Beta'd by Angelfan984


Chapter 12 - Pain

The shock of seeing Loki's face staring back at him from the photo Emma had shown him had surprised him. Even though he knew the God had mentioned knowing Emma earlier in her life, he didn't realize he had taken the same human form that he took now. Of course she would want closure from someone who had sent her to jail. He could understand that. However he wouldn't be able to help her find him, it was too dangerous for her. And him.

"I knew it. You do know him!" She exploded moments later.

"I didn't say that love." He replied. "But if I were to know him, I would also know he is bad news. In the supernatural way." Killian finished when she sat back down across from him in the booth.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he isn't human. And he is a bit of a trickster. No human jail will hold him. Don't waste your time on a mark you can't bring in." He advised on a sigh.

"What is he?" Emma leaned forward wanting to hear everything he had to say.

"Nothing you should seek out." Killian responded gravely.


Gregory watched the pair from his spot at the bar. They were so absorbed in each other that a bomb could go off and he doubted they would notice. To bad violence of any kind in Sanctuary would get him killed. A fellow damion had tested those limits last week, and it hadn't worked out well for him.

"You promised revenge." Tamara whispered at his shoulder. Her constant presence should have been soothing to him; he had missed her for so long. Since Hook had killed her. But her voice had him on edge.

"I did. I will. I promised." He told her. The demon at the stool next to him glanced his way and then moved down to the end of the bar at an open seat. "You can't talk to me in public, Tamara, people will think I'm crazy."

"Aren't you?" She purred and he could feel her breath on his neck. He closed his eyes and relished the feeling. "They are leaving. Follow them." She instructed and his eyes reluctantly opened to see that they had indeed gotten to their feet and were headed for the exit. The perfect time to go after everything Hook held dear.

Gregory got up from the bar intent on following the pair when a man stepped in front of him. "Going some where my friend?" The guy said with a smirk.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll get out of my way." Gregory growled at the man.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll sit your ass back down. And listen to me like a good little damion."

"Why would I listen to you?" He questioned him his wrath just under the surface wanting to be unleashed.

"Because I might have something you want. A way to get your dead wife back."

"I have her back already." Gregory told him and glanced behind him at a smiling Tamara.

"Not in the spirit form Gregory, in the physical form. I just need you to do something you already want to do. I need you to kill that woman that just left with Hook." The guy paused and a smug look crossed his face, "is that something you would be interested in?"

"It depends. Who are you?" It was his plan anyways, but he knew information was worth it's weight in gold.

"Not that it matters much, but I am Loki." The god smiled broadly, knowing he had won once again. Emma would be dead, never to be the savior of the gods and the artifact would never have to leave his 'safe' keeping. The pesky other gods would be gone and he would be the sole survivor. The deal with Killian would be no more, he had seen the way the Dark Hunter watched Emma and he knew he would never hold up his end of the deal. And that was something he couldn't have.


The streets were empty as they strolled back to the main area. The loud crowds could be heard even from this distance and Emma was glad that her room seemed to be sound proofed. "So what you are saying is that he's a God?" She looked over to Killian for confirmation. A strange feeling of loss filled her knowing that she would never get the closure she wanted.

"Aye, a Norse God, his name is Loki." Killian didn't look at her when he spoke and kept his eyes on the pavement ahead of them.

"His name is Neal." How in the hell could the man that hurt her so badly in the past be a God, weren't gods supposed to be kind and loving and benevolent?

"I can read your face love and he isn't the kind and giving sort of God, he is the God of Trickery." Voicing that very real truth hit Killian hard. Was he really willing to trust the God to follow through on his promise? Could he keep Emma from her parents, her parents who also happened to be Gods who could strike him out of existence? It would only be temporary he promised, just long enough to get the artifact. Then he would assist her in reaching them.

"The God of Trickery?" She whispered, that explained a lot. The sadness in her voice tore through him and he reached out to bring her to a stop. His hand came up and cupped her face.

"I'm sorry." He told her, meaning that he was sorry for all of what had happened and all that was to come. The knowledge that he too would cause her hurt and pain was eating at him to the point that he was almost willing to push aside his wants and gift her with her parents now. But not quite.

"Don't worry about it. It's not a big deal." She forced a smile and told herself not to cry. She would cry later in the safety of her room. Even if his tenderness made her want him to wrap his arms around her, she knew she couldn't let that happen.

Killian cocked his head to the side to study her face, it was a mask of indifference but he could sense the turmoil just beneath the surface. He didn't want to feel anything for her but it seemed his heart didn't care and he felt the ache of her pain inside his chest. "I suppose you will be planning to leave the Big Easy now?" He questioned even knowing that if she tried he would have to stop her. At her nod he continued, "Perhaps we could have a drink first."

"I'm not sure that is a good idea." Not with how she wanted to jump him even now when it felt like her heart had been broken all over again. She was too vulnerable. It wouldn't be a good idea at all. He started to walk again and she caught up to him. "How's rum sound?" she asked shutting down the voice in her head that told her not to do this.

"Perfect, love. Just perfect." He purred as his tongue once again darted out to wet his lips. That was going to drive her insane.


"Acheron, I summoned you here because we need to have a little chat about one of your Dark Hunters. He has come off his leash and you know I can not have that." Artemis told him airily as she leaned back on her white chair. Everything in the room was the same vibrant white. Too bad Artemis wasn't as pure.

"Which one are you referring to Artemis?" Ash asked his voice tired. The games she played had gotten old centuries ago.

"That dreadful pirate I saved all those years ago. What was his name?" She snapped her fingers trying to think of it. "Ah, Killian Jones. He is like a tiger and too wild, put him back on his leash before he brings down the wrath of the Norse Gods on all of us."

"What exactly are you talking about?" Ash asked again as Simi moved down his arm to be visible to the Goddess. The two did not have any love lost and he was sure Simi did it to taught her.

A grimace crossed Artemis's face, "I told you not to bring that demon here." She changed the subject distaste for Simi apparent in every syllable she uttered.

"I did not have a choice since you summoned me and did not give me a chance to make arrangements for her. Now tell me what you mean. What has Killian done to anger the Norse Gods?"

"It is what he is about to do. You must stop him. He is going to keep the girl. Her parents will be very unhappy with that." She replied urgency making her talk quickly.

"What girl?" Ash asked as he ran an impatient hand through his hair.

"Emma Swan, she is the savior of the gods Acheron, she must not be kept by a Dark Hunter."

Ash remembered the prophecy of the savior for the Gods. She was the savior of all Gods. He hated to admit it but Artemis was right in this instance. If Killian was holding her against her will it would mean danger for everyone involved. He knew on a personal level what pissed off Gods would do, just look at his mother. "I will look into it." He told her. Her triumphant smile was the last thing he saw before he flashed back to his home and family. Tomorrow he would check in with Killian and ask him about the girl.


Emma was drunk. She knew she was drunk. The whole world knew she was drunk. And it felt good. Like really, really good, she giggled. Killian's arm snaked from behind her, pulling her away from the edge of the balcony and into his warmth. "Easy love, you don't want to fall." He murmured next to her ear. It sent shivers through her and straight to her center. She leaned back into him and felt his heat soak into her backside. Her cheeks flushed with a new warmth that wasn't caused by the humid air.

"How about another drink!" She cheered and turned in his arms, her hands pressed firmly against his chest and she looked up at him from beneath her lashes. God, he was gorgeous. His blue eyes were like the sea and she felt as though she could drown in them. "I love your eyes." She told him, the filter between her brain and mouth nonexistent in her drunken state. It had been years since she had let herself drink this much and she wasn't sure right now why she had held herself back.

"I do believe you have had a bit much to drink." He told her calmly, apparently not as drunk as her.

"Nonsense." She patted his chest and went to move around him and back into the room. The room was warm and she pulled off her light jacket and started to step out of her leather pants as she walked to the table that held the rum. She dropped the clothes where she took them off.

Killian stepped back into the room just as she was stepping out of her pants and he groaned silently. This was a test. It had to be a test. He should have stopped her long ago with the drinking; she would feel it in the morning, unlike him. He couldn't even feel it now. The alcohol burned through his system faster than it could take effect. Which was how he was still perfectly sober and becoming more aroused by the second. Which was wrong in so many ways. He would not take advantage of her like this. It would be mutual if something happened, and she would be sober and clear headed, not upset and drowning herself in alcohol.

She turned towards him a brilliant smile on her face. "More?" She held up the almost empty bottle unsteadily, the cool air caressed her bare legs and she felt a sexual excitement she hadn't felt in a long time. Well, besides with him months ago. Instead of pouring the liquid in a glass she tipped the bottle back and drank the remainder of the bottles contents. "Oops." She pursed her lips and giggled again holding up the empty bottle. Their eyes met and held from across the room and a spark of awareness shot through them both. The bottle forgotten dropped from her hand onto the plush carpet without a sound. She walked towards Killian's still form near the balcony doors and started to pull her shirt over her head. She wanted him, bad.

He couldn't move as she stalked towards him, like a lioness would stalk their prey. Helplessly he was caught up in watching her. He would stop her, he promised himself. Just a taste and then he would stop her. She stopped before him and arched up to put her soft lips against his and his restraint snapped like a taunt rubber band. He wrapped his arms around her and angled her against the nearest wall. His hand tangled in her golden hair as he held her mouth to his own. Emma let her hands travel along his sides and down to his pants; she moved her hands to the front of them and started to unbutton them. Her hand brushed the soft hairs at his waistline as she fully released the button.

Killian nipped at her lower lip and then kissed his way along her jaw line down to her pulse point. His breathing was ragged and his teeth ached with need. Gathering up his determination to stop he licked once at the tempting pulse. Over the months his dreams had tormented him with this moment and he was having difficulty holding himself back. His hand drifted down her bare back to her behind and he pulled her firmly against him the only barrier was her underwear now that she had pushed his pants from his hips. "Gods," he whispered against her throat as he tried not to buck into her warmth.

His tongue slipped out once again and her hands were in his hair holding his mouth to her neck. "Please." She demanded her hand gripping his hair almost painfully. He opened his mouth and set his teeth against her sensitive skin and then pulled back. No, he wouldn't do it, not like this. But she pulled him back to her roughly and his teeth nicked her and the taste of her filled his mouth. He growled hungrily and sucked at the small wounds. It was erotic and it was unlike anything he had ever felt. He could feel her inside him; he could see flashes of her past. It broke him out of his lust long enough to break away from her.

"Emma you're bleeding." He told her holding her inches from him. Her gaze met his and he knew she saw what he saw. His throat dried up and he tried to swallow past the images in his mind. The horribly sad images which had been her life.

"What was that?" She asked the drunken lust clearing from her eyes. "What did you just do?"

"I didn't—I don't know." He told her. Comforting her was the only thing in his thoughts, her life had been a hard one, and he now understood why she didn't feel like she belonged anywhere. Every time she found a place she thought she belonged, her hopes and dreams had been crushed. And he was about to do it again. He was the worst sort of monster.


A/N - Merry Christmas (early) to those of you that celebrate! Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I am hoping to have another chapter finished before the New Year, but if it isn't posted before then, have a wonderful New year as well!