Dashing Pirate Rescue

by holdingoutforapiratehero

CS Pirate/Princess AU. Fearsome pirate captain, Killian Jones though he had found a way to get them the biggest prize in all the lands when he finds out that there is a handsome reward out for the safe return of Princess Emma. But he got way more than he bargained for when rescuing her proves more complicated than he thought. Rated M.

12. Man or a Monster?

THIS IS A FUCKING BEAST OF A CHAPTER SO YOU BETTER SETTLE THE HECK IN. WHAT A FREAKING ROLLER COASTER. YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE WORK I PUT INTO THIS CHAPTER AND I'M DAMN PROUD OF IT. AND YES I'M USING ALL CAPS, DEAL WITH IT!

This chapter is over 15,000 words long so just let that set in before you decide to dive in. Prepare your heart and your soul. Cross yourself if you have to because DAMN. Please enjoy my two day, no sleep, no food baby, and please heed the warnings below. I have a feeling some of you might be reading your last chapter, which is okay. This is a lot to handle.

WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC SCENES OF TORTURE, ATTEMPTED RAPE (KIND OF TAME), AND EXCESSIVE MENTIONS OF BLOOD AND BLOODLUST.

Dashing Pirate Rescue

Chapter Twelve

The sound of knuckles hitting flesh reverberated across the deck. Its recipient jerked his head upon impact, coughing as blood ran down his face. He spit thick crimson from his mouth, the color staining his teeth as his knees dug into the hardwood.

Madden wiped his bloody hands with a rag, peering up at his victim with a hard expression. "Do you think I enjoy this?" He asked pointedly, his brow arching in question. "Things would be a lot easier if you just told me what you know."

"Mr. Smee?" He whirled around looking for the plump first mate. He craned his neck, searching the faces of the crew for the man's signature red cap. He locked eyes with the man and he stepped forward.

Smee came up beside him, glancing at the man kneeling on the ground, his hands tied behind his back as he glared at them.

"Are you sure this man was present when you entered the captain's quarters the day the war ship attacked?" Madden demanded.

Smee lurked around the man's imposing body, training his gaze on the man being subjected to the brute force of the quartermaster's inquiry. "I'm fairly certain that he was." He verified.

"Fairly certain?" Madden repeated, glowering down at him. "I don't need to waste my time on 'fairly certain.' So you better be sure." He got up in the man's face, his hot breath hitting his face intimidatingly. "Would you stake your life on it if it came down to it? Why don't you take another hard look." He suggested through gritted teeth.

Smee flinched and roved his eyes over the man, concentrating on his face. "Yes." He murmured in confirmation.

"Now." Madden dropped his voice down low. "Was that so hard?" He backed up and patted the man roughly on the head.

Smee shook his head and adjusted his cap before falling back into line with the rest of them.

"Anyone who is caught having conspired in the princess' disappearance will be left to the mercy of the captain. And those that withhold information will be treated to capital punishment by me. And I guarantee you don't want to be on the receiving end of that justice. So I urge you to come forward with anything you may have heard or witnessed." He announced to the crew members scattered around the deck to witness the display of violence. "You will not be sleeping, drinking, or fucking until she is found and safely returned." He warned, earning him groans from members of the crew.

The crowd of pirates went silent as the captain walked aboard the ship wearing a menacing look on his face as they parted for him.

Killian refused to make eye contact with his crew as he strode through the throng of sailors to get to the front of the main deck where his quartermaster was interrogating members of the crew.

"Has he loosened his tongue yet?" Killian asked his quartermaster, his lips pressed together tightly as he looked at the sniveling man behind him.

"Not yet." Madden relayed disappointingly.

"Not yet." Killian repeated impatiently, a growl building in his throat. Killian clenched his jaw as he pushed the collar of his leather duster from his neck and began to shed it from his body leaving him in his open necked black shirt with ruffled sleeves covered by a red waistcoat with floral accents.

Killian made a show of loosening the cuffs of his shirt at the wrist and pushing the sleeves up until they rested just above his elbow. The man before him gulped, watching wide-eyed as his captain drew the dagger from its sheath at his hip and lunged at him wildly, placing the sharp edge of the blade to his trembling neck.

The man flinched in fear, snapping his head to the side to avoid his captain's steely gaze. "Please." He cowered.

"If you value your life you will tell me what you know." Killian demanded, his voice as rough as the blade held against the man's pulse. He opened his mouth, following the man's face in rapt amusement before closing it in a terrifying grin. "Start talking." Killian dug the blade further into the man's neck creating a shallow cut that began to ooze blood.

The man yelped, shuttering at the sting burning in his neck from his wound.

"I would take great pleasure in spilling your blood across the deck of this ship. Do I look like a hesitant man to you?" Killian searched his face with discontent. "Answer me!" He barked furiously, pressing the knife into the man's jugular, blood trickling down his neck.

"I don't make idle threats so I will give you until the count of three to loosen your tongue or that will be the first thing I strip you of." Killian threatened, seizing the man's chin and massaging the man's jaw to get him to open it as he ran the dagger against his upper lip.

"One…" Killian stroked the man's face, squeezing the life from him. "Two…" He warned, licking his lips eagerly. "Three…" He finished, his hand wrapping around his neck to choke him in an effort to get him to open his mouth.

"Martin!" The man shrieked, his eyes closed and held off to the side. "It was Martin." He stuttered, wincing in fear. "I heard him and some other men bragging about the princess in the tavern this evening."

Killian loosened his grip on him slowly and slid his hand up his face to grasp his chin and chuckled darkly. He dropped his hand and placed it against his cheek, tapping him in an emasculating way, the cold metal of his rings scraping against the man's skin. "Well done, mate."

Pulling away from him, he gathered himself to his feet with a faint grunt. He loomed over the man in front of him, tapping him with his boot in disgust. "Mr. Madden. See that this man is taken to the brig until I decide what to do with him." He ordered.

"What?" The man bulked in confusion. "I did what you said!" He squirmed in his bindings.

"Yes. Yes you did." Killian acknowledged. "But you also deliberately withheld vital information and wasted time that could have been spent tracking down an important lead… and for that you will be punished. Take him away." Killian waved his arm, signaling them to carry out his command.

Killian tucked his dagger back from which it came as Madden came up beside him. "You're going after him, aren't you?" Madden placed his hand on Killian's shoulder only to have him shake it off. "Please—" He begged earnestly. "Let me accompany you… I have to…" He paused, licking his chapped lips before amending his statement. "I need to come with you. Please, let me make this right."

"As if I can even trust you." Killian growled, turning around with a flourish, advancing on him until he backed him into the towering mast behind him. "I should have never let you talk me into letting me play pirate for the evening." He placed a finger of blame into his chest. "I should have been there to protect her."

"I was wrong." Madden admitted, as he retreated until his back hit the main mast. "I can see that now… you obviously care for her…" He noted, placing his arms out to guard himself as he looked up at the sail whipping in the wind overhead.

Killian tensed, his lips curling as he fearsome snarl emanated from deep within his throat. Reaching behind him, he pulled his pistol tucked inside his pants and aimed it at the man in front of him, his fingers twitching against the trigger.

"Please, let me help you. Let me make it up to you." Madden urged in panic, thrusting his hands against his head in surrender. "You and I both know I am the best fighter you have. Take me with you. I will find her. I swear to you on my life. If something happens to her, you can kill me."

"As satisfying as it would be to wring your neck with my bare hands… I need you here to look after the ship's crew." Killian slowly backed up, giving the man room to breathe and lowered his weapon.

"Finely, Bradley, and Smee are perfectly capable of maintaining the crew." Madden insisted, refusing to back down.

Killian replaced his pistol into his leather pants and stroked his jaw in consideration. "I know I am going to regret this." He relented and Madden sighed in relief. "But if you screw up…" He muttered. "Even a little bit." He brought his pointer finger and thumb together to emphasize his point. "I will disembowel you while you are still living."

"Sounds fair." He shrugged, laughing slightly as he rubbed his mouth.

"Come on." Killian extended his hand out to him.

Madden nodded swiftly and placed his hand in his to haul him up to his feet.

Killian informed the senior members of his crew to oversee the ship and its crew until they returned, with the added order that if any of them were to try and leave the ship to shoot on sight. No would be leaving until she was found.

Killian strode on the streets of the small town with purpose, his quartermaster trailing behind him, struggling to keep up.

"Where are we going?" Madden asked from behind him.

"He was last seen leaving the tavern with a few other members of the crew. He wasn't onboard when we began interrogating the men, so there is only one place they can be…" Killian's voice trailed off, his eyes trained at the winding road in front of them leading to the big colonial house in the distance.

The lights flickered and danced against the chipping pale white paint and the sounds of boisterous laughter filled the air as they neared the establishment. With a hand poised at the hilt of his sword, he entered the courtyard with his quartermaster standing beside him.

His eyes darted every which way, taking in his surroundings, including the balcony above them. Everywhere he looked there were drunken men with women perched in their laps as they nursed their ale. Hands roved over their scantily clad bodies as they laughed and touched them teasingly.

"Can I help you gentleman?" They were approached by an older woman, her hands placed sternly on her hips as her skeptical gaze shifted between the two men. "Now I know you aren't here to cause me any trouble. I won't have you chasing away all my paying customers." The madam addressed them, gesturing to her patrons enjoying themselves with the company they had paid for.

The two of them exchanged looks and Killian pressed his lips together in a thin line as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the strand of freshwater pearls that he had originally planned to give to Emma as an apology for leaving her that very evening. He was reluctant to part with them, but if it got him one step closer to his princess then they served their purpose.

"I believe this should cover any property damages and perhaps aid with the loss of revenue." He captured the woman's wrist and slipped the delicate strand of pearls into her wrinkled hand and carefully closed it with a devious glint in his eye.

The woman looked at them with annoyance and squeezed the jewelry in her hand. "Better be quick about it. I don't need a scene." She stood off to the side and granted them passage.

"Thank you, my lady." Killian tossed her a dazzling wink and a saucy smirk as they passed her.

She scowled and waved them off dismissively before returning back to work.

"Do you see him?" Madden asked his captain, who was currently standing on his toes and craning his neck to search for the man who had betrayed them.

"No." Killian replied. "Do you?" He questioned, still looking around for the familiar face.

"No—" The words died in his throat as his eyes fell upon the face of one of the crew members. The man in his purview was enjoying the company of a woman in his lap, his hands at her hips as he grinded against her. Madden grasped his captain's wrist, jerking him to the side so as not to raise suspicion.

"What the hell—" Killian growled lowly.

"See that man over there?" Madden leaned in and directed his attention to the man in the corner. "His name is Higgins. He is said to be one of the men that Martin left the tavern with. Not to mention he's been pretty vocal about your leadership."

Killian tried to shake himself out of the man's grasp in impatience but was halted by a firm palm against his chest.

"Don't be hasty." Madden warned him. "If we rush into this, he'll run."

"So you propose we do nothing?" Killian grumbled in impatience, chomping at the bit to get his hands on the man stalking in the shadows of the courtyard.

"No. We are going to lead him to believe that he has a leg up on us and that he will warn Martin of our presence." Madden suggested.

"He'll lead us straight to him." Killian acknowledged the man's plan and scrubbed his hand down his face with a drawn out sigh.

"Now, how do we attract his attention without letting him in on—"

Before he could even finish, Killian bucked backward and swung his arm, connecting his fist with the other man's cheek.

Madden's head snapped to the side on impact and winced in surprise. "What the hell was that?" He demanded shrilly, rubbing the imprint of the hand blooming on his cheek.

Killian grasped the man by the shirt, hauling him against his chest and bearing his teeth threateningly. "A distraction." He supplied.

"Yeah. I got that. But did you have to make it so convincing?" Madden murmured, grabbing at his wrists to pry him off of him as he flailed about.

"I'm nothing if not thorough." He nodded his head to the side before throwing him into a heap on the ground. "You think you can steal from me and get away with it!" Killian howled as he began to savagely kick him in the gut.

Madden curled into himself to lessen the blows to his stomach, his eyes closed as he tried to compartmentalize the pain that Killian was inflicting on him with every blow. "Ow." He gritted. "Avoid the ribs." He hissed.

Their heated exchange was slowly but surely beginning to attract a rapt audience. Killian rolled him onto his back with his foot and Madden coughed and sputtered, clutching his stomach as he groaned in pain.

Madden managed to pull himself away from Killian's wrath and began to crawl, his fists digging into the ground as he slid himself against the flagstone in an effort to get away. He tugged himself forward helplessly, his eyes stricken with simulated fear as he glanced around to see Higgins getting up from his chair.

"Killian." He alerted his captain to his movement when a boot slammed down against the middle of his back, effectively holding him down.

Killian glowered down at him and leaned in to whisper, "I see him." He quickly got back into character and wagged his finger at him. "Ah Uh. Where the hell do you think you're going?"

Madden couldn't even provide a response when his captain tugged him up by his hair and brought him to his feet before flinging him against the metal railing of the stairs. "Ow." Madden mouthed, scowling at his captain.

Killian glanced up from his position, following the footsteps of their intended target as he crossed the length of the balcony and disappeared into the room at the very end of the walkway. "Let's go." He nodded in the direction of the balcony.

Madden nodded his head in agreement and stroked his face to ease the pain in his cheek as Killian backed away and drew his pistol, and silently signaled Madden to follow him.

They stormed up the wooden staircase, ascending to the balcony above with demanding footsteps. When they turned the corner to the platform, they were instantly struck with the overwhelming stench of sweat and sex. There were several half-naked women leaning in the open doorways, leering at him hungerly as he passed them.

He paid them no mind, rebuffing their attentions and their roving limbs on him in an attempt to seduce him into accepting their services. He stomped, weaving in and out of the people gathered on the balcony, his weapon against his shoulder and his mouth set in determination.

Killian reached the door first, his hand clasping the doorknob and turning the handle only to find it locked. He looked over at Madden, who gave him a firm nod. Gun still in hand, he backed up slightly and raised his leg, bringing it down hard against the wooden door and busting it down.

The pair emerged from the broken door to the sight of Martin, a woman's legs wrapped around his waist as she bounced up and down on him lazily. There was a loud crash off to the side of them, and they jerked their heads toward it to see Higgins making a run for the back balcony furthest from the door.

"I've got it." Madden told him, unsheathing his sword and sprinting after him in haste.

Killian lowered his revolver, regarding him ominously with a slight tilt of his head. With lips downturned into an arresting smolder, he stalked toward him like a dangerous predator. Killian gripped the prostitute's hair, tugging her backward so she could meet his feral gaze. He tossed her a disconcerting smirk and her eyes widened in panic as she saw his face morph from the devilishly handsome pirate to a homicidal maniac.

"You'll have to forgive the intrusion. I have business with your client here." He smiled crookedly. "So if you don't mind I'd beg you to..." He bared down on his teeth as he unceremoniously pulled the woman from his lap by the roots of her hair until she landed on the ground. "Get the fuck out!" He screamed.

Martin howled in pain, doubling over as tears rolled down his eyes and his hands cupped his softening member.

Killian kept his gun trained on the man crippled by her hasty retreat. He looked back at him, a satisfying grin stemming from ear to ear at the unimaginable pain he must be in. "Oh. I quite like you like that." He snickered.

The woman cowered in fear, scooting back slowly against the floor to distance herself from whatever the hell was going on in front of her.

"You!" Killian snapped his head back in her direction. "What part of get the fuck out do you not understand?" He roared in annoyance.

She scrambled to her feet and grabbed her discarded clothing from a nearby chair and vacated the room as quickly as possible.

"Well now that I have your attention." Killian sank down to the floor in front of him, positioning himself on the outside of his spread legs. "Gods." Killian winced with mirth. "That looks downright painful. It's already starting to swell." He noted. "Not that there was much of a difference before…" He snarked.

"What the hell do you want?" Martin spat, peering up at him with his eyes, his head still bowed.

"There are a lot of things I desire." He slapped him on the leg before grasping both his knees to haul himself back up. "But right now, the only thing I want is your eternal suffering." He hovered the barrel of his revolver over the man's knee cap and pulled the trigger.

A deranged smile split his face as it was splattered with warm blood and he reveled in the man's deafening screams of agony. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did you need that?" Killian taunted, feigning his regret as he brushed his thumb against his lips.

"You're fucking insane!" He yelled, tears rolling hotly down his face as he panted and whimpered, the pain radiating up his leg.

"No. I just have an uncontrollable temper." Killian frowned as he rounded the man, his gunned hand twisting against the wrung of the chair while the other smoothed his hair.

The man cringed, his eyes screwing shut as he sniveled and shook violently at the downright disturbing feeling of his hand in his hair.

"Shhhhh. Shhhh. Shhhh." Killian hushed him. "There's no need for that." He crooned softly, his hand falling to his shoulder, rubbing it gently.

"What the hell did I do?" Martin cried, his shoulders trembling with the force of his sobs.

Killian squeezed his shoulder with a grimace, rolling his head forward. "Think." He dragged his hand across the back of the chair, using it to twist himself around dramatically. Fixing his pants, he squatted down in front of him, searching his face. "Think real hard." He lifted his head by his chin with his pistol.

"I don't know." He wailed, snot dripping from his nose.

"Seeing as how generous I am… allow me to refresh your memory." Killian allowed. "You see… something very precious was taken from me. And you know how much I despise people messing with my things!" He screeched the last word, his anger spitting out of his mouth and splashing the man's face.

The man squeezed his eyes shut, turning away from him as he whimpered. "Please." He begged for his life. "Please." He gulped in terror, thick stringy saliva sticking between his teeth as he squirmed.

"Begging, really?" Killian shook his head and chuckled darkly. "The only words I want to hear leave your mouth is the location of my missing property!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" He shouted desperately, teeth chattering uncontrollably.

"Let me refresh your memory." Killian buried the barrel of the gun in the man's chin with a low rumble in his chest. "See. You have what I would like to refer to as a loose tongue." He alluded.

The man's eyes went wide in recognition and his face dropped. "No…" He said in disbelief, arching his brows.

"Oh. Yes." Killian confirmed with a nod of his head, his voice full of violent promise. "Now, why don't you and I have a little chat about what happened at the tavern this evening. And don't skimp on any of those pesky little details."

The man was as loose lipped as Killian assumed given the accusations against him. Killian had learned the names of each of the men with him earlier and what was discussed. But what really set his blood boiling was their crude comments about what Martin had walked in on just a few days prior—

Killian gave him a gruesome smile, leaning in with sheer delight. "Liked what you saw, did you?" He taunted, the cadence of his voice smooth and even. "Did you enjoy seeing her breasts swaying as she fucked herself against my mouth?" He arched an expectant eyebrow.

The man shook his head slowly, denying his words.

"Do you wish it was you between her legs? Your lips smeared with her desire? Your name she cries when she comes?" Killian canted his head back and forth, his voice rising.

"No…" He wrinkled his face, sweat dripping down from his forehead.

"No?" Killian frowned in disappointment. "When you close your eyes at night, do you fuck yourself to what you saw? Imagine what it would be like to fuck that sweet little cunt of hers?"

"No." Martin gasped on a sob.

"Why not? You're only human after all…" Killian supposed with a shrug. "Gods, her cunt is sublime." He lamented. "The way she just mercilessly squeezes around your cock. Those delicious thighs clamping down around you, sucking every drop." Killian groaned dramatically.

Martin sniffled, his eyes shutting tightly and cursing himself for his body's natural response to the picture his captain painted.

"Ah. There it is." Killian cackled in amusement. "Nice to see that there's no permanent damage." His eyes shined with dark humor.

"I'm sorry." Martin whimpered, his mouth parting in anguish.

"You're sorry?" Killian nodded with his chin and rolled his eyes toward the ceiling as he pressed his lips together tightly. "You're sorry!" Killian lunged forward, grabbing his wrists and shoved them against the armrests, pushing the chair backward until his head hit the wall behind him.

"She's mine!" He shook with rage, all the blood rushing to his face. "Even in your sick and twisted delusional thoughts, she is mine! Only mine."

"Please…" The man pleaded desperately. "I've told you everything I know…"

Killian leaned forward, blowing a raspberry. "Aye, that." He rolled his head in an unhinged frustration. "I have to hand it to you… You do weave a lovely and vivid tale, mate. Such a gift for words — a true wordsmith." Killian inhaled, savoring the smell of sweat, fear, and blood in the air.

"However, there is still the matter of my stolen princess. Where is she?" Killian asked pointblank, growing impatient with his unnecessary theatricality. "Tick-tock." He sing-songed.

"I don't know." He stretched his hands, his captain's grasp on his wrists cutting off his blood circulation. "I didn't take her. You have to believe me…"

"Well someone bloody well did!" The muscle in Killian's throat throbbed, his heart beating a wild tattoo in his chest as his control began to slip. A snarl tore it's way past his lips and he dropped his pistol to the ground, switching out his weapon of choice for the one stashed at his waist.

Killian gripped the hilt of the small blade and straddled the man's lap and plunged the dagger deep into the man's carotid artery. He inhaled deeply, breathing in the heady scent of death as he tugged the man's body against his shoulder and began to stab him repeatedly in the neck, widening his wound and soaking himself in his lifesblood.

Several seconds later, he managed to stagger backward, nearly dripping in his blood fueled haze and the blade clattered to the ground. He breathed rapidly, huffing as a crazed smile split his face and he wiped the sweat from his mouth with his sleeve.

"Holy hell—" Madden stopped dead in his tracks in the doorway, gaping at the gruesome scene before him. He wrinkled his nose in distaste and averted his gaze as he took a few steps inside. "Killian?" He approached the stark raving mad captain cautiously.

Killian held out a hand to stop him and turned around, dragging his boneless body to the wall and pressing his back against it to hold himself up.

"Killian, are you—"

Killian fisted his hands in his hair before throwing them against the wall as he screamed. "Fuck!" He howled miserably, pounding his fist once more and sagging to the ground. He tilted his head against the wall and rubbed his hand down his face in frustration. "I just killed the one person who could have helped us." He admitted loathsomely, mentally chastising himself for his thirst for vengeance. "Did you at least catch up to him?" He wondered, throwing his hand up in the air and wet his dry lips with his tongue.

"Aye. I did." Madden breathed out in exasperation.

Killian's eyes widened and he perked up, gathering himself to his feet. "And?" He demanded.

"He doesn't know who took her." He supplied with a wave of his arm.

Killian curled into himself, the rage boiling up inside him until it overflowed. His cheeks puffed and an animalistic cry rose to the surface as he drop kicked the chair with the lifeless body of his latest victim still slumped against it.

He paced the floor, his hands cupped around his mouth as he seethed. "They did this!" Killian fired a finger of blame at the dead body that he had relocated to the floor in the heat of his anger. "This happened because they couldn't keep their fucking mouths shut!"

Madden flinched in concern, eyes his captain prudently as he allowed him to take out his anger.

"I can't even trust my own bloody crew!" He shrieked. "Nothing…" Killian said defeatedly. "We have nothing…"

"That might not be true." Madden alluded, wriggling his finger as he thought back to something Higgins had said to him. "Higgins mentioned something peculiar to me earlier. Apparently our crew weren't the only men in the tavern earlier. We were just too consumed with what was going on to notice." Madden explained.

"Who are they?" Killian asked gruffly.

"I haven't got the faintest idea, but I have an idea of where I can find them." Madden supplied. "The ocean goes around the entire island. It is the only way in and out of this place. I asked around and there is a secluded bay on the other end of the island that sailors use to smuggle cargo in and out of the township."

"You know. You really should have led with that." Killian chastised.

"And ruin your moving performance? Not a bloody chance." Madden smirked, teasing his captain.

Killian rolled his eyes, stepping over the body in front of him, his boots creating prints in the puddle of blood on the floor.

"Clean yourself up." Madden insisted, tossing a clean rag at his chest. "You look a bloody mess."

Killian accepted the rag, holding it up in 'thanks' before dabbing at the blood on his face leaving his face a faint crimson shade. "How far?"

"A two to three hour trek from here." Madden informed him.

"We don't have three hours!" Killian growled in frustration. "She's been gone for just as long and it's nearly an hour until daybreak."

"Killian, they won't kill her." Madden reminded him.

"That's not my most pressing concern at the moment." He gritted his teeth, closing his eyes in fear.

"What?" Madden bulked.

"They know about her… they know about her and I." Killian tensed at the realization that these men were acutely aware that her morality was no longer of any concern and could be disregarded if given the chance.

They needed to get there… and they needed to get there fast.

"Wakey. Wakey." An unfamiliar voice echoed in her ears as she felt a boot tap against her lower back.

Another man came to stand beside him and the next thing she knew she was gasping as she was soaked with cold salty sea water. Her eyes snapped open as the shock of the water stunned her into alert consciousness. She saw two men looming over her, smiling and laughing with their crooked teeth and gold caps over the one's they had lost.

"Morning sleeping beauty." One of the men said, resting his elbow on the other man's shoulder. "You were out for quite a while. Worried I had hit you too hard and you wasn't going to wake up."

Emma grimaced and bucked forward against her captors but could barely move in current state. She wriggled helplessly, pulling at the bonds wrapped around her wrists and her ankles. She huffed in exasperation, her eyes narrowing in hatred for her kidnappers.

Droplets of water dripped from her hair and rolled down her creamy skin. She was soaked to the bone, the sheer material of her shift clinging to her body like a second skin baring everything that lay beneath it.

They weren't going to hurt her, she sighed in reminder. They couldn't — could they? She took a deep breath to calm her nerves and glared at them confidently. "You have no idea what you've done, do you?" She taunted.

The two exchanged looks, feigning fear and then laughing, clapping each other on the back in amusement.

"That's right. Go ahead and laugh. It's funny — it is." She smirked smuggly, mimicking one of Killian's signature insulting expressions — but she could never execute it with quite the same finesse as he did. "I will enjoy watching you take your last breaths — the thought amuses me to no end." She gave a sly smile that earned her a slap across the face.

Her head snapped to the side and her mouth parted in shock.

"Such a big mouth from such a small girl." He clicked his tongue against his teeth and wriggled his finger at her.

Emma growled, raising her chin in defiance. "He's coming for you." She assured him before looking at the other. "Both of you." She snipped. "You'll be dead before the sun rises."

One of the men rounded her, pushing her into a sitting position as she thrashed against him in protest. "This should shut you up." The man said with a grim smile as he forced a bit of cloth between her teeth and tied it around her head tightly.

She cried between her gag and crumbled to the ground, curling into herself protectively.

He was coming for her — she just knew it. It was like she could sense it.

"Where the devil is that cock sucker with the boat?" One of the men shuttered at the chill in the air, the wind whipping through his thinning hair. "If he betrayed us… so help me God—"

"Patience. He said he'd be here. He'll be here." His companion reassured him, nodding out toward the bay and folded his arms against his chest.

An hour had gone by and there was no sign of the rowboat that would carry them off the island. "That's it. They aren't coming!" One of them threw his hands up in the air.

Emma squirmed, stretching her binds in desperation. Her eyes screwed shut as she tried to release herself to no avail, shivering against the biting chill in the air. It was useless at this point. She continued to struggle, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. She needed to remain calm — he was coming.

"What the hell are we supposed to do now?" One of the men shouted, gesturing to where she lay in the damp sand. "This is our only way off the island — not even you can escape a ship full of pirates. They will be looking for her." He faced his companion. "That's the problem. You never think things through." He shoved him.

"If I had stopped to think we would have missed the opportunity altogether." He insisted. "It was you who misplaced your faith in the smuggler to get her out of here." He pointed a finger of blame in the other man's direction.

"It doesn't matter whose fault it is now. We are stranded on this beach with a damned derelict royal with a steep price on her head." He reminded his brethren. "Look at her, she's been defiled by pirate's. They won't accept her let alone pay for her return — not when she's like that."

"You're right." The other man agreed, cursing himself for his misplaced judgement as he rubbed his mouth with the back of his hand. "That still begs the question." He looked at the woman over his shoulder before turning back around. "What do we do with her?"

"Well, they've had their fill of her." He raised a suggestive eyebrow, looking at her from over the other man's shoulder, his eyes roaming over her body lasciviously. "I think it's time for us to take a turn." He proposed, watching as the other man's lips formed a devious smile.

Her eyes shot open at the mention of their intent to take her against her will and she wept listlessly into her gag. She dragged her tied wrists through the sand and rolled herself onto her belly, beginning to slide across the sand in a last ditch effort to get away.

Emma blinked the tears from her eyes, sniffling as she struggled to slither against the coarse sand caressing her skin ominously. She looked over her shoulder to see the men rushing toward her and her eyes widened in fear.

"Just where do you think you're going, you little cunt?" He sneered, savagely grasping her feet, which were bound together with rope, and dragged her across the sand toward him.

She screamed, kicking her feet out as she twisted and thrashed madly. She could feel every inch of the sand hugging her body, the dust kicking up into her hair and her eyes as she was heaved back to the other man, who was sitting there waiting for her, a cruel grin on his face.

There was panic and fear behind her eyes as she was pushed down into the sand and the other man approached her, his hand busy loosening his trousers. Her face wrinkled in terror, her body shaking with the force of her sobs.

The man that dragged her came to stand behind her and crouched down to hold her shoulders down while the other bent down to untie her ankles. "Be a good girl and stay still." He grinned with raised brows as he worked the ropes free.

Once untied, Emma began to kick her feet wildly, bucking and arching her back to propel herself forward and fight back against him. She rolled her head from side to side, trying to break away from their hold, loosening the gag in her mouth in the process.

"I said — stay still." The man behind her barked, slapping a burning palm against her face before pushing her down harder into the sand.

She closed her eyes, flinching at the sound of ripping fabric — the material of her shift tearing at her inner thigh. She whimpered as her legs were forced apart and the man in front of her placed himself between them.

She sagged into the sand, her head rolling to the side as she tugged the now loosened gag around her mouth with her teeth until it fell against her chin. The sound of rustling fabric pierced her ears and she opened her mouth to scream — screaming the only name that came to mind — the only one that mattered.

"Killian!" She wailed, her feet skidding helplessly against the sand.

"It's not much further now… should just be right over that ridge." Madden directed his attention toward land formation ahead leading toward the hidden smuggler's bay.

Killian leaned into his stead, kicking it and urging it forward as it sprinted toward their destination. The horse galloped, determined by its master's command over it, bending to his will. They reared the ridge and pulled the reins back hard, the horse trotting restlessly in place as he looked from left to right.

"Killian!" He heard the shrill cry of his name fall from her lips striking pain straight through his heart. His pulse quickened and he felt a surge of testosterone pump through his chest — the urge to protect her overcoming him and driving him insane.

"Ha!" Killian commanded the agile creature to break out into a run, it's hooves kicking up the sand behind him. He could still hear the sound of the horse behind him, knowing that Madden was still trailing behind him.

He thrust toward the beach, his eyes widening as he made out two figures in the distance, another laying in the sand. A sadistic and possessive sound ripped through him like a tidal wave as he came upon them.

He reached for his revolver, a hand still on his horse as he cocked the gun and aimed it straight at the man closest to the waves. He pulled the trigger, releasing the musket from the smoking revolver and bucking back slightly upon the recoil.

Emma screeched as the man in front of her ceased to move and he paled, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as he slumped forward. She trembled violently, crying hoarsely as she dragged her feet in the sand, the man between her legs bleeding out and dyeing the hem of her dressing gown a monstrous shade of red.

Tilting her head to the side, she could barely make out what was going on a few feet away from her. There were two horses — her vision only able to see their lower bodies — and two sets of legs running along the beach — one clad in black leather and the other in tan. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion as she hazily saw a blur of black whizz past her periphery.

Killian jumped off the horse while it was still in motion, landing on his feet as the remaining man abandoned the unmoving body laying in the sand and ran across the beach for sanctuary. He could hear Madden's horse roar behind him as he pulled back on the reins, bringing it to a screeching halt. The sound drifted through his ears, cutting through his pounding hard as he gave chase to the man evading his death.

Madden threw his leg over the horse and leapt down before grasping the hilt of the sword sheathed on his hips and sprinted toward the princess. When he finally reached her, he dropped his knees into the sand, looking her over — she was frail, her skin pale and her body cold.

He reached a tentative hand toward her and she cowered away from him.

"Get away from me! Get away from me!" She pushed herself away from him but the weight of the dead man's body pressed between her legs prevented her from moving far.

"It's okay. It's okay." He tried to calm her softly. "I'm with Killian. It's okay." He reassured her.

"Killian?" She whined feebly, her breath coming out in short pants.

"Yes, Killian." He replied with a nod of his head.

"Get him off me… get him off me... " She kicked at the man's shoulders, wincing at the nauseating scent of blood, death, and grime wafting off the dead body.

Madden's eyes drifted to the man and immediately rose to his feet, rounding her to grab hold of the man's legs and tug him away from her.

Emma rolled onto her side, stretching her body out as she placed her cheek into the sand, choking on a sob as tears flowed from her eyes and trailed down her splotchy face.

"It's okay. It's okay." Madden repeated to her as he sank down beside her and began to rid her of the gag hanging around her neck. "We're going to take care of you."

Madden looked up and down the beach, catching Killian's swift movements as he neared his prey. God help the man who tangled with Captain Killian Jones — he had never met a more determined and more formidable pirate than him. At times, the man scared him to death — the man feared no death nor hesitated to kill a man in the most exacting and unthinkable way possible. Whatever Killian had in store for him once he caught up to him would be a heinous and gruesome sight to behold — of that he was sure.

The leather jacket was weighing him down as he hunted the man who was soon to be on the receiving end of his vengeance. He made a split decision to lose the heavy leather duster in mid-stride, shaking it off his body and shedding its leather skin like a snake.

Pressing his lips together in determination, he propelled forward, colliding into the man's body with his shoulder and knocking them both into the shallow tide. He gasped as his body hit the brisk water that soaked his body and sent a shiver down his spine.

The rolling waves lapped at his skin as he coughed the salty sea from his lungs, his body dragging in the swell of the water, his wet clothes clinging to his body. He propped his head up, droplets of water dripping from his dark bangs to kiss his blood stained skin, washing away the last vestiges of his malicious and violent misdeeds in the ocean.

Spotting the man trying to rush back onto the beach, Killian launched himself and wrestled him until he was fully submerged in the water. He positioned himself over the man, who was gasping for air as he bobbed in and out of the water, and placed a leg on either side of him, holding him down by a firm grasp on his neck.

Killian glared down at him, his pupils dilated and his vision clouded with roaring hostility toward his victim. The only thing he could see was red — his lips were pressed tightly together and his jaw set as he viciously lowered him into the water.

The man jerked and flailed, the water splashing around him as water filled and burned his lungs. Killian held him down for a few seconds, giving him a teasing reprieve before shoving him back down. He could feel the man's pulse beginning to slow as he drowned him slowly, granting him a small break before surrendering him to the unforgiving and murderous depths of the sea.

The man gurgled, making several air bubbles in the water as he thrashed wildly. Killian grunted, a low rumble building in his chest as he curled his fingers around his neck, feeling the man's life underneath his fingertips. Applying pressure to his jugular enough to bruise, he shook violently, his rage taking over him. He strained with the effort, color raising in his cheeks as he felt his neck give, a bone cracking underneath his thumb.

Using his weight against him, Killian pushed him down, his waist disappearing in the water until the man's body hit the rocky bottom of the ocean floor. He pressed against the man's chest, feeling the life slip from his body and he stopped trying to fight him. Killian let the body float back to the surface — dead in the water.

The body rocked with the tide, moving it from side to side and Killian regarded it coldly. The man's death had been far too swift and merciful for his liking. He deserved more — needed to suffer more — he wanted to watch him bleed.

Killian swam over to him and grabbed him by the shit to bring him to shore. He hauled him up, placing him against the damp sand and straddled him, his hands pressing against his chest to try and restart his heart. "Get up you bastard, I'm not finished!" He shook him violently as he pounded against his chest.

Overhearing the commotion on the beach, Madden ran over to inspect, but was unprepared to see his captain leaning over the body of the princess' would-be rapist trying to bring him back to life. "Killian…" Madden murmured in shock and horror.

"Killian! Killian!" He called out to him, trying to break through the haze of his unsated bloodlust. "He's dead!" Madden pleaded with him to stop.

"No!" He protested, his eyes damned with an expression that could cut through glass."Death isn't good enough!"

"Killian—" Madden intervened, capturing his wrist in the air and tugging it toward him.

"Don't!" Killian spat, glaring up at him with a torturous scowl.

"Killian, it's over. He's dead. You've avenged her." Madden insisted. "You're done. You should go to her." He suggested, gesturing to the woman curled up on the beach several feet away from them. "She needs you."

Killian winced painfully, his body following forward as his breathing slowed at the sight of the woman he—

He closed his eyes at the thought, dispelling it by thrusting his hands into the beach, letting the sand slip through his fingers as he pulled them out. He glanced over at her, her meak body tucked into herself as she cried out for him weakly. He bowed his head, fighting back against the emotions rising up inside him and threatening their hold on him.

Killian tensed, willing himself up by shoving the man's chest away from him to pull himself onto his feet. He staggered forward, a little rocky on his feet as he walked toward her.

He stood over her, his heart breaking at the sight of her disheveled state. He noticed the large slit in her shift, the hem soaked with blood — the sight sent him spirling, his demons creeping back up on him demanding retribution for the sins committed against her.

Killian raised his head, meeting Madden's concerned expression. "Is she?" He wondered, his cold dark heart skipping a beat in his chest as he waited for his answer.

"No. We arrived just in time." Madden responded to his fragile question.

Killian inhaled sharply before releasing a long drawn out breath of relief, his eyes closed to thank whatever Gods were responsible for his undeserving miracle. He dropped to his knees beside her, searching her pale and clammy face for signs of life — she wasn't dead but was she still living?

"Killian…" She whispered softly, sighing in recognition, his presence instantly comforting her. Her eyes widened in recognition and she launched herself into his arms, wrapping them around him as she whimpered.

"I'm here. It's okay." He winced painfully at her distressing sounds, his hand smoothing her back to calm her down, the other wrapping around her as she trembled in his arms.

She tucked her head into his shoulder, her body shivering from the wet shift clinging to her body — the cold air doing nothing to help her in her current state of undress.

Killian glanced to the side, inspecting her numb fingers, a faint shade of blue rising to the surface. "Madden, grab my coat. She's freezing!" He insisted, the inflection in his voice panicked.

"It's okay. It's okay." He chided sweetly as she brushed her cheek against the warmth of his neck, breathing in his comforting scent. "You're going to be okay. You're okay." He told her repeatedly as he rocked her gently in his arms.

"Here." Madden returned with his coat and handed it off to him.

Killian nodded his thanks and turned back to Emma who was shifting against him. "Come on darling, let's get you up." He stood to his feet, brushing the sand from his trousers before instructing Madden to aid him in helping her up.

Emma groaned miserably as Madden locked his hands around her waist to hold her upright so that Killian could wrap her up in his coat for warmth. She hugged it closely to her body as she felt Killian's hand at her back and his arm hooked underneath her knees to hoist her into his arms.

Madden moved to assist him but Killian glared at him possessively, cradling her tightly to his chest. "I've got her." Killian told him and Madden held his arms up and walked back a few steps, relenting the task to him, and him alone.

"I'll just go and grab the horses." Madden suggested, scratching the back of his head as he pretended to not notice their rather intimate report that they had established with one another.

"You do that." Killian snipped at the man. Hearing his footfalls against the sand moving away from them, he looked down at the woman in his arms with an adoring smile. "Come now, love. Let's get you back home…"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he cursed himself for the sudden and cruel slip of his tongue, but didn't open his mouth to correct himself. Truth be told, he rather liked the way it sounded, and how it rolled off his tongue so naturally. What's more he enjoyed her reaction to it — a slight curl in her lips as she nuzzled her head into his chest and sighed contentedly.

When they returned to the ship, the sun was in the midst of rising and it had almost touched the clouds. It could be seen just over the horizon, threatening them with its crippling rays.

Killian carried Emma across the deck, her head tossing in turning against his chest. He placed his head on hers as he strode through the throng of pirates. He could feel the eyes burning a hole into his back as his men parted for him, complete bewilderment etched on their faces at the sight of their captain's affection for the princess in his arms.

He chanced a look up, reading their astonished expressions on their tired faces. He stared at them — a cold intensity in his icy blue depths — one meant to strike fear in his crew — a warning that he was not to be trifled with and that she belonged to him. No doubt he would make an example of the treacherous fiends in their midst, sealing that unspoken promise that anyone who crossed him would suffer a fate worse than death.

He stopped, shifting her carefully in his arms as she whined, burying her head in the nest of curls peeking out from the opening of his shirt. "Mr. Smee." He addressed his first mate with a curt nod.

"Captain." He greeted him. "It's nice to see you've returned safely." He acknowledged his reappearance, casting his eyes upon the woman in his arms.

"I can see you've grown fond of her. She trusts you." Killian told him sincerely. "I need you to tend to her in my absence. Make sure that the surgeon sees to her. She will need warm broth and some tea. She's been through a lot."

"Of course, captain. She will be in good hands." He vowed, taking off his red cap and placing it over his heart signifying his commitment to the task.

Killian walked past him, not uttering a further word and slipped through the opening to take her down into the ship. When they reached his cabin, he carried her to the bed and placed her down gingerly upon his bunk. He tugged the sheets over her body, wrapping her in their warm embrace and sank to his knees beside her.

Capturing her hand in his, he brought his forehead down on her knuckles and sighed heavily. He lifted his head as she stirred, his eyes searching her face in concern. "How are you doing?"

"Better." She smiled weakly, moving to brush his knuckles delicately with the pad of her thumb. "You came for me." She said softly, her eyes drooping slightly.

"Did you ever doubt I would?" He asked, his tone skeptical and full of humor.

"No." She gave a faint laugh. "I know you well enough now to know that once Captain Killian Jones won't stop until he gets what he wants."

"Well, you aren't wrong." He responded certainly. "I'm glad you're okay. I don't know what I would have done if they had—"

"Hey. Hey." She shushed him. "You can't think like that. Look at me. I'm fine." She reached out a tentative hand to stroke his jaw.

"Captain?" The sound of Smee's insecure voice sounded from the newly reconstructed door behind them. "My apologies sir, but they are ready for you."

"Thank you Mr. Smee. I shall be up in a moment." He called from over his shoulder.

"What? Where are you going?" She sat up in a panic only to be gently pressed back onto the bed.

"I'm afraid I have some business to attend to." He released an exasperated sigh, his jaw clenching and his body teeming with anger.

"Killian, please." She pleaded, her green eyes full of sadness for the torment of his violent inclinations — the need to prove his superiority, show off his formidable strength, and assert his indignation. "Don't do this. You don't need to. You can stay. Stay here with me." She tightened her hold on his face and moved him to look at her — their eyes meeting without fault, drawn to one another like magnets.

"You don't understand." He dropped his voice into a low imposing gravel. "You'll never understand." He aggressed, his tone clipped and defiant — his once blue eyes dark, wild, and tortured.

Her hand slipped slowly from his cheek and she swallowed the lump in her throat. She bowed her head in disappointment, tugging her lower lip into her mouth to prevent the choked sounds building in her throat.

Killian wrapped his arm around her, placing his hand on her head and pulling it towards his lips. He pressed a kiss into her hair and whispered, "I will be back." He turned over his shoulder to see Smee standing in the doorway, witnessing the exchange. "Smee is going to take care of you while I'm gone, aye?"

Emma gave a slow languid nod in response, reluctantly accepting his irrational necessity to heinously slaughter the men indirectly responsible for her kidnapping. "Go…" She muttered.

"I will be back." He promised assuredly.

"Will you?" She glanced up at him doubtingly, grimacing as she wondered which man would return — the pirate captain bathed in the blood of his seditious crew or the troubled man grappling with the monster who desperately wanted to be a better man for her — the one who had shown her nothing but tenderness and care.

His face dropped at the hidden meaning of her words and inhaled sharply, his nostrils flaring as his bloodlust screamed at him to be released to wreak havoc on his enemies. "I'm not sure." He answered her unspoken question honestly. "Either way, I will return."

Her eyes closed at his reply, averting her gaze as he moved to his feet before her. The eternal conflict waging a losing battle inside his head made her heart constrict in her chest and the breath leave her lungs.

He took one last lingering look at her and bowed his head in shame, his mind unshakable and unrelenting in its mission. She deserved a better man — so much more than what he was capable of giving her — not this half man with a broken soul and an unmendable heart.

Clenching his jaw once more, he turned on his heel and stomped across the room, disappearing out of the room, leaving Smee standing bewildered in the doorway as he watched his captain's departure.

Tears pricked her eyes and she tilted her head to the side trying to blink them back to no avail. She placed the back of her hand against her quivering lips, her shoulders shaking as she cried.

When Killian made it up to the top of the deck, glaring at the members of his crew that had gathered on the main deck. The pirate captain crossed in front of them and slowly took the stairs leading up to the forecastle where several men were lined and bound on their knees. Some were already trembling, their faces red and stained with tears with the knowledge that these were their last moments on this earth.

With his hands crossed behind his back, Killian surveyed the sniveling men in front of him, regarding them with avid contempt as he paced in front of them. He glanced over at Madden, who stood off to the side expectantly, his stance stern and erect as he loyally awaited his captain's order.

Killian nodded to him and circled the men cowering, their knees quivering on the wood of the deck. He leaned over them and one man sobbed and flinched at the proximity of their captain looming over them with destain.

Unable to control himself, Killian tossed his head back in amused laughter, which echoed in the ears of his terrified crew members. "Pitiful." He remarked, arranging himself over the man, his boot pressed firmly against the center of his back as he groveled and begged for his life.

Killian leaned into his stance, resting his arm across his knee before opening his mouth to address his crew. "The men you see before you have betrayed me and more importantly all of you. And as a result of their disloyalty will be treated to a traitor's death at my discretion."

The crew looked at one another, exchanging agitated glances at the fury raging inside the lungs of their hedonistic captain. To be on the opposite end of his vengeance was a fate far worse than death itself. Any punishment exacted by Captain Killian Jones was merciless and meant to strike fear in their comrades.

Killian could feel the rage boiling inside, the animal inside him pacing restlessly in its cage, roaring impatiently to be let out. Rubbing his boot along the back of the man underneath him, he gently patted him on the head with the bottom of his foot, a revering and sadistic gesture of his wrath.

The ship's captain unsheathed his cutlass and pointed it out into the crowd below. "I want this to be a lesson to you all that traitors will not be tolerated aboard my ship." He stepped on the man's head, crushing his cheek into the deck of the ship, his shrill screams heavy in the air around them.

Killian glowered over him, reveling in his cries of pain and gripped the hilt of his sword, hand over hand and lowered it slowly into the back of the man's neck. The blade pierced his skin and Killian could feel the man's body convulse underneath him, flailing about until the end of his sword bottomed out and came out the other side, stabbing the wood beneath it. The man collapsed and Killian withdrew his weapon with a bestial grunt. Blood flowed from the gaping hole in the dead man's neck and pooled out around his head.

Killian stepped off of him, wiping the sweat from his brow, thick crimson dripping on the edge of his cutlass. With lips downturned in undeniable anger, he panted ragged short breaths as he shook violently. Looking out at the crowd, he was displeased at what he saw — their faces turned away from the madness before them.

Something inside him snapped and he placed a foot on either side of the man's body and gripped him by the hair to lift his head to show it off to the sailors below him — the man's eyes were haunting, a mask of death captured in the instant that he met his demise. "Look at him!" He barked, his eyes dark and crazed. "Do you see?" Do you see what happens to men who defy me!"

The sound of a man violently retching in the lineup caught his attention and he smirked in promise at the sound. Dragging his blade against the deck of the ship, the action emitting a horrendous screech as it scratched against the wood, he strode toward him.

Killian circled the man preditorially and crouched down in front of him, his head tilting from side to side, searching his eyes in simulated sympathy. "Better out than in, aye?" He chuckled, clapping him on his back.

"Please." He cried, tears streaming down his face, snot dripping from his nose. "Please, Please, Please." He chanted desperately, pleading for him to exercise restraint and spare him. "Please don't kill me—"

He heard the man sniffle and Killian gave him a cruel despondent smile before bringing the edge of his blade against the man's neck, hacking away at his flesh as he slowly decapitated him. Killian haggardly cut into him, spraying blood on his face as he panted hard.

There was an audible gasp from his crew as they winced, averting their gazes at the raw and sickening display before them.

The man's head rolled to the side, the last of the skin holding his head on his shoulders tearing away leaving the half severed head intact. Killian staggered backward, his cutlass clattering to the ground as he wiped his head into the sleeve at his elbow.

A gruff scoff sounded from the last man in the line up and Killian snapped his head in its direction. Killian snickered and licked his lips, his chest puffing as he inhaled deeply, breathing in the heady scent of death that he wore like a second skin.

Bending down to pick his sword from the ground he tisked in annoyance. Once upright, he shook the blood from his cutlass, a deranged smirk splitting his face as he shook his head and began to walk toward his final victim.

Killian sank down in front of Higgins, pursing his lips in disappointment as he regarded him with displeasure. "You know you really should have run faster." He told him in dismay. "Gotta work on that stamina." He grabbed his face by the jaw, and tapped his fingers against his face.

Higgins scowled at him, his chest heaving with controlled anger. He followed Killian's movements with his eyes, the captain of the Jolly Roger rounding him, avoiding the puddles of blood spread across the deck like a demented children's game.

The sound of Killian's knees hitting the ground behind him penetrated his ears and he could see the cold flash of steel coming into view, blood dripping in his lap from the blade that dangled in front of his face.

"You don't scare me." Higgins told him from over his shoulder, his nostrils flared as he breathed deeply.

"That so?" Killian laughed humorously as he seized the man by the back of the head by the roots of his hair, and hauled him against the side of his chest. Killian smiled contentedly, looking over the man's shoulder as he methodically cleaned the blood off his cutlass, wiping it off on the other man's clothes.

"No." Higgins gritted his teeth. "I'm the only one who sees you for what you really are." He tested the man's resolve. If he was going to go out, he was going to savor bringing his captain to his knees with him.

Killian tore at his hair savagely, a low growl bubbling from his throat. "And just who am I?" Killian whispered huskily against the shell of his ear.

"You don't want to appear weak in front of them. Just, look at them — your captivated audience. That's what this is. It's all just an act." He stated passionately.

Killian looked over the man's shoulder at the men looking on at their hungry captain's exhibition of terror — a murderous rampage.

"You are afraid to be vulnerable so you try to hide it with all of this. You bury it deep down inside but I know that its volatile nature is tearing you up inside — eating away at you until you're nothing but a hollow vessel." He wrinkled his face as he spoke what he knew to be the truth.

Killian jerked him in his hold, placing the sharp end of his blade against the man's neck, watching intently as the man's adam's apple bobbed heavily in his throat.

"You think killing me will make you whole? Trust me, it won't. I've been down that road before. Stop running and overcompensating for something you can't control." He gritted out.

"You know, you have an awful lot to say for a dead man." Killian murmured hotly against his skin.

"Revenge is not going to heal your heart, Killian. Continue on this path and the only thing you'll be is dead inside." He swallowed as the blade dug into his pulse.

"Well it's unfortunate for you that you won't get to stick around to see if you were right." Killian leered over him, his head tilting from side to side.

"Get on with it then." Higgins prompted sharply. "Unless you are letting your cowardice—"

The man was in midspeech as the blade slashed through his neck. Warm blood splashed his neck and his chin as he dragged it across his flesh and pushed him down to the ground in a submissive position.

Killian stumbled uneasily to his feet, swaying slightly as he dropped his sword to the ground and began to wordlessly abandon the scene of carnage before him.

"Killian…" Madden spoke up with concerned eyes as he approached him.

Pressing his arm against his mouth, he held up a finger signaling Madden to leave him be. Killian marched down the steps, refusing to address his crew before slipping back in the areas beneath the deck.

The men looked up at their quartermaster, confusion written all across their faces and Madden moved forward to let them go. "You're dismissed." He yelled, waving them off as he rubbed his hand over his face in exasperation.

Emma ran her fingers through her hair anxiously, opening and closing her mouth restlessly as she contemplated what was going on above her. It had suddenly gone quiet — and that unnerved her to no end. She had hoped above all else that he would have the strength to resist his thirst for vengeance to curb his violent tendencies, and consider that he might have a choice for something more — he could choose her.

But he just kept pushing her away. Pushing her away with his actions — his words — his behavior. Why couldn't he just let himself be happy? Was he that afraid of getting close to someone? He was so hell bent on punishing himself that he was completely oblivious to the man he had created. Vengeance wasn't going to bring his brother back and it certainly wasn't going to fill the void in his heart his brother's death had created.

He had to know that the man he once was, was still there with him. She got to see the parts of him that no one did — the parts of him that were still human despite all of his misgivings. It was that man that she was hopelessly falling for and she was absolutely powerless to stop it.

Emma was broken from her reverie at the sound of something hard smacking against the open door. The coppery scent of blood and sweat permeated the air in the small cabin, sending a chill up her spine. She could tell it was him from the cadence of his breath, the faint smell of the sea and rum faintly mingling with the overpowering scent of death — and he looked it to.

He staggered forward, his face pained through all the horror painted on his handsome face. Holding his chest, he pushed himself up against the door jam, his forearm digging into his forehead as he winced in agony, a cry bubbling in his throat threatening to tear itself from his lungs. There was a flood of emotions rolling through him all at once and their overwhelming hold was taking over him.

"Killian?" Her brows arched in worry and her heart quickened at the sight of him collapsed against the door. She pushed herself off the bed, letting her subconscious take over as she rushed toward him. "Killian?" She tried to pry through his shielded face, to read his expression. She reached out a tentative hand to his face and he flinched at the unexpected contact.

"Emma…" He gasped desperately, choking on his breath as her name left his lips. He rolled his head to the side, revealing the face of a tortured and broken man.

She retracted her shaky palm and her hand flew to her chest, and closed her eyes, not able to contain herself.

His eyes were brimming with hot angry tears, the moisture smearing the remaining coal painted on his red-rimmed eyes. Killian released a scream that resembled that of a wounded animal. The color rushed to his blood stained cheeks as he slowly crumbled to the ground in front of her, the screams dying in his throat.

The sound shattered her and she had to blink back her tears as his hand grabbed hold of her leg and he rested his forehead against her knee. The sweat dripped from his plump lips, his red and irritated nose, and his dark matted hair as he shook violently. She wanted to reach out, just to touch him to know that she was there — to comfort his agonizing soul but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

He clung to her like a lifeline, his forehead rolling against her leg as the anguished sounds escaping his mouth causing her to sway slightly where she stood. "I'm a monster." He rasped miserably as he clawed at her shift for purchase.

She gasped softly, her heart constricting in her chest painfully as she sniffled, the tears pricking and stinging her eyes. Lifting her trembling hand, she placed it on the top of his head and began running her hand through his hair.

"Emma…" He sobbed tearlessly, as he beat a defeated fist gently against her leg.

Prying herself off of him gingerly, she sank to the ground and captured his face in her hands. She stroked his bloody cheeks with her thumbs, staring into his eyes with commiseration. She searched his eyes, the dark fog had lifted, revealing the captivating blue of his eyes.

He shuttered in her hold as she scratched her nails lightly against his scalp. This was the most vulnerable she had ever seen him and she grimaced sadly at the thought that struck her straight to her very core.

Her hands still cupping his face, she smiled softly. "No." She whispered sincerely. "You're human — deservedly and unapologetically human."

He sucked in his breath at her words and released it raggedly. For far too long he had been a slave to his desires — governed by his primal masculine urges and for a long time he had no remorse for his sins — that was until he met her. His walls were slowly crumbling around him, shedding the facade that he wore like armor to protect himself from being hurt by those he cared for.

"Let me in." She breathed out, her voice calling out to him like a shining beacon of hope lighting his way through the darkness. "Just let me in."

Killian took her face in his hands, bringing his lips upon hers passionately, breathing in his entire lifesblood into the warmth of her mouth. His lips swept over hers frantically, a desperation fueled frenzy to once again be whole.

She swayed against the impassioned fervor of his kiss as her hand covered his. The silent demand of his lips against hers was all consuming, burning inside her like a fiery inferno. She sighed into his mouth, giving into his bruising caress of his lips massaging hers.

He strained against her, the emotions flaring up inside him and offering them up to her like a sacrificial lamb ripe for the taking. He curved his mouth sensually against hers eliciting needy moans from deep inside her throat. He chased down her lips, hunting them down with his own like a man dying of thirst. He was drawn to her, everything about her crying out to him with her siren's call.

The tainted blood pumped through his veins, spurring his insatiable and hungry movements devouring her. He wrinkled his face at the force of his complete surrender, his lips reaching out to hers as if they would disappear.

She keened against his mouth, every arch and cant of his lips stirring the desire coiling inside her tightly. She returned his kiss with equal finesse, getting caught up on the feel of his warm breath ghosting her lips like a prayer.

"Gods, I need you." He managed to break himself out of the entracing claim of her mouth on his to whisper his heady plea.

She pressed her forehead against his, her breath coming out in short pants as she lovingly stroked his cheek. "Killian, you have me." She declared, tears sliding down her cheeks. "All of me."

Killian attached his mouth to hers as she dropped her hands to the buttons of his waistcoat, working them free with frenzied motions of her hands. Each button was stripped from his chest, her mouth molding to his as his tongue slipped between her lips. She dipped her hands where his vest hung loosely at his shoulders and pushed it down and off his back, never breaking the kiss.

He gasped into her mouth as her fingers curled around the hem of his shirt, slowly lifting it up as her nails grazed the delicate nest of curls at his chest. She tore her mouths from his, coaxing him to lift his arms over his head so she could remove the blood soiled shirt clinging to his body.

She moaned as she felt his hand skim the curve of her waist, the material of her shift bunching slightly as his hands roamed over her body.

His lips pressed against her neck, his mouth trailing over her heated skin as she struggled with the laces of his leather pants. She fumbled with the laces, far too lost in the sensations he was making against her. She hummed contentedly as he gently raked his teeth against her shoulder.

With his pants loosened, she pressed her palm gently against the sensitive skin that dipped underneath his pants and slowly brushed her fingertips up the length of his torso, mapping out the contours of his chest.

Killian pulled impatiently at the uneven hem of her shift, silently imploring her to lift herself so that he could rid her of the barrier standing between them — the infernal shield preventing him from touching every inch of her creamy skin and taunting his desperation.

Emma obliged his request, raising herself off the ground slightly to permit him to slide the gauzy material of her shift up her body, his eyes roving appreciatively over every new inch of skin bared to him.

He rolled the fabric, letting it rest above her heaving bosom. Placing his hand against it to hold it in place, he gently traced his fingertips over the skin of her breast. She arched into his touch as he lightly scraped his thumb across her nipple, watching as it puckered underneath his barely there touch.

Her hands flew to his hair, threading them into his dark messy locks, holding his head to her breast as he latched his mouth around the erect bud. He worshiped it with his mouth, his other hand caressing the other breast, his thumb grazing the swollen cleft.

Wrapping her legs around his waist, she settled herself into his lap, rocking forward and drawing a hiss from his lips. The delicious vibration of the sound around her sensitive skin drew a strangled moan from her lips. "Killian…" She whined, digging her nails against his scalp in impatience.

Killian lifted his head from her breast, peering up at her with a sensuous and reverent smile before returning to her shift. He guided her hands over her head, shoving the fabric over her head until it fell to the floor. Capturing her face in his hand, he brought her lips down on his in a bruising kiss before detaching suddenly and raising to his feet to remove the last obstruction keeping their bodies apart.

Emma ran her hands through her hair and shifted onto her knees as his pants hit the floor and he stepped out of them, shoving them to the side. He slowly lowered himself back onto the ground, sitting on his knees in front of her. She closed the distance between them, pressing her palm to his chest to gently push him backward.

He lay on the floor, his back digging into the wooden floorboards, watching in utter astonishment as she perched herself on top of his lap, straddling him with a leg on either side of them. "Emma…" He rasped, his hand gently rubbing her hip.

She settled herself against his throbbing cock, gently rubbing herself against him and soaking him with her desire.

He grabbed her by the hair gingerly, lowering her down to his lips and stroking his mouth on hers as she rolled her hips into his. "Emma…" He groaned longingly against her swollen lips.

Sensing his need, she lifted herself and wrapped her lithe hand around his cock and guided it to her weeping entrance. She released a long sigh as she sank down on him, burying him to the hilt inside of her — her body appeased when it was finally joined with his.

His mouth parted as she began to slowly rock against him, arching her back to glide against his cock, welcoming him inside her. He was enraptured by the way she rode him, her gorgeous breasts bouncing with every downward stroke of her hips.

She was heaven wrapped around him, her hips curving into his as she used her hand against his chest to spur her movements against him. She gasped as he stretched and filled her, the delicious burn of him making her delirious as she slowly lifted herself and lowered herself back down, enveloping him into the heat of her sex.

He met her thrusts, his fingers curled around her waist to rock back against her, soothing the ache in her body. "Gods, you are beautiful." He looked upon her face as if he was seeing it for the very first time. She was positively mesmerizing, every downward thrust forcing a tortured moan from her lips as her clit grazed the flesh situated just above his cock.

She began to bounce astride him tirelessly, her hips stuttering when she slumped forward against his chest, languidly bucking against him.

Killian captured her hands in his, twining their fingers together and placing them against either side of his head. "Come on, Emma." He encouraged, grinding against her so that sensitive flesh at the apex of her thighs brushed against the base of his cock.

Her movements staggered against him and he felt her body falter. He managed to catch her, cupping her face in his hands and dragging his lips over hers, and pushing her body up with his chest, raising them both up into a sitting position.

Wrapping one arm around her lower back and placing the other against her shoulder, he steadily paced himself inside of her. Her head moved against his shoulder, placing her cheek in the cradle of his neck as he canted his hips.

Emma placed her hands at the back of his, holding herself against him as she whined against the nape of his neck.

Killian hugged her closely against his body, his lips craning to possess any inch of skin he could reach as he fucked her attentively. She trembled in his arms as his hands gilded against her back, his fingertips stroking her spine as she thrust in earnest.

"It's okay. I've got you. I've got you." He chanted calmly as he felt the walls around him constrict and her mouth clamp down on his shoulder. He rubbed soothing circles against her back, rocking against her deliberately, driving inside of her with shallow strokes as he circled his hips to give her the contact she desperately needed to push her over the edge.

Emma cried out, fisting her hands in his hair as she tumbled forward and fell into a pleasurable abyss — his body welcoming her orgasm as she spasmed around him. There were no boundaries, no barriers between them, only him and her.

He held her tightly against him, whispering unintelligible words of admiration into her hair as he thrust up into her, snapping his hips as his pleasure crested. Cupping the back of her head, he held onto her, rocking her against him as he released himself hotly inside her, mouth parting in complete rapture.

The current of his pleasure swelled through him, hitting him with all the force of a tidal wave as her walls milked him dry, sucking every last drop from his body. He rode out his high as she was coming down from her own, her body sagging against him in exhaustion.

Killian kissed her hair adoringly, panting hard against her before lowering them slowly onto the ground as they both caught their breath.

She collapsed onto his chest, her body sated, replete of its aching desire for the man beneath her. His body was still seated inside her, his cock slowly softening around her. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the staggered beat of his heart that matched the even stacado of his breathing.

They stayed that way for a while, basking in one another's proximity — him clutching her against his body, rubbing soothing circles along the small of her back while she slowly drifted off against his chest.

They eventually removed themselves from the floor, Killian lifting her into bed and placing himself beside her, his arms wrapped protectively around her as he too fell asleep.

When he woke the sun had already set and the light from the moon was shining in from the window behind them. He managed to sit up, tucking his knees into his chest as he turned to the woman beside him, watching her chest rise and fall with every breath.

He willed himself to go back to sleep but there was far too much on his mind to relax back into a peaceful slumber. Killian rolled onto his side and kissed her shoulder before quietly slipping from the bed.

He glanced out the window, peering up at the moon hovering above and sighed — it was a gorgeous night. He could feel the pull of the waves reeling him in and he was helpless against their overwhelming thrall.

He shook his head and grabbed his leather pants sitting in a heap on the floor and tugged them on before reaching for his shirt and quietly slipped out of the room.

Killian walked up the steps, emerging from below deck as he tugged his shirt over his head. He glanced around, his eyes drifting around the top deck to see a few of his crewmen completing their evening tasks. He ran his hands through his hair, smoothing his untamed mop at the top of his head trying to conceal his previous activities.

He strode over to the edge of the ship overlooking the sea with bare feet, his half-laced leather pants hanging loosely at his hips. Reaching the railing on the ship's port side, he curled his fingers around the support, and stretched his body forward before slinging himself over the edge, his arms resting over it.

Casting his eyes out on the evening waves gliding across the ocean, he breathed in the sea breeze, a sense of comfort washing over him, letting it anchor him and still his racing thoughts. The view of the moon reflecting in the water below was stunning to behold — there was nothing quite like the sight of the full moon on the waves.

He stayed pensive for a while, too enraptured by the way the moonlight glistened on the water. He sucked in a long breath, breathing the sea in his lungs and listened to the tide gently rock the ship back and forth.

"I thought I might find you here." He turned his head over his shoulder at the sound of Madden's voice.

Killian followed him with his eyes, watching as he placed his back against the side of the ship, his arms spread out over the railing. "Madden." Killian acknowledged with a slight tilt of his head.

"I saw you out here and I thought you might like the company." Madden assumed nonchalantly.

Killian let out a faint chuckle, shaking his head before twisting himself around and mirroring the quartermaster's relaxed stance. "As per usual, you are correct." Killian affirmed, his voice heavy in thought.

"Does this mean you are no longer plotting my demise?" He chirped in amusement.

"It appears I am having second thoughts." Killian rolled his eyes in mirth. "No. I believe I have grown too fond of you to rid myself of your candor." He pressed his lips into a thin smile. "I want to thank you…" He mentioned their harrowing rescue from earlier. "For helping me get her back." He affirmed.

"I would have done it even if you hadn't threatened to kill me." He side-eyed him amidly. They slipped into a casual silence, basking in the cool sea breeze running through their hair. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong — his captain seemed vexed rather than relaxed at what they had managed to accomplish that day.

"Doubloon for your thoughts?" Madden offered, nodding with his chin.

Killian rubbed the creases in his forehead and sighed in silent contemplation. "It's nothing." He muttered despondently.

Madden looked at him speculatively and then dug into his back pocket, producing his flask and offering it to his captain. "You look like you could use this."

Killian reached out for the flask and accepted it with a nod of 'thanks.' He popped the top off with his teeth and pressed the mouth of the container to his lips before tipping it down his throat. He gulped eagerly, letting the warm taste of rum settle in his esophagus. Lowering the flask from his lips, he wiped his mouth on his sleeve.

"Still buggering the princess, I see." He observed, taking in his captain's disheveled appearance. His pants were haphazardly laced, he could particularly see the next of curls resting above his shaft peering up through the gaping opening, and the cowlick at the back of his head was standing upright. His cheeks were filled with color and there was a satisfied glint in his eye — the glint of a man who had just been thoroughly pleasured.

Killian bulked at his inferior and scrubbed his hand down his face, swallowing in annoyance. "That really isn't any of your concern." Killian huffed beside him.

"Like hell it's not." Madden insisted, pushing himself off the railing to face his captain directly. "I'm not oblivious." He asserted, snapping his hand out as he spoke. "I can see it. We have all seen it." He sniped. "You've grown far too attached."

Killian growled in warning. "You don't know a damned thing — all empty words and baseless assumptions." He seethed, deflecting his true feelings. "You narrowly escaped death today, do you really want to press your luck?" He aggressed.

"It's the same for her, you know. I see the way she looks at you — she is ensnared by your seductive charisma and your captivatingly good looks — it was bloody inevitable." Madden swore, his eyes holding onto his with an unwavering fire.

"I sure hope you aren't coming onto me. This wouldn't be the proper way to go about it." Killian muttered, wrinkling his nose in growing aggravation.

"Are you going to be able to give her up when the time comes?" He asked him point blank, his eyes roving over Killian's. "You won't be able to do it and I'm not going to let you sabotage this mission over a woman — I don't give a damn how tight her cunt is… it isn't worth it!" He exclaimed, panting in constemation.

"Watch it, mate." Killian snapped in warning, his body flaring with discontent at the disrespect and offense he was showing for his captain.

"Have you even stopped to consider the implications of your actions? What if she were to fall with child?" Madden expressed, his precarious words striking him straight through his chest.

Killian paled instantly, his face as white as a sheet. He stood paralized, his mouth parting as all the breath he had left his body as the sound of Madden's voice drowned in his ears. Everything was muffled, as if he were talking to him under water. His heart stuttered in his chest and began to sweat profusely as the man in front of him carried on with his tangent.

"Do you honestly think that the royals would take her back if they knew she was carrying a pirate's spawn?" He asserted. "At least tell me you've been careful." He demanded, placing his hands at his hips.

He was as still as a statue, unable to move as Madden's words drifted in and out of his ears. He felt woozy, his vision hazy underneath his glassy eyes.

Madden tilted his head to the side, taking in the perplexing expression of his captain. "Killian? Are you even listening to me?" He approached him intently. "Hello!" He flailed his arms about to grab his attention.

"I think I'm going to be sick." Killian turned on his heel, hurling himself over the side of the ship to expel the bile rising up in his throat.

Madden looked on in horror as he fisted his hands in his hair and began to pace. He drew his hands over his mouth, his fingers sliding down his chin. "Killian, please. Please tell me you're not that stupid." He breathed out in panic, shaking his head in trepidation.

Killian pressed his cheek against the railing for reprieve, trying to ease the tremors radiating through his body. His hands slipped across the railings as he tried to hold himself up as he took large gulps of air.

"Oh Killian, you didn't." He pleaded desperately.

Killian looked up at him, his eyes lifeless and sickly as he heaved. "I'm not sure." He choked out, his words lingering in his mouth as he sagged down to the ground. With bent knees, he buried his face in his hands, his body convulsing with a mixture of emotions — uncertainty, self-contempt, shame, regret, fear…

"Killian…" Madden stepped toward him carefully.

He slammed his fist against the deck of the ship, his knuckles knocking against the wood repeatedly until he lost feeling in his hand. Leaning back against the siding, he rubbed his hands over his face as he confronted himself with what he knew deep down to be true — she was carrying his child.

What the fuck had he done?

AN- Pauses and flinches in preparation to be smacked hard. Yes, there is a lot going on, I know. Don't come for me. I've been loving everyone's comments. You guys have been so great and supportive. I know a lot of people brought up some very interesting points and concerns you have. I love that you guys are engaging with the story because it really helps me to determine something that may have been misread or something I need to revisit. So I love all of your feedback.

Some of you were worried about Madden's loyalty and thought he was a little shady. Maybe that is how I wrote him in the last chapter but I think we get a good glimpse into their friendship and their mutual respect for one another. A lot of you had questions about the teddy bear and the war ship. It didn't seem like the right time to add that in here so you will just have to wait for that. And quite a good handful of you are worried that this story won't have a happy ending and that Killian can't be redeemed. I think we see him developing a lot. This chapter was very much a journey for him. He had to hit rock bottom and I think he did. Thank you for letting me take you on this journey and I hope you guys will enjoy the ending that will be coming in a couple more chapters.

Take care everyone!