Aurelia wondered what had happened to Neverland since she was last there. The island seemed cold, frightening. Every rustle and sound made her shiver and turn around, paranoid. The attack of the mermaids and finally, the atmosphere had created growing suspicions that this was not the place she left behind.
"Aurelia, I need to talk to you" Killian murmured.
"What?" she asked, her face concerned, tiny lines of worry etched on her pale face.
"This isn't' my second visit to Neverland. It's my third" and he began to tell the story of his first encounter with the island. He told her the heart-breaking story of how his brother died, and although Aurelia wanted to throw her arms around him and hug him, she carried on walking, before turning to him and asking the vital question.
"Why haven't you told me before?"
"Aurelia, that experience led to me becoming a pirate. I did many things I am not proud of. It was too painful for me to speak of it before. When we were last here I did not know you well enough to open myself up to you. But being here, now…. It brings the memories back"
Aurelia held his hand tightly. "I'm not angry, Killian" she said softly "And I'm sorry about your brother. But you have to tell me some things, you know. That was obviously an important part of your life and I wouldn't want you to hide it from me"
"I know. I'm sorry, my love" he muttered, kissing her forehead.
And then he began to tell her. About his life. As they walked, Killian explained about his family, his country, fighting for his king. He told her everything about the island -it's little secrets and how Pan had turned it from a place of beauty to a place of fear and evil. He told her about when he was a pirate, the names of his crew members, the places that had sailed to and the adventures they had.
"I do have one question" Aurelia said.
"Hm?" Hook asked.
"When I came here before, I never met Pan. This place was filled with the red-Indians, the mermaids, and… Peter. I don't understand, what happened to that?"
"I don't quite know myself. I guess sometimes Pan gets preoccupied, and for a few weeks we were here he was either on another plane. When he returned, he must've brought his lost boys… and killed everyone"
Their conversation was interrupted by an attack. It was cloaked figures, with arrows. The next few minutes were a blur as Aurelia tried to dodge arrows and knock out the cloaked figures. She began fighting two or three off when she noticed one figure, standing still in the middle of the fight, staring at her. As she fought them off, he began walking slowly to her, which made her worry.
She leapt onto him, knocking him to the ground. They tumbled down a hill and his hood was ripped off. She had a knife to his throat and he had a poison arrow to hers.
She stared at his face in shock as she recognised it.
"Felix?"
Suddenly, the fighting had stopped around them, and she was aware of the whole groups eyes on her and the boy she knew.
"Let her go!" Killian shouted, his face stormy.
"Don't worry Killian, he's not going to hurt me" she said calmly. "I know him"
It had been a beautiful morning when Aurelia had kissed her aunt Miriam on the cheek and headed out to the market to go shopping. She walked down the path, the green grass sparkling with the morning dew, the air warm around her as she swung her basket in the crrok of her elbow. A smile was plastered on her face as she began the long walk, greeting her best friend, Cassandra, on the way. They linked arms and started chattering excitedly, having only seen each other the day before.
"It is being said that Freda Fairdown is to be having a birthday ball in a few months" Cassandra said.
Aurelia rolled her eyes. "I hate her. She's rude, and insufferable. I shan't go"
"Yes you shall" Cassandra said. "You shall go with Peter, of course, and I will go with… hm, George perhaps" flushing bright red.
"I bet you will" Aurelia winked mischievously. "Hm, maybe I will then. Nothing exciting happens around here anymore. It wouldn't be so bad to have a bit of adventure for once!"
"Be careful what you wish for, Aurelia!" Cassandra kissed her on the cheek as a farewell.
Aurelia walked along, filled with thoughts. Her eyes were on the bright blue sky when she crashed into someone.
"oof!" she said, falling on her back.
"Oh, God, sorry" a voice said. It was a boy, a few years older than her. He had quite a long, thin face and was extremely tall and lanky, with straw-coloured, blonde hair.
"It's okay, it was my fault" Aurelia said, brushing herself off.
"No, it was mine. Daydreaming as per usual. Let me make it up to you- a ride into town?"
"Oh it's not too far"
"Well I am headed that way. And if you stay a while, I can give you a ride home as well. We bought a new horse" he said, gesturing to the animal.
"As long as you don't mind" Aurelia smiled shyly. He looked at her with bright eyes, and there was something in them that reminded her of Peter. Thinking of Peter, she wondered how Jealous he would be if he knew she was riding into town with an older boy. She gave a mental shrug. Her and Peter were just friends, and he had the pick of the village girls.
"I'm Felix" the boy said, and they shook hands. They began chattering, and separated ways in town, promising to meet at sunset so they could travel home together.
Aurelia spent the day picking up crisp apples and soft, white rolls of bread for dinner. She bought a new ribbon that she had wrapped her hair in- a beautiful sea colour that looked incredible in her hair. And of course, as was customary, she bought a book to read. The sun began to set and the sky was a beautiful blend of pink and red as she hurried to the gate where Felix had waited for her.
They greeted each other like old friends and began to ride back home. Aurelia had to wrap her arms around his waist, and was quite aware of the intimacy. Aurelia had a tendency to stay away from boys.
Peter was her first kiss, but she didn't know if it could be counted, with them being a young age. But the boys in her village were immature and stupid. But Felix was different. Maybe it was because he was older, or there was an intellectual air to him, but Aurelia was wrapped up in their discussion. As they came to her house he jumped off the horse and tuned to assist her.
She softly climbed down, his arms wrapped around her waist and her head tilted up.
She could feel her heart beating faster, as he leaned in, her eyes fluttered close as he pressed his lips to hers.
She was aware of one of his hands reaching up, tangling in her hair, and as the kiss deepened she pulled back, shamed.
"I-I'm sorry, I can't" she flustered, breaking away and running up her path and into her little house, locking the door and leaning against it. It wasn't a bad kiss, she mused, as she laid on her bed that night. It wasn't her feeling guilty- many girls had kissed boys at her age. It just didn't feel right. It didn't feel like true loves kiss.
Reading her new book, she fell asleep with it still open, the picture of a dark and handsome villain in the book, looking towards the fair maiden in the tower, and her dreams began confused and torn.
Day after day, Aurelia would avoid Felix. And after a week or two, he disappeared. Aurelia didn't ask into it, she figured he moved away to a bigger town. And she carried on with her life, hardly giving a second thought to Felix.
"Surprised you remember me" Felix said drily.
"I was a young girl, Felix. You can hardly blame me" she looked down, and he gave a short laugh, a bark that made her look up at him.
"Actually, I can. You haven't given me another thought, have you?" He leant back, calm but still holding the arrow in his hand. Aurelia was aware of the group watching them, both sides amazed that the pair knew each other.
"How did you even get here?" She asked, incredulously.
"That's besides the point. But I've thought of you, my darling. Wondered if our paths would ever cross again" he stroked her face, making her shudder.
"Get your filthy hands off her Felix" Killian said.
"Killian? You know him?" she asked, shocked.
"No. No way. This can't be" Felix laughed, throwing his head back. "You and the pirate" he looked at Aurelia.
She stood, walking over to her friends, touching Killians arm.
"And there was me thinking we were young and in love, eh Aurelia?" Felix said, making Killian looks furious.
"Stop this, Felix. We have to go" Another lost boy said. They began to walk off, before Felix turned and pointed at Aurelia
"I'll see you again soon. And Killian- look after my girl for me, will you?"
"What the hell just happened?" Killian asked. Aurelia sank down onto a tree trunk, putting her head in her hands.
"Hook, come for a walk with me. We'll leave the girls to talk" David said bluntly, and with reluctance, Killian walked away.
"Aurelia?" Emma said tentatively.
"No, no, no" Aurelia murmured. "I have to go after Killian" and she darted into the forest.
She searched long and hard for David and Killian before she realised she was lost. She headed towards a hill, and even in the darkness she recognised it. There was a tree trunk that had been cut down to an executioners block, and she knew this was the place where she had saved Hooks life- and then been killed in the process. She walked up to it, falling down and crying. Killian would hate her. How did he know Felix? Where was Peter? Where was Henry?
"A-are you okay?" a voice asked, making her leap up and grab a sword.
It was a young boy, with light blonde hair and a kind face. He was dressed in one of the lost boys cloaks.
"Stop where you are, lost boy" she said.
"No, I'm not one of them! I left, and now they're after me!" he said.
"I find that hard to believe" she said.
"Do you have a choice? Look, I promise this isn't a trap"
"I'm keeping the sword" she warned, raising her eyebrows high.
"Just please, tell me how you got on the island. Maybe I can work out how to get off it" he said.
They began to talk, Aurelia trying hard not to reveal anything.
"I just have to find Peter" the boy said. "Not Pan- the good one- from the other world.
"Peter?" Aurelia said "I know him. Is he here, alive? Oh god, where is he?"
"it is said that Pan has him" the boy said.
"Why?" Aurelia asked, panicked.
"The first reason is because Peter acted like he owned Neverland. The second is because Felix hates him, because they were in love with the same woman"
"What woman?" Aurelia asked, her heart fluttering.
"I don't know. Something about a mermaid though" The boy said. There was a rustling, and he jumped up. "I have to go"
"No, please, tell me where he is! What's your name? please?" Aurelia called after him as he ran off.
"You'll find out soon Aurelia!" he shouted from the darkness.
She was so confused by the encounter she didn't wonder how he knew her name.
As she ran into the forest, she hid by a large tree, trying to quieten her breathing when a hand covered her mouth, and a face loomed into view. It was Felix, and his hand stopped her from screaming.
"Shhh, shhh now" and she stopped. "I just want to talk to you" he said, earnestly.
"So talk" she said coldly.
"Look, I've been dreaming of the day that I would see you again. Even on this god-forsaken island. But I never could imagine you would be here… and now I realise. It's too dangerous. No matter how important I am to him, you are just a pawn in Pan's game. The way I see it, you have two choices"
She was silent and still, listening to his every word.
"one- you leave the island immediately. I know you won't do that, what with Henry being here and all your… loved ones"
"What's the second option?" Aurelia said, swallowing and breathing slower.
"Join me" he said, leaning in and kissing her. She tried to push him off, but he was too strong and he wrapped his arms, pushing her to the ground as he pinned her down, his mouth fastened on hers and she fought against him. She pulled her mouth away and gave a blood-curdling scream, kicking at him.
"Stop fighting me, I know you love me too" Felix said.
"Where Peter?" she asked.
"Pan? Oh, he's everywhere" Felix shrugged, his lip bleeding from where Aurelia had bit it
"You know which Peter I mean- MY Peter"
"I'm trying to save you, and all you care about is HIM?! You've already got Hook, and me. How many men do you want, hm Aurelia?"
"I don't want you" she whispered viciously, and kicked him hard, running away, leaving him scrambling on the floor then following her. She came to the edge of the cliff, and could see little figures on the other side. It was Killian, and Emma, and they looked at her as she screamed and waved her arms. There was no way they could reach each other in time.
Suddenly, she heard Felix behind her, and turned, her back to the edge. She considered falling, but she would die. Her eyes became focused on a bottle Felix had in his hands. He grabbed her, throwing her to her knees, and she could hear the distant protests of her friends and Killian from the other side of the vast sea.
Felix couln't look at her as he punched her, almost knocking her out. He held her, almost sobbing as he whispered apologies.
"I didn't want to hurt you, my darling. But you wouldn't stop fighting- why wouldn't you stop fighting? Drink this- it will solve everything"
And he shoved the contents of the bottle down her throat. As she swallowed, she was aware of a pink-red glow surrounding the pair then fading as she passed out.