“I keep hearing that name; Peter Pan. He is a father to Wil if I recall, but what is he to you?” He decided to change the subject and pry somewhat. “It is far to late to give me that choice. Back when I was in her care, I’d have done anything and given anything if it meant that my sisters were protected.” He was not entirely selfish. He had not asked to be taken by his own needs, it was for others to live. But no one heard, and the one who did used him.
“Are all fae so uptight to ask for help or are you just a unique case? I am helping you so it won’t get infected.” He probably should’ve just told the guy to shut up but he let it be. Let the guy wear himself out.
And there was the compromise. And the guy somehow grew younger. And offered something else. And if Aurelius had been his desperate self years ago, at the circus, or in Mary Lou’s care, he would have taken it. But the other was met with silence for a long while.
“No. I do not take this offer. If it was just you somehow not remembering, fine. But I don’t want you to have me relive what ifs, pretty what ifs that aren’t possible from the past.”
He listened about Wil, “I don’t plan on hurting Wil. But I think he has done something that… I still don’t know if it’s good or bad.” He was neutral in this. He just helps, nothing more. “How do I know you won’t twist it. The erasing of your mind is all I can do. I don’t want happy false memories.” It was a partial lie, but he made himself live in the present. “You are right. What happens now won’t be like the future.” He thought.
Only he would know, only Kheelan may come after him. No one else? He thought it over. It would have gone this way anyway. Only he may know if it worked or not, others can rest easy but he would always think he could have done more. “Another deal. No memory, everything works. You believe we saved you. No child-like lies for my sake, no false happy memories.”
“And can we both at least agree that the Order is our worst enemy right now? They are a threat, and if we keep fighting amongst ourselves than that gives them more power.” He did not know much about this Order, but it reminded him of Second Salemers and he disliked those people now more than ever.
“The deal is the former. Can you handle that? Talk to me as you are… this younger you makes me feel weird” It made him feel sad, it reminded him of other children that he was sure was long gone, hopefully happy with old age. “I love the autumn.” He randomly said.
“I told you, already,” he stated, letting his body change back to his normally aged form. “He is the hoarder of lost children, those who are broken, and have no home. He takes them away to Neverland, a place of imagination, where children stay young forever and forget all their heartache.”
“What is he to me? That is to say one person is but one thing, when everyone is many. I raised him as much as a child could raise another child. I found him in the human world while I was out looking for a new host to feed from. He was there, no more. He was my conduit that I fed on. He was a friend, until he was stolen from me and the never happened happened and he managed to break my tether on his soul. I grieved for a human for the first time. He was mine. He was supposed to be with me and play with me until he died.”
“But I was not allowed in Neverland because it was made up of the very thing I would feed on. If I were to step foot there, all the children, and that world, and Peter would be gone. I was the void of what Peter was giving.”
“But eons passed and I wanted to break the curse I held on my son. Pan had him, for he was lost just like the other boys.. except my Peter adopted him. He’s just as much Wil’s father as I am. Peter Pan is now half Fae, from his time with me, but mostly from his time in Neverland among the other Faerie’s there. He is compulsive, fiery tempered, and vengeful just like all Fae, but he cares about the little lost ones. He got so angry when I told him my plan to see my son, when it involved creating another Page infant for me to link up with and kill.”
“He saved my life thinking it’s what Wil would want, or perhaps not... but he was always more the father to Wil than me, and it nearly destroyed Wil when he died.”
Kheelan stopped there. He believed his point made as he sat there now crossed legged upon that hardwood attic floor, awaiting the next step of their conversation -- a deal -- just between them... when...
“Wait. What has Wil done? And it’s never good or bad, because Fae are none.”
He’d discuss the Order later.
“All right, easier for me. No dreams, no childhood fun. You let me out and I agree to pretend for all that I don’t remember anything about this and that I was captured by the Order and that it was you and the little dragon who saved me.”
He extended his hand, again, this time one much older. “You love the Autumn, then show me?” he gestured to seal the deal between them.
