Aqua stared at the soul, not quite knowing what to say. Perhaps she should just wake up Francesca and walk away. Hans couldn't possibly hurt her now… Can he? Besides, he said something about candles… What was that all about?
Hans smirked and lava behind them bubbled. He stared back at the princess. His eyes… they didn't seem human. Aqua looked away. She was sure his eyes… it bore into her, and it found her deepest secrets, her fears. "I wouldn't hurt you two, especially her." He pointed at Francesca. "She, well, I wouldn't mind hurting you, but I fear she wouldn't be happy about that. You see, the girl's got my gift," He hesitated. "My curse, actually. And it's stronger with her. The fire… it seems like it's stronger when she's around." He looked back at her. "Even I couldn't do that. Your sister is powerful, and … well, don't underestimate her."
Aqua shuddered as the thought sank in. Could she be more powerful than her? No, no. She can't be. Hans smirked once again, as if he knows something she doesn't. "As for the candles… Haven't you heard that fable, with the doctor and the devil?"
The princess was just about to shake her head, the question wasn't specific enough, when Hans glanced at her, and she knew what he was talking about.
From what she can remember, before, when Aqua was about four, her sister told them a story, about a poor farm boy who wanted to be a doctor, but then his father died. So the devil came to him and said that he has a medicine that can cure any disease but he can only cure the bad hearted people, never the kind ones. And one day, a beloved princess became ill. Since she had a good heart, the devil refused, but the doctor tried to cure her anyway. And he almost succeeded, but the devil caught him and took him to a chamber full of candles. The devil told him that each candle represents a person's lifeline, and showed him the princess's candle. It was only a quarter of a centimeter tall, while most were about a meter. So the devil showed him a candle that was fairly tall, and he said that he could join put the candle on top of the princess's candle, making her lifeline longer. The doctor didn't know it was his candle, however, and when the devil joined the two candles, the princess became healthy, but the doctor…
Was that what he was talking about? The chamber full of candles? But who's candle… She glanced at her sister, and behind her Hans smiled wickedly. No. It was her sister, after all. But then again...
"Where are the candles?"
Hans smiled. "And you think I'm going to lead you there?" He snorted. "And why would I do that?"
Aqua stiffened. Why would he? He was staring, wait no, glaring, at the girl who killed him. But as hard as it was to admit, "I know you and my mother knew each other. And I know you care about her. And if you don't help us, she'll die. Your choice, villain." Aqua said the last word, hoping it will help, somehow. The rest of the statement wasn't much. At least she knew part of it was true, yet she wondered if she got it all wrong.
However, Hans just looked away, his eyes full of sadness and regret. "I'll help, but if your mother lives, tell her…" He choked on the last word, his voice hollow. "We've better get going." And again, he faced them with the same expression as he did before, like nothing happened. Like nothing ever hurt him.