Daughter of Neverland

Chapter 9

I squeeze my eyes shut tightly till all light is gone, I don't want to see anything that'll let me know how close I am to the ground. Seconds pass this time before the darkness quickly starts to fill with gold.

Why is there always gold when I close my eyes?

I'm pretty sure no one else sees gold when they close their eyes, at least that's what I was taught in school growing up. But it always happens when I feel one emotion too much: fear, sadness, joy, hope, and so much more. Something bad or good always happens when the gold fades and I don't know why. Most of the time it's something bad. Father's taken me to many mind doctors and they can't figure out what it is, I can't control it. I suspect Father might know what is wrong with me, but he won't tell me. He never tells me anything.

I finally hit something but it's not the ground. I'm in someone's arms. I open my eyes and look at the person who caught me. His eyes are covered in a haze and his face is empty of emotion. Why is the very one who dropped me now helping me?

"Put me down." I struggle in his grip.

He blinks and stares at me with disgust before he drops me.

"What did you do to me?" He looks down at me as if I'm something to fear. "You used magic on me."

"I don't have any magic. If I did I wouldn't still be here."

"Kaiser, what happened here?" His tone is calm but I think I hear a hint of concern.

I jump to my feet at the sound of Pan's voice, nearly slamming into Kaiser.

"We were doing our fight and I was about to win when she used magic on me."

"I assure you I don't have any magic. In fact, I'm so ordinary that it's sad." I jump in before Pan can speak.

"I wasn't talking to you." he glares down at me then he turns his attention to the young Lord Kaiser, "What do you mean you were about to beat her?!" His words sound sharp like they could kill.

Why'd I just think that? Note to self stop thinking like that.

Kaiser blinks, "I had her cornered. She was about to jump to the next platform and I caught her. She told me to drop her and I did, straight off the platform's edge."

Anger flares in Pan's eye, "You could've killed her."

Is he really that concerned about my safety? Surely this is just another trick. I look at him but he refuses to meet my eyes.

"I realize that now and I'm sorry, friend. But I didn't because she put some sort of spell on me. One minute I was on the platform thinking about the mistake I just made and the next she was in my arms." He waves his hands around wildly as he speaks, the hate in his eyes is all too obvious.

"If you don't leave right now I just might banish you," he says still not looking at me.

"Of course." Kaiser bows and then excuses himself.

I laugh and Pan finally turns his attention to me. "You are an idiot." He storms away, staggering slightly still under the influence of his drink.

What in the world?!

"I don't care what you think," I yell as I storm off in the other direction. I can't leave it at that. "And I can handle myself."

I stomp away not really looking where it is exactly that I'm headed. I just . . . I just need to get away from all the people.

I can't believe him! One minute he's all: Let me help you, love. I'd do anything to keep you safe, love. And the next he's all If you even breathe near me I'll kill you. You're so dumb, Ari, I hate you. I don't understand him. I don't think I'll ever understand him. I hate him for how much he confuses me. And why does he keep banishing and hurting people on account of me? I don't need some boy fighting my fights. I've lived on my own all my life. Why am I so cold? I look down and see that I'm waist-deep in the ocean.