Life in Neverland: Book 3 of The Neverland Trilogy Read online

  Life in Neverland

  Book 3 of The Neverland Trilogy

  Heather C. Myers

  Contents

  Life in Neverland

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Acknowledgments

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  Also by Heather C. Myers

  Also by Heather C. Myers

  Also by Heather C. Myers

  Also by Heather C. Myers

  Also by Heather C. Myers

  Also by Heather C. Myers

  Also by Heather C. Myers

  Also by Heather C. Myers

  Also by Heather C. Myers

  Also by Heather C. Myers

  Also by Heather C. Myers

  Also by Heather C. Myers

  Also by Heather C. Myers

  Also by Heather C. Myers

  One

  The sky was a purple-gold color. Remy thought it was beautiful as it slid down the horizon, causing a million sparkles to cover the surface of the dark blue ocean water. It had been the better half of three weeks, and she was still on a ship, heading to The Paradise. She did not know why they headed to The Paradise, but Peter had told her specifically that was their destination because someone was keen to meet her and she would not be kept waiting.

  She.

  The only she Remy knew of that had control over Peter Pan and his small crew of lost creatures looking for someone to follow was the woman known only to her as The Magistrate. Besides The Creator, she was the most powerful person in The Neverland, equal only to James Hook. She was in charge of overseeing The Neverland’s structure, a law with rules occupants were required to follow lest they want to suffer the consequences. The Magistrate was also in charge of coming up with adequate punishment that would provide restitution to those done wrong, serve as punishment for the offender, and redeem the offender as well so the chances of reoffending were slim.

  Remy had only been in The Neverland several months, so she could not say whether The Magistrate was good at her job. However, James was quick to point out how useless she was, though she did threaten his position of power simply because she had so much of it.

  Power.

  Not respect.

  According to both Captain Nicholas Grey – her friend and rescuer, pirate and ferry in The Neverland, charged with transporting souls to their final resting place – and James, each port in The Neverland had its own law written and implemented by a governor. Governors were put in charge by The Magistrate, and she only chose men who she could easily manipulate and who also shared her views on the world. As far as Remy knew, The Magistrate did not seem to care how they ruled their individual ports just as long as they obeyed her when need be.

  Except these governors took advantage of their power, power they were not willing to give up, especially not to her. Not to the woman who gave it to them in the first place.

  The Magistrate lost control, and from what she had been told, Remy was not certain if she would be able to reclaim it. Apparently, The Magistrate was too focused on acquiring power over The Neverland that she overlooked how crucial it was to start small and build upon that.

  Thinking of strategy and power caused Remy’s heart to ache. She missed her parents more than anything. Truth be told, she was not supposed to be here, in The Neverland. Only those who had passed on traveled here. Remy had been here once before, when she did die after falling from a tree outside her bedroom. Miraculously, she was able to escape death, but death did not seem to escape her. After learning of an arranged marriage with a man she did not love, Remy decided to run away and stow onto a ship. She had hoped no one would notice her, and she would have slipped away once they reached the next port. However, she was caught just before the ship took off, and if it weren’t for Nicholas and his impeccable timing, she would have died again, and in a much more painful way. He brought her back to The Neverland, but she was unable to return to earth as easily as she once had.

  Which meant she was stuck here for an indeterminate amount of time. She had every intention of returning to earth, but each day that passed in The Neverland caused her hope that such a possibility was within her grasp to slowly slip away.

  It also did not help that she was passed between men who all wanted her for some reason or another. First, she was with Nick because he had saved her from certain bodily injury, perhaps even death. Then, James wanted her, though she still was unsure as to why. She knew it had something to do with the fact that souls were attracted to her for some reason, but she could not understand why that was, even now. She trusted James, but knew that whatever purpose he wanted to use her for was not unselfish and would only benefit himself. Finally, from James, Peter Pan sought her out, though she was not sure if Pan wanted her for himself or if he was a mere puppet, taking her from James for someone else, someone more powerful than he was.

  She did not know much about Peter Pan, only that he was wicked and power-hungry. Apparently, he had an ability to fly, though she had never seen it with her own eyes, and would travel back to earth to recruit children who wanted to escape their lives for whatever reason and bring them here, to The Neverland. If Peter was able to do that, and if the souls were attracted to her simply because she was alive, still had a beating heart inside of her body, then she had no idea why he did not just use his powers and claim others instead of going through the trouble of stealing her away from James.

  During her time with Peter and Pam, Remy could not help but dwell on the thought since she had nothing else better to do and would prefer not to socialize with either of them. Pam had betrayed her and James – James had given Pam the task of being handmaiden to Remy, and Remy thought the two were on the way to becoming fast friends. However, she was always following Peter Pan’s orders even though James took her in, gave her a prestigious position among his crew, and trained her in various skills. She was one of the few people he trusted, and she did not seem to care. It turned out she was one of the lost souls Peter recruited while in London. Remy was not certain of the details only because Pam had not disclosed everything, but Remy was certain Pam had fallen in love with Peter, and not even her death – plunging from the sky while flying in Neverland – would change her mind about him.

  When Remy heard that – not only did Peter have the power to fly, but he was able to give that power to anyone – she could not believe it. She did not believe it. But Pam was not known for lying or exaggerating truths. The way her eyes had lit up when she spoke, Remy could not help but believe her story’s authenticity. Which meant The Neverland, as most knew it, was much more than just a final resting place. It was a place for children who did not feel as though they particularly belonged anywhere to call home.

  Was Peter, then, their saving grace? Even if he was a vile man – though man was relative, given his youth that would permanently mar his face – who was power-hungry and gave no concern for others if it did not go with his own plan, if he was giving children a place to call home who would otherwise be left to themselves with n
o shelter, no family, and no prospects? Was he really as bad as she assumed?

  Remy shook her head, her mother’s voice chastising her for being too trusting. Of course, Peter was wicked. It did not matter what he did for the Lost Children of the earth. In fact, most of the time, he got them to do wicked things. He turned their potential darkness into a strength and any hope of redemption they might have would be extinguished with their wicked deeds. Peter was evil, that was all there was to it.

  One morning, after she broke her fast with porridge and tea, a knock on her door startled her. To be honest, Remy was surprised at how well taken care of she was, and after Pam taste-tested her food each time she brought her something, Remy devoured the delicious meal. Whatever ship they were on was much more well-to-do than James and Nick’s, and the hunger that had developed while with them had been satiated after a few days here. Food rations were not as strict, so she was able to eat more, and the food was all fresh – even the fruit. The clothes that decorated her wardrobe was tailored specifically to her size and her room was filled with deep reds and subtle golds. The sheets were pressed, clean, and soft – probably silk, if Remy had to guess.

  This place reminded Remy of home, and while she found she was cared for – for whatever reason – she missed her home even more than when she was with Nick and James, respectively.

  “Come on,” she called. She had to say it twice because the thought of her home on earth caused her voice to get stuck in her throat. After she cleared her throat, her voice came out clearer.

  When the door opened, Remy was surprised to see a tall, slender woman standing before her, dressed in a revealing gold dress that hugged her curves and moved as gracefully as a person might. She had caramel colored skin and a pair of eyes that were a shade darker. Her hair was dark brown and there was a mass of dark curls that helped frame her angular face. Her body was built and strong, and Remy could tell simply from looking at her that she was confident.

  “Welcome, Miss Cutler,” she said, her voice tainted with an accent Remy did not recognize. “I hope you are enjoying your stay?” She raised a thin brow, waiting for Remy’s answer.

  Remy clenched her jaw and flashed her eyes at the woman in front of her. Her heart pounded in her ear, and she was shaking internally, but she did not want this woman to know just how scared she was. She did not want her to know that if she could return home at this very moment, she would.

  “I suppose I can’t complain,” she said, causing The Magistrate’s painted dark lips to curl up into a smirk.

  “I like you, Miss Cutler,” she said, nodding her head once. Remy could tell she was actually being sincere by the way her dark eyes trickled over Remy’s form with a glimmer of admiration. “You are not one to be trifled with, despite the fact that most, if not all, who encounter you choose to underestimate you.”

  Remy swallowed – a tic she had her entire life. The Magistrate’s eyes narrowed in on it, and Remy knew she was found out.

  “Ah,” The Magistrate continued. “So you understand what I am telling you. You have been underestimated, haven’t you?”

  Remy clenched her teeth, afraid to give anything else away. She did not want this woman to think she knew her, that Remy was so easy to read even though it would seem that this was exactly the case.

  “As women, we all have been underestimated at some point or another,” The Magistrate said, taking a step back. Again, her eyes seemed genuine. Remy did not wish to acknowledge it, but there was compassion in her dark eyes, a sympathy she held from personal experience. Remy felt her guard waver just a bit – as though she felt a tad sympathetic for the woman before her in turn. “I have experienced it. I’m sure you have experienced it. I know for a fact Hook’s little fairy has experienced it.”

  Remy furrowed her brow, and before she could stop herself, said, “Fairy?”

  The Magistrate’s brow pushed up, as though she did not realize what she said. It was hard for Remy to tell if she was genuine or very good at manipulating the situation to her advantage.

  “Oh, I apologize,” she said. “You are not from this world, are you? The Neverland houses souls, as I’m sure you know. They have either moved on to their final resting place or they are waiting here, for family, for redemption, or simply because they are not able to accept the fact that they are dead. There are very few living beings who transpire through Neverland. Nicholas Grey is one of them. You are another. And then we have beings born in Neverland. They are either souls of the sea – what you might call mermaids and mermen, or souls of the air – what you might call fairies. These are not souls – they’re alive, like you. Like Nick. But they have no souls. Their place is here.”

  “Reproduction is possible in the afterlife?” Remy asked, furrowing her brow.

  “Not usually, no,” The Magistrate says. “It only happens if a soul mates with someone from your world. And even then, everything must be just so. But if a mermaid or a fairy mates with a soul, they produce more mermaids and fairies. Do you understand? I know a young lady isn’t familiar with matters of reproduction until after she marries. If you want, I can educate you in them right now.”

  Remy hated the fact that her cheeks were on fire. She did not want to let The Magistrate affect her, but she couldn’t control her body’s reaction to her words if she tried. Remy knew of sex and reproduction from the books she read and from the rumors she and her friends would discuss. When she lived in London, Wendy would wait until it was just she and Remy, and pull out naughty books from her parents’ library. Then, they would read particular passages together and squeal in disgust. She did not think about sex much but did not want the act ruined by some wench.

  “I’ll wait until I am married,” she managed to say through gritted teeth. “My question to you is, what’s Peter Pan? Somehow, he can travel through realms without the aid of a particular role, like Nick.”

  The Magistrate’s painted lips curled up into a smirk, and she rested her wrists on her hips. “You don’t know?” she asked, somewhat surprised. “I would expect a bright, young thing to figure it out. Pan is half-fey.”

  Remy could feel the color drain from her face. “What?” she asked in a voice just above a whisper.

  “He is half-fey,” she repeated. “His mother is a fairy, his father is a soul. And he is the product of their sexual encounter.”

  “But… how?” she breathed out. It still did not make sense to her, yet the evidence added up. Logically, it would appear that this solution made the most sense.

  “Like, I said, I am happy to educate you in what happens when” –

  “No, no.” Remy shook her head. “You know that is not what I meant. Peter’s parents…”

  “Peter is dead,” The Magistrate said. “He died on earth. Because he was born on earth, he has a soul. Once he died, he inherited his fey abilities – flying, traveling through realms. After he was born, his mother abandoned him because she did not wish to leave the Neverland. But she did not want Pan’s father to learn of him because Pan’s father is a bad man and he would most certainly take advantage of him. Use his power for evil. That sort of thing.” She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. “In her own way, she’s trying to protect him.”

  “But Pan doesn’t see it that way,” Remy said.

  “Correct.” The Magistrate grinned. “You catch on quickly. No, Peter does not see it that way. He’s recruiting souls from earth – lost souls, like himself – to build an army and accumulate the power he never had on earth. He’s building the family he never had. And he’s searching for his mother, to extract his revenge.”

  “Who’s his mother?” Remy asked, then gulped. Her throat went dry.

  “That’s the real question, isn’t it?” The Magistrate quirked a brow. “Fairies are secretive, if nothing else.”

  “But you know,” Remy guessed. “That’s why he’s helping you.” The Magistrate smiled but said nothing. “What is he going to do to her when you tell him?”

  The Magistrate shrugge
d again. “It’s not for me to say,” she replied. “The only thing that matters is, you’re here now. I can use you to my advantage after I dress you up in a gorgeous gown. There’s a ball coming up, something I’m sure you actually do know about. And you, my dear, are my honored guest. More than that, your presence will bring more guests. Much more. And like I always say, a good party is never empty.”

  Remy swallowed again, even though her throat was perfectly moisturized.

  Two

  Magdalena had been waiting, but as of yet, Nick said nothing. She still remembered that conversation between them vividly, on top of the mast separating The Punisher and The Jolly Roger. She thought about it often, though she would never admit that out loud only because she was the last person to think of such trivialities.

  Except, it wasn’t trivial to her. Not anymore.

  “You ruined everything,” Nick said, ignoring her, “because it turns out, I don’t love Remy.”

  Magda could barely see Nick through the rain, but everything stopped and all she noticed was the pirate captain in front of her. “W-what?” Her voice was shaky, but she did not care. She did not even know if Nick heard her.

  “I care about her,” he went on, “and those feelings were romantic. But perhaps I was being too hasty with those feelings. I’ve thrown the word love around much more than I should, without really knowing what it means. But it’s okay, because I get it now. I know what it means.”

  “And what does it mean?” Magda asked. Again, she did not know if Nick could hear her because her voice was low and her eyes were wide and the rain fell at an odd angle, but she refused to blink in case this would all disappear.

  “You,” Nick stated simply. “It means you.”

  “How am I supposed to believe you?” Magda asked, and while she wished she had not, she needed to hear the answer. Afraid to hear it all the same. “You go from Remy to me… Perhaps you’ll wake up and believe you do not love me. Perhaps it will be somebody else.” She turned, afraid to see his face, and looked down at the sea – at both ships engaging in battle. Watery blood stained both decks, and bodies floated in the water. It was the least romantic place to discuss love, but The Neverland was never romantic.