“Circe? Are you with your mothers? Have you betrayed me as well?”

“No, James. You must have asked the mirror to see me,” said Circe. “I warned you not to trust my mothers.”

James could see she was truly sad for him.

“Oh, Circe, how will I ever get home? Everything went so wrong, this isn’t how it was supposed to happen,” said James.

“It was exactly what was supposed to happen, according to my mothers. I wish you had taken the opportunity I gave you to change it, James. I told you there was nothing but loss and heartbreak for you in Never Land, and you chose that destiny anyway. You chose to believe my mothers, and I am truly sorry for your fate.” She looked as if she wanted to reach in through the mirror and comfort him, and James wished with all of his being she could.

“They promised they would make me young again, Circe, make me a Lost Boy. I had to try. You know it was my fondest wish.”

“My mothers lied, James. The only person who could grant you that is Peter,” said Circe.

“Peter? Why didn’t you tell me? I could have just asked him? All I ever wanted was to be his friend,” said James.

“I couldn’t bring myself to break your heart, James. Peter never wanted you to be a Lost Boy. He was the one who made sure you were claimed all those years ago, the reason you were sent away from Never Land. Oh, how I wish you had met me for the exchange as you promised. With my enchantment you could have flown your ship anywhere you desired. I had hoped once you got to Never Land you would have realized there wasn’t a life for you there, and you would have come back to the Dead Woods to live with us. I wanted so badly to change not only your fate but the fate of so many others, but it seems I have again failed.” Circe was grief-stricken, and James could see she felt helpless in the face of his sorrow.

“Can’t you enchant my ship now, bring it back there or to London?” asked James.

“I wish I could. Your only hope of returning is using Tinker Bell’s pixie dust.”

“Did your mothers even want Tinker Bell, or was that a lie as well?”

“They knew Peter would do anything to protect her, and they promised Peter an enemy. And now they have it. You.”

“Then I am stuck here, forever, just as I wished. Your mothers will find that amusing,” he said with a sneer.

“Yes, I daresay they will,” she said as her eyes shifted to the left as if she was trying to hear something. James could hear it, too. “What is that sound?” asked Circe.