Playing In Pan's Game

Chapter 9

Ace's POV

I couldn't help but to have a sense of déjà vu as I sat on the cliff's edge looking over the dark forest again. Only difference was this time I wasn't here to jump, just to think.

Maybe I had overreacted, I mean, Peter meant well... right?

But that's where I stopped. The fact I was questioning his intentions. If I really thought he was trying to do what was best for me, I wouldn't question him. He was so unpredictable to the point where I feel like I don't even know him half of the time.

Yet here I was, desperately in love with him. No matter what he did I always went back to him, every single time. I always made it too easy to forgive his mistakes because he was the only one I felt actually loved me. But maybe that's how he sees me, seeing as he betrayed everyone to become who he is now. Maybe that was why he was so desperate to hide the truth.

Maybe it wasn't, though. There was no way of knowing with him, I could never tell for sure. He plays mind games without even meaning too, that's just how he is.

My thoughts were everywhere. Half of me wanted to go back, hold him tight and plot my father's murder (finally). The other half wanted me to not go back, to make him come to me, or to take care of Hook myself. I had never fought anyone without Peter or the Lost Boys there, though. I had no back up, no defenses; but maybe that would make it easier. Less chance of being spotted, no drama, just me myself and I.

"Ah, just the girl I wanted to see." I tensed, every bone in my body ready to pounce any second. I grabbed my small dagger I kept in my boot and held it in my hand.

"I just talked to lover boy," Hook teased.

I sat there, not wanting to look back and see his face, not wanting to acknowledge his presence, not wanting to really see him alive and breathing.

"Are you gonna ignore me now? Now, that's no way to treat good ol' daddy, is it?"

"You are not my dad," I spit.

He laughed. "Hate to break it to you sweetheart, but you had to come from somewhere. We share the same blood."

"Doesn't mean we're alike."

"Doesn't it?"

"No," I said, trying to keep my anger under control.

"Anyway, that's not why I'm here, I'm here to talk about Peter. I know mean old Pan never told you about me, how could he keep such a secret from you?"

"Your point is?"

"Why would you ever want to stay with someone who will continue to lie to you forever?"

I laughed. "If this is your sad attempt at getting me to leave this island with you, the answer is a hell no."

"I'm not asking you to leave with me, necessarily. I'm here to make a suggestion. I have passage off this island, and if you want to leave, there's your chance. I'm not asking you to stay with me, as soon as we leave, we never have to see each other again."

"Why would I want that? I know you only do things that benefit you, so how does this help you?" I asked.

"Why, I get to see Pan suffer. The one thing he loves, gone. Taken from him, right in front of his very eyes."

"So you're asking me to leave with you, my living nightmare, so I can hurt the one person who ever loved me?" I snickered.

"You wouldn't be here if you didn't question his love. See this as a... test for you. When you tell him, just look him in the eyes, you'll know how he feels then. I can guarantee after my talk with him, you'll want to leave. Bloody hell, you'll want to be the one to kill him."