AN- This may be the most exciting, bloodiest, and most violent thing I have ever written and I'm proud as hell at it. With that being said, there are depictions of mild unwanted contacted, mild mentions of rape and assult, and a fuck ton of pain, blood, violence, and death. There is so much bloodlust that even I am crazed from writing it. If you are easily triggered by any of that please skip this chapter.

Down the Rabbit Hole

Chapter Seven

Killian was pushed onto the deck violently, landing on his stomach with a resounding thud. He gathered himself up onto his elbows, his eyes meeting a pair of crossed legs in leather boots. His eyes trailed the figure beginning at the feet and up a set of long imposing legs following crossed arms against a strong chest until he fell upon the face of Morston looming over him.

He scowled at the man, raising his fingers to his busted lip that he had received on impact and swiped them through the trail of blood that leaked from the injury and brought it up to his view. His lips curled up into a resolute smile, not allowing the man to shake his confidence. "I really hope you can sail a ship without a crew." He let out a throaty cackle.

"Pick him up." Morston instructed, crooking his fingers to several of his crew members.

Killian was hoisted to his feet by his head, his captors holding him in place with a firm grasp on his dark locks so that his head was tilted backward in submission.

Morston crossed the distance between them, glaring at him expectantly. "I'm going to enjoy seeing you beaten within an inch of your life — to watch the defeated and helpless look in your eyes as you watch the woman you are oh so attached to fail her." He growled, licking his lips in anticipation.

Killian's eyes darted down to the man's crotch, grimacing as he noted the way his pants stretched to accommodate his growing erection — the sick fuck was actually getting off on this. There had always been pleasure in inflicting pain — the two seemingly synonymous with one another for a pirate. There was just something about bloodshed that got the heart pumping and the testosterone rising in the body. "You are severely mistaken if you think I'm going to go down quietly. I will give you no such pleasure." He vowed assertively. "I'm taking down as many people with me as possible." He added for good measure.

"You expect me to believe that a one-handed former pirate turned addict is capable of dispensing such damage?" Morston asked with a dangerous grin before digging into his innermost pocket to pull out the distinct shiny silver curved metal of his hook.

Killian fought against the hold over him, gritting his teeth as his hook was flaunted in front of him, swinging from Morston's finger.

"Yeah you are rendered helpless without this attachment, but I have no intention of returning it to its rightful owner. You can say I've grown quite fond of it." He laughed, drawing the cold metal against Killian's heaving chest.

"Enjoy it while you can." Killian warned, pressing his tongue against his cheek as he clenched his jaw.

"I wonder where I'm going to display it?" He asked himself, running his hand over the curved metal.

"I'd rather like to see it permanently displayed in your neck." He bit back in retort. "But that's just me." He smiled, earning him a hard slap across the face from the man, his neck snapping with the force of it. Killian stretched his jaw, the blood from his earlier injury rolling down his chin — a fearsome expression coloring his dark features. "Shall we get on with it? Or do you enjoy a dramatic performance before dispensing with capital punishment?" He asserted, canting his head as he nodded. "I'd rather not beat around the proverbial bush mate. I'm aware you like the sound of your own voice but I've grown quite tired of listening to it."

Morston grabbed him roughly by the chin angrily. "I will see to it that you lose that silver tongue of yours first. But perhaps not before I make proper use of it for more pleasurable activities. How I long to fill that smart mouth of yours with my cock." He threatened, releasing him without warning.

"Killian!" Emma called out to him, rattling him to his very core as she was brought on deck.

"Ah, our guest of honor has arrived." He raised his arms out, walking the tight ring of his gathering crew members who were to witness Killian's demise.

The men on deck barked in amused laughter.

Morston turned toward Emma, who scowled loathingly at the man before her. "I want you to have a front row seat to watch him die."

Emma growled out at him, letting the saliva collect in her mouth before firing the projectile into his face, smothering him with her hatred.

Morston released a brief laugh of amusement before wiping his face with his sleeve. "You missed."

She raised an eyebrow in confusion as he seized her wrist and pressed her palm against the erection straining in his pants, holding it there until he illustrated his point.

"Here." He said, tilting his head as he crowded her. "Then after…" He trailing her hand, until it reached her mouth. "I fill you here. Holding that sweet little mouth closed until you swallow me." He sneered. "At that point you will say 'thank you' and ask for more like the greedy little whore you are."

"That is the last time you touch me." She narrowed her eyes as she released the biting remark. "You so much as raise a hand in my direction again, you lose the hand."

Killian smiled casually, marveling at Emma's unshakable demeanor — was there anything his Swan couldn't do?

"Enough of the theatrics." Morston backed up slowly, his gaze never leaving Emma's before directing his attention to their audience. "Gather round boys, the entertainment is about to begin." He teased as the men closed in into a large imposinging circle as Killian was pushed inside, stumbling on his feet.

Killian glanced around, his fist curling as his chest rose and fell, his pecs flexing with every long languid breath he released. His eyes met Emma's, giving her a slight nod for her to not worry about him.

She returned his nod, stretching her fingers from going numb from the grip on her wrists.

Morston took his position at the forefront of his captive audience next to Emma, wrapping his arm possessively over her lower back to squeeze her hip.

She wrinkled her nose in disgust, scowling.

Morston nodded his silent direction, signaling for the first opponent to break through the herd.

Killian turned on his heel, a cautious hand placed out in front of him on high alert as the men parted and his first opponent entered the makeshift ring.

The burly man cracked his head, rolling it as he clasped his hands together and stretched them out in front of him as he jumped up and down in preparation for his fight.

He might not have the use of both his hands, but what he didn't have, he made up with his speed and agility, and his keen sense of perception — he could read an opponent, gauging his movements to predict his next attack. It had served him quite well over the years. His strength came from within — fuelled by centuries of hatred brought on by everyone who had wronged him over his long life. He was extremely adept at defensive and counter maneuvers, choosing to weigh his options before acting on them.

Killian bent his knees, locking his stance as the man suddenly charged at him with a feral growl. His opponent came at him with a series of punches that Killian dodged, weaving in and out of the blows that were unable to connect with its intended target.

The man growled out in frustration, bucking backward before swiftly smacking his face against Killian's knocking him to his feet. Killian glowered at the man hovering over him, bracing himself for the impending attack meant to aggravate the injuries to his ribs. Killian wrapped his arms around himself protectively, tucking his head inward as the man kicked him.

"Get up you pussy!" He yelled out, taunting Killian, who gritted his teeth, counting silently to himself waiting for the perfect opening. "Fucking coward!" The man screamed at him.

Killian felt a sudden rush of adrenaline overtake him as he slid his leg out from underneath him, sweeping the man's leg sending him stumbling backward. Killian jumped back on his feet, his boots slapping against the deck as he prepared himself for the man's counter blows.

Killian raised his arms, blocking the man's fists from making contact with his bruised ribs before spinning around to throw off the man's strategy before landing a vicious uppercut to the man's jaw, the audible crack of shattered bones filling the air around them as their audience jeered.

The well-muscled man brought his hand up to his jaw — blood leaking from the fierce blow that left with the flesh below the man's lips impaled with several of his teeth. Killian staggered back gracefully, awaiting his retaliation as he heard a gasp behind him.

Emma clasped her hand over her mouth at the gruesome display, watching uncomfortably as the man spit out his saliva mixed with blood. Her eyes closed and she averted her gaze as the man reached into his mouth to pull out his own teeth as the crew members around her cheered his bravery.

Killian wiped sweat from his brow using his forearm as the man ripped his smile from his mouth, grimacing in disgust as he clenched his core muscles.

The man charged at him once more. Killian used the man's pain to his advantage, seizing his arm and tucking it against the man's chest as he elbowed him in the stomach and kneed him in the groin.

Around him the men winced, shaking their heads at the pain Killian had inflicted on their fellow crew member.

"You are a dead man." He swore, wagging his finger at Killian in warning.

The man grasped the back of his head, Killian groaning in pain as he reached the man's arm to let up on his hold over him. The man picked him up off the ground, his feet dangling in front of him. Killian tucked his knees against his chest, extending his legs forward, puncturing the man's lungs with a double kick.

Killian clamered to the ground, breathing hard as his nails raked the wood of the deck, lifting his head to see his opponent choking as he grasped helplessly at his neck. Sweat beaded his brow, his back arched into a predatory stance.

The man coughed and sputtered, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as he continued to gasp for his life. He heard the man's breathing slow until it halted altogether and the man fell backward lifelessly onto his back with a thud.

Killian barked in laughter, tilting his head down, his body buzzing with the thrill of the fight. "Is that all you've got?" He yelled, raising his eyes to look around at all the shocked faces.

"Not bad for a pirate with one hand. I got to hand it to you Jones, you don't disappoint." Morston clapped slowly in avid amusement.

Emma frowned at the sight of sweat dripping down his face as he curled his hand into a fist, his knuckles bruised and bloodied.

"Don't worry darling." Morston pulled Emma against him and whispered into her ear. "Oh we are just getting started captain. Ridley you're up." He gestured with his head for the named crewman to proceed.

Killian picked himself up off the ground slowly, watching as his next competitor shed his jacket with a scathing grin. Killian's mouth twitched into a menacing smirk, sizing the other man up as he geared up for the second round.

Killian stood still as the man circled him like predator on prey, the man's hands raised out in front of him as he jumped forward in jest, laughing in amusement as Killian jolted on impulse. "Are we going to continue this little dance or are we going to fight?" Killian shrugged his shoulders, easing the stress in his upper back from his last encounter.

Emma smiled knowingly, jerking away from Morston as she craned her head to see Killian tilt his head, avoiding the other man's fist. Her legs felt like jelly as she looked on suspensefully, her body quivering.

Killian growled as his fist made contact with the man's cheek causing a trail of blood to leak out of the other man's mouth. Killian followed it up with a swift blow to the gut, crying out in rage.

The man managed to capture Killian from behind, sandwiching both of his hands down on his head as he tried to snap his neck. Killian tensed, shaking intensely as he tried to starve off the man's attack as he screamed to release his hold over him. Killian brought his foot down hard against the other man's and snapped his head back, cracking the man's nose.

The man stumbled, uneasy on his feet as fresh blood dripped down his nose. Killian grinned devilishly, motioning to him with his fingers in "come hither" motion. The man came at him with a fury of punches to his gut that Killian managed to block with his forearms. Occupied with his range of attacks, he barely registered the man's fist crossing his face, the man's knuckles cracking against his jaw.

Killian felt a warm gush of blood flood his mouth. He gathered as much as he could and spit it out, wiping the remainder on his forearm, the thick red substance matting into his dark arm hair. Killian taunted the other man with a dark toothy grin, blood staining his teeth.

The man came at him again, circling him waiting for an opening to attack before running toward him at full force. Killian swirled around, capturing the man's neck and gripping him deftly in his hand until he felt the bones crush beneath the weight of his hand. The man fell limp against the ground as Killian stood, heaving, his chest glistening with a mixture of blood and sweat.

Killian barely got a reprieve before another opponent emerged unexpectedly from the circle against the sound of the men hollering at them. He barely had time to register the man's form as he was grasped hard by his neck and pushed against a nearby mast.

Killian could feel his head buzzing from the blow, the sound around him muffled as he tilted his head to regain his hearing, blood rolling down his ruptured eardrum.

Morston smirked as Killian's cheek was pressed down against the wooden mast, the wood splintering as it scratched up his cheek.

Killian's eye's met Emma's fearful ones, her eyes filling with tears as she witnessed his agonizing pain. Killian clamped his eyes shut as his hand closed around the rope behind him, gripping hard as he sent the pulley flying to the back of the man's head. The man slumped against Killian and he pushed him off of him, watching as blood flowed out onto the deck from the man's injury.

Killian had always been crafty, using everything at his disposal to even the playing field. Killian stood to his feet, a look of determination on his face despite the immeasurable amount of pain and suffering he was enduring. He swayed slightly, unsteady on his feet as he cupped his ear, blood tracing over the lines in his palm. His ear emitted a loud buzzing noise and hissed in pain.

"Don't just stand around you bilge rats! Kill him!" Morston ordered, pointing toward Killian.

Two men slipped into the ring as the men around him whistled and howled in support. Killian's eyes widened, trying to adjust his blurred vision as the men approached him with knives.

"Killian!" The sound of Emma's voice pierced his ears, bringing him back — grounding him as he deftly dodged one man's attack while the other man slashed into the flesh of his chest leaving a shallow cut that began to ooze with blood from the source. "That's not fair!" She aggressed, glaring at Morston.

"Quiet. Just watch." He sealed his body to hers, his erection digging into her back as he released a hoot of satisfaction at the violent display.

Killian stepped back barely missing the other man's knife as the other attacker gripped him by the waist. Killian gripped the knife, twisting it in the other man's grip, shaking as he claimed his grip on the weapon, plunging it into the man's intestines. Killian ripped the blade through the sensitive flesh as warm jets of blood soaked his back, arm, and hand. The man crumpled to the ground while the other man flew at his exposed back.

Killian fell to his knees in agony as the knife cut into his back, slicing his shoulder blade, drawing blood. Killian shuffled into a low crouch, grappling the other man to the ground as they fought for possession of the knife.

Emma could barely watch, turning her head as she swallowed hard.

Killian groaned with the effort and strain, the blade teetering between them. Killian gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down the hair matted against his forehead as he placed his arm against the knife, supporting it with the added weight until it broke through the man's chest. Killian let out a deafening roar, twisting the blade into the man's flesh until he met resistance, splashing his face with blood.

Emma opened her eyes to see Killian standing over an unmoving body, drenched in blood that she could no longer place with an owner. She trembled where she stood, Killian's menacing growl pierced her ears, watching silently as blood dripped from the edge of the blade, pooling at his feet.

Killian's breath came out in harsh pants, the corded muscles in his back clenching and unclenching as his fingers curled around the knife.

"You're running out of fight Jones! Even you can't keep this up for much longer. Your weakness is going to catch up to you." Morston yelled at him.

Killian looked up at him from over his shoulder, his vision clouded with blood to the point where all he could see was red. Killian whirled around to face the man, his feet dragging against the deck trying to not slip on the blood forming thick puddles on the deck. "Says the man who isn't brave enough to face me." He dropped his voice into a low raspy growl. "Afraid to be bested by a pirate with one hand?"

Morston smirked, watching as two men knocked into him from behind, sending Killian scattering to the ground.

Killian spun around, dodging the strikes of their blades as he pushed himself onto his back, his feet placed firmly on the deck as he began to crawl backwards as his feet slid against the deck, dragging the knife against the deck with a loud screech. Killian raised his leg, stomping down on one of the men's feet hard enough to break toes.

The man began howling in pain, jumping up on one foot to keep his weight off of it, giving Killian time to stab the man with the blade, slicing into the man's femoral artery. The other man approached him from behind, dragging his knife against Killian's neck.

Killian cried out, his grip tensing on his own blade as the knife pierced his skin. He skidded against the deck before arching his back to impale the knife into the man's foot. Killian bit into his lower lip, dragging his teeth against his lip. Blood flowed from the wound into his mouth, swallowing the taste of it on his tongue as he mustered all the strength so he could to bring his back against his attacker.

Killian's neck throbbed as he placed his knee against the deck for purchase so he could lift himself up. He sneered murderously as he limped toward the man, a pulsing ache in his head before plunging the knife in the man's carotid artery, splattering Killian's face with a fresh coat of warm blood. He inhaled its intoxicating deadly scent, the blood dripping against his lips to the point where he could taste the murder on his tongue, his nostrils flaring as a bathed in its welcoming embrace.

Emma looked on helplessly as two men unsheathed their cutlasses — all the color draining from her face as they twirled their swords menacingly with determination to bring her beloved to his knees.

Too engrossed in the heat of battle, no one paid no mind as an enemy ship steadily approached them, it's red flag hoisted proudly in its intent as it whipped in the wind. They heard the roar of the cannons plowing into the ship, rocking the ship violently against the waves with the force of its impact.

"Assume battle stations!" The sound of Morston's commanding voice shouted as the men dispersed around them and scattered around the deck of the ship.

Killian's eyes met Emma's, caught up in the fray as she began to push through the men rushing around her as she tried to reach for him.

Killian bent his battered head, unable to hold it up any longer as he wrapped his arm against his chest stumbling weakly toward her.

Emma sought an opening as the flash of the cannon returning fire blinded the people in close proximity to her. She opened her eyes, her eyelids fluttering as the world around her came back into view, the chaotic sounds around her buzzing in her ears as she proceeded toward Killian.

She ran toward him with purpose, throwing her body against his chest as she wrapped her arms around his neck, placing her head into the crook of his neck as hot tears splashed her face and obscured her vision.

Killian dropped the knife to the ground, releasing a sigh of relief as he cradled her back, his fingers digging into the leather of his borrowed coat. "I'm alright lass." He chided, pressing his cheek against her to smother himself in the gentle warmth of her skin. "We don't have much time. We need to get you out of here." He reminded her.

"I'm not going anywhere without you." She refused, shaking her head.

"Yes. Yes you are. Find Timothy. He's going to get you to safety. I'm not finished here." He told her.

"You stubborn arse!" She screamed at him, banging on his chest, uncaring that he was suffering in pain. "You insufferable pirate!" She fought against him until she collapsed into his arms, her body wracked with sobs.

Killian lifted his head to see Timothy standing a few feet away and he nodded to him.

"Forgive me miss." Timothy apologized before gripping her waist and pulling her off of Killian. "You have to come with me." He pleaded with her.

"I love you." He affirmed, his heart aching in his chest as he swallowed hard, his eyes watering with unshed tears.

"Let me say goodbye! Please. Let me say goodbye." She begged, trying to strip his grasp on her. Timothy relented against his better judgement. Emma flew forward Killian, holding him tightly to her as her hand swept across his bloody face.

There was another bang of a cannon hitting the side of the ship knocking them off balance as the sound of splintering wood echoed around them.

Killian turned his head toward the source of the attack, taking in the size of the ship — its flowing pristine white sails fluttering in the wind — the elegant painted antique wood greeting him like an old friend. His lips curled up into a confident smile in recognition.

Emma stilled against him, her palm pressed against his chest as she turned her attention to the ship beside her. "Is that?" She wondered breathily in disbelief.

"The Jolly?" He replied, the words drifting from his lips like sin as a renewed sense of hope filled him as the ship latched their grappling hooks to the ship they stood on, prepared to board it. "Aye. The Jolly Roger." He confirmed with a confident nod of his head, his eyes shining with a mixture of pride and vengeance at the realization that the tide was finally turning in their favor.

AN- I am still reeling from writing this. There was so much excitement in writing it that I might need a couple hours to recover from it. Please, I am begging you to tell me what you thought of this! Put a girl out of her misery and let me know your thoughts.