Chapter 7
"What do you mean he wants her soul?" David questioned. His arms were crossed in front of his chest. He glared heavily at Killian, clearly blaming him.
It was the next day. Emma, Killian, and Regina were gathered at the Charming's loft.
Regina was the first one to chime in. "It means we have bigger problems than the Evil Queen." She put her hands on her hips to signify her distaste with the news. "Leave it Guy-Liner to screw up again." She glanced sideways at Killian.
Killian had broken away from the circle the other four had made. Instead he stood next to the door as if he was itching to escape. He head hung low, not in shame but out of guilty, but his ears hung on every word that was being said. Without moving his head, he raised his eyes to glare at Regina. His eyebrows became taut with anger, but he didn't say anything to Regina. He figured the look was enough.
Snow also flashed Regina a look to indicate her discontent with her comment. She turned back to Emma. "Do you feel any different?"
Emma shook her head. "I've stopped hearing that stupid chime though." She tried to make light of her current situation. It was more for Killian's sake than her own.
"Because you found that damned talisman," Killian interjected, still keeping his head towards the floor. As hard as it was to see the concern in David's and Snow's eyes, it was even worse to look at Emma. She had pulled away from him since last night, and he felt it.
Emma crossed her arms. Her eyes were focused on the floor, much like Killian, and she rolled her tongue around in her mouth, trying to find the words to lift Killian's spirit. It was difficult to soothe Killian because she found it difficult to soothe herself. Her mind had been racing since Killian told her the news last night. She hadn't gotten any sleep, and last night was the first night she and Killian slept in the same bed without touching or saying a word. She was upset and a little angry with him for making that deal. The news hung between them like a barrier, one with a lock and key. They both felt it. Killian felt it more.
"No sense in worrying about what you already did," Regina said, "let's worry about how to fix it."
Killian rolled his eyes. "I could say the same about you," he shot back referring to Regina splitting herself from the Evil Queen. He lifted his head and looked Regina dead in the eyes, silently conveying his anger.
"Okay," David said trying to keep the peace, "It's done. Now what are we going to do about it?" His firm voice came more from the sheriff in him than the concerned parent.
"I'll tell you what I'm going to do," Killian said in a firm voice mimicking David's. Avoiding Emma's gaze, he turned on his heels and finally made the escape he had been eager to make.
Emma opened her mouth to object, but nothing came out. Instead she watched him go. She let out a heavy sigh and looked to her parents, pleading with him to help her. Frustrated that she didn't say anything to Killian, she said, "I'm going to go after him."
Snow nodded in agreement.
David came up behind Snow and put his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it to provide reassurance. "You go get him. We'll stay here and try to find something to help."
Snow reached her arm across her chest and placed it on top of David's hand. When she assumed Emma was out of earshot, she told David, "I hope she's okay."
"She is," David simply said.
-xoxo-
Killian rushed to the house he shared with Emma. Though lately the house was full of thick regret rather than the happiness he had anticipated.
He stepped up to the table, blankly staring at the talisman that had been left there last night. He brought his hook to eye level and stared at it for a few moments. He didn't even hesitate when he heard Emma calling him from behind. He lunged his Hook forward as fast as his muscles allowed. The tip of his hook hip the talisman with such force that the talisman leaped from the table ever so slightly.
The talisman launched its own attack when it glowed white in color.
Killian stepped back to watch from afar.
Emma stepped forward to get a better look.
The light from the talisman surged toward Emma. It was quick and painless as it penetrated Emma's body. For a split second, her entire body glowed white. It subsided quickly, however, leaving Emma disoriented.
Killian whipped around towards Emma, quickly grabbing her to steady her. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern filling his face. It was the first time he looked at her since last night.
Emma regained her balance with Killian's help. She took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly to get her bearing on the world once more. She finally raised her eyes and gazed into Killian's eyes. She was suddenly overcome with love as her eyes became lost in his. She scanned her eyes over Killian's face. She could still see the concern written on it. He was so close to her that his warm breath tickled her skin leaving her with a sensation so overwhelming that she couldn't pinpoint it. The tense air that had been hovering over them melted away. And in that moment, all the anger and frustration she felt towards him melted away along with the tense air.
"I… I think so," Emma answered. Her heart held so much love for this one man that she thought she might explode with the pure intensity of her emotion. She had forgiven him, and she intended on showing him. His concern for her made her love for him grow. Plus it didn't hurt that the concern on his face made him all the more handsome.
A smile played on Emma's lips, but that playfulness was stolen by a sudden wrenching in Emma's chest that debilitated her. She tore herself from Killian's grasp and gaze and hunched over. She fell to the floor to try to alleviate the pain. This action proved useless as the pain only intensified.
Killian immediately joined Emma on the floor. He put his hand on her upper arm. "What's wrong?" he asked in alarm, desperation and worry in his voice.
Emma tried to speak but the intensity of the pain wouldn't allow it. The only thing that she could manage was a slight moan that did nothing to alleviate Killian's concern.
But just as soon as the sharp pain appeared, it subsided.
Emma was finally able to catch her breath. She inhaled sharply to do so and caught site of Killian's near panic-stricken face. She used him to hoist herself to her feet.
Killian was happy to help Emma to her feet. He steadied her before placing his hand on her jaw to provide her with some comfort. "You alright?"
Emma tilted her head so as to lean into Killian's hand. She blinked a few times to regain her vision before she answered. "Yeah," she said weakly. "What was that?"
"I think it was that damned talisman reacting to me sinking my hook in it," Killian gasped. He led Emma to the nearby couch. "Here, sit down."
"That's what you call 'sinking in?' Didn't make a dent in it," Emma teased. She managed a smile but it was weak.
"Shh," Killian demanded, unable to help the small smile on his lips. He made Emma sit on the couch while he took a seat beside her. He used the back of his hand to feel her forehead.
"I don't think that's going to help with a magical affliction," Emma teased, doing her best to eye his hand on her forehead. She had to stop to catch her breath. She was beginning to feel the weakness that the old man had promised would come.
Killian chuckled. He knew Emma was using humor to lessen the severity of what just happened, and while it worked for a few seconds, they both knew what was to come.
Killian leaned back against the couch and wrapped his arm around Emma, pulling her closer to him so she could rest her head on his chest. He gently ran his hand up and down her arm. He leaned the back on his head against the couch and sighed heavily.
Emma closed her eyes and paid attention to how warm and soft Killian's hand felt against her skin. Feeling better, she sighed in content and sunk deeper in Killian's embrace. For the first time in 24 hours, the silence that fell upon them was comfortable.
"Will you promise me something?" Emma said, finally breaking the silence.
"What?"
"Promise me that you'll look out for Henry. I know he has Regina but…"
Killian straightened up, clearly uncomfortable about Emma's comment and what it entailed. "You'll be here to look after the boy," he interjected, cutting Emma off midsentence. He settled back in his spot.
Another silence fell upon them. This time Killian spoke up. "I would have chosen you."
Surprised and unsure of what Killian meant, Emma lifted her head off of his chest and twisted her upper body so that she could look at him. "What?"
Killian glanced down at his lap before proceeding. "If the necromancer presented me with the same offer and I knew what I know today, I wouldn't have taken it. I would have chosen you." He paused for a moment and rubbed his forehead before daring to look at Emma. "I'm sorry."
Emma closed her eyes for a split second. She looked up at Killian and caught his eyes with her own. She brought her hand up and started playing with his hair. She leaned closer. "I know," she said softly. "I did blame you at first, but I don't anymore. It was a long time ago, and you were a different man back then. I know you love me. I'm sorry too."
Killian shook his head ever so slightly to clear it. "Why are you apologizing?"
"Because I blamed you, and I shouldn't have. I left you alone with your guilty. I promise I won't do that again," Emma said. She had to blink away the tears that were welling up in her eyes.
Killian opened his mouth to respond, but he didn't get a chance to. Instead, Emma's lips crashed against his, catching him by surprise. He didn't object.
Emma shifted herself in a more comfortable position so that she straddled Killian's lap, never breaking the kiss.
Killian replied by wrapping his arms around her waist. He pulled her closer so that there was no space in between their bodies. He tasted Emma's lips with his own which only made him crave them more. He intensified the kiss by parting Emma's lips with his tongue and shoving his tongue inside her mouth. With his tongue rolling around in her mouth, he took the opportunity to savior the new sensation he felt.
Emma groaned with pleasure. She pulled away ever so slightly in an attempt to catch her breath. She looked Killian in the eyes. Her own eyes sparkled with affection, and she smiled. She brought her right hand up and placed it on the back of Killian's head. She gently pushed his face towards hers to resume the kiss. She brushed her lips against his, creating a warm, tender spark between the two of them. It ignited something within Emma because she began to deepen the kiss. She finally rested her arms around Killian's neck, still refusing to allow any space between the two of them.
They kissed for a long while, enjoying the love and tenderness the other had to offer, but Killian reluctantly pulled away. He immediately missed the intimacy between them, but he was suddenly reminded about Emma's soul when he felt her beginning to shake from weakness in his embrace.
"We better go rejoin your parents," he said.
Emma sighed and bit her lip. Not wanting to come back to reality, she hesitated before climbing off of Killian's lap. "You're right," she said half-heartedly. "Destroying the talisman clearly didn't work." She gave him a look that let Killian know her comment was meant to be playful and not accusatory.
Killian took her comment as it was meant. He smiled in response and stood from the couch. He held out his hand for Emma to take. She did. "Perhaps they found something that could help."
Killian grabbed the talisman from the table before they made their way out the door.
