Never

Chapter Six

Even though she was still technically a captive, Lily had to admit that getting out of her cage for a change was wonderful. After a few days, she'd finally been able to get rid of the constant cramp in her neck she'd gotten used to, as her body slowly grew stronger and more flexible. Every night as the boys danced, Lily itched to join them, merely to do something new, to flex her muscles, loosen up, but she never gave into the urge. It would give Pan far too much satisfaction to see her enjoying herself with the Boys. So Lily watched, leaning against a tree, as they celebrated each night, hating them, hating Pan.

Her sword fighting lessons were the subject of a running joke in the camp. Everyday Pan led her out into a field near the waterfall, teaching her the basic movements of sword fighting. He'd tried to hide how impressed he was at how fast of a learner Lily turned out to be, but Lily saw right through him and gloried in it. Any tiny victory over Pan was something worth celebrating. As the two of them spent more and more time together, Lily found herself realizing just how despicable he was. She'd never liked him, but with each passing hour spent in his company, she found the hatred inside her burning brighter, ever stronger. He was the most terrible person she'd ever met, she decided. She would kill him.

The afternoon after her fourth lesson, Lily sat on a rotting stump not far from the roaring fire. Her slim, brown hand was clenched around the hilt of her sword, eyes darting suspiciously around her. Despite Pan's constant, smirking urges to trust the Boys, Lily had yet to spend a single moment feeling safe around them. Today Felix was her guard, and he sat across the clearing from her, eyes wide and hungry, leering at her. Every time their eyes met, Lily's resolve to kill him hardened. He was mocking her, every twisted smirk sparking a memory of his cold, clammy hands on her skin. Every smirk made her feel sicker. She'd begged Peter not to leave her with him, but he'd just laughed. He'll behave himself, love.

Yeah, right.

Just as the thought of making a run for it crossed Lily's mind, a shadow crashed across her, blocking the firelight. Felix stood over her, grey eyes slitted, sparkling with sickening desire. His lank blond hair hung loose from his usual ponytail, and as he leaned towards her, the long strands brushed her face. She fought the urge to throw up as his hand landed on her shoulder, gently caressing her.

"He left us alone, didn't he?" Felix murmured, eyes glowing with delight. "He left me a treat."

Before he could say anything else, Lily drew her sword out of her scabbard, faster than lightning. She slashed at his face, the glowing tip of the blade striking across his skin. Felix gasped in bewilderment and pain as Lily pushed him down, smacking him in the head with the butt of her sword. His eyes rolled back, bloodshot and furious as he lost consciousness. A bright red line bisected his face from Lily's slash, beginning on the inner corner of his left eyebrow and leading all the way across his right cheekbone. Blood dripped from the cut, deep scarlet. She was filled with a mix of horror at what she'd done and satisfaction at the pain she'd caused him. Then she reared back. What have I done? This place was doing things to her, messing with her head. She had to get out.

And then Lily was running, the sounds of night falling in Neverland surrounding her as her bare feet pounded against the dirt. Purple light filtered through the trees as she tried to keep her breathing quiet, knowing it was no use. He'd know she'd run as soon as he reached the camp, which could be any second now. The boys would be returning soon, wouldn't they? Lily cursed quietly, running faster.

Trying to not imagine Pan's wrath when he'd found out she'd run away, Lily sprinted away, still faster and faster. Over the past few weeks, she'd been pretending to become more comfortable with the dynamic of the boys, even let them refer to her as the Lost Girl. She'd obeyed every rule, done exactly what Pan had asked, and in the end she'd ended up exactly where she wanted: trusted by the Lost Boys (minus Felix, who apparently wanted her there for other, less speakable reasons).

Somewhere, a bird shrieked, fluttering out of her nest. He's here. Of course, he wouldn't have upset the bird if he didn't want Lily to know he was near, to prepare herself. She should expect an attack. Lily unsheathed her tarnished gold longsword, tip stained ruby red with Felix's blood, eyes probing the jungle surrounding her. Silently, as if he was detaching himself from the shadow of the large oak tree he appeared from behind, Pan slipped out of the forest. His eyes flickered green, trademark smirk morphing into a snarl as he casually adjusted the strap on his scabbard.

"Well, now, Tiger Lily. Have you tried to escape?" he mocked.

Lily attacked before he could, flying out with her sword, slashing wildly through the air. Lily knew Peter preferred making the game more fun, more difficult for himself, more interesting. He wouldn't use magic unless things got out of hand. As Lily struck at him, perfectly executing every move he'd taught her, he lifted his own sword against hers, gold clashing with gold. As they fought, his eyes widened, the thrill of the battle sparking the animal inside him.

"Thought you could get away, did you?" he laughed without mirth.

Lily snarled back at him, flinging her sword wildly.

"You risked everything by making an escape attempt, Tiger. What would have happened if Hook had gotten you?"

Their blades flew in a frenzy, and Lily temporarily pinned his sword down, pressing the tip down into the hard-packed soil. He looked impressed, emotions showing openly for once on his face, eyes raking up and down her tense body. She hated the feeling his gaze gave her, cold and terrified, judged and loathed. Lily glared into his eyes, hatred burning in her own.

"Anything to get away from you," she growled as Pan jerked his sword out of her hold, pressing her up against a tree, blade at her throat. She felt a drop of blood bead at the tip of his blade as his eyes flared up with that familiar, unreadable emotion, part anger, part unreasonable fear.

"I taught you well." He grinned with slightly crooked teeth.

"Fuck you. Let me go."

"Why the hell are you so desperate to get out of here?" He whispered roughly, his body too close for comfort. Lily threw her head back slightly, groaning.

"You torture me daily, you don't let me do anything, you keep me in a cage," she ticked off on her fingers, lashing out at him with her legs. She kicked at his shins, heels connecting with his strong legs, trying in vain to unbalance him. He barely flinched, scooping her into his arms, completely ignoring her desperate struggling. He plucked her sword out of her hand, dropping it neatly into the dirt. He nudged it with his toe, frowning at what remained of Felix's blood.

"All valid points, love,but you'll find in the end that there's nothing you can do about it. Backto the camp now."