Chapter 6.

The moment she summoned up the words, she felt something rise in her. For just a moment, she was unafraid. She could save her family. Her kingdom. Henry.

"For my family, I'll do anything."

She murmured the promise that signed away her very existence, and the terror came rushing back. His eyes widened in surprise, and in the corner of her heart, she felt a small flame of triumph at having surprised the great power before her. He had expected her to turn away and run. Well she wouldn't. She had come too far to abandon her family now. She would do anything to save Henry. But what was going to happen to her?

He remained silent for a moment, his red rimmed eyes swirling with an emotion she could not name as his shoulder seemed to drop, before he sucked in a breath. "As you wish," he sighed. He offered out his hand as a small swath of red-tinged black smoke obscured his fingers before clearing to reveal a rolled scroll and quill. She stared at it, confused.

He rolled his eyes as he bit out, "You sign it lass."

She started, before hesitantly reaching out to timidly remove the items from his palm, careful to avoid his skin. As she grasped the tip of the quill, she could see just how hard she was shaking. The trembling in her hand made the whole feather dance slightly. For Henry. She carefully unrolled the scroll, part of her wondering how she was going to keep the parchment open and sign at the same time. So she nearly dropped it when, once she had broken the wax seal, it unrolled itself in her hand.

She gave another startled yelp, jumbling the parchment, shooting a terrified glance at the man, which only prompted a quiet, mocking chuckle from him.

"Just magic, lass. Or had you forgotten who you were dealing with?"

Overwhelming hopelessness washed over her as she registered his words, his hollow eyes unwavering as he studied her.

"No," she croaked. "I'll never forget." She almost thought she saw him flinch, but she must have been mistaken, for the next moment, he gave a smug smile.

"Aye, see that you don't."

She swallowed hard, casting her eyes back down to the document in her hand. It was written in calligraphy, fine and sharp, with harsh down strokes and elegant curves. She actually lost herself for a moment in the art of the letters before her eyes took in the meaning of the words.

By this agreement, it is hereby sworn that Killian Jones, Dark One, known by moniker Hook, and Captain of the Vessel The Jolly Roger, does swear to rescue and guarantee the maintained safety of the Royal Family of Misthaven, excluding the signer of this contract. In return for the above named services, Emma, Crown Princess and heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Misthaven, does hereby willingly and without reservation, signs over her life, existence, and will to the creator of this contract, Captain Killian Jones, for as long as it is deemed necessary to repay the cost of effort put forth to fulfill this contract.

Should the latter party, in the name of Crown Princess Emma, fail to fulfill or attempt to escape the above terms of contract, her life and the lives of her family, such as who the bargain is intended to protect, are forfeit to the will, whim, and desire of the creator of this contract, Captain Killian Jones. Should the former party, Captain Killian Jones, fail to fulfill or attempt to escape the above terms of contract, this contract is rendered null and void, freeing Crown Princess Emma of any and all obligation to him and restoring her to the state of being present prior to the signing of this contract.

Both parties being agreed, the terms outlines are binding by all the ancient laws and rites and the terms of this contract take effect immediately upon the signing of this contract.

Despite her terror, she read over the contract with the same eye that her mother had taught her to use when reviewing treaties and trade agreements. And she, even as she resigned herself to her fate, had to acknowledge the wording was flawless and fair. She was actually slightly surprised that the contract contained any sort of repercussions for him ending his own deal. She had expected it to be heavily weighted in his favor, for he had nothing to gain by balancing out the deal as he had. It puzzled her.

Her consideration of the words caused her to forget her surrounding for a few moments, and she was so lost in trying to find the loophole, that she didn't notice his growing impatience.

"JUST SIGN THE BLOODY THING ALREADY!"

She screamed and startled so hard the parchment fell from her hands and she dropped the quill, jumping backward into the horse, who finally lost his temper. He reared up with a loud trumpet, front hooves flailing as he demanded the creature leave his liege lady alone. But with the wave of the demon's hand, he suddenly felt all his muscles freeze and the agony of something pressing into his chest.

"NO!" came the most awful screech his ear had ever had the displeasure of hearing before he watched his lady stagger forward to grab at the demon's arm. The sweet child was fighting for him.

She watched as his hand slid into the horse's chest without resistance, yanking out, ripping the heart from her loyal steed. At the sight something inside her snapped. The creature had done nothing but protect and cherish her, and she would not lose one more. She used both hands to grab his forearm, yanking on it with all her might. But pulling at his arm proved fruitless as he held the beating scarlet heart before him.

He seemed to be laughing at her as he regarded her useless struggle, a low melodious rumble that should have comforted her, but instead seemed to spread ice through her veins. Then suddenly she was pushed back with a harsh shoved from his hooked arm.

"No one, not even a horse, attacks the Dark One without retribution, lass. You'd do well to remember that," he said. He sounded almost jovial, like he hadn't enjoyed himself to such an extent in a long time. She watched in frozen horror as smoke swirled around the heart obscuring it as he squeezed. Her loyal beast let out a scream of agony as smoke swirled around him, before he vanished as what looked like sand poured from the man's hand.

His cold, empty eyes never left her face, a joy lighting them up with an insane fire as she watched him, helpless to do anything. She was so overwhelmed that she could do no more than stagger back a few steps from the abyss that swirled in his eyes.

"Well," he sounded like he had just received a marvelous gift, "that was refreshing." He casually dusted his hand on the sleeve of his hooked arm before turning to amble a few steps toward her with a smile, though his eye remained as shallow as ever.

"Let's get on with it lass," he pointed to the scroll and quill that lay in the sand.

Her whole world seemed to become distant as her eyes finally ran out of tears. As if her will was not her own, she collapsed, heaving with dry sobs, and reached for the parchment. Without a thought to the lack of ink, she followed the automatic motions of signing her name at the bottom of the page, watching the shaky letters appear in violent crimson in the morning light.. Once she finished, the quill and page were consumed by the same red-tinged black smoke that seemed characteristic of his magic, leaving her hands empty as she stared down at them.

"See that wasn't so hard now was it, lass?" came his cheery voice from above her. "Come along then." She registered hazily that his footsteps seemed to be moving away from her, but she could not think nor find the will to move. She had lost everything, her parents. Her kingdom. Henry. Even her loyal steed.

She just stared at her empty hands. Except they were not hers anymore. They were his. He owned them now. What would he ask of her? What would he make her do?

Her breath came in shorter and shorter bursts and her eyes found a new water source, sending fresh tears down her face. She began to grasp rapidly, almost feeling his ownership wrap around her chest like a vice, constricting her lungs and fogging her mind. Her vision began to go dark as her ear started to ring, fingers twitching uselessly in her lap.

She fell forward to the sound of his voice, the last thing she heard before she fell into a welcoming abyss.

"Oh, bloody hell."