Wicked Game
By: Darkest Ember
Chapter 6: Operation
After my many years of conquests and pillaging, I was used to being revered. My crew respected me; my enemies feared me; my daughter admired me. But I don't believe I've ever been viewed in the light of heroism. Until today, that is.
When David and I returned to the campsite with a few logs in hand to maintain the ruse, Regina immediately demanded an explanation. There was no possible way it could take so long to collect a few pieces of wood. And why did we need wood when she possessed the power to create fire in the palm of her hand? I had every intention of responding with a snarky remark, but David cut me off.
"We took a bit of a detour," he admitted, pausing to gather his thoughts. "I haven't been completely honest with everyone. That arrow did more damage than I led on. I was poisoned…and Hook noticed the symptoms because he's had experience with this warfare before. We didn't go to get firewood; we went to find a cure. And we did!" He tugged on his shirt to show that even the puncture wound from the arrow had been healed.
Wasn't he going to tell them about the consequences? About his permanent residency on this island? He was ignoring every pointed look I was giving him, which was starting to irritate me. He can't lead his loved ones on like this. I was prepared to make the final revelation for him, but then Emma appeared in my peripheral, and all concerns regarding David's decisions vanished from my consciousness.
"Did you really save his life?" she asked in a raspy voice - filled with gratitude and a hint of disbelief. Did she think me incapable of saving another man's life?
"Aye," I nodded. "I've been to Neverland before. My brother was seeking an element known as dream shade, which was the same poison on the arrows that the Lost Boys shot. There was a spring on the far corner of the island. The water in that spring has magical healing properties."
She cocked a brow. "You have a brother?"
"Had a brother," I replied softly. "He died…shortly after our expedition here."
"I'm sorry to hear that," she said. "I can't thank you enough for saving him."
Her hand swooped down into my jacket, and she retrieved my trusty flask of rum. She turned around to face everyone else and held the flask up in the air. "To Hook," she cheered. Everyone responded in kind. She turned back to me and took a swig of rum before handing it back to me. "We should celebrate."
I took a rather large swig and gave her a cheeky grin. "Don't you think a proper thank you is in order?"
She smirked and appeared to be considering the possibility. Before I could entice her further, she grabbed the collar of my jacket and pulled me close to her. The moment our lips touched, a jolt of electricity swam through my body. I haven't felt this way toward a woman since Milah. Unfortunately, the kiss ended just as soon as it had begun. I couldn't help but touch my lips as she walked away to rejoin the others by the fire. Perhaps there was hope for romance yet.
+Katelyn's POV+
I couldn't figure out why Pan would be so eager to save someone like me…an enemy of his. What could he gain from curing me? Would he be able to heal me right here on the spot like he did for that lost boy? There really wasn't another option; if we were to leave the beach, it would be child's play for him to have the Lost Boys snatch Henry and return him to their captive camp.
Regardless of what he claimed, there had to be some sinister reason for him wanting Henry so badly. I refuse to be the one to give him that opportunity.
"So how does this work? Do you have more of that magical water you used earlier?"
"Unfortunately, I used the remainder of that vial on the boy you shot," he replied, emphasizing my role in the ordeal. Go figure. "As such, we'll have to go directly to the spring."
"What about Henry?" I asked, casting a glance in his direction to ensure that he was still on the beach. "You can't expect me to leave him alone."
His eyes darkened as an impish smirk spread across his face. "Don't forget, darling, you're indebted to me once I heal you. What if I want my favor to be you relinquishing your quest to protect Henry?" He crept closer until there was hardly an arm's length between us. "Would you refuse?"
I shouldn't be surprised that he would use this situation to his advantage. I was so desperate and worried about not dying that I just agreed to his terms without even thinking it through. His proximity and that damnable smirk added discomfort to my preexisting feelings of self-loathing. "You haven't healed me yet, so I can still refuse," I replied, thankful that my voice didn't come out with some pathetic quiver.
"Whose life do you value more - his or your own?" he asked, cocking his head. "From what I understand, you barely know the boy. Is he really worth risking your life?"
The pain in my leg was becoming unbearable, as was this conversation. With a sigh, I plopped back down in the sand and stared out at the ocean. "He could be a complete stranger, and I'd still want to protect him," I said. "I came here to prove to my father that I can handle adventure and danger. Lately he seems to think that it's too risky to take me out to sea with him. I was stuck in Storybrooke a lot and that's how I met Henry."
I couldn't understand what compelled me to reveal that to him, but I couldn't stop it from spilling out. Perhaps if he knew where I was coming from and what was motivating me, he'd stop playing this game of his. "That is rather noble of you," he nodded. "Hook is a fool if he thinks you can't handle anything that comes your way."
His tone was spiteful, yet complementary. Where did that come from? I despised the fact that I could feel my cheeks burning. Why should I care if someone like him thought I could fight for myself?
"I'm guessing I don't have much of a choice…we'll have to go to the spring. All three of us."
Pan rolled his eyes. "Why can't you just trust that I will keep him protected? No harm shall befall him so long as he returns to the camp."
I glanced over at Henry then back at Pan. "If something does happen to him while we're gone, the deal is off." Frustrated with myself for giving in so easily, I stood up too fast and stumbled backwards. Luckily, he was there to catch me. He wasn't even trying to hide his amusement at my expense.
"You're quite adorable when you try to negotiate," he smirked. I scoffed and shoved out of his arms. Turning to face him, I jabbed a finger into his chest and made sure to look as stern as possible, which was a bit challenging when it was obvious that he wasn't taking me serious in the slightest.
"I swear on my mother's grave, if you even think about betraying my trust, I'll-."
"Kill me?" he finished, laughing as though I'd just told some cheesy jest. He held his arms out to indicate he wouldn't try to stop me. "By all means, Katie, I'd love to see you try. Many have made attempts on my life, your father included, but no one will ever succeed."
As I struggled to come up with something defiant to say, he pulled a pan flute out of his pocket and played a tune. In response to my confused expression, he looked toward the opposite end of the beach where a couple of lost boys had appeared.
"How did they get here so fast?" I asked. "Did you have them waiting this whole time?"
"They heard me summoning them, that's all there is to it," he replied, shrugging.
The boys approached us, not bothering to conceal their thoughts of disdain and distrust toward me. "Alright boys, I've got an important mission for you. Take our treasured guest back to the camp, and make sure he stays safe." They nodded silently in response and carried Henry, who was still asleep, back into the woods. I watched them until they disappeared from sight. I didn't think Pan would do anything to harm Henry this very moment, but I still didn't like handing him back over like that, especially after we fought so hard to escape.
And yet there I was - following him back into this godforsaken jungle. Alone.
+ Pan's POV +
The trek through the forest fared quietly, though I can't particularly complain. Not having to fish for topics that would entertain this girl only allowed my mind to plan further ahead and consider all the possibilities of what could happen. Wouldn't it be delightful if Hook and his new comrade were still at the spring? That possibility was quickly dejected the moment I noticed smoke rising above the trees right where their camp should be. It mattered not; even if they weren't at the spring, there were still other games to be played.
Katelyn was walking behind me with her eyes glued to my back in an attempt to anticipate some surprise. While still maintaining my pace, I turned around and started walking backward so I could face her. "Would you be terribly upset if we made a brief stop?"
I could tell that her breathing was labored and there was a slight limp in her step. That arrow must've had an excessive amount of dream shade on the tip. She shouldn't be feeling these side effects so soon. "How brief is it going to be?" she bit out. "This isn't exactly a pleasant experience."
"Incredibly brief," I said, grabbing her hand and tugging her closer to the clearing that looked down into their campsite. They appeared to be in celebratory spirits, which leads me to believe Charming drank from the spring. I smirked to myself as I wondered whether the dear captain informed his princely companion of the water's effects.
Upon seeing the captain blatantly flirting and drinking with the savior, I could tell he saved the man's life solely to impress her. Katelyn also beheld the sight. Initially, she appeared shocked to see how easily I located them. But as she took a closer look, that shock became more of a disapproving and disbelieving frown directed toward them.
"Do you still believe them to be heroes?" I asked softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "They aren't looking for Henry or you for that matter."
"Surely they were doing that earlier in the day. They can't spend every hour searching," she said, though her tone didn't seem to contain as much justification as her words.
"You're dying right now, and your father hasn't the slightest clue," I replied. Her focus shifted solely to Hook. I wonder how she felt about his newest love interest. He appeared to be far more interested in Emma than his own daughter. And to think, if he would just look up and see her with me, he'd have a chance to stop me. Alas, the captain has made his decision. And now his daughter shall be the one to pay the price.
"I-I don't want to be here anymore," she murmured, shrugging out of my grip.
"As you wish," I replied. "I'm sorry if this upset you, but you needed to see it. Oftentimes, the people closest to us are the ones that hurt us the most." She shot me her standard glare, but it didn't possess nearly as much bite as usual. Her face contorted with sadness and perhaps a hint of disgust as she kicked a stone and sent it flying down the hill. Assuming it was a mere attempt to discard her anger, I returned to the path, not bothering to see whether her gesture caught any unwanted attention.
+ Felix's POV +
Admittedly, it was a bit of struggle to head back to camp through the woods. The adrenaline from facing off against Hook had worn off long ago and was replaced with hints of weariness and anger. It would've been a far easier task to go to the beach and see if that girl and the boy were still there, but I was certain that Pan had already caught up with them.
Evidently, I was half correct. Just as I entered camp, I saw some lost boys carrying Henry into one of the tents. A quick glance indicated that neither Pan nor the girl have returned yet, which intrigued me. I smirked as I approached his tent. This could be a rather amusing game.
I was unsure whether the boy was naturally asleep or as a result of Pan's spell, so I leaned against one of the support poles and waited. It didn't take long for him to awaken. His eyes fluttered open and a look of confusion immediately filled his face. He sprung up and glanced around, turning pale when he saw me, hiding in the shadows.
"Welcome back. You and your devious friend caused quite a tribulation today," I said with a surprisingly calm demeanor.
"I-I don't understand," he stammered. "How did we get back here? We were just on the beach."
"What do you mean 'we?' Katelyn isn't here."
"What? No… Where is she?" he asked, nearly falling off his cot in his attempts to create some distance between us. Initially, I had planned on getting some answers out of him, but it was evident that he knew little more than myself.
A new plan hatched in my brain. If Henry doesn't think Katelyn is his friend any longer, that would surely speed up Pan's plans.
"I saw the whole thing," I said, lacing my words with construed compassion. "She just stood there and let the lost boys take you. She didn't even try to stop them. Pan was there, too. He might've been the one to convince her to let you go…or maybe she was only using you for her own purposes."
I internally groaned when I noticed that Henry was already rejecting the possibility. How could he be so trusting of her?
"That doesn't make any sense," he said, shaking his head. "I know that Katelyn wants to help me. Even if you saw this happen, you couldn't hear what they were saying. Pan probably threatened or forced her to let them take me."
I could feel my teeth grinding as I bit back a response. "Perhaps," I nodded. "But what if there was no coercion involved? What if Pan was able to give her whatever she wanted? She wouldn't need to rescue you anymore to prove herself to her daddy." Although I did my best to keep my voice calm, there was still audible bitterness within each word.
Despite his continued attempts to defend her, I detected cracks of doubt. It might be more of a challenge than I anticipated, but I felt confident that I would destroy Henry's faith in her.
+ Katelyn's POV +
I was unsure what hurt more - the ache in my heart or the poison deteriorating the flesh on my leg. "Are we almost there? I really don't know how much longer I'll be able to walk."
He stopped at the sound of my voice and peered up through the trees. "The spring is still a couple of miles away." His voice trailed off as though there was something else on his mind. "There is an alternative," he said, turning to face me. "Provided you're capable of fully trusting me."
If saying that I "trusted" him meant no more walking, then there didn't seem to be much to debate. "Fine, I trust you," I said quickly.
Evidently, he didn't believe me. He took a few steps closer and placed a hand on each of my shoulders. "You can say it all you want, but if you don't believe it, then we're better off walking."
Growing frustrated, I closed my eyes and muttered obscenities under my breath. My life is literally in his hands right now; do I even have a choice? Upon drawing in a breath, I said, "I trust you."
"Was that truly such a challenge?" he asked, laughing as he sprinkled what appeared to be fairy dust of some sort on both of us.
"What is this?"
"Pixie dust," he said matter-of-factly. "Here, better give me your hand. First time flyers can be a little unstable." Without waiting for my consent, he grabbed my hand as we hovered above the ground.
In a matter of seconds, we were soaring above the trees. I could almost see the entire island from up here. Clouds of billowing smoke indicated where anyone, be they lost boys or part of the rescue team, was camping. The Jolly Roger looked like a toy ship out in the distant ocean.
"This is amazing!" I shouted over the gusting wind. I assume he heard me because he shot back a smile in response.
The spring was hidden beneath a mossy curtain, which did little to actually conceal what was on the other side. How was it that Pan was the only one who knew about this, when it was so poorly hidden?
Pan pulled the curtain back and allowed me to walk in first. "What do I do? Drink it…pour it over my wound?" I asked, crouching next to the tranquilly flowing water.
"After drinking a few sips of this spring water, your injury will be healed."
I've been around magic my whole life, and if there's one thing I remembered hearing and seeing on countless occasions, it was this: magic never came without a price. What would the price be for using this water? Would that price be worse than death?
Lost in thought, I hadn't noticed that Pan had handed me a makeshift leaf-cup filled with the water. "What is this going to do to me?" I asked softly.
He laughed. "Heal you of course."
I shot him a dirty look. "You know what I mean. What's going to happen after I'm healed? What's the cost?"
"This water is a pure form of magic. It's been here in Neverland long before I arrived. There is no consequence for using something that is of its own natural existence."
His answer sounded far too rehearsed and poetic, but I didn't really have time to argue. My knee buckled, and nearly all the water spilled out. I cursed under my breath and let my body fall. I tried reaching for the spring, but he stopped me and insisted that he do it for me. "Time is of the essence now. If you don't heal yourself soon, the dream shade's poison could have irreversible effects."
Disliking the way that sounded, I grabbed the refilled leaf and drank its contents. In a matter of seconds, I could see the poison vanishing and blood flowing back into my veins. The pain lingered longer than anything else, but after a while, even that was gone. Overwhelmed with relief, I turned to Pan and wrapped my arms around him.
I had only been injured for a handful of hours, yet I felt as if I'd just been cured from an illness that spanned weeks. "This is amazing," I exclaimed. "I feel amazing."
Pan smiled in response - a genuine, happy smile. "You do appear much more vibrant since first arriving in Neverland."
As we sat on a log outside of the spring, I took in the surroundings as the sun started to set and cast an explosion of color across the treetops. "This place is rather beautiful, when it's not being corrupted with rescue missions and deathly chases through the woods," I said, laughing with a touch of bitterness.
"Imagine that," he replied. "I'm not the villain here, Katelyn."
"That has yet to be determined," I teased, sticking out my tongue. It was strange…without being occupied by Henry's protection, I found myself actually feeling amiable toward Pan.
He appeared to take my words at face value, but after a moment he cracked a smirk.
"We still have another hour of daylight. Why don't we-." He stopped mid-sentence and stood up abruptly.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"We need to go back to the camp. I sense that Henry is in danger." He turned around to face me. "I promised to keep him safe, and I never break a promise."
A/N: The next chapter will have plenty of confrontations! I wrote double amount of words needed for this chapter, so once I sift through the second half, I should have another update posted soon. 3-5 comments would be amazing, though ;)
XoXo Amber