Chapter 36
Emma
There was a loud rumble of thunder around us, as we sat at our stone table. I squeezed Killian's hand as the entire mountain palace shook. There were lights everywhere, provided by jewels in the ceilings even blinked out, and after a couple seconds, the lighting returned. I glanced around at my husband, Stanom, Walsh and Jack.
Jack gasped, "Oh no!" He covered his eye holes with his green branchy hands.
"Well?" The Nome King's voice snapped my attention back to him. I noticed this time, his skin looked more humanlike now, only it was a silvery shade.
I frowned at the King. "What the hell?"
Killian added, "What happened?"
The Nome King smiled at me and replied, "Your friend, the Gump. Has failed in his guess."
I sighed and looked around at my friends and husband. Killian scowled at the Nome King and tightened his fingers around my hand.
Killian said to the King, "Bloody hell? You did not mention that part of the game."
I squeezed Killian's fingers to dissuade him from challenging the creepy King.
Walsh said, "He's already playing, Emma." He looked at me warningly. "Any idea what you are going to choose?"
Killian snapped at Walsh, "Don't bloody rush her, Mate." Killian clenched his jaw, like the look he gave enemies he was about to fight.
I whispered at Walsh, "Listen guys. If we guess wrong and we have no clues, then we're nothing but dust collectors. We need to do this, Killian." I slipped off my ring and held it between my thumb and finger.
Killian frowned and lifted and eyebrow at me. He moved his face closer to me. "Are you sure, Love? We don't know what other things the King fails to give us."
I paused and stared into his blue eyes, praying silently that I was right.
Walsh muttered, "I agree with Emma."
Killian hardened his eyes for a moment and shot Walsh a look of the old Captain Hook would have given someone he despised. "Don't," Killian said to Walsh. "Test. My. Patience."
Walsh pressed his lips together and glanced back at the Nome King.
I stroked Killian's fingers and the back of his hand. "Killian," I whispered, "What do you think?" I paused for a second.
The Nome King said, "Next? The Pumpkin Head!"
"ME?!" shrieked Jack with a loud gasp.
"Wait, Your Majesty, you did not let me decide."
The King lifted his chin and took another puff of his stone pipe. "Why, my dear, you are taking too long. The game shall resume." He waved his hand towards Jack.
I held my ring between my fingers. "I was about to say that I accept." I held it in the air towards the King, who sat proudly like he had already won the eerie game. He probably had. The King said, "Jack. You must now enter that way." He slowly gestured his pipe towards the opening doorway of stone that widened in its maw to allow passageway. The hallway of dark stone was lit by green emeralds and rubies. I arched my eyebrows and ticked my eyes to Jack, who wobbled unsteadily, probably from fear, as he rose reluctantly.
Jack said, "Ohhhh…..I don't know about this..." He cagily took steps towards the entrance and trembled as he walked and looked back at me. "Oh, this is it, my doom…." He shook his head and waved at me and then our friends. "It was nice knowing you all…."
I frowned sadly at Jack. "Good luck, Jack." I put my ring back on my finger and faced the Nome King.
Killian circled his arm around me and pulled my waist so I would inch closer to him. "I don't reckon we have a choice anymore, Savior. So, what's your plan now?" my husband whispered as he looked deeply in my eyes.
The Nome King chuckled and said, "The Pirate is correct. You are on my terms now. The game has begun." He rolled his pipe in the air.
I narrowed my eyes and looked back at our Game Host. "You. You're trying to get to be human, aren't you?"
The King sneered at me and stared back at me with pride. "You took too long."
I replied, "Then why haven't you given us any clues? How are we supposed to guess what's in your cave of wonders?"
The Nome King replied, "It is more fun this way. You have had clues."
I raised an eyebrow at Killian and then looked at Walsh and Stanom in return who just stared at the Nome King like he was psychotic. Which he was. Walsh faced me and whispered, "My guess? Anything to do with jewels."
Stanom muttered quietly, "Walsh is right. We're in Oz. It could be anything, but the King likes precious gems."
"We won't bloody know until we're inside of that room," Killian said to me under his breath, "I'll go before you, Love."
I lifted my eyes to the Nome King, who watched us victoriously. I said to the King, "Your Majesty. Do we get to choose who goes in there next?"
There was a disturbing roll of thunder that erupted our conversation. The lights went out for two seconds and then flickered back on. I watched the Nome King. His face lit up with a grin and now his face was human, his eyes of course were too. He looked like he was mostly a man except the shade of his skin. His fingers and hands and arms were humanlike now.
"Bloody disturbing," Killian said quietly with a roll of his eyes.
The Nome King said in a gloating tone, "Your pumpkin head has failed. Next! The Army of Oz." I was certain that the King meant to mock the name of Stanom.
Stanom rose to his feet and lifted his head as he heaved a sigh. "I'm ready." He nodded at me and Killian. We watched as Stanom marched through the opening of the tunnel of stone. I watched the hallway which still had green and red jewels embedded in the walls.
Walsh rubbed his face with his hand and turned his body to Killian and me. "This isn't looking good." He ticked his eyes between us. "Why does he let us play this game if he could just make us go in there at once." He tossed up his hand.
Killian swung his gaze at Walsh with a cold look. "Way to be positive. Good form. Why don't you bloody shut up?"
I sighed and whispered, "Killian. That's it." I glanced up quickly at the King and waved my hand, willing Stanom to turn to metal again, just as the thunder rolled above us, shuddering the ground. I grabbed Kilian's arm to steady my balance, since it had taken me by surprise.
Walsh said, "Shit. Emma, what' you do?"
Killian held me with his good hand and his arms around me. "If you go next, or I, I am not letting you go, Swan." His eyes were full of determination. I gazed back into his eyes and felt complete love, which gave me a sense of peace as well as fear of what might happen next.
I whispered, "I love you more than life itself."
His hand held the back of my neck as he kissed me softly, "I love you too. I'm not letting you go first."
The Nome King moved. I could hear his steps on the dais. He said, "Your friend cannot guess anymore. He is completely turned idle."
I looked up at the Nome King, who was not changed, but he looked muscular and bulky, and was also full of anger.
"One of you must go in to resume the game." He pointed at me. "You. Savior." He said cheerfully. I rolled my eyes, irritated the way the king was playing and choosing us as he willed.
"Isn't that a little bit unfair, Your Highness?" I said calmly.
"So is what you did, Savior," the King said mockingly.
I felt cold for a moment, shocked that the Nome King knew what I had done, but it was because I had an idea, since we were all being turned to whatever they were, so quickly.
"No, I shall go in her place," replied Killian.
"No," I said to my husband. "Don't even think about it, Killian."
Killian looked hard into my eyes. "You can win this, Love. I am buying you time." He kissed me hard and kept his face close to mine for a moment. I reveled in his arms, his scent of cologne and soap. I let out a short breath, and whispered back, "I wish I had more time with you." I smiled lovingly. "Killian. I am so sorry I was angry with you for lame reasons." I swallowed hard. "I wasted too much time…" My words got caught in my throat as I felt like I would surprisingly cry.
"Now, Savior," demanded the Nome King in an impatient tone. "Go, do as I say. Do not push my patience any longer." The Nome King glowered at me, as he puffed his pipe.
I widened my eyes and looked back at Walsh then at my husband.
Killian furrowed his brow and stared at me like this was our last moment together, "I don't know what you're doing but I trust you, Love."
I smiled at him and nodded, knowing this was it, my turn. I sighed as Killian stroked my face with his fingers and he murmured, "You don't have to apologize, Sweetheart. I feel as sorry as you do. At least we are still together." He nodded once with a lopsided smile and adoring eyes.
I kissed him again and side-glanced at Walsh and said, "Try not to kill each other." I traded one more long look with Killian before I rose and walked confidently through the rumbling opening doorway of the stone. I glanced over my shoulder once more at my husband who gazed at me sorrowfully, but he kept a proud, confident look on his face. He said, "I have yet to see you fail."
I faintly smiled at him as I walked through the corridor full of red and green jewels, glistening and shining. The rock doorway closed as I moved down the red and green corridor. Red and green. Those had to be clues.
I turned to my left and entered a vast white room, full of trinkets. It resembled a large showcase room full of gold tables and marble tops and walls. I could see a silver vase with a lid, clear vases, candles, plants, and red silk pillows on a white sofa. I walked to the center of the room as I took it all in. There were two wall hangings, and a small orange glass pumpkin.
"When you find your object of choice," I heard the King's voice boom overhead like an intercom, "ouch it with both hands, and say Oz."
I nodded and glanced around me, wondering if he had cameras too. There were probably eyes in the stone on the ceiling and walls too. I searched for what may be Stanom. I looked over at a large table where there was a large ruby vase, and next to it was an emerald candle pillar with a glass candle stick on the top of it.
"I have no idea," I said to myself.
I let out a long breath. I had to make this choice good. I knew that the guessing part of this game didn't seem timed, as far as I knew. I gazed around the room full of different colors of candles, vases, jars, and even little ornaments. I saw a small green medal that someone would be given for a courageous act. I picked that up slowly and wondered if this was the gump. My guess was that if I found Stanom, I could tell what he turned into, and what color. I put down the medal and closed my eyes. I recalled when Neal and I guessed on that map back in the hotel that day before, when we were together, where to go. I had closed my eyes and pointed at the map of the world in the frame.
"Help me," I mouthed, to heavenward. I thought of my children and my husband. I had to get this right, or we might all perish. I swallowed hard as I thought of Henry ad Hope. I closed my eyes and moved my finger to point to a knickknack. I moved myself in one circle, and focused on my magic, sensing anything else that was magical. I walked slowly toward a table where I was led, and pointed forward, stepping carefully, until my finger touched a silver vase with a silver lid. Probably made of metal or gold. I opened my eyes. It was the same shade as the tin man
I sighed and parted my lips, using my magic to sense the object. I took a deep breath, and then placed my hands over it. I looked to my left where there was a shining diamond in a hexagon looking candle holder. Next to it was an emerald sitting on its own, large and glistening, reflecting light. Something in me screamed "this".
I let go of the silver jar and said, "It has to be. Everything is…green." I placed my hands around the large emerald, which fit inside of my hands, and slowly opened my mouth, praying to God I wouldn't fail my family or husband, and said, "OZ!"
There was a large rumble and sharp flash of green light. Stanom stood there and smiled at me, surprised and joyful.
I smiled widely and said, "It's you!"
Stanom touched his chest and then said, "Well done. What did you choose?"
I whispered, "Something green. An emerald."
There was another rumble of thunder. "No!" I heard the King exclaim.
I frowned. "He's not happy."
Stanom looked around us. "Keep going, Savior."
I looked at another round table, elegant candle holders, white and red and blue vases with diamonds and jewels embedded in them. I searched until I found a green candle on an emerald pillar stand. It was glass and expensive looking. I took a dee breath and said, "Oz!"
Jack reappeared and another flash of light followed by a shaking of the entire place began, then stopped after a moment.
"Oh!" Jack exclaimed. "You have saved me! Thank you, Emma!"
I smiled at my friends and sighed. "One to go. Anything green, help me find it."
"No!" A thunderous voice of the King loudly erupted, slicing my thoughts and concentration on finding the last green object.
Jack pointed at a table and said, "Green!" He pointed his branchlike arm and long finger.
I looked at an emerald-colored jewelry box. I scanned the room and tried to find anything else that was green. "We got to hurry. The brat is throwing a tantrum," I said under my breath.
Then I heard the King yell down the corridor from where his throne room was, "You! You let her escape!"
I was perplexed. I frowned at my friends, looking at them, confused at who he may be yelling at. "What in the hell?" I whispered.
I hurried around the room, looking for anything else that might be green or emerald. My friends did the same. Stanom said, "Nothing else green except that, Emma." He pointed at the green trinket I had been staring at a moment ago.
Jack said, "Ohhh, he's very upset." He searched frantically around the room full of items.
I could see a sofa that was all ruby red, and a diamond studded pillow on it.
I looked to another round table, and found more trinkets, like a vase full of flowers, but the vase was crystal. There was a red music box next to it, and a ruby candle stick holder with a tall lamp made of gold and diamonds and rubies hanging from the lamp shade.
Then I heard Mombi's faint voice exclaim, "It wasn't my fault!"
"Mombi is here," I whispered dreadfully.
"Oh no," Jack moaned.
Stanom finished searching the room. He shook his head.
I raced back to the green treasure box on a table I had admired earlier. I placed my hand on the emerald box and said, "Oz!"
There was a green flash followed by the Gump sitting there, two sofas intact. The Gump said, "Well, how about that. Good job," he said in his low voice.
I beamed and looked around at my friends. "Looks like I won."
I walked triumphantly towards the opening door that stone hands opened for me, creepy and disturbing as it was, I hurried down the corridor to see what I had missed. Killian was with Walsh, sitting at the table nervously.
Killian noticed me and stared at me longingly with a slow spreading grin. "Swan."
I murmured, "Did you ever doubt I would find you?" I had taken a quote from my parents.
I looked over at the Nome King, who was back to being a chunky stone God with only human eyes, which glared at Mombi. Mombi was standing in front of him, but she was begging him with her body language.
She didn't seem to care about me. She only side-glanced at me. She shook her head, her Medusa like curls wildly shaking as she parted her lips.
She shook her hands in fists as she gazed at the Nome King and said pleadingly, "I am sorry, but she is powerful! She stole my powder of life; she stole my flying monkey, and she stole my items. Like that there." She jerked her arm to indicate me and the sofa cagily wobbling to walk towards us along with Stanom and Jack. Jack was whimpering at Mombi and started to moan quietly when he took in the King and Princess Mombi.
The Nome King glowered coldly at the Princess. He said in a thunderous loud voice, "But that does not matter, Mombi, you are weak. And you let her escape, the Savior, who you were supposed to stop!"
"It was her fault! Not mine! I was betrayed also by Walsh!" Mombi said, tossing her hand back at Walsh who sat there, staring at her with uncertainty. He frowned and shook his head.
Killian stood and came to me and circled his arms around me. I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"You are amazing, Love," he whispered in his ear. "Mombi here, she found a way in."
I nodded and hung onto his arm. "Guessing they're not on good terms." I ran my hand over his arm and chest. "Did she hurt you?"
Killian shook his head.
"I will deal with you later," the Nome King exclaimed angrily. He made a cage of stone with slits through the stone bars that surrounded Mombi. She gasped and groaned and glared back at the Nome King like he had betrayed her.
The Nome King sneered at her and in a fit of rage, he hollered out loud, "Savior! You shall pay for this!"
I gritted my teeth and glowered at the King. "What did I do?" I asked. "I played your stupid game."
The King retorted with a rocky, grumbling laugh. "You! You have cheated. You will remain here."
"I didn't succeed," I muttered to myself more than the King.
Killian gripped my hand in his and said viciously, "That is bad form. She won. She is the victor."
"No," said the King with a laugh that made the cave shake and rumble.
Shards of stone started to fall and spear the ground below. Loud crashes of rocks fell, and the Nome King rose to his rock man feet. His eyes were like rubies. Much like the ruby slippers. Mombi gripped her stone bars of her cage and shouted, "What is happening?!"
As if recalling Mombi was present in his jail of rock, The King snapped his head towards the Princess. He shouted in a thunderous voice, "Did you tell her about her!?"
I gave Killian a questioning look. "Her?" I whispered.
Killian circled his hooked arm around my waist and said, "I don't know, but we should get out of here, Love." He tossed Nome King a cagey look.
"No, no of course I didn't," continued Mombi in her argument with the Nome King. "But she found her! It's her fault, her you want, not me!" She exclaimed, trying to calm the King down.
Walsh came behind me, along with our other friends. Walsh said in a low tone, "Ozma?" he looked at me and Killian inquiringly with hope in his eyes.
I replied lightly, "I think so." I glanced at Walsh mournfully and then up at my husband who was glaring at the Nome King.
Mombi was shaking her head defensively as the Nome King stared bleakly at her. It was a nice show to see Mombi the one being afraid, for once.
"But you let the Savior escape, you couldn't even handle her. Princess." He said sarcastically as he lifted his chin sarcastically. "You cannot have the Savior." There was a roaring sound in his voice. The cave shook again, more rocks crashed to the ground loudly.
"Right time to go," I whispered as I grabbed Killian's hand harder and turned and ran towards the cave entrance.
Our friends followed us. I darted to the main entrance and found the main doorway nothing but stone. I lifted my hands, dropping Killian's hand, and focused on the rock. I willed it with my mind and power to crack open and make an entrance. The rocks in the entranceway wiggled loose and started to fall and crumble to the ground.
"You're doing it, Swan," Killian said with his hand on my hip.
I forced the rest of the stone to crumble and break and collapse to the stone marble flooring, and they did, making loud sounds.
"Oh no you don't!" shouted the Nome King. His voice seemed louder and everywhere, even above us.
"Run!" I cried, commanding everyone.
My friends and husband and I dashed outside on the mountain on the flat part of the outside courtyard.
Walsh said, "How do we get this thing to fly again? Or I could carry us all, one by one?"
I noticed the entire rocky outdoor of the palace was moving and growing. I pointed at it, "Wonder what his weakness is?"
Killian motioned with his arm for us to keep running away. He said, "I don't bloody like this. Is there anything we can use to stop this King?" He pointed his thumb at the loud, deep-throaty laugh of the Nome King. The mountain seemed to grow and raise up in height. The stone turned into a large head and then rose up in height, revealing the Nome King, but in giant size, and all stone. He laughed as stones fell down the mountainside, almost hitting us. We all backed away swiftly.
I ran down the mountainside where a narrow pathway was. Killian and the rest of our friends followed us. The mountain seemed to even out so that there were no more hiking trails to climb down. We all tumbled down to the ground down below where there was a forest area with grass and trees. It was darker and there were shadows of trees we could hide under.
Everyone tumbled down including me and Killian. I landed on my side and Walsh and Killian rolled and fell on me. Jack and Stanom groaned and laid down for a moment in the dirt, but everyone seemed to be alive.
"Everyone all right?" Stanom asked.
Everyone grumbled in response.
I exhaled as Killian rolled off of me, and Walsh moved backwards to get off of my arm.
Walsh had landed on my arm, hard, and my arm throbbed in pain, but I instantly focused on it healing. I sighed and laid my head back.
Killian gently touched my arm and shot Walsh a scorching glare, before he looked at me and asked sweetly, "Are you all right, Love?" He rubbed my arm tenderly.
Walsh blinked at Killian's glare and cleared his throat and took a step back with a quick glance at me.
I nodded and sat up. "I'm fine. Everyone alive?"
Everyone was standing up and searching our surroundings.
Walsh said, "I'm sorry, Emma, I didn't mean to hurt your arm."
"No worries," I said with a soft smile at him. "I think the real worry is the Rock King." I pointed upward. We were far below from the mountain's palace area now. I looked up between leaves and trees and couldn't see the Nome King.
Then I heard the Nome King let out a loud, booming laugh. "Savior. You cannot hide for long from me."
Jack exclaimed, "Oh great. I wish my mom were here."
The Gump said, "All my parts are together. I don't know if I could fly us back though."
Stanom said, "This forest leads back to the Emerald City." He waved his arm back to the East. "Alongside the Deadly Desert."
I sighed heavily and stood with Killian's help with his good hand. He pulled me up, so I stood in front of him. I wound an arm around him and smiled back at him for a moment and kissed him softly. I said, "Well, how do we get home? We don't have much time."
Walsh lifted his hand and pointed at the Nome King Mountain. "The Ruby Slippers are still up in there somewhere. I doubt we can get to them."
"Unless we defeat him," I added. "They've got to be with the King. I should've received them as a prize. But I doubt that will happen."
Killian held my hand and interjected, "I think we should set sail." He gestured his elbow to the trail in the forest in the opposite direction of Nome King.
Walsh said, "I don't think the Nome King will let Mombi go. We should be good."
I answered, "Yeah, but how do we get home? There's got to be another way."
We all walked together through the darkness of the forest even though there was dim daylight above.
Killian jerked his chin upward and said, "Will the Nome King leave his bloody mountain?"
I glanced back at Stanom and Walsh. "Do you know of any weaknesses the King might have? Besides shiny things? And morbid twisted games?"
Neither of the men responded, so I gathered that was unknown.
"Apparently Mombi," answered Killian with a roll of his eyes. "And whoever her is."
I kept holding Killian's hand as we traipsed through the trees, hemlocks, and bushes. I said, "He's not human anymore. But who knows what he did to Mombi."
Killian replied, "I doubt he likes you. I think we can still defeat him." He side-glanced at me pointedly with a smirk.
I smiled warmly at my husband. "We still need to defeat him. This curse over Oz needs to be broken. Ww must get those Ruby slippers back, so we can get home. I don't know another way." I gave Kilian another forlorn gaze.
Killian said to me, "Then we defeat the Nome King. We need a new battle plan. I reckon the answer will present itself." He lifted a brow at me and smiled at me again. "Might I add, you are damn beautiful, Swan."
I smiled, feeling my heart beat harder. He still had that effect on me. I smirked at him and squeezed his hand in response. I felt warm and fuzzy everywhere. I had thought for sure we were going to die, and that I'd never see him again.
I whispered, "And yet we have another chance to be together. I thought we wouldn't." I leaned into him, and he opened his arm and held me against his side as we walked into the thick woods. The rest of our friends were walking ahead of us.
"As did I," Kilian sighed as he gazed at me intently.
"The light is dimming," I commented. "Night is falling. I wonder if we should set up camp."
Kilian flashed me a devilishly handsome smirked with a cocked eyebrow. "Would you fancy going for some firewood?"
The others walked ahead.
Stanom said breezily, as he hiked through some bramble and trees, "I know where to find firewood. I know a thing or two about camping. Until Zelena…"
"Yeah, I hear you," answered Walsh with a rather annoyed tone, recalling Zelena himself. She wasn't too popular with Oz.
Jack mumbled something about, "Oh I am not sure I like this, being in the dark…"
"Hmmph. What is there to be afraid of?" The gump said, "The Evil Mombi is trapped up there."
Walsh just cleared his throat as he glanced back at us. He said to me, "I know a few things about camping here in Oz. I'll help you. We'll gather lunch pails." He gave Kilian a little smile, as of acceptance and some sort of jealousy and a spark of shame and regret. I could tell that he still liked me, but also, I sensed he was mourning. At least Walsh was now an unexpected friend and didn't mind helping Killian too, who wanted to probably kill him in his sleep.
I looked back at my husband.
"He gets to live another day," Killian said quietly. He flashed me a half smile.
"I am guessing that was a jest," I said with a smirk.
"So," Killian said softly. He wiggled his eyebrow at me. He slowly slid his hand up and down my back. I felt like I was melting. I sighed with pleasure and whispered, "I thought I might lose you."
He slowed his steps, letting the others go far ahead. He held my waist with his hand and pressed the small of my back, so I moved closer to him. He kissed my forehead and left his mouth there on my skin. I closed my eyes, savored the feeling, and sighed as he slowly kissed my mouth. I lifted my hands to touch his cheeks and cup his chin. I kissed him deeply and smirked as his hand rubbed my back. I felt so submerged in love and felt aroused. I let out a breath of pleasure as we kissed passionately. I loved knowing that we were all right now, and our marriage no longer suffered.
I whispered, "Do you trust him now? Walsh?"
"Darling, you are spoiling the mood," he teased as he moved his hand to my hip with a wide grin.
I glanced ahead at our friends and then up at Killian. "I think we need to focus on how to get home. To our children."
"We must also rest, Love." He reached out to push back a strand of my hair away from my face. "But I couldn't agree more."
I nodded and cupped his chin in my palm and kissed him again. I murmured, "I'm also hungry."
"Hmmm." Kilian said jokingly as he gazed at me. He smiled at me as I looked up at the trees.
I chuckled, "What?" I said teasingly.
Killian looked me up and down and said softly, "I'm hungry for something rather than food." His brow lifted up suggestively.
I smirked at him. "Well…" I looked up at two of the red and green lunch pails. I gave my husband an alluring look. "What did you have in mind?"
Killian glanced upward and said quietly in a low tone, "I think you know. A little time together."
I nodded slowly and arched an eyebrow at him. I looked over to a small faraway opening that showed the Deadly Desert. "Do you think that the Nome King would be changed by the Deadly Desert sand?"
Killian looked at me and then the way of the deadly desert pensively and said, "Could be." He stepped closer to me and reached for my waist and rubbed my side sensually and added softly, "I get the feeling that the Nome King cannot leave his mountain. He would've gone after us by now, don't you think Swan?"
I nodded as I pondered that and placed my hands on his chest. "I think you're right. Also, I get this feeling that we should go back to Mombi's creepy castle."
Killian circled his arms around me as he looked heavenward then glanced around us. "That may be, Swan. But do you truly trust Walsh?"
His eyes seemed a little troubled. I could tell he was having trouble with Walsh. I thought for a moment. "He seems trustworthy." I paused and said in a louder voice, "Hey guys? You all okay?"
I heard Jack, Stanom and Walsh replied with even, content responses. "Yes." They said in chorus. I squinted my eyes to see them in the distance. They had set up camp already. They were sitting on logs and rocks.
Kilian was watching them too. He lifted his gaze to me. Something had changed in his eyes. Worry and probably jealousy? He mostly seemed hesitant.
"Killian," I said under my breath. "Are you worried about him?"
"No, Love. Not in that way. I trust you. I merely don't like him. He's tried too many times to hurt you. How could I trust him?" Killian whispered.
I placed my hand over his chest and gave him a soft smile. "You have nothing to worry about. And honestly, he seems like he's on our side."
"How do you know, Swan? He bloody tried to…" he shook his head and stopped himself. He lifted his chin as if he wouldn't allow what we both knew about Walsh to get the best of him.
I know," I replied gently as I rested my palm over his chest. I tilted my head and added, "I can tell he isn't lying about being on our side."
"Did he say that?" Killian asked as he raised an eyebrow. He glanced back at the camp of men, then back at me. "Cuz I don't bloody like him. But I will do as you wish, Love." He lifted his hand to hold my cheek. "I trust you. And your judgement."
"He did say that in fact," I replied. "I asked him."
He nodded and licked his upper lip. He reached into his pocket and lifted his rum reserve that he always carried with him. "I hope you're right, Swan." He took a swig and then held it to me to take.
I reached for it and replied, "Did you steal this from the kitchen cupboard when I wasn't looking?" I put it to my lips and took a long drink and then put it softly into his hand as our eyes locked.
Kilian chuckled under his breath and with softened eyes, he whispered, "Why do you wish to go to the castle?"
I licked my lips and let the liquid warm my body. It was getting chilly outside. "I get this gut feeling. Like, there was a reason that the Nome King and Mombi were arguing over her." I shrugged, "Why would they be arguing over Ozma? I think that we need to go back."
His brow arched and then furrowed. He said, "Aye, I think you're on to something. I noticed that too. Perhaps she is the key to something powerful? Ozma? Perhaps she was locked up in the mirrors by the deranged Mombi."
I nodded. "I really think so. And you know what else?"
He raised his brows, waiting for me to add my thoughts.
I inched my face closer, "The way they spoke about Ozma. It's like…she is vital, especially with me being here. The way the King asked Mombi if she had let me find out about her."
His eyes widened with realization. "Could bloody well be, Love. Who else would it be? It also sounded like she still may be some sort of threat."
"She may still be alive."
"Aye. She seems to be their nemesis. I reckon Ozma is good and could destroy them."
"Yeah. Let's go back to the castle. I think we need to find her. It's almost like…Mombi was supposed to keep me away from knowing about Ozma. But all we know is that Ozma was or is, Walsh's girlfriend. And the true Princess of Oz."
His smile slowly spread as he nodded once. "I think if there is a chance, we could free her."
I grinned back at him, feeling a surge of excitement and determination and mostly hope. I said, "Maybe she could tell us something we need to know. Maybe she could help us. Help us get home."
Playlist – (songs that I listened to while writing this chapter)
I Believe – Blessid Union of Souls
So Help Me Girl – Joe Difffie
Hands – Jewel
Music of My Heart – Backstreet Boys
Broken – Seether and Amy Lee
Help Me Hold On – Travis Tritt
Only Love Can Break a Heart – Jill Andrews
The Hills – The Weekend
Where Did You Go? – Jets Overhead
Somebody Else's Moon – Collin Raye
I Won't Give Up – Jason Mraz
