"That miserable cur has pressed his luck for too long." Killian grumbled. "It's time we dealt with him, permanently. If he hasn't learned to leave us alone by now, he never will. And I don't want to risk him finally finding a way to control you."
He and Emma had discovered the three broken bottles. The contents were tested and found to be potions that were banned.
"He must have found a witch dealing in forbidden spellwork. Which means he's broken the laws of the council. The next time he tries something, we can deal with him however we wish, without risking reprimand from the council for ending a life without due cause."
Before, Neal had just been a nuisance. He hadn't done anything that posed a real threat. Killian and Emma could tear him apart, since he was a supernatural being, he could heal, but they couldn't outright end Neal's life.
But the moment he obtained those forbidden potions, he had sealed his death warrant.
When they told Nemo what they had discovered, their boss, and sea demon, agreed with them.
"Dealing in forbidden magic alone is punishable by death. The council know that if the humans believed the supernaturals were trying to control them, we would have a war on our hands. Not only are you now allowed to end Neal for good, but we are obligated to find the witch who sold him the potions and dispose of her as well."
It occurred to them that the witch dealing in forbidden potions may be connected to the beast breaking in and stealing valuable items from the homes of the elite.
Nemo advised Killian and Emma to follow that lead.
Supernaturals were not the only beings to be tempted into dealing in the dark arts. There were many humans who would see the forbidden spells as easy salutations to their problems. And it stood to reason that they might try to cover up the price they paid for such magic by setting up a burglary.
Going over the evidence of the previous encounters with a new perspective in mind, Emma and Killian could easily see how the thefts could actually be staged.
"Everyone who was robbed had been at a public event prior to the theft. And no one had been at the residence at the time of the break in. That reeks of an inside job."
"We already figured it had to be someone who was part of the elite. And we guessed it must be someone who's having money troubles. Now we have a clue to look at someone who might be desperate enough to work with a shady supernatural being. And betray their colleagues."
"Loyalty is rare. More so when money is involved. There are a lot of people who would sell out their own mother if it meant living a lifestyle of wealth and privilege."
"And they call us monsters." Killian shook his head at the irony.
"I hate that so much of you is covered." Killian grumbled, nuzzling into Emma, trying to get her scent, which was muffled by the layers of fabric.
The clothing plus a hat and a parasol would protect her from the sun touching and harming her delicate skin. Unfortunately for Killian, these items hindered his view of the woman he desired.
"We have to blend in. Trust me, I am not fond that every button of yours is closed. But the formal dress of the business class of the city will allow us to investigate without suspicion."
By visiting the popular pubs, taverns, and eateries of the working class, the two hoped to overhear any conversation that referred to the break-ins, or someone possibly using forbidden magic.
Walking through the city, to any onlookers, they were an attractive couple simply enjoying one another's company.
In actuality, they were using their supernatural hearing to listen in on conversations that were a great distance away.
Killian and Emma located a tavern that was popular with the laboring class. They felt it would be beneficial to talk to those who the gentry often ignored. Because they were rarely spoken to, there was a great chance they had overheard talk of the strange thefts. And maybe of someone interested in acquiring a forbidden spell or potion.
They found a table for two by the large window. A slight turn of their heads would allow them to watch the room, or get a look of any passers by.
As they sat at the table, Killian noticed several men looking toward Emma with lust. He had to take deep breaths and remind himself that they had a job to do, and he couldn't just gouge at those men's eyes, no matter how much they may deserve it.
Emma noticed her lover's mood turning sour. Reaching out to him, taking hold of his hand, she whispers so only he could hear, "They will never see me the way you do. They'll never press their bodies against mine. They will never brush their lips over the most sensitive places on my skin. They will never go home with me. And it won't be their name's I will be calling out when you're making me come."
She moved closer to him at the table. Sliding her hand over his thigh, moving to cup the bulge that was quickly hardening at her touch, she whispered a promise, "When we are done with our investigation, you and I will have each other, in every carnal way we can imagine. Until then, remember that I am yours completely."
"Just as I am yours, completely, my love." Killian whispered back. The primal side of him wanted to take Emma right there. Show everyone who dared covet her that only he could truly satisfy her. Luckily for everyone, the logical side of him realized he needed to keep his instincts in check and focus on the case. At least until they returned home.
Just as the sun was about to set, the couple overheard two men sitting at the bar mention the strange break ins.
"Most bizarre thing I have ever seen. The door was ripped right off of its hinges, but the china cabinet remained unscratched?"
"And that was all that was taken? A Faberge egg?"
"Yep. All of those valuable items. But the creature only wanted the egg. A silver dining set. Crystal drink ware. The thief could have gotten a small fortune for the contents of that cabinet."
"Isn't that the same egg that was in all of the photos when the guy who owned it nominated the area's most eligible bachelor?"
"That's the one. The thief must be lazy. A little more research would have let the guy know just how much more money he could have made."
"Well, making any money is going to be difficult. That egg is too famous. There's not a lot of people who would want to be anywhere near it."
"There's always Benjamin Gunn. Or his former captain, Flint. Either might know of a few people who would be willing to smuggle that egg somewhere where no one knows its history. The way I've heard it, Flint likes to deal in the dangerous."
With smiles on their faces, Emma and Killian looked at one another and said at the same time, "Let's go talk to Benjamin Gunn."
The couple found the former pirate sitting on the porch of a small stone cottage near the harbor.
"What do you know about a pirate called Flint?" Emma asked.
"Gold and blood. Those are his trademarks. You go up against Old Flint, you best either have the first, or be ready for the second."
"I recall in my travels that Flint was feared above all the pirates. Except for maybe two others. A man named Silver. And another called Black Beard." Killian said.
"There is a lot of death associated with those names, lad. I'd be careful if I was you."
"There is a lot of death connected to me. And I can more than handle myself."
Killian allowed his eyes to glow a hypnotic blue. He smiled a menacing smile, revealing teeth elongated and sharpened to a deadly point."
The old codger looked wide eyed at Emma, wondering what kind of woman would walk with a werewolf.
"Death is something we keep close company with." Emma's own smile revealed razor sharp fangs. Her eyes, which glowed a haunting green, were rimmed in darkness.
"A vampire and a werewolf? How can this be?"
"We are not here to tell of our love story. We are here to find out where we might find Captain Flint. Or his first mate, John Silver."
"Silver is not Flint's first mate, anymore. There was a mutiny. During the fight, Flint shot silver in the leg. It had to be amputated. The way I hear it, a few of his limbs are mechanical now. Flint took off to parts unknown. Whether he's alive or dead," The old codger shrugged, "Who knows. No one has seen or heard a word from him in years."
"Do you believe that either Flint, Silver, or Black Beard have anything to do with the break-ins that are made to look like a werewolf is the culprit?" Emma asked.
"Neither Flint or Silver would blame another for their work. Both men have always been too proud of what they are. Black Beard, on the other hand, has always used trickery and deception. But he loves the sea. I don't see him robbing a house. Then again, he may have made a deal with someone." Gunn scratched his stubbled jaw and thought out loud. "He's greedy enough. You should talk to Billy Bones. Buy him a few pints and he will tell you the secrets of every sea fairing, black hearted villain alive or dead."
"Where can we find this Billy Bones?" Emma asked.
"Any tavern near any port. Old Billy doesn't like to travel too far once he has a little coin in his pocket."
It took going to three taverns to find who they were looking for.
Killian purchased a bottle of the finest rum, a bottle of the finest brandy, and a bottle of the finest whiskey. He and Emma sat across from Billy at a table, and promised to give him the drinks if he told them everything he knew about the connection between the robberies and the pirates.
Once he saw the bottles, Billy was all too eager to tell them everything he knew.
"Blackbeard don't like competition. He's made a deal with some magic fold to take down Flint and John Silver." Billy laughed gleefully as Emma poured some rum into his tankard. "Blackbeard got real mad when Flint intercepted a ship carrying some real nice spices. They would have gotten him a fortune, ya see. Instead, it was Flint and his crew who lived like kings for three months."
"But what would Blackbeard have against Silver?" Killian asked. "You would think he would be glad that Silver tried to take down Flint."
"Silver damaged Blackbeard's ship!" Bones cackled. "Cost him a king's ransom in repairs. Half of his crew went off to work for Silver."
"I thought that no one had seen or heard anything about Flint for years? Why would Blackbeard care about getting revenge now?" Emma asked.
"Pirates have long memories, lass. A hundred lifetimes could pass, and they would still pursue revenge."
"And Blackbeard is pursuing revenge on Flint and Silver?" Killian asked.
"Yep, found a witch who knew how to make potions that most know not to be messing with. She has him taking certain items from certain people. I don't know what their end goal is exactly. I just know magic is involved."
"Do you know who this witch is?" Emma asked, wondering if it's the same witch who gave her maker and ex the illegal potions that would have enslaved her and harmed her beloved Killian.
"Zelena. As wicked as they come, that one. Prone to petty jealousy. Way I hear it, she got into magic because she liked the attention it gave her. Turned to the forbidden stuff when she didn't like other people getting praised for being just as gifted as her. She's been cast out by most of the magic folk, for casting spells on her fellow witches. She has to move around a lot. And keep herself hidden. So don't ask me where you'll find her."
"How did Blackbeard find her?" Killian asked.
"She found him. She seems to know when a desperate and greedy soul is in need of her services."
"If we want to find her, we're going to have to contact the magic wielding community. Emma said. "Luckily for us, there's a ball tomorrow night. Any respectable member of the supernatural community may attend."
Killian smiled. "Does that mean you will be wearing one of your best vampire gowns?"
"Yes it does." Emma said with a roll of her eyes, knowing exactly what had her lover so interested in her wardrobe.
A ball gown often meant Emma would be wearing a corset. Which would accentuate her figure and prop up her breasts.
Killian could barely keep his eyes (or hands) off of her when she was wearing a corset.
"We have a job to do." She reminded him as they left the tavern and entered the carriage to make their way back to their home. "You need to keep that wolf of yours in check. At least until we've completed our task."
"I'll try, love. But you know how territorial he gets. Especially when you look like temptation itself."
Emma let out a fake put upon sigh and said, "Well, then I suppose we need to spend the rest of our night ensuring your wolf that he has fully and completely claimed me."