“We know everything, James. We know about your hand and the crocodile, and we know that Peter and the Lost Boys hate you. It’s all written in the Book of Fairy Tales. It’s happening as it was always meant to,” said Lucinda, her face twitching and distorting. She looked as if she was trying to banish some invisible person, swiping away at them with her hands. James was exhausted and didn’t have the patience to deal with Lucinda’s madness. All he wanted to do in that moment was die.

“And now that crocodile has a taste for your blood,” said a voice from the mirror that was not Lucinda’s. It was eerie hearing a voice that sounded exactly like hers but not ushered from her lips. He was trapped in a nightmare with these maddening women, unable to escape.

“Who is that? Who is speaking? What do you mean it has a taste for my blood?” he asked, looking down at his arm again. He could feel the fear and panic inside him growing stronger.

“At least you will hear the beast when he is coming. Your hand isn’t the only thing the crocodile ate that night. It has our clock ticking away in its belly,” said another voice in the mirror that wasn’t Lucinda’s.

“So you never intended to give me my fondest wish, did you?” he asked, looking down at his arm again. “Circe warned me my losses would be great if I came here. I should have listened to her.”

“Yes, James, you should have listened to Circe; she is bound by the truth. I am not,” Lucinda said.

“So, I’m trapped here forever. And everything was for naught.”

“No, James, you helped us a great deal. Without you we would have never been able to get the brooch, earrings, and book to London. When Blackbeard betrayed us by keeping our treasures, we knew it had to be you to help us extend our reach to the mortal world,” said Lucinda, and her laugh was joined by more laughter in the mirror. James knew this had to be her sisters, the Odd Sisters he had heard of on so many occasions.

“At least you kept one promise to Blackbeard, and have found your pirate name, Captain Hook,” said Lucinda, her laugh vile and full of contempt.

He slammed his fist on the wood over and over, the sound of the Odd Sisters’ laughter growing louder, making his head swim.

“I wish I could speak to Circe,” he said, lowering his head in despair. “I wish I could tell her I am sorry for betraying her. I wish she were here now,” he said, tears falling down his face.

“I am here, James,” said the familiar voice. James looked up and saw Circe’s face in the mirror. She looked ethereal and lovely, and filled with tremendous sadness.