I walked through the jungle trees and bushes to his compound, the owner, Peter Pan himself, quickly catching up to me. Ducking under the tangling vines, he asked me stupid questions,
" Have you always been on Neverland?"
"Nope, first visit. Been keeping low-key in the enchanted forest; taking special requests. I'm more of a supply and demand kinda deal. Anyway, I just noticed the interesting qualities the island possessed and followed my father's dying wishes to stake our claim, leave some shadows to keep things running. Luring children in was their idea, clever little demon spawn they are. They can be intelligent if created CORRECTLY. Then word got around about someone taking over, a human... YOU." I added with bitterness, " Like I said I let it slide but the mast- the demon wasn't happy. He marked me with the curse for real; we always thought it was just legend to scare us but nope."
He nodded, "What's the mark? The Curse?"
I sighed and stopped in our tracks, I pulled off my shirt, lifting the back of the second, revealing my bare back. Peter read the words, incorrectly, burned on my back aloud and gave a sound of confusion. Turning and getting my shirts in order,
"et non est lumen ei filii Elathan. Children of Elathan have no light..." He'd probably laugh, " Love is a 'light' emotion, not for dark demons and their children. The curse is that if the fifth child, me, falls in love truly my memories and powers will be gone. That's what I meant earlier." I replied, gesturing to where we came from.
" And you think that we'd-" he laughed, gesturing between us with a finger, "Pfft, I wouldn't worry."
"Hey, I can't be too careful. I don't normally deal with other people that often. Besides if I was that weak-hearted I'd be a DEAD mortal by now. I'll have you know that I've had quite the lot of offerings before and after my powers, Mr. I'm-too-good-for-you."
" Oh, so lust is still an option?" He purred with a raised brow, closing in on me.
"Duh, it's one of the sins, many I'm sure you're familiar with."
" You are still naïve for such an old soul." He chuckled, pressing me against the nearby tree. "But I won't try my luck just yet, shadow girl."
With that he released me. I was confused. Why would he ask such a stupid question? Unless he was talking about-
"Oh you mangy fox you! That's- that's- ugh! You're unbelievable! Someone ought to squash that ego of yours, boy." I yelled, running up to him to catch up, "Thank god the shadows say there's only boys here. Any female you treat like some- some conquest!" I was upset with myself, realizing the irony that I thanked god...
Still reeling about his conquest ideals, I didn't notice when we reached the camp. Smiling he leaned to my ear and whispered, "Pan never fails." Before walking off to the bonfire and his so-called lost boys. I was furious. I can't believe I was worried for even a second for falling for this boy!
All eyes were on us, well, me. All the boys were relatively young, younger than Pan, only one coming close or even older; He certainly was taller. He was leaning against the tree closest to us, his weapon leaning next to him. Gripping it as we neared he addressed Peter.
"I thought this was given prisoner status." He said, glaring at me.
I felt shadow slipping out my fingers as I glared back. Suddenly I felt Peter kick my foot as he replied,
" Her STATUS is none of your concern, Felix. I can handle her." The last bit came with a look from Peter towards me. At this point I rolled my eyes, ultimately accepting Pan's blunt, and oddly perverted nature. Though for the rest of the boys' sake of calling him out he was somewhat discrete. He really was a teenage boy mind and body.
I let what shadow I tried to release dissolve. I awkwardly followed as we joined the rest of the boys around the fire. One of the youngest boys pulled my shirt as I sat on one of the logs. I looked down to him. I may not be supposed to express light emotions but I couldn't deny how cute this little guy was.
"Are you a lost GIRL?" He asked in a small voice.
I smiled and said, " Sure, I guess you could call me that. I'll be sticking around for awhile."
"Indeed." A voice bellowed, " And you should be inducted as such. What do you say boys? I think a fire dance is in order."
As if those words were everything, the boys hollered and shouted, running in all different directions. Some rolled away logs, causing me to jump in a fright from my seat. Others tossed leaves and firewood into the fire, causing it to grow. All the while they painted their faces and grabbed their make-shift weapons. I was still so lost to this world.
Pan came striding out, face painted and a flute in hand. What the hell was this, some cult ritual of acceptance? He grabbed a coconut full of face paint and came over to me. "Come on now, Ciarda! Get into the spirit." He called as he dipped a set of fingers into the mushy paints. I glared with untrusting eyes as he smeared the paints on my face.
"I don't see the point, Peter." I muttered.
"Like you said, you'll be sticking around. Might as well make you one of us. It eases their suspicions and it's fun." He replied. I rolled my eyes but agreed to play along.
"I'm taking my shields down just this once, for FUN, as you'd have it." I moved my hands in a series of motions, feeling my shields against magic dissolve away. " Now I'm susceptible to your little tricks. But I can whip my powers out like that." I added with a snap.
Shrugging, Pan put his flute to his lips and began to play. At first I didn't hear anything. I gave Pan a look like he had to be joking. The others were well into dancing and hollering. Shaking his head he moved closer to me, circling me as he played his haunting melody. I heard it faintly at first.
Wanting to deny it I said, "This is so stupid I don't even feel any-"
I felt my vision get like it does when my shadow power is being used. Gasping I made sure I hadn't accidentally unleashed it. No, It was nowhere. I realized, it must be Pan's music. He's enchanted it. I closed my eyes involuntarily. The music became the only sound I heard. It moved and faded through my ears. I heard the beats of my heart picking up.
Peter's voice came in with the music, adding to the trance, " I know you hear it, Ciarda. " his voice sounding far away. "Let it take you." It whispered, brushing my ear.
I felt my body slowly sway to the rhythm. I normally not nearly as graceful. Each part of my body was in sync with the music. Opening my eyes to the blurred world I moved my feet. I felt my arms raise. I even heard myself laugh, something I haven't truly done in years. I ran and jumped around the fire with the boys, causing them to whoop and shout for my arrival. I laughed and hollered with them. I saw Pan had put down his flute though the music played endlessly in my mind.
I saw his blurry green image pass the circle a few rotations. Laughing I snatched him in, tossing him in the cycle. He decided to play along, dancing in the throng. I barely even noticed my vision starting to blacken around the edges. I didn't even realize when I hit the ground in complete darkness.

AN: yay chapter 2? I'd really like some feedback. PS. Ciarda is pronounced Keer-da, it means dark and Elathan is the Celtic demon lord of darkness