Tiger Lily (A Peter Pan Fanfic)

Chapter Ten

"What do you mean you can't hear the music anymore?" I demanded, my voice a harsh whisper.

Felix had just told me the real reason why he no longer danced with the other boys. The reason he no longer looked ecstatic when Pan put the pipe to his lips and began playing. It was because no music came to his ears. It was because he was loved.

But by who?

Sure, Felix and I were friends. I respected him, and he respected me. But I wouldn't say I loved him, even as a friend. I couldn't love anyone here, in any way. The minute I escaped this island with my father and Baelfire was the minute I left every memory of this place behind.

"You know what I mean, Tiger Lily." he spoke, his voice low and void of emotion.

"How long has it been?" I asked, casting a glance at him.

Shadows danced across his face as the fire flickered in front of us, causing him to look more sinister than usual. "How long has it been since what, Tiger Lily?"

"Since you've heard the music."

"Ten years."

"And you've stayed all this time?"

A flash of emotion flickered through Felix's usually unreadable eyes. His gaze jerked toward me, his lips set in a tight line. "You know why I stay. We're done speaking about this."

With that, he left to his own tent, quietly slipping away from the chaos of the night.

Seeing as no one was paying any mind to me, I, too, decided to slip away. Not into my tent, though; into the forest. It would be the perfect time to search for my father. Pan was distracted, and so were the boys. They'd be dancing for many hours more before they started to tire.

The only flaw with my plan was that there was no light to illuminate my journey. The natural light from the moon was blocked with clouds, sending more darkness over the entire island. I'd have to travel in the dark. Unless...

Perhaps Pan's teachings would be of use. We hadn't worked on summoning fire yet, but hey, a student that works ahead is usually a good student, right?

After trekking a few hundred yards into the forest, far away from Pan's view, I held out my hand, palms up.

Concentrating on the palm of my hand, I shut my eyes tight. I felt every emotion course through my veins as I directed them towards my palm. Anger towards my father for getting us here in the first place. Fear that he might be dead. Longing for my mother who had been gone for years. Hatred towards Pan for keeping us here. Hope that one day we might escape.

I gasped when I felt a small prick on the palm of my hand, and I opened my eyes. There in the middle of my hand was a small, flickering flame hovering just above my palm.

Grinning proudly, I held the flame in front of me, allowing it to light the way. I couldn't see much, but it was better than being surrounded by complete darkness.

If I knew my father, then he'd probably be somewhere along the beach with the Jolly Roger, getting ready to make camp for the night. Deep down, I knew he had been searching for me every day. I knew he wouldn't rest until he found me. But part of me resented him. Not just for getting us to Neverland, but for giving his time to numerous women while we were at sea.

Don't get me wrong, he was a proper gentleman. He never hurt a lady or took her against her will. But he was hungry for love, and apparently, a good amount of women were as well. It wasn't enough that he had a daughter that looked up to him, who relied on him to teach her things.

But I couldn't hold those things against him forever. He was filled with grief. He tried his best to be a good father, and by no means was he a bad father. Maybe just a lost one.