Happy Easter! (John 3:16-17) This is a shorter update, but one of my favorite chapters (so I figured I'd share it today as it's my birthday!). Hopefully it'll help make up for the lack of a new episode tonight (*shakes fist at ABC*). Hope you like it!
David arrived at the library after eating lunch with Snow.
"Hello, sheriff; what do you need help with today?" Belle greeted with a friendly smirk.
"What do you have on merfolk?"
Her smile turned into concern. "Is this about Ursula?"
"If anyone asks, say it's that; but it's actually Hook." He explained what was going on, under the warning that she had to keep it completely quiet.
"So...so that wasn't him in here yesterday?"
"No."
She sighed, but David couldn't quite tell if it was out of relief or fear.
"Let me know if he shows up again; we'd like to figure that one out, too."
"Yeah, I will. What is it you want me to find in my research?"
"Anything about half mermaids, or how they can change into humans."
"I'll see what I can find." She forced a smile; he assumed she was a bit shaken by what the not-Killian pulled yesterday.
"Thanks. Call us if anything comes up."
Behind him, the bell on the door indicated it was open. "Afternoon, love; hello, mate."
Dammit. As if on cue, the impostor had showed up. Alright, time to go into protective dad mode...well, sort of.
"You've got a lot of nerve, Hook." Whoever it was stopped in his tracks, a confused look etched on his brow. "Sheriff, whatever are you talking about?"
"I heard what you did yesterday, to Emma, to Belle. You think you can just show up here and pretend it didn't happen?"
"It wasn't—"
"I think you should leave," Belle interjected from her position behind the counter. David was relieved she picked up on what he was doing; they couldn't let this person know that Killian was still alive.
The man glanced between David and Belle. Seeing no warmth or change from either, he slouched his shoulders in defeat. "Fine. Have it your way." He slammed the door on his way out.
Sighing in relief, David turned to Belle. "Well, that took care of that."
Belle watched the stranger sulk down the street. "For now."
David then began racking his brain—how many people called him "Sheriff"?
The rest of the day passed much as the morning had, and Emma visited Killian again at dinner time. She told him what happened when her father visited in the library, which made his blood boil—not just that this magician was using his form, but that he (or she) was abusing the relationships he'd worked so hard to forge. The stormy ocean around them agreed.
"Stay safe tonight, Killian. I don't like the looks of that."
"I've weathered many a storm, Swan. I'll be fine."
"Good night," she told him with a long kiss. Feeling the heat he felt roll off of her when they kissed was one of the things he most enjoyed about changing forms; his body was equipped to handle the cold when she left, so he felt the warmth a thousand times more than he had before.
The water had calmed, but there was still wind in the air. If a storm was coming in, he needed to make sure the Jolly Roger was properly moored, as he doubted it was. It was unlikely he'd be able to do much, but it was dark enough that he could try without risk of being seen.
He was surprised to see, upon arrival, that it was indeed docked correctly. The knots, while a bit sloppy, would hold. He could immediately identify them as the handiwork of Henry; he'd have to remember to thank the boy.
As he tightened a couple connected to a dock near the bow, he heard footsteps on the deck of the ship; voices followed. Who dare goes on MY ship?
"I can't believe they actually fell for it. You're not THAT good an actor."
Ursula, of course. If she thought he was gone, then she'd certainly take advantage of the open ship as quarters. She must have Cruella with her. He quietly moved to a hidden position under the dock that afforded a view of the starboard side.
But the next voice he heard didn't belong to the dog fiend, or a woman at all. A chill went through his whole body as he heard the words of someone who should be long gone. Bloody hell.
"Apparently, I'm good enough to fool even my wife. If they haven't caught on yet, we should be in the clear."
Should have known the bloody Dark One was behind this. Killian felt a rage he hadn't in centuries. Why didn't Regina tell us? Not only was Rumplestiltskin arrogant enough to think he wouldn't get caught, but he thought he could take advantage of people he'd known for years. And now he was poaching on Killian's hard-won connections. Coward.
"I'm with Cruella; I think you enjoy the height."
It was all Killian could do to contain his laughter at that, especially when the Dark One didn't immediately respond. It reminded him of their first encounter, all those years ago—"a tad taller than you'd described" came to mind.
Killian saw Ursula come into view at the ship's railing, scanning the harbor. The Dark One joined her shortly. "What are you searching for?" Rumplestiltskin asked.
"I heard a rumour there was a merman out here." Shit. "If he's still here, perhaps we can use him."
"How?"
"Bait. Temptation. The options are endless, when you think about it. If the Savior feels betrayed by her man, she may be looking for a rebound."
The water began to churn around him; the storm had to be getting closer, but he couldn't leave until he had heard more of their plan. There was no doubt now they were after Emma; but why? Worry began to creep in, paired with anger.
"She certainly moved on from my son to the pirate quick enough." Of course he'd think that; he knows nothing. "I think you're on to something, dearie."
They think I'm dead. He didn't know if that thought gave him any relief, but at least this idea of Ursula's would never come to fruition.
"So you're staying here now?"
"Shouldn't a captain stay in his quarters?"
MY quarters! Killian's emotions continued to build inside like an inferno, matching the waves in the harbor. He watched as the water began crashing against the Roger's hull, drawing Ursula's attention.
But before he could see or hear anything else, something grabbed his tail and pulled him under the surface.
He turned about, searching for his assailant. "Who the hell—"
"Would you cut that out? Some of us are trying to swim here." A familiar female voice sounded behind him. He faced her.
"Hook?"
"Ariel?"
Thanks for reading!
