In a fit of anger, I threw the grail onto the ground, allowing the purple wine to spill across the wooden floorboards. Couldn't Pan and I live without someone trying to kill us?

"Hey, Serena," Pan said, taking a hold of my shoulders. I chewed on my bottom lip, my eyes locked on the liquid. He kept me still until my breathing eventually slowed down and that's when he pulled me into a hug like before. "I won't let them get away with this."

"But who's 'them'?" I mumbled, rolling back my dried lips, my arms hanging loosely by my side as his kept themselves around my frail body.

"The mermaids. They must have gotten to one of the boys before the errand tomorrow."

"I don't..."

"Understand?" Pan finished for me, chuckling as he pulled away, holding my arms again. "They're mermaids and they're known for their jealousy," he said and winked. I scoffed, taking a deep breath. "I'll handle it."

"You better," I grumbled, not bothering to change into a nightgown: I slipped straight into bed, getting under the covers while Pan walked over to the dresser.

"We have about 10 or so years until we know for sure about Baelfire," he said and I was momentarily agitated that he brought up the topic. Cuddling the covers, I stared as Pan got out a dress.

"That sounds like a while," I said, sighing.

"Not exactly. You've already been here for 30."

"What?" It slipped from my mouth without warning. Was he being serious?

"The days on Neverland seem like normal days, but in other realms, they're years."

I had no words, honestly. If I had never found myself on Neverland, I'd be back on – well, wherever I came from, most likely with a husband, a family...but that wasn't what my heart desired. Not yet, anyway, and judging from Pan's 'relationship' with his son, he wasn't the family type. "It'll pass by quickly, love."

"Yeah..." I simply said, not bothering to think or speak about it anymore. Pan laid down the gown against the end of the bed, smirking to himself before snaking under the covers with me. But I kept my back to him. "I suppose you won't tell me what that gown's for?"

I heard him chuckle, blowing out the candle light and filling the tent with darkness. I felt his arms wrap around me from behind, his breath against my neck.

"You're so impatient, Serena," he sneered, placing a kiss in the crook of my neck; I rolled my eyes and then shut them, falling asleep in Pan's arms.

+++

The next morning, Pan woke me just before the sun rised and allowed us to discuss the day's events. The boys were still to attend the mermaid errand and get whatever Tink needed, but Pan would have a special word with the mermaids in concerns to their poison attempt. The lost boy who succumbed to the mermaids' enchantment wouldn't be punished, unless he willingly took their offer for – well, whatever they offered him in return for poison.

I was surprised at how calm Pan was towards this. Maybe it wasn't the first time the mermaids had tried something on him? But who were the mermaids trying to poison and why? Me or Pan?

The boys and I trudged through the jungle with Pan, Felix and myself leading at the front; I awkwardly stood in the middle. While I was getting changed this morning, I heard Pan have a word with Felix and it got quite...heated, to say the least. But those two were like brothers – they'd be fine by tomorrow...I hoped.

My eyes glanced to Pan and my previous thought of being calm faded almost instantly: his face was stern and frozen over, his eyes focused on walking forward. I couldn't tell if he was angry or annoyed – maybe even both?

But I didn't question him and instead, walked in silence until we reached the lagoon.

Two mermaids were bathing on the rocks, flicking their tails as one of them braided the other's hair. Two other mermaids were swimming around, throwing some sort of sea shell and giggling magically. When we emerged, one of them forgot to catch the shell and it smacked her head.

"Well, if it isn't Peter Pan," the braiding one chimed in, refusing to look at us; the girl who got hit with the shell was glaring at me, rubbing her head like it was my fault.

"I wonder what he and the boys want," one said, swimming towards us.

"Shut it, Attina."

"Felix's feisty today," the one braiding sneered, but then began to giggle; I felt Pan's breath against my ear.

"That one's Aquata, the clumsy one is Adella and the one with the fancy braids is Arista." I appreciated Pan providing me their names and I simply nodded, the two of us turning towards the lagoon again. In the corner of my eye, I saw James and Ethan load their arrows cautiously.

Pan started walking towards the shore and I couldn't help but hold a breath.

"Now, which one of you fishes tried to poison Serena?"

Adella started giggling but Attina whipped her head over her shoulder, glaring at the youngling and causing her to be quiet instantly. Pan smirked, kneeling down as Attina swam towards him, then leaning her torso against her arms that were folded against the sand.

"I'm guessing the poison was avoided," she charmed and Pan reached out and grabbed the mermaid's neck. Attina looked frightened with genuine fear in her eyes and I could see him tighten his grip, causing the mermaid to start choking.

"Who's idea was it, fish?" Pan sneered and I looked to Felix, who nodded once to reassure me: Pan knew what he was doing and I had to trust him. "It's not the first time one of you have tried to kill her."

"Ariel," Attina coughed and I saw Pan's eyes widen. But then they narrowed and his grip tightened even more, the mermaid clawing at his hands helplessly.

"You're lying."

"She's not!" cried Adella, attempting to pull Attina from Pan's grasp but neither of them were strong enough to break Pan's wrath.

"It's the truth," sneered Aquata, meeting my eyes before looking to her sisters.

That's when Pan dropped Attina, the mermaid gasping for breath and rubbing her neck, Adella holding her close.

Pan cursed under his breath, keeping himself kneeled down to the sand and allowing the waves to brush his knees.

"But that's not why you're here," chimed Arista, lying her torso against the rock and flicking her tail up and down. "Why bring your little minions, Peter?"

My body tensed, remembering how the mermaids called Pan 'Peter'. Only I had called him that, and it made me feel...I don't know, pathetically special?

"Where's the pearl?" Felix said, Pan getting to his feet but not moving: he glared over the lagoon, his eyes scanning each individual mermaid.

"You could at least ask nicely," giggled Adella, her eyes meeting mine again.

"Give us the girl, then we'll hand it over," snapped Aquata.

Smirking, Attina added, "we promise we won't hurt her."

"I doubt that," I heard Ethan mumble from behind, but I held my breath again, seeing Pan genuinely consider the offer.

"He wouldn't..." I said aloud to myself, but unfortunately allowed Felix to hear.

"Pan has his reasons," he said and I rolled my eyes. I know.

"Boys," Pan yelled, refusing to look our way. "Give them Serena." What?!

My jaw dropped instantly and I felt a pair of arms grab me from behind.

"Hey!" I yelled, attempting to pull myself away from the twins, Aiden and Alexander. But it was no use. I was thrown into the water with a loud splash and Adella grabbed me from behind straight away.

I stared at Pan through my wet hair, my chest physically aching from the cold water and the cold-hearted betrayal. What the hell was he doing?

Grinning, Attina leaned forwards and handed Pan the pearl, who still didn't look my way. He didn't look said nor angry – he looked satisfied and I felt sick. I had been kidnapped by Killian and now Pan had willingly handed me to the mermaids. Bastard!

"Come on, girls," Attina said in a voice so full of magic and charm. The two mermaids on the rock dived into the lagoon and the other two, Attina and Adella, took hold of my arms as they began swimming us away.

"Peter!" I cried out. It was pathetic, but I didn't care. I kept my gaze fixed on him but he just didn't meet my eyes, not once.

And then, him and the island disappeared from view.