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

Chapter 14: Capricious behaviour

He added cheekily, 'You're worse at hide-and-seek than Rumple was.'

'Don't touch me!' I managed to gasp, despising him for making a reference to our dead son, whose death I was certain could have been prevented by Pan now that I understand him more.

Peter raised a brow. 'If I recall correctly, a few hours ago you were just begging me to kiss you, to touch you,' he sneered.

I could never defend myself again; from Peter, from myself or from anyone. He was absolutely right, I had finally given myself completely to him and overnight, I became his. He glanced at me lustfully, but also triumphantly, like this whole world was his game. He could have taken Henry's heart by now, but then, there would be no chase. He could have already raped me by now, but then, there would be no game.

'Get away from me,' I begged in a silenced voice, trembling with fear and willing the earth to bury me as I was, in this hell that Pan had created.

Frowning mockingly, he reaching a hand under the bed and said, 'C'mon Tiger, that's not how the game works. It's not fun if you don't play.'

I released a shrill shriek of horror, scurrying as fast I could in the other direction.

I wasn't fast enough.

I never was.

Peter's rough fingers gripped my ankles as he quite literally dragged me out from under the bed. His nimble hands dodged my panicked kicks and soon he held both of my ankles. My nails scraped against the wood as I was dragged back. It wasn't until I reached the bottom of one of the bed posts that I clutched the post like a lifeline, screaming at Peter to let me go, as his fingers slipped slightly.

I kicked my legs ferociously, until his fingers released my ankles. Like a snared rabbit trying to run back to its hole, I dove my head under the bed again, wriggling my legs and arms to squirm into its safety again.

'I don't think so,' I heard Peter say tightly above me.

With a swift, ferocious movement, Peter had grabbed both my ankles and yanked my body from the sanctuary that was under the bed. I screamed, trying to dig my elbows into the wood to drag myself away from him. But he was a superhuman, infused with magic. Much stronger than me.

He pulled me upwards to my feet, as if my body was weightless and limp in his arms when in reality I was struggling with all my might and strength. He ordered, his face contorted into a snarl, 'Face me, Tiger Lily, and tell me everything before I lose my temper.'

I shuddered as he turned, leaving me there. I watched him with trepidation, my eyes scanning the room for another exit other than the windows that Pan could easily pull me out of.

He went to the door and I heard the click, followed by his malicious smile as he turned around, knowing he had me trapped. I swallowed.

'So... Oliver...' Peter began, stalking slowly towards me. I could see the glint in his eye, a mixture of excitement, anger and jealousy. 'Was he the person you would leave Neverland with?'

'What?' I whispered, coughing twice to try and increase my volume. My mouth was clamped shut with fear of Pan.

Despite Pan's efforts and punishments to forbid me from seeing Oliver, I was determined to find him and help him, even if it killed me.

Pan chuckled humourlessly, taking another giant step towards me. He lowered his gaze, licking his lip slightly. His eyes caught mine like he was the wolf hunting a rabbit. 'I can tell he likes you, Tiger Lily.'

'Of course he does,' I defended sharply, 'We wouldn't be friends if we didn't like each other.'

'Ahh...' Pan said, dragging out the words with satsifcation. 'But Oliver likes you more than that. He fancies you, Tiger Lily. He loves you. You have got yourself an admirer. '

And then finally I understood why Peter Pan was so bitter and controlling. He was a coward that hid behind his fierce some facade, drowning himself in arrogance and pride so that the world would never see him for what he truly was: a boy.

'Pan...' I said softly, as he moved forwards with confidence and masculinity. I took small baby steps backwards, shuffling awkwardly with my feet to increase the quickly decreasing distance between us. I just wanted to lower the rate in which he caught up with me.

'Do you like him back?' Peter roared angirly, his eyes darkening with anger. His nose twitched and his eyebrows raised with fury. 'Would you leave Neverland with Oliver? Would you leave me here and never come see me again?'

'Peter stop it...' I scolded desperately, but even I knew it was feeble. 'Please Peter... Don't be like this...'

'I'm sick of it, Tiger Lily,' Pan snapped furiously, the aggression in his voice prominent. 'I'm sick of you pretending like everything is fine, and then going off with people. I won't let you.'

'Excuse me?' I snapped, suddenly furious. 'You can't tell me who I can and cannot see!'

'Oh can't I?' Pan mused and suddenly his voice went from terrifyingly angry to terrifyingly allusive. 'I forbid you from seeing him and if you do, I will ensure that he will die.'

'You can't!' I exclaimed, my lips quivering with fear as I looked at him.

His footsteps became larger, more demanding and more excited as he moved closer towards me. 'Tell me, Tiger Lily, can this perfect, amazing new guy you've found kiss you? Would you let his lips touch your's? Would you let him kiss you like I have?'

My heart rate quickened, but I knew Pan would hate me to lie. Every fibre in my body wanted me to tell him that he could kiss me whenever he wanted, but my mind knew that wasn't true. I wouldn't let Oliver kiss me, because, no matter how much I hated him, I would always be loyal to Pan. My relationship with Oliver couldn't go beyond flirting, because then I would feel like I betrayed the only person that cared about me when I was alone and abused in Neverland.

'No,' I whispered, hanging my head in shame.

For a flickering moment, Pan looked satisfied, but he quickly rearranged his face to seem curious. 'Pardon? What was that, Tiger Lily?'

'No,' I squeaked, allowing the pitch of my voice to rise enough for him to hear me. I expected Pan to seem relieved and to suddenly allow me to see Oliver whenever I wanted, but now I realised how foolish I was to think that.

'No?' Pan repeated, raising an eyebrow expertly. 'After this conversation, after everything we'd been through, you dare to lie to me, Tiger Lily?'

His voice was booming by the end, his hands balling into fists and suddenly, I found his body against mine. I was wedged between the thick, wooden walls of the cabin and the hard, muscular torso of Peter Pan.

'I'm not lying!' I defended myself feebly, my eyes not meeting his because even I wasn't sure if I was lying. Could I kiss Oliver? Could I do that to Pan, to myself?

'Oh really?' Pan mused, grabbing my wrist tightly and almost twisting from my body with his rough touch. 'Well, I suppose I must remind you that I am leader of the Lost Boys and your husband, Tiger Lily. I own you!'

'You don't own me!' I screeched, my voice panicked. 'Nobody owns me!'

Pan pulled away, satisfied. His smile widened, his eyes dropping to my lips and he bowed his head slowly towards them. I could feel the shape of his lips and the warmth of his breath as he placed them before mine, but he didn't kiss me.

Then, just as I thought he was going to kiss me, he pulled away. His eyes travelled across my face and then down to my lips. For a brief moment, he paused to look at my lips, as if deciding whether to kiss me or not.

No matter how brilliant or terrible a kiss with Pan is, the long anticipation before his lips touch with mine was far more brilliant and terrible.

Afterwards, with a heavy sigh, Pan moved away from me and strutted towards the door. I felt my body relax and my shoulders droop, thankful that he wasn't going to kiss me. Then Pan mumbled, 'I'm not going to lose you, Tiger Lily, especially to someone like him.'