Here's another chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 7
"So," Ariel began as she slinked back into the water and folded her arms over the edge of the boat. "What brings you back to Neverland, Jones? I must say it is a surprise to see you since you vowed never to return again."
"He came for me," Emma answered for him. "To help me get my son back."
She turned to Emma. "Your son? Did he runaway here?"
"No," Hook said this time shaking his head. "Henry…that's his name…was taken from us…by two people…Greg…fairly tall with thin hair…and Tamara…dark skin, dark hair…have you heard anything about them?"
She took a moment and looked at Hook, then back at Emma, before finally shrugging. "As a matter of fact…yes."
Hook and Emma shared a quick look of shock before he finally reached out and touched Ariel's arm. "What have you heard, Ariel? Tell us anything you know…we need to find them."
"It's not what I heard," she said to him and then turned to Emma. "It's what I saw…I've seen your Henry…and his captors."
"What?" Emma gasped as she felt her heart squeeze in her chest. "When? Where?"
"Mermaid's Lagoon…not too long ago. I was sitting on a rock, enjoying the sun when the water started to swirl…it was bizarre, something I've never seen before. The water then started to glow in this green light and the next thing I knew I saw three heads pop through the middle of the swirl. I knew right away they weren't mermaids, but humans…when I noticed the boy I quickly dove back in the water. I knew if my sister was anywhere nearby he'd be in trouble."
"Your sister?" Emma asked.
"Yes…Ursula."
"Ursula," Emma repeated with a slow nod. "Of course."
"She's not quite as pleasant as I am, Blondie…Ursula is the complete opposite of me and perhaps the most vicious mermaid in Neverland. Her favorite pastime is dragging young boys down to her chambers and…well…you don't want to know. She knows clever ways to torture them to the point of them praying for death."
"Wouldn't they drown?" Emma asked anxiously.
"Mermaids can breathe air into you," Hook informed her. "Mouth to mouth…one intake of a Mermaid's breath can keep you alive for days, but it's not a pleasant experience. You still feel like you're suffocating but you never die…it's a cruel thing."
Emma swallowed hard as she looked back at Ariel. "She didn't get him, did she?"
"No…but she almost did," she said keeping her voice low. She didn't want to attract any other mermaids…especially her sister. "Your son and his captors immediately began swimming to shore and I swam as fast as I could to make sure they made it. They were almost there when she came out of nowhere and grabbed Henry's legs. This…Greg and Tamara…they were able to grab a hold of him, keeping Ursula from completely pulling him underwater. They wouldn't have been able to hold him for long, but it was just enough time for me to get to her. She didn't see me coming, so when I tackled her she lost her grip and they were able to get away."
Emma let out a shaky breath as she closed her eyes. "Thank god," she finally said and then looked at Ariel. "You saved him…I can't tell you how much I appreciate that, Ariel."
"It was my pleasure," she said waving it off. "It's my life's work to make Ursula's life a living hell…I've had the pleasure of rescuing hundreds of innocent boys from her torture chamber."
"Aren't you glad I made you grow a conscience?" Hook asked with a grin.
"Best day of my life," she confirmed and then looked uneasily over her shoulder. "But listen…you two should probably head back…You're way too close to Mermaid's Lagoon for my liking and you never know when my sister will attack."
"We will," he assured her. "But first I need a favor…I remember you telling me you knew of a secret cavern that leads to the spring by the Lost One's camp."
"Of course," she said with a nod. "I'm the only one who knows about it…do you need me to go spy on their camp?" She gave a little excited clap. "Fun! I love a good adventure…count me in."
Emma placed a hand on her arm. "Just keep your eyes and ears open for anything about Henry…you can come back to Pirate's Cove where the Jolly Roger is…I have no doubt you'll see it."
Ariel frowned. "Why wouldn't I? I'm not blind…how can I be with these big blues?"
Hook and Emma shared a quick smile, knowing that Ariel would see the ship if she remained true to them. "We trust you, Ariel…that's all you need to know."
"Well why wouldn't you?" she asked as she gave her hair a dramatic toss. "I'm awesome…now, get going before…"
The boat suddenly shook causing Emma to gasp and Hook grab the edges of the boat like a lifeline. "What the hell was that?" Emma asked as she looked around.
"My sister," Ariel said as she backed away. "She found us…quick get out of here!
But before Hook could even handle the oars the boat bucked and heaved violently, causing both of them to tumble overboard and into the sea. Ariel immediately dove under the surface to try to hold her off while Hook and Emma sputtered and gasped to the surface.
They were on either side of the boat and Hook gripped the sides to keep it steady. "Quick, Emma! Back in the boat!"
She started to pull herself up but gasped when she felt something grab her ankles and then looked over at Hook with wide, terrified eyes. "No!" she heard Hook yell as the force pulled her underwater, but her firm grip on the side of the boat kept Ursula from bringing her all the way down.
If she could just hold on long enough for Hook to get to her, but her grip was slipping and Ursula was just too strong. Just as she lost her grip of the boat a strong, firm hand gripped her wrist, keeping her from sinking further underwater. Her lungs were screaming but she managed to grip his hook with the other hand and kicked her legs to hopefully loosen Ursula's death grip.
Inch by painful inch, she felt herself begin to creep up to the surface and when she finally did, she broke through gasping for breath. And there was Hook, leaning over her with a strong, intense look on his face as he held onto her for dear life. "I've got you, Swan!" he yelled as he continued to pull with everything he had. "Hang on!"
"She's weakening!" she yelled back as she continued to kick and fight away from her. "Don't let go!"
"Never," he grunted as his eyes held hers while he continued to hold on. His feet were braced far part, his body leaned slightly back and his muscles were starting to shake…but he held on and continued to push through.
Then suddenly, she came at him like a vengeance…pale thin skin that was almost translucent, wild dark hair and a pair of deadly blue eyes. She reached for him, but he swiped out with his hook and felt the sharp tip of it ripping through skin.
She let out a high-pitched shriek of pain as she flung back into the water. He immediately crouched down to Emma, who had fallen weakly back into the water. He began to help her back into the boat and she was halfway in when he looked up to see Ursula coming back at them with full force. "She's coming back," he warned Emma.
Emma looked up at Hook. "Flip me!"
He didn't hesitate. He immediately gripped her arm with his hand and then wrapped his other arm around her waist and flipped her body until her back was braced against his chest. And just as Ursula was upon them, she lifted her feet and kicked her with a force that sent her flying back into the sea.
Her body laid limp on the surface for a moment before finally it sank below.
Emma let out a breath as she collapsed against Hook's chest while he weakly pressed his cheek against the top of her head. "Nice kick, Swan," he murmured as he closed his eyes.
"Nice grip, Hook," she answered back with a weak laugh.
"I'm going to gut the bitch with my hook if I get the chance," he said as neither of them moved. "I thought…"
"I know," she said as she placed her hand over his. "I knew if I held on long enough you'd pull me back."
"I know it was only a few seconds, but it felt like you would never get to the surface." He squeezed her gently and shifted his head until his rough cheek grazed against her soft one. "Don't scare me like that again, Swan."
She closed her eyes and leaned into him. "I'll try not to…why don't we get out of here before she comes back?"
He was helping her back into the boat when Ariel broke through the surface laughing hysterically. "Oh Blondie, you are my new favorite person!" she said as she swam up and beamed up at her. "You knocked her out cold! Oh, it was a thing of beauty…are you guys okay? Sorry, I couldn't be more help…but Ursula's minion, Lucinda, grabbed me from behind…she even bit me! Fights like a girl…she even made me break a nail." She held it up and frowned at it. "Bitch is going to pay."
"Ariel," Hook said as he snapped a finger in front of her face. "Focus."
"Right…sorry. It's just a tousle with my sister gets me revved…you guys get out of here, I'll follow you underwater to make sure there are no more attacks."
"We'll be fine," Emma assured her. "I'd rather you go ahead and get to the spring by the camp."
"I'm not leaving you two unprotected," she said with narrowed eyes. "And the entrance to the cavern is in Pirate's Cove so it's on the way. No arguing," she added to Hook when she could tell he was about to argue. "Start rowing."
"Ariel," Emma said before she could swim away. "Thanks…for everything."
"Sure thing, Blondie," she said with a smile and then looked at Hook and then back at Emma. "By the way…two of you make a hell of a team."
She then gave them a wink before she dove under the surface and out of sight.
