1117 Words, this chapter
Chapter Nine
Emma glanced at Killian.
Wang continued, "I know you have power, Emma. The potion that holds you is made from dragon fire. The power of the dragon is too strong. That's why you can't break it."
"Swan, remember what the fearsome blue dragon said about your magic."
Wang watched with apprehension as she nodded and closed her eyes. Suddenly a white wind blew around them.
Killian smiled and took a step.
"No!" cried Wang. "How? It should hold you!"
Emma also moved. "Sorry, kid. My power isn't dragon based. It doesn't work the same."
"No..." Wang dropped to his knees. "You'll find her," he whined.
"That's the idea, Mate."
"Why do you want her to stay hidden?" asked Emma. "The Wisdom Clan says she can stop the destruction."
"They don't care about her! They don't even know what will happen! I care more for her than they!"
"I promise you lad, we will not allow anyone to harm her," said Killian.
Wang shook his head. "If she gives in to her fate, we won't be together. She'll be their puppet, forced into a life she doesn't want."
"Are you sure about that?" asked Emma as she made a doubtful face. "She did run from you."
"To save me! She ran from them! When she realized who she was she ran far away from the reach of both clans and 'civilized life,' to the more remote area of our lands. That's how we found each other. I was living humbly as a farmer in the small, isolated village my family had called home for generations."
Wang smiled wistfully. "One night I went to check the animals and found..." he eyed them warily, "the girl."
Killian chuckled. "I was hoping he would let slip her name."
Emma grinned. "I guess he's smarter than that."
A lovesick grin appeared on Wang's face. "I was smitten from the first moment, even as it became obvious that she was...special."
"Obvious in what way?" asked Emma.
"The animals didn't like her. Every time she walked near they panicked. She was embarrassed and apologetic. She was so gentle that I couldn't understand why the animals would react that way. She was all alone. Even though we knew nothing about her, my mother took pity on her and insisted that she stay."
"A few days later, she told my mother that she should bring the washing inside and that the children should remain indoors. It appeared to be a calm, clear day but a short time later, rain blew in."
"That's weird," said Emma.
"Hmm. I didn't care. She was wonderfully sweet and intelligent. We grew close, her and I. We lived in perfect bliss for weeks until one day."
Wang became quiet. His head hung sadly. "She was washing clothes in the river as my younger sisters swam nearby. A water dragon suddenly appeared in front of the girl. My sisters screamed, causing the dragon to panic and stir the water."
"I heard the screams from the nearby field where I worked. I arrived to see one of my sisters trapped in the whirlpool it created. The...girl, I will not divulge her name," he said, eying Killian, "put her hands on the great beast and calmed it."
"She told it to stop. It did. She commanded it to find my sister. It dove into the water and came up with the limp body in it's jaws. I ran to the water's edge and pulled my other sister out. She ran, screaming for the village. The girl took my other sister's body from the dragon. It stood over her while the girl shook my sister."
Wang now had tears in his eyes. "Suddenly Mei coughed. She was alive. Then the girl looked at the dragon and told it to leave in peace. I watched with amazement as it did. I then became terrified, not at the girl's powers but at the sight behind me. My father, mother, and other family members stood, watching the dragon leave. They knew."
"Wow," said Emma.
Wang nodded. "My family was afraid of her. My mother thanked her for saving my sister, but she demanded that she leave our house. The decision was made to hand her over to the village leaders. The girl held my family no ill will, but I...I cannot forgive them."
"That's harsh," said Emma. "Your sister nearly died."
"She was saved!"
"I know but," Emma said, sighing, "as a mother, I understand the fear."
"Of course you do, Love, but I understand Wang," Killian said, looking at her, "and the need to protect the woman he loves."
Wang looked at the captain and his face softened. He noticed the blush on Emma's cheeks as she stared at Hook, a gentle smile on her face.
Wang smiled. "Yes, I suppose you both understand love."
The couple blushed in unison.
Wang began speaking again, "Against my pleas, the village leaders decided that she must go to the Wisdom Clan the next morning. I wasn't about to lose her. That night I crept into the building she was being kept in. I told her I loved her and I wanted to be with her. To my delight she told me that she loved me and she agreed to run away with me."
"And you opened a portal," said Emma. "How?"
"She did it. I don't know how but she didn't intend to transport anyone else, honestly."
"We believe you," said Killian.
"Her power is unpredictable," said Emma. "I understand that it isn't her fault. I do, but Wang, I'm sorry, she is dangerous."
Wang shook his head.
"We need to take her back to The Great Blue Dragon and the Wisdom Clan," Emma said, "before she gets hurt or accidentally gets someone else hurt again."
"Again?" asked Wang. "You are just like my family, the village. It was not her!"
Killian shook his head. "Are you sure? What if the water dragon did not just happen to swim by?"
Emma nodded. "Wang, maybe it was drawn to her."
Wang hung his head. "I...I have considered that. We didn't just leave my family for ourselves. I...was concerned. I do love them. I wanted them safe."
"Of course, Mate."
"I want her safe, too." He jumped up. "You will not take her! I will find her! We will live away from everyone. We will just want be alone! I will stop all of you from ruining our lives!"
He disappeared into the early morning light.
End of Chapter Nine
