Hey everybody,

once again, life got in the way and there wasn't any time to write...:(

But there's a chapter for all the Felix's lovers amongst my readers!

Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Once upon a Time, just the crazy ideas in my head that I incorporated into this story.

Chapter 25

Felix's POV:

I was still able to see Pan's feet walking towards the flickering of the campfire, leaving me to lay on the ground, defenseless and hurt. I closed my eyes to zone out from all my senses; from the pain, and I lost track of time.

At some point, the bleeding had stopped, but the burning sensation remained. I had enough strength to stand up and fight against Peter physically, but then I remembered his last words.

Next time you defy me, I won't kill you. I'll make you watch as I kill your precious little sister.

If I would go to him and stand up for Aura in front of all the Lost Boy's presence, it would end up going wrong for everybody. Aura would get killed; the Lost Ones might actually rebel, and with Pan's plan failing, we would all die in Neverland. But he desperately needed her heart, so he wouldn't kill her. Or maybe he would; just to teach me a lesson, the consequence of breaking his rules, of my stupidity and disloyalty…how twisted this torn boy was!

Thinking it was best to keep away from Aura and the Lost Boys, especially from Pan, I decided to stand up and leave everything for now, trekking to the secret cave I had shown Aura during the 'Hide and Catch' game.

It pained me to hear the happy cheers from the Lost Ones, running around and preparing for tonight. And what would later follow. I had no power in controlling and defending Aura, saving her from a disastrous fate. The best I could do was insure her life; from far away.

When I first found the cave, it had been because I was more vigilant than others. My eyes located the stone walls hidden underneath the soft moss and thick foliage without strain, even in the dark. But now, it took me quite some time to find the entrance to my secret getaway, which was peculiar, since I had visited this cave often and could spot the opening quickly.

Just believe.

Imagining a lit torch in my hand, I continued. Stepping into the cave made me think of the last time I had been there. With Aura. She had been the first I had brought to my escape; she would be the only one.

'Why are you so nice to me?'

'I can't explain it, but since you came, everything is changing. You're affecting Neverland, it's full of life, the Boys are not crying anymore and Peter...well, he's been nicer to everyone. Normally, when you're here, you start to forget...'

The memory had just abruptly stopped, frustrating me, as I knew there was more but not quite sure exactly what. It seemed as though the deeper I walked into the cave, the less I remembered of the precious memory I shared with Aura here.

Forgetting the painful past, to enjoy living in the present and never looking back, was precisely Neverland's purpose. But now, I questioned as to why Pan would even let Aura stay and interact with the Lost Ones, as she did the exact opposite. Or, more specifically, her heart did. If Peter wanted to save Neverland, then he would've brought her back to the Enchanted Forest, where we came from, but he didn't. Something didn't add up.

I slumped with an annoyed groan to the floor and I pressed a hand to my face where I finally felt the deep gash running from my forehead across my right side of my cheek. Some of the blood still hadn't dried and now it was on my fingertips. Only there was something else combined with my blood. A clear white fluid was repelling my bright red blood. My eyes widened in realization as to what that liquid was. Peter had explained on everyone's first day in Neverland.

Lilium contraria. The juices of the white lily. It's not a poison like Dreamshade, which is used for a slow and agonizing death, lilium contraria will not kill you. It will make you suffer a fate more horrible than death; it contradicts the healing power of magic, you will always have the scar forever, a consequence and regret of a stupid action to always haunt you, no matter what. Once it touches your wound, there is no going back.

Peter had laced his blade with lilium contraria, which meant I was going to have the scar forever. No magic – no healing water from the Fountain of Youth – not even Aura's heart could heal me.

In the dead of the night, I silently prayed my little sister was safe just as the weak flame of my torch went out and my tired eyes eventually closed.

Not only did the excruciating pain radiate upon the right side of my face throughout the night, but a nightmare woke me from sleep.

Aura lay on the cold floor of a stone island in a cave, kicking and thrashing while sleeping. She was all alone and trapped. The darkness surrounded her; coldness seeping into her being. Lights going out…

Surely, it was only a nightmare, I kept repeating. Still terrified something could've happened to her while I was gone, I hurried back to camp. In the back of my mind, Peter's words tormented me.

You didn't go to look for her, your father did. You were too selfish to think about Aura, and you lost her.

As much as I tried to suppress the fact, I had to admit it was all true. I had missed her growing up; of being the right big brother. Fate and Neverland had given me a second chance, and I couldn't even protect her. If Aura was physically harmed or emotionally hurt by that demon boy, I would do anything in my power to escape with her; I just needed to find a way. The rule was no one left the island without his permission. But as Pan always would say: Rules were meant to be broken. The game was going to turn on him.

When I arrived back at camp, I heard shouts from the middle of a circle the Lost Boys were making, whooping encourages like 'fight!'.

'You stole my bowl! Give it back!' Rufio yelled and held his fists up, ready to strike.

'Well, last time we went hunting, you ruined my shot!' Slightly barked back, mimicking Rufio's position.

I pushed between the Boys and just before Rufio's hand connected with Slightly's jaw, I grabbed his arm and pushed it against his back, causing him to wince in pain.

Why were they acting so hostile and eager to challenge each other over such unimportant, trivial things? The past few days with Aura had gone along peaceful, they were acting like real children with hope and a sense for family; now they were the aggressive orphans. The Lost Boys of Pan. How could they forget what Aura had showed them?

Everything felt so unnatural; maybe this wasn't a game after all. Something was going terribly wrong.

So, yeah...

(Nothing related to this fanfic, but to my main villain: There is going to be a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie and Robbie Kay is already casted as the Cabin Boy! I fainted and started hyperventilating!)

Reviews are always appreciated!

Love you all,

aureaborealis