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Summary of the Previous Chapter: Elsa is reunited with Anna and Kristoff at the shore before everybody leaves to begin making the counter potion. While that is happening, the Snow Queen freed Gold from his cell, prompting him to start collecting fairies for his ritual, which included kidnapping Killian.

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Chapter Nineteen: Deadly Intentions

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As she half-lunged, half-tripped through, Emma braced herself. Slamming against the ground, her knees, stomach and elbows roared against the jarring assault of both the earth and the items now jabbing at her through her pockets. Breathing stunted, she gasped for air but was met with nothing but disturbed dust, which stuck to her open cut; blood dribbling down to her chin. Spastically coughing, she wheezed when she feebly pushed herself onto her side, everything inside of her contorted in pain from the second harsh landing.

Feet helplessly twisted beneath her, she panted when she, once again, fought to get to her knees, slightly hindered by a tidal wave of nausea. Hair fully spilled over her left shoulder, Emma lifted her head, her eyes registering the familiar Harbor setting before they found the people she was searching for.

Standing close by was Gold who, with a raised hand, had magically pinned a struggling Killian against one of the dock's posts.

Seeing his face, Emma slowly managed to clamber to her feet, every inch of her protesting the upheaval.

"Once again, I'm impressed by your efforts, Ms. Swan," Gold complimented as he turned to face her, casually switching his hand so he wouldn't have to yell over his shoulder at her—it also gave Emma a perfect view of Killian. "You have drive and endurance, but I've come too far to stop now."

Still able to move, but only to some degree, Killian tried to push at the force that was leveled against his entire body. "No" he strained, thinking that he would attack Emma. "Leave...her...alone..."

Looking back at him, Gold raised his brow. "Fret not, old chum. I'm no longer interested in going after her," he said, partially lying. If it wasn't for the deal, I would. "I have all that I need," he continued with a heartless smile. "Now, I'm just doing what is necessary."

"P-please," Emma stammered, her body swaying until she wobbly widened her stance. "Gold, don't," she begged, her eyes wild against her pale, bloodied face. "Don't...hurt him, please."

Gold regarded her appearance with an air of indifference; completely unaffected by her begging. "You're welcome to try and stop me," he challenged with a smile. "You'll have some time since I don't plan on killing him right away." Twisting his hand to one side, he increased the pressure on Killian, who tried to hold in his discomfort. "You'll have to wait until the stars align first, which will happen," he paused, feigning as if he didn't know with a puzzled expression. "...Three hours past sunset."

Teeth chattering, Emma's lip twitched. Why would he tell me that? Is he lying?

"Now then," Gold said, eyeing the injured woman. "I don't want any more interruptions from you, dearie. I want to enjoy this." He then flicked his other hand up and pointed it at her, fully intending on paralyzing her, but to his surprise, she seemed to have sensed his intentions.

Swiping away at his hand, she knocked the spell from his fingertips before it could take effect.

Thinking about Killian, Emma could feel her thoughts fueling and feeding her magic, giving her enough strength to fight back. Adrenaline masking the agony of her battered body, she took a couple of steps forward and raised her hand, planning on attacking the hold he was using on Killian, but then a sudden yank at her throat stilled her actions.

Recovering quickly, Gold had folded a hand into a fist, using an unseen grip to place Emma into an enchanted chokehold.

Surprised, Emma's knees buckled and she collapsed; the strength she had just moments before gone. Clawing at her constricted throat, a strangled cry slithered through when she tried to breathe, her face and neck turning an unhealthy shade of pink.

"Emma!" Killian screamed, his eyes bulging and his voice cracking. "Rumple! No!" When she began to convulse, he directed his frantic gaze to the man in front of him. "Whatever it is...take it! Just take it!"

Gold then met Killian's stricken eyes. Wanting to get his point across, he furthered the torment for another painstaking second before relenting, making Emma fall forward, a huge intake of air pouring into her lungs when she was able to breathe again.

"This would've been so much easier on everyone," he said, leaning in closer with an intense look in his eyes. "If you had just kept your mouth shut in the forest. It all would've been a done deal, but now, look at what you did to your love..." he then gestured to a gasping Emma, who hadn't moved from her position. "I told you I would repay you in kind for betraying the deal, and before that, I also said how your love for her had consequences. So, for your penance, she now has to witness me doing this."

Gold then propelled his free hand deep into Killian's chest, his fingers seeking out the other man's beating heart before unceremoniously wrenching it out.

A strangled sob had burst from Killian at the intrusion, his body sagging down the post before he was then released from Gold's influence.

Falling onto his hands, he sighed heavily, immediately feeling the missing piece within himself, but even when he didn't possess his heart, Killian's focus was on the woman he loved. Looking up, he found the crumpled form of Emma and began making his way to her, but before he could take one full step, Gold blocked his path.

"Move," Killian hissed, desperately needing to see if she was recovering.

Heart in his hand, Gold regarded him with elation. "If I had more time, I feel like I would enjoy teaching you some manners, but" he then squeezed his heart, making Killian gasp and dropped to the ground in anguish. "Alas, I don't...Now," he said, eyes flashing when he raised up the tortured organ. "I have other things to prepare for but, when I summon you, I expect you to—"

A rumbling sound suddenly emerged from the forest.

Then, a light purple beam followed, a thunderous growl accompanying it when it bolted into the air before fanning out and settling on a huge portion of the forest; the cloud-like substance shifting in the dimming wind, greatly contrasting beneath the domineering grey above it.

"Ah," Gold said, intriguely staring at the new formation of energy. "The protective spell you have been working so hard on has been released. Too bad that it doesn't have enough potency to cover the entire town." He then glanced at a rising Emma. "Must've been missing an important ingredient."

Whimpering, Emma slowly looked at what he was referring to. I guess we did need those mirror shards in that necklace after all, she thought bleakly, just imagining how the others were reacting to this unlucky development. Groaning, she ignored her consuming pain and turned back to Gold.

Wiping the blood from her mouth onto her jacket's sleeve, leaving smears on her chin and on the material, Emma managed to get to her feet again, wincing the entire time. "Think about what you're doing," she said, her voice hoarse and rough, but still audible. "You don't have to do this. We can think of another way for you to keep your magic."

But Gold just shook, then squeezed, Killian's heart in her direction, challenging her once again to stop him over the excruciating wails of the man at his feet. "Tick tock."

He then disappeared in a billowy cloud of red smoke, leaving the two to their own devices.

Rushing over to Killian, Emma gently pushed him back, making him lie against the post so she could look him over. Hand on his chest, she used her other one to ease herself down beside him, but since her body was still recovering, she ended up losing her footing. Slouching into him, Emma's shoulder collided into Killian, hitting his collarbone, but he registered what was happening quickly and caught her before they both fell over.

Hugging the other tightly, they sat there breathing heavily.

"Are you okay, Emma?" he then asked, leaning his face into her tangled hair. "Tell me that you're okay."

Emma tried to suppress the tears but she couldn't. Shaking, they poured down her cheeks in a steady stream. "I'm s-s-sorry. I couldn't p-protect you."

He tightened his grip. "No, don't apologize. I should be doing that to you. You, Emma, you did more than enough." When his words didn't assuage her, he stroked her back in consoling motions. "Look at me, love."

Sniffing loudly, Emma pulled back, her face dirtied with tears, dust and blood. Killian's heartless space clenched at the sight. Breaking half of the hug, he lifted his hand and cupped her cheek before rubbing away the grime. When he trailed his fingers down to her bruised lip and reddened throat, he could feel his anger boiling inside of him. "I'm a survivor, Swan," he reminded her, his thumb caressing her jawline. "I've lived through more than I can say."

"But he took your h-heart," she said, her eyes wide with fear. "W-why would he take your heart?"

"You are my heart," Killian said with conviction, still her quivering. "He can have it as long as I can prevent anything bad happening to you." Searching her face, he waited for her response, praying that he didn't scare her with his feelings.

I love you, he thought, the second time today. I love you, Emma Swan.

She hesitated under his piercing gaze. She wanted to tell him how much he means to her but she couldn't seem to find the words. Tell him how you feel. Tell him the truth. But her tongue wouldn't cooperate and she just stared at him.

Knowing what he did, Killian looked away, his jaw clenching. "Come on, Swan," he then said softly. Still holding onto her, he pushed himself forward then onto his feet, bringing her up alongside him with relative ease. "We should rejoin the others before we run out of time. We can fret about my heart and Gold's revenge at a later moment."

Swallowing hard at his change of topic, Emma wanted to argue. To say that his heart was of great importance to her, but she reluctantly agreed with a nod of her head. "Let's just hope that he doesn't toy with it before now and ..." she trailed, pulling out her phone to look at the time, the quick movement against her bruised stomach uncomfortable.

6:01PM.

"Around 9:20pm," Killian finished, looking into her saddened eyes. "He said three hours past sunset and...I wouldn't put it past him, but I want you to promise me something, love." When she gave him her full attention, he continued. "Promise me that we'll have one more kiss before...whatever happens."

Her eyelashes fluttered. "Nothing's going to happen. I won't let it."

"Promise me."

"...I promise," she replied, her voice sturdier than before. Trying to relieve the tension, she then gave him a teasing wink. "I guess you also weren't 'satisfied' with that one kiss by the ice wall."

Thankfully, he responded by giving her a wide grin. "Never with you, Swan."

Dropping their hands from one another so they could begin their journey to the well, she winced when she tried to take a step, making his hand shoot back out protectively.

"Can you heal yourself?" Killian asked, moving to stand in front of her, his eyes evaluating her figure.

"Yes and no," she responded, the aches in her body reminding her that she was alive and in pain. Raising a sore arm, she brought her hand up to her face and poked at her lip, which sent a stinging shockwave throughout her cheek. Hovering her fingers over it, a white light glowed, healing the abrasion in a couple of seconds. Moving it down to her sore throat, she alleviated the rawness inside as well as the bumpy scratch marks that she had caused during the chokehold. "I'm better at healing other people than myself. That takes a different kind of energy, I believe."

Resolve hardening, Killian walked back to stand beside her. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he held her close, supporting her frame against his. "Let's go see Regina."

"Oh, crap," she then said, stopping when she remembered something. "Kristoff! He's still on the road!"

"Bloody hell," he said, closing his eyes. When he reopened them, he looked conflicted between getting her healed and seeking out the other man.

"We have enough time," she said. "Well, if I pick up the pace, we will, and when we get there, I can drive us to the well." She then added the following in a softer tone. "We can't just leave him there."

Exhaling loudly, he agreed. "Aye."

"But if you really want to help me," she said, both serious and teasing. "You could give me a piggyback ride."

Killian raised an eyebrow at her. "Is that your attempt to get me to carry you?"

"Yes."

He considered it for a moment, reminded of how he had to carry David, as well as Belle, back into town. "Like father, like daughter."

…

Angry, the Snow Queen magically entered into Regina's office, her calm countenance crumbling.

She had heard then saw the protective barrier they had released in the forest and even though it strangely didn't cover the rest of the town, leaving just a few unaffected—especially those few—was enough to make her scream.

They think that they can defeat me with some little potion? She thought, making her way over to the cauldron atop the desk. Some primitive shield?

Glaring at the light purple liquid, she rested a hand against the brim of the cauldron, momentarily lost in thought before she flicked a finger. Curdling it with a light jagged blue streak, she watched as her magic destroyed the remaining potion before attacking the rest of the scattered ingredients with a hand flourish.

Noticing the other materials lying further down the desk, including a familiar green book, her eyes widened. Moving towards it, she stroked its cover before picking it up and taking it with her back to her hideout.

Flipping through the pages until she came to the ripped out portion, she ran a finger down the uneven stubs. "So, they know what I'm planning on doing?" she said aloud, her voice not reflecting what she was feeling. "Well," she continued, suddenly tossing the book over her shoulder and onto the floor below, ignoring the thumping sound it had created.

Moving to stand directly in front of her grand mirror, she looked at her reflection. Lifting a hand up, she then stroked at the smooth surface. "Then they know that they're doomed..."

…

As the spell continued to spurt into the sky, those standing by the well knew that they were safe but recognized that the Snow Queen's spell hadn't been completely thwarted.

"It's not spreading to the town," Robin said when he saw how stunted the purple cloud was when compared to the massive grey one above it. "It's just protecting us."

Regina cursed inwardly. "It's because we didn't have the necklace. That's why it's not spreading. It's not potent enough to do that. The only reason why it's working at all is because we found Anna."

Noticing how dark and bleak the Snow Queen's clouds were becoming, Belle pulled out her phone for a time check. "It's 6:15pm. We have 5 minutes until sunset."

"What are we going to do?" Anna asked, looking at everybody.

Elsa shook her head. "I don't know if there's anything we can do."

"No," Regina said, her mind racing. "We still have time. I'm going to go back to my office. We still have enough potion left to possibly expand its reach."

"I'll go with you," Elsa volunteered, but when Regina was going to disagree, she lifted up the wrist with the yellow ribbon. "If we run out of time, I'm marked by the Snow Queen. There's a good chance that I'll be protected."

Deciding not to argue with that logic, Regina relented with a sigh. "Ok. We'll be right back."

Lifting a hand, she quickly teleported them back to her office where her mouth instantly dropped open. "Something's happened," she said, feeling the disturbed vibe instantly. Glancing about, she noticed several of her ingredients had been messed with and that her desk appeared to be clearer than before. Stomach sinking, she marched over to the cauldron and had to hold back a scream.

"She was here," Regina stated, her eyes stroking over the ruined remains of the potion. "She destroyed it and..." she paused, her stress level rising. "...she made it so we wouldn't be able to make any more." Turning to look at a horrified Elsa, she felt the consequences of this action hit her in her gut. "We don't have anything to offer the town now."

"This is terrible."

Regina's eyes then widened. "Henry," she breathed, her heart pounding. "Mary Margaret, David..." she trailed, knowing that they'll now be effected. Glancing up at the clock, she could feel a cold chill sweep her spine.

6:19PM.

They had one more minute left.

"Maybe," Elsa reasoned, trying to lessen the painful blow. "Maybe Emma gave them a sip of her potion. She took a vial with her. She also has a ribbon...so, she will be fine..."

"I don't even know if Henry's with them," Regina whispered.

"He was with Mary Margaret earlier. There's a good chance that he still is."

A crackling sound then erupted around them when the clock struck 6:20PM.

Both of them turned to look up at the grey cloud, which had suddenly stirred to life.

Twinkling, it began to rain down.

The Shattered Glass Spell seconds away from being cast.

"We have to go!" Regina exclaimed, lifting a hand into the air when a drop of it hit against the nearby window.

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