Emma realized it was the villainous Captain that was responsible for her being here. She stepped from her hiding place, lowering the step stool she was about to swing at him. Killian's eyes went wide and then confused when he saw her.
"Who the deuce are you? Where is Milah?" Killian demanded sharply.
"Milah is probably in her husband's castle right now," Emma announced.
"Why are you here?" Killian countered.
"Because your henchmen are drunken idiots and jumped me in the middle of a dark room and carried me off!" Emma yelled.
"I'll throttle them with my bare hands!" Killian thundered. "Smee! Fitch!"
Spinning on a heel, he thundered out of the room and into the hall. Smee and Fitch woke up from sleep still a bit hazy. He fixed them with an ominous stare.
"Do you know what you've done?" Killian voice sounded like a low rumble.
"We took the wrong woman?" Smee spoke meekly.
"You took the wrong woman!" Killian bellowed. "Where is Milah?"
"We thought she was Milah but the room was dark and we were still tipsy," Fitch offered.
"You should have made sure!" Killian countered.
"But it was the Dark One's castle," Smee said. "He would have done something really unpleasant to us if he caught us. We needed to go."
"You both are going to have something unpleasant happen to you!" Killian roared.
"While you are doling out their punishments, you can take me back," Emma cut in.
"Believe me, love, if it were at all possible I surely would, but I fear your return is entirely out of the question," Killian said with his face clouded with anger.
"If you're afraid that I will reveal your whereabouts or that you were responsible for my abduction, I promise to not say a word."
"I'm a pirate. I doubt you can besmirch my character any more than it is already," his tone had an edge of sarcasm.
"You don't need me here," Emma pleaded. "You have to let me go at once."
"Nevertheless, you'll remain here."
"I can't stay here!"
"For the moment, you have no choice but to accept my hospitality," Killian said, giving a small nod as he turned around. "My sincerest apologies."
She flew across the room and grabbed his arm until he condescended to face her again. He gazed down at her with amusement and an eyebrow cocked. Emma wanted to yank that eyebrow down and rake her fingernails across his handsome features.
"If you don't take me back, you won't have a moment's peace in this decrepit heap while I'm here!" Emma said with her eyes flashing with anger.
"Come now, love," Killian came closer trying to flirt with her to calm her down. "A woman as lovely as you should think about what you say."
"And why should I do that?" Emma thundered.
He watched her face so close to his own turn livid and said, "I'm a pirate and have bested men twice your size."
"We'll see about that," Emma whispered spitting mad. "I'll torment you until you bring me back."
"Be reasonable," he cajoled with a chuckle. "If you bother me too much, I'll just lock you up."
"Over my dead body!"
Killian had enough and walked towards while she backed away until her back hit the wall. He let his body linger very close to her.
"What's that, love?" Killian leaned his head toward her, settled his gaze on her rapidly heaving bosom before he smiled into her green eyes. "I could feast upon you. You'd be a delicious morsel."
Emma made no feminine protest, but deliberately softened her manner. She would match him with her own womanly wiles. Leaning close with a flirty smile, she simulated a warming that could have stripped away any man's defenses, but for Killian, it had a devastating effect. He was looking forward to a pleasurable night with Milah which led to his body being easily stimulated. Her slender body slid against his and he felt the warmth unfurling in his belly. Her soft breast brushing his chest snatched his breath. Her mellowing look caught him off guard which allowed her to give him a swift knee to the balls.
His sudden yelp coincided with her being released. She darted across the room to put the table between them.
Incensed by her actions, Killian leapt after her until Graham blocked him.
"Killian, enough!" Graham implored. "The lady has been through a lot after being abducted."
Emma snatched a long handled pan and was ready to wield it. Graham had enjoyed their verbal exchange until it turned rather intimate when Killian backed Emma into a wall. Usually women fell all over Killian because of his good looks. He was afraid Emma would do the same. He was surprised when Emma assaulted Killian but glad nonetheless.
Killian ignored Graham and started for Emma. Emma saw her opening and she scampered to her room and locked the door. Killian was annoyed that the girl hide behind a locked door away from his retribution.
"I can't believe you took the wrong woman and brought this troublesome creature!" Killian yelled, turning to Smee and Fitch.
"Should we go back for Milah and bring Miss Swan back?" Smee offered, hoping this would pacify his captain.
"No, it's too late for that. The Dark One will be on his guard for a while and is currently tearing up the countryside," Killian said exasperated. "Milah is currently lost to me."
"Sorry, Captain. We thought it was Milah when we came upon a woman, there was no other person in the castle," Fitch said.
"What was she doing in the Dark One's castle anyway?" Killian asked still exasperated.
"She never told us," Smee said.
"I'll take responsibility for her well-being" Graham volunteered.
"Don't tell me you are intrigued with this chit?" Killian said staring aghast at his first mate. He thought him daft but then again who was he to dictate another man's fancy.
"Since you have no fondness for this lady, you would not be against the lady enjoying the companionship of another suitor."
"It's not my business if she would have you, and if she does then I say good riddance. Maybe it would distract her from vengeance against me," Killian snorted.
"Why don't you go upstairs and take a rest, you look like you need it," Graham suggested.
"My chambers better be comfortable," Killian half threatened his henchmen.
It was several minutes later when Killian walked upstairs to his bedroom, Smee, Fitch and Graham turned to hear him yell, "Bloody helll!"
A thousand bats flew down the steps and since Fitch happened to be standing by the doorway, he took the opportunity to open the door to let the bats fly out.
They all took a deep breath when they turned their gaze to hear Killian bellowing. It was going to be a long night.
Emma woke up the next morning able to see her breath in the chilly air. She felt a sneeze coming on which she tried to hold in but eventually she vented a series of small sneezes. She realized the combination of cold and dust caused her sneezing fit.
"Screw that jerk!" she yelled, collapsing back upon the bed with displeasure. She wondered how the captain survived the night in the ancient, decrepit castle. It was only right that he should suffer more than she. She was reluctant to get up out of bed to face the chill of the room. She missed having servants to stoke the fires for her and put a warming pan under her mattress.
She tugged the furs under her chin and slipped on her fur hide boots. She hurried to the fireplace to stoke the fires then she tested the water in the bucket. It was sufficiently cold enough to rouse the soundest of sleepers. She lifted the bucket, went to the door and listened for any sounds in the hall. She lifted the inner bar to open the door. She heard loud snores coming from the hall while she tiptoed past everyone with her bucket of freezing water to creep up the steps to the upper floor.
She waited and listened at Killian's bedroom door until she heard no sound. Hardly daring to breathe, she peered past the broken planks into the room to see her adversary laying sound asleep and completely at her disposal.
His handsome face was turned towards her with darkly lashed eyelids closed in sleep. A fur robe covered him to the waist, leaving his upper torso bare, and even in rest, his strength was evident, for the muscles in his shoulders and arms flowed in lithely bulging lines. Thick curling whisps of dark hair covered his upper chest and narrowed to a thin line that trailed beneath the fur pelt. She made sure the path to the doorway was clear when she made her get away. Her heartbeat began to quicken as the moment approached.
Raising the bucket, she let the contents fly. The icy water came out in a solid stream to snatch the sleeping man brutally awake. Killian caught the chilly water across the face and chest, and with a hoarse gasp, bolted upright. He swung his head to clear his vision and fixed her with those piercing blue eyes.
Emma had paused a second to savor his reaction but maybe it was one second too long. She stumbled back as he flung the pelts that covered him. The shock of seeing a man fully naked nearly paralyzed her. The sight of his masculine form was forever forged in her memory. When she looked up to his face, she panicked when she saw his visage was enraged.
In a desperate attempt to delay him, she flung the bucket at his head. Her aim hit true when she heard a pained grunt from him and awkward stumbling that ended in a thud on the ground. She whirled in fear of her life and flew down the steps. If she were caught before she reached the safety of her bedroom, she knew he would delight in wrapping his hands around her neck and squeezing the life out of her.
She could hear him behind her, closing the distance with each stride he took, she almost imagined feeling his breath at her neck and with an anxious gasp she bolted through the door of her bedroom and whirled, slamming it closed behind her and dropping the bolt in place. Panting for breath she leaned against the door. She was safe! With a surprise she stumbled away from the door when she heard the flat of hand slapped hard against the planks of her door.
"I'll tear the door from it hinges if you ever do that again!" Killian growled.
She wasn't sure if she made a good decision to poke his anger. It seemed a good idea at the time when she threatened to never give him peace and decided to back it up. She might be underestimating what this man was capable of doing to her. She hoped his anger would cool down with time.
It was half past the noon hour before Emma felt safe enough to open her door and venture out. She had just entered the hall before she realized he was sitting at the end of the table. She was hoping he would be out of the castle. She looked around for Graham hoping he could help her out if Killian got angry again. The presence of Smee and Fitch would make her feel comfortable, but they weren't around either.
When she halted and took a step back to retreat, she heard his voice say, "Come join me, love."
He held his hand out to the other end of the table and said, "I need to see you in front of me than feel you behind my back."
She did not want to show weakness or cowardliness so she strode into the room with her head held high. Reluctantly she sat in a seat the farthest from him, making sure she would be able to make a break for it, should he suddenly start toward her.
He studied her at great length as his silence filled the hall.
"I understand that you may be a little angry with me," Killian finally said.
Understatement of the year, Emma thought.
"I believe I can safely assume that you think I am a loathsome despicable creature for putting you in this predicament," Killian continued.
"Until I can find a better description for you, that will do," Emma retorted.
"I fear we are caught in a trap that we can't get out of. The river has frozen up and no ships can sail into and out of port. We are stuck together so I suggest we both make the best of it," Killian said coolly.
Emma started to panic, "The river froze up? I'm stuck here with you? This is too much!"
"Nevertheless, I desire to live at peace," Killian said.
"Isn't a journey across land to Arendelle possible?"
"A long and dangerous trek at this time of year. I can't take you, nor for your own safety allow you to be taken."
"I'm prepared to make the journey."
"I'm not prepared to let you leave."
"Then we are at war."
Killian softened his voice trying a different tact, "I consider myself a gentleman…"
"An opinion held entirely by yourself."
"…Having regard to the welfare of ladies such as yourself."
"As you have aptly displayed by having ladies abducted."
"And you are an annoying twit!" Killian shouted. His different tact didn't last too long.
Emma murmured calmly, "You can always let me go."
"You know the answer to that," Killian growled.
Killian got up to cross the hall and grabbed his cloak to put it on. Smee and Fitch happened to come into the hall from the outside.
"On threat of both your lives, fix my door," Killian said in a snarly voice to them. "So I might spend a restful night free from the attentions of this one." He jerked his thumb in her direction. With that he walked outside and slammed the door. Unfortunately, the door wrenched free from its hinges and raised a thick cloud of dust as it crashed to the floor. Killian mumbled a few threatening comments under his breath as he closed his cloak to brace himself against the cold winds. He thundered across the courtyard on his horse as Smee and Fitch struggled to lift the door back in place.