Neverland: Appetite for Murder

Beast-made Hell

Delilah awoke to the sound of hushed voices arguing nearby. Her head pounded as memories slowly pieced together. Tinkerbell...the pixie dust...Ember fainting. It all came flooding back. She kept her eyes closed, straining to listen to the heated discussion.

"We can’t be certain it's her," Peter was saying in a low, urgent tone. "There could be other explanations."

"Don’t be naive, boy," Hook growled. "You know as well as I do what this means. We burned her body ourselves. If she's back..."

"Then we failed," Peter finished grimly. "And she’ll be out for revenge."

"We need to tell the girl everything," Hook insisted. "She can’t help if she doesn’t know what we're up against."

"No," Peter said firmly. "Not yet. Let’s be absolutely sure first."

Delilah rolled slightly, her movement catching Hook’s attention. He made a quick decision and nudged Peter to reveal more. “You heard what Smee said. Miss Darling heard Ember say Tinker. What do you think she’s going to assume? That there’s another faerie named Tinker Bell?” Hook’s words bit, and Peter’s expression hardened.

“What do you want me to say, Hook?” Peter snapped, clearly agitated. “Our plan failed? Your child died because I made a promise to Ember I couldn’t keep? Maybe I should admit that I said Tinker Bell could never do what you thought she did? I made a promise to both of you, and I was wrong! I need her to be dead.” His voice cracked from desperation. “If she’s not dead, we have a problem. I know Ember is probably right—she felt Tinker Bell go dark, so she would know if she was ever seen again. I know that, okay? If it is Tinker Bell, and I know it is as well as you do, then Delilah needs to go back to her own realm.”

At that, Delilah’s eyes shot open. She looked over to where Ember was lying on her cot and saw tears in both Hook and Ember’s eyes. Is Peter feeling guilty about what happened? she wondered, taking in the tense scene.

“Peter, are you still feeling guilty about our unborn child?” Ember asked, her voice thick with sorrow. “My child was never your responsibility.” She stretched her arms out, motioning for Peter and Hook to come closer. “Oh, my special boy. I never wanted you to have that burden on your shoulders. She would have done what she did even if you hadn’t made that promise. You are the reason that Hook and I can be together after what happened. We love you like you’re our own, you know? You and all the Lost Boys are our children. That disgrace of a pixie is just here because, after what happened, we wanted you all to be safe.”

Ember’s words seemed to soothe Peter as he kissed her cheek, then looked at Hook with a faint smile.

Without turning around, Peter asked, “How long have you been awake, Delilah? And how much did you hear?”

Delilah was startled he had noticed. “Everything... I’m so sorry that I didn’t tell you I was awake,” she mumbled.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry. We need to get ready to go to the beast’s side of the island. I’m guessing Hook will be keeping you here, Ember; it might be best for you to stay here anyway. I’ll go get Lily Glitter to help us.” Ember started to protest, but Hook whispered something in her ear, causing her to sigh and reluctantly agree.

Hook rose from the cot and crouched down beside Delilah’s. “Okay, Darling, want me to help you up?” Peter asked, offering his hands. She nodded, and Peter helped her to her feet.

“Thank you,” Delilah managed to say as Peter walked out of Hook’s room.

“Miss Darling,” Hook said, gesturing toward a door in the left corner, “you’ll find a washing room through there where you can freshen up. Ember has some clothes that should fit you. I’ll leave you girls to it. Ember, stay in bed while she’s freshening up. You’re only getting up when she’s done, and then you’re getting right back into bed, you understand, Sweetheart?”

Hook’s firm tone made Ember pout, but he just laughed and kissed her. Ember nodded, and Delilah left to freshen up.

When Delilah returned, she found a beautiful outfit laid out for her: a mini skirt, an off-the-shoulder top, and ankle boots. She looked uncertainly at Ember.

“I don’t think I can wear this, Ember. It’s not exactly...detective attire.”

Ember shook her head. “It’s all I have left for you to wear.”

With no other options, Delilah put on the outfit and walked out to the main deck, where Peter and Hook were waiting. “I’m ready to go,” she announced as she approached them.

“Mean woman,” Peter mumbled under his breath. “Isn’t there anything else you could’ve worn?” He shook his head. “Of course not. She would’ve hidden everything except that. Hook, this isn’t right. Talk to Ember about this stunt she pulled,” he grumbled, clearly annoyed. He then took Delilah’s waist to get ready for their flight, while Hook fought back laughter.

“Delilah,” Peter began softly, “you’re going to need to wrap your legs around my waist so I can hold both of us up, okay?” She nodded, and he turned to Hook. “Don’t let the boys go anywhere, please.” Hook nodded, and with that, they took off.

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“Oh, the view over Neverland is beautiful, Peter!” Delilah gushed as he set her down. “I loved it.”

“I know. It’s beautiful,” Peter replied with a small smile. “Now, let’s go find Arkeia—the Never Beast’s Alpha—and Lily Glitter, the Pixie Queen. She’ll be helping us figure out what happened.”

Taking her hand to guide her, Peter began leading her deeper into the island. Soon, a massive figure appeared in their path.

“Lumin, where’s Arkeia?” Peter asked the giant standing before them.

“Pan, what do you want with Arkeia? Is this about Aeropex?” Lumin questioned, his gaze drifting to Delilah, who shifted uneasily.

“Yes, Lumin, it does,” Peter replied. “Arkeia asked me to come today. Lumin, this is Delilah. Delilah, this is Lumin. He’s a dragon shifter and Arkeia’s second-in-command.”

With a nod, Lumin gestured for them to follow him toward Arkeia and Lily Glitter.

“Lily, Arkeia, Pan and a girl are here for you,” Lumin announced before retreating.

“This place looks like a man-made hell,” Delilah whispered, glancing around at the wreckage surrounding them.

Peter and Arkeia chuckled at her words, the sound soft but amused.

Lily gave a solemn nod. “More like a beast-made hell, if you ask me.”

At that, Peter and Arkeia chuckled even harder, the laughter breaking through the grim atmosphere around them.

Arkeia then stepped forward, meeting Delilah’s eyes with a serious expression. “Yes,” he confirmed, his voice low. “This is indeed a beast-made hell.” He gestured toward the destruction around them. “Aeropex’s mate, Nyx, a shadow panther shifter, left this devastation in her grief. She’s in mourning here. Just be cautious.”