Chapter 5: Pelas Falls
Killian sat with a murderous glance in Neal's direction at breakfast. As he chewed on his bottom lip he congratulated himself internally for not making about twenty-five sarcastic remarks before the dishes were even cleared from the table. The man was clearly a moron.
"Emma should lead us." Killian looked up from his distractive thoughts at the mention of the blonde's name.
"Not happening." He remarked in a pointed yet clear tone.
"I wasn't asking." Neal growled in return.
"She's not going alone." Liam narrowed his eyes at the group's de facto leader.
"Well, you clearly aren't in any place to assist." Walsh turned toward him. "Fine, the mouthy one can go with her. I'll stay back with our friend here, to ensure that the ship stays put."
"You don't honestly think I would leave my family behind, do you?" Liam asked, clearly offended by the accusation.
"Perhaps not…but I'll think I'll keep an eye on you all the same." The monkey took that moment to screech and land heavily in the middle of the table, stealing one of the butter knives before running off into the dark.
"Infernal beast." Killian grumbled under his breath.
"How long will it take us to get to the falls?" Tamara questioned.
"Once we land, twenty, thirty minutes, depending on how high the brush has grown." Killian responded as he made eye contact with the woman. "You aren't afraid of spiders are you, love?"
"Why?" She asked wide eyed.
Killian shrugged and stood from the table, winking at Emma as her lips turned upward in a slight smile. "I'm sure it won't be a problem; besides we have to get there first and that means sailing into the hand."
"Your brother said he can do it."
"My brother's a fool." Killian growled.
Liam was pretty sure his brother was right; he was a complete fool for thinking he could do this. He stared out at the eerily calm waters as the boat glided over a layer of mist. The scene in front of him was off putting, a sense of unease settling over him.
He turned the wheel on the helm, careful not to overcompensate as he navigated around the graveyard of shipwrecks in the channel. Dead Man's Hand was a dangerous channel passing through five separate islands scattered closely together in the ocean.
"Starboard." Killian yelled from the bow of the ship. "You see anything?" He hollered up toward Emma who was stationed in the crow's nest.
"Just ahead, hard right." He heard Emma's voice boom from above him. He pulled hard on the wheel, holding his breath as he felt the ship glide through the water. The fact that he didn't hear any horrifying sounds was a good sign.
"Land, dead ahead." Killian's voice lofted through the now howling wind. "Turn to port."
He yanked on the wheel, feeling it pull against him. He held on with everything he had, pulling hard against the resistance.
"Over there." He looked above him to see Emma pointing to his left, he followed her line of sight, seeing the mist separating, the blue of the sky pouring through the fog. They were almost through the channel; they were actually going to make it. He kept his hand steady on the wheel, following the sun until the sky opened, the sound of birds whistling high above them.
"Nice sailing, Captain." Walsh stated quietly from behind him, reminding him of the reason they were in this predicament to begin with. Liam hung his head in relief, the sudden feeling of guilt for being successful in getting them to the next destination invading his thoughts. He wanted nothing more than to steer them back home, to remove the danger of the situation they found themselves in, but he wasn't sure how to do that without putting everyone in jeopardy.
He could only hope that after Walsh got what he needed that he would let them all go, let them return to their lives. But the longer this went on, the more concerned he got that they would never get their lives back.
By the time they reached the lush foliage on the island, Tamara had already spent most of the trek squealing like a schoolgirl every time she found herself trapped in the white sticky webs blocking their path. Neal continued to try and calm her to coax her along the path, but Killian could tell the man's patience was wearing thin.
"Would you stop doing that!" His voice carried a tone of annoyance that was the very thing Killian was attempting to retrieve. He had thrown them off their game, distracted them from their goal.
"Oh God there's another one." Tamara squeaked.
"We are on a goddamn island, baby, things live here." He tried to reason. "Just keep moving."
"Stop telling me to keep moving... oh God…" She screamed, wiping the web out of her eyes. "It touched me, is it on me? Oh God I can feel it moving in my hair." She jumped up and down until Neal grabbed her by the arm.
"Nothing is on you, God damnit." He shouted and suddenly the woman began crying. Killian and Emma shared a glance the moment Neal stopped, and his head dropped against his chest.
"Tam, Tam…" He looked back up at the woman. "Baby, I'm sorry."
"You keep yelling at me, and I don't want to be here, and things are crawling everywhere." She sobbed.
"I know, I'm sorry I yelled at you." He sang in a soft voice, consoling the woman who was collectively losing her shit in the middle of their expedition.
"If we're done crying, we're losing light." Emma deadpanned, turning to resume walking up the path.
"Shut up you stupid bitch." Tamara screamed, reaching out and grabbing Emma by the arm and yanking her toward her.
"You think I'm scared of you?" Emma straightened, staring the woman down.
"You better be." The woman growled ominously.
"That's enough." Killian stepped between the women. "Pelos falls is just up ahead. Can we get back to the reason we are here?" Neal yanked Tamara forward and continued up the path. "You alright, love?"
"I'm fine, I'm just tired of this shit." Emma complained, watching at the pair walked ahead of them.
"Aye."
The path began to close in on them the further inward the went until they reached the dark mossy water of Pelos Falls. He sat down on the shore as Neal and Tamara dove into the waters, swimming closer to the waterfall. "Seems like a lot of effort just to bring two people swimming."
"Maybe they'll drown." Emma rolled her eyes beside him on the shore.
"If we're lucky." He looked up just as Neal approached and growled angrily. "Guess our luck's run out." He smirked as the man approached him.
"This isn't right. Are you sure this is Pelos Falls? I swear to God if you lead us the wrong way…"
"I don't know what you're on about, but yes, this is the only Pelos Falls the island has."
Neal turned toward Tamara. "I know the information is right. What are we doing wrong?"
"Care to share with the rest of the class?" Killian asked as the two of them whispered from the center of the pool of water.
Neal ran a hand through his hair as he exhaled in frustration. "I'm not supposed to…"
"Yeah, yeah, don't fraternize with the hostages, then I guess there's nothing more for us to do but go back to the ship and…"
"Now wait a minute." Neal said forcefully. "Maybe…"
"No. Walsh will kill you." Tamara added quickly.
"He'll kill us anyway if we come back with nothing." Tamara sighed before shaking her head. "We got this information about a year ago. Don't bother asking where 'cause I don't know, besides it's not like the source is still breathing." He laughed but carried on when no one found anything he was saying remotely funny. "Anyway, so far all the information has checked out, the coin from the wreckage…"
"What coin?" Emma questioned.
"The one Walsh found at the dive, some kind of medallion, anyway, when we took it to Bluff Peak like our source told us to, we were able to find a clue to this waterfall."
Emma and Killian exchanged a glance. "What was the clue?"
"It said to come here."
"Yeah but what exactly did it say because obviously, you got it wrong." Killian smirked in his direction.
"I didn't get it wrong; you did, asshole." He huffed, pushing the paper into Killian's hands.
Killian looked down at the dirty parchment, reading the words written in Spanish. He felt the laugh bubble up inside of him as he passed it toward Emma, his eyes still locked on Neal's. Emma read it and bit her lip. "Rookie mistake." She shrugged.
"What?"
"Who translated your Spanish for you?"
"I did." Tamara spoke up.
"Might want to go back to school." Emma teased sarcastically.
"This waterfall here, Pelos De Los Barba Negra, which roughly translates into Hair of the Black Beard." He pointed at the green moss growing all around the water near them. "They call it that because of all the moss."
"So, what's your point?"
"Well, it clearly says here that you want Pelas De Los Barba Negra."
"I don't get the difference." Tamara complained.
"Pelos, Pelas, very different Spanish translations. Pelas means Money. So, you want Pelas De Los Barba Negra. Money of the Black Beard! Pelas Falls is on the sunny side of the island, because when it rains, it shimmers like gold, like money." He shrugged.
"Even an amateur would have known the difference." Emma glared at the woman in the water.
"Fuck you." Tamara screamed in Emma's direction.
"Might want to be nicer to the people who know the way to that waterfall." Killian warned as he stepped closer to Emma, standing in the woman's path to keep her from advancing toward the blonde.
"Everyone calm down." Neal shouted. "How long will it take us to get to Pelas Falls." He asked, directing his tone of annoyance toward Tamara.
"Well, we can go back the way we came."
"No." Tamara shivered as she looked back at the path they had travelled.
"Or we can continue through there." He pointed at the thick brush.
"Fine, lead the way." Neal relented and Killian grabbed Emma by the elbow, pushing her through the path.
"Bloody idiots." He grumbled as he slid his fingers against Emma's skin, reaching down and taking her hand as she regarded him anxiously.
"I don't like this." She whispered.
"It's all good. Let's just get there, find whatever infernal clue they need and get back to the ship. This will all be over soon."
"Stop talking." Neal shouted from behind them.
"Just trying to get our bearings." Killian glanced over his shoulder. "Don't want us getting lost, do you?" He looked back at Emma and winked, trying to reassure her before she lost her resolve. "All's well, Swan."
Emma stepped into the blue water once they reached Pelas Falls, the sun shining into the thundering water. "What are we looking for?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Tamara responded with an indignant tone. "I got here the same time as you."
Emma turned toward Neal, knowing she would get a better response from the man. "Wanna share what we're looking for?"
"I'm not sure, just that somewhere here we're supposed to find our next location."
"Not somewhere, but under." Killian smiled, diving into the pool of water and swimming closer to the falls. Emma swam out closer to him as Neal followed her.
"How do you know it's under?" She asked as she approached Killian.
"Because that parchment said to look bajo el poderoso rugido. Under the mighty roar, and that can only mean under the falls." He disappeared under the water and Emma was left alone with Neal and Tamara watching her distrustfully.
Suddenly Killian breached the water and Emma saw the smile bloom on his face. "You're not going to believe this." He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her under the water, she held her breath as he pulled her downward. She saw the rocks empty beneath them, a channel of blue following beneath the falls. When they finally swam for the surface, she found herself in a cave, water dripping down the walls all around them. "It's been here all this time and we never knew."
Emma thought of all the times they had visited these falls, she wondered what kind of hidden secrets it held inside all these years. She climbed onto the rocky embankment and walked a few steps. "There's no other way out." She realized the room was a circular tomb, rocks all around her. Neal and Tamara emerged from the water, staring at the walls around them.
"Over here." Killian called out and Emma quickly made her way toward him as his hand pressed against the jagged wet rocks.
"What is it?" Neal asked from behind her.
"Drawings." She responded as she stared at the markings on the wall.
"What the hell is the point of drawings. I'm sick of this, where is the damn treasure?" Tamara whined.
"It's coordinates." Killian said in a far-off voice. "I need a camera or something to write with."
Neal yanked the bag from around his neck. "My phone is in this." He pulled out the waterproof bag and began taking photos of the walls. "So, what do these tell us."
"I don't know yet. I need to get them to the ship."
"What is a ship going to do with drawings?" Tamara continued to annoy Emma with each breath she took.
"The ship isn't going to do anything, it's what's on the ship that I need."
"Yeah, and what's that?" The woman chided.
"My sextant."
Emma felt a prick against her neck and the woman gripped her arm, yanking it behind her back. "I don't know what kind of kinky shit you are into, but if you don't tell me what that says right now, I'll gut her."
Killian held up his hands as Neal stared on in frustration. "Ok lass, there's no need to get jumpy. I can't tell you what it says yet because the tool I need, which is called a sextant, is back on the ship." The woman didn't release her grip and Killian pointed to the wall. "You see this, it's stars…" He pointed to the other part of the drawing. "And that big one, that's the North star. There's the moon. Once we get back to the ship, I can find the latitude and longitude of where it's trying to take us."
The knife pressed harder against her neck and Emma grimaced. "Tam, you need to relax."
"Don't tell me to relax, Neal." The woman yelled through gritted teeth.
"We got what we needed, everyone is tired, let's just go back to the ship and I'll tell you all where you need to go." Killian said calmly. "But if you don't let her go, I'll be sure to toss that sextant into the God damned ocean and you'll never find that treasure."
"Just let her go baby. The mosquitos are eating me alive." He slapped at his skin in annoyance and Emma finally felt the woman relax behind her. Emma shook her out her wrist, rubbing the back of her arm as she flexed her muscles. Killian nodded quietly at her and slid back into the water. Emma didn't care about this damn treasure anymore; she just wanted this day to end.
Killian stared at the photo on the phone as he plotted the coordinates based on the image. It wasn't making sense. He grumbled under his breath and started over.
"What's wrong?" Walsh asked when he began connecting lines once again.
"It's not working."
"Explain it to me like I have no idea what you're talking about." The man said angrily.
"The coordinates don't make sense." He pointed to the map. "It leads us here, but there is literally nothing there."
Liam stood and looked at the place Killian was pointing to. "That's the middle of the bloody ocean."
"I know that." He returned with a frustrated sigh. "That's my point."
"So, what's the problem?" Walsh remarked, clearly annoyed with the entire exchange.
"You want to just sail into the middle of the ocean and sit there waiting for something to happen?" Killian scoffed.
"It's not just sitting in the middle of the ocean, it's sitting in the middle of dangerous waters." Liam remarked.
"You got us through that Dead Man's Hand passage, I fail to see why this would be a problem." Neal shrugged.
"You ever sailed through a current so strong it spins your ship in the opposite direction? 'Cause that's what you're gonna find there." Killian pointed angrily to the map.
"Can you do it or not?" Walsh interrupted his tirade.
"Aye."
"Liam…" Killian tried to reason with his brother, knowing that he was only agreeing to do this to protect them but if he sailed the ship out there, they would all be in danger.
Walsh slammed his gun down on the table. "The man says he can do it, we go. End of story." Killian pushed angrily away from the table and stormed off to his room, slamming himself down on the bed next to Emma.
"What now?" She asked as she flipped through her book.
"Oh nothing, just Liam agreeing to sail us into the middle of a fucking current?" He ran a hand through his hair, resting it on his forehead.
"Well, I'm sure he only agreed to that to keep us safe."
"That's not the point. It's fucking dangerous."
Emma sat up and stared at him. "Which part of this trip hasn't been dangerous? We are being held against our will, sailing all over God knows where to search for a fucking treasure that has already ruined our lives. Which part of this do you consider a joyful family vacation, Killian?"
He sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm just trying to make sure that you get home."
"We will." He opened his eyes to see hers shining at him and he wanted nothing more than to believe her. To carry that same hope that she always held in her heart. Her fingers danced along his arm, leaving small circles against his skin. The setting sun was streaming in through the porthole bathing her in a halo of light. She was perfect, beautiful…
"Emma…"
They were interrupted by a commotion at the door and Liam stumbled into the room as Neal pushed him forward. "You." He pointed at Emma. "Come with me."
"Why?"
"Because I don't like drinking alone." He sneered.
"Fuck off." Killian cursed at the man. "She's not going anywhere with you."
"I'm not really in the mood for a drink." Emma sat back on the bed.
"I wasn't asking."
Killian reached out and grasped Emma's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "I'll drink with you." Killian offered.
"Not my type." He narrowed his eyes, stepping into the room and yanking Emma up by the arm. Killian jumped up from his spot on the bed before he was met with a gun in his face. "You want her to come back, sit the fuck down."
Killian sat back on the bed, locking eyes with Emma as she was pulled out of the room, a wave of terror filling her eyes.
Emma looked around frantically as they emerged onto the deck. She expected to see Walsh or Tamara on deck with them, but fear set in when she realized they were alone. He tossed her into one of the deck chairs and she curled into herself. He pushed a glass into her hand, tipping the rum into it.
"So, Emma…" He sat down across from her, a sneer on his face. "What ever shall we do tonight?"
"Where's your girlfriend?" She spat.
"Tamara…she's sleeping. Been a long day." He shrugged, tipping the glass back as he swallowed the contents.
She took a sip of the rum and looked around the deck, the light of the moon illuminating him, making him look even more frightening than he truly was. "You know, I'm really tired also…"
"Oh, come on, the night is young." He laughed, scooting across to sit in the seat with her. Her heart was pounding in her chest as his hand pushed the hair away from her face. "You really are beautiful." He leaned toward her, and she turned her head before he could press his lips to hers. She could feel his breath against her neck. "I've got all night for you to come around."
"Not happening." She said defiantly. She felt his hand on her chin, ripping her face to meet his.
"Don't make this harder than it has to be." She pushed him away from her, standing up quickly but he was faster, grabbing her by the arm and jerking her toward him. "Come on bitch, we can do this nice, or we can do this the hard way." His mouth was on hers before she could stop it, his hands groping at her body. She reacted instinctually, lifting her knee to his groin as he doubled over. "You fucking bitch." He stood up; his face contorted in anger before she felt the sting of his fist against her mouth. Before she could react his hand was in her hair, dragging her toward the stairs. She tripped over her feet, stumbling down into the depths of the ship as he opened the door and tossed her into the room.
"Get up." He yelled at Liam. "Let's get a head start on the voyage."
Emma reached up and pressed the back of her palm to her mouth, seeing the blood when she pulled it away. Killian's eyes were wide, his mouth pressed into a hard line, the vein on his neck pulsing in anger as he stared at the man in the doorway.
Liam stood and left with Neal; the door slamming shut behind them.
"Emma." Killian was on his knees, pulling her into his lap. "What happened? Did he…did he hurt you."
She licked her lip, tasting the blood on her tongue. "Just this little parting gift." He pulled her against his chest, looking down at her mouth.
"I'm gonna fucking kill him. Did he bloody hit you?"
"Well, I did put my boot in his dick after he kissed me." She laughed.
"Kissed you? That son of a…I'm so sorry, I should have never let him take you out of here."
"I'm fine, Killian, can you just…just hold me." She relaxed in his arms, letting him ease the anxiety she was feeling with each stroke of his hand. His fingers found their way into her hair, lightly brushing through each strand. She brushed her hand against his chest, her bracelet jingling as she moved.
"I'll never let anything happen to you again." His mouth brushed against her scalp. "I promise you that."
"I can take care of myself, Jones."
"I know that, but it's my job to protect you, and I failed at that." Emma let her eyes close to keep the tears from falling, instead focusing on the heartbeat in Killian's chest, pounding in her ears.
"You've never failed me." She whispered as his lips skimmed her forehead and she let herself drift away in the safety of his arms, with the comfort of knowing that she was with the one person who would never let her down.