Staring out at the sea, Emma stiffened as she tried to hold back a sob. This was what her life had become. A month ago she would never try and kill somebody, now she was betraying her only friends, to kill Charon. A shiver ran down her spine, she didn't know whether it was from the cold sea air or the thought of killing a man.

Oh gods, she couldn't think about it. She sighed as she watched the moon dappled in silver on the dark sea. All she needed to do was think of Charon then jump off the boat and into the sea. Simple. But why couldn't she seem to do it? She just couldn't get the picture of Graham's face out of her mind if she did betray them. He trusted her. She didn't think he would ever forgive her after this. Her heart twisted.

No, she wouldn't let herself think like that, she had to rid the world of this evil.

She climbed onto the edge of the ship, it swayed, making it hard for her to keep balanced. Little did she know, her every move was being watched, but Emma could not see the sly smile of Charon and she could not know what he was thinking.

What if he had tricked her into drowning herself? Emma quailed at the thought. It seemed like days ago when Hook had tried to stop her from jumping off. That was different, she was actually trying to drown herself then. She didn't know what she was thinking now, how could she die with still such evil in the world?

She squared her shoulders. This was it. She tried to conjure up an image of could never forget that curved smile, filled with venom.

"Emma?" She knew that voice, it was Hook.

Her stomach twisted, he would try and stop her.

"What are you doing love?" There was panic in his voice but he hid it well, he was trying not to startle her.

"Hook I have to kill him, this is the only way." Her eyes blurred with tears as she jumped off, the image of Charon kept turning into someone else.

"Emma!" Maybe if she waited a second more she would have seen the look on his face, but it was better that didn't.

She hit the ground with a thump, her painfully smashing against something hard. Her mind seemed like it was still at the ship, it had all changed so quickly. She didn't move for a second, then she reached out her hand, and grabbed a handful of grass. Grass? she sat up sharply, it had worked.

Her shoulder had hit a rock of some sort, she rubbed it as she took in her surroundings. She was in a clearing, with a massive tree at the center of it, it was filled with loud birdsong. The sun shone. Everything seemed normal. But there seemed to be no path out of the clearing. She groaned, how would she find him from here?

She picked up her knife, that had somehow fallen out on her arrival.

"Well, I didn't expect you so soon." The voice was cold and inhuman.

Charon was standing a few paces away, with a sneer on his face.

"Well don't underestimate me."

"No, I think it would be more like overestimating." He scratched his chin in thought. "Well, how rude of me. I must show you my home." He extended an arm for her, like a gentleman would. She smiled and linked arms with him, knowing full well that he could see right through her mask. But he smiled back. This was a dangerous game.

His home as he called it was like something from the old tales. A castle was what it first looked like, but she looked again, it was almost as if it was made of water or glass. This was not her world, as they came out of the forest she noticed the sky was different, it seemed to shimmer and ripple. Something cold dropped in her heart, what if this was like the stories that her and her sisters had been told. When someone went to another land and could never return? They would be trapped.

"I know what you are here for." He didn't look at her when he spoke.

She didn't answer. Inside the strange castle was even more spectacular. The room she was in had a huge dome of a roof, covered with the most intricate paintings, there were tiny vines that curved between the fingers of beautiful ladies with roses in there hair. There were lush carpets and each wall had huge red drapes with gold fringing. Her home was a cottage in comparison.

"Would you like to know what I think of that?"

She laughed. "No I do no wish to hear your opinion unless you have something positive to say."

He didn't say anything but she could see the slight curve of his mouth.

"My son will be here soon enough, well if I let him. I could always just kill him."

Emma's heart dropped. She turned to him.

Charon looked at her for a second then burst into laughter. "Oh don't look so scared of course I am not going to kill him, he's useful."

She gave him a distrustful look.

But he wasn't looking at her, he had his eyes glued to the doors. "Here he comes." Charon chimed.

Emma spun round, Hook marched through the doors, a dangerous scowl on his face.

"Lovely to see you again."

Hook ignored his father.

He grabbed Emma by her shoulders, "You can't beat him like this." He murmured.

Emma looked at Charon, he was acting like he couldn't hear them, even though they both knew he was listening to every word.

"You can't, he can kill you in a second." Hook grabbed her hand. "Emma please."

"Oh how sweet." Charon had decided to join the conversation. "Lovers reunited."

She laughed. "I am afraid you're wrong there."

"Am I?" He raised an eyebrow. "But do you really know what you are getting yourself into?"

"What do you mean?"

"He knew that I was going to get rid of your little friend, what was his name? oh yes it was Phillip." He paused thinking. "He actually knew a lot more than he let on."

Emma hissed in anger. How dare he speak of Phillip that way?

"Emma, he's trying to make you angry, just don't listen to him."

"He isn't an honest man, have you noticed what he does for a living?"

Emma looked at him blankly.

Charon clicked his tongue. "He is a pirate. I may have killed your friend, but he has also killed many innocent people."

Emma frowned. "Is this true Hook?"

He didn't answer.

"Is it true?"

"Yes, it is." He looked away from her.

She should of known. And if he knew Phillip was going to die, why didn't he try a bit harder to stop it? She would have done anything to stop him from dying.

"But Emma, you need listen to me, we have to leave here now."

She growled. "No, I do not need to listen to you."

Charon laughed gleefully."Lovers tiff?"

"No, we are not lovers. Nor anything close. I could never love him."

Hook didn't say a word.

Charon walked closer to the two of them. "That's interesting."

This could be her chance, all she needed to do was grab her knife and stab him in the chest.

"Do you miss him?" Charon's tone was patronizing.

She growled and pulled out her knife.

"Emma no!" Shouted Hook.

She plunged it into his chest.

There was a moment of dead silence. Emma was shaking. Hook was gaping at his father.

Charon was looking at the knife handle sticking out of his of his chest. He pulled it out with ease. "Silly girl, you didn't actually believe I would die as easily as you?"

Emma shuddered. "How?"

He was angry. She could tell. "Oh I don't think you could quite comprehend it dear."

Then he whispered something else.

Hook yelled something and then he was gone.

Emma screamed. "Where is he?"

"Why should I answer you? you did just try and kill me."

She groaned, head in hands.

"Anyway, it doesn't really matter now. Its too late to stop it."

"Stop what?" Hissed Emma.

"Well I am afraid that Phillip's family didn't take it well when you and Hook killed their only son. They want blood."

"Scum this is what you wanted all along. And why? because you enjoy it?"

"Well it is very funny to watch. I do get rather bored here. All by myself." He scratched his head. "Well not quite alone but the dead are not very talkative."