Chapter 28
.
.
Soft curls of auburn silk floated through the air, accompanied by a merry melody of giggles, beautiful and enchanting in a way that would put any mermaid's voice to shame. Hook watched her over the rim of his mug, the pirate unable to avert his eyes from her for even one moment. He and some of his men were sitting at a wooden table outside a noisy old tavern, with even noisier people bawling, laughing and drinking all around them. They were back to Totuga, back in their own world. Hook's eyes focused on the round pendant necklace that was dangling down Belle's throat, and he immediately felt the metal of his replica hot against his own skin.
A magical gift.
A talisman.
The pirate's eyes glazed over a little when his mind wandered back to when he had received them.
.
.
"Now that you have met your part of our deal, tell me: who is it that you want me to retrieve from this world without magic?"
Pan chuckled a little, eying the pirate in front of him with amusement in his eyes.
"Ah, that's what I've always admired about you, Captain. No matter how dark your soul is, a part of you will always remain the man of honor that you once were."
The pirate's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent. There was no use in arguing. His soul was dark. And it felt even darker after what he had just done to the woman he claimed to love.
"I appreciate your eagerness, Captain." Pan continued with a smirk. "But I'm afraid it will take my contact persons at least a few more days to locate the boy's whereabouts."
The demon boy rolled his eyes and shook his head in annoyance, mumbling an angry "Bunglers!" in the process.
Hook narrowed his eyes at Pan.
"Then what do you expect me to do?" he huffed. "Twiddling my thumbs 'til your minions finally manage to find the boy?"
The pirate let out an annoyed snort and shook his head.
"If they ever, that is." he continued with a challenging look on his face. "Let me take matters into my hand. I promise I'll retrieve the boy in less than one week. The sooner this deal is over and done with, the better. Wouldn't you agree?"
Pan let out an amused chuckle, and his dark eyes shone with barely contained mockery.
"Your determination has always only been exceeded by your foolish arrogance, pirate." Pan taunted. "Don't be stupid enough to think this is an easy task to accomplish. The world the boy hides in is different from everything you have experienced so far. The boy is clever, and acting hastily will lead to failure. It is a task that needs careful and prudent planning. We have to wait until the time is right. So no. I won't send you and your lot of cocky pirates to this world without proper preparation."
Hook stared hard at the pirate, but nodded eventually.
Pan's eyes focused on the unconscious beauty that was wrapped securely in Hook's arms.
"Why don't you bestow this unexpected spare time on enjoying it with your woman in whatever way you see fit?" Pan suggested with a smirk. "Take her back to your world, spend some … quality time … with her and await further instructions."
Hook's brows shot up in shocked disbelief.
"Back to our world?!" he snapped, his shock quickly changing to anger. "Are you crazy?! The Dark One is only waiting for us to return! She may have forgotten him, but he has certainly forgotten neither her nor me!"
Pan let out an exasperated sigh. Without another word, he whirled his right hand through the air. Hook had to blink twice as he suddenly saw two identical necklaces with glistering round pendants dangling down Pan's index finger.
"Invisibility Talismans." the boy answered Hook's unvoiced question with a triumphant smirk on his face. "It will prevent dear old Rumple from finding you. He will never know that you're back."
Hook stared at the necklaces with wary eyes.
"The Dark One is powerful." he finally stated darkly, a hint of hopelessness edging at his voice. "He will never be tricked by some trinket."
Pan only chuckled in response and took a step further towards where Hook was standing with Belle securely in his arms.
"Powerful he may be…" Pan replied with a toothy grin, and his eyes suddenly gleamed with darkness that made the blood in Hook's veins freeze to ice. "… But never as powerful as me."
.
.
Hook's fingers unconsciously trailed the edge of the talisman around his neck. He had been worried at first, not believing that some trinket would be powerful enough to prevent the Dark One from detecting their return. But as it seemed, Pan had been right. They had returned to their world a bit over two weeks ago, and the Crocodile had not made an appearance. Something that made Hook's troubled heart fill with utter relief.
If Pan's magic really worked, nothing, absolutely nothing would stand in the way of Hook's happy ending with Belle.
Something he had been – and still was – willing to sacrifice everything for.
"Can I get you another drink, handsome?" a sultry voice purred, lips gently grazing the shell of his ear. He felt how a soft body pressed into his back, and his senses were suddenly filled with the tantalizing sweet scent of rum and wildflowers. A hand touched the side of his neck, delicate fingers teasingly playing with the hair in his nape.
With a sudden swift movement, the pirate caught the hand in his, and pulled the surprised woman around and into his lap. Almond-shaped green eyes twinkled mischievously back at him, and red lips formed into a sinful pout.
"Is that a no?" the brunette whispered while pushing her breasts more firmly against his chest.
Hook smirked as he saw the woman's eyes fill with vivid desire. She was a beautiful woman – Hook had to admit that much. With long hazelnut-colored hair, sparkling green eyes and a voluptuous figure that surely had managed to turn several more or less decent men's heads.
She shifted a little closer, the green of her eyes now dark with silent promises.
"Or is it something entirely different that you desire, brave sailor?" she whispered, her voice husky as she batted her long lashes at him. "Maybe I can help you find something more … satisfying?"
He raised his brows at her, eying the brunette with a challenging look on his handsome face.
"And what would that be, lass?" he asked, his own voice low as he leant in a little closer.
The girl giggled playfully, wiggling her rear suggestively. She then grabbed the collar of his shirt, and pulled the pirate closer so that her mouth was touching his ear.
"Whatever you desire." she breathed seductively. "Your wish shall be my command, Captain."
A chuckle rumbled deeply in the pirate's chest, and his hand and hook came up to take a hold of her womanly hips.
"Well in that case…" he whispered and brought her upper body with gentle force a little back so that he could look straight into her eyes that were shining with a hint of triumph.
"In that case…" the pirate then laughed while pushing the woman forcefully away from him. "Make yourself useful and refill my men's drinks, lass! No pirate should be left stranded!"
The men sitting around him cheered and bawled merrily as they watched the startled look on the pretty barmaid's face. Hook gave the woman a mischievous wink and nodded his head meaningfully in the direction of his crew's mugs. The brunette's cheeks turned crimson and her eyes narrowed furiously as the Captain laughed heartily at the picture she made.
"Ah lass, don't be mad at him." Woodsworth who was sitting next to Hook laughed. "I'm afraid even a tempting creature like you cannot seduce a man whose heart almost bursts with love for another."
Hook flashed an apologetic smile at the young woman and shrugged his shoulders almost helplessly. The angry scowl on the barmaid's face quickly changed into a pretty pout. She put her right hand on her hip, angling her body in the most seductive way.
"And you are sure that there is nothing I can do to convince you otherwise?" she tried again.
Hook only grinned at her antics. His eyes drifted to the small marketplace where Belle was still dancing happily with Jonathan.
"Pretty sure." he chuckled, his eyes never leaving the brown-haired beauty that held his heart.
The barmaid let out a sulky sigh and shrugged her shoulders.
"Too bad. I'm not used to getting turned down."
She then placed a mug of rum in front of the pirate, successfully regaining his attention. Before he was able to say something, she stopped him by placing a delicate finger on his lips and leant closer.
"On the house." she purred, winking mischievously at him. "Among other things, if you are ever to change your mind."
She then pushed herself away from him, and with one last seductive smile over her shoulder she wiggled her way back into the tavern.
"Damn you, you lucky bastard!" Woodsworth laughed and hit Hook's back with his hand. "You have the most beautiful girl practically chained to your bed, and pretty women continue to throw themselves at your feet! However you do it!"
The Captain laughed, took the free drink in his hand and raised it to the other pirate.
"What can I say…" he sighed in mock exhaustion. "I'm the Gods' gift to women!"
Woodsworth shook his head and rolled his eyes. His gaze then shifted to where the young princess turned piratess was dancing happily with some members of their crew not far away from where they were sitting, his tired old eyes softening at the mesmerizing sight.
"She seems so happy." he said, the tone of his voice mirroring the softness in his gaze.
"She is happy." Hook confirmed smiling, his eyes, too, returning to watch Belle's enchanting movements.
Woodsworth smiled a little and nodded his head in agreement.
"And I'm happy for her." he told his Captain. "I've never seen her so carefree. So completely without a trace of sadness within her."
Hook made an agreeing sound in his throat while drinking from his mug of rum.
"It's just …" the older pirate suddenly said, the softness on his face mixing with worry. "She… she sometimes just seems so … so different since we've returned from Neverland."
Hook's movement stilled for a moment before he slowly put his mug back onto the table.
"Different?" Hook echoed, cocking his brow as he turned his head to look at Woodsworth. "What do you mean by that? She's just happy. That's not too bad, is it?"
"Of course not." Woodsworth sighed a little and shrugged his shoulders before he continued.
"It's just … it's so hard to explain." the old pirate mused. "One moment she's so carefree, so free of all the worries in the world. But then again, there's this strange look on her face. As if she wants to figure out something, but cannot find the answer. It's as if something is bothering her. In those moments, she seems so utterly lost that it breaks my old heart."
Hook let out a dismissive snort and shook his head determinedly.
"That's ridiculous." he growled angrily. "She's happy. You said it yourself. And all she'll ever need, she'll find onboard of my ship."
Woodsworth remained silent for a few moments, slowly drinking from his own mug.
"And still…" the other pirate insisted stubbornly after some more moments of tensed silence. "I cannot shake the feeling that something's wrong with her. I tried to talk to her about it, but…"
"That's enough!" Hook suddenly hissed, his mug hitting forcefully the table so that some rum spilled over the mug's rim and onto the table.
Woodsworth returned Hook's angry gaze with wide-open, astound eyes.
"Do not create problems where there aren't any!" Hook barked, his blue eyes glistering with danger as he stared darkly at the other man.
"Cap'n… I, I didn't mean…" the old pirate stuttered, but the Captain's venomous words immediately cut him short.
"Never let me catch you filling her head with your bloody imbecile figments, Mr. Woodsworth!" the pirate growled darkly. "Or suffer the consequences!"
Woodsworth watched with a frown on his face as Hook abruptly leaped up from his seat, storming angrily towards where Belle was dancing.
The old pirate shook his head in confusion and furrowed his brows.
"What the bloody hell has gotten into him?" he wondered out loud.
He shrugged his shoulders and was about to focus back on his mug filled with rum when his eyes suddenly fell onto the Doctor who was sitting not far away from him. The frown on Woodsworth's face deepened when he saw the angry glare that the old Doctor sent in the direction of where Hook was heading.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"May I cut in?" Belle heard a husky voice ask from behind her.
She shifted her laughing face and eyes away from the man she had been dancing with and turned around to face Hook.
Her eyes were shining with happiness when they settled onto the man her entire heart beat for. Without waiting for a response, Hook wrapped an arm around Belle's waist and pulled her closer. His brows were raised challengingly as his hard stare was focused on the unknown man who had been dancing joyfully with the little beauty.
"I'm afraid we weren't quite finished." the other man – really no older than a boy – dared to reply confidently. He held his scrubby chin high, defiance glistering in the depths of his light brown eyes.
The right corner of Hook's lips curled up as he offered him a lopsided smirk.
"You are either drunk or suicidal to dare and challenge me, boy." Hook chuckled and shook his head in amusement. "Probably both. Go and find yourself another girl, laddie. This one is…" me made a short pause there, and lifted his hook to let the cool metal gently trace Belle's jawline.
"Well, let's just say the young lady is already hooked to me." Hook finished with a chuckle.
The Captain's face split into a toothy, triumphant grin the moment he watched the horrified realization settle onto the young pirate's expression.
Without waiting for another word to be voiced, the Captain gently gathered Belle into his arms and started dancing.
"That wasn't very nice of you." the beauty chided while trying to look angrily up at him, but couldn't quite hide the glimmer of amusement that was shining through her crystal blue eyes.
Hook chuckled softly and leant down to whisper into her ear.
"Quite the opposite, love." he said lowly, and his lips lightly grazed her skin, making her shudder. "I'm a pirate. I would have gladly broken the boy's limbs if he had continued to touch you the way he did before. But I didn't. So I'd say he came off pretty well."
Belle rolled her eyes at that.
"You are awfully possessive." she sighed as she continued to follow his lead.
"And you are awfully ignorant to the effect your beauty has on other men." Hook retorted with a shrug of his shoulders. "It's only natural for me to keep a close eye on you. Wouldn't want you to run off with some bloody beanpole."
Belle laughed at that, a clear, beautiful sound that never failed to warm Hook's black heart.
Before he could say another word, Belle suddenly took hold of his face and pulled him down, capturing his lips in a sweet kiss. Hook made a satisfied low noise somewhere in the back of his throat as he tasted her sweet flavor, his hold around her automatically tightening a little.
"I love you so much." Belle whispered against his lips as they finally parted. "Don't you know that no other man could ever compare to you?"
Hook searched her eyes for a moment, something he lately always did whenever she would tell him that she loved him. He then hugged and squeezed her to his hard chest, his lips kissing the crown of her curls affectionately.
"And no one ever will." she heard him whisper against her hair, and Belle couldn't help the shiver the strangely dark tone of his promise caused her to feel.
Hook closed his eyes then, holding the queen of his heart closely. The last two weeks had been the happiest he had experienced since Milah had died so long ago. Belle filled his life with laughter and love, with an easiness and levity that made his broken soul sing with vitality. Nothing could compare to what he felt when he looked into those eyes that were filled with pure and unlimited love for him – and only him. Her body and soul flourished with adoration, the pirate now the center of her world exactly the same way that she was his. Pan's magic had successfully banished any thought, any memory, of the Dark One from Belle's mind – leaving only room for utter devotion and True Love for Hook. The thought of how he had betrayed Belle into this feeling of happi- and carefreeness sometimes made his heart bleed with guilt. But Hook then forced himself to remember the images Pan had showed him – forced himself to remember the look of joy and relief on Belle's face when the bloody Crocodile had appeared in Gaston's castle. Forced himself to remember the determination in Belle's eyes when she had told him about her plans on seeing Rumpelstiltskin again.
Hook held Belle a little bit more tightly as they continued to dance to the joyful accordion music that filled the evening air around them. His eyes shifted to where Woodsworth and the others were sitting, and he remembered the short conversation from earlier, something that made his stomach clench painfully.
Yes, Woodsworth had not been the only one who had noticed the change within Belle since they had returned from Neverland. Hook, too, had felt it, had seen and experienced it at first hand. It had all started when she had found the bloody Crocodile's painted, torn picture in Hook's cabin. The pirate had found her staring blankly at it, a deep frown embedded on her beautiful face. Hook felt how his blood once again began to boil in his veins at the memory. He had been so sure that he had eliminated each and every hate-filled picture of the Dark One that he had collected and drawn over the years… had been so sure that he had destroyed every proof that could possibly remind Belle of Rumpelstiltskin. Nevertheless, he must have somehow missed one drawing, and, by a cruel twist of fate, Belle had been the one to find it of course. At first, Hook had been quite relieved that Belle didn't seem to recognize the depicted devilish creature – and still didn't. But since then, the beauty would sometimes sit in front of the squared window of Hook's cabin, staring out onto the glistering sea with a strange expression on her face. Her forehead would be crinkled into a deep frown, her eyes strangely dull and glazed over. Belle would never react to whatever Hook would say to her, and it always took Hook several attempts to bring her back to him. It was strange, and if he was honest with himself, it was downright frightening. Like Woodsworth had said: it was as if something deep within her was telling her that something was missing in her life, urging her to find a missing piece of her soul.
It made Hook's heart and soul darken with worry.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed someone staring at the dancing couple. Hook slightly shifted his head, only to find the Doctor watching him with a stony expression on the old man's face.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Are you feeling alright, Cap'n?" his first mate's worried voice suddenly filled his head.
Hook groaned and let his good hand roam none too gently over his flushed face, trying to force his vision to stay sharp.
"'m fine!" he barked roughly, but noticed that his tongue was apparently unable to form proper words.
The pirate held tightly onto the wooden table as he shifted his weight onto two wobbly legs. He swayed dangerously from one side to the other, and it was only Smee's quick bodily support that prevented him from falling to the tavern's sticky floor.
"You sure you're alright Cap'n?" Smee asked once again, his chubby face contorted with sincere concern. "You don't look too well. Maybe you had a little too much rum, huh?"
"Bollocks!" the Captain growled, shooting an angry but unfocused glare towards the other pirate.
Hook closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He couldn't stay here.
"Just need some fresh air." Hook mumbled as he tried to find his balance to remain upright.
"Alright, Cap'n." Smee was eager to agree. "Just give me a sec."
"Mr. Smee!" another voice next to Hook cut in sharply. "Hands off! I'll take the Captain!"
Hook faintly heard a protesting sound from somewhere to his right, but before his mind could grasp what was happening, arms wrapped around his torso and shoulder, steadying him as he was led out of the gloomy tavern.
"Whe's Belle" Hook slurred as he couldn't do much more than following blindly to whatever place the other man was leading him.
"She's inside with Juba and McGonna, Killian." the man said softly as he opened a door that led them outside into a shabby backyard. "Worry not, she's safe."
Hook made a strange sound in the back of his throat but nodded eventually.
He felt how his body was leant against a stone wall. He opened his eyes a little, his blurry vision focusing a little as he recognized the man who was standing in front of him.
Relief washed through his veins.
Exactly the man he needed.
"You need to stay in an upright position." he heard the Doctor advice. "The fresh air will do you some good."
Hook took in a deep breath, and he practically felt how the wobbly dizziness in his head was somewhat cleared by the clean, fresh air. His limbs hurt and he felt how his heart beat wildly against his chest while cold sweat was wetting his forehead.
"What's wrong with me?" he groaned as he tried to open his eyes once again.
He heard the Doctor next to him sigh heavily before he answered.
"You probably just had a little too much to drink, boy." Conor replied calmly.
Hook wanted to shake his head, but even the smallest motion caused the mind-fogging dizziness to reappear in his head.
"I never had a problem holding my liquor, Conor." Hook answered gruffly as he tried not to concentrate on the nagging headache that was forming in the front of his head.
After some time, Hook felt how a cold bottle was placed against his lips.
"Drink it." Conor ordered with a sigh. "It's water. It'll help clear your mind."
Hook felt how the cool liquid ran down his raw throat, and he drank the offered drink greedily. It tasted funny at first, not quite like water but more like water flavored with honey, but Hook didn't mind. Whatever it was, it seemed to help. After he had downed the entire bottle, he let out a relieved sigh and let his head rest against the cool stony wall behind him. He still felt like shit, but strangely much better than before.
After long moments of silence, he let out a throaty chuckle and shook his head weakly.
"I'm getting old." he laughed lightly, the motion causing a wave of dizziness to wash through his head. "I think I need to go back onto the ship and get some sleep."
He slightly cracked his heavy eyes open to look at the Doctor who was still standing in front of him.
"Please do me a favor and fetch Belle?" Hook asked with a small smile on his face. "I'd rather not move at the moment."
The Doctor stared at him for a moment with a strange expression crossing his face, before he eventually nodded.
"Of course, Killian." he said lowly. "Stay here. I'll go and get her."
Hook closed his eyes again and whispered his quiet thanks.
He heard the Doctor leave and sighed deeply.
What the bloody hell was wrong with him? Never in his entire life had he felt that way. He didn't even feel drunk … at least not the way he used to. He just felt … dizzy, tired and utterly confused. He only hoped Belle would arrive soon. Although he was feeling a little better after he had downed the Doctor's bottle of whatever-it-was, he was still feeling too dizzy, too vulnerable to stay in the middle of Tortuga among hordes of ruthless pirates. Especially with a beautiful woman like Belle by his side. He hoped the Doctor was clever enough to fetch someone like Hawk or McGonna as well. Someone who would offer Belle and him protection on their way back onto the Jolly Roger.
He didn't know how long he had been standing there, when he finally heard the backyard door open and close. The pirate smiled as he felt Belle's soft body cling to his form, soft lips kissing down his throat.
"Easy, love." he whispered in a hoarse voice. "I'm afraid I'm not feeling very well tonight."
He felt Belle's lips curl into a smile against his throat, before she gently bit the tender skin there.
Hook let out a low moan, the blurry dizziness in his head slowly transforming to burning desire. He opened his eyes a little, his vision still blurry as he looked down onto soft brown hair.
"Belle…" he sighed and closed his eyes again as she placed butterfly kisses all over his neck before sucking gently on his pulse point. He felt her hands roam his entire body until they reached his lower parts.
The pirate moaned loudly as the little vixen cupped him through his leather trousers, which earned a delighted giggle from her. Something within him stirred at the sound, but before he could follow this train of thought, soft lips suddenly drew him into a passionate kiss. He felt how wicked fingers made quick work of his fly, releasing his straining cock. One hand grabbed his member to pump it quickly, but instead of giving himself to the pleasure, Hook felt something close to nausea at the feeling. Something wasn't right, something didn't feel right. The scent of rum and wildflowers assaulted his senses.
His eyes shot open.
He quickly grabbed a hold of the woman before him and pushed her away.
"I told you I'm not used to getting turned down."
His eyes widened in shock as he saw the barmaid smirk cruelly up at him, her green eyes sparkling with triumph.
Suddenly, a shocked gasp was heard, the sound making his heart freeze in his chest.
He immediately pushed the woman further away from him.
But it was too late.
Belle was standing at the door. Her eyes were wide open and filled with unshed tears, her face a world of pain as she took in the scene before her.
"Can't you see, girl?" the barmaid addressed the motionless beauty with an amused tone in her voice and pressed her body suggestively against Hook's. "The Captain and I are a little busy here. I suggest you'll come back later, will you dear?"
The woman's words seemed to bring Belle out of her paralyzation. Without another word, she quickly whirled around and stormed back into the tavern, silent, shocked tears whirling through the dark night.
"BELLE!" Hook shouted immediately, his voice full of shock and despair. "BELLE WAIT!"
It took him no more than a millisecond to register what had happened, and he pushed the other woman once again forcefully away from him. With trembling fingers, he tucked himself hurriedly back into his trousers, the dizziness in his head almost forgotten and replaced by adrenaline that pumped through his veins.
"BELLE WAIT!"
He was just about to run after Belle when a hand on his arm stopped him with gentle force.
"Leaving so soon?" the woman purred with sly smile plastered across her face. "I thought maybe we could finish what we've started…"
Hook's body tensed under her touch, and before she knew what was happening, he had her pinned against the wall, his good hand firmly clasped around her throat.
Her eyes went wide with panic when she met the pirate's hate-filled gaze. The barmaid gasped for air as Hook started to tighten his hold around her throat. Spots of white and black clouded her vision the more he squeezed.
"Oh make no mistake about it, you bitch!" she heard his voice growl dangerously close to her ear. "I will be back for you. And when I am…"
He made a small pause there, and the barmaid felt how something sharp dug deeply into her stomach.
"I will kill you."
Then he suddenly released her, making the crying maid tumble to the ground. She sobbed bitterly as she lay on the dirty ground, panting for air.
When she dared to open her eyes again, the pirate was already gone.
She didn't know how long she had been lying on the dirty ground until the backyard door opened again.
A satchel of silver and gold was carelessly thrown onto the cold pavement next to her.
"Well done." a cold voice said before she heard the door open and close again.
When she lifted her head again, she was alone.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hook ignored the heavy pain in his head and limbs as he stumbled across cobblestones and drunks. The more the panic rose in his chest, the more did his vision get clearer again. He called her name over and over again, his voice full of both hatred and panic. Some drunks and harlots he asked had seen the crying beauty stumble by only minutes before, and so the desperate pirate followed their hints until he reached a deserted old well near the town line. His heart filled with relief and dread as bitter sobs reached his ear. On wobbly legs and with a heavy heart, he approached the small figure that was hiding behind an old willow tree.
"Belle…" he whispered, his voice filled with pain and regret.
Her head shot up, and the pirate's heart stopped for several moments when he stared into those eyes that were filled with utter betrayal and hatred. It was an expression he had never seen before in those beautiful eyes – and never had he thought it would be possible.
"Belle please…" he whispered desperately and tried to come closer, but the beauty immediately jumped up.
Her eyes burnt with endless hurt and anger as she stared back at him.
"Go away." she finally whispered, her voice hoarse from crying. "I never want to see you again. I hate you."
The words were uttered without volume, without even the faintest of pitch, and yet, they roared in Hook's ears like a horrible thunderstorm. The pirate's heart dropped, and he stepped back as if being hit.
"You don't mean it." he whispered as he tried to prevent his own tears from falling.
Belle let out a high pitched laugh, her eyes burning with new tears.
"I DO!" she screamed, her entire body shaking. "How could you?! I LOVED YOU! How could you do this to me?! To US?!"
Hook shook his head frantically.
"Belle! I swear didn't do anything! Please, if you'd just listen, I…"
"You'd WHAT?!" Belle hissed. "You'll explain to me why you were just about to fuck that whore?! Sorry to decline! I'm not interested in your explanations!"
His good hand went frantically through his thick hair, the panic vivid in his blue eyes as his mind worked hard to think of a way out of this mess. His gaze focused on his beauty standing before him, and his heart and very soul cried out in agony as he took in the sight before him. Belle's entire body was shaking, her face and eyes puffy from the tears she had shed because of him, her cheeks aflame with redness.
All because of him.
A wave of dizziness suddenly washed through his body, making him sway a little. A thought suddenly crossed his mind, his eyes widening with realization.
"A trap!" he gasped in shock.
The fingers of his good hand tightened into a fist, his nostrils flaring with barely hidden fury as he repeated his discovery.
Belle let out a tear-filled laughter as she shook her head in disbelief.
"A trap?!" she echoed, and fresh tears trailed down the slick paths on her red-spotted face. "Can you not even think of a better excuse?!"
Hook's eyes focused back onto her.
"But it's true, Belle!" he shouted, his voice filled with desperate fury.
But the beauty just shook her head and held her hands up.
"I know what I saw." she whispered brokenly. "There is no use denying it, Killian."
Hook growled lowly in his throat while clenching his teeth.
Whoever was responsible for this, Hook would make sure that the person would suffer painfully before Hook would end his or her miserable life.
"What you saw was exactly what you were supposed to see, Belle. I love you, I would never hurt you!" the pirate said as he tried his best to soften his voice. "I thought she was YOU!"
He carefully moved closer to where Belle was standing.
"Don't." Belle whispered in a strained voice as she took a step backwards.
But the pirate continued to approach her carefully. He had his hook and hand lifted as if to show her that he didn't mean any harm.
"Just think of it, love." he tried softly, and he could feel the hot tears of desperation cloud his vision. "I realized that she wasn't you even before you came to the backyard! The moment I saw who she was, I had already pushed her away from me! Think of it! You must have seen the confused look on my face! Please, remember!"
Hope made his heart jump as he saw the frown edge into the beauty's face. It was true. When she had opened the door, she had seen how Hook had stared at the woman with a startled look on his face, his hook and hand on her shoulders, holding her at arm's length. But Belle's eyes had then travelled downwards, the picture of the barmaid's hand firmly clasped around Hook's half-hard member etched into the beauty's heart and mind. She shook her head vehemently as if to shake the offensive memory off her mind.
"Please…" Hook begged, but Belle just shook her head no.
"I don't believe you." she finally said, her eyes hard as steel as she looked back up again to meet the pirate's desperate gaze. "The only trap you were caught in was the one created by your own lustful libido!"
Hook couldn't do more than shake his head no as he took yet another step forward. He was just about to answer, when Belle suddenly drew her sword and pointed it with shaky hands at him.
"You come any closer, and I swear I will kill you!" she hissed, her eyes gleaming with determination as she met Hook's surprised gaze.
Despite the grave situation he found himself in, Hook couldn't help the tender smile that was forming on his lips as he watched her.
How he loved his feisty little wild kitten!
Belle must have noticed the amused smile on his face, for the anger on her beautiful face only increased. Without giving much thought, she lifted her sword and jumped at the pirate. Hook's brows shot up in surprise as the sharp blade missed Hook only by a hair's breadth. Whatever was still coursing through his veins had apparently also affected his reaction time. At the very last moment, however, the pirate was able to sidestep his beauty, making Belle's sword cut nothing but air. In the blink of an eye, he had the beauty pinned beneath him, holding her sword-leading arm tightly to the ground.
"LET ME GO!" the beauty spat, her eyes burning with unleashed fury.
"Not before you listen, Belle!" Hook screamed down at her as he tried to hold her wiggling body still beneath him.
Belle glared daggers at him while she tried desperately to escape from this bodily prison.
"I went outside because I wasn't feeling well." Hook exclaimed desperately as he pressed his body more firmly down onto hers, the pressure making the beauty gasp. "I first thought it was because I had too much rum, but I've never felt that way before. My vision was blurry and my limbs hurt. Bloody hell, I still feel as if several coaches ran me over!"
"And I'm sure the pretty barmaid was only too eager to tend to you!" Belle hissed, her eyes liquid fire.
"NO!" Hook shouted and shook his head. "Someone must have spiked my rum! Just ask the Doctor! He helped me go outside and I asked him to get you and he…"
Hook stopped mid-sentence, a horrible suspicion suddenly settling onto his features.
"No" he whispered, his facial expression quickly changing from shock to incomprehension to pure and utter fury.
Belle noticed the pirate's temporary distraction and used it to forcefully knee him in his balls.
Hard.
Hook screamed in pain with a curse on his lips as his tense body rolled off Belle. The beauty quickly got back onto her feet, breathing hard as she looked down at the squirming man at her feet.
She several steps backwards, shaking her head.
"I'm sorry." she whispered shakily, making Hook lift his head, his eyes burning with pain and a silent plea. "I … I don't know what to believe."
Hook forced himself into a crouching position. He panted heavily as he looked up at the beauty that could so easily tear his entire world apart.
"Belle…" he gasped. "I would never betray you. I love you! You are my soul, my world! You have to believe me! No pain in this world could describe what it makes me feel to see you cry because of me. Don't you understand?! Your pain is my pain! Please, love, please believe me!"
Belle's trembling fingers grasped the round silver pendant of her necklace that Hook had given her only two weeks ago. He had given it to her shortly before they had returned from Neverland and wore a replica around his own neck.
He had called the trinket a token of his love for her.
As long as she loved him, so he had said, she should never take it off.
Hook's eyes followed her movement, his body strangely tense with anticipation as his gaze was firmly fixed on the delicate fingers that were clasped around the pendant.
"I don't know what to believe, Killian." she whispered, making his eyes lift to meet her tear-filled eyes.
She looked down at the pendant in her trembling hand, shaking her head a little.
"But as long as I'm not entirely sure what happened between you and that woman, I cannot wear this. I'm sorry."
Hook's eyes widened in horror.
He hurriedly scrambled to his feet, a desperate loud cry on his lips.
But it was already too late.
With a determined pull of her hand, the silver chain around Belle's neck broke.
The talisman fell to the ground.
"NO!" Hook screamed once again, the sound of his voice making Belle's eyes widen with surprise. She took a startled step back when the pirate crawled and stumbled towards her, his eyes filled with more dread than she had ever seen before.
"Wha…" she gasped, but was immediately cut short by Hook's frantic screaming.
"PUT IT BACK ON BELLE! PUT IN BACK ON!"
Confused, Belle couldn't do much more than blink as Hook's trembling fingers hurriedly reached for his own necklace as he ran towards her. He took it off, and was just about to put it around her neck when a wave of cold magic whipped it out of his hand.
Hook watched in horror as the talisman landed somewhere in the tall grass several feet away from them.
"Nothing of that, dearie!" a voice growled from behind them.
Hook and Belle whirled around, and a gasp of horror escaped Belle's lips as her eyes fell onto the creature that was standing before them.
The pirate pulled her protectively into his arms, holding her tightly as he faced the creature that he had hoped to never see again.
.
.
.
NOTES
Guess who is back ...!
Have a happy and healthy year 2016 everyone!
J
