Peter's Lily (Sequel to Pan's Tiger)

Chapter 51: Death Day Adventures

Hey,
Thanks for reading. I can't believe I'm on the penultimate chapter, drawing so very close to the end of both of the books 😢🙁😥
I've decided to update the last two together as a little thank you present to everyone who has been reading and enjoying my books so far, hope you enjoy! ☺️
Hope you all had an amazing Easter (if you celebrate it) and a fantastic holiday 😀😊
Please vote and comment.
Enjoy,
Annabelle_the_reader
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'It seems I have invaded your subconscious, Tiger Lily.'

I sharply spun around. The Shadow was standing merely metres away, in the shadows of the trees. He floated forwards and came towards me, but stopped a safe distance away, not wanting to scare me.

'By that you mean I am in fact not dead?' I wondered hopefully.

I relaxed a little, suddenly becoming more familiar to what was happening. Stunned, I padded from foot to foot, able to see the Shadow more easily now.

'How long do you think a subconscious lasts between dying and death?' The Shadow asked, folding his arms up and looking at me directly in the eyes.

'How are you here?'

The Shadow chuckled, and spoke with a high level of intelligence, 'I think "here" is an usual way of putting it. Assuming by that you mean "in my subconscious" then I think you can figure out your answer. I obviously feature a lot in your mind.'

My jaw clenched and I didn't reply to what he was saying, thinking the words through in my mind. Most importantly, I decided it would be harder for me to stop thinking about the Shadow than to stop getting hurt, so I decided to do the latter.

I didn't answer, I didn't want to answer any more of his riddles. The Shadow, realising this, continued, 'Since giving your heart to Pan, you have started to die. This is your final goodbye, your death day party, your celebration. Of all the beings to attend, all the people you love and care about, why do you think that I am here?'

My eyes narrowed. I hadn't considered this. Logically, Pan would be the person that would attend my "death day", so why wasn't he here? Something about those two words frightened me and my throat clenched, like I suddenly began to feel like I was dying. There had been an enormous part of me that had hoped it would be all some horrible trick and we would both live in Neverland together forever.

'I don't know.' I admitted with a shrug.

The Shadow glided backwards for a moment, vaguely, he hinted, 'Consider this then: why not anybody else? Why not, for example, someone like Peter Pan, or Malcolm as he used to be? He is the love of your life... your husband... the Father of your only child.'

'Indeed,' I agreed and bit my lip, letting the thoughts settle in my mind. 'Is it because of his inconsistency? The transition from Malcolm to Peter Pan and my different, capricious emotions toward him?'

'Not quite. Remember that we are in your subconscious mind,' He hinted to me and I realised that I must have been very wrong to need a hint. I groaned, the part of my mind I couldn't begin to comprehend was the only part I could analyse to determine this.

Suddenly, I snapped my fingers and turned to the Shadow with excitement, 'It's because of what happened when I wouldn't let him find Henry. He was angry and caged me, tortured me, whipped me and even stole my heart. Now all of that pain is subconsciously associated with him. And now I have died for him. I should hate him.'

'Correct,' The Shadow nodded and despite having little emotion, still seemed to be condescending. 'You cannot have someone you subconsciously fear to attend your death day, that wouldn't do, even if you loved them.'