I was shoved into the dirt. I tried and failed to avoid any getting any in my mouth. I coughed and sputtered a mound out. My hands were bound behind my back. I was grabbed by my matted hair and yanked standing; now I was annoyed as to why my earlier shoving was even necessary. I came face to face with a boy.
He smirked at me, not in any particularly friendly manner. He was tall, one of those lean muscular types. He had messy brown hair and blue eyes, eyes clouded with darkness. A look I was familiar with, a face I was familiar with.
Looking to the boys surrounding me now, he told them to leave us. I was now alone with this dark boy. He came closer to me, inches from my face.
"Ciarda, fancy seeing you in MY domain." He purred.
"Fancy, as in glad to see your kidnapping went smoothly?" I spat, quite literally. He only chuckled.
Leaving me and crossing the forest floor he said, "Yes I suppose. Now, let's get to business shall we? You, I've heard, have something I want and I ALWAYS get what I want." He challenged, suddenly appearing in front of me.
"As I'm sure you do, spoiled brat." I replied, arching a brow, an evil smirk of my own.
I watched his darkness come out as he put a hand to my throat. I laughed through the choking pain. "I wouldn't test me, boy" I managed to get out.
I saw a look of brief confusion cross his face, something that's rare for Peter Pan I'm sure; I knew I recognized him. I let my power loose. Dark smoke spilled around us from my heart and I felt my eyes burn, everything in my vision leaving blurry trails yet sharper and clearer than before. Pan stepped back in a flicker of fear that I caught, good thing his 'loyal subjects' weren't watching their terrifying dictator be afraid.
I slipped out my bonds as if they were made of smoke themselves. I rose a foot or so off the ground, meeting Pan's height.
" So it is you. You're one of the shadows, like the one in Neverland."
I laughed at his obliviousness. "I AM the shadows... I MAKE the shadows." I lowered myself to the ground.
"But how? You're so... young. The shadows have been here long before I-"
" When accepted my fate, my heritage, I became immortal, never aging... so yes I'm still young, still naïve even, never experiencing the world as you have; yet still 'older'. You it seems, are a different story. You used one of my shadows for your own selfish reasons. I let it be, men have done worse with their power, my power. Besides, you wanted to talk business, right? Perhaps we can help each other, Peter. One dark spirit to another, what do you say?"
" Deal." He smiled, holding out a hand, " You're more cunning than you look, dearie."
I smiled just the same, about to take his hand when I hesitated, my power flickering out like a candle flame. I remembered the prophecy my father told me before he gave me our family power, the power of the demon of shadows. (I'm not a demon, just a vessel for the power. My family has held it since we were chosen.) The prophecy stated that the fifth child each generation of the family currently holding the power will lose their powers and memories of the power and be cursed to be mortal if he or she loves another truly...as the first demon stated that a person with demonic power should not feel love, the prophecy is kept as a warning.
The thought crossed my mind. What if this relationship shifts from business to- to something else entirely? What if HE ends up being my curse? Would it be so bad? Either way, he should be warned at least...
"Before we do this... She, in the slightest possibility, in the end, won't remember you." I said cooly, looking him in the eye.
"She?"
"Ciarda."
"But you're-"
"I know, that's exactly the point." I replied, "I know you don't understand now, but if the time does come...you will. It's a curse on me... I'm warning you... Just in case I f-"
" In case you what, Ciarda?" His voice changing in a way I can't explain, not dark though.
"forget the blessing it is to hold this power."
He knitted his brow in confusion, "Alright, don't see what it has to do with me but good to know."
He gripped his hand in mine, softly, shaking it. "Looking forward to working with you, shadow girl." He said, giving me a wink.
I scoffed and headed to where I could see the glow of a fire behind the trees. I couldn't ignore that my heart... was beating a little faster than usual...

AN: DESPITE my terrible and non-existent track record for story completion... continue? Yes? No? Review? Your support keeps me going. I just LOVE this new Peter Pan, a story was a must. Anyway, for those of you wondering about Pan's selfish reasons for using a shadow... Y'all gotta get caught up on OUAT to have your minds blown.