So last week I posted then the next day had another idea to add so I ended up changing the chapter, I'm not sure if there was an email notification or not so I'm adding this note. If you read last chapter after August 3rd then you're caught up but if you read the original posted on the 2nd you may want to reread the revised version. Also the start of this chapter used to be the end of the last chapter so if any of you get a sense of déjà vu that's why but I decided to take this scene out of last chapter so that one wouldn't be too long and this chapter wouldn't be too short. Either way, I hope you all enjoy!
Chapter 37
After night had fallen on the Isle and the clock in her bedroom struck midnight Camilla slipped from her bed fully dressed and crept down the halls to do the craziest heist she's ever attempted – stealing from her own mother. She still couldn't believe Harry had broken in to ruin her mother's furs and a part of her chest hurt at such a betrayal but she found she was unable to be angry at him, insetad she felt more like crying though she used all her will power to hold that feeling at bay and get the job at hand done. Even though Harry may have been the culprit she knew how much his father's hook meant to him and she couldn't let her mother use it against him.
Camilla walked across the floorboards like she was playing hopscotch, years of living in Hell Hall had taught her which boards creaked and which one's held up under her weight. When she reached the large French doors that led to her mother's room she halted and took a deep breath. She knew her mother should be asleep by now but that guaranteed nothing. Carefully she twisted the doorknob so slow that the lock didn't even click as it was moved. Opening the door just a bit she peeked inside and to her great relief saw her mother fast asleep.
Cruella's room was painted a bright blood red with waxed black floors. Across from the door was a large circular bed with black and white pillows that sat atop the white comforter. Above the sleeping villainess was a canopy with a Dalmatian print with a black end table on each side of the bed. Back in its day the room would have been the height of luxury but now the canopy had several rips, the white comforter was so dirty it was almost grey, the floors weren't as shiny as the wax once made them and the blood red walls had been chipping for years. Still under the covers her mother slept on getting her beauty sleep, her black and white hair in curlers and a shaggy black fur robe over her nightgown. On the bedside table close to the queen of fashion laid Harry's hook. Camilla let out a huff, wishing it was closer to the door but at the same time knew her mother wouldn't have left it far from her grasp. Keeping her fingers crossed she continued to creep along the old floor being as quiet as possible. Just as she was within arm's length of the hook and was reaching out for it her mother suddenly moved. She started grumbling to herself as she turned under the covers and Camilla froze hoping she wouldn't wake up.
"Get those puppies." Cruella muttered under her breath before her body settled and her breathing became steady telling Camilla her mother had drifted back into her dreams. Leaving as cautiously as she'd entered Camilla got away with her loot and left Hell Hall and headed for Goblin Wharf.
It took longer getting to the docks than it usually did, after all the Isle was dangerous at night, more so than it was during the day. Camilla had to keep looking over her shoulder and when she suspected someone was following her she'd make sure to double back and take extra twists and turns just to throw them off. When she finally reached the Lost Revenge it was close to one in the morning, she wasn't even sure Harry would be there at such a late hour but she figured it was her best bet.
"Hey Camilla!" came a friendly call as she boarded the ship and not long after Gil jumped down from the rigging and engulfed her in a hug.
"Long time Gil." She said with the sincerest smile she'd had in a while. She noticed Gil's style had changed while she'd been away, he'd traded his orange vest and dark blue pants for a brown jacket with shorter sleeves and pants that were stitched with patches of black and brown camo. He'd kept one of his yellow gloves and replaced the other with a black one with studs and several fingers missing. His hair was still covered by a bandana but he'd let his hair hang loose underneath letting the blonde ends brush along his shoulders, the same thick brown leather belt rested across his chest and Camilla was glad to see that even with the outfit change his goofy carefree smile had stayed the same.
"Have you seen Harry?" she asked stepping back from his hug and Gil rested his hands on his waist.
"Last I heard he was heading back over to the Jolly Roger to catch some sleep. I can walk you there if you –"
"No that's okay, I'll wait here."
"Are you okay Camilla?" he asked noticing how she didn't keep eye contact with him and how her eyes shifted left and right like she was expecting something to jump out at her. She gave a dry chuckle, everyone always thought Gil was such a dope but sometimes he saw things that other villains overlooked – like feelings. She looked around them to make sure the crew was focused on their work and not eavesdropping before she whispered to Gil.
"Harry broke into Hell Hall." She said taking out his hook from her bag.
"What's so wrong about that?" Gil asked smirking again and slightly shaking his head, "He used to do that all the time so he could come visit you."
"This time it wasn't for a visit. Gil – he trashed my mother's closet." Gil's smile immediately dropped but he didn't look alarmed like Camilla expected him to.
"Oh. So that's what they were talking about." He muttered under his breath. Harry had been over to the Lost Revenge earlier to see Uma, they'd been talking in hushed urgent voices but Gil had still managed to catch some of the conversation though he had still been missing a few key pieces, with what Camilla had just told him it filled in all the blanks. "Camilla, it's not what you think."
"Why would he do it Gil? If he cares about me why would he cause such trouble with my mother? He already knows she hates men, pirates even more so, so why?" her head kept spinning around those questions, maybe Harry was afraid ever since Uma had said they shared a true love bond. Maybe he was purposely trying to sabotage their relationship as a way to get out of it, maybe he was afraid of the commitment, maybe he saw her as an anchor only tying him down.
"Camilla, Harry didn't do it. CJ did." Gil said regaining her attention.
"His sister?" she had heard of CJ Hook, the youngest of the pirate trio but she'd never met the girl, what would make CJ target her? Unless she'd found out she was seeing her big brother and thought Harry could do better.
"CJ was just looking for some trouble, like any other VK. She got it in her head that if she could get away with trashing your mother's most precious possessions that she'd get a bigger and badder reputation. I know she feels like she's living under her sibling's shadow, I get like that sometimes with my older brothers and CJ doesn't have a crew like I do, it's harder for her." Gil explained, "Harry was trying to get her out before she got caught, he probably lost his hook when they had to run for it, he didn't do it to hurt you Camilla."
Immediately she felt a great weight lift off her chest then it was replaced with embarrassment. "Do you think I'm stupid Gil?"
He looked confused by her question, "No, not at all."
"One thing goes wrong and all I can worry about is if Harry still likes me. I sound like some stupid Auradon princess."
"No you don't, you just sound like. . . someone who's in love." He said trying to cheer her up but she only scoffed and rolled her eyes as she leaned back against the rail of the ship.
"Being in love is like having a disease you don't want to get rid of." She sighed, "You know it's weakening you but you don't care so you let it."
"Just because you're a villain doesn't mean love is a weakness." Gil said leaning his forearms on the rail beside her, "You and Harry. . . you're just like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde."
"How do you know Bonnie and Clyde?"
"I read about them somewhere." He shrugged.
"I didn't know you could read." She said and he sat up.
"Hey." He lightly punched her shoulder playfully, the smile returning to both their faces. She returned the light punch and he pretended to be hurt, "Just don't tell my dad okay? He's against reading since Belle loves it so much."
"Your secret's safe with me." She promised, "And thanks Gil."
"Anytime." He said, "Whenever you need a big brother I'm here for you."
- - ROTTEN TO THE CORE - -
Feeling much better after her talk with Gil she took him up on his offer of walking her over to Pirates Bay, the dock where the Jolly Roger was moored. She was glad for the company, it made her feel more at ease even though she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was following them. She chalked it up to her own paranoia; this was the Isle of the Lost someone was always following someone looking for trouble or revenge. When they got to the Roger Gil hugged her goodbye before he headed back to Uma's to grab a bite. Camilla got an odd sense of déjà vu as she walked onto the decks of the Jolly Roger remembering the last time she'd been there and what a horrible experience that had been. Many of the pirates on watch were high up in the rigging leaving the decks silent and making it easy finding Harry's room, but she wasn't prepared for what she found inside. Instead of finding Harry in his bed asleep he was bent over his closet tossing clothes around. The whole room looked like it had been hit by a tornado and she could hear him mumbling under his breath, "Where the devil is it?"
"Looking for something?" she asked and he jumped up hitting his head on a shelf. He turned to her rubbing his head, his dark hair falling into his eyes.
"Camilla." He said seeming shocked to see her. "I figured ye wouldn't be back to the docks for a while, uhh." He cleared his throat, "How's yer ma?"
"I'm sure you know." She said reaching into her messenger bag and pulling out his hook. Harry's first reaction was relief as his shoulders sagged and he looked like a heavy weight had been lifted.
"Ye have it." He said walking over to her and taking back the last thing he had of his fathers. Then the guilt entered his eyes, he knew that there was only one way she'd have his hook, he must have dropped it at Hell Hall which meant she knew what he did. "Um, I know ye must be wonderin'. . . "
"I already went to the Lost Revenge Harry, Gil told me everything." She cut him off and he was relieved that she didn't sound upset.
"Camilla, I swear to ye, if I had known what CJ was up to I woulda –" she put a finger to his lips to quiet him.
"It's okay, she didn't trash my stuff." She shrugged with a smirk on her face. It didn't last long, it soon faded as the greater problem sank in. "You know this isn't over right? My mother knows you were there, she'll be after your blood now."
"I won't let her hurt my family. Let her hurt me, so long as it protects my sisters." He said with fire in his eyes.
"They'll be fine." She assured him, "Horace and Jasper only found your hook, she thinks you did it alone, she knows nothing about CJ's involvement."
"Good. It'll be better for me to handle this myself." He said bringing up his arm to lean on one of the wooden support posts.
"But you don't have to." She reminded him, "You have your crew, Uma and Gil. . . me."
"I don't want ta drag ye further into this."
"Harry –"
"No. I won't let ye get involved only ta drive a wedge between yeh and yer ma." He said sternly and even though Camilla hated being told what to do she couldn't help but feel warm and fuzzy inside that he wanted to protect her, "Let me get myself out of this mess, it wouldn't be the first time I've been in hot water."
He rested his hand on her waist and walked her back onto the deck, every time one of the crew turned their eyes to her Harry's deadly glare was enough to make them look away. Harry didn't want or need their judgment about the people he associated with but a small part of him couldn't help but wonder what his father would think about his relationship with Camilla. When they made it back onto the planks that led off the ship and onto the dock Camilla stopped and turned back to him.
"Are you sure you'll be okay? My mother can be much more vicious than many people give her credit for, it's not just puppies she likes to skin." Camilla warned.
"I'll be fine." He said with a dashing smirk, "Will yeh be? Ya know yer free ta stay whenever ya like."
She gave him a small smile at his concern, "I know but my mother is already going mad over her furs, I don't want to know how she'd explode if she woke up and found out I'd disappeared."
A sad look entered Harry's charcoal lined eyes, "I don't know how long this fuss with yer ma will last. I don't know when I'll be able ta see ya again." He whispered with a much more mischievous look in his gaze as he leaned in and kissed her. It was long and deep and she couldn't help but wrap her arms around his neck as his own wound around her waist. The crew on the Jolly Roger all looked away giving the pair their privacy and none of them wanting to risk enduring Harry's rage if he caught them staring, there was only one person who looked on. They stood on the dock hidden by the shadows watching the pair. When it was clear they weren't going to break apart anytime soon their spy ran off eager to tell his boss what he'd seen.