“You’re right. I am drawn to this world, and perhaps if I came here when I fell out of my pram so many years ago I would have made it my mission to come back and live my days here in the splendor of you beguiling ladies of the dead. But don’t you see, Queen Circe, how much I need to find Never Land again? That I am able to resist your tempting offer, and give up living in such a place, which has intrigued me like no other, that it truly means I am meant for Never Land?”

“Sometimes we mistake our wishes for our fate, James,” said Hazel. “But you are bound to grant me this wish, and that is what I want, though it breaks my heart to give you grief. Then so be it. Bring us the box with the eye and we will enchant your ship so it may fly to Never Land. We will meet you at Morningstar Harbor tomorrow evening and make the exchange then,” said Hazel. Her tone was irritated and serious, and she had a look of great sadness in her eyes. James could see all the women truly wished he would stay, but he couldn’t bring himself to be distracted from finding Never Land.

“Well, I think it’s time we had some cake!” said Primrose, laughing, trying to lighten the mood of the room. Of the three she was the most lighthearted, even though she too seemed burdened by time, and duty, not to mention worry for the choice he had made.

“You are a very unusual mortal, James,” said Circe. “It’s no wonder my mothers have had their eye on you. I wish you had never gotten their attention; I wonder then what you would have made of your life.” Her words chilled a place in his heart that reminded him of seeing the candles underwater in the Floating Boneyard.

“But let’s not dwell on the things we cannot change. The Odd Sisters did make you bring that magnificent cake all this way, we might as well enjoy it!” said Primrose, making Circe and Hazel laugh with her. Just then Sir Jacob and four skeletal creatures entered the room with the enormous cake. It was such an odd sight, the juxtaposition of it, these smiling women living amid monsters.

“They are not monsters, James, but men very much like you. More like you than you even realize. They are our responsibility and our family.” Hazel put her hand out to one of the creatures as if to comfort it, making James feel instantly ashamed.

“Please excuse me, Lady Hazel,” he said. “There are so many things about this land I don’t understand. I didn’t mean offense.”