Chapter 28: Swan Lake
The arrow suddenly changed directions and shot towards her. Artz screamed out No! Her hands shooting up, glowing in electric blue light and stopping the arrow. Electric blue and pearly white lights fought for control over the arrow and she saw how much Artz was straining to hold the arrow in place.
"Why is it different? What changed?" He questioned his voice soft and steady like she didn't just try to impale herself with a magically infused arrow.
She took a few breaths, her emotions all over the place. She could barely think and her blood felt like lava, scorching through every part of her. She was in so much pain right now and she had just accidentally tried to kill herself.
Come on, Emma, you can do this. You need to do this….for her. I need her to know that I don't hate her, that something was effecting me. The real me would never have hurt her so badly. I'm sorry...I am so sorry. Please believe me, Artz… please...dont give up on me. I'm here, I'm right here...I'm not going anywhere. I believe you, I swear I do! I don't hate you, I trust you, I….say something, you idiot!
"Because something happened yesterday. I don't know what it was but i felt it. All that anger and hatred… they weren't real… none of it was real." Emma answered tears beginning to form in her eyes against her will,
"All those terrible things I said...i didn't mean them. I don't hate her...i can't hate her. I left her here...I left her here all alone...with complete strangers. I shouldn't have done that and for the life of me, I don't know why I did. Oh god, I'm the real monster...not her, never her."
The Crimson Savior let out a yelp of pain as the arrow slid until it was about two feet from the blonde's head, but she managed to stop it from going any further. Emma tried desperately to ignore the tears flowing down her friend's face, her arms shaking from the strain.
Several of the children ran up to the ginger and held onto her legs, offering what little support they could give. Two women, a curly ginger and a golden wheat, each took a side and then braced the redhead's arms, keeping her steady. A few men also joined supporting the others and the rest of the camp's inhabitants pooled in behind her.
The dark haired captain continued moving forward, unaware of what was going on behind him, until he was finally in front of her, his ocean blue eyes focusing entirely on her. She could see it… in those deep blue depths, so much like the ocean… he was kind, he was listening, he cared, he cared for her, he was trying to save her… just like Artz… fighting so hard to protect her from herself.
"If those feelings weren't real, Emma… then how do you really feel? Oh and call yourself a monster again and I'll slap you." He spoke softly.
She knew that he was serious too with the way he was looking at her. She didn't want to focus on her emotions right now. That's what was causing this whole mess to begin with. She honestly didn't know what to do or what to say or how to feel. He gently took her left hand into both of his, his gaze never wavering. The light from that hand faded as if trying to not to harm him.
"If you don't tell me how you feel, how you truly feel...for her...for my star...then we are going to have a problem." He warned before stepping into the space between her and the arrow.
Her eyes widened in alarm, tears coming even faster as her heart began to race. No, no, no...please...get out of the way! She was having the mother of all emotional breakdowns and all because this idiot had a death wish! Damn it, you bastard! I can't let her lose you! Not now! Please…. Please!
The dark haired pirate captain placed her left hand on top of his heart and she could feel it beating against her hand. It was steady… a steady and normal rhythm… but why? How could he be so calm right now? Did he have a plan? Was that why he put himself in front of the arrow?
She was so confused. She looked up at him, trying to understand just what the hell he was thinking. The next words out of his mouth took her completely by surprise, yet at the same time, she wasn't surprised at all.
"My life in your hands...Swan Lake." He stated quietly, his eyes shining with sincerity and trust.
Hearing that name coming from him...it made her mind calm, her thoughts ceasing to crash into themselves. She looked into his eyes, just staring...letting her mind work itself out. Those few words spoken so gently and calmly, blue eyes so incredibly kind. Yep, she was going to wreck the entire plot line to keep those two together.
Killian Jones was willing to put his life on the line to help the distraught blonde that was having the mother of all mental breakdowns, but will Emma be able to say what is truly in her heart or will Artz's captain pay the ultimate price?
