Chapter 8: Broken Soul
Killian returned to the castle and entered his chambers with a frustrated growl as he began gathering a map, a fresh change of clothes and some other provisions as he planned to travel further in search of Clara as his first search regarding the land surround the castle had come up short,
"Killian... Can we talk?" Milah asked gently from the door but he didn't look at her,
"I'm busy at the moment" he grumbled in response,
"I know... I just wanted to know if you needed any help looking for Clara?" Milah asked softly with a sad expression on her face as Killian looked at her firmly,
"Oh so now you're interested in helping me?" he demanded firmly causing Milah to sigh,
"I know you're upset with me and you have every right to be but... I just love you so much, Killian and I was just... I guess I was a little jealous" she admitted and Killian sighed in defeat after a moment before stepping towards her and hugged her close,
"Milah, you have nothing to be jealous about. My heart is and always shall be yours" he told her before pressing a kiss to the crown of her head, not seeing the smug smirk on Milah's face as she hugged him back.
~ Meanwhile In Rumple's Cave Lair ~
Rumple was stunned when Clara appeared before him with his infant son held within his arms,
"You... Is that..." he struggled and Clara smiled softly as she rocked the baby gently within her arms as he slept peacefully,
"Rumplestiltskin... Meet your son" she told him happily and watched a bright smile as well as happy tears develop on the dark one's face as he took his infant son within his arms,
"Oh... My boy. Papa has been waiting so long to meet you" Rumple told his son softly before looking up hopefully but frowned when he saw no one but Clara standing there,
"His mother..." he tried,
"I'm afraid... Belle wasn't there" Clara said sadly,
"How did you find out her name?" he asked with an accusing tone,
"When I took your son in my arms. I saw... A vision of some kind. I saw Milah make Belle vanish and... How she cursed you so that you could never see her or your son again... The little one was all alone when I found him" Clara explained and Rumple waved his wrist causing a dazzling cot to appear and he placed his son within it gently and Clara began feeling very uncomfortable as a glare developed on the dark one's face,
"She took the woman I love... And she left my son only in a locked room" he growled, storming out of the cave and began throwing fireballs in every direction in anger,
"Please, Rumplestiltskin! Stop!" Clara begged but he didn't listen as he kept throwing fireballs but his eyes soon widened when Clara ran in front of him and hugged him tightly,
"Stop" she whispered quietly and felt him relax before she pulled away gently and looked at him encouragingly,
"Your son needs you right now" she told him gently before removing the dagger from her dress pocket and placed it in his hand but saw the sad expression on his face,
"Where is she?" he asked in a sad tone,
"I don't know but we're going to find her" she asurred,
"Your deal with me is almost complete once I send you to the pirate... You will owe me nothing" Rumple mumbled,
"That may be but I'm still going to help you. No deal required... I lost my son so there is no way I am letting your little boy grow up without his mother. We will find, Belle" Clara told him firmly causing Rumple to look at her stunned,
"After everything I have done to you... Why would you help me if not for something in return?" he asked and saw Clara smile softly,
"I guess it's just the way I am" she said simply and Rumple smiled softly,
"Indeed... Well, if we're going to find my Belle then we're going to need a good navigator... And who better than a pirate?" he asked, lifting his dagger causing it to glow,
"When you have him. Simply speak my name three times and you shall return here" he told her and Clara nodded with an understanding smile before Rumple waved the dagger causing her to vanish.
Clara appeared within the castle and outside Killian's chamber door and she looked inside carefully to see him packing and she quickly slipped inside, closing the door and locking it behind her,
"Killian?" she called gently making him turn towards her quickly and he looked at her with shocked relief,
"Clara... Where have you been?" he said rushing towards her and hugged her tightly,
"You're freezing" he said, making her sit down before frantically and quite awkwardly pouring her a cup of tea with only one hand and gave it to her,
"I'm fine..." she tried,
"You're not fine. You're cheeks are practically blue" Killian said firmly as she took a thankful sip of the tea as he wrapped a blanket around her shoulders to warm her up,
"It was Milah. She's evil Killian, you have to come with me now" Clara said desperately, putting the tea cup down and stood, pulling him with her but Killian took a step back,
"What are you talking about? Milah's been doing everything she can to help me find you. She was reluctant at first but once I reassured her that there was nothing between us, she realized that she was being foolish" Killian reasoned but Clara shook her head quickly,
"No Killian. She's misleading you. She never sent me home, she sent me into the eternal snowstorm. Killian, she's the reason why Rumplestiltskin wants to kill you. She made him think that you were involved when she took away the woman he loved and his unborn child. She's been manipulating both of you this whole time" Clara said desperately,
"This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard" Killian said, rolling his eyes as he folded his arms,
"Killian, you have to believe me. I know the truth. I rescued the dark one's baby from the guarded cell beneath the castle but now he needs are help to find and save the woman he loves" Clara begged and he glared at her,
"SO NOW YOU'RE WORKING WITH MY ENEMY?! YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE MAN WHO TOOK MY HAND?!" Killian yelled at her angrily,
"He's not you're enemy. He's a man who has been hurt and only made mistakes because Milah cursed him. He was only trying to save his family..." Clara tried,
"As if you know anything about family!" Killian yelled, glaring at her causing her to look up at him hurt,
"Killian..." she tried,
"Your own fiance left you because you managed to loose your own son before he was even born" Killian growled and a tear fell down Clara's cheek,
"I... I told you that in confidence... I thought you were my friend..." she said with a sad and trembling tone,
"and I thought you were mine. But now you're working with my enemy! What even possessed you to come hear, throwing all these accusations around about the woman I love?!" he demanded as tears fell down Clara's cheeks,
"I... I thought..." she struggled,
"Oh don't tell me that you actually thought there could be something between us?... Why would I ever even give someone like you a second glance" he growled, glaring down at her as Clara looked at the ground in shameful silence,
"SAY SOMETHING!" Killian demanded angrily,
"... Rumplestiltskin... Rumplstiltskin... Rumplestiltskin" she whispered sadly before vanishing in a cloud of smoke and didn't see Killian develop a smirk on his face before waving his wrist causing his body to become engulfed in smoke, reappearing as Milah and the real Killian appeared on the bed, tied up and gagged,
"Well I don't think she will be bothering us for a while" she said with a smug smile as Killian threw muffled curses at her due to his gag but his glaring eyes were very clear,
"Oh don't worry, Killian. I'm sure that little cup of tea she had will keep her from coming back here for a very long time" she whispered, leaning over him and pressed her ruby red lips to his cheek as he struggled against his bonds.
~ Rumple's Cave Lair ~
Rumple looked up from tending to his son but soon developed a look of concern as a very pale looking Clara walked into the cave,
"Clara... Where's the pirate?" he asked and watched her look up at him but her eyes were lifeless,
"He... He doesn't want anything to do with me" she murmured, sliding down the wall weakly before sitting and Rumple knelt down next to her with a very concerned expression,
"Clara... I need you to hold still for a moment" he told her but Clara didn't react as Rumple reluctantly placed his hand above her heart and held a guilty expression,
"Forgive me for this" he whispered before pushing his hand inside her chest but Clara didn't even gasp nor flinch. She didn't even react when he removed her heart but Rumple held a horrified expression for Clara's heart was not glowing red as it should be... It was ice cold and pure white as well as littered with multiple cracks across its surface,
"The curse of a broken soul" he murmured, before looking at Clara with a sad expression as she just sat there, staring into the flames of the campfire,
"Oh Clara I'm so sorry" he whispered before pulling her weakly into a hug,
"I'm so so sorry" he whispered but Clara still didn't react. Her soul was broken... And so was her heart.
CAN CLARA BE SAVED?! REVIEW FOR CHAPTER 9!
Kind Regards,
TheAuthor1996
