Not long after that chaotic evening, Cassie wound up in Helena's salon, recounting the entire ordeal of that week. A long chat with the Queen of Hearts was well overdue, especially after spending the majority of her time with the pirates.

Harry had decided to take up her training again, much to Starla's irritation. He hadn't mentioned what'd had him so out of focus and avoiding her for those few days, but Cassie wouldn't push it; he'd tell her when he was ready. Unfortunately for Cassie, though, he'd returned to their training with a heavy dose of enthusiasm. She'd thought he was difficult to duel before, but now he was all too happy to prove her wrong. Sure, she was getting better at predicting his moves and evading his swipes, but that didn't mean she was leaving their lessons without a scratch. More often than not, she retreated to her bedroom with a handful of wounds, thankfully within her ability to reach with her tongue. By the time they were done now, she longed for nothing more than the comfort of her bed, where she could soothe her aching limbs and heal her bloody wounds. This also meant she hadn't had as much spare time for Helena, and the guilt had begun to eat away at her.

When the pirate had come to fetch her tonight, Cassie had all but told him to go sit on his own hook. She'd been training with him for days, putting her best friend in the back seat in the process. So Cassie had told him that, one night a week, she'd be spending it at Helena's. It hardly came as a surprise when he was quite against the idea, reminding her that she wouldn't become a full member of Uma's crew if she didn't pass initiation, which was only two months away. In return, Cassie pointed out that it was only one night she was asking for, and it was ridiculous of him to attempt to refuse when she hadn't been asking for permission in the first place. And, well, with Harry being Harry, he'd taken that as a strike to either his ego or the fact he was higher on the chain than she was.

"Cassie," he groaned, almost threateningly. "Did ye' forget who ye'r talkin' to?"

The little cat rolled her eyes. "No. Did you?" The amusement of the split-second disbelief on his face at her defiance was almost worth the headache sure to follow.

"Two months, Kitty," he reminded her, forcing the words through his teeth. "If ye' don't pass, ye'r out on ye'r arse."

"I get it," she huffed, crossing her arms. "It's just one night. I don't see the big deal."

He snorted. "No big deal? D'ye have any idea how many would kill to be where ye' are right now?"

Irritation fuelled Cassie's retort, "On the crew? Or on you?"

Fury flared in his eyes, and he pushed his tongue against the inside of his cheek. "Yes," he eventually replied.

Cassie's irises flickered between her usual dark brown and a glowing yellow. "And what?" she snapped, pushing away from the armchair behind her to stand toe-to-toe with Harry. "Should I drop to my knees because the notorious Harry Hook gave me a second look?"

Glaring down at her, he responded, "Aye, would be a good start."

"If that's what you want," she seethed. "Go find someone else."

Cassie hadn't given him a moment to respond or even comprehend what she'd told him. Immediately after, she'd left the bedroom and headed straight for Helena's place.

And now here she was, recalling every moment to her friend without leaving out a single detail. Helena, for the most part, had remained silent during the little cat's tale, her chin balanced on her first as she pondered what she was being told.

"And now I'm here," finished Cassie, her legs draped over the armrest of a salon chair as she rested her head on her palm.

There was a moment of silence, where Helena gave a long-winded sigh and gently scratched at her hairline. Eventually, she pointed to the other side of the room. "And him?"

Cassie cocked her head, observing the pirate boy swinging in a circle on one of the chairs. "He's a little on edge," she replied, bringing her eyes back to Helena.

Even after being given the pass by Harry, Kody, for whatever reason, seemed unable to take Harry's word as truth. Almost convinced the hook-wielding pirate was waiting for a sliver of an opening where Cassie wasn't around to throw the pirate down with the sharks, Kody found his suspicions calmed when he lingered around the little cat. As agreed, he'd been cleaning the toilets of Uma's shoppe for the last few days. However, he consistently made sure Cassie, regardless of whether she was human or feline, was around to keep an eye on him. Sometimes, when she was feeling particularly cheeky, she'd move around the room and watch him frantically search for her. Being stuck cleaning up Uma's wasn't all bad, though. It gave him plenty of time to mess around with Maizie, who seemed oddly pleased at his presence. Whether it was because she took a sadistic delight at seeing his punishment or she genuinely wanted to be around him, Cassie still wasn't sure.

"Okay," breathed Helena, like she was trying her hardest to get to grips with everything that had happened so far. "First," she reached out to flick Cassie's forehead, earning a pained hiss from the little cat. "That's for not telling me he kissed you!"

Soothing her forehead, Cassie exclaimed, "I'm telling you now!"

Helena rolled her eyes. "Not the point! Why didn't you tell me before?" She clearly meant the evening Cassie's had slept over after Dragon Hall.

"There was a lot going on," was the little cat's defence. "I went kitty after we got back here, then you told me Harry burned down Maleficent's place."

Helena wagged her index finger. "Still no excuse." She then lowered her hand, an excited grin stretching her lips. "How was it?"

"What?" muttered Cassie, looking at her reflection. She pouted when she saw a faint red mark building on her forehead.

"This kiss!" yelled Helena, exasperated. "I wanna know."

Cassie paused, recounting that night in her head. "Uh, it was okay," she soon answered with a small shrug.

Helena looked about ready to strangle her. "You're fucking with me. All that fighting, and it was just 'okay'," she mocked.

"What am I supposed to say?" wondered Cassie, bewildered.

With a deadpan expression, Helena raised her hand and began listing on her fingers. "Slow? Fast? Hard? Soft? Where was he sitting? Hades, where were you sitting? Who leaned in first? I'm thinking he did, but you're a wildcard. Did he give you tongue? He looks like the type to do it on the first." Her eyes rolled skyward. "I guess it wasn't your first-first, but the actual first don't count 'cause you were out of it. Oh," Her eyes lit up. "Where did his hands go? Where did yours go?" By this point, Helena had run out of fingers and dropped her hands to her lap. "It was just a kiss, right?" Helena eyed the spot between Cassie's legs pointedly. "Of course it was; you guys weren't in there long enough. Unless," She grimaced and then shook her head. "Nah, he has to last longer than that."

Kody piped up from the other side of the room, "You know you're talking about my boss, right?" An uncomfortable expression twisted his features.

"Oh, sorry, Sweetie," taunted Helena. "The baby's in the back room if you wanna hang out with someone closer to your age."

Kody frowned. "You're rude."

She retorted, "You almost let my bestie die."

"Fine," he grumbled, slouching low in the chair.

"Anyway," muttered Helena, turning back to Cassie. "C'mon, tell me."

The little cat did her best to satisfy her friend's curiosity. "Uh, fast and hard, I guess? It didn't really last long. He was sitting on the bed; I was sitting on him. He leaned in first. No tongue," she was deadly certain with that last bit. "Uh, hands?" Cassie gnawed her bottom lip as she thought on it. "One was on the back of my neck. Don't know where the other one was. I didn't really touch him; I was too scared, and, well, it caught me off guard." Her brows furrowed then. "It was only a kiss."

A squeal passed through Helena's lips. "And? Did you?"

Cassie sighed, and with deep loathing, she mumbled, "Yes, I did."

The subject had come around when Helena had been explaining the concept of sex and sexual attraction to Cassie. This particular topic was based around kisses and how they were supposed to make someone feel. They'd gone over Cassie's first kiss with Maddy, where the little cat explained that she really hadn't felt anything other than aggravation and surprise. According to Helena, the first kiss between a new couple was supposed to 'knock you on your ass', her words specifically. The kind of kiss that set fire to your veins and stopped your brain from working, that made you want to crawl inside the body of the person you were kissing.

So, Helena's entire question had really been, 'So did you feel it?'.

Cassie's rather begrudging response? 'Yes, unfortunately, I did'.

"Ha!" the queen gleefully cheered. "I knew it." Her brows bounced suggestively. "It's the one good thing about hating each other—all the fire. Could'a stopped all that fighting a long time ago if you did that on the first night you met."

Cassie seriously doubted that. "Yeah," she half-heartedly mumbled.

Helena's mirth faded. "You still thinking about that fight?" she asked.

"He's just pissing me off!" exclaimed Cassie, lightly ruffling her hair. "He goes days without talking to me, doesn't even wanna be in the same room as me. Then he comes back, and he's, like, ten times harder on me! Now he's telling me I can't have one night off because it'll somehow ruin any training for my initiation. And then he acts like I'm supposed to worship the ground he walks on 'cause he wanted me to himself." A deep sigh escaped her. "I don't know what's going on."

In the corner of her eyes, Cassie found Kody walking the chair over to their side of the room, a silly little smile of slight wariness tugging at his lips. "Mind if I offer some thought?" he wondered.

Cassie stretched out her hand, offering him the space beside her and Helena. "Let's hear it."

Kody's smile extended, and he fidgeted in the chair, lowering his forearms to rest on his knees. He looked at Helena and then at Cassie, and, without hesitation or a shift in tone, said, "You're being a brat."

Cassie's jaw went slack. She blinked once and then twice, assuring herself that yes, he did in fact just call her that. "Huh?" she mumbled, only partly aware of Helena poorly attempting to muffle her giggles with the back of her hand.

Kody shrugged, clapping his hands together. "You're a brat, Cassie. Captain let you into the crew even after all that crap you put her and Harry through. She told you to move into the spare room on the ship so you'd be safe. When you're a cat, you get to hang around in the shoppe, even though Uma's ma' would go batshit if she found out we were letting animals in. She found a pirate who is not only one of our best to teach you but willing to stay up for most of the night when they could be getting some rest. And Harry?" Kody huffed out a laugh. "Shit, there's three other initiates he has to train when the sun's up, but he keeps himself awake at night to teach you. They're figuring out what works best for you, and you're whining that he's not giving you one night off? You think the other newbies can pull that crap?"

A humourless laugh escaped Cassie. Yes, most of what Kody was saying was true, and she was quite aware of how far Uma was willing to go to make sure she was adjusting to the crew. But he was forgetting one very important detail.

"You think I wanted this?" she hissed, indignation burning away at her rationality. "You think I wanted to be a pirate? They took away every other option! Do you know how humiliating it was to accept Uma's offer?! I didn't want the pirates, and I didn't want Harry! But they gave me no other choice. If I wanted to stay safe, then I had to join you. So forgive me if I don't give two shits about Harry missing out on a little sleep."

Kody stared back at Cassie, a certain knowing in his expression. "I'm starting to get why boss is always so pissed at you," he remarked.

Helena chimed in before Cassie could jump the one-eyed pirate. "Stop being an asshole," she demanded, although her lips did twitch in amusement. "Give it to her straight, or she's not gonna get it."

Leaning back in the chair, Kody explained, "You didn't wanna choose us; you're not with us 'cause you wanna be. Maybe that's why he's on your ass."

Cassie frowned. "Simple terms, Kody," she reminded.

"For most of us, joining the crew was the greatest thing ever," he admitted. "Captain Hook was the only original, and since most of our parents were part of his crew, we were kind'a expected to do the same. None of us wanted that. So, when Uma started up the Lost Revengers, we were so damn excited. Finally a captain who didn't scare the crap out of us, who actually listens when we talk and takes it on board. And the son of Hook as her first mate." His elation was palpable, the memory of those days springing a certain nostalgia. "A lot of us don't have, well, great parents. We had our code and we had our training, but we didn't have a captain. Being one of Uma's gave a lot of us freedom. Our parents don't think it's worth shit, but we know different. Besides, being on the crew means we can't join Hook's. Uma's a great captain, and Harry, even when he does make me wanna dive headfirst into the barrier, is good at what he does. If I didn't have the crew, well, I wouldn't have much of anything."

"I get that you didn't choose it," he continued, with a tinge of both resentment and understanding. "But if it means that much to me, just imagine how much it means to him. You're not taking it seriously, Cassie. You should be up on deck before him, ready and waiting to start your training, because everything is on you passing initiation. But you're not, and maybe, in a tiny way—" Kody held his thumb and index finger close together. "—it's killing him." Before Cassie could even think of coming up with a reply, Kody pressed on. "And maybe, in a little, little way, it comes off the same when it comes to him."

By this point, Cassie's anger had dulled. She was still irritated, of course, but she couldn't ignore the sliver of guilt building up inside of her. "For him?" she asked, slightly bewildered.

Kody nodded. "Uh-huh. I mean, think about it. He convinced us to let you join the crew. Let Starla train you because he was on a 'no-go' rule. Proved himself worthy of being yours by fighting two of our best fighters and even jumped in to fight Gaston's kid. Gave you his bedroom after you got shanked, and put Starla on training duty so he could stay with you. Then he took on your training, so you'd learn from the greatest. I'm just saying, from where I am, he's putting in a ton of effort for someone who couldn't care less."

"Woah," piped up Helena, almost furiously. "You don't know half of what went down with him and Cassie, all the shit he did. D'you know how hard it is to push that back? Besides, he's her first! She's still getting used to it all."

Cassie appreciated Helena jumping in to defend her, but she had to give Kody's explanation some consideration. Maybe from those on the outside, Harry did seem to be fighting harder for her than she was for him. But what did they expect? He'd come to the conclusion far before she had. Cassie was struggling to catch up to where he was, still wrapping her mind around the fact that he didn't want to kill her anymore. Kody didn't seem to grasp just how difficult it was for her to figure out the dynamics of being with another person. The idea of seeking out Harry before he came to her felt strange, and touching him in a situation where they weren't fighting or he wasn't getting unbearably close was even weirder. The very idea of it felt awkward.

Kody wasn't exactly lying—even Cassie could see it. Harry wasn't shy about paying her attention, whether they were amongst the crew or alone. On a typical day, at least before he'd gotten weird about the scar on her back, it wasn't rare to find him within a few feet of her, regardless of what form she'd taken. In her human state, his touches were subtle but constant. He didn't always hang around to talk to her; usually he preferred hanging with Uma and Gil. However, when he did enter the shoppe and Cassie was inside, he'd ensure she knew he was around—even if her feline senses didn't clue him in the moment he stepped foot into the shoppe. If he passed her, his hand would smooth over her skin, beginning at one side of her waist and continuing until it touched the other. If he and his group were standing a little closer, Cassie often shivered as his fingers danced across the back of her neck, sometimes gently scratching near her hairline. It'd been a tough thing to adjust to, at first, but now Cassie was more than used to it and, strangely enough, came to expect it.

In a peculiar turn of events, he'd grown closer to her when she was in her feline state. He hadn't ignored her before, but sometime after he'd agreed to leave Kody alone, he'd paid a puzzling amount of attention to her when she was a cat. At first, he'd simply lingered in the shoppe for an hour or two in the morning, watching her as she ate or snoozed. It would've come off as weird or creepy, but Cassie could understand the intrigue. Even Helena, when Cassie first started living at her place, had often eyed the little cat with fascination. One moment she was human, walking and talking like the rest of them, and then she was a cat. And since Cassie had similar mannerisms to the typical felines on the Isle, it was incredibly straining on one's mind to associate her with her human self.

Eventually, Harry found the nerve to attempt to touch her. It was overwhelmingly bewildering. The confidence in himself when he touched her while she was human was, apparently, strictly when she was human. Cassie wondered if she was more intimidating in her feline form and found it greatly amusing that maybe that was the case. Starla had been all too eager to pick her up the second she found her, attacking her with ear scratches and cuddles, which, obviously, Cassie enjoyed. The rest of the crew didn't hesitate to approach her either, often sharing tiny pieces of food or a simple pet. Even Uma caved once or twice, although her affection came with warnings like 'don't piss on my counter' or 'if you shit in here, I'll put you in a barrel'. To remain in the captain's good graces, though, Cassie had been generous enough to hunt down any rats she found lingering in corners and bring them back to the kitchens for the cooks. They liked to call her 'little helper', and honestly, Cassie adored the praise.

Although hesitant at first, the hook-wielding pirate had finally plucked up the courage to touch her. Slowly and cautiously at first, his knuckles brushed from the top of her head to between her shoulder blades. When Cassie remained still and, instead of watching him, placed her little head back onto her paws, he'd grown more confident. Soon, she was receiving gentle scratches behind the ears and just below her jaw and, to Cassie's slight misfortune, near the base of her tail. It wasn't that it didn't feel good—in fact, it felt very, very good. Too good, she might say. As soon as his fingers scratched around her tail, her legs—regardless of whether or not Cassie wanted them to—pushed her lower half up into the air. He'd paused the first time, on the off chance he might've hurt her somehow, but that was soon proven otherwise. If he'd hurt her, she'd have gunned it from the shoppe, hissed or growled, or even scratched him in warning. But Cassie did none of that. And, to her annoyance, he was quick to catch on.

"Feels good, eh?" he wondered almost deviously as her lower back pushed against his hand. A sly grin tugged at his lips as he added, "Does it do that when ye'r human too, pretty kitty?"

Cassie, lacking the ability to argue with him, had simply stared at him, hoping to convey her annoyance with her eyes alone. He hadn't said anything more, but that stupid smile stayed on his face.

Stranger still, Harry seemed peculiarly fond of her feline self, maybe even more so than her human side. When it'd eventually been established that she had no intention of fighting him when she was a cat, it was borderline impossible to find him away from her. If she was in the shoppe, then so was he. When he had to leave the shoppe, usually to train the night-sleeping newbies or go about other tasks, he'd take her with him. And Cassie, with absolutely nothing else to do in her feline state, found no reason to refuse him.

In addition to that, his charm when she was in her kitty state seemed to double. Cassie had simply come to the conclusion that he preferred to smooth talk her when she wasn't able to talk back or give him a look. The nicknames alone gave her whiplash. He'd always favoured 'kitty', typically when she was human. As a cat, he'd settled on adding 'pretty' right before it. She'd heard 'love' once or twice before, but it'd made a grand return specifically for her feline self. His latest flavour, though, was 'darling'.

Although incredibly baffled by the abrupt endearments and peculiar fondness from the pirate, Cassie didn't think too much of it. He'd always been a strange one, after all.

In the end, though, Kody was right. Setting aside everything they'd done before she'd joined Uma's crew, Harry had been far more open with his intentions than Cassie had. And going by his irritation with her before she'd come to Helena's, Cassie couldn't deny that maybe Kody was making sense. To the unknowing, it did seem like the hook-wielding pirate was putting more effort into the little cat than she was with him.

However, Helena was also on the right track. This was Cassie's first time being with another VK. She was still getting to grips with the rules of partnerships on the Isle and adjusting to no longer having to fight Harry. Him being angry with her for her apparent lack of interest in the pirates or her being his hadn't ever come to her mind.

So, taking everything Kody said on board, Cassie quietly asked, "What would you do?"

Her question silenced the arguing duo in front of her. Kody, after considering it for a moment, replied, "I'd prove it somehow."

Cassie frowned. "How?"

"I don't know," mumbled Kody, almost pitying. But then he added, "I know someone who might, though."


Not long after leaving Helena's with Kody, Cassie found he'd taken her to the east side of the outer Isle. The Queen of Hearts hadn't been able to join them since Gilzean was sleeping and she had no one to keep an eye on him. Dismayed by the fact that she didn't know where Kody was taking Cassie, Helena had very clearly and very threateningly told Kody that she'd have his head on the wall of her salon if anything happened to the little cat. And Kody, almost terrified of the queen, had drawn a cross over his chest and promised to return Cassie in one piece.

They were in the territory of another pirate, that much Cassie knew with certainty. Similar to the area she travelled through to get to Uma's, the brick houses and short alleyways turned into cabins of wood and maze-like twists and turns. The concrete beneath her feet became unsteady and creaky, and if she shined a light through the cracks in the floor, she'd surely see the soft waves hiding underneath.

Cassie stopped when they came to an opening, a momentary hesitation tugging at her back. Just up ahead, swaying gently above the water, was a ship. Slightly bigger than Uma's, built with differing shades of wood, and incredibly daunting.

Kody, noticing that the little cat was no longer following close behind, looked back over his shoulder. "Cass', you good?" he wondered.

Cassie's eyes followed the line of the highest pole on the ship, travelling upwards until she saw the flag flowing in the breeze. A white cloth with a red skull and bones.

She allowed a breath of relief to escape. This wasn't the ship from her night with the Ringmaster.

"Who's ship is this?" she asked, wary of her surroundings.

Kody shrugged. "Someone who can help you," he replied, like it was the simplest thing on the Isle.

Cassie's expression hardened. "Tell me," she demanded.

"You have serious trust issues, you know that, right?" muttered Kody.

Cassie remained firm, crossing her arms as she stared at him from where she stood. This was unknown territory for her, and she was having to rely on Kody to bring her back to Helena's when it was over. If he didn't tell her exactly who was supposed to help her, she wasn't moving an inch.

Kody, finally understanding that she wasn't following him onto that ship until he told her who was in it, huffed out, "Fine. It's Harriet's."

'Captain Hook had four hooks. The one on his hand and the three he kept locked away in a chest. Harriet, Harry's older sister, stole hers. I don't know the details, but she has her own'.

Cassie was coming to find that the occasional urge to choke out Kody was becoming quite a regular thing. "You're out of your mind," she snapped.

It wasn't that Cassie didn't ever want to meet the eldest Hook. Her meeting with C.J. had gone quite pleasantly, despite the aftermath. The youngest Hook didn't seem to have a vicious grudge against her for everything that went down between Cassie and Harry. If anything, the little one had been bewilderingly delighted to meet Cassie. But Harriet was their older sister, and that in itself was extremely intimidating to the little cat. Harry might've been quick to let go of what they'd done to each other, but there was no guarantee his big sister shared the same sentiment.

"Look," mumbled Kody, approaching Cassie. "She's not, like, a captain-captain. I mean, she does have a crew, kind'a. More like VK's who have nowhere else to go. And she does have a sword. And a hat. And a hook." Kody's lips twisted down, almost sheepishly. "Okay, so she might be a captain. But she won't hurt you."

Cassie remained doubtful. "You can't promise me that," she stated, shaking her head. "I nearly killed her little brother. I don't know about you, but I don't know if I'd let that shit go."

Kody deadpanned. "He'd cut his own throat if you asked him to. You're seriously overthinking this." He looked back at the ship and then at Cassie. "Wanna prove yourself to a Hook?" Kody stepped forward and gently grasped Cassie's wrist. "You ask a Hook."

Despite the nerves twisting inside of her stomach, Cassie allowed Kody to lead her onto the deck. Without giving it a second thought, her other hand wrapped around the wrist of the hand that led her, a discomforting mix of apprehension and determination stirring in her tummy.

They went down a few steps, the flickering lanterns casting their shadows on the walls. They didn't walk for long, though. In a few seconds, Cassie stood beside Kody as he raised his other hand, rapping his knuckles against a wooden door.

An exasperated voice came through from the other side. "What do ye' want?"

Slowly, Kody twisted the doorknob, peaking around the edge of the door as it creaked open. "Hey there," he greeted warmly.

"Oh fuck," the stranger replied with great surprise, though entirely joyful. "What're ye' doin' here?"

With a sudden confidence in his step, Kody pushed the door open further, all but dragging Cassie into the room. "I have a visitor for you," he announced, swooping into a low bow as if to present Cassie to the eldest Hook.

The little cat stopped, her fingers twisting anxiously as she eyed the woman a few feet away. For a second, the air caught in Cassie's throat. She'd thought C.J. shared an unbearable resemblance to her older brother, but his big sister was, without a doubt, almost a perfect copy.

Thick, dark-brown curls fell to her shoulders, a few strands curving over her forehead to brush against ocean-blue eyes framed by a line of black. Her jawline was sharp, and her stare was almost penetrating. Black trousers with multiple rips along the legs tucked into a pair of knee-high boots of the same colour, a dark shirt with puffed sleeves tightening at her wrists and cut low to the space just below her sternum. A corset-like belt cinched her waist, and a sword was strapped tight to her hips. Cassie's eyes paused as they ascended, noting the black star tattoo right between the curve of Harriet's breasts.

In the back of her mind, Cassie cussed out the notorious Captain Hook for—if nothing else—creating two of the most beautiful VK's she'd ever been unfortunate enough to meet.

"Cap', this is—"

Harriet spoke up before Kody could finish. "Cassie," she drawled, her head cocking to the side as she assessed the little cat.

"Hi," muttered Cassie, stunned by the captain.

With one hand placed on the curve of her waist, Harriet brought the other from behind her back. A glint of light reflecting from the candles caught Cassie's eye, and she almost allowed a groan to escape. Unlike Harry's, his sister's hook was gleaming gold instead of silver and curved perfectly into a sharp point, whereas Harry's flicked out slightly.

"So you're the one who's had baby brother in a tizzy, eh?" The captain muttered, stepping forward until there was quite little space between them.

Cassie stammered, "I guess." She twitched as Harriet raised the hook and used it to brush Cassie's bangs away from her face.

"He's got a good eye; I'll give him that," mumbled Harriet, keeping strong contact with Cassie's anxious gaze. "What brings ye' to me, then?"

Kody answered in Cassie's place. "She wants to prove herself to him," he explained, settling down into an armchair near a desk.

Harriet's brows furrowed in confusion. "Why? He was here last week bangin' on 'bout how great she is; she don't need to prove anythin'."

Cassie finally found the nerve to speak up. "I'm not as... open, I guess, with Harry. He's done a lot to show everyone he wants me, but..." she trailed off into silence towards the end, hoping Harriet would catch on to what she was implying.

There was a spark of intrigue in the captain's eyes. "Ah," she muttered with a slow nod. "Gotten a bit, well, in his own head, has he?"

'No big deal? D'ye have any idea how many would kill to be where ye' are right now?'.

'On the crew? Or on you?'.

'Yes'.

Recalling the last time she talked to Harry, Cassie grimaced and replied, "You could say that."

Harriet's eyes rolled skyward as she thought, and she stepped back towards the large chair behind the desk. "I don't think ye' have to do that," she eventually said, kicking her feet up onto the desk. "He's crazy 'bout ye'. Wouldn't of happened if ye' weren't worth it."

Thinking back to their time together since she had joined the crew, Cassie couldn't help but sigh. Sure, they'd been viciously rocky in the beginning, but things had settled since then. They still had quite a way to go in terms of figuring each other out, but it wasn't so bad. He'd gone to great lengths to demonstrate his sincere interest in her, and she found it unsettling to think that he didn't think the same of her.

"I want to," she soon admitted. "If it makes him feel better, I'll do it."

Tonguing the inside of her cheek, Harriet gazed at Cassie for a brief moment, looking for something in the little cat's eyes. Then she grumbled, "Fine. I might have somethin'." Her mouth curled on one side. "It might get ye' killed, though."

Cassie swallowed down her nerves. "What is it?"

Harriet lowered her feet from the desk and bent forward, placing her forearms on top of it. "There's a nifty room on da's ship, with a bunch of old stuff from Neverland. We weren't allowed in, of course; he was real antsy about us bein' in there. I got in once, before he started lockin' the damn door. Most were trinkets and whatnot, but I found a map." There was a flash of excitement in her eyes. "A map of Neverland itself."

"And that's gonna help me?" wondered Cassie, shuffling on her feet.

Harriet grinned, and Cassie was abruptly reminded of how similar the captain and Harry were. "We grew up on stories of Neverland; Smee would tell them to us before we went to sleep. When I told the littles 'bout the map, they begged me to take them to see it. But," Harriet clucked her tongue. "Da' wasn't too happy 'bout me bein' in there the first time." Her eyes misted over as she thought back, her lips pressing together for a second. It was gone in the next moment, hidden behind a dangerous smile. "Gettin' the map for him would be like givin' him a way off this bloody island."

Cassie had to think about it for a second. Sneaking onto Captain Hook's ship was almost like signing away her life. She didn't know him personally, but she'd heard a few stories, along with a few tidbits dropped by C.J. and Harry. The man was insane and cruel, and she didn't even want to think about what would happen if he caught her. On the other hand, though, sneaking around was Cassie's speciality. She'd waltzed into Uma's ship without issue and evaded Harry plenty of times when taking his 'pretty things'. If there was anything she could do well, it was this.

"You got a map of the ship?" Cassie finally asked, gnawing at her lower lip.

Harriet laughed, "Oh, ye're a crazy one, aren't ye'?" It wasn't entirely mocking; Cassie could sense a trace of amazement in Harriet's voice. With her head resting on her palm, the captain continued, "I see why he likes ye' so much. I can get ye' the map tomorrow night."

It lined up perfectly. Doing it tonight wouldn't work; they were already an hour or two into the night, which left very little time for the little cat to formulate some kind of plan, sneak into the ship, and get back out before sunrise. Now Cassie would have plenty of time to get some rest and actually wrap her mind around the almost insane idea of sneaking onto Captain Hook's ship. She also needed to tell Helena what she planned to do. Captain Hook was a dangerous man, and, should something go horribly wrong, Cassie didn't want the Queen of Hearts to think she'd been abandoned.

Cassie hesitated, casting a doubtful glance at the captain. "You don't want anything in return?"

Harriet's smile faded, and a tiny sigh leaked out of her mouth. "Baby brother's been through a bit," she confessed. "I couldn't really save him from da'. But I reckon ye're good for him. Ye're about to steal from Captain James Hook, little cat. Ye're gonna risk ye'r life and put a target on ye'r back, all 'cause ye' wanna prove to him ye'r serious 'bout bein' his." She gave a shrug. "All I ask is that ye' take care of him, alright?"

Cassie's gaze grew softer. She gave a short nod and replied, "I'll try my best."

The captain acknowledged this with a grunt. "If ye' hurt him, though, I will make what he did to ye' look like kiddy-play, ye' understand?" She said softly, her gaze turning sharp and her lips twisting into a sneer.

"Clearly," responded Cassie, without hesitation. It wasn't her ability to hurt him that concerned her, more like the other way around.

"Well," chirped Harriet, her expression instantly returning to one of satisfaction. "Ye' can go now."

After a quick nod, Cassie headed for the door, Kody trailing slowly behind. He gave Harriet a quick 'bye' as they left, shaking out his shoulders and arms as soon as the door was closed behind them.

Trudging up the stairs and onto the deck, he muttered, "That was fucking tense. You're seriously gonna steal from the big bad, though?" There was a hint of concern tempered with incredulity.

After crossing the bridge and putting her feet back on firm ground, Cassie let herself unwind. "You said it yourself; if I wanna prove myself to a Hook, then I have to ask a Hook. Harriet gave us an answer."

Kody bolted ahead of Cassie, blocking her path so she couldn't move. "This isn't a joke, Cass'," he admonished, crossing his arms. "There's a reason so many of us joined Uma's crew, or Harriet's. Hook might just seem like a drunk asshole, but he was still the most terrifying pirate around before he got dumped here. He's the original pirate, Cassie. He was smart and ruthless." With a flicker of fear in his eye, Kody bit the inside of his cheek. "You're still in initiation; if he comes at you, drunk or not, you're fucked."

A twinge of unease crept into Cassie's stomach. Yes, she was scared, but if she thought about it too much, it'd only overtake her thoughts and prevent her from doing this. For her own well-being, she'd have to think of it like another night of finding a 'pretty thing'. The faces didn't matter, the clothes didn't matter, and their names didn't matter. She had to focus entirely on one thing and one thing only—getting that damn map.

"You're the one who brought me here," she pointed out. "You said I had to prove myself. Well, this is the only way."

Kody groaned. "He's gonna really kill me this time. You know that, right?"

Cassie's lips twitched. "I'll tell him I came here myself. You're not going anywhere," she reassured.

Kody's doubt was evident. "Sure," he grunted.

When Kody moved forward to lead her back to Helena's, Cassie's eyes rolled skyward, a curiosity burning in the front of her brain. "Kody?" she asked.

"Yeah?" he threw back over his shoulder.

"Where is Hook's ship, anyway?"


Instead of explaining the exact location of Captain Hook's ship, The Jolly Roger, the one-eyed VK did one better—he took her there himself.

Despite the fact that Kody was obviously terrified of the feared captain, he somewhat begrudgingly told Cassie that he'd show her himself. According to Kody, there was a village, of sorts, on the doorstep of Captain Hook's ship. A collection of huts and wooden houses occupied by the original crew. It was primarily to ensure Hook had his crew nearby on the off-chance he demanded something of them, but it was also a security tactic. The homes were packed so tightly together that sneaking between the houses was borderline impossible unless they were extremely small. There was only one path in and out of Hook's territory. It meant that if someone was stupid enough to tick off the captain and they were fortunate enough to escape the ship itself, then Smee, Captain Hook's first mate, would ring the bell at the front of the ship, alerting the crewmates to an intruder. The vicious crew would then scramble to block the path, capturing whoever was idiotic enough to think they could get away from the captain. Lucky for Cassie though, that it just so happened to be where the majority of Uma's crew's parent's lived, Starla and Kody included.

When they approached the beginning of the path, Cassie felt the nerves twist her insides. There were lanterns pinned against the side of each house on both sides, partially illuminating the dark road in front of them. It wound and curved a little further ahead, but it was exactly as Kody described. The houses were packed tightly together, leaving only a few inches or so of space between. She could barely imagine being trapped between Hook's crew and the captain himself, with nowhere to turn and no way to escape.

The little cat flinched when Kody wrapped his right arm around her shoulders, tugging her against his side.

"What the fuck?" she hissed, peering up at his face.

"They don't like outsiders," he mumbled, unwinding the red and white striped scarf from around his neck. "If you're not a pirate, or someone who belongs to a pirate, they'll stab first and ask questions after. And that's just if you're lucky." He whisked the ears from atop Cassie's head and tucked them safely behind a nearby crate. "Make it look like you like me," he pleaded, tying the scarf around Cassie's waist.

Cassie cocked her head. "I do like you."

Kody smiled, his apprehension taking a backseat for a second. "Aww," he cooed, ruffling Cassie's hair. "I like you too." He stretched his arm around her shoulder once more. "When you're not getting me killed, anyway."

Cassie rolled her eyes but placed her arm around his waist. "It only happened twice," she mumbled.

"Even once is too much," he lightly argued, beginning their journey down the path.

To Cassie's overwhelming relief, she found no pirates along the path. There were, however, plenty of windows that gave the house's occupants the opportunity to watch whoever was coming into Hook's territory. And in doing so, it gave Cassie a slight insight into what was going on inside. She heard shouting, laughter, and a few other sounds that indicated something truly pleasurable was going down in the house. The residents of the Isle weren't known for their subtlety even on the inner-Isle, but Hook's pirates seemed to take that challenge with great enthusiasm. If someone decided to linger for long enough, they'd certainly catch a conversation or two.

They weren't on the path for long, but it felt like a lifetime for Cassie. She was already on the edge due to the fact that there was no way out if the pirates came from behind, and she could almost taste Kody's worry in the night air. The further they went, the tighter his grip became against her bare shoulder. It was startling, really, to have his fate intertwined with hers. If she was caught out, she wouldn't be the only one to face the deadly consequences.

Standing at the edge of the path, a certain nausea climbed along Cassie's throat. Something pried away at the inside of her mind, a familiarity of sorts, attempting to push it's way through.

"There it is," whispered Kody, his fingers twitching against Cassie's arm. "The Jolly Roger."

Staring ahead, Cassie almost choked air, a gut-wrenching recollection startling her entire body. If the voice inside her head hadn't been stunned to silence, she had no doubt it would've been screaming by now, begging her to turn away.

The Jolly Roger was large—far bigger than both Uma's and Harriet's ships combined. Swaying gently above the waves, the moonlight made it appear frighteningly ominous, causing the shadow of the ship to dim the space between the village and the ship itself. The sails were tightly wrapped, likely because they were no longer permitted to journey across the ocean. What had Cassie frozen in place, though, was the flag freely blowing with wind.

A black sheet with a white skull and bones.

'Fight me, boy! Or are you too much of a coward?!'

Placing a hand to her chest, Cassie winced as an ache gripped at her racing heart. A part of her refused to believe it, but with the evidence practically shoved against her eyes, she couldn't deny it.

"Kody," she quietly begged. "We need to get back to Uma's."


The Cheshire Cat's daughter wasn't sure how long she'd been running. To her, it felt like hours, when it could only have been minutes. The rain had gotten heavy now, pelting against the ground as thunder rumbled in the grey sky. Her black fur was soaked through, weighing her down and causing her further torment. Still, she refused to slow. Through the pang of hunger slicing away at her stomach and a sharp pain burning through her right paw every time it pushed against the rocky ground, Cassie pushed through.

Eventually, though, she had to stop. After rushing through unfamiliar alleyways and small spaces, Cassie soon felt she'd put enough distance between herself and the awful Ringmaster. His blood-curdling laughter still echoed through her mind, reminding her of just how close she'd come to losing her freedom completely.

Slowing to a stop, Cassie wandered behind the nearest barrel, doing her best to keep the pressure from her wounded paw. Partially covered by the tilted roof of the house behind her, she licked at her bleeding pads, a quieted noise of discontent escaping her.

A deep rumble passed over the Isle, and Cassie jolted, a faint cry bubbling up as a sharp light brightened her surroundings. The thunder was so loud, especially to her sensitive ears, and the lightning was terrifying. She wanted nothing more than to go back to her hideaway, curl up on her bed, and desperately beg any higher power willing to listen that her dad would finally come home.

Somehow, through the hard rain and occasional boom of thunder, the little cat picked up on something else. A yell, not one of pain or a general call, but one of unbridled anger or frustration. It was an elder; that much she could tell. Then came a 'clang', of sorts, like two pieces of metal scraping against each other. It was piercing even in the night storm, picking up speed now that Cassie was straining to hear it.

Peaking out from behind the barrel, Cassie's fur would've bristled if the rain hadn't soaked her. Crouching low, she observed the large ship just ahead, rocking wildly on the frantic waves. When the lightning struck again, her glowing eyes caught the flag flapping in the wind—a black sheet with a white skull and bones.

Another yell passed through the air. Unlike the voice before it, this one was higher and definitely one of terror or pain. Despite this, the uncomfortable clanging continued.

Cassie really should have gone back the way she came, or at least wandered through the spaces until she wound up back somewhere she recognised. Surely the Ringmaster would've lost interest by now and gone off to find another poor cat for his 'circus'. But amongst the pain, sadness, and hunger, something far stronger shoved it's way through.

Curiosity was a deadly thing; her father had warned her as much. It'd reigned over her before he went missing and often drove him insane at her lack of self-preservation. But it was too enticing for her to ignore, so she crept towards the ship, ensuring her surroundings were clear as she tread carefully.

The closer she got, the louder the noises became. The clanging almost hurt her ears—so sharp and abrupt that it made her pause. Then came a consistent stream of grunts and whimpers, but not from the same person. The grunting was low and heavy, certainly coming from the elder she'd heard yell only a moment ago. The whimpering came from another, surely someone smaller by the pitch.

Slowly, Cassie padded along the short ramp leading up onto the ship. The fenced railings on either side were a reassurance that she wouldn't fall into the water below if the wind picked up its pace.

"Come now, boy, I thought you were ready," seethed a deep voice from the ship. It was taunting and incredibly terrifying, and Cassie couldn't help but worry for whoever was on the receiving end.

Cautiously, the little cat poked her head around the side of the ship, seeking out the owner of such a frightening voice.

First, she saw a man. Standing tall, he stepped back and forth, almost pacing where he stood. His red coat fluttered with the wind, waist-length dark curls floating rapidly through the air. A thick beard circled his lips, which formed a dark sneer.

"Fight me, boy! Or are you too much of a coward?!" He bellowed, striking the wooden beam near his side. "This is what you wanted, isn't it?! Pathetic," he spat. "How do you expect to survive alone when you can't even defeat your own father!"

Cassie's eyes immediately noted the sharp sword held tightly in his left hand, and if she'd had the ability to groan out loud, she would have.

Her father had told her a few tales of the pirates on the outskirts of the Isle, how they fought ruthlessly with swords and once ruled over the ocean. This was her first time seeing one with her own eyes, and it truly stunned her.

A pained whine tugged at Cassie's attention, pulling her astounded and apprehensive gaze away from the intimidating pirate. Following the scary man's line of sight, she struggled to properly see the figure of the other through the heavy rainfall and striking wind.

Whoever they were, they were young, maybe around her age. Curled up into a ball, their back pressed against the side of the ship, knees pulled tight to their chest. Shoulder-length dark strands of hair covered their face, sticking to their skin. Like most of the children she'd seen on the Isle, they were thin and engulfed in the too-large clothes they'd been given, which now clung to their body due to the rain.

Staying near the exit, Cassie climbed up onto the ship, pressing her side against the walls closing them in. The child trembled violently, from either the chilly air, biting rain, or pure fear. Their whines were almost heart-breaking for her to hear, reminding her of how she'd been spending her nights since her father disappeared. They were desperate and fearful. Begging for someone, anyone, to come help them.

"You don't deserve to hold our name," continued the man, scowling down at the youngster. "How disappointing." His fury had dulled to indifference, his insult a drone as it passed through his lips.

The ship rocked, and Cassie watched curiously as the man stumbled on his feet, momentarily crashing against the beam beside him. When the lightning flashed again, she saw a peculiar haze in his eyes, as if he were miles away from what was going on but grasping to stay.

Her eyes drifted to the space near the child, where another sword lay forgotten on the wooden floor. In her mind, she couldn't help but wonder why on earth this youngster had been stupid enough to go against such a brute of a man, knowing perfectly well he wouldn't stand a chance against him.

In a second, a flicker of light from a swaying lantern reflected in the weapon of the man. His arm drew back and lifted the sword high, and it was then that Cassie realised exactly what he was about to do.

The next moment was all but a blur of motion for the little cat. It was pure instinct that drove her towards the duo, her little paws carrying her rapidly across the deck. What it was that had her leaping from the side of the ship to push her into the man with the sword was unknown. Her dad had always scolded her for her lack of restraint when it came to her emotions and how she often acted without thought, based primarily on which emotion ruled over her at the time. Holding back had never particularly been her strongest skill, whether it was a temper tantrum or snatching something up if it caught her eye. He'd told her that, one day, her impulsive nature would get her into a tricky situation she couldn't easily back away from.

Apparently, he meant today.

The yowl that escaped her was almost deafening and certainly out of place given the situation. Had she thought it over properly, she would have aimed for his eyes or his throat, preventing him from grabbing the chance to recover and hurt her. But Cassie's teeth were piercing precisely where her gaze had been fixed—on the hand gripping the sword.

Sinking her teeth deep, she dug her claws into his coat sleeve and locked her jaw on the back of his hand. She heard his cry of pain through the wind and rain. Fortunately, he was forced to drop the sword by the sharp sting in his hand and the shock of an unexpected attack.

Cassie recoiled, hissing from the back of her throat, a repulsive tang covering her tongue. She paid very little mind to the child behind her, instead keeping a close eye on the fumbling man in front of her.

"How dare you," he snapped, his eyes forming slits as he flexed the fingers of his injured hand.

She growled back, lowering her body and twitching her tail. Her tiny heart was racing in her chest, and her ears were ringing. What she was hoping to achieve by attacking him, she wasn't entirely sure, but she couldn't have just watched him hurt the youngster behind her.

As the man in front of her examined the mark on his hand, Cassie foolishly turned her head back to check if the child was still alive. She didn't know how badly he'd been hurt before she'd arrived, but given his state, he had to be in some kind of pain.

Cassie heard nothing, not even a hint of the man reaching for his sword. If he had, she'd have caught it well before he'd taken a swipe at her. And yet, the instant her gaze strayed from him, an excruciating pain shot through her back.

Even for a cat, the sound that escaped her was utterly inhuman. So sudden and so painful, it sparked her urgency instantly. Without paying further attention to the man or the child, she fled from the ship.


Somehow, over the next three years, Cassie had all but forgotten that awful night. She could barely remember how she had returned home that evening. Only adrenaline had carried her home that night, bypassing the horrendous agony pulsating along her back. The weeks that followed had been excruciating. Plagued by hunger, sadness over her father still not having returned, and the inability to properly sleep because of the cut along her back, it was a wonder how she'd even made it this far. All she could honestly remember of those days was wishing for her dad to come home or for someone to come and finally put an end to her pain. They'd been incredibly dark times, times she preferred not to look back on. In any case, she'd eventually found her footing. At some point, she'd been curious enough to follow a few strays to the Witch Academy, discovering that the witches held them in high regard and would provide them with food and shelter. She'd found herself a place of safety—only when she was in her feline state, of course.

The horrid night of being caught on the ship soon faded from her mind, along with the state of the child she'd defended. It simply became another page to hide away in her mind.

It'd been a while since Cassie found herself running through the Isle. Typically, she was gunning it away from people. This might've been her first night actually running towards someone.

Back when she was thirteen, a day or two after she was attacked on the ship, she'd run herself into the ground trying to figure out how the scary pirate had hurt her. If he'd lifted his sword, she'd have picked up on the sound of it dragging against the wood, regardless of how sneaky he'd attempted to be. She'd often scold herself for not paying enough attention to her surroundings, agitating herself with the idea that she'd been silly enough to let her guard down that night. When he'd sliced at her back, the pirate had moved so fast.

It was distressing how quickly the pieces slotted together in her mind. In fact, she was extremely irritated that she hadn't figured it out sooner.

'Harry had a point to prove. He's not a coward or a thief, and he had it way harder than those girls. He fought his dad for it. He went against the only person he's ever been scared of, and he won. But he didn't leave that ship without a scratch'.

'Dad's a mad cunt. Lost his head a long time ago'.

'How did you win that fight?'.

'Cass'. The mark on ye'r back'.

'You weren't the first pirate to hurt me'.

'How do you expect to survive alone when you can't even defeat your own father!'.

For Cassie, there were a few things that jumped out. Firstly, it was Captain Hook himself who she'd foolishly attacked that night, not just any old pirate. Second, the reason she hadn't heard him lift that damn sword was because he hadn't; he'd attacked her with the hook on his right hand—the hand she hadn't been able to see. Thirdly, that night she had attempted to save Harry, not just defend some random pirate kid.

She barely gave Kody a thought as she raced through the streets of the Isle. He'd stayed sufficiently close to her as he led her back up the path, calling her name only after they were out of Hook's territory. She'd feel awful later for abandoning him so abruptly, but she could always explain herself later.

Cassie staggered into Uma's shop, nearly tripping over her own feet as she looked around for the hook-wielding pirate. She didn't find him, but she did find their captain.

Uma threw back her head and groaned, "Oh, c'mon. Again?" Clearly, she thought something had happened between her first mate and the little cat. In a sense, it had. But this time, Cassie wasn't trying to take his eyes out.

Cassie's chest twitched as she struggled to catch her breath and finally said, "I was the cat."

Uma's agitation subsided. Her eyes briefly widening, she stared ahead at Cassie with her lips parted. Then she muttered, "How did you figure it out?"

Cassie frowned. "How did you know?"

"We tell each other everything," replied Uma, like it was the most obvious thing on the Isle.

The little cat almost laughed. Her mind was running in circles, and here Uma already knew exactly what had happened that night and who was involved. Being the last one to figure it out was really annoying.

"Where is he?" she asked, almost pleading.

"On the ship," responded the captain. Her eyes then hardened. "Don't even think about messing around in my room."

Cassie instantly dismissed the threat from her thoughts. Heading back out through the double doors, she fled for the ship, rushing onto the deck and down the stairs.

Pushing open the door to Uma's room, it clashed against the wall with an echoing 'bang'.

Cassie watched as Harry, who'd been sleeping soundly in the large bed in the centre of the room, jumped up instantly. With his hook in hand, he jolted up onto his knees, the sheets encircling his waist as he struggled to look through half-closed eyes for the source of the "danger."

When the haze of sleep soon disappeared and he realised it was Cassie who'd come barging into the room, he reached for his boot on the floor beside the bed, launching it in her direction.

"Are ye' outt'a ye'r fuckin' mind?!" he yelled. "Ye' said ye' wanted one night, so I gave ye' a night off," he ranted, blinded by annoyance. "Thought, 'Great, I can get some kip in'. The fuck is goin' on this time?"

Any other time, his reaction would've been quite comical. There he was, bare from the waist up, hair in disarray from tossing around against the pillows, wrapped up in blankets as he glared at the little cat. He'd been quite intimidating plenty of times, but this wasn't one of them.

Cassie stood idly in the doorway, her feet seemingly unwilling to move. "It was you," she muttered.

The pirate huffed as he fell onto his backside. "What?"

"On the ship, three years ago," she clarified, finally plucking up the energy to come into the room. The shock of it still hadn't faded entirely, numbing Cassie's limbs and drowning out anything that wasn't this exact moment.

It was silent. Harry, after simply observing Cassie for a moment or two, allowed a huff of air to pass through his lips. "Took ye' long enough," he remarked, his brow twitching upward.

An onslaught of differing emotions kept Cassie where she was—a foot or so away from the bed. There was fury sparking in the pit of her stomach, a thousand tirades balancing on the tip of her tongue. He'd figured it out well before she had, surely after seeing the scar on her back, and hadn't even thought to clue her in. He'd gone and told Uma about it, but hadn't considered letting Cassie know that they'd met far before she'd come here to steal from him. Then there was the tiniest trace of sympathy. Even then, his father was terrifying. Cassie had no idea how Harry had managed to survive being raised by him. Relief followed that. The very first time she'd been stupid enough to try and defend someone else, and it hadn't been for nothing. She wasn't exactly sure how he'd won the fight against his dad or if her actions that evening had somehow turned the tide in his favour, but he had.

Harry, sensing the little cat was shaken by the realisation, shuffled forward and, once he was seated on the edge of the bed, put his feet on the ground. He lowered his hook to the bed and extended his hand to grasp her waistband, drawing her nearer. His bottom lip tugged between his teeth as his eyes flitted between hers. His expression remained that way for a brief moment before he asked, "What were ye' doin' there that night?"

She studied his face as if for the first time, then quietly said, "The Ringmaster was chasing me. I just kept running, and I wound up in your dad's territory." Her hand twitched forward, brushing a few strands away from his forehead. "You got away that night, right?" The sliver of hope wasn't lost on either of them.

His hands smoothed up to rest on her waist as he confirmed, "Hmm. Ye' took him by surprise. Got him to drop the sword. He'd had a bit to drink that day, and I reckon the storm didn't help him much. I got his legs out from under him, pinned his hook down with my foot, and put my sword to his throat." His gaze dropped to her stomach, keeping him from meeting her eyes directly due to the discomfort of talking about that terrible night. "Everyone thinks I fought him on my own; got outta there 'cause I was strong enough."

Cassie's stomach twisted when his right hand shot upwards, his fingers wrapping around her throat. His hold was painful and tight, not quite enough to stop her breathing just yet, but enough to make her realise this was more than just a simple impulse.

"If they find out I only got away 'cause a kitten caught him off guard, I'll be the laughin' stock of the Isle." He was speaking more to himself than to Cassie, low and dark and entirely threatening where she was concerned.

Cassie whined, her hand curling around his wrist. Instinct beat away at her mind, urging her to bite him or scratch him—anything to get her away from the danger. When he finally looked up at her, she could almost see the ruthless battle taking place inside his head. His expression soured, his tongue pressing against the inside of his cheek as he analysed her face. This time, there was a genuine desire within him to murder her.

It wasn't a difficult thing for her mind to grasp. Throughout pirate territory, and maybe even the inner Isle, he was well known for his merciless attacks and vicious tendencies. He was the son of Captain Hook and did everything in his power to remind the other VK's of just how brutal he could be. Having been one of the first VK's to take on their own parents and live long enough to tell the tale brought him a great deal of respect. There was no doubt he was strong enough now to back up that story, but once upon a time, he hadn't been.

To Cassie's great misfortune, she happened to see what may have been his lowest point. She'd seen him shivering and trembling in the face of his father, when many assumed he had the courage and determination to duel him head-on. Uma knew the real story as well, but she and Harry were unconditionally devoted to each other, and there was no one alive who could beat that information out of her. Cassie, on the other hand, was a wildcard to him. If word got out that he'd only won the battle that night because she'd stumbled onto his side of the Isle by accident, his name would be torn to shreds by anyone who found trouble with the pirates.

'A man's ego is a fragile thing, Cassie. One wrong move, an' it's blown to pieces'.

Despite the stifling unease wrapping them both, Cassie's lips twitched upward. "You gonna kill me, Harry?" she wondered.

He swallowed. "I'm thinkin' 'bout it," he admitted.

There was hesitation—that much she was sure of. He definitely wanted to kill her; there was no mistaking it. Reputation worked wonders in a place like the Isle, and it wasn't hard to tell that Harry was incredibly proud of his. Cassie was now a risk to everything he'd built for himself. Not with the crew, of course. They adored him, and it wasn't as if Uma would remove his position as first mate for something so miniscule. The rest of the Isle, however, was a different game. Many would look down on him for what happened, even if they themselves wouldn't have fared much better in that situation. He'd be taunted and ridiculed, his name smeared in the dirt. He was more than capable of handling such things, of course. But knowing that the Isle residents thought less of him because he'd faltered in the duel with his father would torment him.

Still, if this had happened months ago, he'd have put her body in the ocean by now. The moment he realised she remembered what had happened that evening, his hook would have gone straight for her throat. Tonight, however, was a different story. They'd spent far too much time together, somehow growing to become peculiarly attached. Slowly, the two were learning more about each other with each passing night, even if it was somewhat finicky on occasions.

Cassie had stopped doubting his attentions after he burned down Bargain Castle. But now, any lingering uncertainty was firmly dragged out of her mind.

"If you could go back and change it, would you?" She stroked his forearm gently as she asked. She wasn't naïve to the circumstances, of course. He was precariously balancing between removing a threat and having enough trust in her to believe she wouldn't go telling anyone what happened that night. The moment she fought him, the odds would be stacked against her.

Once more, it became quiet. He didn't let go of her throat, but he also didn't tighten his hold. Until he'd decided what he wanted to do with her, he appeared content to just leave his hand there for the time being.

The fingers of Cassie's right hand tapped nervously against her thigh. A slightest amount of hope kept her steady and patient, but she was still aware of the threat. She wouldn't hesitate to defend herself if he did choose to harm her.

Rather than responding to her question, he asked, "Would you?"

'I'm just saying, from where I am, he's putting in a ton of effort for someone who couldn't care less'.

Cassie's earlier discussion with Kody rang loudly in the back of her mind, and it seemed the one-eyed pirate had been right. Without knowing, she'd triggered some kind of insecurity in Harry. It hadn't occurred to her that he'd need the same kind of certainty that she did. Cassie had doubted his attention so much that she'd stubbornly argued against it for weeks, even going as far as to take him to the castle where he almost lost his life to make him prove his interest was genuine. The first mate was always so sure of himself, so confident when he'd told her that he wanted her and that something in her wanted him back. With an almost envied level of certainty, he had pursued Cassie with unwavering determination. He hadn't seemed like the type to rely on the occasional reassurance from her.

Cassie realised differently now. She didn't think he required the same level of insanity she'd put him through, but he did need something.

Cassie hummed, pondering her answer. In the end, she answered, "No."

Harry blinked. "Say that again?"

Cassie almost laughed. "No," she repeated, louder this time. "Every shitty decision I've made involving you gave me something back. I met Helena because of you; met Starla, Kody, and the others. Yeah, there was a lot of crap in the middle, but I'm better now than I was before." Her head cocked to the side, as much as she was able with his hand around her neck at least. "I'm not alone anymore. Everything I have now, everyone I have now, is only 'cause I was stupid enough to sneak into your room."

His lips curled, but only slightly. "Am I in there somewhere, love?" He was still doubtful, it seemed.

Cassie knew that self-consciousness would shake her if she let herself think on it too long, so she was quick to respond, "My first time meeting another VK. First person to wanna kill me. First one I ever took from that wouldn't let me go without a fight. First one to chase me around the Isle for months." She crouched down a little and climbed onto his lap, conscious of the hand around her neck. Then she continued, "First time I ever tried hurting someone that much. First one to ever make me feel something after dad dipped out." She released his wrist and rested her hands on his shoulders. "You drive me crazier than anyone else I know."

Reclaiming his control of the moment, he yanked her forward, his lips moving against Cassie's as he spoke. "And they say I've got a sneaky tongue." He leaned his head to one side and whispered softly into her ear, his nose grazing her cheek. "A new trick, Kitty? Ye' think playin' with how much I want ye' will get ye' outta here alive?"

Cassie rolled her eyes. "If I wanted to get out, I'd just bite you." She was in the perfect position for it, after all.

He chuckled, "Ye' remember how that went last time." His other hand clamped down on the bandage between her neck and shoulder to remind her.

Pushing past her apprehension, Cassie wrapped her arms around his neck, hoping she could shove aside his worries and appeal to whatever little rational thought he had left. "I didn't save you that night," she whispered. "Maybe I distracted him, but you still picked up that sword when I was gone. You still pinned him down and got away from there. I don't know how you did it; he was so fucking scary."

"Hmm, he was," agreed the pirate. He then let out a sigh. "It was fight or die that night." He lowered his hand from her healing shoulder and stroked her back, tracing the pale indentation. "He's got a mean hand, that one."

Cassie shuffled nervously. "I know. I couldn't sleep on my back for weeks."

"I got plenty to match, if that makes ye' feel better," he supplied.

It didn't.

"You think I'm gonna tell someone else what happened?" She wondered, resting her chin on his shoulder.

He gave a shrug. "I reckon if I piss ye' off enough, ye' might."

Cassie was quick to reply, "I wouldn't do that." A spark of amusement tugged at her lips. "Now I'll just hit you in the face with a tray."

He huffed out a laugh at that. "Aye, ye' would."

Cassie met his stare as she withdrew from the hold. "I'm glad you didn't die that night," she muttered, both an offering of peace and hopefully a tinge of reassurance regarding their odd relationship.

It took a moment or two. After staring back at her, his eyes darting about her face to search for a trace of deception, they rolled skyward. He let out a strained groan of frustration. He muttered almost reluctantly, "Yeah." Moving his hand down to her waist, he admitted, "I'm glad ye' didn't die that night as well."

Cassie grinned, which seemed to aggravate him even more. He might like her well enough, but she could see his inability to kill her had him quite frustrated.

"Ye're gonna be the death of me, ye' know that?" He grumbled, peering up at her.

Cassie could only give a sheepish shrug, but her delight didn't waver. "I know."


AN;

Hi readers!

Jeeeeze, this chapter took me a few days. I've been writing and re-writing, and asking myself 'what are you doing' about fifty times, and this is the result. 😅

I'm tired, so I honestly hope this chapter makes sense and there aren't any plotholes. I hope you guys enjoyed it!

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