“Isn’t it obvious?” the shadow said with a puzzled look. “Our dear Peter Pan has kissed his magic away!” It smiled fondly at Peter, pressing a skeletal hand affectionately to his heart. Peter strained against his bindings.

Wendy’s heart leapt into her throat. She could see the color draining from Peter’s face. Not like when someone became suddenly ill and their skin tinged green, but like his face was fading to the color of ash. Dark bruises blossomed under his eyes. Even the warm auburn of his hair started to fade. From the corner of his contorted mouth, pixie dust trickled down the side of his face. It dripped to the floor like liquid gold.

Wendy frantically tugged against the binds holding her feet. “Peter!” she shouted. He was slipping away from her. His eyelids drooped and his head lolled to the side.

“And it’s all because of you, Wendy,” the shadow crooned. It stood and walked over to Peter. It dragged a finger along his cheek, smearing the liquid light between its bony fingers.

Peter’s face contorted in pain, a low groan sounding from deep in his chest.

“Don’t touch him!” Wendy spat.

The shadow turned to her and wagged a disapproving finger. “Now, now, there’s no need for impoliteness,” it gently scolded her before holding its hands out at its sides. “I’m trying to thank you!”

The muscles in Wendy’s face twitched. She didn’t care what the shadow was or what it could do to her. All she wanted was to get it away from Peter.

And rip that smile off its face.

“What are you talking about?”

“Feelings, Wendy,” it said. Wendy’s resolve wavered for a moment, but she steeled herself, refusing to let it distract her. “From the very first time he saw you, he felt something for you. Something that kept luring him away from his responsibilities, from Neverland. It’s you, Wendy, who has brought the great Peter Pan to his knees.” The shadow began to walk in a slow circle around her, his black eyes hungry.

The hairs on the back of her neck prickled.

“I could see what was happening, of course, though he was far too oblivious,” it drawled. “With each visit to hear you tell those silly stories about him, I could feel him growing weaker. It was thanks to you, Wendy, and his feelings for you, that I grew more powerful.