OK... there is a LOT of information in this chapter.
I think I have covered everything and now my head may just explode lol
As always please review.
Enjoy
:)
"Emma grab him, he's gonna fall" David yelled as he realized what was happening and Hook nearly tumbled from the lounger but in the same instant that the Pirate had started gasping seemingly getting caught up in a panic attack both Junior and Regina fell to the ground too.
Mary-Margaret was off like a shot scooping Junior up in her arms and racing back over to the loungers lying him down on the one that David had just struggled up from to try and help Regina. By the time David had manged to get to his feet though Regina was already pulling herself up with the help of Tiger Lily and Rufio.
David looked back to Emma who was trying to get Hook to calm down his breathing, what the hell was going on? Why had Regina been effected by Hook's panic attack?
"Regina what's going on?" he yelled needing to understand the chaos.
"I remember..." she replied clutching her head in her hands "I remember it all and it's not good David"
"What? Why? What happened?"
"We were right, this is to do with Gold... he is trying to reunited the two gems that make up the Jewel of Duplicity" she gasped as David guided her to a seat and helped her to sit down
Emma suddenly yelled out her Pirate's name behind them still trying to calm him down but she looked like she was failing badly, David swung round to see Mary-Margaret now sitting on the other lounger with Junior lying practically unconscious in her arms as his little chest lurched up and down, this couldn't be good for the kid.
"I don't understand... what is going on? Why were you effected by Hook's panic attack and when I think about it what happened to kick that off? He was fine two seconds ago!"
"He's remembering David, he's remembering his time in that cave and from what I remember of him down there I'm not surprised that he's struggling to process it" she gasped out "but I also know why we had forgotten what happened until now"
"Gold" David grit out already knowing the answer "He used some kind of memory spell didn't he"
"I think so, I think that as long as we didn't concentrate on the gem too much it seemed unimportant... the minute we realized that it was the key to all of this, you know when you said the gem was blue not red it triggered something and BOOM. Sensory overload!"
"He... he was...there!" Hook suddenly gasped and his eyes went wide in fear before he scrunched his face back up trying to get away from the images within his own head.
David turned back to Regina "What the hell did he do to you two?"
"I don't know exactly what he did to Hook, Gold wasn't there when I was in the cave with him but I know that the Dark One made me forget that there were two gems. I went to his shop to ask for help back when I was trying to figure out how to get our magic back but Gold wasn't there. I was about to leave again when I saw an ancient spell book on the counter... it looked out of place so I opened it up and that's when I found the other gem, the blue one. It was in a hollowed out space in the pages next to another empty hollowed out space, I knew in a second what it was, everything just clicked into place. Two gems, one blue, one red! Anybody with any kind of magical background would know that it was half of the Jewel. So I quickly stuck it in my pocket and closed the book just as Gold reappeared but he didn't look like Gold... he was disguised as Devin... he had obviously been in the cave with Hook hence this reaction." she paused giving Hook a worried look before carrying on "Gold must have attacked me because the next thing I knew I was waking up in the cave and that's when I realized that there were two Killians. I showed Hook that I had found the other gem and he nearly told me where the red one was but I stopped him just in time..."
"What? Why? We could have held them both" David was so confused
"Because those two gems are made from the two sides of magic. The red side is made from dark and the blue from light. Combined they balance each other out."
"Like Yin and Yang?" Henry suddenly said causing David to turn not realizing that the kid had been listening
"Yes" Regina agreed "I had the blue stone, it had no effect on me but we all know exactly what happened when I touched the red one, it's power was too much for me and influenced my magic"
"I don't understand" David said again shaking his head "I held the red one and it had no effect on me"
"You don't have magic David" Regina replied "The Jewel of Duplicity was created a long time ago, legend says that it was created by a Dark One and a powerful sorcerer for light magic that was being controlled by the Dark One at the time but no one really knows. There was a story many years ago that it had finally been split by two Pirates, the Dark One was enraged when he found out and the Pirates took each half of the gem in different directions to hide them but it would seem that they must have reunited at some point because when the Dark one finally caught up with them they were together. He only managed to find them after hearing tall tales of a Pirate that could double his treasure in the blink of an eye, he knew this wasn't true, neither Pirate had held magic so they couldn't have made the gem work, it was simply their way of causing more mystery about themselves."
"Why did he not just kill one of the Pirates? He could have forced the other one to give up the missing gems" Henry asked with a frown "Why make a deal?"
David suddenly gasped as he understood "Because if he had killed either one to get the gem the other Pirate would have died too and he may never have been able to find either one. The two Pirates were Blackbeard. He was split by the gem's magic, it has to have been him and knowing how his mind works the two of them probably never told the other where they had hidden their own stone so the information couldn't be tortured out of them... they held all the cards"
"The rumor said that the Pirates tricked the Dark One. The Dark One managed to get the blue light magic gem by promising to send one of the Pirates to another realm for some reason which he did but the remaining Pirate betrayed him, he gave him a bag which supposedly contained the red gem but in fact it was just a pebble that was enchanted to look like it. The enchantment was only revealed once the Dark One tried to reunite the jewel."
"So that's how Blackbeard got to this realm. We think that it's the only way to break the link caused by the gem, the two people that are connected being in different realms, I mean the Blackbeard of this realm died but our one is still very much alive" David said with wide eyes "But why does Gold want to reunite the jewel?"
"You saw what the single gem did David, it's not called the Jewel of Duplicity just for it's ability to duplicate things. Without the balance of it's other half it's magic is unpredictable, it is literally duplicitous in nature. It may very well duplicate something with no issue but then again it may change something about the item... or person in Hook's case. I think Gold is trying to duplicate his power or something equally bad and if I'm right I know why he has Blue's heart. To make the Jewel work he needs magic but the gem takes magic and consumes it and he would not be willing to lose his for any reason, he would be able force the Blue Fairy to cast the necessary spell and she would lose her magic not him"
"Could he be trying to create two dark ones!" David exclaimed
"I have no idea" Regina replied giving a shrug "But you can bet whatever it is he is planning it's not good"
"We need to stop him" David gasped standing up quickly "He already has the two gems, we have to go"
But suddenly Belle was the voice of reason "I don't think he does. If Rumple had both those gems already he would have used them. He is too calm. The thought of doubling his power or himself or whatever ridiculous notion he has would be too much for him to hide but he slept like a baby last night... he doesn't have it, not yet anyway... I'd lay money on it"
David had a sudden thought "Regina, if you had the gem in the cave how did Tootles end up with it?"
Regina suddenly rummaged in her purse and pulled out her cell. He sat nervously waiting and when she turned the phone around he saw a photo of the blue gem.
"I took photos. Back in the cave I realized that I needed to get out and warn you all what Gold was up to, I tried to take Hook with me, I didn't want to leave him there by himself but in the end I didn't have a choice. I managed to get through into the mine tunnels and I hid it here" she flicked the screen to show one of the tunnels with a crack that ran from top to bottom "I jammed it in that crack not wanting to take it back where Gold might get it and I was right to do so because when I made it to the library elevator he caught up to me... that's when I woke up in my office with my shoes missing, they're probably still back in that cave and that is how my ribs magically healed themselves... or didn't to be more precise, Rumple did it when he healed the injuries he inflicted on me obviously not knowing that I had hurt them in the cave not when he attacked me. You said Tootles came from the library that night, he must have found the gem and came up through the tunnels to get back to Main Street."
"Of course" David said clicking his fingers "Gold needed someone to find the gem, he had the Lost Ones searching for it, Tootles didn't run away... he was taken. He really was trying to do the right thing, he was trying to get back to warn us and Gold killed him"
Belle suddenly gave a wobble and sat down with a hard thump onto the closest chair, tears were leaking down her face now "He killed him on purpose didn't he? He killed that poor boy to keep him quiet. How could I have been so stupid? I believed him... "
"Belle this is not your fault" Regina suddenly said looking quite annoyed "He is the Dark One, don't you dare blame yourself for this"
But just then David heard Emma behind him again "Rufio can you help me? I need to get Hook back inside"
David turned to see that the Pirate had passed out, he looked awful... almost gray in color.
What the hell had he gone through in that cave? But then David suddenly thought about Junior, he looked quickly to see that Mary-Margaret still clutching him to her chest, the tears were tumbling down her face too as she rocked him back and forth soothing him. David was moving in a second hissing through his teeth as he came down on his knees in front of her.
"Is he OK?" he asked bringing a hand up to the kid's face
She gave a little nod then whispered "He's sleeping now, he'll be fine"
"Come on, let's get him back inside too. You can put him in the bed next to Hook"
He struggled back to his feet and they all moved inside. Rufio ended up carrying Hook bridal style and gently laid him down on his bed. Mary-Margaret quickly changed Junior out of his wet swim shorts into pajama pants then laid him down on Emma's side of the bed immediately dropping down next to him rubbing soothing circles on his chest.
"He was so scared David" she whispered
"I know" was all David could say pulling her into his front as he stood by her side.
David watched as Emma dropped down next to Hook and brushed the hair from his forehead with a sigh but in the next second she gave a gasp as Hook stirred, he gave a groan and his hand found it's way first to his hip then up to his ribs... then he was moving, he was trying to claw his way from the bed obviously not fully over the attack. His arms were instantly lashing out trying to fend off an attacker that wasn't even there.
"Killian... it's over" Emma practically yelled but the sound of her voice only made him jump in surprise, he gasped and threw himself back falling hard against the dresser and sending the stuff that sat on it across the floor as Hook slid down to join them.
"Help me get him back on the bed" David yelled at Rufio as they both tried to grab hold of the still struggling Pirate. They hauled him back up but David couldn't keep a tight enough grip with his already broken fingers being aggravated by his recent attack. Emma took over and between the two of them they managed to manhandle him back up. Hook's eyes were unfocused now obviously still caught up in the horrors of that cave but after a few minutes of Emma sitting by his side talking to him he finally started to give long blinks as he came back to reality.
"He... he... has the two gems." he stuttered curling in on himself obviously trying to alleviate the pain.
"We know" Emma soothed "Just try and lie still OK, come on, take some steady breaths"
But as if on cue the convulsive shaking that often hit him after an attack took over and he was gasping and whimpering in obvious pain and distress, his breathing started picking up and that damned glazed look was back... not again, he couldn't have another attack now, it was too soon!
"I'm calling Whale" David grit out digging his cell from his back pocket, he couldn't let this carry on.
He made the call and Whale promised that he would be there soon and fifteen minutes later he made good on it as he practically ran through the door. Hook was sedated a few minutes later and the Pirate was finally at ease as Emma tugged the sheet up and dropped a kiss on his cheek. Whale promised to return later that night along with the much needed books then left.
Junior stirred briefly but all he did was move further over the bed and cuddle into Hook's side before going back to sleep. Emma finally stood and made her way around the bed to talk, the others all gathered around to listen.
"We need to sort this... this needs to end"
Belle sucked in a deep breath "I will find out as much as I can, I will try and keep Rumple with me at all times. He has tricked me for the last time I swear, once this is over we are done. I will find a way to sort this I promise you... I'm going to try and find his dagger then he won't be able to do anything and we will get the truth." She gave them a very determined nod then headed to the door "Can you please call me when Killian wakes up? I need to know that he's alright and I'm leaving Blue's heart with you, Rumple is NOT getting his hands on it at least that way we know that he can't enact the spell"
"Good idea" Emma replied with a sad smile "For what it's worth I'm sorry Belle, I know how much you love him"
Belle just gave a little smile but she wore a look of determination on her face now, she knew that Gold had to be stopped. She gave a curt nod then she was gone, rushing down the steps and disappearing from sight.
"Myself and Tiger Lily are going to go to these tunnels you spoke of" Rufio said stepping forward. We will see if these Lost Ones are still there. Please, look after Rapha while we are gone"
"Be careful" David warned then growled "God, I wish I could go with you but right now I'd just slow you down"
Mary-Margaret suddenly stood up "I'll go"
"What?" David practically yelled eliciting a lot of shushing noises from the women in the room
"I'm going David and don't you dare try and stop me... I am Snow White and I will not see my family suffer anymore. I just need to swing by the loft to pick up my bow then I am good to go"
"I'm going too" Emma blurted out "Looks like you're on baby sitting duty Dad"
David looked at Regina with an open mouth as she too stepped towards the door "You too?"
"No, I'll stay with you, I need to talk to the Blue Fairy when she arrives but I have a potion that may just give us the upper hand... Devin isn't the only one in town that can use invisibility to their advantage" she turned to Mary-Margaret "You go get your bow and I'll meet you out front in ten"
Mary-Margaret nodded quickly at Regina before coming forward to hug David "I'll be careful, I promise but we have to know for sure if Gold has that gem"
"I know" he said with a smile "Go, I'll be fine."
"Don't worry David" Rufio suddenly said stepping forward to shake his hand "This is a scouting mission only, unless things are dire we will be taking no action today. Our best course of action is to gather as much intel as possible then plan our attack with reinforcements."
"Yeah, I have a few people that I may know that would be only too happy to help with that task. We can call a meeting once we know what we are dealing with"
They all made their way to the door but Emma looked reluctant to go as she looked at the bed. David turned to see Henry pulling himself onto the bed and cuddling into the two sleeping forms.
"I'll watch over them Emma, I promise. You know that they're safe in here, they'll be fine"
She met his gaze and gave a smile "Thanks Dad"
Then the party was gone too leaving David and Rapha standing at the foot of the bed, he ruffled the kids hair "How about a movie?"
Rapha just gave a small nod obviously not knowing how he should react in this situation so David just tried to seem as normal as possible. He walked to the dresser to get the iPad but it wasn't there, it was lying on the floor.
"Kid" he whispered to Rapha "Can you grab Hook's iPad for me? I'm not really good at the whole bending thing right now"
Rapha came over and picked it up handing it to David then without prompting he started picking up the book's too, one had been pushed under the bed slightly and he actually ended up on his hands and knees but when he stood back up it wasn't the book in his hand that David was looking at.
Rapha held the quartz rock in his other hand and it was giving off a soft white glow... Devin was near by!