Darling Ellie || Peter Pan x OC || OUAT

Chapter 6

Peter

She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip while thinking, a strange fluttery feeling wound through my chest.

"If I tell you how I'm related to Wendy, will you let me go?" I smirked at her question.

"Yes, I'll move you to your room and continue your questioning tomorrow if you tell me." I answered.

I heard her draw a shuddering breath.

"Wendy is my Aunt; my father, John Darling, left me with her and her husband Christopher after my mother Kathleen died. He took off and left me." I was stunned.

Wendy wasn't her mother, but her mother was dead, and John abandoned her. He seemed like a good kid, but he left such an...an...innocent creature alone. Suddenly, I felt that I had to get back at him, but I pushed the feeling down.

"How long ago was that?"

"Four years, one month, one week and four days. He said he would be back in a few months. It was my twelfth birthday." She had counted all that time he had been gone, waiting for him to return.

"So, you're sixteen?" I asked her, trying to distract her from the painful memories I had just unearthed.

"Yes, my debutant party was last month."

"Debutant party?"

"It's when you're introduced to society, as a transition from childhood to adulthood and inviting courtship or some bullshit." She explained with a lazy wave of her hand, she seemed frustrated by the whole thing.

The curse slipped easily from her lips which took me a beat to register.

"Did you not enjoy it?"

"No, the party was fine, but it's almost a way to sell girls off to the highest bidder, come and get them while they're fresh." She sighed.

"Tell me, why was it so important you knew how we are related?" I didn't want to answer.

My head said no, but... "I had to know you weren't...that you couldn't be..."

She looked shocked, "Yours?"

"It would be impossible, anyway. I don't know why the thought ever crossed my mind." I waved my hand, and the lock to her cage disappeared.

The door fell open, and I extended my hand towards her. She seemed unsure but took the invitation to clamber out. Her legs faltered for a moment, and I grabbed her, holding her up off the ground. She looked up at me and swallowed dryly.

"Wendy, for all intents and purposes, was my mother, and she warned me about this place, about how she grew to love a place that poisoned her. If she hadn't grown up, I know she would have taken any opportunity to return."

I paused, still looking into Elaine's blue eyes. "She made her choice. I didn't want her back."

Elaine looked hurt; I could tell she loved her aunt. I released her and told her to follow me. We walked through the camp, the boys off hunting just as I wanted it. I knew today would be the day she cracked. I walked into my cabin and sensed the young girl was no longer next to me. I turned. Elaine had stopped at the threshold.

"Come on then." I commanded.

She bit her lip and walked forward. I wished she would stop doing that and yet hoped with everything I was that she wouldn't. What I knew was that I wanted to kiss those lips, but I shook my head to clear the thought. She refused to look at me, her gaze targeted on the floor.

"Your room is that one there." I pointed towards the small side room off the central area of my cabin.

She looked up in the direction of my hand. Then she looked over to the glass doors on the other side of the space.

"That's my room; I'm sure at some point you'll visit me." I smirked.

She huffed, "Unlikely."

"Finally, I get some kind of response." I laughed. "Even if it's not the one I was hoping for." I could see she was trying to keep a straight face.

I stepped closer, closing the gap between us. I leant down and whispered in her ear. "You're a challenge for me, Elaine, but don't worry, Peter Pan never fails." Her breath hitched in her throat, and she moved her head slightly, elongating her neck on the side I was standing.

Displaying the soft skin of her neck where her scent was most potent. I breathed deeply, the smell of Lavender and gentle rain filling my nose.

"See." I chuckled.

She suddenly pulled away, clearly embarrassed. "Your new clothes are in your room; you should definitely change before you see the boys, though I certainly don't mind the forgotten ragdoll look." She scowled at my comment.

I chuckled at her indignation. I watched her as she turned on her heel, walking into her new room. The door slammed behind her, the sound ringing in my ears. I was under her skin. I picked up a book and sat in my armchair, waiting for her to re-emerge. Waiting for the games to truly begin.