Hello my lovelies! Sorry for the long wait, I found myself reviewing and re-writing this chapter over and over again. Please note that there is something special at the end of this chapter.

***Special Author's note at the end of the chapter***

Previously on SoulMarked...

"I don't mean it like that." it took every ounce of concentration she had left to keep the quiver out of her voice, "I mean, you—this—it's intimidating." She watched as understanding slowly crept into his face. It was with crushing disappointment that she felt his heat and scent pull away.

Harry Hook had taken a step back, yet his eyes were still burning into her. She wondered with embarrassment if she had looked disappointed when he pulled away.

Cassie used the newfound distance to clear her head and to focus her thoughts. There was something she had wanted, "I want to get to know you first."

A pirate's grin was her answer, "I'd like that."

Chapter 18: Do you mind me asking...

"So, where do we start?"

Harry's question was the same one humming around in Cassie own mind. Where to start.

"I guess where everyone starts: at the beginning." the little cat mused as she turned to start the long trek back to the inner isle. Their beginning together was rough to say the least. Hook had led her into a mad chase across the isle, threatened and scared her, and then let her go. Not to mention the various cat-and-mouse antics that followed their inauspicious beginning. Still though, she held hope that there was more to Hook than simply a dogged determination to catch her.

"Who is the real Harry Hook?"

"Who am I?" Harry shrugged his shoulder up, repositioning the duffelbag more comfortably. His free hand reached down to wring the smooth metal of his hook between his fingers. His eyes were glued to the wringing motion as he answered her with false-bravado, "That's a big question Cassie. Am I to spill me guts an' get naethin' in return?"

Cassie was not so easily tricked. She may have been alone all those years but she had developed an eye for reading people. Whatever bravado Hook was trying to sell she wasn't buying. She just wondered what he didn't want her to see.

"Depends what you want in return I guess." the little cat eyed him carefully out of the corner of her eye as they walked.

"Tit for tat," Hook had his suave mask back on, "Honesty—an' without the dodgy game this time."

Cassie's back straightened. A fair exchange of information without dodging questions. In other words, he was asking for open communication, "Fair enough."

"Then by all means, ladies first." Hook gave a semblance of a mock-bow, or at least as much of one as he could without tipping the duffelbag off his shoulder, "What dae ye want tae know about th' infamous Harry Hook?" his accent thickened again into that alluring lilt. Cassie got the creeping sense that his accent was something he played up or toned down as the situation demanded. She certainly didn't mind, whether it was the playful lilt or the seductive rhythm of a heavier accent he was a pleasure to listen to.

The two were slowly making their way back towards the inner isle, the near-round moon lighting their way.

"Depends," Cassie purred, "What information is up for grabs?"

"Ah'm an open book."

"Hmmm." Cassie hummed in faux-consideration as she flicked a quick sideways look over at the pirate walking beside her, "I think I'd prefer that book shelved." Cassie's kittenish jab at him earned her a deep chuckle.

"Yer teasin' me." he accused lightheartedly.

"Maybe." Cassie conceded with a cat's grin, "Honestly, I'm not sure what I want to know yet. I had this image of you from before we met, but you aren't really what I expected."

"Ah'm more charmin' aren't I?" His grin was wickedly mischievous. His accent was almost like a playful, teasing song. He was fishing for assurance and being awfully cheeky about it. The flustering part was that he was spot on with his teasing. She did want to get to know him and he was definitely more charming than she had expected. She was curious about him and he knew it. Though she would die before giving him the satisfaction of admitting that. She very pointedly raised a single eyebrow at the brunette beside her before returning her eyes to the cobblestone alleyway they were walking down.

"Aww come on love, don' be coy." Harry was enjoying watching her become more and more comfortable around him. She was already growing comfortable enough to give him back what teasing he gave.

Cassie scoffed goodhearted, "You're a flirt." She could say with certainty that at least one SoulMark was true.

"Ah," Harry chuckled to himself, "It's nae the first time I've been called 'at."

"I know." Cassie rolled her eyes. Momentarily Hook seemed taken aback by her glib answer. It quickly became obvious to the little cat that he was wondering if her skin had told her or if there were rumors about that particular trait of his. She figured there was no harm in being upfront about it, "It's a SoulMark. Left shoulder blade."

"Ahh..." This time the silence that followed was not the light comfortable silence of before but instead a silence filled with invisible layers.

Harry's eyes raked over the little cat, wondering what other words were hidden under those sheets of black cotton. He couldn't help but wonder what she must think of him from them. He was not so fool-hardy as to think they were good things.

Somewhere in that silence Harry dropped his heavier accent, "Do you mind me asking..." Harry cleared his throat. His mouth felt dry. He wasn't even really sure if he wanted to know, "What, ah, other SoulMarks are there?"

The first mate watched as an invisible barrier shot up. He could practically imagine the little cat's hairs standing on end.

"Sensitive topic?" he ventured.

"No." Cassie frowned, forcing her internal panic back down, "Just..." How could she tell him what those words were? Or how she had based her whole opinion of him on what others had said to him; on the words he believed defined himself whether he liked it or not? She couldn't help but feel like she had somehow violated his privacy. It was massively intimate yet it was his soul and not hers that had been laid out on her skin.

"It's not good is it?"

Cassie looked over just quick enough to see the slightest disappointment in his pale blues before he hid it. What could she say?

"Not all of it's bad." the words had slipped past her lips before she could even think about the next ones. One day she would learn to think before speaking, learn to filter her thoughts before they were spoken. For now though she was still playing catch-up.

His eyes were on her now, surprised but not unpleasantly so.

Cassie felt a flurry of panic as she struggled to string together the thoughts that would become her next sentences. Her mind was a cyclone of swirling words. All at once she was trying to shift through all the SoulMarks and grab at the ones that were his more positive ones. She grabbed at the first one she could recall, probably because it had been right next to Flirt. "'Handsome.' You're handsome." It was blurted in a sort of panicked squeak and as soon as the words were out there and she was looking at those surprised pale blue orbs she realized what she had said.

She could die.

'Words: do not pass brain, do not collect two hundred dollars.'

Harry's surprise quickly morphed into a winning smirk. Meanwhile Cassie could feel heat pooling into a flame of embarrassment in her chest. When he took that chance to step in front of her and pause their steps, the heat quickly rose up her neck all the way to the roots of her hair, coloring everything in its path a rosy pink.

"Yer not so bad yerself." Harry's smirk was enough to set her flame of embarrassment to an inferno. The way he was smiling down at her was enough to give her a strange tightening in her chest and gut, as well as a quickening of her pulse. Her breath hitched just a little and her heartbeat felt deeper and stronger. Harry had an effect on her that was unlike anything she had ever experienced before.

"I—" Hades, she wished she could evaporate, "I meant that Handsome is a SoulMark. It's, uh, on my left shoulder blade too."

Harry smiled smoothly, his eyes holding her even when she wanted to look at anything but him. His accent was thick and heavy again, just like his voice, "Weel, be 'at as it may, Ah stand by what Ah said." He then punctuated the next bit by leaning in and lowering his voice. His touch was surprisingly gentle as he took her smaller hand into his own.

She could feel the warmth of his words as he spoke from his chest in that seductively slow cadence, "You are stunning." Cassie stood there stunned as he slowly drew her hand up to his lips for a caste kiss that sent electric currents up her arm.

His eyes were powerful and magnetic. Again she was struck by the effect that those thin lines of dark kohl had in contrast to his pale blue eyes. She vaguely wondered if that's why he did it. She could feel her whole body warming under his gaze. It really was no fair, he seemed to have the power to melt her into putty and yet he was always cool and collected himself.

"Thanks." her voice was barely a whisper, the quiver was kept out of it only by the brevity of her response. Cassie felt her lips press together in an embarrassed, nervous smile that was pushing to get free.

Harry smiled gently, warmth heating his own chest as he took another bow, as though she were royalty, before sidestepping back to beside her and flicking his eyes forward in one smooth motion. Cassie stood there dazed for a moment as he resumed their course. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the little cat visibly shake herself as she resumed her place next to him. Harry felt the warm tickling of a new SoulMark appearing on his shoulder blade. The smile and pure internal joy at that was immeasurable.

"And what else, hmm? Is that the only good mark I have?" he prodded playfully, even going so far as to give the brunette next to him a light shoulder bump. Cassie's daze seemed to be broken by this physical nudge.

It took the little cat a moment to remember the conversation they had been having before. Once she did she quickly dived into the distraction. Would Pirate be a good mark to him? Or First Mate? Finally she decided on the one that was less ambiguous and that she knew was good.

"Loyal."

Her eyes flicked to the tall muscular brunette beside her and she was pleased to see him looking a little shy and embarrassed.

"Who called you that?"

The embarrassment gave way to a fond smile, "Uma."

"Your captain?"

"Aye."

Cassie nodded, an odd, somewhat unpleasant feeling taking hold in her throat and chest, "You two are close, aren't you?"

"Aye, we started off connecting because she and I were late bloomers, I just ended up bein' much later than her apparently."

Cassie was not so thick-skinned that she wasn't aware of what effect her lifestyle had had on his life—whether she had intended it or not she had shaped his self-image.

"Hook, about the SoulMarks...I'm sorry you thought..." her voice faltered and faded. She didn't have words enough for an apology of that size. How did you apologize for making someone think they were cosmically alone for half of their life?

"No' yer fault, Cassie." His frown spoke of old and new feelings, "Ah know it came at a cost tae ye." For a moment Cassie's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion before she saw Hook's hand come up to rest over his chest absently. Understanding dawned on her and felt like a kick to the gut.

Lonely.

"Doesn't make it better for you though. I made my choice, but you..." He didn't get a choice. Again her words trailed off. Again there weren't words for her emotions, so she said all that she really could say. "I'm sorry."

Hook looked over and locked eyes with her for a second. He gave her a watery smile and returned his eyes to the cobblestone street, "I appreciate that."

Silence carried them all the way to the inner plaza, where to Cassie's surprise Hook stopped without prompting before speaking up, "Still want to keep yer hidey-hole a secret?" he asked as he turned to face her. They were standing exactly where Uma had stood when she had made her declaration.

Cassie was thankful that there was no malice or ill-feelings in that question. She nodded with a small self-conscious smile.

The moonlight cast a soft glow on Harry's usually sharp features. His kohl-lined eyes were stunning in the gentle starlight. Cassie really couldn't imagine a more handsome man if she tried.

"Right then." Hook placed the bag of ill-gotten goods down, "I'll be seein' ye around?"

There was a warmth there. "I think I'd like that." A small, genuinely warm smile.

Hook smiled back.

As soon as Hook turned his back to walk away though Cassie was struck by that same sense of loneliness that had been devouring her for the past four years. She felt an overwhelming desire to keep him there just a bit longer, to not be lonely for just a little more, and before she could think better of it she found herself calling his name.

"Hook?"

***Special Author's Note***

Alright! Here it is: I've never done something like this before but I figured that since we are all quarantined together I might do something special! I propose something a little more interactive than my usual works.

Submit in the comments something you would like to hear Cassie/Harry say to one another! Maybe a question you think needs to be aired, a flirty comment you think would be perfect, or some heart to heart you want to hear! It can be a literal quote you suggest or a vague idea.

Now, keep in mind that if you submit something I feel is a little too out of character I might just say I can't see it happening or I might tweak it a little to fit better-but I will try to sprinkle them into the story as I go.

This cliffhanger in particular is a great chance to get some of them out-or I might save one or two for later.

IF I choose to feature your suggestion then I will give you props for it in the "end credits" so to speak.

RULES:

Write "INTERACTION DIALOGUE SUGGESTIONS:" and then whatever you come up with.

DEADLINE:

Ten days from now-Friday April 24th

Review Recognition segment:

Heaven's Mistake: Aww, imagining my readers giggling is so pure. I actually had to google what Yandere meant! But yes, she is definitely a bit of that. When I was developing her character's feeling and motivations I researched Obsessive Love Disorder and have put a bit of that into her.

Lady of Trolls: You're actually not the first person to speculate that Chad could be Gil's soulmate. Honestly I purposely kept it vague since there was not really anyone that they hinted at in the movies. Uma and Audrey was something that came to me because of the song mashup "Queen of Mean/What's my name" I recommend it since it is super catchy. Back to your question, Audrey's publicly known SoulMark is Captain, so while Uma, Gil, and Harry have put it together (color/font matches + Uma's SoulMarks), other VKs have not.

shadowcat106: That is really kind of you to say, so thank you so much. I'm always happy to hear that my writing is appreciated!

Lottielue1: Oh-ho-ho and the plot thickens. Lol sorry, couldn't help myself. I do try to avoid cringe-worthy writing. I don't like to force my characters into a sudden kiss but like to feel it out and see when they are close enough to be getting there. Honestly, writing a story is interesting because you would think that the author is in 100% control and we are, but we are also a slave to the personalities we have created.

HistoryISculture: First, as a history-lover, I appreciate your username. Second, thank you! I'm glad you liked it and hope you continue to enjoy!

Stars4life: Thank you! So sweet! And don't worry, I've been following all the health rules our county has been issuing. Stay vigilant!

Shipperandfanficer15: Great! I hope you are enjoying the slowburn~

sarahpat163: Thank you for bringing your concern up, I was actually already aware that his accent is Scottish. I understand however how you might have gotten that impression from the last chapters "translation" segment. The phrase 'yer a chancer' is actually quite popular in Scottish slang as well as British slang. It's a lovely UK cross-cultural phrase.

BeforexImxDead: I'm glad you are excited and also honored that you like the SoulMark idea that I created. I wanted a more emotionally telling soulmark than the ones where it is the first words they say to each other.

Kim: No apology needed! Welcome back~ I know what you mean. My husband is still working (essential employee) but I am not so while he is still keeping to his usual routine I am slowly turning nocturnal lol. I also really feel what you said about needing warm and fuzzies, I find myself wanting to watch comedies more and more to lighten my own mood.

(WOW! Look at all that love guys! Thank each and every one of you! Honestly this feels great!)

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