Note that there is a bit of a reference from Once in Wonderland, just because I always found it fascinating.
And I own nothing.
Chapter 9
Secrets from Beyond the Grave
He hates the violence he was forced to inflict on Swan.
But he loves the feeling of awe from the guards, like he's a knight who slayed the dragon. It's completely different from the snickers, from the pity he usually saw from the men in port.
He feels strong and bold.
Killian's eyes scan the field for one of the men, a young one who looks only a bit scorched by Emma's wrath. He points at him, then at Swan.
"You. Pick her up. Gentle, don't jostle her too much, or she'll awaken and slaughter you all," he snaps at the guard. Emma had told him to act confident and make demands, specific ones, to see if the King's men will follow.
They do.
Killian turns his attention to the lead guard, who is busy trying to suppress the bleeding of one of his men. Killian should be repulsed that he is siding with the creatures who did so much damage, inflicted so much needless pain.
"Don't just stand there!" the leader snaps, eyeing Elsa, who is laughing wildly. "Get her!"
Take no less than 200 gold pieces.
"I've come for the Dark Swan on behalf of my kingdom. She's made herself an enemy of the Queen for far too long. Worse than that, she gave me this little shiner," Killian says, pointing to the dark bruise under his eye. Emma had said it made him look more serious and more legitimate. If had truly been tracking her, he'd certainly have sustained at least a little damage for his trouble. He assumed that was her own ego flaring.
" She is not part of my payment from Misthaven," Killian says, pointing to Elsa.
The guard in charge curses, taking a bundle of coins from his pocket and throwing it toward Killian. "If you fail to bring them in, I'll be collecting my money back from your cold, dead corpse," he growls.
Killian snickers, snatching the coin pouch out of the air and giving it a greedy grin. He doesn't need to count it to know it's worth more than he makes in a year as a deckhand. Imagine everything the he can buy when they survive this!
If . If they survive.
Taking down Elsa feels much better than knocking out Swan. Elsa also lets him win, and it's bad form to lay a hand on a lady, but it still feels really good to cold cock her with the hilt of his sword. Her maniacal laughter is just plain annoying.
The remaining guards bind Emma and Elsa, carrying the maidens in the direction of their fortress. According to Swan, that is where he must draw the line, demanding that he claim the glory for delivering the Dark Princess to his kingdom. He doesn't want to be left out of the loop. He recalls this being key to getting some attention.
(He may make some insinuations about his intentions with her, but she did tell him to appear to be a devilishly handsome rapscallion. )
And just as she predicted, the troops insist that she be taken along with Elsa to their prison for the night, and in the morning, The Dark Swan will be handed back to him to do with her whatever he wishes. It's a lie of course, but he goes along with it. He expects the king's forces to try to convince him to stick around and assist with retrieving magical prisoners, an offer he will refuse at first, but will eventually accept.
It is a brilliant plan, to say the least. Perform a simple con, and then he'll free the lasses, they'll rescue the aunt, and the four of them will make a clean escape.
But Killian has a gut feeling that something is not right. He wonders if he's done something wrong, or acted too bold, but he can't figure out what. The men take him to the dining room as thanks for a job well done. It was supposed to be a moment for them to pump Killian for information.
However, the guards simply watch him eat his meal in tense silence, exchanging nervous glances. No one questions him about his experience hunting the sorceress. No one even asks his name. The frosty reception continues as one of the prison's servants lead him to his quarters for the night, a grand bedroom with a giant four-poster bed and a roaring fireplace. The accommodations are fit for an honored guest, a hero, but he doesn't trust the gesture. As soon as he's left alone, he bolts for the door to test the handle, half expecting it to be locked from the outside, trapping him as a prisoner.
It isn't.
Stop being paranoid Jones. This is the best sleeping quarters you've ever seen, and you get to sleep in that bed!
So Killian sleeps, though he keeps his sword in his hand under the pillows.
His unease only grows as daybreak arrives. When guards rouse him from his slumber, he nearly takes of their heads.
"The King has arrived. He wishes to speak with you, Captain," one of them announces, flashing Killian a grin. It's too malicious a look for this audience to be a good thing. The King is not a part of Swan's plan. With her locked in the dungeon, he is going to have to wing it.
"Oh? And what does his majesty want with little ol' me?" Killian snickers, rising to his feet and grabbing his vest from the table to make himself presentable. "If that little wife of his wishes, she can come on in," he says with a wink. It earns him a scowl.
"The Queen died seconds after her marriage to the King. Everyone knows that. The Ice Witch killed her," one of the men says before he's glared into silence by his superior. Killian is sure that Elsa doesn't know. He distinctly remembers her cursing out her sister several times a day for marrying such a "narcissistic buffoon."
His unease peaks when they take him to the main dining room. At the far end of the giant table sits a man wearing a far too elegant of a cloak to be just a simple lord or duke. The golden crown on the man's head is another clue.
The King stands up so he can look down on Killian, even though Killian is sure that he's a couple of inches taller than the King, even with the crown. The man radiates demeaning smugness. Killian already dislikes him.
"Captain, come sit. Dine with me. We are in your debt for catching my late wife's killer, may she rest in peace," the King says with a flick of his wrist. Killian is supposed to sit, so he doesn't. He's playing the part of a rebellious pirate. Pirates don't dine with kings simply because they are asked to, not unless it suits them.
"I don't appreciate being dragged from my sleep simply for the pleasure of my company," he says darkly. "What is it you want? Your man here," Killain waves at the head guard, "has already paid me for my services in capturing the Ice Witch. Unless it's about my other acquisition, I don't believe you and I are due a conversation."
He's going to be killed. The King is going to order his execution for his rudeness. This is a terrible mistake!
"Ah yes, the Dark One, more magic in that one than blood," the King, ignoring Killian's disrespect. "If her dagger were in this realm, perhaps I'd try to keep her for myself, but no, she's more trouble than she's worth. You may keep her, peasant. I'm more interested in you, Captain ."
The King rises to his feet and slowly approaches Killian, removing something from his belt as he walks the length of the long table. It's a small golden blade, not a weapon for combat, a blade more for decoration than anything else.
"A man appears out of the blue, saves most of my men, and takes down the two most fiendish creatures in the entire realm. It's very suspicious, wouldn't you agree?" he sneers, turning the golden instrument in his hands. "What did you say your name was again?"
Killian is tempted to lie to the King, but he is worried that he'll slip up.
"Killian Jones, Captain of the Jolly Roger," he says in a single breath. The King doesn't know it, but Killian just voiced one of his greatest desires. He wishes more than anything to be captain of his ship, to call her by her true name.
"Do you know what this is, Captain?" the King asks, showing Killian the blade.
"The Captain" shakes his head. "A toy for a juvenile king?" he guesses with a smirk.
"Cute, but no. This is the Vorpal Blade. It's not from this realm, you see. It's from Wonderland."
Killian keeps his gaze neutral. There is no need to panic. He is sure he can disarm the King. Perhaps he'll have to use him as a hostage to free Swan if it comes to it. Killian hopes it doesn't come to it.
"What do I care about your flimsy weapon?" he remarks, pulling out his sword and watching it flicker in the sunlight streaming through the windows. "Now, if you don't have anything interesting to say, I'd like to get out of here." He swings his sword in punctuation, ripping through the air with a quick swipe. "With my prize."
Suddenly he feels cold, unbelievably cold. Killian remembers the cold that seeped deep into his bones when the Ice Queen held his heart. This is different. This is the chill of uncontrollable fear.
"Your Highness, you called?" snears a voice. Killian turns, pointing his blade at the owner of the voice. She's a tall woman with unnaturally silver hair and odd silver clothes. He suspects that she is causing his sudden chill, but he doesn't understand why.
"Yes, Jabberwocky. This man claims he was sent here to capture the Dark One. Tell me if he's lying," the King says, spinning the Vorpal Blade in his hands.
Killian looks between the two menacing figures. This is definitely going to throw a damper in the escape plan.
"He's afraid," the woman states, taking an unsettling step toward him. Instinctively, he wants to back up, to get far away from this woman.
"A pirate never backs down from a challenge," says the voice in his head. He just needs to keep it together a little longer.
"Everyone is afraid of something, love," he says, reaching for his dashing rapscallion voice. "Even a dashing pirate."
She rolls her eyes, glaring at him as she grips his hand, sending searing pain up his arm.
"Take me away, Killian! Please! I beg you, if you don't, I'll die! I'll die, Killian! Please."
He gasps and jerks his hand back. The voice, it sounded, it was just like –
"What are you, demon?" he growls.
The Jabberwocky laughs as she prances around him. "He's afraid of failing, my King, afraid that the harder he tries, the more people rely on him, the more they will suffer when he inevitably fails." She grabs on to Killian's arm this time.
"Stay hidden, Killian. It'll be ok. Just no matter what, stay here."
He tries to pull away, but he can't. She is in his head, pulling and pushing things that should be left well enough alone.
"If you want her, fight for her mate, fight! Do you think I'll let some low life deckhand take my wife without a fight?!"
He doesn't want to hear anymore. He doesn't want to be reminded of his worst moments.
" Do you want to make a deal with me, Captain? His life for yours?"
Kilian's eyes widen. He doesn't remember that. He never had –
"Magic always comes with a price, Captain. Are you sure you're willing to pay it? Are you sure he is?"
No…why didn't he remember that conversation until now?
"My King, he has magic in his head," the creature exclaims, releasing her grip on him.
Killian feels slightly dizzy. He clumsily drops his sword to the ground and reaches for the table to steady himself.
"He was not born with it. He doesn't even know it's there."
He looks up, confusion adding to his vertigo. He can barely breath. Suddenly she takes his hand, unwrapping the bandage around his wound from attacking the guard outside of Swan's tower. It was days ago, but it feels like it's been a lifetime since then.
The Jabberwocky traces the wound with her long, cold fingers, making him flinch. He lacks the strength to pull away.
"Who put it there?" the King asks. "Who exactly is Killian Jones?"
The creature brings his hand to her face, a terrifying smirk breaking across it.
She knows something.
She gives a blood-curdling laugh. "I wish I knew myself,"the woman says. She's digging deeper into his head, he could feel it.
However,he is saved from reacting by a surprise entrance.
"Captain."
He pastes on a grin. "Swan, was wondering when you'd get out of your cage. There was no way these imbeciles could keep you contained." With her presence, he comes back to himself enough to resurrect smooth Captain Jones.
The Dark One stalks into the grand dining room, hands on her hips, dark attire adding to her intimidating presence. He can practically feel her dark magic fill the air.
"Couldn't let you have all the fun without me," she says with a wink, approaching him and gripping his shoulder. "Who's your new friend? You weren't messing around with someone else while I was busy, were you?" she seethes. "Because that would be very bad form."
He chuckles, grabbing his sword from the floor but keeping it pointed down. "Please, you're my number one gal, Swan, but a pirate's got to do what a pirate's got to do," he says with a shrug.
"Hello, Dark One," the Jabberwocky cuts in. "I hate to interrupt your little lovers' quarrel, but I can't resist this buffet."
Swan turns toward the creature. Both are nearly bursting with dark energy. "Please, everyone knows you feed on fear. The last thing I am is afraid," Swan assures her.
Killian feels the succubus grip him again, making him gasp in surprise.
" You really are a pirate, Captain, trading away your own brother's life. That's cold, even for me."
No…this isn't true. It isn't true. He thinks he might be shouting. He wants this to stop.
"Go, get him off this island. Make sure he survives until his 30 th birthday."
No. He wouldn't. He just couldn't. Not him, not him. No.
Swan must attack the Jabberwocky, because he is back in the present again, unable to figure out where these voices were coming from. He drops to his knees, gasping for breath. She did it. She put lies in my head to break me. It has to be lies.
"Touch the pirate again, and I'll clip those talons of yours clean off," Swan sneers.
"He's not a pirate, my King," says the Jabberwocky. "He's a silly deckhand just waiting to die."
No. It's a lie. He wouldn't…he didn't… No. No !
Please Liam, say it isn't true…
"I knew he wasn't a real pirate! Doesn't seem ruthless enough, too soft-hearted," the King crows.
Swan gives Killian a careful glance as he finds his way back to his feet. He looks away, not wanting the pity he would surely see in her eyes. She must know he isn't the man he pretends to be in her presence. She must see how afraid he truly is, how much of a waste his life has been.
If it's true, than at least my life won't be a complete waste…
"You think I'm stupid, bird-brain?" Swan sneers. "I knew he wasn't really a pirate."
Killian looks up at her.
"But he's a better person than either of you will ever be – you, the soul sucking demon, and you, a traitorous king. This man, this man is brave enough to free a creature who seems whole-heartedly evil. He saved the monster and reminded her that she wasn't totally dark."
He can hear something in her voice. If Killian didn't know better, he'd think it was praise or even admiration.
"He knew that no one should be locked up, no one should be stripped of their free will. He taught this creature that she didn't have to be evil, that sometimes the bravest thing one can do is not to fight, that sometimes mercy is the wisest choice."
Something flutters in his chest, something akin to hope. Hope for what exactly, he doesn't know.
But the feeling fades. In a single lapse in focus, the creature has her hand on her, gripping her, digging her emotional talons into Swan's skin. She cries out in anger and terror. She tries to pull away at first, almost succeeds in freeing her arm, but then a feral scream escapes her mouth.
"No. Stop it. No!" she yells, her eyes distant. Her knees tremble, on the verge of giving way.
The King chuckles, pulling over a chair for the Jabberwocky to force Emma into. The Jabberwocky holds her down with a second hand on her shoulder, furthering her power over Swan.
"The darkest of hearts often hold the darkest of miseries," the King explains. "Let the girls have their fun. We men need to have a chat... about your future, Captain Jones." The King gestures to a chair opposite the one he lowers himself into.
Killian follows, hoping to block out the sound of Swan's screams.
Can't crack. Must stay strong.
His eyes flit to the weapon in the King's hand. He needs to get the weapon.
"My mind-reading pet here says you are in want of a ship, of a crew," the King smirks.
Killian tenses. "She said no such thing," he responds. He heard every word the creature uttered, and she never voiced that particular corner of his soul.
"This blade controls her, and holding it gives me insight into her victims," King Hans says, looking at the Vorpal Blade like a child with a new toy. "Don't bother denying it. I know who you are, what you want."
Killian remains silent.
"What if I offer you your own ship? Your own crew? Make this farce you're playing a reality, Captain ? You will never need to be afraid again. You will have all the power."
Killian says nothing.
"You will finally have something to show for your life, finally be someone of worth."
He doesn't say a bloody word.
But he can't help but imagine such a future. After all, he's been cast in the role of swaggering pirate captain for days.
"All you need to do is come work for me… and let me keep the Dark Swan. Soon the Jabberwocky will know where her blade is hidden, and we'll be able to control her."
Killian looks at the King skeptically. Was he mad? No one can control the Dark One, Swan was a force to be reckoned with.
"Her every breath, her every thought! We could bring nations to their knees with her magic," the King continues his twisted vision of the future "We'll bring happiness and prosperity back to the realm. We'll be heroes."
Killian can imagine a world without starvation, without pain, without suffering. He can imagine sailing his own ship, being his own man, doing as he pleases. He can be a man who would make his brother proud.
But is it too good to be true? "Why offer this to me? Why not just kill me, or worse, feed me to your she-devil over there?" Killian demands.
The King shrugs. "You and I …we are a lot alike, Jones. We fight for ourselves, we watch and wait for an opportunity. We don't throw our lives away for silly things like love or vengeance."
"What would I have to do for you?" he says carefully.
"No!" cries Swan. "I won't let you! I won't go back!" It's a plea, a helpless plea.
"Leave me here with them. Go back to your room, and when I send someone to get you, I'll have you on a mission to retrieve the dagger, it'll make you a hero," the King makes it sound so simple.
Killian stands, picking up his sword off the ground. He twists it back and forth, watching it shine.
"Good choice, Captain Jones. Who knows? Maybe you'll find someone who'll help you get over Milah."
Killian fights to keep his face neutral. Did he just say…
"From what I gather, she was just like my sister-in-law, Elsa, running away from her problems. If she really cared about you, she wouldn't have –"
It feels like something inside Killian is stretching, the same thing that has been pulling and growing since he was ten years old.
He tightens his grip on the weapon, and tries to push the feeling down, to keep the anger from boiling over. As long as it keeps stretching, everything will be ok. As long as it doesn't snap.
"Stop it. No! It's a lie!" Swan is screaming, lost in her own head.
"I've never found a woman worth giving up your dreams for. They're all small minded, silly –"
"Please. He can't know! No one can know. They can't. I won't let them!" Emma is still screaming.
" – and stupid. All they want is romance. They don't understand what is really worth fighting for."
" Get out of my head!" Swan is crying, begging. King Hans looks over, completely unperturbed by her misery, maybe even enjoying it. Enjoying Swan, his Swan's terror.
It snaps.
Killian pulls his weapon from his side before his mind comprehends the repercussions.
A man who doesn't fight for what he wants, deserves what he gets.
He just wants the sounds in his head to stop, wants Swan to stop hurting.
He jabs his sword into the King's chest.
"Don't you dare talk about Milah," he growls, pulling the blade out with a sickening squelch. "Or Swan." He stabs again. "Or anyone." Stab. "All you care about is hurting people you don't understand!" Stab. "That's wrong! You hurt people for your own bloody amusement!" Stab. Never, ever compare me to you again. I am not like you!" Stab.
King Hans will certainly not make that comparison again. Or say anything, for that matter. Killian knows by the blood pouring from his chest and the lolling of his head that the King is dead.
But Killian isn't done. He tears the jeweled dagger, the Vorpal Blade, from the dead monarch's grasp, and turns to the Jabberwocky.
"Get your bloody hands off her!" he orders. The Jabberwocky backs away instantly.
But that doesn't mean she has to play nice. "Oh Captain, never thought you'd commit cold-blooded murder," she sneers. "Wasn't that your brother's job?"
Killian's grip tightens on the dagger, the image of stabbing her too passes through his head. Tempting.
"Shut up," he commands. "Now answer me. Did you put these things in my head? These lies? Because he didn't say them. Tell me right now!"
If the memories she called forth are lies, he can live with that, can possibly get the ground beneath his feet again. Right now, he feels like he's drowning.
"Everything I showed you was locked in that pretty head of yours," she assures him. "Perhaps you don't know your own mind as well as you think."
He really wants to stab her, cut her throat, make her feel his fear, his anger …
What is happening to him?
Killian looks down at his hands in shock and drops the blade, scrambling back several steps. He feels dizzy and terrified and sick. Really, really sick.
His hands are bloody. No. No. That isn't possible. She was only unconscious. No, he couldn't kill someone. He couldn't kill the boy.
Brown wavy hair, grassy green clothing, swinging from vines, a smile on his face.
"You have to kill him."
He walked up to the boy, blade in hand.
"Or you can never leave."
But he killed the King. He killed a king. He is going to hang. He is going to be decapitated. He is going to die.
"On his 30 th birthday, your younger brother will die, and you will be free."
"Aye."
But does it really matter? He is going to die anyway. He will burn, his blood boiling, dark poison snaking up his veins.
"Please…" he begs the gods. "Don't let it be true." He can't believe the visions. He can't. The betrayal will kill him, both emotionally and physically.
He could see the man smiling at him, looking out at the sea, ruffling his hair. "That's Arendelle, my boy. A land rich with magic and mystery." He laughed as his brother told him tales, glorious tales about stealing treasure from the Queen's castle.
"Killian! Killian, shhh. Hey, come back, come back to me," says a soothing voice. He feels arms surrounding him. Swan is rocking him back and forth. She brings him back to the present, pulls him out of the memories drowning him. "Shhh," she croons softly. "It's ok. Hey, it's ok."
They're on the ground, her blonde hair falling over his shaking body, his head on her shoulder. His breathing is ragged, his heart beating out of his chest. He tries to speak, but he can't.
"What happened, Swan?" he eventually manages. "I didn't mean to kill him. I didn't want to, but I-I feel…"
He feels her hand on his face, running through his hair gently, stroking up and down his arm.
"I know, Killian," she whispers. "I know."
Welp. Poor Killian am I right?
I didn't feel like flipping the flat characters like Hans.
Surprised by the turn of events? Our poor Deckhand just killed a guy, and discovered some things about his past that even he didn't know about. I hope I didn't lose anyone with the flashes. Let me know if something needs to be clarified.
I'd also like to thank a guest reviewer adria for reviewing every chapter all day long, I'm glad your liking it!
I just tweaked the ending of this a bit, it rounds out to about 20 chapters.
So now spoiler warning~
EMMAAAA! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT! Like seriously, you can see the darkness clouding her judgement, but it also explains why current Violet seems interested in Henry. It also showed why she was so sad when looking at the dream catchers. Now Merlin is in the picture. Anyone else so happy that he practically told Arthur off? And Regina going all evil queen with the fire balls just made my heart sing! It was great! I love Regina like that! I know we can't have Captain Swan in all the episodes, sadly, but like seriously, one second they were all flower petals and then poof! He's gone and Emma and Regina are off partying. Did he what fall asleep and wake up when Merlin came out of the tree?
Next question, what happened to Merlin?
9/14/17 Now Betad by the awesome Notoriouscs
~Luna