Checkmate

35. For old time's sake

Felix and Pan were fighting, a bandage around Pan's waist showing an injury that looked to have been the sword he took for me. I watched through Felix's eyes as he and Pan circled each other atop the cliff, the space limited, and one of my knives still embedded in the stone. Pan was calm, like a beast stalking his prey. It frightened me, until he spoke, his voice shaking.

"You tried to kill her," the demon growled, his voice cutting through the air as sharp as the blade in his hand.

"Isn't that what you wanted?" Felix snapped back. From his perspective, I could see Pan's grip tighten on his sword, his knuckles white. He was in pain, I could see that, and so could Felix.

The boy king shook his head. "Not like that!"

"Then how, Pan?" Felix snapped as he backed away from the demon, his space limited. "Let her fall from a stray arrow that you just so happened to fire?!"

"I had a plan."

"Yes, to kill her and let your precious Neverland live on."

"I was going to give her a life! A better life!" Pan's eyes were wild. "And I was going to let her grow old with a family, let her die in her old age, and restore Neverland to live on forever."

"Liar!" Felix spat. "You would never give up Neverland."

"I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HER!" My heart ached as I watched Pan battle through his pain and his emotions to stand tall, to stand and fight for me. The bandages around his waist gave me pause, but they seemed clean.

"You're weak," Felix said, his voice low but shaking. "You could never give up your power, your magic. Besides, you could have left her with her mother if that was your plan."

"Obviously, it wasn't always the plan."

"And when exactly did you decide to love Annie? From the first moment you saw her? The first time you kissed her? Her first kill?"

Despite his pain, Pan still donned his cocky smirk. "You were always loyal to me Felix, when did you decide to give that loyalty to her?"

"The moment she tried to kill me," Felix admitted quickly, causing Pan to scoff.

"You fell in love with her because she was the first girl to kiss you?"

"Well, when did you-"

"When she insisted on burying one of the dead boys," Pan admitted, silencing Felix instantly. "What is her favourite colour, Felix?" He asked, his face solemn. "Or do you have any idea what she fears most in all the realms?"

Felix scoffed a deep laugh. "Other than you?"

"Do you know the way her face softens when she talks to the boys? Or the way she always tries to find a way to resolve matters without fighting? Do you know what she does for fun, or tries to do for fun here? What does she miss most about her life before? What about how she smiles in her sleep when her dreams are peaceful? Do you know any of those things, Felix? No."

"Yes, I do!"

"All you feel for her is lust, teenage boy falling for the first girl to kiss him with no thought as to how badly you will break her heart when you find actual love. She chose me and I chose her."

Felix moved to strike, but Pan was quicker, slashing Felix's face to place the scar that would never heal. I felt the heat and the pain as it seared through the lost boy's face, causing me to pull from Felix sharply.

Tears welled in my eyes as I attempted to find the right words, my mouth opening and closing. But only silence rested between us as I took a step back from the lost boy. His face crumpled slightly as he tilted his head at me. I opened my mouth and closed it a few times before finally speaking.