We creep up on the cave. There is only one guard and Pan seems intent on getting their attention. The pirate is a possibly thirty-five-year-old who looks like he hasn't held a sword a day in his life, judging by his grip on his blade. When Pan takes a step forward I try to follow but he places his hand on my shoulder and tells me to stay. Pan quietly sneaks up on the pirate and before the man can blink Pan has him in a headlock.
Ari, get over here. I'm sure he didn't intend to make that sound like a full-on order.
You said to stay. I try to defend myself. I didn't know when that rule ended.
Just get yourself over here before I force you to. His words are bitter, I guess no matter how many kisses we share we will always speak to each other as enemies.
How about you be more specific in the future? I sneak over to him.
Pan's already gold eyes, from his talking to me in my mind, glow brighter as he works his thoughts into his captive's mind. The pirate's eyes widen and he blacks out. Pan smiles and starts to drag the limp body away, leaving me alone staring after him. Why did he even call me over? We walk deep into the forest and to a clearing before we stop walking. When we do Pan sets the man against a tree and binds his waist to a tree with a piece of rope so that he can't run off.
"Who are you?" Pan asks the man when he awakens, he twirls my dagger between his fingers.
"I don't have to tell you anything, boy."
"Tell me or you'll only have nine fingers."
So he using a scare tactic. That's not exactly my strongest card in the deck. "I could do it if you'd like," I suggest playfully. I extend my hand towards Pan.
He arches an eyebrow but hands me my blade. I take it with a smile then walk slowly over to the man. His eyes widen.
"Greenwood." He spits out quickly, "My name is Aaron Greenwood."
"Good job, Miss. Hook," Pan says moving to stand beside me. "And why are you here?"
He looks like he's about to protest but I flick my wrist only once and he resumes talking.
"Mis. Hook's old lover told us how to get through. Captain Hook has been planning a break into Neverland since you took his daughter two months ago. He said that he wanted to get his daughter and then take back what is rightfully his, something about his old life."
"What else?" Pan steps in front of me and shoves me gently behind him.
"I don't know anything else."
"Well, then you are of no more use to me."
Pan stands the man up still leaving him bound to the tree. What is he . . . Pop, pop, pop. Pan snaps the neck of his pirate prisoner. I gasp and rush towards the limp man.
"You idiot!" I shriek, "Why would you do that!? We needed him alive to question him." I thought Pan was all about not wasting any blood.
"He was gonna escape and rat us out, Ari." He pauses and walks over to me, "Plus, you would've done it."
I spin around to face him, "I would have tried to come up with a more peaceful way first!" I yell at him half-heartedly. My words would have been venom if he wasn't looking at me like that.
He wraps his right arm around my waist and pulls me towards him. His left hand tucks my hair behind my ear and my heart skips a beat like it does every time. He bends down and presses his lips to mine.
"I love you." He whispers as he pulls away.
"You aren't allowed to k—" I try to argue but he presses his lips to mine again. "Stop," I place my hands on his chest and shove him away.
"Oh, Ari." He rolls his eyes and looks down at the man he killed, "I'm sorry for killing you." He says to the corps with such a straight face that I have to really fight the urge to laugh.
"You are damned." I turn away from him.
"I know."
He's at my side again playing with my hair. I swat his hands away and walk away from him again.
What have I done to upset you, Ari? He asks me with his mind. For once I feel myself disliking his ability.
A lot of things. My words aren't entirely true.
How can I make it better?
Good question. How can he make it better? I think for a moment.
"What's your real name?" If he wants to make me feel better he better answer me.
He looks at me confused, "What do you mean?"
"When I . . . When you . . . Uh, you know. You said that your real name wasn't Peter Pan but that you weren't gonna tell me what it really is unless you made it." So what if that's not entirely true? It's close enough.
"I said that?" I nod my head and he cocks his head to the side, "Oh." He rubs his chin nervously, "That truth comes with a story. Are you sure you want to hear it?"
I nod my head. I asked for a reason after all. Why would he not want me to know? After all that we've been through he at least owes me his true name.
YOU ARE READING
Daughter of Neverland
FantasyAriana grew up believing all the stories her father told, especially the ones about the handsome Peter Pan. A couple of months before her 17th birthday she decides she's gonna give up hope of ever seeing Neverland, but then in the middle of the nigh...