A/N: Finally! Here's the next exciting chapter! I hope you guys like what happens, hehehe. By the way, the next chapter will probably take longer to get posted because I have a math test I gotta study for all week T_T, so it might take a few extra days for it to be up, but don't lose hope in the story. I will continue! Thanks again to those of you who follow me and favorite the story. Please do not be afraid to leave me a review! :D
MsRose91: Thank you! I hope you like what happens between them in this chapter ;)
xenocanaan: Hello! Thanks for leaving me a review, it means a lot!
Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time, except for my own original characters.
Killian trenched through the thick jungle, his heavy boots finally loosing the soggy sand from the beach. The song of waves crashing across the shore was becoming more and more inaudible. The Jolly Roger had arrived at its destination early dawn, just as he predicted. The map illustrated that the location of the item he seeks is hidden away on this island; the island of Hatari. The island was well known to travelers as being dangerous, very few people have made it out alive, or so he heard. There's said to be a bloodthirsty beast lurking within the jungle, always hungry for human flesh. Rumors aside, that did not stop Killian from going after what he came for. After years of living in Neverland, he finally had the opportunity to fulfill his revenge. However, his concern for his crew's safety had always been a top priority to him and so he told them to stay behind and guard the ship till he returns.
This was a mission he could do on his own, yet it appeared as though someone had defied his order.
"You can come out now. This is an awfully sad attempt to be stealthy."
The light footsteps following behind him stopped. He had been hearing it for a while now, but was trying to decipher if it could be a possible threat. After listening to it closely, the footsteps did not sound like they were coming from a dangerous beast, but quite the opposite. A petite human.
"Well I'm sorry, a lady usually isn't taught how to properly hike through a jungle." Clarissa revealed herself to be the rule-breaker as she appeared through the bushes.
He sighed at the sight of her, "Clarissa, what are you doing here? I told you to stay behind with Mr. Smee and the rest of the crew."
"Mr. Smee isn't exactly the hardest person to sneak away from" she smirked, "and besides, I really wanted to see the island."
"No, it is too dangerous, go back to the ship."
"Oh come on, it can't be that dangerous if you're out here by yourself." Clarissa stepped toward him and purposely blinked her long eyelashes at him. "Please?" After weeks of being on board with him, she was finally beginning to understand how to work her Captain.
That vixen. "Fine, you can come along, but you must follow every order I give you. If I say 'run', you run as fast as you can. Is that understood?"
All Clarissa heard was a yes, so she leaped with joy like child. "Yes, thank you!"
She darted off in front of him with excitement, leaving him to follow, but not before he stole a glimpse at her rather nice backside. Today Clarissa had decided to wear something new. Since the jungle was no place for dresses or skirts, she chose to wear the trousers she had gotten from their visit to St. Terrance and a long sleeved ruffled white shirt. It was a tight fitting, something Killian was grateful for at the moment.
"Killian,"
His eyes rapidly returned to her face, "Hmm?"
"You should probably lead the way since I have no idea where we are going."
"Ah yes, of course." He cleared his throat, "Follow me love."
The pirate proceeded to enter deeper within the jungle with the blonde close behind. Every so often he would use his sword to slice through the thick vines creating an easier path to travel. Clarissa took notice of the scribbles in the map when Killian opened it and tried to read it.
"So what exactly does this map lead to?"
"A very powerful item that will help me achieve what I want." He said without his eyes leaving the page.
She raised an eyebrow at him, "And what is it that you want?"
"I'll tell you once we find it."
With a sigh, she rolled her eyes; it's not like she honestly expected him to tell her since his answers are never straight forward. The two continued their way through the trees while Clarissa took in her surroundings. She had never been inside a jungle before, but it wasn't too different than the forests by her home. Unlike the forest though, the jungle was much greener and had a bigger variety of plant life. The temperature was a lot warmer as well probably due to the location of the island.
When she turned her head to look at Killian, she was shocked at how serious his expression was. His senses were sharpened as he took cautious steps following the map. He was alert, taking in every unfamiliar sound and checking every angle in his view. She was starting to think he was keeping his eyes open for something other than the treasure.
"When you said this island was dangerous…exactly how dangerous did you mean?"
"Having second thoughts, are we? Should've listened to your Captain." He replied smugly.
Clarissa disliked his cocky attitude and so hid her slight worry. "Of course not, I am just curious."
Putting away the map, Killian began slicing through plants once more. "Before we had even set out to this island, I did some research and found quite a few fearsome tales."
"…like what?"
"All the stories spoke of a beast living inside this jungle. The animal is said to be larger than a bear with long sharp claws and spotted fur. Like a Cyclops, it only has a single eye in the middle of its forehead. It is also quite agile at climbing trees which it used to spy and then ambush the helpless victims. One story even said how the beast enjoys crushing skulls and feasting on the brains of its victims. The legends call it a Nandi Bear."
"D-Do you th-think it's real?" she stuttered out.
"Why? Are you scared?" He looked back at her and she shook her head, but he could clearly tell she was frightened. "Well no need to worry, I'll protect you. After all, they are just stories. Myths and fables are usually nothing more than spooky tales told to scare off travelers." I hope.
They continued to walk through the jungle, following the map and taking no breaks. To Clarissa it felt like they had been walking for hours - since there was no way to judge the time. Her feet were starting to hurt from all the rough terrain, but she toughed up and kept going. By the time Killian arrived at the X on the map, the sun had already reached its highest point in the sky and even the thick vegetation wasn't enough to keep the heat away. The spot they stopped at was an open area, with nothing but dirt and plants. It looked exactly like every other part of the jungle.
"We're here." Killian announced.
"We are?" Clarissa took a look at the map over Killian's shoulder. "Are you sure? I don't see anything."
"Well according to this map, the 'treasure' should be fifteen steps north from here."
There's nothing around though, just plants. She placed a hand on her hip, "I guess we better start counting then."
Taking fifteen giant steps, the two found themselves in front of a dead end. There was nothing but an excessive amount of flora ahead.
Clarissa turned to Killian, "I still don't see anything. We've reached a dead end."
"You gotta learn to open your eyes 'lass," He smirked at her response, "things are not always what they seem."
With a swing of his sword, Killian sliced through the numerous plants. As they dropped to the floor, a mysterious entrance was revealed. It was pitch black inside and there was no telling how far it went.
"It's a hidden cave!" exclaimed Clarissa. "Is that where your treasure is?"
He took a step forward, "I intend to find out."
SNAP
Clarissa's ears picked up the noise of a twig snapping in the distance and immediately lashed onto the pirate in front of her.
"Did you hear that?!"
Killian turned back to her, annoyed that she was keeping him from what he desired most, especially since it was so close. "Hear what?"
"It sounded like a twig snapped!" she explained while trying to keep calm.
He ignored her plea, thinking his story made her paranoid. "It was probably nothing…unless it's the Nandi Bear here to eat your brains." He teased.
His joke earned him a slap on the arm, "That isn't funny!"
"Alright alright, sorry." He chuckled.
Before he could take one more step into the cave, another sound was heard. This time he heard it. And it sounded close. Shit.
"Please tell me you heard it this time." Clarissa squeaked.
The rustle of leaves and heavy footsteps got louder, signaling its closeness. The noise came from all directions, like if it were circling them. A quick flash of fur was spotted in Killian vision, only confirming his fear. They were being hunted.
"Take out your sword." He commanded while backing away from the cave and taking out his own sword from its sheath.
Without a second thought, Clarissa did just as she was told and moved with him. She stood back to back with him, both their swords at the ready. Her hazel eyes scanned every inch of her surroundings, waiting for the possible attack. A shiver crept its way down her spine.
Suddenly the noises stopped and silence took over the vast jungle.
Her stomach tightened, not sure if whether to be relieved or scared. "What happened? Did it go away?"
Her question was answered by a hungry growl from above. She froze; completely petrified. Taking a deep breath, she slowly looked up at what she was dreading to see. There it was. It's one eye staring directly at her, fangs piercing through its mouth. Just like the stories said, it was in the trees waiting to ambush its prey. In this case: them.
"AHHHH!" She screamed at the top of her lungs taking in the full image of the Nandi Bear just as it got ready to pounce.
"Run!" Killian grabbed her arm and pulled her with him as he ran in the opposite direction, the Nandi Bear missing them by a hair.
It roared loudly as it began pursuing its new targeted prey. Clarissa sprinted alongside Killian, dodging trees and jumping over pulled roots. She had no idea where they were going, but frankly she couldn't care at the moment. All she wanted was to get away from the beast chasing after them. Her heartbeat was so loud she could practically hear it in her ear.
She took a quick glance behind her and saw the Nandi Bear dangerously close. "It's gaining on us! What do you we do?"
"Jump."
"Jump?"
She didn't understand just want he meant until she looked forward. The trees were clearing up, but there was nothing beyond that. Did the island just end there? No. The sound of rushing water somehow made it to her ears.
A waterfall!
The Nandi Bear released another roar and it only made Clarissa quicken up her pace. They were reaching the edge of the cliff fast and just in time because the Nandi Bear was almost too close. They both came to a halt at the rim and stared down below at the shimmering water. It had to be like a 40 foot drop!
"Are you out of your mind? We can't jump that!" she yelled anxiously.
"Then send my regards to the Nandi Bear." Without another word, he leaped off the cliff and fell straight down.
"But –" She watched as he landed in the water with a splash. She turned her head back and saw the Nandi Bear only a few feet away. "Crap."
Her feet left the ground as she jumped into the air. Gravity took over, making her experience the sensation of falling. Butterflies filled her stomach while the wind rushed past her face. Then just as she hit the water, it all went silent. There was no sound, only sight. Strands of hair and the sun upon the water's surface filled her vision. Kicking her legs to swim to the surface, she finally bursts through the liquid barrier with a gasp – a small splash surrounding her. She had to admit, it felt amazingly refreshing.
Clarissa glanced up at the cliff and saw the beast-like figure of the Nandi Bear disappear back into the trees. Thank goodness.
"Glad you decided to join me for a swim."
Narrowed eyes made their way to Killian who was holding up a small grin. Even in these types of situations he doesn't stop joking around. "I thought you said the Nandi Bear wasn't real?!"
"Well obviously I was mistaken." He said while swimming his way toward the shore.
She followed him out of the water and stood on the sand drenched. Using her hands, she tried to squeeze out the excess water out of her hair and clothes. She looked at Killian who had taken off his large – now heavy - black coat and was trying to dry himself off as well.
"So what do we do now?" she questioned.
"We should –" Killian stopped midsentence as he took in her current state. Clarissa was standing in front of him, dripping from head to toe. She was flushed; face wet, lips wet, drops caught in the thick net of her lashes. Her clothes clung to her body, patches of flesh visible through the wet, white fabric. He suddenly felt himself stiffen, unmistakably in the crotch of his pants. "We should camp here for the night. The Nandi Bear is a good hunter during the day, but an even better hunter at night."
"What if it attacks us while we're sleeping?"
He shook his head, "It won't. I heard that it is afraid of water and won't come near it, so as long as we stay close we should be fine."
"Alright." Clarissa nodded, still anxious about the Nandi Bear coming back, but she figured she should rely her trust on Killian who seemed like he knew what he was doing. If she would've listened to him and stayed on the ship, she wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. But after seeing what was out here, she was kind of relieved he didn't have to face it on his own.
The sun soon drowned in the horizon, the sky painted with an array of pink and orange. Clarissa and Killian sat on top of broken logs they found scattered near the vicinity. They nibbled quietly on some berries which they had found a little while ago on some plants growing by the waterfall.
"Where did you learn to wield a sword?" Killian suddenly asked while eyeing the sword by her waist.
"Oh um, my father taught me." She smiled at the golden weapon. "Since it was just the two of us, he thought I should learn how to defend myself."
"Smart man, but you still have much learning to do." He suddenly smirked, a new idea flicking inside his head. "How about another lesson?"
Clarissa blinked at his sudden suggestion. "What?"
"After seeing your sloppy fighting in St. Terrance, I think you ought to keep learning."
"But why now?"
The Captain stood up from his spot and took out his silver sword. "I don't think there's ever been a better time to learn. You are after all stuck in a jungle with a bloodthirsty beast."
She giggled as she stood up, "Touché."
They headed away from the logs and unto a more opened area. Clarissa withdrew the sword from its sheath and stood up straight.
"Mistake number one: relax your posture. In combat you must keep your muscles loose so you can act with speed." He lectured.
With a nod, she took a deep breath and exhaled, letting her body calm down.
"Now let's begin."
Killian swung his sword at her and she quickly counted with her own swing, their swords clashing together. This was followed by another attack which she was able to counter as well.
He smiled at her, "Very good; now loosen your grip and try to keep your elbows bent."
She took his advice while they circled each other, trying to detect an opening in the other's defense. Clarissa struck first this time and a loud clank was heard when Killian deflected her attack. They continued, meeting each other blow for blow. They aimed, deflected, dodged and struck; dancing around each other's attacks. Their swords collided once more, but this time they held their stance. Killian was much heavier than Clarissa – giving him the advantage – but she didn't budge.
"Good form love," he praised. "Now the trick to win is to be smarter than your opponent, which means you have to know who you're up against."
Both were out of breath; but Killian couldn't stop his traitorous eyes from wandering down to her chest where he got a view of her breasts rising and falling beneath the shirt she wore.
Clarissa noticed where his eyes landed and grinned flirtatiously. "I think I know my Captain pretty well actually." She gathered up her strength and managed to shove him back, extending her sword at him.
He laughed, "You're quite the fast learner."
"Why thank you."
They resumed their stances, eyeing each other cautiously. However, Killian saw how tired Clarissa was growing, she was probably not used to the physical strain. She wouldn't be able to last much longer. He waited until she decided to strike and once she did he swiftly deflected her sword with his hook, taking her by surprise. With a flick of his wrist, he disarmed her of her weapon. It landed less than a foot away, but she couldn't reach for it due to Killian sword aimed directly at her chest.
She took a step back, "You cheated."
With a smirk, he took a step closer. "I did not. I merely took advantage of my situation."
Clarissa continued stepping back until she couldn't anymore for her back was against a tree. She was trapped. Killian moved much closer, his body molding around hers. His fingers did not falter as he pointed his sword at the base of her neck. She could feel his breath against her lips as her body grew hot. The sensation of having him pressed upon her was almost too much to bear. A needy ache emerged from within her and she somehow knew he was the only one who could ease it.
He watched her faintly fidget under his gaze. Her hazel eyes held no fear; she had her lips slightly parted and he could see a blush creping its way over her smooth skin. She's beautiful. Ever since she came aboard his ship, there was an undeniable attraction between them. They both knew it. Yet, countless times he had to stop himself from letting his urges take power. But right now, his control was slipping…
"Now, do you surrender?" His voice came out deep and husky, making Clarissa feel like she might swoon.
Staring into his frosty blue eyes she found the same emotion that matched what her own eyes reflected: lust. "Yes." I surrender myself to you.
His mouth came down fast, claiming her lips without hesitation. Clarissa instantly returned the kiss with just as much force, sending shockwaves through Killian's body. She tasted sweet, just as he imagined, and he couldn't get enough of her. His sword was now long forgotten on the ground as he used his hand to tightly seize her waist, bringing her closer.
The kiss was rough, hot and fierce with demand; Clarissa loved the feel of it and the power he held. She couldn't muster up the self control to stop her hands from wrapping around his neck. He ran his tongue over her lips, asking - no, begging - for entrance. She eagerly parted her lips and allowed him in. Their tongues met and swirled around one another in a passionate dance. She soon had to break away from his mouth to catch some air, but that didn't stop Killian's lips from moving down to her jaw and then to her neck. Clarissa felt herself moan, her body acting on its own. Everything seemed to be happening so fast, but Clarissa didn't dare try to stop it.
Then all of a sudden, he pulled away. Leaving Clarissa disappointed at the sudden withdrawal of warmth.
"It's going to be dark soon." He stated, "I'm going to go get us some firewood."
Clarissa didn't move as she watched him arbitrarily trudge into the jungle. What just happened?
"After their first kiss, things weren't the same between them. They realized they were falling in love."
Henry closed the fairytale book and placed it on the night stand. He was in April's apartment because April promised Emma she would watch him until she finished talking to Regina. Today Henry was reading to April about the adventures of Lady Clarissa; he had also read to her about Ariel and Dorothy hoping it might remind her of her past. None of the stories did, but so far Lady Clarissa was becoming her favorite character.
"Then what happened?" asked April excitedly. "Do her and Captain Hook end up together?"
Instead of replying, Henry sighed. He looked down at his hands with a sad expression. April noticed the moment he arrived that he wasn't as happy as he usually is.
"What's wrong Henry? Why are you sad?"
He replied with another sigh. "It's nothing…"
With a frown, April scooted closer to him on the bed. She wrapped a comforting arm around him. "You know you can tell me anything, right? So come on; what's on your mind?"
"I don't think Emma believes in the curse anymore."
"Oh I'm sure she does Henry." She soothed. "She loves you very much and she'll do anything to make you happy."
"But what'll make me happy is if she breaks the curse and lets you guys remember who you truly are."
April looked at Henry sympathetically, wishing there was something she could do to help. If only real life was a fairy tale. Maybe things would be simpler for them. But before she could reply, a knock was heard on the front door.
"That must be your mom."
Getting off the bed, April exited her room and walked toward the front door. She opened it and the saw the familiar blonde woman with her red jacket on the other side. Emma was holding what looked like an apple pastry in her hand. Maybe she got it from the Mayor?
"Hey Emma, how are you?" she greeted while stepping aside to let Emma pass through. "Everything go okay?"
Emma herself wasn't looking that happy either. "I need to discuss some things with Henry."
"Of course," she pointed to the right, "he's in my bedroom. I'll give you guys some room and stay out here in the kitchen."
"Thanks."
April turned to the kitchen as Emma entered the bedroom with Henry. She didn't want to be intrusive in the matters of mother and son. Grabbing one of her dirty dishes, April switched on the sink and scrubbed away. As she cleaned, she thought about how crazy things had gotten in this small town since Emma had appeared. Kathryn went missing, Mary Margaret almost went to jail, a mysterious man named August arrived, the list goes on… She was just happy that things were finally starting to go back to normal.
"HENRY!"
The scream made April jump causing the dish she was holding to break onto the floor. She didn't think twice about it as she rushed over to her bedroom where she found Henry unconscious on the floor, the apple pastry in his hand. She gasped, already feeling tears forming in her eyes.
"Henry, wake up! Please Henry, wake up!" Emma held his body in her arms and shook him slightly. "Come on, please!"
"I'll call for an ambulance!"
P.S Fun Fact: I did some research and the Nandi Bear is from African folktales. All the information I put in the story is from what I read about it online.
OH! And if any of you would like to make me a cover image for my story, I'd really appreciate it since I have no talent in making them xD
