Hooks and Hulls
Crossover: Once Upon a Time & Bedknobs and Broomsticks
"Hellebore, henbane, aconite. Glow-worm fire, firefly light," Miss Price intoned solemnly, holding her hands out above the hook on the table. It sounded like utter nonsense, but as she finished, the hook began to glow. It eventually settled on a bright shade of pink, and Miss Price looked quite satisfied with her handiwork. "Well! Isn't that pretty?"
Hook forced a tight smile and a noncommittal "Hmm." After a moment, he asked apprehensively, "Is it going to stay looking like that?"
Miss Price seemed surprised by the question. "Well, I don't think so. Oh, look! It seems to be fading already." She beamed up at him and he plastered the taut smile back on his face.
The glow soon faded entirely, leaving his hook looking exactly as it had before. That was a relief, although he was still hesitant to put it back on. Even barring the risks of an incorrectly-cast spell, it wasn't clear to him how traveling by hook was supposed to work. Did the spell "know" he was supposed to be transported along with the hook? Or was the hook going to fly off to another realm and drag him along by his arm (assuming neither the cuff nor his arm gave way before he got there)? Miss Price hadn't really given him a chance to ask questions, any more than she had asked if he actually wanted her help. She'd just forged ahead, taking over his ship, issuing instructions, and assuming he'd comply, and quite spinelessly, he had. Part of him almost hoped she was working some kind of mind-control magic on him, so he wouldn't have to justify to himself why he was letting her push him around. Sure, he'd seen her turn a man into a rabbit for crossing her, but he wasn't a coward.
Miss Price picked the hook up and held it out to him with a smile. "There you go, dear. Now, to work the spell, you must tap the hook three times, state in a firm, clear voice where you want to go, and turn the hook one quarter turn to the left." She thought for a moment. "And better keep a good hold on whatever you're carrying along with you—I don't know what might happen to anything you drop while you're traveling."
Hook eyed the hook, not really sure what to say. Any time now she was going to spring the catch to this deal on him. He shouldn't owe her a thing for a spell she'd cast on his belongings without his request or consent, but magic-users never seemed to play by those rules. Some practically made an art form of getting their "customers" to accept the magic first before hearing the complete terms. And considering that the most powerful sorceress left in the Enchanted Forest had yet to find magic powerful enough to get her to Storybrooke, the price for this spell was sure to be staggering.
Miss Price tilted her head and peered up into his face. She was still holding out the hook, which he'd made no move to accept. He was just staring at it pensively, his hand on his chin and stump tucked under his elbow. She waited a little longer, but he appeared to have forgotten she was there. Finally she shifted and cleared her throat.
"Killian? Killian, dear, is everything all right?"
Hook finally snapped out of his trance. "Um..." he blinked, trying to gather his thoughts, "I...Yes."
Miss Price didn't look entirely convinced, but she smiled anyway. "Excellent. Here you go, dear," she said, extending the hook again. He accepted gingerly. It didn't burn, or bite, or zap his fingers. He flipped it over in his hand, inspecting it from all sides. It looked and felt just like it always did, despite its previous glow. Miss Price slipped her arm through his and gave his arm an approving pat, "Now, why don't we go abovedecks and try it out?"
She tugged him up the stairs to the deck. It was by now fully dark and the marina was deserted. Hook glanced over the piers, wondering what had become of the rabbit, but saw no trace of it. He wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad one. He followed Miss Price over to the railing, where she stood and scanned the shore. "I think it's best to start out with a short distance first, just to make sure everything works properly. I would suggest that we aim for somewhere on the shore over there—perhaps under that oak tree by the butcher's." She released his arm for a moment to resettle her hat and adjust her hat pins to hold it more securely. She apparently intended to make the trip with him. Hook supposed that could be useful if something went wrong with the spell. While she secured her hat, Hook cautiously slid his hook into its socket. So far, so good. But there was something wrong. Something odd Miss Price had said. It was a nagging thought at the back of his mind that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
Miss Price slipped her arm through his once more. "All right, then. Three taps, state your destination, and a quarter turn to the left." Hook glanced down and realized that he had a white-knuckled grip on the railing of the ship. He forced his hand to relax. He wished he could figure out what was bothering him before trying the spell, but he couldn't pin it down. Miss Price nodded encouragingly at him. "Three taps..." Hook tapped his finger three times on the hook, and it began to glow, becoming brighter with each tap. "And the destination..." Miss Price prompted.
"Under the oak tree next to Matthew's butcher shop"
Hook began to rotate the hook. Just before it clicked into place, it hit him. I don't remember telling her my real name.
*click*