A/N : As always, thank you so much for reading/favoriting/following and REVIEWING. It's fun to see how you're all dying to see Hook's reaction when he finds out Emma has no heart... Sorry to disappoint, but it'll take a while before he does. Some things have to happen first ;)
About this chapter... Only 1,912 words I AM SO SORRY GUYS. Shortest chapter ever. But that's how it came out so... I hope the content will make up for the briefness!
Chapter 8 : Thorny treasure
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The sun was already disappearing under the horizon when Emma, Hook and his men arrived at Conway Port. They had given up the horses to Marcus, the innkeeper, on their way to the port. The docks were still full of sailors and tradesmen, wrapped up warmly in their thick fur and leather coats. Emma observed them with a curious look. For twenty three years, all she had known had been the hallways and the gardens of Eurwen, the knights and gentlemen, the servants and guards. And here she was, winding through smelly men who eyed her greedily, under the protective look of her kidnapper. Every now and then, she glanced at him, surprised by the way his jaw clenched each time a mariner looked too intensly at her. The way his hand instinctively wrapped her waist. She was not a captive. She was a well guarded treasure. His treasure.
Well, a princess was a valuable merchandise.
They finally reached the Jolly Roger. Emma's eyes widened as she scanned the majestic ship, proudly carried by the soft flow of the waves. It stood there in the river of ochre that flooded from the falling sun, gigantic shadow splashed with light. The very silhouette of freedom Emma had read about so many times.
"Princess Emma, meet the Jolly Roger", Hook proudly said.
Emma crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side. "So here she is, the woman of your life," she deadpanned.
Surprisingly, she noticed clouds gathering in Hook's eyes. "Indeed. She's all I have left." He shook his head and showed her the way with ceremony. "After you m'lady."
Emma nodded and climbed on the Jolly Roger. She stumbled upon a real hubbub, sailors rushing on the deck. The return of their Captain had surprised them and interrupted their... drinking. Pirates.
She felt a hand falling on the small of her back. "Don't worry princess, I'll protect you from the scum," she heard him say.
She turned back to face him. "In case you didn't notice, I handle myself just well Captain," she murmured to his ear, shivers appearing under her hot breath. She turned her heels and set foot on the damp deck. Suddenly, as if some kind of spell had fallen upon the ship, the mayhem stopped and the sailors froze. She felt the gaze of the whole crew crashing on her, undressing her. But there was something else than greed and lust. Some sort of... astonishment. As if they couldn't believe she was real. As if, somehow, they had heard about her, and expected her arrival without believing in it.
"Hook..." she began, lowly, without looking at him. "What the hell?"
The pirate took her hand and prompted her to step forward. "I kind of briefed them before my departure. I warned them. They won't lay a finger on you princess."
"You mean that you planned on abducting me?" she muttered, her eyebrows dangerously frowning.
The smirk struck back. "Something like that. Come with me now, the snow's going to fall again."
On these words, he opened the door of what she figured to be his quarters.
Well, the guy had no reason to be jealous of her life of luxury.
Crimson and ebony were illuminated by the flickering light of a few candles, gilded shadows glistening on the precious materials. His bed stood in the middle of the room, majestic and imposing, and Emma couldn't help but wonder how many women had slept there. Well, slept...
The scarlet sheets were made of silk, and delicate waves appeared here and there. The young woman was much surprised not to see any personal belonging though. Everything in this cabin exhaled luxury and even lust, conquest and piracy. But nothing was to be found on the desk or on the wardrobe. No trinket. She realized that this cabin was far more than a simple bedroom. It was Killian Jones's den. It was Killian Jones. A mask of luxury and yet no flourish. He didn't show anyting but what he wanted to.
"I guess it's not as spacious as your bedroom in Eurwen, but I think it will do," the pirate said, waking her from her thoughts.
"Sleeping in the Captain's cabin, should I feel honored or something?" Emma deadpanned.
"Well you can always sleep with my men but I fear you won't find it pleasant princess."
She rolled her eyes. "Stop calling me that."
Hook smiled and cocked an eyebrow at her. "So you're not the daughter of a King and a Queen?"
"I don't want to be. I am not anymore. I'm just... Emma. The foolish girl lost at sea in the company of a infuriating pirate."
"Sounds like a lovely dream darling. But I'm afraid you'll remain a princess as long as you'll be in my company."
"Why's that?" Emma sighed.
The pirate sighed back and his eyebrow did that annoying thing again. "See, I didn't abduct you because I had nothing better to do. I abducted you because you, my lady, are quite the treasure." He paused, waiting for her to react. Which she did not. "I want a ransom, you foolish little princess. Didn't read this in your books?"
"Don't patronize me, stupid pirate," she spat. "It's just that... Nevermind. I'll be your treasure if you insist. Even though you seem wealthy enough to me."
"Says the shamelessly rich princess born in a castle of marber."
"Why are we even talking?"
The Captain heaved a sigh. "You're right, let's not waste any more time. You need to get some rest after the... latest events. The bed's yours, as well as the cabin, but do not go out on the deck without me."
Emma chuckled. "Wait, you want me to sleep here? You're not tying me up again, are you?" she asked, eyeing the bed.
The Captain grinned and discretly licked his upper lip. "Aye, as much as I'd love to tie you up to me, I think you won't go anywhere. You don't want to. I still don't really get why, but you're thrilled to be a pirate's treasure."
A new twinkle appeared under her lashes. She got dangerously closer to him, slowly, without taking her eyes off him, her hips rolling and her body sliding like a cat's. Hook could feel her breath on his face, her eyes were set on his lips and her mouth was half open. What the hell was she doing? The pirate gulped, suddenly scared of what this beautiful creature was about to do.
She laid her hands on his chest, delicately trailing her fingertips on his bare skin. The cold of her long, slender fingers caused him to shiver, and the pulse of his heart raced with every circle they drew. Suddenly, her lips were pressed on his jawline in a tender kiss, and he heaved a heavy sigh, unwilling to fight her warmth. Soon, her mouth reached his earlobe, and the fire of her tongue was too much to handle. For a few seconds, Hook wanted to give it all up, to surrender to his fair goddess and sink into her, just like she wanted him to.
She let go of his ear and locked her eyes on his. "A treasure is to be consumed Captain," she let out in a hoarse whisper. "Squandered till the last coin." Her hand was now making its way on his pants, gently brushing his crotch. "Used and abused until there is nothing left." His body was on fire. His brain refused to function. His head was filled with the sole name of Emma, resonating louder and louder, deafening the erratic pulse of his heart. She took his hand and put it on her breast, right over her heart. "This," she said showing it, "means nothing. We don't need it to have fun, trust me."
All of a sudden and without warning, Hook pulled back and grabbed her arm, forcing a muffled cry of pain out of her mouth. His hand wrapped and pressed her delicate skin, and soon crimson colored her flesh. "What game are you playing princess?" he hissed, his eyes filled with an expression of wrath she didn't know he had.
"Because all of this isn't a game maybe?" Emma snapped between two groans, deperately trying to get out of his grip.
Finally, the pirate let go of her hand, a concern look taking over the fury. He seemed scared and sorry... even desperate. "You're right..." he said, dryly. "This is all a game. But you're merely a player."
His blue eyes lingered on her puzzled expression, and he went out of his cabin without further explanation. He didn't owe her anything. She was playing with fire.
And he knew the smell of smoke all too well .
Killian Jones stood on the deck as his crew rushed and prepared the ship to sail. Light feathers of frost rained down on them, carried by a soft winter wind. It was quite amusing to see that the weather was so peaceful when everything was crumbling all around him. The sun was slowly vanishing underneath the skyline, engulfed by the Scarlet Sea. Right in front of him, beyond the incandescent horizon, lay the Kingdom of Tesni, land of the sun and heat, South of Draiochtland. Endless stretches of white sand, ochre castles and gigantic palm trees were to be found in this land.
Killian had been there once. He did not keep a good memory. That was where he got his scar on the cheek. He should have known better than sleeping with the King's daughter. And he did not want to make the same mistake again. Let's not sleep with the Four Kingdoms Killian, you'll find another way to screw them over, he thought with a grin. Anyway, this was not their destination. They were heading to a much farther island, unknown of the maps and landsmen, lost in Nehalennia Ocean. The journey was not going to be smooth, there were bumpy seas ahead. Especially at this time of the year.
As if he had read his thoughts – or maybe he just noticed how his Captain's fingers pattered on the railing, Smee carefully approached. "You know, Captain, maybe we should wait a week before leaving... It takes a week to go there, and in less than a week..." The man looked nervous. He rubbed his forehead and took off his red beret. "You know... New Year's Eve..."
Hook cut him off, tired. "I know my legends, Smee. We are leaving tonight. I can't afford another week here. They'll come after her soon enough. I have to take her away as soon as possible, no matter what awaits us during the journey."
Smee looked down, something visibly bothering him. The Captain sensed a question burning his mouth. "Spill it Smee. What do you want to ask me?"
The plump little man looked at him, fearful. "Do you... Do you think she's the one?"
Hook sighed and his head turned to the ocean. "That she is."
Smee nodded silently and left his Captain to his troubled thoughts. He had to take her there. For her own safety. She was everything he needed. And he prayed the Gods evertyhing would go as he had planned.
Sea Sprights or not.
A/N : So.. what's a sea spright? And Emma is one plucky woman, isn't she? She knows what she wants. But so does Hook. He's got something planned for Emma and he's resisting her...
PS : If you saw the reference to one of Shakespeare's plays, you're officially my BFF.
Mel : Oh mais de rien c'est normal que je te réponde ! Et puis tes reviews à CHAQUE chapitre me font vraiment très plaisir :) C'est vrai que mon Emma est trèèèèès différente de celle qu'on connaît... Elle n'a pas de coeur quoi x) Et la jungle cambodgienne c'est trop cool ! Je te souhaite un bon séjour ;) Et merci pour tout !