a/n: Things get a little rough but will work out in the end :) also only like two or so more chapters left. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!
It's immediate the way Killian's heart starts pumping a little faster, his veins thrumming with what can only be adrenaline. He's fought many a foe, and he's all too familiar with the way his muscles tense in anticipation and his senses sharpen.
The Dark One, in contrast, lounges against the cavern wall like he couldn't be at any more ease. The disturbing color of his skin seems to glint in the glow of the light still snapping with energy beside them, and his eyes flash with a cruel sort of joy as he looks Emma up and down.
"Well, well, well," the demon in front of them sings as he pushes himself off the cave wall. "Isn't this the most happy of coincidences."
He skulks towards Emma, his steps slow and calculating, and Killian inches closer to her in response, wishing he had a weapon of some sort to protect her with.
"All this time…all this effort your wide-eyed and disgustingly hopeful parents put in keeping you hidden from me and here you are." He gestures to her with an excessive flourish of his hands before bringing the tips of his fingers together in front of his face with a manic giggle.
Chills race down Killian's spine as the Dark One's laughter fades, the echoes of it creeping towards the dark corners of the cave until they disappear along with any pretense of a smile from the man's face. All that's left is a coldness that's as cunning as it is chilling.
"And to think," he says in a low voice his eyes narrowing. "You're the one who's destined to be my downfall." He stalks forward until he's almost nose to nose with Emma. "You're just a pathetic little girl that fate has so kindly brought to me when you have nothing and no one to defend you."
Emma doesn't so much as flinch away from the fiend, but Killian finds his fists clenching as his eyes dart across the cavern in search of some sort weapon or advantage over the man. There has to be something here he can use.
"That's what you think," Emma spits through her teeth. And where there's coldness in the Dark One's stare, there is a blazing fierceness in Emma's, and if it weren't for the dire situation they've found themselves in Killian would be smiling at the way the Dark One flinches back ever so slightly.
Giving his head the tiniest shake, the Dark One brushes his hands down his reptile skinned jacket and composes himself again before the corners of his lips curl up in a disturbing sneer. "There's quite a bit of fire in you isn't there, dearie?"
And in a move so fast that Killian feels his heart jump, the Dark One steps forward and leans his head in until he's close enough to whisper the next part in Emma's ear. "Shame I'm going to have to snuff it out."
And with a snap of his fingers he vanishes in a swirl of smoke.
Killian's eyes frantically search the air in front of him, unease filling him. He lifts his gaze in search of Emma's and finds her already looking at him, her eyes wide with the same fear that he feels spinning inside him. But before either of them gets a word out, the Dark One's crazed giggle echoes behind them.
"It's ironic," he muses as they quickly turn to face him again. "That out of all the places for me to kill you, I'm going to do it here. I couldn't have planned it better myself."
Killian's heart drops on the word kill, and he immediately steps in front of Emma, determined to put more distance between her and the demon in front of them. "Stop speaking in riddles," he hisses. "And tell us what the bloody hell you're prattling on about."
The Dark One's focus, which has been cemented on Emma since he first appeared, slowly drifts over to Killian. "Patience," he tuts as he walks a little closer to the current of energy beside them and it's easy for Killian to note the fevered thirst in the man's gaze as his eyes drink in the light.
"You see, this…rift of magic if you will, is one of very few like it in the entire universe. I spent years searching for one—within it there is more magic, more power than you can imagine. It's almost an entity of its own, Miss Swan, as I'm sure you've noticed."
Killian's mind jumps to everything Emma's experienced with the humming and the planet's magic, and he knew he was right to think following it was dangerous.
"What does it want with her?" he demands, and he can feel his jaw tightening with dread, because how are they supposed to fight off both the Dark One and this magical source he so clearly covets?
The Dark One laughs again as though enjoying Killian's fear. "It doesn't necessarily want anything from her. More that it probably sensed Miss Swan's magic and led her here out of mere…curiosity. I'm guessing it didn't start leading you until you did something to connect yourself to it. Tell me, what was it?"
"I used it to heal Killian." Emma answers with a dawning understanding as she steps forward to stand next to Killian. "I began harnessing it, using it to practice gaining control of my own power. It was after that it started leading me." She pauses and thinks for a moment. "Is it what caused us to crash? If it has as much power as you say it does, is it what ripped us out of hyperspace?"
"It's possible," he hums while he takes a look at his nails in disinterest, as though he's merely humoring their questions. "That much magic could easily interfere with the technologies that run that spaceliner you're so fond of hiding on."
Emma looks at Killian briefly before turning her gaze back to the Dark One. Killian's eyes dart down to her hands to see her flexing and extending her fingers, and he knows she's preparing to use magic. And as much as he knows it's their best shot to get out of here he loathes that Emma is the one who is going to be put in harm's way.
"But," the Dark One all but shouts, jerking Killian's attention back to him. He raises his finger to point at Emma, his teeth bared in a scathing grimace. "There will be no more hiding, princess. You see I never got to tell you why it's so poetic that this will be the place where I finally kill you."
Without breaking eye contact with Emma, the Dark One holds out his hand as a cloud of smoke appears. It spirals and unfurls as it evaporates, disappearing only to reveal a jagged dagger lying in his palm.
Killian's eyes widen at the sight of the dagger, wasn't it only days ago that he heard Elsa say that this weapon was the key to controlling the Dark One?
Killian watches the Dark One's finger run along the curved edges of the dagger, waiting for a lapse in his attention, waiting for an opportunity to grab it, because he has to do something. He can't just stand here waiting to be killed, waiting for Emma to be killed. He has to save her—somehow he has to get her out of this.
But the imp gives no such opening, his grasp remaining firm around the dagger's handle as he continues speaking.
"This magic can be channeled, or perhaps a better word is transferred, if one has the correct means to do so. Power taken directly from the rift and given to the one daring enough to take it. But it's not as straightforward as it sounds. You see, you can't come in direct contact with it. It's too much magic for one body to take all at once—it would overwhelm and destroy you within seconds, and with nowhere to go the power source would be extinguished forever."
Emma let's out a tiny gasp and Killian tears his gaze away from the dagger, his attention immediately drawn to her. Her eyes widen in sudden understanding. "You…you've been—"
"Harnessing it yes," he says delighted. "Only small bits at a time, as I said too much at once would only serve in killing me."
"My parent's kingdom," Emma whispers in near devastation. "For years my parents couldn't understand how you were gaining more power, how entire regions were falling into darkness. And this...this is how you've been gaining more power?"
Killian can feel Emma start to tremble beside him, but her clenched fists tell him it's in rage instead of fear. Instinctively he takes a step closer to her, willing her not to do anything rash out of her anger.
"Wonderful isn't it?" The demon sings, "Let me show you how it works." And with a deep breath he closes his eyes and lifts the dagger, connecting the tip of it to the stream of light.
The humming in the air intensifies, vibrating with so much force that Killian feels as though his very bones are shaking. And what happens next might be remarkable if it were under different circumstances.
The light begins to spread and wrap itself around the dagger. Shimmering as it stretches forward from the column it calls home. It continues to twists itself forward, slowly wrapping itself around the Dark One's arm, extending itself until the coils of light completely encircle him.
What's most unsettling, though, is the way the light changes as it reaches the Dark One. It morphs from its once brilliant, white light to a thick, black stream of darkness. A physical representation as the magic settles into its new role as the Dark One's power.
It's with another deep and satisfied breath that the Dark One pulls his dagger away from the light, and steps away.
Energy continues to snap within the column of light as though nothing has happened. And Killian might be imagining things, but he could swear the light looks slightly dimmer.
"This dagger binds me. I am a slave to it," the Dark One hisses as he opens his eyes." But it is also what is going to give me my freedom. I almost have enough power to be free from it entirely and at that point there will be nothing and no one that can stop me."
"No," Emma whispers, the tremble in her voice more fury than devastation. "I won't let you."
Once again the imp releases a manic giggle. "And how exactly are you going to stop me, dearie? You'll be dead in just a few minutes."
"I'll find a way," she seethes, her fists clenching as she takes a step forward.
The Dark One smirks, eyes narrowing. And Killian hates the way the man's focus is so fixed on Emma, is terrified of the malicious glint in his eyes.
But the man's single-minded attention suddenly gives Killian an idea. And hoping that his fixation on Emma will keep the Dark One blind to his own actions, he begins to slowly move away from Emma and closer to the Dark One.
Because if he can just get the dagger, he can end all of this.
"I doubt it," the imp scoffs, still unaware as Killian continues to circle closer. "Any last words for your parents? I think I'll have time to share one last message before I completely destroy their kingdom."
Killian's close enough now that he's confident he can tackle the demon and get the dagger. But just as he's about to spring forward, a light so blinding that he has to shield his eyes bursts forward and blasts the Dark One back.
"Emma?" Killian calls, blinking as his eyes adjust back to the dimmer light. He's unsure of where the blast came from, and it takes everything within him to not immediately panic. "Are you alright?"
Finally able to see again, he finds her standing with her arms outstretched and her chest heaving, her hands still glowing from the use of her magic.
"I'm okay," she breathes, her arms falling to her side.
He nods. Scanning her up and down to be sure she's not hurt before spinning around in search of the Dark One.
The imp is struggling to stand, muttering crazed obscenities as he brushes the dirt from his clothes. And glinting on the stone floor a mere few feet away is the dagger.
Killian lunges for it, but before he can reach it the Dark One thrusts out a hand and throws Killian back.
His body slams against the cavern wall with enough force to push the air from his lungs. Every inch of his body ignites in a flame of pain, and he cries out as he crumples to the floor.
"Killian!"
The world spins in front of him but Killian coughs as he hurries to push himself off the rocky floor.
"Emma—" He coughs again, trying to catch his breath. "The dagger... get the dagger."
She runs for it, and though the room's still tilting he moves to hurry after her, only to pull to an abrupt halt when Emma suddenly stops, her hands reaching frantically for her throat.
"Enough!" The Dark one shrieks, his face flushed and a vein throbbing visibly on his forehead. "I've had enough questions, enough games. This is ending right here."
His hand is cupped as though it's wrapped around Emma's neck, and when he squeezes it a little tighter she gasps and chokes further, clawing at her throat as she struggles to breathe.
Kilian's heart plummets and he doesn't hesitate, doesn't even think before he races towards the Dark One and throws himself on him, tackling him to the floor.
There's more strength in the Dark One's smaller frame than Killian anticipated, and he only gets a few good punches in before he's being blasted back by magic again. But this time, the Dark One doesn't leave him alone to catch his bearings.
Within seconds he's hovering over Killian. "You're really starting to irritate me," he spits through his teeth before cupping his hand once more.
And even though there is no hand around Killian's neck it feels as though a vice-like grip is crushing his throat. No matter how hard he struggles against it he can't seem to draw in enough air to breathe properly.
"No!" Emma screams, "Please, let him go. You can kill me. I-I'll let you kill me, just let him go."
Killian's eyes dart to Emma's and he shakes his head desperately. He can't lose her. He tries to call out to her, to tell her not to do this—but he only gasps and chokes further, unable to get the words out.
He hopes she can see the desperation in his eyes, hopes she can see the way he's pleading with her, begging her to run—but as she stares back at him all he can see is a sad resolve shimmering in the water that's gathering in her own eyes. And when she tries to give him a reassuring smile he feels like his heart is shattering.
"As touching as this is," the Dark One says, "I was never planning on leaving either of you alive. It's just a matter of who I was going to kill first."
Emma inhales a shaky breath, her eyes dashing around the room as she looks for another solution. Finally they land on the column of light that stands nearly forgotten in the chaos of the last few moments.
"Let him go." She says her tone serious and threatening. "Let him leave or I'll destroy the rift. I'll come in contact with it… I'll destroy the power and you'll never have another drop of it."
The Dark One's arm drops somewhat and the pressure around Killian's neck releases slightly, but only enough for him to draw in small breaths of air.
"I don't believe you. You won't do it. It'll kill you." And though he claims disbelief, for the first time the Dark One looks frightened, an edge of panic in his words.
"You're going to kill me anyway right? Might as well take the power you want with me."
Killian struggles against the Dark One's hold frantic and helpless to stop her, but the man's powers have him frozen in place just as much as they have him struggling to breathe.
"Emma!" he tries to shout with the little air he has, but it comes out in little more than a gasp. "Emma, please. No. Don't do this."
Emma looks at him, tears freely streaming down her face. Killian thrashes against the Dark One's hold, more desperate to get to her than he is to breathe. It feels like his heart is being ripped from his ribs, his entire chest is being torn to shreds and there's nothing he can do about it.
She smiles at him, soft and sad, before taking a deep breath and standing a little taller, determination clear in her eyes.
"I love you," she whispers.
And those three words shake him to his core. She's never said it. He's never said it. And he has to, he needs to tell her that he feels the same but she never gives him the chance.
She steps forward into the snapping column of energy and at nearly the same instant a light so bright it's blinding bursts forward, filling the room with its brilliance.
The Dark One's shouts of rage are nothing compared to the anguish that screams inside Killian. Pure agony echoes inside him like a double edged knife tearing him apart.
This isn't happening. This can't be happening.
He can't think, can't hear, can't breathe.
And it takes him a second to realize that it has nothing to do with the Dark One's grip around his throat. That he's no longer bound by magic, that the Dark One must have let him go when Emma stepped into the light.
The flash of light fades leaving the cavern so much darker than before. Killian blinks furiously, willing his eyes to readjust to the light.
He needs to see her.
Because this isn't happening. This can't be happening.
He repeats this to himself like a mantra that is his only hope for salvation.
He's shaking as he begins to make his way to his feet, and as he's pushing himself up he sees it—the dagger lying abandoned on the floor.
Rage fills him and before the Dark One can come to his senses Killian grabs it and straightens. His anger flaring as he looks for the owner of the damned weapon.
He sees him, barely, as the once bright column of magic is now nothing more than a thin, pathetic stream of light. The cave is more darkness and shadows than anything.
But he sees him, and the man is standing not a foot away from Emma's motionless form.
"Get away from her!" he yells, the dagger held out in front of him. And though he's still shaking and he can barely see because of the tears in his eyes, his grip on the dagger remains firm.
The Dark One turns, his eyes immediately drawn to the dagger in Killian's hand before he clenches his jaw and obediently backs away to the edge of the cavern.
"Better not let go of that, dearie. Or you'll—"
"Quiet!" Killian fumes and he surprises himself with how dangerous his voice sounds. "Not another word, crocodile. You're going to stay right there, and you aren't going to move."
The Dark One narrows his eyes but he doesn't move, forced to obey.
Satisfied, Killian takes a deep breath and trembles as he finally turns back towards Emma.
No. Please, no.
She's lying with her head turned delicately towards him. Her lashes brush softly against her cheek bones, and she looks just like she always does when she's fast asleep beside him in their bed.
Killian kneels next to her, shaking harder than he ever has in his life, and puts the dagger down in front of him before wiping furiously at the tears in his eyes.
"Emma," he whispers, choking on his own sob. "Please, Emma."
He brushes his hand against her cheek and gently cups her face. His exhale shakes as he lowers his forehead until it rests against hers. "Please, come back."
He whispers the words against her skin, but as much as he pleads with her she doesn't move.
Squeezing his eyes shut a few more tears slip free, falling until they splash against her skin. He's not sure how long he stays there, with his forehead pressed to hers, but he knows he never wants to leave.
And he doesn't know if he's even capable of leaving. All he knows is that he'll never be able to let her go.
He's sure he's in some stage of shock when he begins to feel her move beneath him—wishful thinking and heartache surely combining to pull him into some sort of hallucination. But not quite ready to face his grief yet, he keeps his eyes closed and savors the feel of her skin against his for as long as he can.
"Killian?"
It's her voice that calls his name, soft and quiet.
But that's impossible…isn't it?
Something so much lighter than hope begins to fill his chest and when she says his name again, louder this time, he sits up and opens his eyes.
And he sees them, her eyes—emerald and bright—staring back at him.
He sobs, a happy and broken sound, before reaching for her and pulling her to him, crushing her to his chest.
"You're alive," he breathes, tangling his hand in her hair and holding on to her for dear life. He's still trembling and at this point only the feel of her chest expanding against his as she breathes his holding him together.
"You're alive," he repeats and pulls away from her just enough to be able to look into her eyes. He can't stop the tears that are streaming down his face or the smile spreading across his cheeks.
She reaches up to brush his tears away with her thumbs, laughing as her own tears fall from her eyes.
"How?" Killian gasps. "H-he said—"
"Guess he was wrong."
Emma smiles, and he's positive it's the most beautiful sight in the world. Unable to restrain himself a second longer Killian surges forward and captures her lips with his.
He feels her inhale as their lips connect, and she wraps her arms around his neck before melting into him and kissing him further.
His whole world is spinning, whirling off axis because of the onslaught of emotions he's just experienced. But as he kisses Emma he feels himself center, she anchors him and all he feels now is complete elation that he can still hold her in his arms, still kiss her, still feel her heart beating.
She pulls away to breathe but Killian can't bear to part from her just yet. So he keeps kissing her. Her cheeks, her nose, her eyelids.
"Killian," she laughs. "I'm okay. I'm here, I'm right here."
He presses another long kiss to her lips before resting his forehead against hers and closing his eyes.
"Never do that again." His voice is low and thick as he suddenly finds himself choking on how intense his emotions are.
"What? Never sacrifice myself to some magical, glowing, pillar of light thing again? Next time I come across one I'll keep that in mind."
She lifts his face up, and behind the playfulness in her eyes Killian can see a deeper relief that rivals his own.
He loves her. And he's more than just a little overwhelmed by the fact that he lost her even if for just a moment. He loves her and it's not the first time he's realized it but it still rises and surges within him, a warmth that fills him until it settles in his bones and thrums throughout his veins. She's managed to crawl inside him and connect her soul to his, and looking at her now he knows there isn't anything he wouldn't do for her.
He reaches up to tuck her hair behind her ear, and then trails his thumb across her cheek. "I love you, Emma Swan."
Her eyes soften as her head tilts to the side. She leans in slow and almost tentative, pressing another kiss to his lips. It's somehow both the sweetest and deepest kiss they've shared, and when Emma pulls away her eyes are shining with absolute joy.
"And I love you," she whispers as she presses her forehead to his, a gentle smile on her lips.
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