Peter's Lily (Sequel to Pan's Tiger)

Chapter 7: Worse Danger

'You must return to Neverland,' the Shadow announced desperately and before I could protest, as he knew I would, he continued hopelessly, 'Tiger Lily, the natives are dead.'

Despite delivering news which would have an emotional impact on me, at least either joy or sorrow, the Shadow refrained from any emotional delivery and remained cold and monotoned.

I swallowed heavily, feeling a weight on my shoulders, suffocated by his words. My family, my friends were dead. Of course, they had wanted me dead, but that doesn't mean I wished the same fate on them. I had left Malcolm and Rumple to protect them, but I should have been protecting the natives too.

'Dead?' I repeated, frowning at the unlikeliness of his absurd story. 'By what means? Dreamshade? Disease? Forest fires? Predators? Mermaids?'

'A boy.' He replied coldly.

'A boy?' I spluttered with shock and disgust because I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was it possible for such a civilisation to be brought down by a boy? Who was he? 'The natives, whom I spent my entire childhood fearing, whom I left my family for, were killed by a bipolar, adolescent boy?'

'He's more than that. He's powerful.' The Shadow disagreed harshly and I instantly knew that he had either talked to him, or witnessed the slaughter of my people. Despite knowing what had happened to me because of them, the natives had protected Neverland, which was the Shadow's top priority. The Shadow was concerned for the safety of Neverland, and was here to protect it.

I sat back down on my bed, leaning against the wall, bringing up my foot and studying my toes. I demanded casually, 'What do you want me to do about it?'

'You must return.' He insisted.

'Why?' I asked, lifting my head up to study him with confusion. 'They are dead.' I reminded him coldly, because I wasn't one for sentimentality or sympathy for those who had ruined my life; driven me from my home and tried to kill me on more than one occasion.

'Don't return to Neverland for them.'

Regardless of what the Shadow wanted me to do, I knew that I couldn't help, 'He has murdered the natives, how can I stop him for terrorising Neverland even more? I can do nothing to help them!'

'-Not for them. For Neverland and for me.' The Shadow explained gravely, 'It not only needs belief, magic and a ruler, but it needs protection. We both know that now that your husband and son are safe, so you can return to Neverland to protect those in danger from Peter Pan.'

Peter Pan. That name sounded familiar in some way, but I dismissed it instantly. It sounded like it belonged to a child, because of the alliteration, and so I had no respect for this boy.

'Those in danger? The fairies? The mermaids? You?' I asked, my voice panicked and my eyes wide with shock and fear.

'For all inhabitants of Neverland.' The Shadow confirmed proudly. This boy, Peter Pan, would be able to destroy Neverland easily. It always needed protection, the magic needed to survive and for that there must be belief and protection.

'How do I get there?' I said, my decision easy.

If it could, the Shadow would have smiled to itself at my decision to protect Neverland. It was delighted by its friend's appetite for freedom, adventure and rescue. 'I cannot give you passage without payment. I have already taken so much of your magic. I suggest, therefore, that you take a ship, the Jewel of the Realm. I'm sure you could sneak on and travel with them. But there is one thing I can give you, as a gift for your return: youth.'