He'd gone to the Mansion in hopes of getting answers and perhaps a way to find the Apprentice. Now, as the sun was beginning its descent, he drove away from the mansion with three bristles of a broom and a plan in mind.
No, he didn't know where the Apprentice was, but with these bristles, he knew how he could find him. And he knew what he was going to do with him once he found him. And he knew what he was going to do with Hook once he came crawling back to him, begging for his hook back. He didn't know how his date with Belle was going to go tonight, but that was a part of his life he was happy to keep surprising.
When he returned, he pulled the car up right next to the shop. The lights were off in the library. Belle wasn't there anymore, but when he activated the magic he'd attached to her ring, he felt her just down the street at Granny's, probably grabbing them some dinner. Excellent timing…
He used the side door to head into the shop so that the front windows remained undisturbed, then-
There was someone in the library.
No. No, not in the library, outside of it, on the property.
Two someone's, now.
The protection spells he'd set up for Belle recognized one of them, the one who had just come too close to the door. Captain Hook. Curious, he wandered over to the front window and peered through the blinds. Hook stood at the door to the library, talking to…was that Will Scarlett? Dove's friend, the one who had done some work for him in the past?
If the men had simply remained talking to one another, he might have been able to confirm that, but then Hook reared his arm back and swung that old fist into the man's jaw.
He stepped away from the blinds with a smile on his face. Perfect. It wasn't even dinner time, and Hook was already getting himself into trouble with that hand of his. He knew it wouldn't take long.
He took his time in the shop, as much as he could, knowing that Belle was down the street, and he wanted to surprise her by picking her up at the diner. He put the bristles in the safe and checked on the hat, as well as his dagger. Hell, he even summoned some flowers from Game of Thorns, half expecting that at any moment, Hook would come to his senses and storm into his shop demanding his hook back. But when the man didn't show, and he knew it was time to pick Belle up, he turned back to the side door and locked up the building.
So, Hook wouldn't be stopping by tonight. That was fine. He'd predicted it would take a day, and even with a night to stew in what he'd done, depriving the Pirate of a good night's sleep, there would still be many hours in that time period for him to come to him. Tomorrow, he'd solve all of this. Tomorrow, he'd get Hook in line and end the blackmail. Tomorrow, he'd-
No sooner had he gotten into his car did he find the passenger side door flung open and Hook himself jumped inside. Fuck. Just when he was looking forward to tomorrow…
"You were right."
Of course, he was. But now that he'd wasted his good time, he'd prefer this point be made tomorrow.
"Get out."
"I don't want this infernal hand anymore. It's taken possession of me."
And clearly, the idea he'd put in his head was actually what had taken possession of him, just as he'd intended.
"You should have heeded my warning when I offered it."
"I can't control it! Remove the damned thing before it makes me do something you'll regret."
"Was that a threat?"
"Aye, mate. Take it back, or Belle learns that the dagger she has is as fake as your new disposition."
Oh, he really was tired of this.
"Oh, is it?" he questioned.
"Is it what?"
"Fake?"
"Well, you wouldn't have given me the hand if it weren't."
"After you extracted that price, I switched the real dagger back."
"No, you're lying."
"Am I?" The joys of being a dishonest man. One could always trust them to be dishonest. This was no better than hide the lady. Which statement was the real one, and which was the fake one? By now it would be getting harder for the pirate to tell. And given his plans to keep Belle busy and away from her phone tonight, there would be no time for him to decide and test that theory by involving her. Hook was caught in his trap, and he knew it. His face said it all. "Seems you've lost the leverage you once had. So, if you want to part ways with that hand and get this back…" he used magic to summon the hook from his shop, "there's only one way I'll help."
Hook looked the hook over with the gaze he expected, like someone who hated it and wanted it all at the same time. That was perfect. "Damn. What do you want?"
"All in due time."
"And you think I'm daft enough to agree to that without knowing the terms? I'll find another way to rid myself of this damned hand."
"I'm afraid that's easier said than done. You see, my magic put that hand on, and only my magic can take it off." He let that sink in, let the knowledge fill him up and shake his fear and-
Without warning, Hook leaned forward and grabbed the hook, forcing it into his chest at nearly the same damn place he'd once gotten that before. He hadn't expected it. For a moment, he cried out in shock and surprise and pain as it scraped his sternum, but then…then he laughed. Hook, his oldest enemy, the one who knew more about his dagger than potentially anyone, had tried this again?! It was nothing but the act of an angry man with no choices. And he could certainly use it against him.
"You'd think you'd have learned the first time you buried that hook in me…it never sticks…" He used his magic to remove it and heal himself in the blink of an eye.
"That wasn't me."
Or so he chose to believe, not that he was going to argue at the moment. Hook was looking at his shaking hand as though it was a demon. This was more than having him right where he wanted him. This was playing with his food.
"You're losing control, dearie. Next time, you might do something to someone who can't be so easily fixed."
"You have a deal," he breathed, closing his eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes."
"Oh, I do love it when they say that. Meet me at the docks tomorrow morning, Captain. We have work to do."
Short chapter but a necessary one. I do love how Rumple plays him like a fiddle here. There's something so very satisfying about it.
Thank you, Rsbeall12 and Grace5231973, for your reviews on the previous chapter. Much appreciated, as always. Let's see where tomorrow's chapter takes us! Peace and Happy Reading!