I am so so sorry for taking so long with this update. It just...it was too stubborn to be written. And I also wanted to get the plot lines straight. This chapter is small but it moves quickly so, yeah.
"Okay, then," Emma breathed, holding out the piece of parchment. "Let's do this." She turned to her dad, who nodded, pouring the locator spell on it, drenching the whole thing completely. It glowed purple for a moment and Emma let it go as she watched it fly, leading them towards whoever it belonged to.
They all followed it in tense silence, Killian behind her as it led them through the woods. "Woods again, Swan?" he teased, bumping his shoulder to hers.
She scoffed, shaking her head at him. She glanced at him, a moment later, brushing away a wayward branch from their path. She grabbed his arm, turning him around. He raised an inquisitive brow, noting how tense she'd become.
"Anything wrong, Swan?" he asked, walking closer.
"How're you holding up?" she asked, her eyes soft as she regarded him. "I mean, this person clearly knows you. And is related to you. That-that's a lot to take in, I'm sure."
"Honestly...I don't really feel anything about this, except this is another problem for us to deal with," he confessed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Aren't you the slightest bit curious?" she questioned, eye brows raised.
He sighed, looking around as if trying to find an answer. "The only thing I know about my father is that he abandoned me as a boy. And my brother, he died in my arms. I know nothing of my mother, except that she died too, when I was young. All I know about my family is that they either died or left. Either way I ended up alone. Now, this person, claiming to be a Jones is threatening someone I care for. What do you wish for me to feel?" his gaze was boring into hers, his eyes glassy and he was breathing hard.
She felt the breath leave her, as she saw the deep etched hurt in his eyes, the line on his face more pronounced. "I-I'm sorry, Killian..."
He sighed, turning back and starting to walk. "Let's go, Emma."
-/-
"How long do you intend to hold me captive?" Ariel, asked wearily, her head lolling back.
"What did I tell you about keeping quite?" the man growled, diligently sharpening his blade.
She huffed, struggling in her restraints, hoping to reach the bracelet on her other arm, like she had been for the whole time, but the knots were too tight. She grew frustrated, almost rattling the chair into toppling over.
"Stop!" he snapped, getting in her face. "Don't make me kill you," he warned as she glared back at him.
"Even you aren't vile enough to kill someone with child, I'm sure," a voice drawled, making him whip his head back so quickly, he almost cricked his neck.
Killian started toward him, the rest of them right behind him. "Ariel!" Eric called, pushing past the pirate to get to her, only to be stopped by the older Jones, who pushed him back roughly.
"No one gets the girl. Not yet," he growled lowly, his eyes trained on Killian, who regarded him with barley concealed rage, his hands clenched tight. He grinned wickedly, "Well, well, well. Look who we have 'ere."
"Let. Her. Go." Killian spat out, his teeth grinding almost audibly.
He scowled, "And who are you to order me around, boy?" he demanded.
"What do you want?!" Eric's voice cracked. "Whatever you want, it's yours. Just-just let her go. She's with child."
The man leaned against a desk, regarding the desperate prince. "And I should care about that, why?" he asked, head tilted and expression almost bored. "You have nothing of use to me." His eyes shifted back to Killian, who glared so hard that if looks could kill, he's be ash by now. "Him on the other hand..." he trailed off.
"What do you want." Killian spat, taking a step forward, Emma placing her arm on his shoulder to settle him. He felt himself relax slightly.
"It's simple really," he shrugged, walking behind Ariel's chair. "I want your suffering," he grinned, gripping Ariel's hair and pulling her head back painfully, pressing the blade to her throat.
"NO!" both Killian and Eric shouted, barley restrained by Emma and David.
"One step and she's dead," he promised, making Ariel whimper.
Killian looked anguished, his eyes stuck on her tear stained, fearful face as she pleaded him with her eyes.
"I-I'll do anything you want," he said softly. "Anything. Just let her go," he pleaded, shrugging off Emma's hand and moving forward, hands held up in surrender. "I'll even take her place," he promised, ignoring Emma's barely held protest.
The man's blue eyes glowed in the darkness, his smirk widening. "Enticing...," he licked his lips. "But, no."
"No! No, no, no! Please!" Ariel begged, her eyes frantic as she found Eric's who pushed past David over to his wife.
Emma watched in horror, her magic sparking and she lifted her hands, a burst of light magic pushing the man away forcefully, knocking him out. Ariel was sobbing now, leaning against her restrains, sagging in relief as Eric cut her out of the ropes, pulling her free quickly, catching her as she sagged on him, her shoulders shaking violently with sobs. Eric placed his chin on her head, reassuring her as best as he could, rubbing her back soothingly.
Emma felt her own throat close up as she moved towards the reunited couple. "I don't mean to interrupt, but you guys should go to the hospital," she smiled.
Eric nodded, "Thank you," his voice was choked. Emma nodded, leaving them with David, who led them out of the dank, abandoned boathouse Ariel had been kept captive.
"Emma!" she heard Killian call out from the far end of the room, where she'd knocked the man out. She rushed over, sensing the urgency in his voice.
"What is it?" she asked, stopping dead in her tracks when she saw what he was looking at- an empty space, no knocked out stranger.
"He's gone," he whispers, rubbing his hand down his face, his startled blue eyes meeting hers.
"We'll find him," she assured, moving in closer and running her hand down his neck, thumbing at his pulse. "What is it?" she asked, her eyes searching his.
He closed his eyes, breathing in deep. "She almost died and it would have been all my fault."
Emma's expression softened as she pressed herself closer to him, "But she's didn't. She's okay, Killian-"
"But she's not!" he exploded, pushing away from her, startling Emma. "If you hadn't done something about it, she'd be dead by now. Her and her child. I put her in danger for being my friend, Emma," his voice rose a pitch, his eyes wild and red. "What if he targets you next? Or Henry?" his voice broke. "I-I can't handle it if something were to happen to any of you."
"Hey," she whispered, grabbing his hand, "Don't think like that."
"How else am I supposed to think?!" he demanded. "This man, whoever he is, seeks vengeance. I know all too well how deep that thirst is, Swan. If he intends for me to suffer, he will see it through, I know this," his gaze was solemn.
"So, what are you going to do about it?" she challenged, eyebrows raised.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, he threatened people you love. You gonna let him get away with it?" she pushed. "You fight back. Someone defies you, you push back. He wants to make you suffer? No. You make him suffer," she replied, her tone sharp and strong. "You're a hero. Do something with that."
He looked at her, eyes shining bright and a small smirk gracing the corners of this mouth. "What?" she asked self-consciously.
"You're amazing, you are," he murmured, pulling her closer, rubbing his nose against hers.
"Mmmhmm?" she hummed, their breaths mingling, lips almost but not quite touching.
He grinned against her mouth, pressing his to hers, his hand raising to tangle in her hair, making her sigh at the back of her throat. He pulled back, dazed, smirking to himself as she subconsciously chased after his lips.
She shuddered, resting her forehead against his, enjoying the moment they've alone. "We should probably get going," she sighed, opening her eyes and reluctantly pulling away.
"Aye, that we should," he agreed but still holding on to her. "Swan, you know I love you, don't you?" he asked after a moment of hesitancy.
Her brow furrowed, "Of course I do. Where's this coming from?" she asked, fear building in her chest.
He swallowed thickly, "I-I don't know what he wants from me, this man. But I will do everything to protect everyone I care for," he vowed.
"I know," she nodded, smiling. "Let's see if we can find anything, okay?" she said, turning away from him, her lips pressed thin.
-/-
Emma and Killian had turned the place around, but apart from a blade and a whetstone, the place barren. Not a clue as to who this man was and what he wanted with Killian.
"This is useless," he raged, kicking a chair. "We should be out there looking for this man."
"Killian, taking your frustrations out on furniture isn't really going to help things. We have no idea where to even start searching for him. We know next to nothing about him. Where do you suggest we start?" she tried to get him to calm down.
"I don't bloody know," he grumbled, crossing his arms around his chest.
She sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Let's go home for the day. We'll ask Regina if she can help, okay?" she suggested, running her hand up his arms, looping her arms around his neck.
"Swan..." he trailed off, his eyes not meeting hers.
"I know that you don't want to stop looking. But I think you also need to go check on your friend. Ariel's been through...quite a bit. You should go see if she's okay."
"I'm not sure I'll be welcome there," he admitted.
She shrugged, "You never know. Let's go," she smiled, holding out her hand.
-/-
"Get out!" Eric shouted, his fist connecting with Killian's face the moment he saw him. "You're the reason my wife almost died today. I swear on the Gods, you take another step forward, I will kill you," he raged, backing him against the wall.
"Mate, I-" Killian started, his hand rubbing his quickly bruising cheek, Emma trying to pull Eric off him.
"Shut up, pirate," he spat. "I could have lost her today. We could have lost the baby. You are the reason she was even held captive. So, get out before I throw you out," Eric growled, pushing himself away from him, brushing past Emma.
Emma rushed to his side, helping him up. "I am so sorry. I should have known better."
He wordlessly shrugged out of her hold, walking away. "Wait!" she called after him, pulling on his arm to make him face her. "Where are you going?"
"Back to my damned room, Swan," he bit out, pulling his arm free. "I need to be myself."
"Killian, I'll come with you-" she started, but he cut her off.
"Emma! I need to be by. My. Self."
She flinched, her heart hurt seeing all the hurt he tried to keep concealed. She nodded wordlessly, pulling him down for a short peck. "I love you," she whispered, pulling back and walking towards Ariel's hospital room.
He watched her walk away, his fist clenched tight as he all but ran from there.
-/-
It was in the middle of the night when Emma got a phone call, startling her from her fitful sleep.
"Hello?" she asked, her voice rough and groggy. The next moment, she was wide awake, sat upright on the bed, the phone clutched tight in her hand. "Wh-what?" she breathed, her heart racing. "He-What?"
Yeaaaah, I know that's a horrible cliffhanger. umm, reviews? Also, this one's for someone special (you know who you are) because she's always been there for me. And helped me with plot lines xoxo