2

For at least among thieves, there is honor!

"I need it to open a door!" Delila said, her voice small and shrill as she watched the hook disappearing out of her line of sight. "I need it to open a door!"

The pirate's grip only tightened. At her throat, Delila felt the cold sting of metal. "Good start. A little sketchy."

"The egg is an offering, it lets you pass through."

"Yes, and two add two equals four. Tell me something I don't know. What's behind this door?"

"The greatest treasure in the world," Delila breathed, just managing to keep her voice steady.

He span her around, keeping a tight grip on her shoulder, and once again placed the hook at her jugular. He wanted to see her face, she realised. Lying was too easy with her back to him.

"Treasure?" he repeated. "What kind of treasure?"

"The best kind." She made herself meet his gaze, refusing to blink. His eyes were so blue-lagoon blue. The colour of the tropics.

"And you want to retrieve this treasure why?"

"To restore my family name. Our house was of a high rank, once, in our corner of the realm. Now it's destitute."

"I see." From his expression he seemed convinced, though he didn't lower his weapon. "And in which corner of the realm is this door?"

"Not far from where I lived. The only reason I'm all the way out here is the egg."

He paused, reflecting. "But you're clearly a resourceful sort of lass-lady," he amended quickly as she shot him a glare. "Why not find your fortune somewhere else? Somewhere easier to get into, for one. Like my cabin."

At this she shifted uncomfortably, hoping he wouldn't think to check her pockets for coins and trinkets. He simply chuckled at his joke, however, and pressed a little harder against her neck.

"Like I said, it's not like ordinary treasure. It's unique. Worth more gold than my family ever had."

"How do you know?"

"An old man told me. Some kind of wizard, I think. He told me how to get through the door, and what to do once I'm inside."

"And you'd believe the word of a decrepit lunatic?" Hook lowered his head and gave her an admonishing look. "Listen darling, you've made a decent pitch, all things considered, but I'm not buying. You think I'll let you off in exchange for a share of this plunder? That I'll offer you passage and we'll turn rudder to shore together? I'll only risk my life for two things: love and revenge."

"Doesn't love of money count?"

To her surprise, he laughed. "The first honest thing I've said all night, and she mocks me for it. No, I'm afraid money doesn't count. Not when my neck's on the line-or my reputation. So unless you've got some extremely useful information on how to dispatch the Dark One, your fate is already sealed, love."

He drew a jagged line across her throat, and for a moment she thought he had really slit it. Her hands flew to the spot, but there was only a scratch, slightly raised as the skin became inflamed. It was still enough to break her last nerve.

"But I do know about the Dark One!"

The captain's face dropped. "Don't bluff me, girl. I don't get on well with liars."

"I'm not lying. Why would I lie?"

"To keep yourself alive."

"Alright, fair point. But I'm not lying. I know where you can find out more about him." Delila's legs were trembling as though she'd just run five leagues, her heart bouncing off her ribs.

"Where? You just said you knew the information."

"Look, I'm your best chance of discovering his secrets and that's that. If you don't believe me, go ahead and kill me. Good luck with your revenge."

They stared one another down for what felt like an eternity. At last, Hook rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh of exasperation.

"Fine. Go on and convince me. If you really do have something useful for me, I might not have to kill you after all."

"If you kill me, you'll never find out what I know."

The pirate blinked. He dipped his head in a swift double-take, then cocked it to the side incredulously. "You're not seriously trying to bargain with me, are you?"

"I still need that egg."

"There are no negotiations on this, sweetheart. You tell me everything, and I let you go. That's all there is to this transaction."

"Too bad. Like I said, I still need the egg, and I'm not leaving without it."

In a flash, his hand had jumped from Delila's shoulder to the back of her head; he took a fistful of her hair and yanked her towards him. Hissing, she only struggled for an instant before deciding that resistance wasn't worth the pain. He leaned in, his nose just a few inches from hers, every line of his face etched with malice.

"Stubborn thing," he tutted. "You think I won't do worse than kill you? You said so yourself-pirates don't do fair deals."

"And you said there were only two things you'd risk your life for," she spat back at him. "So you'll understand me when I say this. There's only two things I'd endure torture for: love, and diamond-shelled eggs."

Hook's blue eyes moved rapidly back and forth as he searched her face. Amidst the prickling fear and the boiling anger, she found herself tingling with another sensation. He was so close she could feel his breath stirring against her lips, could make out every lash around his kohl-rimmed eyes. Suddenly the little space left between them was palpable, vibrating with energy. His disfigured arm slid around her waist, the hook digging into the small of her back.

"You know, I'm really beginning to like you," he said, his mouth curving in another winning smile. "But you're right. Torture it is."