Finding You Always

Kingdoms Come and Castles Fall

Finding You Always

Chapter 75: Kingdoms Come and Castles Fall

Smoke swirled, as Clayton and the Dragon appeared inside Gold's shop. Clayton handed the staff to the Dragon and clenched his heart.

"Open this floor compartment," Clayton ordered. The staff glowed and the Dark One's magic resisted him.

"It is protected," the Dragon stated.

"Then break through the spell," Clayton snapped. The staff glowed brightly and the ages old power of the Dragon King's staff broke through and Clayton retrieved Pandora's box. The staff opened the box and Peter Pan appeared before them.

"Freeze him," Clayton ordered, as the staff's power bound him in place.

"What are you doing?" Pan demanded to know.

"I need another pawn," Clayton replied.

"Pan is no one's pawn," he spat. Clayton smirked and nodded to his other pawn.

"Until now," Clayton hissed, as the Dragon's hand thrust into Pan's chest, extracting a blackened red heart.

"What are you going to do?" Pan asked.

"I'm not going to do anything. You are going to get your little follower, Felix, and then you're going to cast a curse. Felix's heart should be sufficient for this purpose. He worships Pan, after all," Clayton said, as he handed him the scroll.

"This is..." Pan uttered, as he looked at it.

"Yes, it is the Dark Curse...the one that brought everyone here," Clayton replied.

"So I cast your curse...then what?" he hissed.

"Then I provide the only way out," Clayton responded.

"I won't be your pawn...I will get free," Pan hissed, but then cried out in pain, as Clayton squeezed his heart.

"No...you won't. You'll do my bidding and then I'll crush your heart to diamond dust," Clayton hissed, as he eased up. Pan glared at him.

"Now go," he ordered. And Pan had no choice but to obey his Master...

Felix seethed, as he watched the other Lost Boys sleep soundly. In their new home, the Storybrooke Orphanage. It was nicer and warmer than any orphanage he had ever seen, but he supposed he shouldn't have been surprised. This was a town run by Snow White, after all. It still made him sick though. He had watched the boys be happy and two had already been adopted, with more potential parents coming this morning. But Felix wanted no part of it. He missed Pan's island...Pan's order.

"Nice digs," a familiar voice commented and his head shot up. Felix's mouth dropped open, as Pan stood before him.

"Pan...but how?" he asked. Pan smirked.

"Pan never loses," he said, earning a devious grin from his most loyal pawn.

"Let's go...we have much to do," Pan said, as he and Felix climbed out the window.

"Then you have a plan?" Felix asked. Pan felt a twinge of pain, as his heart was squeezed and the voice sounded in his head.

"The little fool doesn't need to know I hold your black heart in my hand...that you're the pawn this time," he heard Clayton in his head, making Pan seethe.

"Tell him you'll be casting a curse. He won't know it's his heart you'll need, until it's too late. But first, release your shadow to create a distraction," Clayton instructed.

"First, we're going to let the shadow loose. He'll keep them busy while we prepare," Pan said, as they started off for the Harbor.

"Prepare for what?" Felix asked. Pan held up the scroll.