"In a week from now, it begins at sundown," Calico Jack announced to Killian. "We can't wait any longer and we can spare more innocent lives at this time."
"I need more time," Killian pleaded with Jack. "The Evil Witch, Regina, may interfere if she finds out."
"That's your problem, mate," Jack answered. "Deal with it. I'm just letting you know when."
"Fine," Killian conceded. "You can get whatever supplies you need off the Jolly Roger but I need her for a quick getaway."
"I appreciate any assistance you can give us, Captain Jones," Calico Jack said as he bid Killian goodbye.
Killian sighed in frustration. How was he going to get Emma out of here? He was racking his brains trying to come up with a plan and he only had a week. He looked around the enclosed secret room trying to think of something. Realizing nothing about the room gave him any ideas, Killian made his way through the secret passageway up to the mansion where Emma was polishing some silverware in the dining room. It was a task that he made her do while she was pretending to be under his servitude.
"Fetch me a drink, slave!" Killian ordered Emma. He went to sit down at the dining table.
Emma put down her rags and went to the side board to pour him a glass of rum. He held the glass under his helm while he drank, looking down at the drink, swirling the liquid in the glass. He had an inkling of an idea forming in his head. He needed a few more ingredients to set it up.
"Get me my dinner and be quick about it!" Killian barked. "There'll be a few extra marks on your back if my food is cold, wench!"
"Yes, my lord," Emma curtsied and left the dining room for the kitchen to get his food. She came back and placed the food in front of him then bent to kneel at his side.
"I don't wished to be watched like some circus freak," Killian sneered. "Get your dinner in the kitchens and then get to bed. Prepare yourself to slake my lust tonight."
Emma left to eat her dinner. Killian was alone with his thoughts wanting desperately to leave with Emma from this hellish place. He hated talking down to her. It made him feel like the worst human being around. But he had to keep up the charade to keep Regina satisfied and keep her suspicions at bay for one more week.
Killian considered removing all reflective surfaces from the house but that wouldn't stop Regina from appearing out of the blue.
Later on that night, Emma had been mulling over her time here. She had been sleeping so peacefully since Killian revealed himself. She had felt at ease and full of hope in his presence. Their talks at night were so comforting. It gave them a chance to get to know one another and share their thoughts. They would talk about so many things, whatever came to their minds at the moment.
But she grew increasingly annoyed that he hadn't kissed her or shown any passion for her. Where was his ardor when he boldly kissed her during the winter festival in Arendelle or when he knocked on her door on the Grinder? She started to notice that Killian seemed to be retreating into himself and couldn't look her in the eye.
She decided to talk about it when they were lying in bed. She wondered if he didn't realize the danger he put himself in and wanted to get out of the situation. The more he pulled away, the more her feelings of insecurity increased.
"Are you starting to regret coming after me?" Emma asked.
"What makes you ask that?" Killian looking alarmed.
"You seem to be pulling away," Emma said tentatively.
Killian felt he couldn't look her in the eye as he took on the character of Lord LeBossu. He was anxious that his cruel act would affect Emma negatively but it was really doing a number on him instead.
"I am just afraid that playing Lord LeBossu would make you despise me," Killian relented. He felt bad and ashamed that he was cruel to her, calling her names and overall treating her abominably.
"I could never despise you," Emma assured him. "You are doing what is necessary. Only a man with a good heart would worry about the feelings of others."
"You think I'm a good man?" Killian asked finally smiling and turning towards her.
She turned her body on her side facing him and put a hand up to caress his cheek.
"I think you're a hero," Emma whispered.
Killian moved closer to her and captured her lips with his own, moving his mouth across hers with a hunger that greedily sought for a like response. His hand came up to move behind her to ensnare her further in a torrid kiss that stirred a rush of excitement through her. An urge swept over him in that moment and it was all he could do to keep from taking her in his arms and lose himself in her womanly softness.
Emma was lost in the tumult of passion. The heat of his kiss flared through her, setting fire to every nerve. The cry that came to her throat became a moan that was taken from her by his kiss.
"Sweet darling, love," Killian pulled back, inhaled sharply and pressed his forehead against hers. "What madness have we wrought?"
"Killian, kiss me again," Emma pleaded, wanting his lips back on hers.
"I don't think I could control myself, love," Killian trying with every inch of his will not to completely ravish her.
"Then don't," Emma couldn't bear it any longer. She wanted this devilishly handsome man and moved closer to him.
Killian screwed his eyes shut as if he were in pain as he felt her body brush against his, "You deserve more than being taken in this house of horrors."
"Maybe this could erase all the terrible things that have happened here," Emma didn't care where she was anymore as long as Killian was with her. The fires of Hades wouldn't bother her.
"We need to find a way to get you out of here," Killian said. "Then we could be together."
"Promise?" Emma needed some assurance that they would be together. She didn't doubt that he could deliver her from this dreadful place. But she was worried that he would just drop her off at her kingdom and collect the gold he would receive for his rescue.
"Nothing could keep me away from you," Killian swore. His feelings were thoroughly involved with her and there was no way out for him now.
Emma was so relieved and ecstatic to hear that.
"I'm sure an opportunity will present itself, it just takes time and patience," Emma said resolutely.
"You're right, love," Killian said smiling at Emma. She was glad to see him smile.
They lay there in silence facing each other, willing their bodies to calm down. Killian reached up to stroke her cheek with his thumb while Emma relaxed into his touch. It was their usual custom to talk to each other in the night before they fell asleep and Killian decided to start up a conversation to keep himself from ravishing Emma.
"Now tell me, how can you come from a family of shepherds when you are a princess?" Killian often wondered.
She smiled when she heard him ask the question that most people asked and proceeded to explain. They chatted the rest of the night until they settled into slumber.
A week flew by; the days passed as Killian playing the dreaded, dark monster and Emma, the suffering, lowly slave. It was time to enact their plan of escape.
He heard a knock at the door which the servant answered and the slave trader with his staff swept into the house to perform their services. Emma was taken to the bedroom to receive the same services she had before. Now that Emma knew what to expect, her nerves weren't has fried like the first time and she was able to relax slightly.
Killian was concerned at what was happening to her but the slave trader occupied his time by talking to him about some slaves he could purchase to work his fields. Killian agreed and gave him some gold for those slaves. The slave trader was happy that his trip was so lucrative. Killian was glad he was able to purchase some slaves to set them free. He spoke to the servant to let him know what time the slaves were to be delivered. The servant understood.
The staff brought Emma to his side to kneel by his chair. He surveyed her up and down and once again was assailed with lust which he had to tamp down. Her beauty was such a torture to him. He could see the services the staff provided - doing her hair, applying makeup and dressing her up in a sexually suggestive dress. It took an overly long time to be doing that and he wondered if they provided other services. As soon as they left, the house quieted down.
"Bitch! Sit on my lap!" Killian bellowed in his deep, disguised voice. He was sitting at the dining room table.
Emma slowly and reluctantly perched herself on his knee not daring to touch any part of her body with his. He brought his arm around her and wrenched her body to his as if impatient to feel her proximity. He took a piece of cheese from his plate and proceeded to feed it to her, watching as she took a bite and slowly chewed each piece. He did the same with the fruits on the plate and gazed at each swallow and flick of tongue that whet Emma's lips. He started to caress her body and Emma started to soften. She put her arms around him and let her forehead rest on him. She let out a sigh of contentment as he continued his exploration of her body.
"Does that feel good, slave?" Killian asked.
Emma in a breathless voice said, "Yes."
"Does that mean you're used to my touch after all this time, does it please you?"
"Yes, it does."
"Do you want to stay here with me willingly?"
"I'd stay with you forever, my lord."
Emma reached up to stroke the black leather mask.
"Does that mean you no longer fear me?"
"I no longer fear you, my lord."
"Do I please you?
"You please me, my lord."
Emma's face broke out in a smile like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds.
Suddenly, Regina appeared sitting to the right of Killian at the dining table. They both gasped in surprise at her appearance.
"It appears your little slave has Stockholm syndrome," Regina commented coldly.
"Get out!" Killian bellowed. "Your intrusion is not welcome here!"
Emma scrambled off of Killian's lap, but he held on to her tight. He ordered her to kneel on the floor next to him.
"Don't tell me you have developed feelings for your little slave, Lord LeBossu," Regina smirked. "I hope I haven't been mistaken by your dark reputation. I wouldn't have let you buy this worthless girl if you are treating her the way you are and she started liking her captivity."
"Her spirit has yet to be completely broken, my dear," Lord LeBossu said. He poured a glass of wine for himself and lay back in his chair to savor the drink under his helm. "I hesitate to pour a glass of wine for you because I wouldn't want you to overstay your visit."
Regina snatched the decanter from him and poured herself a glass.
"Well, since you have no manners and obviously don't know how to comport yourself in front of a queen, why don't I stay and give you some etiquette lessons," Regina sneered, hoping her unwelcome social call would annoy him even more. She took a long swallow of the wine.
"Now, back to your silly litttlrre concuuu..bine," Regina started slurring her words. She suddenly felt dizzy and weak. "Whad didyu do….to….me…"
She fell over like a sack of potatoes. Killian jumped up and took a dagger out of his cloak. He stepped over Regina's form and raised his arm to stab Regina when lightning shot out of the mirror and almost hit Killian. When he looked at the big mirror in the dining room, he saw a man's face staring out from it.
"It's Regina's genie," Emma cried. "Let's go! He'll strike you down if you attempt to harm her."
Emma grabbed Killian by the arm to haul him away. Killian yelled for his crew to leave. There were two men from his crew that masqueraded themselves as Lord LeBossu's staff that kept an eye out for any trouble. They ran to the library. Killian took Emma's hand and pulled her after them in the library where the men stood in front of a bookcase. One of his men felt around for the latch and the book case swung open when he pushed the latch. Killian pushed Emma in front of him to follow after his men. The men lighted some torches to make their way down the secret passageway from the manse. The passageway led them slowly downward which made it seem like they were going farther and deeper into the ground. When Emma finally spotted sunlight, she stepped outside of the passageway into a cave that opened toward a hill that led to an inlet. She recognized the Jolly Roger from a distance sitting in the middle of the small bay.
Killian had already taken off the leather helm that hid his features and continued to hold Emma's hand to lead her down the path towards the small boats that would take them to the Jolly. They all boarded the small crafts and rowed towards Killian's ship. They finally were safely aboard the ship when Killian yelled orders to weigh anchor so they could sail away.
"Emma, get downstairs in the cabin," Killian told her.
"No! I want to stay with you!" Emma countered.
"If Regina wakes and catches up, she could see you and kill you this time," Killian reasoned. "Please, hide yourself in the cabins."
Emma relented and went down to the cabin where she had stayed on her first trip on the Jolly.
She was able to see what was happening when she looked out the window. Killian had sailed out of the small bay but turned towards the Main Harbor. She spotted some other ships that were blasting the cannons toward the town. She saw that the shots were aimed at the place where she was sold at the auction. She hoped there were no other slaves there. She heard a big discharge and she saw the Jolly Roger was also shooting their guns and cannons at the town.
Killian did tell her about Calico Jack's plan to level the slave trading town. It was best that such places were blown out of existence. Surprisingly these pirates were doing a good thing. She remembered when she had spoken with Killian about it one night. She asked why pirates would want to destroy a slave trading place.
Killian mused at her question. "A pirate's life is about freedom and adventure. To think there is a place or people that would want to take another person's freedom away from them is the antithesis of a pirate. And besides, a pirate's ship could be taken anytime and a pirate could be sold as a slave. Wouldn't want to be anyone else's slave but yours, love."
Emma smiled at the memory of how Killian's eyes twinkled at the thought.
As soon as the Jolly Roger passed the town and unloaded most of its gunpowder, Captain Jones saluted Captain Jack as they sailed away. Captain Jack returned the salute and his crew gave up a cheer for the Jolly Roger. Captain Jones gave orders to hoist the sails and turn the rudder away from the town to make as much distance as they could out into the vast ocean so they could be far away from Regina.
Killian remembered the discussion he had with Emma one night. The only way Emma, her family and the kingdom would be safe was to get rid of Regina once and for all. He almost had the chance when he knocked her out with the sleeping potion in the wine but her genie stopped him. He cursed himself for missing that opportunity. Maybe he could have taken the hit and killed her at the same time so at least Emma would be free. He discounted that seeing as the genie could have hit Emma with his magic as well and killed her. He shuddered at the thought.
After seeing the vast ocean from all sides of the Jolly, Emma emerged from her cabin. She made her way towards Killian where he stood.
"Come, Emma," Killian beckoned to have her stand in front of the ship's wheel. "Help me steer the ship."
"I wouldn't even know where to go," Emma said as she stood in front of him.
Killian put his arms around her and placed her hands on the wheel while he guided the ship. He just wanted to feel her close to him.
"We'll find out soon enough," Killian assured her. "Mr. Smee!"
"Yes, Cap'n," Mr. Smee answered right away.
Emma smiled at Mr. Smee and gave him a wave which he happily returned.
"Since you are a procurer of hard to find objects, you would know where to find a phoenix feather," Killian stated.
"Aye, Cap'n," Mr. Smee responded. "I wouldn't know where to find a phoenix feather directly but I know who to ask. Sir Dashwood."
"Wycombe it is then," Killian had his heading. He pulled out his compass which guided him where to go. They were going after the phoenix feather to set Emma's magic free.
Captain Killian Jones stood at the helm feeling the happiest he has ever felt with the wind at his sails and the love of his life in his arms.