The Shadow's Keeper ~OUAT Peter Panfiction (Book 2)

A Frozen Heart

        Arriving back to the cave, Peter's thoughts were smeared with questions. As much as he would've liked it to be the case, Anwen wasn't completely useless. She couldn't just shape shift, but also bring back the dead. What she could do with that, Peter forced himself to not think about.
        As his feet softly landed on a small patch of grass, his brows compressed at the sight of Anne anxiously scribbling on what Peter guessed, had been a sheet of paper. Her back to him, she sat on her legs. Inching closer, Peter observed the sheet that was sitting on a rock that served as a table. He then cleared his throat. Anne was instantly startled and hurriedly crumpled up the drawing, but she feared it was too late. And it was. Surrendering with a sigh as she got up to face him, his eyes expecting of her. "What are you writing?"
        "I...wasn't," she tried, keeping the ball of paper behind her.
        "I see," Peter replied, softly smiling because he knew she was lying and reached behind her with both of his arms. For a moment, Anne was convinced he was just going to hug her, except his hands smoothed down her arms.
        His eyes trailing the center of her body, he held that soft smile still as his hands wrapped around her own. Feeling the crumpled up paper, Peter took it from her and swiftly moved away. While he unraveled the ball, Anne's cheeks reddened dramatically. "I..." she began quietly, shrinking.
        Lifting a hand to cut her off, Peter's cold eyes never transitioned off the wrinkled page. Observing what looked to be a dark-covered book with a light spiraled design on the front of it's seam, it had a familiarity to it. Then Peter remembered and grew frigid with fear. Relieving his chest of a shaky breath, his vision blurred. The book was a list of chronologically placed principles on how to rip out hearts and crush them as a magical being or not. It had two parts, one for beginners, and the back for styles and techniques on the task.
        With a sigh, Peter finally met Anne's gaze that had welled with dreadful anxiety. "Where did you see this?" He asked, slightly tense.
        "I-I don't know what it is--" Anne began with a lie when she was interrupted.
        "That wasn't the question I asked you."
        "I know," she confessed, ultimately looking down in shame. "It was in a dream of mine," she answered.
        "And...what, you planned to search for this book in hopes of finding it to use it to your advantage? To take my heart and crush it to save your family?" Peter had been convinced Anne was changed, but now, he felt they were sent right back to the beginning. He was convinced she still wanted to kill him and that no game playing or elixir making was going to make her forget what she lived for. Narrowing his eyes, he went over to her. "We are not doing this again, my little Anna, and do you know why?"
        Roughly swallowing, guilt translated through her green pools. She then shook her head.
        "Because I'm going to spare you the trouble," Peter spoke. Anne gasped when he shoved his hand into his chest and ripped out his icy heart. It was stained with ugly blotches of black. Wincing painfully from the effort, Peter held out the pulsing organ. Glistening pale blue ice had begun etching over the vibrant glowing red. 
        The design fascinated Anne but also frightened her. Pan's hand slightly quivering, he grew cold with apprehension, debating offering his heart. "What are doing?" Anne finally asked.
        "Take it," he pushed through his teeth, forcing himself to not think about it. If she really loved him, she wouldn't crush his heart. This way, giving his heart to her would prove something. It'd prove that he was willing to put all his trust into her, and it would prove his point. Reluctant, Anne finally took it, causing Peter's breath to hitch. She stared at him with uncertainty and suddenly felt reckless and terrified. Shaking herself, she shivered at the chilled lump of muscle. Her green pools wide, she fell silent.

        "Crush it, I know that's why you wanted to find that book." Of course Peter didn't want to die, but he wasn't about to risk everything for someone he would never be loved by no matter how hard he tried. Furrowing his brows at the suddenly strange, perplexed look on Anne's face, he began to feel pained she had yet to speak to him.
        "Why??" She finally asked, slightly frustrated.
        "Because, either we are in this together, or we won't be in this at all. Kill me if you wish, because I'd rather die than have to live without your loyalty and trust for the rest of my life." 
        And he was honest, more honest than he'd ever possibly be. It was true that he'd rather die than fight for what would be nothing in the end, and that terrified Peter, that he'd die for a girl--but at the same time, something forced him to believe she was worth the world.
        Little did he know, at the time, that taking the risk of dying was pulling off. The idea that Pan must've been deeply devoted to Anne to the point he was willing to have her end his life if he couldn't have her loyalty and trust, attacked her hotly. Her own heart had been pounding, demanding her to choose between killing him and saving him, screaming at her to completely give in--she realized--to devoting her own soul and self to him. Her head had been telling her to crush his heart, but in the end, she shut the voice out and handed the organ back. It was thawing in her grip, warming Pan up at just the sight of it.
        "I could never kill you," she cried, forcing it back toward him before the voice could come back.
        Utter relief washed over Pan and he couldn't help but smile. Taking it, he pushed it back into his chest. Warmth swallowed the heart whole the instant it was set and for the first time in a long while, Peter felt renewed.

        Without hesitation, he pulled her close and stared into her eyes. They still looked lost but he could no longer think about it. "I knew you'd spare me, you love me too much," he breathed, before longingly kissing her. Reluctantly kissing him back, Anne felt irritable, wanting to tell him the truth about the drawing. But she was weakening to his kissing, having missed his lips. Her heart fluttering madly inside her chest, her head was beginning to spin. Groping blindly about his chest and arms, she searched for something to grasp. Greatly chilled by her wandering hands, Peter kissed her harder, struggling to bring himself back to his senses. This was the first time kissing since Anne had got her memories back with her change, and it was delicious, so Pan wasn't about to quit.
        Finally gripping his shirt, Anne was able to break from his lips and stared, love-struck, into his eyes. But there was something else. Anne still looked troubled and Peter's brows compressed. 
        "Peter," she spoke, breathless, and throwing Pan off at her innocent-tinted use of his first name. "I never planned to crush your heart, I was going to crush Felix's." 

A.N. I'll let you take that last line in. In the mean time, I just wanted to talk about a few things. First off, I want to apologize for the slow updates, I've been busy with school, but I hope this chapter makes up for the waits! Secondly, an overview. Anne has her memories back, but she's more accepting of him, and has given in completely, don't you think? She's willing to love him back and now she wants to crush Felix's heart?! WHOA, BIG step. What's made her so...ruthless? 

Third of all, I know I've been promising answers and you'll get them, soon!--In the next few chapters! Let's not forget what happened to Rumple, he was cursed with Pan's dagger and then fell off a cliff. OH, and...they're all reunited and Henry's back! Pan says everyone's where he wants them so why would he reunite Henry with his family? Don't you think that'd be the last thing he'd want?

Thank you for reading and I hope you continue to stay tuned for more!! <33