Hey guys, just letting you know that I'm going through and editing this story as I add new chapters. I'm really thankful for the people who are still reading, hope you're enjoying the new chapters!
Chapter 7
I found myself wandering around downtown later that day, ducking into the few clothing boutiques that Storybrooke had to look for clothing. Of course, I really didn't need anything, given that Ghastly had ensured that the armored clothing he made me would never begin to smell or get dirty, but it wouldn't do to have people, particularly Cora, question why I wore the same thing day after day. And besides, Tanith had driven it into my head that you never know when you'll need to blend in with a crowd. In a major city I wouldn't look out of place, but here in Storybrooke I had already received quite a few odd looks.
Laden down with bags, I made the trek back to Granny's, shooting a text to Regina as I went for her order. I pushed the door to Granny open, bell ringing above my head, and my eyes still on my phone. I tried to ignore the sudden silence that erupted as I walked to the counter, stopping next to a short and grumpy looking man who was half way through a slice of pie. He glared suspiciously over at me.
Ruby came over, an apron over her outfit, and a look of surprise on her face when her eyes met mine. "Val!" she exclaimed, glancing around the diner before moving to stand in front of me. "I didn't know you were still in town."
I raised an eyebrow at her. "Do people not stay long here?"
"No, we just don't get many tourists I guess." I hummed at that, glancing around at the sparse number of patrons who were not so subtly trying to eavesdrop. I glanced back at Ruby.
"Right. Can I put an order in for takeout?" I said, glancing quickly at a discarded menu on the counter top. Ruby nodded, and I ordered enough food for all three of us. After I paid, Ruby disappeared back into the kitchen, and I perched myself on a high-top chair and began responding to all the texts I'd ignored over the past day.
I let China know that I was taking a sabbatical for personal reasons.
Tanith got a short explanation that I had a personal issue come up, and I'd likely be back in a few weeks.
Ghastly got a pleading text asking him to keep his fiancée from hunting me down.
Skulduggery… well he got an lengthy text explaining that I had tracked down my mother but there was something going on, and that I would absolutely tell him where I was if things became too much for me, but until then, well, this was something I had to do on my own.
My food came out quickly after that, and I began the walk home, once again ignoring the way that eyes and whispers seemed to follow me as I went.
Dinner was a strained affair, what with Cora asking me questions laced with suspicion every few minutes, and my unwillingness to reveal just how I got here. Regina was forced to play mediator, something for which I apologized for after we had cleared our plates away.
Truly, I was glad to get out of the house and take a drive around town, even with the caveat that I'd be back in a few hours. Not too long after I set off, I reached a dive bar, set on the edge of town. I parked, desperately needing a drink, and pushed the wooden door of The Rabbit Hole.
Glancing around at the slightly dingy bar, I was almost surprised that a town full of fairy tale characters could even have a place like this. Ignoring the feeling of multiple pairs of eyes on me, I made my way over to the bar, leaning my arms on the sticky surface.
The gruff man behind the bar looked me up and down. "What'll you be having miss?" He said, glancing distractedly at the tv screen blaring American football as he did so.
"Whiskey, neat." I replied, reaching into my pocket to pull out my wallet, when a silver hook landing on my hand stopped me. The darkly handsome man that it was attached to grinned down at me before addressing the bartender, and I eyed him discreetly, recognizing him as the man I encountered in my mother's house this morning, though I was fairly certain that he hadn't had the hook then.
"Put it on my tab, would you good sir?" He said in a smooth Irish drawl, receiving a faint grunt and eye roll from the bartender as he did so.
"Sure pal." The other man grumbled out, turning to get my drink. I continued to eye the man next to me contemplatively. His gaze slid back to meet mine, and the minuscule part of me that had revelled in the power that I wielded as Darquesse shivered in delight.
"Thank you." I said eventually, failing to find any malice directed towards me in his expression. His grin widened, and he shifted his body to face me more.
"Of course love. It's rare for me to hear an accent like mine these days, I thought I might treat myself to a few more moments hearing your lovely voice." He flirted, his grin turning into a smirk as a faint blush colored my cheeks. I raised an eyebrow, accepting the drink the bartender slid my way.
"Oh?" I hummed, sipping at the amber liquid and watching him from underneath my eyelashes. He really was handsome, what with his scruffy beard and hair, the cut of his dark leather coat accentuating what I had to imagine was a fairly impressive physique. Even the hook hand was strangely attractive, the light metal reflecting light across the bar as he shifted it. I raised my eyes to meet his now curious gaze once again. "Do I get to know the name of my fellow Irish expat, or is Hook your full name?" I said, smirking back at him.
He chuckled softly at that. "That's Captain Hook to you love." He snarked back, before extending his flesh hand to me. "But you can call me Killian Jones if you so wish." He finished, much softer. I reached out to grasp his hand in a friendly handshake.
"Nice to actually meet you Captain Killian Jones." I said, laughing a little internally about meeting 'Captain Hook', before beginning to pull my hand back. He held on tighter, stopping me. Jones raised a thick eyebrow to me.
"I believe it is customary to reciprocate names when meeting another person darling." He said, leaning in slightly as he kept my hand in his grip. I smiled sarcastically.
"Of course, how silly of me. Valkyrie Cain, pleasure to meet you." I quipped, ignoring the heat that rushed through me as he pulled my hand up to his mouth, kissing my knuckles gently. His gaze seared into me, another smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"I assure you." He all be purred. "The pleasure is all mine." He held my hand for another moment before releasing it gently back to me.
"I'm sure." I whispered, running my thumb along my knuckles where he had kissed them. It had been a long time since anyone had done so, though that was more because most of the new people I met were criminals that I was about to arrest, and possibly beat to a bloody pulp. I considered the man next to me, running my eyes over him as I thought.
Jones caught my gaze again. "See something you like?" He teased, a smug grin crossing his lips. I smirked back, decision made.
I'm on vacation, it's about time I made some bad choices.
"Yes actually." I said, downing what was left of my drink and indicating to the bartender that I'd like another. I leaned into Jones' personal space, grinning wider at the look of surprise that crossed his face. "Quite a bit if I'm being entirely honest, and I'm assuming that you appreciate what I've got going on quite a bit too, given the way you've been eyeing me since I walked in the door."
His surprise turned into a smug look. "Can you blame me love?" I smiled back at him. His grin turned into a slight grimace, and he looked away for a moment. "You should stay away from me though. I'm a dangerous man, love."
"Maybe I like dangerous men."
"A sweet girl like you?"
"I'm only as sweet as you are Captain."
His eyebrows rose sharply as he turned back to me. "Then you must be truly devious love." I leaned in to whisper in his ear, my chest brushing against his.
"Why don't you come find out?" I leaned back, grabbing my drink as interest sparked in his eyes, and I made my way over to one of the open tables, smiling to myself as his heavy footsteps followed behind me.
New York, Neal Cassidy's apartment
Father and son stood across from each other, Neal's impassioned words hanging between them. Rumpelstiltskin, now known as Mr. Gold, could feel his heart breaking as his son, his Baelfire rejected him so decisively. He was turning away to talk to his newfound son, away from him, so Gold blurted out the only thing that he thought might stop Bae.
"You have a sister." Gold rasped out, barely audible over the sounds of the city. Neal blanched, frozen in place by his father's words. He looked over at the man, utterly baffled.
"I, what?" he managed to get out, barely able to force the words out around the astonishment at his father's claim.
"You have a sister Bae." Gold coughed out, slightly embarrassed at the turn this conversation had taken. He had originally planned on telling Bae after he knew where Valkyrie was and when they were on better terms, not like this.
"How?!"
"Well I'm sure I don't have to explain the intricacies of child making, especially considering-." Gold winced at the withering look his son shot him, and hurried on. "Many, many years after I lost you, I made a deal-"
"Why am I not surprised." Neal scoffed, furious that yet another child had been brought into a family with a father who would do nothing but disappoint. His baby sister. What a strange concept.
"A mutually beneficial deal to create a child, a powerful one. Our little Valkyrie. She was stolen away from us, and left here when she was a child. I intend to find her." Gold said firmly, searching his son's eyes for any indication that he was getting through to him.
Neal was stone-faced as he considered his father's words, finally just asking, "How?"
"There is a magical globe, it's what I used to find you. I plan on using it to find her once I return to Storybrooke."
"Why are you telling me any of this?"
"Come with us." Gold begged, watching his son beseechingly. "Spent time with your son, help me find your sister, give me the chance to prove that I am a better man now. Please Bae." He ended on a whisper, desperate.
"Times up." Neal whispered, overwhelmed by all he had learned. He walked away from his father, his mind stuck on the sister he now had, a sister who he shared one major thing with. They had both been utterly failed by their father, and Neal was damned if he would do the same, either to his son, or to his younger sibling.
