wendy. "...the other human dies."

Peter stiffened but Brine was the first to protest. "Mom that's not- "

"- Mom." Conch interrupted, gently guiding Brine back. "Mom, Squirt is cursed. Who knows what will happen if she gets hold of the fairy. Shouldn't we just let her follow the spell? See where it leads? Might give us an advantage over the pirates - "

"You continue to astound me with poor decisions." Queen Celadon said, half turning to Conch. "Do not sicken me with your rationale."

"But if there's a mer betrayer," Conch persisted, "then we can use Squirt to catch him without putting her in further danger - "

"Conch!" Queen Celadon barked, slicing her trident between them. "This is why you are banished! This is why you could never be king!"

Conch stiffened. His silver eyes lowered so contritely, even Peter sympathized. Although Conch was related to Brine and by extension a dirty-rotten-codfish, Peter liked Conch. In principle. At the very least Peter approved of the merman's commanding, yet carefree charismatic nature. He reminded Peter of himself.

"I...um…"

Peter turned. Wendy had cleared her throat.

"I wouldn't mind. Terribly much." Wendy ventured, backing from Queen Celadon. She paused at Peter touched her shoulder, preventing contact with the hooks.

"I think Conch may be right." Wendy continued as Queen Celadon slowly advanced. "B-besides…" she said, looking quickly at Brine. "...mightn't it save others from getting hurt - "

"You will do as I say." Queen Celadon said. "When I say, and how I say or I will kill this human boy. Should he disobey then I will kill you. This order is not difficult, it is clear and cold as ice. Do you understand?"

Wendy shook her head. "But - "

"Do you understand?"

Helplessly Wendy sagged. "Yes." she whispered. "I understand."

Peter gave a caustic laugh. "You should listen to them, Codfish. Surprise is the only chance you have against Hook."

Queen Celadon gripped her trident. "Really?" she hissed.

"Yup." Peter pointed above the queen. "Because Hook is already on your tail."

Queen Celadon frowned. But as she turned, looking overhead with her subjects, the frown melted into alarm.

The Jolly Roger hovered overhead. Haul creaking as it broke ice, it sailed to the Graveyard. In moments, a second ship prowled aside the Jolly Roger like a hungry mate.

"The Devorador." Teal wavered beside Tiller, staring at the ship. "Bluebeard."

Darkly, Peter nodded. "The Jolly Roger." Unconsciously he took Wendy's hand. "Hook."

Leviathan clutched Lorelei and Littoral to his chest. Hadal's silver eyes filled with shadows. Teal and Tiller flanked their father, trying to act brave. Brine looked at the ships, and then at Peter holding Wendy's hand.

Nixie elbowed Conch. "Now would be a good time to say I told you so."

"Nix…" Conch muttered, studying the massive hulls. "...now would be a better time for you to clam it."

All the mer gazed. Tridents lifted as they waited for the pirates. But nothing happened. The Devorador and Jolly Roger sat, underbellies creaking like dragons floating in ice.

Then, the water broke. Ice cracked as two anchors plunged and hit the ocean floor. Wendy jumped as Peter yanked her back. They collided with trident shafts as the mer guards advanced, ready for the attack.

But again, nothing happened. The anchors just sat in the sand, leaving long white scars bubbling to the surface.

Brine extended his trident. Confused, he traced the ships across the teeth. "What are they doing?"

Leviathan, Hadal, and Conch made eye contact. They were Basalt's eldest. And they had fought pirates long before.

"Waiting." Leviathan finally said. "The pirates know our plan. They are waiting for us."

Hadal flinched. He glared at the ships.

The mer gazed with him. And as the pirates waited for the mer, the mer waited for their king and queen.

King Basalt turned. "Celadon."

Queen Celadon blinked. The moment she paused was so brief, it was hardly noticed by anyone other than the king. But as she breathed, King Basalt met her with a compassionate smile.

Peter caught the interaction. And he understood.

It was hard being king. And queen.

"Proceed as planned." Queen Celadon waved at Wendy and Peter. "Put the humans into the Graveyard."

"But the hooks." Brine objected as the guards advanced. "And the worms. We have to protect them - "

"At least - " Conch said, offering an argument that would persuade the queen and support Brine. " - at least help them deliver the fairy once she is found."

Brine nodded. "Just to make sure they are safe - "

"Nixie, Conch, and Hadal will lead the guards and contain the humans in the Graveyard." Queen Celadon snapped. "You, Prince Brine, will accompany Leviathan, Teal, and Tiller to guard the perimeter as your father and I trade duties at the palace - "

"But I want to go with Wendy." Brine objected.

Queen Celadon sniffed. "I'm sure."

"And I want to stay here as sentry." Nixie added, glancing conspicuously at the Jolly Roger. "To watch the pirates."

Queen Celadon swept by. "No."

"But - "

"Nixie! Brine!" Queen Celadon rounded on her children. "I said NO!"

"The pirates!" Teal yelled, pointing at the Jolly Roger. "Look!"

Queen Celadon and King Basalt whipped about. The mer scattered, re-aiming their tridents as something dropped from the pirate ship and into the ocean. Viciously, they jabbed their tridents. But the dropped item did not sink.

Wendy squinted. Whatever it was, it was moving. Arms and legs appeared from the bubbles, desperately clawing for the surface.

"It's a body." she suddenly realized. Reminded of the corpse the pirates had deposited into the Graveyard, Wendy turned, sickened.

"It's a human." Hadal grinned at Nixie. "Perhaps it's Shark."

Nixie curled a lip. Distracted by the flailing body, she muttered under her breath. "Don't be gross sharkbait."

"Tis it a pirate?" Leviathan cocked his trident skeptically.

"In a couple more seconds…" Conch said, "...what or who he is won't matter. Cold will kill him. He'll be dead."

Wendy covered her mouth. "Oh." She moaned as the human thrashed. "How dreadful. How - "

The bubbles rolled like pearls from the human, uncovering his face.

Wendy froze.

"Black Antler."

Ice gathered over Black Antler, clinging like bits of stardust to his hair. He was bent and broken. The pirates hadn't bothered to bind him, so weak had he become. They had only knotted a noose around his neck. A message in a bottle was tied to the loose end of the noose.

Black Antler blinked once at Peter and Wendy. Then, he seized. Suspended like a statue, Black Antler froze like glass.

Black Antler was dying.

"No!"

Wendy darted upwards. Hadal's narwhal intercepted, knocking her with it's tusk. As Hadal dragged her down, two guards pulled Peter from rescuing the brave.

"No! No, please! Help him!" Wendy begged, twisting against Hadal until her arm was raw. "Please! Queen Celadon! King Basalt! Save him! Let me save him! Black Antler is not a pirate! He's my friend! He - "

"Retrieve the bottle." Ignoring Wendy, Queen Celadon motioned to the noose around Black Antler's neck. "No doubt a pirate threat. Let the human freeze - "

"-no!" Wendy struggled.

"- then feed him to the worms - "

"-no!"

"-that…" Queen Celadon glared over her shoulder. "...will allow our humans safe passage through the Graveyard as the worms eat the carcass's flesh - "

"No!" Wendy cried. "No you wicked, evil - NO!"

Queen Celadon turned. "What?" she hissed. "What did you say to me? Human?"

Frightened and infuriated Wendy shook under the queen's shadow.

"I know you hate me! I know you hate everything about me!" Gasping, Wendy looked at Black Antler's lifeless body. "But please - please - do not let Black Antler! He's not a pirate! He's a healer! He helped me find Brine! He risked his life to save me! He is good, and kind, and honest, and - "

"- a human." Queen Celadon ruthlessly said. "Soon to be dead."

"But only if you let him! Please!" Wendy pleaded. "Please! Please! I'll do anything! I'll - "

"You will do anything I say, regardless if the human lives or dies." Queen Celadon growled.

"He healed me." Brine took Queen Celadon's arm. Head tilt, he pointed to a scar inside his gills. "In Neverland when I was caught on a fishing hook. He waded into the water and - "

"- so the human has one good deed to his name." Queen Celadon ripped away. "Splendid. He shall go to Heaven instead of Hell."

Wendy sobbed. "You can't let Black Antler die!"

"You have no idea what I can and cannot do!" Seizing Wendy, Queen Celadon hauled her to the hooks. "Into the Graveyard!"

Peter yanked against his guards. "Codfish! You - "

"Black Antler!" Wendy reached through the guards. Beside her, Peter fought but to no avail.

"Please! Please!" Wendy collapsed, crying too hard to fight. Thrown over Hadal's shoulder she sobbed. Hopelessly, she found Brine. "Please! Don't let him die!"

Brine stared. He looked up at Black Antler. Then returning to Wendy, he nodded.

"Don't be afraid." he whispered. Spinning his trident, Brine turned. "Conch."

Conch glanced between Wendy, Brine, and the Indian brave.

"Mom's gonna flip." he warned.

Brine nodded. "I know."

Weakly, Conch laughed. "Yeah…" he said, summoning heat between his hands. "...what else is new?"

Brine smiled. And as Conch generated a pillar of boiling water, Brine swam for the Indian brave.

"Brine!" Mer recoiled from the Conch as the royal family screamed. "Brine! Conch! Stop!"

Conch grit his teeth. "Come on…" he grunted as Hadal, Queen Celadon, King Basalt, and mer guards advanced from all sides. Palms red, Conch held the boiling water as Brine skirted around the edge. "...faster Brine. Hurry up."

Black Antler swirled within the heated pillar. His senses sparked like electric wires. Blood rushed to his fingertips. Muscles sprung back to life. Eyes popping open he gagged on saltwater and reflexively kicked for the surface.

Brine dove. Circular forces wrenched him sideways, but Brine snatched Black Antler's noose. The rope snapped, leaving the bottle in Brine's hand.

Brine twisted. The heat made him nauseous and his parent's cries made him quake. Flipped over, Brine closed his eyes. He pictured Wendy. Calmly, he centered his balance and found his strength.

"Okay. " Brine whispered, ignoring everything but Wendy. "Don't be afraid."

Brine seized Black Antler. With a single, powerful flick of his indigo tail, he exploded through the surface and pushed Black Antler onto the ice.

Brine's punishment was severe. King Basalt fractured his silence, cutting Brine's actions apart. Queen Celadon condemned his honor. And the kingdom's disapproval striped him of all dignity.

But it was worth it. It was worth every single one of Wendy's grateful tears.

"Here." Brine offered the bottle to his parents. Black Antler's noose was still tied to the amber neck. "You wanted the message in the bottle."

Queen Celadon tore the bottle from Brine. Fuming, she read through the glass.

Slowly, her fingers curled.

"It is addressed…." Queen Celadon said, grey-green eyes burning into Wendy. "..to you."

Wendy cowered into the wall of hooks. She felt the tiny pricks along her back.

"W-what does it say?"

Queen Celadon raised a contemptuous snarl.

"Remember Wendy: Captain Hook never breaks a promise."

sulta's note: thnx for waiting. 2 more weeks of school/clinical for me. almost there. bear with me.

good luck to everyone starting college/school.

keep writing.