Danielle's eyes shot open, while she leaned forward into a sitting position. She stared in front of her, all she could see was darkness and little bit of light coming from the hallway, she did know what time it was or how long she had been asleep. Hearing a soft snore coming to the right of her, she turned her head and felt Theo's hand top of her hand.
"What's wrong?" She heard him ask sleepily.
"I-I heard something." Danielle replied.
She stared at the door again, and saw no shadow nor heard any movement. Was her mind playing tricks on her, or did she hear a gun shot? She heard Theo turn to his right side and moved things around on his bedside table. Quickly the darkness was absorbed by the light of the candle, which he lit.
"I heard a gun shot, Theo." Danielle whispered. "Did you hear it too?"
"Yes, but I thought..." Theo was cut off as Danielle climbed out of bed and but her boots on and her belt which her sword and pistol hung off, she fell asleep in her clothes he saw. "What are you doing Danni?"
"Going to see what is going on."
"Oh no, Danni you just can't ask the men what is going on or snoop around, your not an..."
"An what Theo?" Danielle snapped turning her gaze upon him. "An Inspector, was that what you were going to say? Hm? I'm sick and tired of people telling me that, I know I am not an Inspector but that doesn't stop me looking after people and supporting human rights. We live in dangerous times Theo, and I won't be left in the dark not this time and not ever. I'm used of people telling me different things than what they really mean, family and friends are meant to be there for each other but look where all mine are! Gone most of them, and I can't risk any more going, I only have you and the Guv left, but... I'm sorry Theo, just I'm scared."
"So are my," Theo stated before standing himself and put his uniform on. "Just I'm not letting you do this alone, we stick together this time."
They both quietly stepped out of the bedroom and walked past the many rooms of the sailors and other offices, not wanting to wake them up or face questions and suspicious, though many of them have suspicion between the pair, but Danielle knew because she was the only girl on the ship; something she hated.
As they reached the main deck they walked outside but stopped hearing nothing. Something they both hated as before it led the Guv being locked up in the brig, Theo being hurt and Danielle being in the same room as the monster; something none of them planned to do again.
"You stay here, keep an eye out while I go and check the Guv." Danielle ordered Theo, but before she could reach the stairs to below deck, Theo wrapped his hand around her arm making her turn around. "What?"
"Shh," Theo whispered. "I hear something on the waters."
Danielle followed his gaze to the rail and she too heard the sound of a rowing boat, rowing upon calm waters. Quickly she heard someone putting the oars in the boat, but before she could hear anything else, Theo made her run down the stairs and into the room of the brig. There Theo let go of Danielle, as she walked up to the now empty cell, which she was held in before the Guv. Where was he? Panic and fear filled her as she put the pieces together.
"We are just pieces in his fucking game." Danielle whispered angrily. She stared up at Theo, anger, and fear he saw in her eyes. "He is gone! Theo is gone! I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye! He was there for me for a lot of things and where was I when he was shown to death?"
"Danni, you don't know that..."
"But he is Theo. The Guv is dead because of me!" Danielle exclaimed, cutting Theo off. "He was right, I am just a pattern, my past goes in circles and everything is the same. I push people away from me, when they are trying to help, I throw all my friendships into the mud and look where it has got me. Most of my family are dead, only my uncle that I know is alive is losing himself, friends are mostly gone or far away from me escaping what that monster has in store of them, now the Guv is gone and you Theo, you still here but I don't know why."
"Its because I love you Danni." Theo stated while hugging her. He stared down at her, as he felt her holding on his coat, covering her face in the darkness ashamed of her tears which were running down her cheeks before. "He is wrong Danni, your past is not going around in circles, nothing is. You found Ragetti, fell in love, found many grounds in your friends me included, showed who is boss to Miss Grange and Mr Biggs and his men, you taught Charlie about the world and he looked up to you. I see nothing wrong in those Danni. Who is the wrong is the man who caused you hurt and fear, he is in the wrong not you, I promise you that."
"Thank you...but nothing can make it all right again Theo." Danielle stated. "I just want it all to be over, but how? Every time I feel strong and fight him he finds a way to stand in my way again, to make me feel weak, but when I feel weak you and the others are there. I can't escape from him or myself. I am my own worst enemy, I don't know what to do or feel no more! I just can't breath!"
Danielle pushed Theo away and they both heard her breath heavily. Her chest heaved up and down heavily, her heart pounded against her chest. Her mind was spinning around in circles, all evidence leading her to where she stood flashed in red, many voices echoed, voices of her friends and the monster but she couldn't make out what they said. Shaking her head she made the decision to see what was going on, she needed to know the truth; it was driving her mad!
Running past Theo and up the stairs, she could hear him ask her what she was doing, yet she ignored him. She ran up to the rail and stared down at the water, she felt sick. She couldn't see the rowing boat which she had heard, she guessed who used it, and she didn't care if he came up and tried to hurt her, she had enough and she needed something to hit.
"I could have stopped of any of this to happen!" Danielle said out loud.
"You knew nothing as we all did." Theo stated. "Beckett is a twisted man, a man not to trust, Governor Swann knew that."
"But he didn't choose his own fate! Not really, none of it makes any sense. Why kill a man of power and...the monster wants power and more authority. Guv had a good heart and he was standing in the way." Danielle said.
Danielle span around showing her anger, she stormed forwards but Theo stopped her by wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her near him.
"Don't Danni, it will only lead to more trouble for us both." Theo whispered sternly, not wanting anyone to see them.
"I can't let that bastered get away with it all!"
"He is much stronger, if he sees you like this Danni, he will know he has won this battle. He will know what triggers you and what makes you angry and weak."
"I don't care. He must pay Theo!" Danielle said. "And I don't care if it be in blood."
"But I do, if any of the men finds out, you be dead too."
"Then I be free, I be away from him and be back with Ragetti."
Danielle stopped struggling and lowered her eyes. Ragetti, she missed him so much. She wiped her remaining tears and turned around to hug Theo. She held onto his coat again, letting the tears stream down her cheeks, she was again stuck in the middle, what could she do?
"What a shame." Came a harsh voice, breaking the silence.
Danielle looked up to Theo and followed his gaze, she too saw Mercer standing by the stairs his right arm resting on the railing, it seemed he had been there for sometime but none noticed him. Danielle brought back her arms and wiped her tears away, staring at the man in anger.
"A shame what happened to the Governor." He stated before walking towards them. "But mostly importantly, it is a shame what you are planning to do to Lord Beckett. Kill him, now how in the world are you going to do that then Miss Turner? As Mr Groves pointed out the men will find out and you be a dead...lass walking."
"I rather die than..."
"Ah yes we all know you rather die than accept the Lordship's protection and work but is that your heart or your brain agree? It seems not." Mercer said cutting Danielle off. "I don't know what my boss sees in you but he sees something, and if I was you, I wouldn't go against him, as he is much powerful and more stronger than yourself. That is what the Governor failed to spot, he only agreed to help his Lordship if Miss Swann and you be safe, now look at that, here you are aboard safe but what of Miss Swann? Last time I saw her was in the other part of the waters, far away from here and her father, so only part of the deal was fulfilled. What a shame, now you had no chance of saying goodbye."
"What did you do to him?" Danielle asked angrily.
"What did I do?" Mercer echoed. "Oh I didn't do nothing but helped him along...where do you think you are going Miss Turner, haven't you learnt running away makes things much worse?"
Danielle carried on running down the hallway and stormed into Beckett's office. She stopped in front of his desk and met his alerting gaze. He seemed surprised she was standing in front of his desk, but he was confused why she was angry.
"Where is he?" Danielle asked angrily.
"Where is who?" Beckett asked putting down his quill and leaning back in his chair.
"You bloody know who!"
"You just barged in here, excusing me of knowing where is someone is? How do I meant to know who you are talking about without a name or have I missed something?"
"Stop playing games." Danielle stated after slamming her hands upon his desk in anger. "Tell me where the Guv is."
"Oh him." Beckett stated calmly as if Danielle was not angry, or that the Guv was not missing. He stared back into her eyes after looking at her hands when she slammed them on the desk. "He is on a ship back to England." Quickly Beckett stood up from his chair and moved himself towards the doors. There he closed them while adding: "It is the only place safe for him now, he has no importance to me or this mission no more."
"So is that what you do to people when you find no importance in them, you cast them off or leave them behind?" Danielle asked calmly but her anger could be still heard.
"You make it sound like I am in the wrong."
"Well you are, you think you are doing right but you are not."
"Tell me Danielle, what are my doing exactly wrong?" Beckett asked while moving to a tray, which a bottle of whiskey stood and two glasses; by her side. "There is going to be a line in life, people either cross it or don't. I am one of those people who make sure people don't cross the line or else they are my enemy and to the crown. Those who cross the line, they are no heroes, they runaway from a lot of things..."
"Rich coming from you." Danielle stated cutting him off. "They are not cowards and they are heroes to the dammed and forgotten. There are two sides of a story Beckett, I thought you have learnt that after what Jack done to you. Betrayal doesn't go well down in your books does it, branded both him and me, we lost a lot things but you, well here you still standing so highly."
"We all have to follow rules Danielle." Beckett stated while standing before her, stretching out his hand out for her to take the drink, but as she didn't move a muscle he placed it on the desk. He noticed as he moved closer to her to place the drink down she moved slightly to the side, he knew she still feared him. "Rules you once empowered and took control of and now you have lost all that." Danielle watched as he downed his drink and placed the glass on the desk. He stood back in front of her. "If you agree to work for me, you could have all of it back again, that is what you really want, power, or are my mistaken?"
"No, I...you're wrong." Danielle replied.
"It seems so by your words but I still see you drive for power." Beckett stated before leaning his head in and whispered in her ear: "Everyone wants power, there is no shame in that, it is what people use their power makes them a person."
Danielle lowered her gaze and noticed the monster's hands were placed beside her on the desk. She was trapped, Theo was right, she had walked into his trap! She tried to push him away, he grabbed her hands and pulled her nearer to him. She was held tightly before him, one hand was wrapped around her waist, he quickly led her into a dance.
"So here we are again Danielle, you are back in my arms and I have the power." He whispered into her ear. "You say this is what you don't want but we keep finding ourselves like this, funny how one speaks but means another." He pulled her nearer, making her stop struggling. "I could have any woman I want."
"Then why...don't you?"
"Because I'm in love with you." Beckett said over Danielle.
"I don't..." Danielle began to speak but was cut off as Beckett stopped and pinned her against the table, her back was on the table, which let him grew closer towards her; seeing pain and fear in her eyes as she felt powerless.
"Then why are you here?" He whispered in her face before leaning in more.
However as their lips were just millimetres part, the door of the office opened, which made Beckett let go of Danielle and turn around to face Mercer who stood at the door.
"I was just informing you sir that the former Governor is gone now." Mercer stated.
"Good." Beckett said, the only word he could muster, he lowered his eyes as he felt Danielle's eyes burning him in his skull.
"Sir you feeling ok? You look..."
"Dead?" Danielle asked putting it all together. She knew he was lying but now she had evidence. "You lied"
"Miss Turner?" Mercer asked seeming surprised she was there and behind his boss. He looked back to his boss. "Sorry sir, I didn't know you had company."
"You murdered the Guv why?" Danielle asked angrily.
With her anger she raised her fist, but she let out a gasp as Beckett turned to the side before she could hit him and grabbed her wrist; pulled her forward and her made her stand before him. He quickly wrapped his hand around her waist, locking her left arm in her body and the right one he put behind her back; locking her against him once again.
"Excuse me Mr Mercer, Miss Turner and I have unfinished business to attend to." Beckett said before lowering his free hand and slowly moved it up her thigh. He watched as Mercer walked out, closing the door behind him, leaving the pair alone. "Letting you go was one of my worst mistakes. I haven't ate probably; when asleep I see you." He whispered into her ear.
"Sounds like you need to be knocked on the head, I can do that, free of charge." Danielle said trying to fight her fear, she tried to escape his hold but it only made it worse as he tighten it.
"What be the point? I have you back in my life." He stated, he slowly leaned back from her ear and lowered his lips, there he brushed them upon her neck. "In the same room, near me and under me." Slowly while brushing his lips upon her neck, he lowered his hands to her belt and undone it. He stopped kissing her and turned her around to face him, with the two ends of the belt he pulled her in closer so their bodies were touching. He let go and one hand went on her lower back and the other one brushed the hair away from her face; pushing it behind her ear.
Staring into her eyes, he could see fear but he leaned in his face and his lips touched hers, he could feel her lips giving the gesture back but quickly she pulled away before it could get any further.
"I can't do this." She whispered, trying to push him away.
"You can but its the problem if you want to or not." He stated, while lifting her chin so she was staring at him. He leaned his face back in and felt her lips upon his, a warm tender feeling. "I think we should go somewhere more private." He said while breaking the kiss, he picked up her hand and led her away.