The black curls framing her face seemed out of place. Through the steam she looked at her reflection. It had been months since she had seen herself in a mirror. The last time Belle had seen her own reflection had not been pleasant. Her cheeks looked fuller than back then. She still looked ghastly pale, but now the black hair was probably to blame.

It had been surprisingly easy for Belle to assume another identity, but this time her copper curls wouldn't do. Light hair-colors were scarce in Syracuse.

In the steamy, yellowy glow of the shower she created Mallory. Belle looked herself up and down once more in the mirror. It felt odd to be back in a dress. At least the blue servants gown wasn't as extravagant as the gowns she had been forced to wear in her princes days. The only thing left for Belle to do was introduce her creation to the rest of the world. She straightened her white apron and left for the door after gathering her belongings.

The morning was cool against her freshly scrubbed cheeks. The calling seagulls were black against the pink morning. Syracuse was awakening.

Syracuse was a splendid town, full of commerce and prosperity. The ruler, King Dymas, was just and beloved by all. The kingdom had a good reputation. Criminality rates were extremely low for a seaside town.

Those were mainly the reasons as to why The Book Of Peace was kept in Syracuse. In the highest tower of the palace it shone its light over the town, the ivory walls reflecting the pale blue hue. It was a beacon of hope, not only for the inhabitants, but for the entire realm.

It was a truly beautiful place. The happiness irradiated by the Syracusan people was palpable. Their hopes and aspirations pivoting around The Book's glow. Belle found it a real pity to take it from them, but she had no choice.

Belle walked straight for the castle. She hadn't bothered to inform Hook of her plan.

Hook had decided not to enlighten her as to how she would have to serve as a 'distraction', so she decided that night that if she would have to be involved in the Captain's crazy plan, she'd do it in her own terms.

Upon the night of their arrival, Belle avoided the guards at the gates and snuck into the castle. The halls were teeming with girls around her age all wearing light-blue dresses and white aprons. No one would notice a new addition to the staff or a missing uniform.

She didn't give herself time to overthink anything, to go back to the ship and regret her plan. She stalked to the nearest bathhouse she found on her way. It felt good to watch the grime tint the water grey. Personal hygiene on the Jolly Roger was rather problematic.

By the time she had gotten back to the palace the streets were bustling with people shouting and laughing. It was strange to be in a place so alive.

The guards by the gates had been replaced. They eyed her up and down, but didn't see a threat in her blue eyes or in her hunched over shoulders. She smiled sweetly at them with a faint, rosy blush in her cheeks. If they only knew.

Not far ahead of her a girl in an identical blue dress made her way to the castle, her long black braid whipping in the easy morning-breeze. Belle followed her closely, remembering to bring some wonder and happiness into her eyes every time a stranger passed her.

The girl went down a pair of rickety, stone steps and into a lively kitchen. She purposefully undid her cloak and straightened the pleats in her dress. "Good morning, Dolores." She said to an elderly woman, who was supervising the girls in the kitchen.

The woman wore a stern, yet grandmotherly expression on her wrinkly face. Her grey hair was gathered in a bun at the nape of her neck."Excuse me." Belle asked timidly. The woman's face softened when she saw Belle's big blue eyes and shy expression. "Sorry to disturb you, but I'm new and..." Belle offered as she gesticulated around her. Dolores's eyes lit up with kindness. "That is no problem, my dear. I am Dolores." She said with a kind smile on her face.

"And you are?" Belle had forgotten how to talk to other women. "I'm Mallory." Belle said extending her hand awkwardly. She let her shoulders droop and managed to let a firm pink blush creep up her cheeks. Mallory was a common name, a neutral name, not the name of a thieve.

"Welcome, Mallory." Dolores smiled broadly, letting one of her big, calloused hands rest on Belle's shoulder. "Safiyah!" Dolores called. The girl with the dark braid hurried towards them, rubbing her hands into a checkered dishcloth. "This here is Mallory, she is new to the castle." Belle shyly looked up into Safiyah's smiling, green eyes. "Show her around for me please." Dolores gave her another hard-handed pat on the back before Safiyah guided her away. "Come."

Safiyah was kind and patient. She really wanted Belle to feel welcome, to coax her out of her shyness. She took it upon herself to make sure Belle knew every single nook and cranny. It surprised Belle to find so much kindness in the heat of the kitchens. It made her bones shake and rattle with guilt.

The girl told her wide eyed about the feast that was taking place in two weeks time to honor Proteus, Dymas's son and crown-prince of Syracuse. He had been the one to bring The Book to the city and was to return from yet another adventure. Safiyah also took it upon herself to make sure Belle knew every angle of the prince's handsome face.

That night when she arrived at the Jolly Roger, they didn't recognize her at first. She was still wearing the smile the women had plastered on her face. The blush the warm kitchens had made rise up to her cheeks was still to fade.

Kale shook his head in disbelief when he saw her. "Suits you." He chuckled as he eyed the dark curls. Belle had nearly forgotten the change. "Why thank you, sir." She wore Mallory's smile like a mask as she looked up to his angular face. Kale lifted his brow. "Impressive."

He walked with her to the Captain's cabin. She did not see Jonathan as they crossed the deck. Kale turned to her as they stood at the captain's door. "I must warn you, the Captain's in quite the mood since he heard you were no longer on board." Her arched brow must have made it clear to him that she didn't exactly care about how the captain felt.

Kale rapped his knuckles against the dark wood. "Yes." She heard Hook grumble. Kale tentatively pushed the door slightly open. "She is here." Hook must have signaled to let her in, because Kale stepped aside.

Hook's brow was furrowed. "What the hell happened to you!" He exclaimed upon seeing her dyed locks. "The royal palace was hiring." She could see how the angry wrinkles slowly melted from his handsome features, to be replaced with an impressed smirk. " I assume you are not one for playing dress-up for your own amusement." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Did you find anything interesting?"

"The King is hosting a party in two weeks. You should consider going." She smiled, satisfied at his expression. It felt nice to have his approval for once, even if she wouldn't admit it. "What about the guards and the wards you were so eagerly pointing out the other day?" He added sauntering over to where she stood.

"You told me you were going to take care of those." Belle said narrowing her eyes. "I will. But it is nice knowing what we should prepare ourselves for." He said as he lifted a raven-colored curl from her shoulder. "There will be plenty of guards, but I don't think we will have to worry about them." She answered unfazed. He was trying to make her uncomfortable, she could sense it. She wouldn't give him the joy of succeeding. "And why is that?" He arched a brow, eyes trained on the curl he twirled around his finger.

"This kingdom is dormant. It has seen so many years of prosperity that they have forgotten what war and crime looks like. Let me find out more about the guards. I will take care of them." He took a deep breathe which he released with a sigh. "Black is not your color." He said as he walked back to his desk. "Tell me if you find something more."

Belle had promised herself not to get too attached to anything. Not to the light in the morning, not to Dolores or Safiyah and certainly not to Syracuse itself. Life here would be ideal for her.

She could work all day and read all night in her own little seaside house where her russet colored cat would curl up at her feet to sleep. But that life was not for her. It hadn't been when she was in Avonlea and it wouldn't be when she left the court.

Still she enjoyed the long hours in the castle. Going from room to room, cleaning and cooking, listening and laughing. She could easily choose to fall in love with the city and, surprisingly enough, with her domestic job. But she could easily fall out of love again. One day the cat and day shifts wouldn't be enough to bind her to Syracuse. Maybe someone would recognize her. No, at the present moment she was bound to the ship and its brooding captain, who, for better or for worst, was keeping her true name a secret.

That morning she climbed about twenty flights of stairs, carrying a wicker basket full of clean, white linen under her arm. Politely bowing her head whenever someone passed her. She had only three days left find a way into the tower. In the meanwhile she had to complete the chores Dolores gently shoved her way.

Today it was changing the bedlinen in the many chambers the castle held. Unwittingly, Dolores had been pushing her farther away from her goal each day, but she would find a way to get into that tower. She had to.

After knocking, she entered the first room of the day. She would strip the exaggeratedly large bed naked and replace the finely woven fabrics for equally luxurious textiles. She hummed to herself softly as she worked. Deciding to give herself at least an hour of being just Mallory. Nothing more.

She soon reached the top of the tower. After removing the dirty linen from the bed she couldn't help but notice the immense stack of books and scrolls spread on the desk by the window. She glanced at the door. She had seen no one this far up the tower yet. No one would mind her nosing through the stack. The tomes were old and smelt of paper and ink.

Before she could brush her fingers against the leather binds, she caught her reflection in the window. And that of someone else, leaning against the doorframe. Her mind started racing, going through all the possibilities to either explain or defend herself. Keeping her back to the figure, Belle seemingly ignored them as she pretended to further inspect the books.

The figure cleared it's throat. Belle jumped and theatrically spun around, one hand against her heart another wrapped around the hilt of the dagger she kept concealed in the pleats of her dress. "My Gods ! You startled me!" she exclaimed as she eyed the man up and down.

His arms were crossed across his broad chest, a curious glint danced in his chocolate brown eyes. He wore the deep blue colors of the Syracusan flag and his long hair was bound back, away from his tan, angular face. It was not hard for Belle to recognize him, Safiyah had spent quite the amount of time describing the structure of his high cheekbones.

"My Lord!" Mallory said as she bowed her head to the crown prince. "My apologies for my words, I had no idea whom I was addressing." she cowered backwards. "No worries." Proteus smiled warmly at her. "My apologies for scaring you."

He remained watching her passively from his spot by the door. Mallory blushed and fiddled with her white apron, hands never straying from her hidden weapon. "I can finish in just a minute." she said as she pointed in the direction of the unmade bed. "I can also leave if you wish."

"No, no. Stay." Proteus said as he pushed himself off of the door and went to sit to one of the big leather chairs in the corner. Belle nodded softly and moved to the bed, never turning her back to him. She was close to finished when he spoke. "You are not from around here, are you?"

Belle looked up, wide eyed. "Not really." She said as she lowered her head back to the pillow she was holding. "Where are you from, then?" He pushed. She looked up at him again. He was sitting back relaxedly in the chair an easy smile on his handsome features.

"My father is from Portea. I grew up there." The Portean dialect was close enough to Avonlea's. He nodded. "What brings you to Syracuse then? Work?" Shit. There was no mistrust in his eyes, no malice. He would believe whatever she would tell him. "My mother is from Syracuse… was." She cast her eyes back down, pretending to bite back tears. "Oh..." she could sense his discomfort from where she stood. "I'm sorry for you loss." She looked back up at him, glassy eyed. "Thank you, sir."

She put the pillow down. "All done." She said with a watery smile on her face as she picked her basket back up. "Good." The prince smiled, happy with the change of tone in her voice. She bowed once more and made for the door.

"Wait." She heard him say. Belle turned around, wary once more. "Yes, sir?" She asked. "What was your name again?" He was standing now, by the desk she was going to nose around in earlier. "Mallory." She answered. "Do you like reading, Mallory?"

No, would be a smart answer. Most girls were not able to read. Then again, Syracuse's schools were open to both men and women… "I Love it." She said with a surer smile on her face, looking into the melted depths of his eyes. She had the good idea to blush. "That's why I was looking through those" She said as she pointed with her free hand to the stack by the window. "I wasn't searching for kingdom secrets or anything of the sorts." she quipped.

His laugh was just as warm as the rest of his appearance. "Can I take you somewhere, Mallory?"

Ends are reached by hard work, wit and endurance, but sometimes being lucky is the key. Belle could not believe her luck as she followed Proteus up the dimly lit steps of the tower. She made sure to spot every exit, window, door and entrance as they went up and up.

It was only when they had reached the top of the tower that they encountered guards. There were two men, standing on either side of the large oaken door. It was engraved with several markings, which glowed a silvery blue hue.

The guards straightened at the sight of Proteus. "Your Majesty." One of them said as they both kneeled. "Please stand, gentlemen." He said. Belle could not help but notice a slight change in the man who had talked about books and adventurers as they went up the tower and the prince now addressing his employees.

They stood aside, the wards seemingly abiding to Proteus's presence. When the door creaked open they were overflowed by a radiant blue light. Belle hid behind Proteus, the light momentarily blinding her.

When her eyes adjusted she could see Proteus smiling back at her. She followed him closely as he entered the room. With a sharp nod he dismissed the eight guards who were standing on the inside of the chamber. They looked at her curiously, most of them letting their stares linger a bit longer than necessary. They were cut off from them when the door closed with a tud.

Belle couldn't take her eyes of off The Book that rested in the middle of the round room. Mouth agape she took hesitant steps towards the glowing beacon of light. She lost herself then, more than ever before. She could not be found in the swirls and the drawings that danced around the pages of The Book. She was no longer Isabelle,Belle, Lacey or Mallory. Proteus was no longer at her side and she was no longer a body, she was nothing.

No longer was she a fugitive or a sinner. She was not part of the Avonlean court, king Dymas's servant or part of the crew of the Jolly Roger. She was nothing whilst she stood next to this pulsating power source. Something inside her hummed to the beat of the blue expanse which spread itself before her.

She felt something warm touch a part of her she was no longer quite sure was attached to her body. "Mallory." She hear Proteus whisper as he squeezed her wrist. As if startling awake, she turned to him. Her breathing was sped up.

"What was that?" Her voice sounded ragged, as if she had not spoken for hours. "You got sucked in didn't you?" Proteus said with a soft look in his eyes, his hand still around her wrist. "The Book doesn't let a lot of people in." He cocked his head to the side. "You must be special."

Belle was still dazed. "How long?" Was all she could muster to say. "About fifteen minutes." She took some deep breaths in order to calm herself. What am I going to do? "You wouldn't be able to look for much longer. It is said it has driven people to madness." Belle stole another glance at the open book.

"How come you didn't get sucked in?" She turns her eyes back up to his. His eyes neared black in the bright light. "I have spent a lot of time looking at it." he shrugged. She became aware of his hand on her wrist. "I should go." She said. "Thank you. Thank you so much for this, sir. Words can't describe how beautiful… how magical that was."

His eyes were fixed on hers. "It was my pleasure. Feel free to visit the library anytime you wish" He leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek. The blush that followed was not one she had to fake. She took a sharp step back, her eyes wide and his hand slipping from her wrist. His brow was furrowed, he looked upset. "Thank you again, sir." Belle repeated as she made for the door.

"Mallory." Proteus said. He hadn't moved, his hand still extended to where she had once stood. "Call me Proteus." Belle nodded, blushed, smiled and left.

They hid in the shadows where she had told them to wait. They would have no more than half an hour to get in, take The Book and to get out. He felt as if the pocket watch was holding would burn a hole in his remaining hand. Jed and Johnson had only three minutes left to crack the lock.

The girl had been right: Syracuse was drunk on their own wealth. It didn't cross anyone's mind to put restrictions on the castle borders. It did not occur to anyone to close latches or at least ward them with magic. No. They confided in the powers of a Book.

A telltale click sounded behind them. Jed and Johnson slid themselves down the now open latch, Kale and the Captain himself following closely. The Syracusan royal palace was built to take their servants into account. Hallways were wrapped around the castle and were all connected to the kitchens or the old servants dormitories.

The dormitories had been emptied centuries ago, they now were deserted, the only inhabitants being spiders. According to stuffy library books they were supposed to be haunted, hence to why they were now empty. The door leading outside the chambers was blocked, but a few pushes of Kale's shoulders was enough to make the door swing open.

The gloomy, blue hallway was deserted. Once they all stepped through the door the wood was replaced by brick. "What the…" Johnson hissed. Lacey had warned them about this. Her entire plan had been built on speculation and old wive's tales, but so far she had not been wrong. The castle itself didn't want anyone to take The Book. Even the stones had decided to keep it enclosed and protected.

"We will have to find another way out." Killian said dryly as he started ascending the stairs. Seven minutes to get to the top. The stairway was deserted, the blue hue intensifying as they climbed. The stairs started flattening out and muffled voices could be heard at the other end of the corridor. Hook slowly peeked around the corner. Two guards were standing besides the door, one leaning against the wall another on his sword.

"As long as I can get my hands on some of that garlic bread..." One of them mentioned. The other nodded and was quick to agree that Syracusan garlic bread was like no other he had ever tasted. They would have been easy to take out, but Lacey had advised against it.

Hook jumped up and pivoted his sword behind him. Staring back at him with a bored expression on her face and a tray in her hand, Lacey was shushing them by holding a finger against her rosy lips. His men had also raised their swords to her face, but lowered them as soon as they recognized her.

Without sparing them as much a backwards glance, she walked into the vision of the guards. They also pointed their blades at her after some fumbling. She shrieked and stepped back, the glasses on her tray swaying dangerously. "Please don't spike me!" This Lacey was miles away from the one they had encountered seconds ago.

The guards looked at each other as they lowered their swords slightly. "I...I'm Mallory." Lacey said as she took a pair of careful steps towards them. "Dolores asked me to bring you up some drinks." The guards looked at each other once more, the one on the right lowering his blade and smiling broadly at Lacey.

"Why thank you, love." he said beckoning her with his arm. Idiot. "Euen lower that thing will you, Mallory here has been so kind as to bring us some drinks." He reprimanded Euen, cocking his head towards 'Mallory's' small figure. Euen seemed to finally catch up on his friend's intentions. "Sorry." He said as he put his blade against the corner behind him. "It's nothin." Mallory said with a chirpy giggle.

She went to stand in between them. Hook caught a glimpse of her face. There was nothing hard, calm or calculated to see in her expression. She was no more than a blushing young girl. Impressive.

"Here you go." Her sweet voice sounded. The soldier on the right was quick to lift one of the glasses off of the tray, making quite the spectacle of brushing Mallory's hand in the process. "Thank you." He said while looking at her intently. Mallory giggled.

Euen was quick to stop his colleague from drinking. "Don't you think it would be fun for you to take a sip, Mallory." She laughed and swayed her hips in response. "I shouldn't drink. I'm working."

"So are we!" Euen said as he moved and put an arm over her slender shoulders. "Yes. Take a sip, love." The other said as he wrapped his arm around her hips. Mallory giggled as she leaned into his hand. "I guess a sip won't hurt."

'Here." Euen said passing her his glass. She looked up at them her eyes and glinting as she tipped the content against her lips. "Fuck." Hook heard Kale breathe behind him. Euen looked up staring into the dark as Mallory started coughing. "Spirits aren't for me." Mallory said she wiped her lips with the back of her hand and handed him back the glass. "Thank you, anyway." Her small hand brushed his chest. Euen's seemed to quickly forget his suspicion.

"Ad fundum then!" He said excitedly. The two men emptied their glasses in one swig. Mallory looked on and laughed. Their grip on her started strengthening. "You are going to stay with us for just a while longer, right." It was not a question. Hook could hear blood rushing through his ears. He had struck a deal with her, no harm was to come to her. He would have to live up to his side of the bargain.

He was about to lift his arm to tell his men to move, when suddenly the two guards fell tike potato sacks on either side of Lacey. He waited for her to signal them to come forward, but she didn't. Instead she kneeled beside them and checked for their pulse. Her breathing got quicker and she started to scream.

"What the fuck is she doing!" Jed bustled behind him. And frankly he didn't know, until the oaken doors opened and the hallway was flooded by the blue light, instantly blinding them. "Now." He said as he lunged forward. The guards were too stunned and blinded, mere seconds later the eight of them were scattered across the floor.

"Come."Lacey said, returning to her normal self, giggles nowhere to be found "And whatever you do, don't look into the book. It can be quite hypnotizing." She entered the spacious room. "Watch out for the wards!" Jed said as he tried to stop her.

"The Book is the ward." She said calmly "It lets in who It wants to let in. It hasn't kicked me out yet and you have the same have the same intentions as me. I suggest you get on with it. We've got three minutes. " Hook checked his watch. Three minutes indeed.

He strode into the taking a small wooden box out of his cout pocket. "A Chule box?" Lacey asked astounded. "I thought those were all burned years ago." He opened the lid as Kale, Jed and Johnson started to carefully move The Book, each taking a corner. Hook arched his brow. Not many people knew about the existence of Chule boxes. They were priate made boxes which grew internally to fit its content. They had been removed from the markets centuries ago.

He took hold of his corner of The Book. Lacey had been right. The Book's magic pulsated through him like a beating heart. He kept his eyes firmly on Kale's. Like that they were both being kept from looking down. Lacey came forward from where she stood by the door, avoiding one of the helmets that had rolled of a guard's head.

She took a small blue orb out of her apron. The five of them understood. None of them dared to breathe, let alone speak. When they had taken The Book from it's pedestal she placed the orb in It's place. It started glowing with the same ferocity as it's predecessor. Once The Book was sealed in she broke the silence. "We have got ten minutes before the magic runs out."

Hook picked up the box as they fled through the door.

"To the left." Belle whispered as she led the pirates down the spiraling staircases. They would get as close to the ground as possible and then climb out a window. It was not the most original plan nor the safest, but at that point she just wanted to leave Syracuse. She wanted the rippling waves of the ocean to drown out the heavy feeling of guilt.

She had been betrayed many times. By friends, family, men she had loved. She knew the sting of it. The idea that she would be instilling that feeling into the chests of the people she had met in Syracuse was killing her.

She didn't want to imagine the expression on the face of Dolores and Safiyah, who had both been so kind to her. She didn't want to picture Proteus's pain stricken features when he put two and two together. This is all my fault.

She moved mechanically, whispering instructions at every crossing and stairwell. The pirates followed her closely, their weapons unsheeted. They were about to follow her around the corner when she skidded to a halt. Shit.

"What the…" Jed started, only to be silenced by her stern expression. She directed herself to the Captain, who had been exceptionally quiet and pliant so far. She stood on her tiptoes to reach the Captain's ear. His hair smelt like seasalt."Third window to the right." Belle whispered. She turned her back to them and quickly rounded the corner.

She kept her head down and let it snap up sharply when she heard her name being said. "Mallory, is everything alright?" Proteus strode to her, worry carved into his features. She weakly shook her head. "Come." He said as he put an arm around her shuddering shoulders. "What is wrong?" He tried to look her in the eye, but she could not meet his gaze. I am so sorry.

"My father." She whispered bleakly. "He is unwell, I need to go home." She blubbered. From the corner of her eye she could see the metal of the pirates's weapons. She threw herself into Proteus's chest feigning a sob. He shushed her and rubbed her arm angled them in such a way that he wouldn't be able to turn around, leaving enough space for the four, bulky but stealthy pirates to pass them.

They knew where to go. She didn't dare to look up to see whether they had been able to escape. "I need to go home." she said as she pretended to wipe away her tears. "I don't care if I lose my job. I can't lose him too." Proteus's brow was still furrowd, his large hands on her upper arms.

"Are sure you can go by yourself?" Proteus was too galant. He would not let a crying girl go home alone in the dark. The knife in her chest twisted. "There is someone picking me up." A bleak smile.

"I'll escort you downstairs." Shit. Twist. Shit. Twist. "You don't have to bother." She said as she waved him off, making for the stairs. "I insist." He said as he hooked his arm through hers.

Shit. Twist. He probably did not mean to, but he was making her escape a lot harder than it was supposed to be. The knife was now lodged somewhere between her heart and ribs and throbbed painfully. His muscular arm through hers felt more like a leash than an act of comfort. An act of friendship. Twist. Twist. Twist.

He escorted her down the stairs, asking how she was holding up every once in awhile. They finally reached the strongly lit ballroom. They were still more or less concealed by the shadows of the pillars. "Do you see your friend?" He asked looking over the crowd. He had the bad habit of not letting go of her arm. She knew he would not leave her side until her 'friend' showed up, the problem being that she knew no one.

She saw a door on her far right. She could make a run from it. Just as she twisted her feet into position, a voice approached them. "Mallory, love!" Hook said with the warmest tone she had ever heard come from him. He was not wearing his long leather jacket and his extensive jewelry was nowhere to be seen. He kept his left hand, hook, concealed behind his back. "Are you alright." He looked honestly worried, his dark brows meeting in the center.

"I am fine." She said as she stepped towards him. Proteus's arm fell away like quicksand. She went to stand closely to Hook, pressing herself to his side so he could hide his hook in the pleats of her dress. "Thank you, sir." He said with a deep nod to Proteus. "Who are you?" Proteus asked, a pained expression on his handsome features. He looked between Hook and Belle, at the arm around her waist.

"I am Killian." Hook drawled with his hand extended towards Proteus. "I am Mallory's fiance." Proteus looked at her as if Hook had just punched him in the face. He did not shake Hook's hand. "You are to be married." I am so sorry. "Next spring." She said with a dreamy sigh as she looked up at Hook who looked down at her lovingly. Twist. Twist. Twist. "We need to go, love." He whispered, loud enough for the prince to hear. "Your father can't wait any longer."

"Thank you for everything, Proteus." She said. I am so sorry. He just nodded, his melted, chocolate eyes turning into hard stones. She didn't look around. She knew the pain she would see.

I am so sorry.

They crossed the gardens. "They are waiting by the gates." He said to her, his arm still around her waist. To anyone they would look like a young, loving couple. But they knew who they were. They would never be able to forget. As they reached the gates, the gardens suddenly turned dark, as if someone had blotted out the moon. The orb had done it's job. It could not shine any longer.

With their heads down, they made it to the gates, guards rushing around them. They met up with the other three pirates. Kale handed Hook his long coat and upon seeing her troubled expression he put his warm hand on Belle shoulder.

Johnson set of the signal, a single red spark, to alert the crew to start preparing for departure. Belle was about to tell him not to do it yet when Jed suddenly tensed beside her. "Run!" He exclaimed. Guards had seen the flame. Fuck! They should have hidden elsewhere. Belle did not feel her feet as she ran, speed taking over her body.

She did not care if she got caught, she deserved it. But she couldn't stand the idea of looking into Proteus eyes and seeing nothing but scorn there. So for his sake she ran. She leapt and threw guards off. She dodged wine barrels and talking mothers. They entered the port in what felt like a split second.

The Jolly Roger had already lifted the anchor. She saw the men taking bounding steps in front of her Kale and Hook looking over their shoulders, to make sure she was keeping up. She, on the other hand, did not dare to look back. They reached the quay. She watched Jed, Johnson and Hook leap onto the ship.

Without halting his stride Kale hoisted her over his shoulder and threw her onto the deck. She was soon joined on the floor by Kale, whom had barely been able to get over the railing.

She stood, unable to hear the cheers of the crew as she watched the mainland. As she watched the face of a man who had cared for her and who she had betrayed. She watched Proteus become smaller and smaller until he was nothing but a speck of blue at the horizon.

The feast they held was exaggerated and disproportionate. Which pirate celebration was not? There was music, laughter and drink. A lot of drink.

He noticed Lacey was not on the deck, but after a few jugs of ale and rum, he forgot about her. After hours of partying, when his men had gone to bed on the most convenient surface,he stumbled down into his chambers, but couldn't sleep.

The wind sounded to much like her calling his name, the moon too similar to her face. He swore he could see her, leaning against the doorframe as she so oftenly did.

He got out of bed, his mind sluggish. The cool night air slapped him across the face.

And there she stood, leaning against the railing. Her long black hair whipped behind her like a veil. It could not be. He wanted to taste her name on his lips once more, he wanted her to see her mouthing his.

"Milah?" He spoke without knowing. She turned. Except it wasn't her. The world tilted and turned black as blue eyes looked worriedly at him and called his name.

I know, I know….

This is INCREDIBLY late! I am so very sorry! Life just decided to catch up with me these last couple of months… Anyway, here you go !

I am trying to schedule in my writing better, so I can update more oftenly.

Thank you for the lovely reviews and your patience!

Also big thank you to everyone who favorited and followed this story.

Big kisses ! xxx