Quelling My Bloodlust
Chapter Thirty-Six
"But how… how is this possible?" Killian uttered weakly while he stared down at his hand in disbelief as he slowly moved it around upon seeing that the golden glow had vanished from his skin, being unable to trust his senses telling him that in that moment he was free of the darkness' hold over him.
"It was Henry," Emma whispered sadly while Killian fell to his knees against the deck when a wave of pain knocked him down and caused him to bow over, then sat down before him as close as she could get to him with the circle of flames still between them. "He wanted to help you somehow. And he did. I'm just happy you're you and…"
He curtly interrupted her as he retorted, "But I'm not me again, Swan. I'm still that monster who hurt all of you just now. You've just found a way to suppress the darkness for however long this magic lasts. I lost to it because I was weak. Just as I warned you I was. I didn't want to hurt Regina, but I… That's a lie. I did want to hurt her. She never should have attempted to come against me."
The Savior shook her head as she responded, "Maybe the majority of you that has become the Dark One wanted to hurt Regina. Wanted to hurt all of us. But that was only because Arthur ordered you to hurt us. The good man I fell in love with is still inside of you and that's who I'm talking to right now because you're still fighting. Not because of this magic. I know the anger you're feeling is geared towards yourself, but I need you to try to push it aside. Please look at me, Killian."
"I love you, Emma… but I'm not nearly as strong or brave as you think I am," Killian answered miserably, still unable to do as she asked of him because of his shame. "This damn curse has destroyed what little I might have had when I fought to be that man for you. You have no idea how much strength it took for me to resist the darkness, even before this entity became a part of me."
"You told me as much the day you told me that I was your happy ending," she replied softly while a tear slipped down her cheek from her eye. "You didn't give into it. Your love for me, for our family and friends, for your life in Storybrooke that brought you the happiness you've sought since your father abandoned you… all of it made it possible for you to hold onto your strength. You have to let that love give you strength now. We all believe in you, Killian. I believe in you. I know you won't be able to fight against Arthur's commands. Just like you couldn't resist Gold's commands when he ripped out your heart. But I know that no matter what you're forced to do… when the darkness takes hold of you again and you're no longer yourself… there will still be a part of you trying to fight against the darkness just as you always have. I will always love you."
Killian finally lifted his head wearily to look into her eyes and saw her love for him within them as she smiled at him, then he pulled a ring he wore on a chain from around his neck and laid it down on the deck within the flames in front of him while he whispered, "This ring once belonged to my brother, Liam. It helped keep me alive this long… Long enough to find you. Take it… when I'm gone. It will protect you now. You're amazing, Emma Swan. No matter… what happens, I want you to know… I'm grateful to have had you in my life… for however brief…"
Forgetting for a split second she couldn't reach within the flames to touch the man she loved, the Savior tried to again and was immediately shocked for doing so, then in fear she responded, "Don't you dare say goodbye to me. The darkness may take you away from me for awhile, but I won't ever quit trying to bring you back. Not ever."
"I hope so," he answered and then raised his hand to the flames before the woman he loved without actually touching them, wanting so badly to feel the warmth of her skin against his own as he touched her face so he could wipe away her tears. "There's something I have to tell you, Swan. Before I… can't… The darkness… Ah…"
"Killian, what's wrong?" she asked worryingly when his hand fell and she saw as he began to struggle again against his pain.
Killian closed his eyes and fought to quell the anguish creeping in once more while he replied, "I can feel the darkness rising… This magic won't hold it in for much longer. I can sense Arthur's call… He's demanding I return. Listen… Arthur plans to attack DunBroch. Other kingdoms too, but… DunBroch first and he will use me… I'll be forced to kill…"
When he didn't continue, the Savior spoke in concern saying, "We already know his plans thanks to Merlin."
"You have to stop him," he immediately responded when he finally opened his eyes again to try to look into hers once more before he was taken over. "To stop me, or they will all die or fall under Arthur's rule."
"I truly hope they can, Killian," Merlin then answered when he suddenly appeared beside them. "But I fear for now you will have to obey his command until they can."
Before either of them understood what the Sorcerer meant, Merlin waved his hand over the magic keeping the Dark One entrapped and snuffed out the flames, while Emma cried out for him to stop as she shouted, "No! What are you doing?"
Killian screamed as the darkness suddenly consumed him again from within once the magic of the flames were gone. Upon hearing their cries, everyone from below deck rushed up to fight against the danger, as Emma swiftly used her magic in an attempt to force the Sorcerer through the air, then quickly reached out to grab the ring from the ship floor before she tried to help Killian. However, Merlin blocked her power and turned it back against the Savior and everyone else before anyone could strike out against him again.
At last, the Dark One rose back to his feet when the entity finished its task now that the good magic was gone, and Hook stared coldly at those he cared about until he turned to Merlin again, then questioned skeptically, "You're helping Arthur now?"
"Only because he now has control over me, as he has control over you," the Sorcerer replied. "Zelena has managed to tether me to Arthur's half of Excalibur. You heard the King's command."
"I'm taking back the Jolly Roger as I was first commanded to do," the ship's Captain darkly responded and turned back to the heroes who all struggled to rise back to their feet, then settled his eyes on his first mate. "Mr. Smee… You've always been loyal. Come with me and remain as you are, or remain with the others. But do so and you'll be turned back into a rat for betraying me."
The man wearing his red knit hat stepped out from among their friends despite their glares aimed towards him for doing so, then stated nervously, "I'm with you, Captain. Always."
Yet when he stepped past Emma, Smee quickly whispered, "If I can, I'll try to get the dagger. I like him even more when he's with you."
"There's no time for goodbyes, Smee," Hook called out to him, then continued to guide the Jolly Roger towards Camelot's harbor per Arthur's command as Merlin suddenly rendered those from Storybrooke unconscious, all except for the first mate and Emma on whom Merlin immediately summoned the magical cuff over her wrist to render her powerless, while the others Hook magicked to the land and left them as they were.
"Are they going to be alright?" Smee asked nervously.
Before finally using his power to return to the castle, the Dark One turned to face the Savior as Merlin grabbed her roughly by her arm to take her prisoner like the King commanded him to do, and then answered, "That will be up to them. I'm sorry, Swan. It's like you said to the weakling you still believe is inside of me… I can't fight the bastard in possession of my shiny new tether. But even if I could… I'm not him."
Emma held his ring now around her own neck in her hand while she sadly looked at his face and into his darkened eyes, though neither were his own any longer, then she strongly replied, "You're right. You're not the man I fell in love with. But like it or not, Killian Jones is still inside of you and he won't ever give up fighting to break free of you. And I won't ever give up on him. Just as I promised him I wouldn't."
No more words were spoken as Hook set the Jolly Roger firmly on her course, then magicked himself and his first mate back to the castle to meet up once again with the King as Arthur demanded from him. Merlin then looked at Emma with remorse in his eyes before following after the Dark One against his will, as he vanished with the Savior in his grasp.