Chapter Eight

                                    

                                          

Pan's point of view
                          
When I came back to camp, everything was hushed and quiet. The Lost Boys were sitting around the fire, eerily still. I immediately knew something was amiss.

I frowned, a sense of foreboding in the pit of my stomach. As I came closer, I saw that they were all looking at something that looked like a pile of rags. Closer still but not close enough that they would see me, I realized that the pile of rags was actually a body. Stefan's limp and unconscious body.

Hot white rage filled me. Not because he was hurt, I couldn't have cared less. But because he hadn't been able to keep Alianna put. He had one simple task, keeping the prisoner on lockdown until I got back, and he managed to get himself knocked out by a girl that hadn't had a single day of combat training in her life?

I ran a hand down my face, knowing that things weren't as bad as they seemed, for she couldn't leave the island on her own, yet it did nothing to calm my temper. I was seething, and cursed his uselessness. What use was all the training they were given if they couldn't obey the simple orders that I'd given them?

I felt the anger rising in my chest, yet didn't feel inclined to hold it back. I took a few more steps towards the campfire, and as if sensing my presence, Felix looked up, noticing me for the first time. At his sharp intake of breath, the others looked up, noticing me there, anger threatening to spill. The camp went, if possible, even more silent, the only sound coming from the crackling of the flames. 

A sandy haired boy stood up. I knew what he was going to say before he could even open his mouth. "Please Pan, help him" Ian started, but I interrupted him, waving him silent. 

"Where is she?" I asked as calmly as I could, knowing how useless they became once they got scared. 

He wrung his hands nervously. "She-she got away," he quailed under my furious glare, "but please - help Stefan, he's got a head injury, he's bleeding." He indicated the makeshift bandage that they'd wrapped around his head, already stained red. "You're the only one who can save him, or else he'll-" he seemed to choke on his words. Apparently, Stefan's death was too painful for him to consider.

Perhaps, on some other night, I would've helped him, yet tonight, I felt far from merciful. "I won't help him," I said coldly as Ian looked at me with disbelief in his eyes. "I don't have any use for people who fail me, and he has. He wasn't even able to obey a simple order, and for that, he shall pay." I shrugged carelessly. "Death is a fitting punishment."

"But it wasn't his fault!" Ian protested, unable to let the subject go, for it would mean Stefan's death. The murmurs that had been building up since I appeared ceased immediately. No one had talked back to me like that in a long time and lived, although his anger was justified, so I let it pass. Just this once. "That new girl knocked him out! It's her fault, don't punish Stefan for something she did!"

"Silence," I commanded, "before I make Stefan's death look like child's play compared to what I'll do to you." I spoke calmly, yet I poured power into my words, feeling the whole island responding to my mood. The sky darkened, the trees seemed to lean down closer to the camp, trying to grab any unfortunate soul who passed by. Wolves howled in the distance and a cold, fierce wind picking up, blowing away the leaves.

All the boy's eyes were on me now, wide and scared from my little show of power. I smirked. Good, let them be afraid.

Knowing that nobody would dare cross me, I crouched down next to Stefan's barely alive body, Ian stiffening next to me. I grinned, my fury goading me on. In one swift movement, I plunged my hand into his chest and brought out his heart. His body was completely irresponsive, except for a slight hitch in his already irregular breathing.

I was holding in my hand, not his true organ heart, but his spiritual heart, the one connected to the emotions, the feelings. The one that anyone with magical powers could rip out. I held the pulsing and shining heart up for everyone to see. They all looked at me with sick apprehension, wanting to look away, yet were too fascinated by the glowing heart.

"This is what happens to anyone who disobeys me," I said, getting back on my feet, holding the heart up for everyone to see. 

Knowing fully well that everyone's eyes were trained on me, I flexed my fingers, slowly squeezing the heart, letting the rush of power exhilarate me. Stefan's body tensed at my feet. I continued applying pressure, relishing in the feeling of the life between my finger I was slowly extinguishing. His body started shaking, his face in pain. Still harder. A low moan of pain escaped his lips, his fists clenching and unclenching. 

With a sadistic twist of my lips, I crushed the heart. It dissolved into ashes, and I let it trickle through my fingers as if were no more important than sand. Stefan's body fell back limply on the ground, completely still. 

The clearing was now devoid of any sound except for the sobs racking Ian's body as he cried over Stefan's lifeless form.

I looked around myself, eyes blazing. "Let Stefan's fate be a reminder of who is in charge here. I will not tolerate any disobedience or disloyalty from now on. I have been lax with the rules for some time now, and it is long time that I force some order back in this island." 

Every face was turned towards me. Some with looks of shock and horror, while others tried to hide their looks of revulsion and fear. All of them but Ian.

I let it slide for now. After all, I had just killed his brother.

"I want search parties to be formed to find the fugitive," I ordered, moving on. "Find her, or you will suffer my... displeasure." 

Of course, I could easily track the girl down with my magic, teleport her instantly back to me, but I felt like making my Lost Boys work for a bit. It'll be a good training exercise. I turned away from them.

"Stefan's Mourning will be held at midnight, once you all come back," I told them as I walked away, towards the Home Tree, Ian's resounding sobs and cries of desperation still ringing in my ears.