The next night, as planned, Cassie went back to Harriet's ship with Kody in tow. Though she knew the one-eyed pirate was only hanging around her initially to keep Harry off his back, she still appreciated him coming with her tonight—she certainly needed the support with what she was about to do.

Unfortunately, Cassie hadn't quite found the right time to tell Helena about her somewhat idiotic decision to steal from Captain Hook. The evening before, after she'd been lucky enough to sway Harry away from putting her in the sea, she'd spent the rest of the night with him. Nothing too exciting happened in the captain's quarters; he'd still been exhausted after getting very little sleep between training her and the newbies. They'd mostly traded little tales of their time on the Isle—at least for a little while.

"Ye' said ye' were runnin' from the Ringmaster that day. What happened?"

Cassie paused, turning away from the door to face Harry.

It had been no longer than five minutes after their tense 'chat'. After grumbling to her that he was tired, he'd climbed back into Uma's bed, resting his head on a navy-blue pillow as he tugged the sheets back up to his stomach. And Cassie, knowing how sleepy he still must've been, had headed for the door. Apparently, though, he wasn't so tired he couldn't settle his curiosity.

It wasn't a story Cassie enjoyed retelling, but considering it was what had her running onto his side of the Isle back then, she understood his intrigue and decided to explain.

"You know who he is, right?" she asked, perching herself at the foot of the bed.

Yanking the pillow up from beneath his head, Harry placed it upright against the headboard, shuffling around so he could comfortably face her. "Aye," he replied. "He used to try bringin' his circus 'round these ways."

Cassie cocked her head. "Tried?"

"Hmm. Us pirates have never liked outsiders. And his crate smelt like shite," he answered, his nose wrinkling in disgust.

"Did you ever see what was under the sheet?" she asked, bringing her legs up to rest on the bed. He shook his head, so she continued, "Cats. The cages were about, hmm, this big." She held her hands five inches apart. "Not many animals here, I guess. Rats wouldn't do as good, so he used to take the cats." A humourless smile tugged at her lips. "He tied the cages together, put some on top of the others, and wouldn't let them out if it wasn't training or performing. So, that lovely little smell? It was the ones on top shitting on the ones under them."

Harry scowled. "Knew there was somethin' funky goin' on under it," he remarked. Then realisation came. "Ah, he wanted ye'?"

Cassie hummed and nodded briefly. "Nearly caught me, actually. He uses rats to lure in the cats." Her eyes lowered to the blankets, her fingers toying with a few frayed strings. "I was hungry, so..."

There was a brief silence. Then he asked, "How long had ye'r dad been gone?"

Cassie blew a huff of air through her lips, her eyes rolling skyward as she thought back. "A month? Maybe two." She shook her head. "I don't really know."

The pirate let out a silent curse. "How did ye' find food before?"

"Mal's room was right under the attic. She didn't always finish her food," the little cat explained. "She got grounded, though. Like, a lot. Made it hard to sneak down like this." Cassie waved a hand across her body.

Harry gnawed at the inside of his cheek, his eyes moving down Cassie's body and then back up to look her in the eye. "Ye've had a munch today, yeah?"

Her mouth quirked. "Yeah. First thing I do when I change back."

He gave her a slow nod and then said, "Good." After a second of thought, he tapped the space directly beside him. "C'mere, Kitty."

Removing the boots from her feet, Cassie crawled up to where he was lying, crossing her legs the moment she was beside him. Meanwhile, when Cassie was within his arms reach, Harry extended his left arm, resting his hand on her right hip.

It was only understandable that Cassie's eyes soon wandered. Beginning at his face, she watched his eyes drift shut, a little sigh of contentment escaping him. Without his full attention, aside from the gentle strokes of his thumb against the exposed skin at her waist, the little cat felt comfortable enough to allow herself to assess the rest of him.

It was no surprise that she hadn't recognised him as the child she'd helped when she was thirteen. The boy she'd seen back then was as thin and small as the rest of the children on the Isle, buried in clothes that were far too big for him. He'd changed so drastically over the following three years—an insane kind of growth spurt. Far taller than she was, with wide shoulders and the kind of muscles one could only earn through hours of exertion, he'd hardly given her an inkling as to who he was back then.

"I can feel ye' lookin', ye' know."

Cassie flinched, her eyes darting up to meet his amused gaze. "You look so different now," she mumbled, almost shamefully for having been staring.

"Hmm, bein' around people that don't try and kill ye' all the time does great things," he playfully responded. It seemed he had no issue with her earlier perusal. His head tilted, and he raised a brow. "Ye' don't like touchin', eh?"

Cassie shrugged. "Not used to it, I guess."

Growing up, her father hadn't seemed particularly eager for any physical touch. When he was a feline, he liked her enough, rubbing up against her and purring when she scratched behind his ears or underneath his chin. As a human, however, being touched seemed to irk him slightly. On a good day, he'd allow her to hold his hand or his fingers, or maybe he'd pat her head now and again. He'd been plagued by rather anxious states, though, which meant approaching him when he was human was risky. Now, she knew he'd been tormented by the emotions of whoever he'd hurt over in Auradon and unable to fully discern between his own emotions and theirs, making him a little, well, antsy. And since his curse had been to endure his nights as a human, it was only natural he'd come to loathe the skin he was trapped in. Cassie had learnt long ago not to touch him unless he touched her first or granted her permission to touch him, and it seemed to have stuck.

Harry's lips parted into a mischievous smile, and Cassie felt his fingers slip around her wrist. "Then allow me, Kitty."

He lifted her hand and placed it just below his sternum, and something twisted in Cassie's gut. She could sense the steady, slow pounding of his heart beneath her fingers.

He dragged his tongue along his bottom lip and said, "How about a game? I know ye' like those."

Hesitant, she whispered, "What kind of game?" Her fingers spread against his chest, foreign to the pulse of another's heart and curious to feel more.

Shuffling around, he straightened up, adjusting the pillow to settle behind his back. "Ye' can touch anywhere ye' want," he explained, his knuckles smoothing over her forearm. "But where you go, I go." To further clarify the explanation, the hand that once rested on her waist moved to her chest, directly below her own sternum.

Cassie fidgeted slightly. The tips of her fingers tingled, and something flared inside her stomach. Recalling everything she'd talked about with Helena, she was thankfully able to recognise it as something other than apprehension. Well, she was nervous; that much was true. But not exactly in a way that urged her to run.

Her lips parted, but she took a pause. Then she wondered, "Anywhere?" She honestly hadn't meant for it to appear so, well, suggestive. However, the glint of anticipation in his eyes told her exactly how he'd taken it.

"Anywhere," he affirmed.

For the next, well, however long, he was her mirror. As per the rules of the 'game', where her hand went, so did his on her. Initially, it wasn't too stimulating. Cassie, with it being her first time fully touching the body of another, was driven mostly by intrigue. Her hand had lingered in the space above his heart for a little longer, puzzled by how soothing it was. Still, she'd never really been the best at staying in one place for too long, and her fingers soon diverted.

Unhurriedly, her dark eyes trailed up the pale skin of his throat, her hand following the line that moved to his shoulders. For the most part, he stayed still and quiet, allowing her to do whatever she pleased. There were, of course, momentary lapses. In the silence of the room, she'd heard his breath catch when her fingers smoothed down his stomach, tracing the slight bumps in his midsection. His legs moved slowly beneath the sheets, where he adjusted now and again.

Not that Cassie was faring any better. Her palms felt cold and, at the same time, unbearably warm. The odd flicker in the pit of her tummy had twisted into a dull, peculiar kind of ache, like an itch she couldn't possibly scratch. Just as her hand had travelled down his stomach, his had done the same, and an abrupt twitch in her abdomen had her pausing entirely. There was no way he hadn't felt it.

Cassie's eyes darted up at the same moment his did. There, they stayed, unable to look away from the other. His lips parted, his chest lifting and falling at a slightly faster pace than before. Eyeing her from where he leaned against the headboard, he tugged his bottom between his teeth. Cassie, meanwhile, was trembling, the fire beneath her skin setting her nerves on edge. There was something incredibly fragile in the air. So taut by this point that they had nothing left to do but wait for it to snap.

"Harry?" she mumbled quietly, her voice shaky.

"Hmm?" he acknowledged, his eyes dropping to her lips for a moment.

Extremely hesitant and almost pained, Cassie responded, "You win."

"Ye' sure ye' wanna do this, Cassie?"

The little cat gnawed at her bottom lip, fidgeting slightly on her feet as she stared back at Harriet. Cassie couldn't sense a trace of mocking or judgement from the captain, but there was a sliver of concern. Given what Cassie knew of the Hook siblings' time on their father's ship, it was understandable that Harriet would fear for her safety.

"Yeah," replied Cassie, after a moment of quiet. Apprehension escaped with her words, her voice quiet and uncertain. Then she cleared her throat, and added, "I'm sure. Really."

There was a second of silence. Harriet sat straight in the chair behind her desk, eyeing the little cat for a moment. Her expression gave nothing away, but Cassie did notice a frown twitch at Harriet's mouth.

"He won't think less of ye' if ye' can't," she reassured, folding her arms on top of the map she'd drawn. "I won't think less of ye'."

Cassie swallowed. "I know," she muttered. "It'll be okay. I'm good at stuff like this." Nervous as she was, she wasn't lying; taking was something she'd always been good at.

"It's not as easy as ye' think," sighed Harriet, gently shaking her head. "The map is in a room below deck. It's right between the crew's quarters an' Smee's room. I dunno if anyone sleeps on the ship anymore, but I know Smee does, an' he's got great hearin'. There's a little bell on the inside, so the door'll make a noise as soon as ye' open it. They key's in da's room, so ye'll have to sneak past him first. Even if ye' do get off the ship, ye'll have to get back through the village without bein' spotted. If anyone finds out it was you, it'll cause a war between da's crew an' Uma's. An' I can guarantee ye' he won't take it easy on them just 'cause Harry's there."

Lowering herself into the chair on the other side of the desk, Cassie sucked in a breath. "Okay," she mumbled, lightly scratching at her hair. "Then I'm gonna have to think hard on this one."

"Well, I've got the map for ye'," said Harriet, bringing back her arms to push the map into the centre of the desk. "First, da's room ain't below deck. When ye' walk onto the ship, go to the left. Ye'll find a door between two sets of stairs. Don't panic if ye' see the lights on; he hates bein' stuck in full dark."

Cassie frowned. "Where does he keep the key?"

Harriet winced. "That's the thing, I dunno. But I can tell ye' how it looks." Leaning back in her chair, Harriet ran a finger between her breasts. "It's got a star like this one. He had it shaped so he knew what it was for."

"Great," mumbled Cassie, understandably unenthusiastic. "How do I sneak around your dad?"

Harriet perked up slightly. "He drinks. A lot," she emphasised. "Probably more now we've not been around in a while. He should be out like a light."

"If he's not?" wondered Cassie.

"Then ye' run," the captain demanded firmly, her eyes fixed on Cassie's to truly convey how severe it was. "If ye'r lucky, he won't have strapped on his hook. He takes it off before sleepin', but not always. He's got plenty of other weapons in there with him, though. Ye' might be able to find an openin' if ye'r good with ye'r chat, but it won't last long. Da' don't trust anyone, only Smee, an' that's when he's havin' a good day. If he recognises ye', ye're fucked. An' if he catches ye'—" Harriet stopped abruptly, but Cassie caught the message loud and clear.

"Got it," assured Cassie. "So, the storage room?"

Harriet pointed to a spot on the map. "When ye' go below deck, go right, not left. Third door on the left side. Smee's is the second, an' the crew kips at the door at the end. Ye'll have to open it slow, so ye' don't jingle the bell. It'll be a little gap, but I reckon ye' can slip through. Map's right in front of ye', on a stand. When ye've got it, ye' get the fuck out. Harry says ye've got a wanderin' eye for pretty things."

At that, Cassie's nose scrunched. "Not anymore," she mumbled petulantly.

"Problem here is the village. A lot of late sleepers in there. Someone's bound to catch ye'," said Harriet, more so thinking out loud than talking to Cassie. "If ye' walk up the bridge anyway." The captain stroked her chin as she pondered.

"Is there another way on?" asked Cassie, resting her head on her palm.

Harriet shrugged. "I mean, there's a ladder on the other side. But I'm gonna guess ye' can't swim?" Cassie shook her head. "Didn't think so. An' there's always Tick-Tock."

Curious, Cassie asked, "Tick-Tock?"

"Hmm. He hangs 'round close to the ship, waitin' for da' to cock up an' fall overboard or somethin'. It's da' he's after, but we're not picky 'bout what we're eatin' here."

"I mean, I can help with that," offered Kody, resting against the wall. "I can get her in the village. And my place is right on the edge of the pier; ma' catches fish all the time. If we take her boat, we can get to the other side."

Cassie looked over her shoulder. "What about the crocodile?"

Kody shrugged. "Just listen for the clock."

Cassie deadpanned, and Kody gave her a large, innocent-like grin in response.

"It's not a bad idea," muttered Harriet.

Cassie spun around in the chair to face the captain. "Huh?!"

"They're watchin' out for thieves to sneak up the front, but they won't be lookin' at the back of the ship," explained Harriet. "And anyone in the village knows not to go in the water."

"There's a crocodile in the water!" The little cat exclaimed slowly, as if it would help stun some sense into the duo. "And I can't swim."

"I can," chirped Kody.

Cassie couldn't help but groan. "Of course you can."

Harriet chuckled, "I told ye' it was dangerous."

To that, Cassie admitted defeat—Harriet had prewarned her. However, sneaking onto pirate ships and pinching from unsuspecting Isle-dwellers was something she was familiar with—something comfortable. Jumping into a rickety little paddleboat with Kody while a monstrously-sized crocodile swam below the water, and expecting the one-eyed pirate to jump in and save her if the situation took a turn, was another thing entirely.

"Well, I guess that's a way in," grumbled Cassie. "What about getting out? If that bell rings, I'm screwed. Even if it doesn't, someone's gonna see me sneaking back out up the path. They won't know right then, but they'll know when Hook realises something was taken."

Harriet's grin was nothing short of troublesome. "Sunrise is at eight. Ye' can't hold a watch, but I reckon ye' can carry a bit of paper 'round."

Cassie paused, her brows furrowed as she mumbled, "A watch?" Then, realisation dawned, and a huff passed through her lips. "He told you about that?"

"He told me everythin'," replied Harriet.

Cassie's lips formed a pout of displeasure. "Okay," she muttered. "But to get into the village, sneak onto the ship, find the key, get the map, and then get back out, I'm gonna need some time. But, if shit goes down, I'm gonna wanna turn back as soon as possible."

Harriet's smile turned from sly to reassuring. "I reckon ye' can do it," she admitted.

Cassie allowed a sliver of apprehension to appear. "You think?"

"Course," responded Harriet, without a second thought.

Did it soothe Cassie's nerves completely? No. But she'd already known that stealing from an original was, quite possibly, the craziest idea she'd ever agreed to. Kody had even said as much. Harriet believing she actually could pull it off, though, was a wonderful reassurance.

"Ye' didn't tell him ye' were gonna do this?" asked Harriet.

Cassie shook her head. "Nope."

Harriet's smile dwindled. "If somethin' happens to ye', I don't think he'll take it well," she said.

The little cat's brows twitched upwards. In truth, she hadn't considered what would happen with Harry if his dad caught her on the ship. In fact, she hadn't thought of it as an option at all. Crazy as the situation was, she hadn't considered she wouldn't be able to do it. There had been plenty of times before where she'd thought her odd impulses had finally caught up to her, and she'd survived every time. This just so happened to be another one.

"It won't," assured Cassie. "I did this all the time."

"But ye' didn't have anyone to care about ye' then," retorted Harriet. "Ye've got Helena, an' ye'r crew, an' Harry. An' I'm guessin' Kody ain't told ye' 'bout this yet, but ye' need ye'r captain's permission to go wanderin' into the territory of another."

Cassie paled. "What?"

"Ah, shit," hissed the pirate from behind her.

"It's a common thin'," continued Harriet. "Even for outside gangs. Ye' need Uma's say-so before ye' go pissin' off another gang." She leaned to the side, her eyes narrowing in on Kody. "Ye' really didn't think to tell her 'bout that?" The disappointment wasn't lost on either of them, along with the dark twist in her expression.

"I mean, we've got time, right?" squeaked the one-eyed pirate.

Harriet turned back to Cassie. "Get Uma's permission." Her tone left no room for refusal, and Cassie wondered if it had to do with her being a captain herself. Clearly, it was a level of respect a captain demanded from their crew.

The little cat had never been one to ask. She did what she wanted, whenever she wanted to. But Uma had been more than wonderful to her since she'd joined the crew. Not abiding by quite possibly the most important rule involving the pirates was sure to bring about great misfortune for Cassie. Plus, she didn't like that it might upset her captain.

Eventually, Cassie muttered, "Okay. I'll ask her first."

"Absolutely fucking not."

Cassie had actually expected as much, but she had hoped for a more positive outcome. "C'mon, Uma," she pleaded.

They still had a few hours left before Cassie had to go into pirate village—more than enough time for her to convince her captain that this wasn't the stupidest idea on the Isle when, in fact, it kind of was.

Uma cocked her head, a furious sneer curling her lips. "You have any idea what you're asking?"

"I'm asking if I can go fetch something for Harry." Responded Cassie, incredibly sheepish.

"You're asking for permission to start a fucking war," corrected the captain. "Hook isn't like Maddy, Cass'. He'll slaughter us and make Harry watch, and that's if he's being nice."

"That's only if I get caught," pointed out Cassie, as if it would make things better. "I won't!"

Rolling her eyes, Uma gently soothed her temples. "You're not getting how stupid it is, Cass'," she groaned.

Folding her arms on top of the counter, Cassie pleaded, "No one's gonna know I'm one of yours. If I'm caught—which I won't be—then I'll take full responsibility. It won't get back to you guys."

There was a short pause, where Uma simply stared at Cassie for a second or two before eventually saying, "What is it with you?! You hate risky situations, but you keep finding them!"

"This is different," whined Cassie. "I'm not sneaking for me; I'm sneaking for Harry."

"Your self-preservation skills are nonexistent, aren't they?" remarked Uma. Then she added, "And what d'you think's gonna happen when Harry finds out? You're risking your life for a stupid map we can't even use, you know that, right?"

Cassie pouted. "I need to prove myself to him somehow," she mumbled. "This is the best thing I can think of."

The captain's agitation dwindled slightly. "Have you even thought about what might happen if you don't come back?" she wondered.

Cassie shrugged. "Not really."

"Being with someone else means it's not just you anymore, Cass'. If it wasn't Harry, it'd be Helena. How're they gonna feel knowing you went into Hook's territory? One 'bestie' to another, it'll kill them if something happens to you."

Cassie sighed, recalling that moment a few months ago when she and Gil had brought Harry back from Bargain Castle. Uma had been utterly devastated and blinded by pain and fury when she confronted Cassie. It'd been quite astounding to see such a strong display of emotion on a place like the Isle. But Cassie understood what point Uma was trying to make. If something happened to her when she was on the Jolly Roger, Helena would suffer for it.

"You can't change my mind," the little cat eventually admitted. "If I don't do it tonight, I'll do it another night. Maybe a month from now, maybe a year."

Uma gave a strained chuckle. "Oh, you're fucking crazy."

To that, Cassie smiled. "So I've been told."

"Think this through, Cass'," demanded Uma. "Starla lives in the village, Kody too, and a lot of the others. What d'you think's gonna happen when their parents find out it was their crewmate who stole from Hook? If this goes wrong, do you understand how many of us are gonna get ripped apart? Sure, the map's a good idea to prove yourself. But if it goes wrong, d'you think Harry's gonna think it's worth it? The lives of his crew for a little map he wanted to see as a kid."

Well, when Uma put it like that, Cassie could understand how idiotic her plan seemed. If it went wrong and she was caught, and Hook found out which crew she belonged to, he'd destroy the Lost Revengers. The ship would be burnt down, regardless of who was inside. The crew would, if they were lucky, be dealt with by their parents, but would have lost their only means of freedom. Whether or not Hook would touch Uma's shoppe, Cassie wasn't sure. After all, Uma's mother was hiding away in the caves below. Still, it was a great risk.

"It won't go wrong," assured Cassie. "I told you, if I'm caught, I'll take all responsibility. He won't know I belong to you guys."

"Everyone on the Isle knows who you are, Cass'!" exclaimed Uma. "Even Maddy found out you joined the crew."

"They know the daughter of the Cheshire Cat joined your crew," corrected Cassie. "But they don't have to know it's me."

Uma's expression was stony. "What're you gonna do? Dress-up? You've got ears on your head." She eyed the headband pointedly.

Cassie's eyes began to roll but paused in their movement. "Dress up?" The little cat repeated, meeting Uma's gaze. "It's not a bad plan."

"You don't have permission," said Uma with a sardonic grin.

"Oh, c'mon," begged Cassie, clasping her hands together beneath her chin. "I'm good at sneaking in and out without getting caught. You know that. On my ears, I swear, nothing bad will come to the crew." She drew an 'x' over her chest for further example of her promise.

The captain leaned back against the counter behind her, crossing one leg over the other. "Fine," she soon grunted. "Hand them over."

Cassie felt her tummy twist. "Huh?"

Gesturing to the ears on Cassie's head, Uma clarified, "You swore on the ears. Hand them over, or you don't get to go."

The little cat paused, her hand reaching for the headband. Sure, Kody had hid them behind a barrel the last time they went into the village, but that was entirely different. There, she knew they were safe. Handing them over to Uma, however, was something else. With the attic gone, the headband was the last string of memory that tied her to her father. Some could argue the curse itself was what bound her to her dad, but it wasn't. The curse was something they were tormented by. The headband, on the other hand, had been a gift—the first and last gift Cassie's dad had ever given her.

Reluctantly, Cassie removed the headband. "You'll keep them safe?" she asked, handing them over to the captain.

"As long as you don't screw us over," replied Uma. "Kody!"

"Yeah?" the one-eyed pirate acknowledged, having been perched on a nearby stool since the conversation began.

"You know what to do, yeah?" asked Uma.

The duo stared at each other for a moment, like they were having a conversation with eyes alone. It was incredibly ominous to Cassie, since she was completely unaware as to what they were talking about. Whatever it was, she had a feeling it wasn't something she'd like to know.

"Of course, captain," agreed Kody.

"Good," chirped Uma, breaking the odd tension floating around the air. "You were right, though. You look too much like an outsider," said the captain, her eyes drifting across Cassie's sweater and leggings.

Cassie rolled her eyes. "You have anything else?"

Pressing a finger to her lips, Uma's brows furrowed as she thought. Then she nodded. "I might, actually."

Next on Cassie's list was talking to Helena. With enough time before she had to head into pirate village with Kody, letting her best friend know she was about to go sneaking into Hook's territory was the bare minimum.

Telling Uma about her plan had been easy. The captain knew well enough of the relationship between Harry and Cassie and exactly how insane the two were when it came to each other. She cared enough for the little cat as a member of the crew but knew there was no swaying Cassie's mind when she'd decided to do something. Uma was intimidating enough, but not so much that Cassie felt she couldn't approach her in this particular situation. Plus, Uma carried the weight of taking care of all of her crew, not only Cassie specifically. The little cat had only thought to tell Uma about her plan because it could bring about the downfall of her crew. The captain was, most of the time, of rational mind and clever thinking. It wasn't often she lost her temper with the crew, unless she'd seen something about the Core-Four on the TV, or she was having a bad day.

Helena, on the other hand, was a wildly different league. She and Cassie had bonded in a way many rarely did on the Isle. The Queen of Hearts knew Cassie's peculiarities like the back of her hand and chose to keep her around regardless. And Cassie, well, she adored Helena. They cared for each other, relied on each other for comfort during their worst moments, and would drop anything to help the other out of a bad situation. Sure, Helena had Gaston J.R. for a while, but it'd only been her and Cassie for the majority. Helena was the closest Cassie had ever had to a sister, and she knew the feeling was mutual.

So, when Helena's cheeks flushed the moment Cassie told her about her plan, it was only understandable.

"You're trying to die, aren't you?" demanded Helena.

On the edge of the salon chair she'd chosen to sit on, Cassie fidgeted, her fingers twisting together. "Not exactly," she mumbled, somewhat apologetic.

"What's the plan if he catches you, huh?" Helena paced back and forth, arms crossed beneath her chest, as she built up a scolding. "I know you're pretty, Cass', but you can't charm your way outta this one. Far as I know, Hook likes 'em his own age."

Cassie's nose wrinkled. "Ew."

Helena scowled at the little cat. "Then why're you dressed like a pirate's hussy?" She eyed Cassie's clothes pointedly, her lips curving down to express her dissatisfaction with Cassie's new attire.

"Hey!" whined Cassie, sparing a glance down at what Uma had given her. "It's not that bad."

It really wasn't, actually. The puff-sleeve button-up, which she could tell was once a pristine white but had faded into a creamy colour over the years, was quite comfortable. The skirt, swamp-like green in colour, ran down to her ankles, two slits in the front following the length of her legs and ending at her lower thighs. Cassie had been quite grateful, though—it meant she'd be able to run around without getting caught up in it. Uma had given her a black, corset-like belt to shape her midsection, with hooks to close it instead of laces. Without her 'ears', Cassie actually felt like one of the crew. In appearance, anyway.

Helena might not approve of it, but Harry had certainly seemed to enjoy it.

"Kody," whispered Cassie, self-conscious as they left the shoppe.

The pirate huffed, "I'm not telling you again."

Cassie's walk slowed, her wide, imploring eyes focused on Kody. "One more time."

With a too loud groan of irritation, Kody spun on his feet. Head cocked to the side, he placed his hands on his hips, dragging his eyes down Cassie's form before eventually coming back up to meet her gaze. His lips parted and, almost reluctantly, he grumbled, "You look great, Cass'."

Her lips curled, a spark of delight in her dark eyes. "You're so sweet to me, Kody," she teased, swaying gently.

A sarcastic laugh escaped him. "Yeah," he groaned, turning back around to continue on his way. "Just don't let boss-man see you," he threw over his shoulder.

Cassie rushed to catch up with his longer strides. "Why?" she wondered.

"For one thing," began Kody, raising his index finger. "He's gonna wanna know why you're playing 'pirate'."

Cassie frowned. "But I am. Kind'a."

"Not yet," corrected Kody. "You're still in training."

A whispered curse left Cassie's lips. Then she asked, "What's the second thing?"

Sucking in a deep, long breath, as if he were about to explain to her the secrets of the universe, Kody said, "He won't let you leave."

Cassie stopped in her tracks. Baffled, she muttered, "What?"

"I told you," insisted Kody, turning once again, this time slowly stepping backwards. "He's first-mate. He wants to know you're taking this shit seriously. Just for one damn minute, think about it. Someone you like, someone you wanna jump into bed with, starts wearing stuff from your side of the Isle. You're on his crew, almost. You're already getting better with the sword. Now, you're dressing like one of us. I'll bet five coins he goes stiff the second he sees you."

Understanding finally dawned, and Cassie grinned. "So he'll like it, is what you're saying?"

Kody rolled his eyes. "You're gonna kill me, I swear."

"Not if I catch ye' first."

It was almost comical how fast Kody tensed. His eyes rolled skyward, his lips thinning in either exasperation or slight apprehension. His hands clenched into fists, only to relax a second later.

"Hey boss," greeted Kody with feigned nonchalance. His voice pitched slightly towards the end, but Cassie knew Harry wouldn't think too much of it. Kody was hardly subtle, after all. He'd been latching onto Cassie since the night Harry found out what happened near the bridge—only an idiot would be blind to Kody's actions.

When the hook-wielding pirate stepped out of the shadows, having come through the maze, Cassie was reminded of just how terrifying he could be to others. Standing tall, he approached Kody leisurely, an apathetic expression on his face. It was the type of stride you only found in those with unquestionable arrogance. He was confident in who he was and how he could handle himself, and there was no need for theatrics. Still, the sword hanging at his hip and the sharpened hook in his hand might've added to that.

Cassie's response to his presence, though, was quite different from Kody's. Yes, her fingers twitched anxiously at her sides, but that was primarily due to the fact that she was about to go and rob his dad, and she didn't want him catching wind of it. The warmth in her palms and the oddly delightful twitch in the pit of her stomach, however, was something else entirely.

'You win'.

Her own voice echoed inside her head, breathy and bordering desperate. It sent a pang of embarrassment through her even now. Remembering his strong reaction to it settled her awkwardness slightly.

If she thought on it long enough and allowed her mind to drift into the memory, Cassie could still hear the occasional creak of the ship as it rocked gently on the waves. She could feel the chilly breeze sweeping in through the opened window. She could feel the almost painful indents in her skin as he'd grabbed at her waist, yanking her on top of him. She could feel the vibrations of the groan building in the back of his throat, a swift relief pouring from his mouth into hers. She could feel the sharp pinch in her bottom lip as he tugged at it with his teeth, and how his tongue soothed over the same area only a second later. She could feel the unyielding grip of one of his hands on her backside, the fingers of the other hand tightly intertwined with strands of her hair as he directed her head this way and that. And maybe, if she considered it a little longer, she could still recall the heat burning beneath her skin as the hand near her thigh drifted higher, smoothing along the skin of her waist and bypassing the hem of her shirt.

They hadn't done anything that night. Not that it was down to hesitation, of course. Cassie, suddenly remembering Uma's warning back in the shoppe, had almost had to fight out of Harry's grip long enough to tell him what the captain said. He'd groaned and mumbled, of course, but relented. They were in Uma's room, after all, and neither were exactly in the place to be breaking her rules. So, they'd subdued overwhelming desire between them, at least enough to release each other.

Cassie had had every intention of leaving. She'd still needed to talk to Helena. Harry, however, had been hoping for her to stay. So she'd remained in the captain's quarters that evening. Resting beside him on the bed, with a decent inch or two between them at the risk of sparking things up, Cassie had reached up to rest her hand on his chest again. Thankfully, he'd allowed it, and even lightly held onto her wrist, his thumb smoothing her forearm. He'd fallen asleep pretty soon after, riddled with exhaustion from trying to stay up all day and for the majority of his evenings. She, in the meantime, allowed herself to relax next to him, lulled into a light sleep by the steady beat beneath her palm.

When she'd eventually woken up, he'd been gone for a while, the side of the bed he'd slept on lacking warmth. There she'd stayed, until she'd caught up on enough sleep for her to leave the ship.

Somehow, in some strange way, something had shifted that night. What it was, though, Cassie wasn't sure. All she really knew for certain was that she hadn't slept that great in, well, quite a while. Whether it was down to Uma's bed being far more comfortable than any other bed Cassie had been fortunate enough to sleep on or the presence of the hook-wielding pirate, Cassie didn't know. In truth, she didn't want to think about it at the risk it would freak her out.

"My, my," drawled Harry, tugging Cassie away from her thoughts. "Hello, Kitty, Kitty."

Cassie stood perfectly still as he moved around her in a slow circle. Her eyes followed him as he stepped, watching as he skilfully tossed the hook from his left hand to his right, dragging his free hand across her body as he moved.

"Harry," she greeted, ruthlessly cursing herself out in her brain as her voice hitched.

It was strange, really. The weight of his gaze on her was something she was more than familiar with by now, but it hadn't felt this heavy before. Whatever it was that'd been in the air when they were in Uma's room, it was now hoping to return.

Harry paused when he came to her side, pressing his chest against her shoulder. "Where're you off to, eh?" he purred, low into her ear. He stroked a stray hair away from Cassie's face with his hook, his other hand resting against her lower back.

Doing her best to calm both her apprehension and the flutter in her stomach, Cassie tilted her head back and replied, "Kody needs my help with something."

"Oh, does he?" mumbled Harry, hardly interested in whatever it was Kody 'needed' from her. "I don't think he needs ye' more than I do right now."

Cassie hummed, her brown twitching upward in question. "Yeah?"

"She's helping me with Maizie," muttered Kody.

"Hmm, I remember," responded Harry, eyeing Kody pointedly. "Her life for a favour, wasn't it?"

"Okay," sighed Cassie, side-stepping away from Harry. "I promised I'd help him." She truly didn't believe he'd hold back from swiping at Kody if the need arose, so she had to get them both out of there.

Turning his piercing stare from Kody to Cassie, Harry grumbled, "Alright." His hand drifted from Cassie's back, caressing her forearm as his fingers trailed down to wrap around hers. "When ye're done, come find me," he requested, the tips of his fingers tickling her palm.

Cassie nodded. "Of course."

"You've done some crazy ass shit, Cass'," muttered Helena. "But this is something else."

Cassie's eyes rolled. "I'm hearing that a lot tonight."

Their lack of faith in her abilities was quite insulting. How easy it was for them to forget that 'taking' was what brought her into their lives in the first place. There wasn't a lot she could do, even less the things she could do well, but this was where she came out on top. Apparently, it was time to remind them as much.

Standing directly in front of Cassie, Helena inhaled a deep breath, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment or two. When they opened, and she peered down at Cassie, the little cat could see that her friend's fury had dulled somewhat.

"You're gonna do it no matter what," whispered Helena, somewhere between bitterness and understanding. "Just, please, for Hade's sake, be careful." She reached out to place a hand on top of Cassie's head, her red-painted nails gently scratching at the little cat's scalp.

Cassie grinned. "C'mon, I'm always careful."

The gravity of the situation didn't truly hit Cassie until she was wandering through the path into pirate village with Kody. She'd been a little on edge for the majority of the evening, of course, but that was only understandable. Getting Uma's permission had seemed almost impossible to start, and Cassie had been, for the most part, bullshitting her way into an agreement. She'd simply blabbed whatever it was she thought Uma needed to hear just so she'd allow her to go into Hook's territory. After that, she'd been purely focused on making sure Harry didn't know where she and Kody were sneaking off to. And after him, she'd needed to survive one of Helena's 'rants'. Now, there were no more barriers for her to break through; nothing to prevent her frantic mind from fully accepting just how crazy this plan was.

To distract herself, Cassie turned to Kody and asked, "What was going on with you and Uma?"

Kody's fingers twitched against Cassie's arm. "Huh?"

"In the shoppe," clarified Cassie, quietly. "She said, 'you know what to do'."

"Oh," mumbled Kody, reaching back with his other hand to stroke his nape. "I'll tell you later, okay?"

Cassie frowned. There was something in his voice, akin to apprehension and, well, guilt. Still, she wouldn't pry.

"Okay," she replied.

In very little time, they arrived at the other end of the path. Up ahead, Cassie observed the Jolly Roger, gnawing on her bottom lip as anxiety churned in her stomach.

The entire situation would lose half of it's threatening weight if she could just walk up the bridge and onto the ship, instead of allowing Kody to take her out onto the water. Unfortunately, Harriet's warning rang loud in Cassie's mind. There were plenty of houses on the edge, and from the multitude of sounds echoing through the village, Cassie knew with certainty that many of the residents were still awake. It only took one person to see her for things to go sideways. To her misfortune, Kody's boat idea was their best chance of success.

"Cass'," whispered Kody, tugging at her hand. "This way."

Tearing her eyes away from the ship, Cassie allowed Kody to lead her away.

Nearing the left side, Cassie realised that there was no space at all for someone to escape by following the edge of the Isle. The houses curved around from the path, and the houses on the very edge of land were held up with stilts raising out of the water.

"This is my place," grumbled Kody, quite reluctant as he gestured to the house on the edge of the Isle.

Similar to the rest of the houses Cassie had seen in pirate territory, Kody's home was built together from pieces of wood and tarp to cover the windows, with sheets of metal nailed into the rooftop. An orange glow peaked out from the corners of the tarp, revealing that its residents were quite awake.

"Where's the boat?" asked Cassie quietly.

"Around here," explained Kody, tugging her over to the side of the house.

To the right of the front door was a plank of wood, only about three feet wide. It trailed along the side of the house and around the corner of it, likely circling around to the back of the house.

"Try and stay quiet," pleaded Kody, treading carefully onto the plank. It gave a faint 'creak' under his weight, causing him to wince. "If they hear you I'm screwed," he added, looking back over his shoulder at Cassie.

The little cat followed close behind. The water below was quite nerve-wracking, but following along the wooden path felt comfortably familiar. It was similar to when she'd climbed up into her attic.

When they were hidden behind the other side of the house, Kody stopped. Turning slowly, he held onto the questionable wooden railing nailed into the planks—a poor attempt at preventing pirates from falling into the water.

Cassie watched as Kody climbed down a ladder, lowering his feet into a swaying little row boat tied to the ladder.

"Okay," he mumbled, balancing quite well considering one wrong move would put him in the water. "Your turn."

Swallowing down a lump of anxiety, Cassie did just as Kody had. Her fingers gripped the rungs, her knuckles whitening as she repeatedly inhaled and exhaled deep and soothing breaths. She felt Kody's hands hold onto her waist, aiding her as she put her feet down into the boat.

Cassie fell down to her knees almost immediately. Between the precarious state of the boat, the dark water surrounding them, and the risk of a giant crocodile hiding beneath the surface, she was understandably frightened.

Kody, unbothered by Cassie's worries, sat down after untying the knot. Grasping at the oars on either side of the boat, he began moving them away from the safety of land.

Cassie, in the meantime, chose to close her eyes. Pulling her knees up, she allowed her head to hang between her legs, her fingernails scratching nervously at the bottom of the boat. She was partly grateful for having moved into Uma's ship. Though the rowboat hardly provided the security the ship did, she'd long become accustomed to the soft sway of the waves and the sounds of the water lapping against the ship. If she hadn't, she could imagine her distress in this moment would be unbearable.

"We're here."

Cassie flinched. Opening her eyes, she looked to the right and found Kody had brought his little rowboat right up against the side of Hook's ship. Her eyes trailed up, and she saw two lengths of rope pushed through the edges of a few planks of wood, creating a ladder.

"Sure you wanna do this, Cass'?" asked Kody.

Cassie nodded, forcing her lips to twitch upward. "Of course," she chirped. In truth, she was startlingly nervous. But the urge to get her feet back on solid ground took priority.

"Before you go," muttered Kody, reaching into the pocket of his trousers. "This is for you." He reached out with his right hand and dropped something into Cassie's.

Peering down, Cassie's brows furrowed. The bottle was only the length of her palm, with a cork plugged into the top. Through the clear glass, the liquid inside swirled as she moved her hand, a peculiar shade of pale blue—almost white.

"What is it?" she wondered, looking up at Kody.

Crossing his arms, Kody shivered. He eyed the small bottle with a glimmer of unease, his lips thinning for a moment. "It's, um, something Uma made. She calls it 'a little mercy'," he explained, quiet. "If Hook catches you and you can't get out—" He went silent, but he'd said enough for her to get the message.

Cassie felt her stomach turn. "You're serious?"

"Yeah," he mumbled, almost shameful. "Trust me, this is doing you a favour."

She seriously doubted that. However, if Uma was going as far as to giving Cassie poison on the off chance she was caught by Hook, the little cat had to wonder just how horrendous the feared captain was when it came to thieves or prisoners.

"But if he doesn't catch you, then Uma has a little, well, side-challenge, for you," said Kody.

Cassie's nose twitched. "What kind of challenge?"

Kody leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "She wants you to slip it to Hook."

Cassie blinked. She had to repeat it a few times for her mind to even comprehend it. "She wants me to what?"

"Captain's orders," sighed Kody. "A few drops of this in his drink—" he gestured to the bottle. "—and he'll be gone by morning."

Cassie's lips parted and, after a moment or two of bewildered silence, she quietly exclaimed, "She wants me to kill Harry's dad?"

Kody shrugged. "If you knew as much as we do about that guy, you wouldn't be so weird about it," grumbled Kody, evidently indifferent to what he was suggesting. "He's done a lot to boss, you know that, right?"

Of course she did. "Yeah," she muttered, lightly scratching at her hairline. "But it's his dad."

"Hey, c'mon," soothed Kody, bringing his hands together. "It's like, uh, when I could'a let you die. No one's around. No one's gonna know it was you. Guy drinks so much they'll think it was that that did it. It's an easy kill, Cass'."

She frowned. Killing didn't come easy to her. Never had and never would.

"It's Uma's command, so you can't not do it," added Kody. "You're out on your ass, and that's if she's feeling good. Worst case? You walk the plank."

Cassie zoned out as she stared down at the bottle, twirling it between her fingers. The last thing she wanted to do was let her captain down, but surely Uma already knew of Cassie's inability to kill, and how much she was asking of her right now. There was still the matter of the fact that this was Harry's dad she was asking her to kill. Assuming the little cat did this, how would Harry feel when the news eventually reached him? There was plenty of bad blood between the Hooks, but whether or not he wanted his father dead was something else entirely.

"Fine," she soon mumbled, tucking the bottle into her corset for safekeeping.

As she fumbled to stand steadily on the rowboat, she reached up for the nearest rung, pulling herself up onto the rope ladder.

Quietly, Kody called out, "Cass'."

She looked down. "Yeah?"

"Be careful, yeah? Boss's gonna kill me if something happens to you," he warned, his lips twitching up at the corners.

Cassie gave a slightly forced smile of reassurance. "I'll be okay." With that said, she climbed up the rest of the way.

Climbing over the edge and onto the deck, Cassie waited for a moment or two, crouching down. Over the fluttering of the loosened sails, she couldn't hear a trace of another person wandering about the ship.

Cassie stayed low to the ground, crawling across the expanse of the deck until she was near the bridge entrance. The lanterns strewn about the ship would cast her shadow if she wasn't careful.

'When ye' walk onto the ship, go to the left. Ye'll find a door between two sets of stairs'.

Turning her head, Cassie found a set of stairs leading onto a higher deck. Crawling over, she peered around, her stomach twisting as she saw the doors. Just as Harriet had explained, a gleam of light escaped through the cracks of the doors.

For a second, Cassie remained near the stairs, taking a moment or two to pull herself together. Inhaling a deep breath, she reminded herself that Hook was no different to the others on the Isle. While Kody had said otherwise, Cassie knew differently. The originals were merely older versions of the VK's roaming the Isle. The little cat had survived Maddy and the Fearsome Five, and she'd survived Harry—Hook was nothing new for her.

Creeping closer, she twisted the doorknob, slowly tugging it open. She jolted as a creak escaped, waiting for a second. When no movement came from inside or from another area of the ship, she slithered through the gap once it was big enough for her to fit, pulling it closed behind her.

Cassie was almost taken aback by how warm it was inside the captain's quarters. In Uma's ship, and even Harriet's, there was still an icy chill in the air. But their ships had been built on the Isle, from whatever scraps and pieces they managed to track down. Hook, on the other hand, had crafted his ship well before he'd been thrown on the Isle, and it certainly showed.

Crouched down, Cassie observed the large room. On the right side was a nook in the wall, a four poster bed perfectly placed inside. The bedding was unkempt, but Cassie envied the thick blankets, plump pillows, and thick mattress. A curtain rail lined the top of the nook, providing a blood-red curtain for the captain to draw if he wanted privacy or a lack of light. In fact, as Cassie took in the rest of the room, she found a great amount of red and navy blue. Bookcases lined the walls beside the nook, packed with books and simple decorative pieces that gleamed under the flickering lights from the lanterns. The furthest side of the room was primarily floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing a view of the ocean and the side of the Isle. Similar to the nook, a rail spread across the length of the windows, two hefty red curtains tied back on either side. On the left side sat a wooden vanity, a large mirror circled by a golden rim. Jewels and trinkets almost piled up on top of it, with a few pencils and pieces of paper scattered across. Lastly, in the very centre of the room, atop a red-patterned rug, was a circular table.

As her eyes travelled up the length of the table, Cassie felt her heart stutter. From her position on the floor, she could only see his legs, covered by a pair of black trousers, and his outstretched arm resting on the table, his hand limp as it dangled off the edge.

Slowly, Cassie got to her feet. Now standing straight, she was able to see the rest of him. Thick brown curls covered his face and the arm he placed below his head for comfort, spreading across the other side of the table. Lacking a shirt, his back was exposed, tattoos scattered across his pale skin.

The little cat took a cautious step forward, mindful of the glass bottles littering the floor below the table. Next to his arm, almost an open invitation for Cassie, was another bottle, only half empty. Without the cork, it would be far too easy for her to carry out Uma's demand. First, though, she had to find the key.

Staying light on her feet, Cassie searched the room. Her eyes passed over the trinkets above the vanity and the shelves beside the nook. Before she risked her life further by rummaging through drawers, she needed to make sure it wasn't out in the open first.

When a shuffle of movement came from behind, Cassie rushed over to the curtain near the window, hiding behind it. Holding her breath, she stayed as still as she was able, hoping the captain would fall back asleep.

First, there was a pained groan, followed by incoherent grumbling. Then the chair legs being dragged along the carpet as he pushed back from the table. Then there were footsteps, staggered and heavy. A weighty 'thump' echoed through the room.

Cassie remained behind the curtain. Only when she was sure he wasn't going to move around again did she come out of her hiding spot.

The captain, it seemed, had simply moved from the uncomfortable table to the plush bed in the nook. Luckily for Cassie, he'd left his bottle.

Sparing a nervous glance at the nook, she stood in front of the table. Retrieving the little bottle from inside her corset, Cassie allowed it to drift from one hand to the other, her inner thoughts running frantic. The water inside Hook's bottle stirred from where he'd taken a sip immediately after waking, proving that Uma's plan to poison him would succeed.

Unfortunately, Cassie was greatly torn between her captain's orders and an overbearing sympathy for Harry. She could understand Uma's desire to put him down, of course. Harry was her best friend, and Cassie knew with certainty that there was far more Uma knew about his time with Hook than she did. Cassie only knew a few titbits of how Captain Hook was as a father, but even she knew he'd been cruel with his children, enough to deserve whatever Uma had slipped into the tiny bottle in Cassie's hands. Despite this, it wasn't Uma's right, or even Cassie's, to decide the captain's fate. Cassie, though her father hadn't been half as bad as the other originals on the Isle, could imagine she'd be pretty pissed if someone took out her dad before she had the chance to get her hands on him; Harry burning down the attic had proven as much. Sure, Harry might've found it wonderful to hear of his father's passing, but it could also go a very different way. He could see it as losing his chance of revenge, of having his vengeance snatched away from him.

Cassie could recall Helena once telling her that taking revenge on behalf of another VK wasn't admirable, that it was almost telling that VK that they were far too weak to do it themselves. Helping them wasn't out of the question, but carrying out violence on their behalf when they were more than capable of doing so was improper VK behaviour.

So Cassie slipped the bottle back into her corset, a sigh escaping her. It wasn't up to her to decide what happened with Hook, and she'd tell Uma as much when she was done. Hopefully, the captain didn't make her walk the plank because of it.

To Cassie's irritation, the key wasn't on the table either. A peculiar device she couldn't make heads or tails of, but no key. Resting her hands on her hips, her head lulled to the side, a curse passing through her head as she eyed the captain tucked up in his bed. But that's when, at last, she found the key.

With the captain stretched out on his back and his long hair spread across the pillow, he left his throat open to attack. A thick black string encircled his neck, trailing low until the two ends met at his stomach. And there, gently resting and moving with the rise and fall of the captain's tummy, was the very key Cassie had come here to find.

That she held her tongue instead of allowing a furious admonishment to escape was incredibly admirable. Part of her wondered why Harriet hadn't given her a heads-up about this, but it wasn't exactly her fault. In truth, Hook carrying the key around his neck should've been expected. His greatest treasures were down in that storage room, of course he'd keep the key within reach.

Wandering over to the vanity, Cassie reached for a pair of hair shears she'd noticed earlier. Shears in one hand, she carefully reached down for a stray bottle with the other. Hook might've been subdued by a drunken haze, but he was still an original pirate and the very man who'd trained Harry. If he woke up, she'd have no choice but to knock him back out.

Staring down at the most notorious pirate on the Isle, Cassie paused. For all his skills and ruthlessness, it was almost painfully easy for her to find him in such a fragile state. Was it a stupidity that came with being higher on the food chain? The idea of someone being so ballsy as to sneak into their homes was almost ridiculous to them, and they left themselves vulnerable. Even Harry had thought her insane for sneaking into his room when they first met.

Either she was crazy, or they were stupid. She preferred to think of it as the latter.

Placing the bottle between her legs, Cassie's fingers twitched forward. There was a tiny gap between a part of the rope and Hook's skin, and she prayed to any deity out there that he wouldn't wake up.

Holding her breath, Cassie dipped her pinkie finger into the space, lifting the cord away from Hook's stomach. Bringing the shears forward, she cut at the string, a whine almost passing through her lips as it made a slight noise.

With the cord finally cut, Cassie was quick to retrieve the key. It slid off the string and into her hands, and her fingers tightened around it.

One down, one to go.

Placing the shears back onto the vanity, Cassie fled for the doors. She did, though, keep hold of the bottle from Hook's room. While she might've escaped the captain, there was no guarantee she'd be safe from his crew below deck, and she'd much rather have a weapon when dealing with them.

Back out on the main deck, Cassie headed for the stairs in the centre of the ship. Similar to Uma's and Harriet's ship, the little cat wound up in a stretch of hallway, with doors on either side. However, Hook's hallway led to the left and to the right.

'When ye' go below deck, go right, not left. Third door on the left side'.

As instructed, Cassie went to the right. Counting the doors as she passed—in her head, of course—she stopped in front of the third door on the left side. Her eyes passed over the door to the left of it, where a rather lovely wooden-crafted 'S' was nailed into the door—Smee's room.

Pushing the key into the lock, Cassie tensed as she turned the handle, hoping the 'click' of the lock coming loose would be too loud. Thankfully, it wasn't.

'Ye'll have to open it slow, so ye' don't jingle the bell'.

Twisting the handle, Cassie was almost meticulously slow as she pushed the door open. Straining her ears, she heard the barely audible 'tink' as the door moved against the bell inside. There was very little space between the door and the frame, to the point even Cassie wasn't sure if she'd manage without triggering the bell. Sucking in her stomach and pressing herself against the doorframe, she reached up to hold the bell as she squeezed through the gap, pushing herself up onto her tippy toes to slide into the room and keep a hold on the bell.

Inside the room, Cassie closed the door behind her. Gently releasing her grasp on the bell, she turned to find the map, a squeak escaping her mouth as she analysed the contents of the storage room.

'Harry says ye've got a wanderin' eye for pretty things'.

It was truly a treasure hoard worthy of even Jafar's envy. These jewels weren't similar to the ones in Hook's quarters, abandoned on his vanity as nothing more than décor. The shelves inside the storage room were lined with goblets and jewellery boxes formed from gold and silver. There were jewels of all kinds—rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and so much more. A large chest in the corner of the room was overflowing with golden coins, some having fallen onto the floor.

If Cassie had stumbled upon this room sometime before she met Harry, she'd have thought she'd wound up in a peculiar form of an afterlife. Yes, her former 'urges' had all but disappeared at this point, but that didn't mean they'd dissipated completely. Now, it felt more like they'd been in hibernation, and Hook's treasure room had woken it up.

'When ye've got it, ye' get the fuck out'.

Cassie, reluctantly, tore her eyes away from the hoard in favour of the stand directly in front of her. The map was held down by four gems, one in each corner acting as a weight. It was borderline cruel, really, of Harriet to let Cassie sneak in here without something to carry out at least one or two jewels.

Whispering a curse, Cassie carefully removed the weights from the map, curling it up and placing it in the lining of her corset with the bottle. Understandably, it took her a moment or two of weighing the pros and cons before she could even consider leaving the room. After tonight, the place would be locked up tight, and any opportunity to snatch a few trinkets would be gone.

Putting the key down where the map had once been, Cassie reached up to grab the bell. Turning the doorknob, she followed the same path she'd taken before, squeezing in her stomach and stretching onto the tips of her toes as she slid through the gap.

Turning around as soon as she'd closed the door, Cassie froze.

The man was quite old and rather plump. A pair of glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, a thick grey beard protruding from his lower face. Dressed in a grey and red striped shirt, his brown trousers swamped his legs, a grey overcoat providing warmth. Atop his head was a fading red beanie.

"Hello," he chirped.

Cassie, still solidly rooted, warily replied, "Hi."

He clasped his hands in front of him. "Never seen you 'round here before," he observed, as if they were two passing strangers discussing the Isle weather.

"I'm new," she offered, quite bewildered.

"Hm, I guessed as much," he replied, scratching his beard. "Most 'round here know better than to steal from captain."

Cassie, still caught off guard, responded, "I didn't take anything important."

His head cocked to the side, condescending as he said, "I doubt that, girlie."

Cassie could only shrug. "I dunno what to tell you."

The old man sighed. "Look, times are hard; I'll give you that. If you put the stuff back, I'll give you a chance to leave."

"Ah," she muttered, glancing down at the map. "I only took one thing," she put forward, as if it might sway his decision.

His eyes followed the same line as hers. His bushy brows furrowed and his lips thinned. Then, after a moment of silence, he asked, "Which one of them sent you?"

Cassie's nose twitched. "Huh?"

It was quite peculiar how his eyes seemed to soften as he raised them to meet hers. "No one gives a damn about the Neverland map. It only means something to three, not including my dear captain. Which one sent you?"

Cassie's stomach twinged. He was quite clever. "Which one's your favourite?" she joked, a nervous giggle escaping.

"Never stood a chance against him," said the old man instead of answering. His eyes seemed to mist over as he stared at her. "Been with him so long. Seen him do lots of bad. Didn't think he'd hurt them."

Cassie sighed. "You know I won't tell you which one," she admitted, reaching down to scratch her calf beneath the skirt.

"Harriet's got my boys, see?" chuckled the old man, but it lacked humour. It leaned more towards a wistfulness. "Squeaky and Squirmy. Quiet boys; they wouldn't have survived on captain's ship. Asked her to take them when she left, I did. She's a good girl, little Harriet."

Raising back to her full height, Cassie grasped the glass bottle behind her back. Though he lacked any great threat, she couldn't be too careful.

The old man continued despite Cassie's silence. "And Calista? A fire in that one that no one can put out. She never listened, not even when it was for her own safety."

It took Cassie a second to realise he was talking about C.J.. Curious, the little cat wondered, "How long has it been? Since you saw them?"

His eyes rolled skyward, a huff of air passing through his lips. "Oh, about three years or so. Captain always needs his first mate, you know." His lips quirked. "Tell me, how are they?"

After a moment of hesitation, in which Cassie decided mentioning all three couldn't hold any great risk, especially considering he'd already guessed one of the Hook's sent her since she was pinching the map, she explained, "Harriet's great. She's a captain now, with her own ship and crew. C.J.'s good too. She has a boyfriend now. And Harry, well, he's a first mate, but he's happy."

The old man nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. "That's good to hear. I did worry about them, you know."

"Of course," muttered Cassie, understanding. A frown then crossed her features. "I'm not leaving without this map. You get that, right?"

"Hm, I get it. But when he realises it's gone, he's gonna take it out on us," said the old man. "Put it back, girlie."

Cassie whined. She really, really didn't want to have to knock the old man out with the bottle. It would just make her feel bad.

'Kitty, if ye' happen to bump into Smee, an' he won't let ye' go, just say this...'.

'What does that mean?'.

'Ye' don' need to know. He will, though'.

Recalling her conversation with Harriet just before she left the ship to go and talk to Uma, Cassie felt a flicker of hope.

"Second star to the right," said Cassie, almost hesitant. It seemed almost foolish, but she just had to trust Harriet.

The old man's eye twitched. "Say that again?"

Cassie repeated, "Second star to the right."

It went quiet. The old man stared at Cassie, his eyes slightly wide and his lips parted. She, in the meantime, worried she'd somehow pissed him off. She likely had, as she did everyone she met for the first time, but hopefully she'd live through this meeting.

Then he whispered, "Who are you to them?" There was a subtle demand, one Cassie didn't understand.

"What?" she responded, her fingers flexing around the neck of the bottle.

"Harriet. When she took my boys, she wanted a favour in return. Those were her words. She wouldn't give up her only favour with me to some little thief, so who are you?" He seemed to be working himself up, his mind running chaotic in an attempt to figure out why Harriet had given Cassie those words.

Cassie shook her head. "I won't tell you that. To keep them safe. You understand."

A glimmer of understanding settled. "A Hook's heart isn't easily won, girlie. Nigh on impossible to give back too. Wasn't C.J., you said yourself she'd got a fella. Harriet, maybe. She gave you the words, after all. But I reckon she wouldn't send her loved one into her dad's ship for love nor money. That leaves one, doesn't it?"

Cassie felt a nervous itch beneath her skin. "I called the favour. You letting me leave the ship is that favour," she snapped.

"You'll get off the ship, safe and sound. And this night will be kept between the two of us," assured the old man. "I just wanted to know who it was. Never thought I'd see the day, to be honest." He scratched at his beard again. A nervous habit, she assumed. "He's more like his dad than the girls. How'd you get him to let you in?" There was genuine intrigue.

Cassie huffed, "It's a long story." The sun would be rising soon, and she was more than exhausted by the running around she'd done tonight. All she wanted now was to get back home.

"One I'd quite enjoy hearing," he admitted. "Not tonight though, it seems."

Cassie shook her head. "Not tonight."

"Then you best be off," he suggested, arm outstretched in the direction of the exit. "Before captain wakes. He tends to rise with the sun sometimes. But, uh, before you go." He fastened the beanie on his head, his eyes clenched shut as he bowed his chin. "Make it good."

Baffled, Cassie eyed the old man. "Huh?"

He opened one eye to peer up at her. "The bottle, Harry's girlie. If cap' finds out the key's gone, and he thinks I slept through it, he'll give me a good whipping, and I'm too old to deal with it."

"So you want me to knock you out?" she exclaimed quietly.

"Better this way. Trust me."

Cassie paused. This was certainly a first. "You're sure?"

He was quick to reply, "Very much so."

"Okay," she regretfully mumbled, drawing her arm back. "Sorry, old guy." With as much strength as she could muster, Cassie brought the base of the bottle down on Smee's head. It didn't smash, as she'd anticipated, but it did put the poor guy face down on the floor with a hearty 'thud'.

Placing the bottle down beside him, Cassie gave a soft tap to his back as an apology. Then she made her way back up on deck, heading for the ladder she'd climbed not too long ago.

The sky was already transitioning into a pale blue as Cassie descended the ladder.

"Cass'!" Kody's yell of delight was quiet, but she heard him loud and clear.

"Hey," she greeted, lowering herself into the rowboat. Like before, her legs buckled beneath her, and she dropped down onto her backside.

"Got the map?" he enquired, grabbing the oars.

Cassie tapped her corset. "Yup."

"Kill the captain?" he wondered, rowing them back towards his house.

Cassie's response was incredibly sheepish. "Uh, yeah, about that."

AN;

Hi readers! Sorry it took me a little longer to get this chapter out. Been a bit busy with real life lately, and I've been quite tired.

So, I know this chapter isn't entirely eventful, and some of you might be disappointed that Cassie sneaking onto the ship didn't go as you'd hoped. I've still got a lot planned for future chapters, so I decided this one didn't need to be action-packed. I do hope you guys enjoyed it, though.

Much love to everyone who've left reviews, favourites, and followed. It means a lot that you're enjoying the story.

Thanks!

Reviews;

Lottielue1; Thank you for leaving a review! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter 😊 I hope you liked this one.

CallMeDella; Thank you for the wonderful review! As always, I absolutely loved reading it 😁 I hope you enjoyed this one.

mikasaxyz1; Thank you! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!