"Zelena of the West has actually been on the agency's radar for some time." Nemo said when Emma and Killian updated him on their latest findings. "Her temper, constantly prone to jealousy, and excessive lack of reason makes her a danger to society. Before, there was nothing substantial we could bind and imprison her for. But with the proof that she is dealing in the forbidden spells, we may finally end her wicked ways once and for all."
"The tricky part will be catching the witch." Killian theorized. "I doubt she will just come along willingly."
"We also need to find out just who she is working with. We know that it has to be a pirate, it's the only way the stolen goods can be smuggled to willing buyers. But we don't know if it's the cyborg Silver, or Blackbeard." Emma said. "We have to catch them in the act when they exchange goods."
"That will be tricky." Nemo nodded. "A cyborg certainly has the strength to cause the same amount of destruction as a werewolf. A disguise and the cover of darkness could have easily fooled witnesses who claimed it was a beast. Then again, a potion could have allowed a human to become a beast temporarily, allowing the human the abilities of a supernatural creature for that length of time. Either way, the person has to be found and dealt with."
"We know for a fact now that Neal has made bargains with this witch as well. Has the council granted me permission to deal with him, permanently?" Killian asked, voice full of menacing hope.
"They have." Nemo's tone spoke of exactly the outcome they were expecting. "The council know the trouble Neal will cause if he continues on the path he has chosen. He signed his death sentence when he tried to kill and enslave the two of you. They have given the warrant allowing for you to dispose of him in any way you wish."
"In any way we wish?" Killian questioned.
"Yes, Jones." Nemo answered the werewolf. "You are allowed to make his death as slow and painful as you like."
A wicked grin spread wide on Killian's face. That clarification was like music to his ears.
"There's a good chance that Neal might try to go back to Zelena." Emma's sweet voice cut through Killians imagining on how best to torture her former sire. "He knows that she has the potions that will do what he wants. Just because he failed with them once doesn't mean he won't try them again. He'll be healed by now, his strength returned. By now he might have gathered something of value in exchange for more potions."
Nemo nodded in agreement. Looking at Killian, he asked, "You've torn Neal apart enough times to catch his scent. Do you think you could track it down and see where he's been?"
"I know his foul stench. I'll be able to track him anywhere." Killian said with a sneer.
Emma remembered the types of places Neal liked to frequent.
It didn't take long to catch a strong whiff of his scent around an old building covered in wolfsbane.
"It's an apartment complex that rents only to vampires." Emma said. "The plants growing everywhere are supposed to keep werewolves from breaking in and messing with the residents." Emma shrugged. "I stayed in a place like this when I was newly turned. Before I was hired by Nemo," She turned to Killian, placed her hand over his heart and smiled up at him. "And before I knew how pleasurable it could be to have a werewolf mess with me."
"Only one werewolf gives you pleasure." Killian growled, pulling Emma against him. "I will kill any other being, werewolf or whatever, who tries to be with you the way that I do."
She allowed him to take her lips in a kiss that was nothing short of possession. It was a claim, and she melted into it until he chose to let her go.
The darker side of her would admit that she loved to get him jealous and riled up. But that was because it always led to him doing the most wickedly delicious things to her.
"Save that energy for later." Emma said breathily. "When we're celebrating getting rid of my ex for good. But right now, we have work to do."
Killian agreed. With reluctance, he pulled away from Emma and focused once again on Neal's scent. He quieted his disappointment with the reminder that soon he would dispose of the idiot and then be certain that Emma would be safe in his arms for the rest of eternity.
Keeping their faces hidden by staying close together and standing by a shop on the corner of the street, they watched and listened for any sign of Neal.
Fortune was on their side. After just twenty minutes, they saw him emerge from the vampire apartment building.
He adjusted a satchel that seemed to be filled with something heavy, then started on his way down the street.
Emma and Killian soon followed, staying behind their target at about thirty paces.
Neal was not very observant. He never paid much attention to his surroundings. Too often obsessed with his own desires to realize things may not be as they seem.
Emma recalled more than one event where she, still human, had to warn Neal not to antagonize a being who he perceived as being smaller and weaker than himself.
"Goblins are stronger and more fierce than their size shows them to be." She had told Neal, pulling him away from the creatures that he was saying cruel remarks about.
They may have been foul mouthed, and their scents unpleasant, they were only speaking with vulgar language to one another. So Emma had thought it was best for her and Neal to mind their own business, and allow the goblins to mind theirs.
Later, she found out that Neal had returned to the goblins gathering place and had called them vile and disgusting.
He spent the next three days at a healer's, having the toxic acid that the goblins infected him with during their retaliatory attack drained from his body.
Neal had wanted the goblins punished for such behavior. But the counsel had declined the request. They stated that since Neal had gone out of his way to insult the goblins, then he should have anticipated the repercussions.
Neal never did learn his lesson. Which was why the counsel had had enough of him and his annoying behavior.
His lack of awareness did prove to be fortunate for Emma and Killian as they were able to follow him easily without being detected.
Neal turned down a dark alley filled with shops that did not advertise the name of the business printed anywhere.
When he opened the door, there was no bell to signal his arrival, but yet a red haired woman with green skin came out of a back room as soon as he entered.
Emma and Killian were able to watch and listen from outside the shop. The complete lack of light in the area easily obscured their presence.
"You, again? I thought you would be living happily with your bride."
"Things didn't go as planned." Neal explained. "They had security that I didn't anticipate. The bottles got broken. I need them replaced." He reached into his satchel and pulled out a large leather bound book. "I've found this old book of spells. I want to trade this for more of those potions."
"That book only buys you some of my time and patience. There are dozens like it already in my possession. And I know for a fact you got that book by stealing it from a witch. It's the only way something like you could have obtained such a thing." Zelena sneered. "I'm not just going to give you more potions. I have a business to run. If you had planned better, the potions would have worked."
Neal sighed in frustration. "I can't give you anymore of my vampire power. Is there anything else you would except? What if I promised to bring the werewolf to you. Certainly you can take all of his powers? Or enslave him? It might be useful for you to have a werewolf minion. And once I've taken back my bride, I'll bring her to you and you can take all of her powers. She won't need them when she's with me."
"As tempting as your offer is. I don't trust you to be able to do anything you plan to do. But.., I may require werewolf strength to accomplish what I need. If I accomplish my task, you'll get the benefit of having your werewolf rival out of your hair. And of course, out of the life of the woman you desire." Zelena thought it over a moment. "Let's set a trap for the two you want power over. Then maybe we both can have our desires fulfilled."
Unbeknownst to Zelena and Neal, Emma and Kiillian could hear every word of their diabolical plan. As they listened, they made plans of their own.
Zelena told Neal about a pirate who was in her employ. The man had gotten on the wrong side of a sorcerer and was in need of her help."
"He'll be of use to take down that werewolf." Zelena explained. "He has tremendous strength. He likes that part of his problem. But it has made him disfigured. He came to be in hope I can make him appear as his true self, but still keep the power that goes with his deformity."
"He can do whatever he wants with the werewolf, but the vampire, Emma, is mine. No one touches her. The only thing you get to do to her is take her strength and speed away. Her eternal beauty and immortality are off limits."
"Yes, yes." Zelena waved her hand in dismissal. "Your preferred lover will keep what you like most about her. Just get them to the black steel castle on the edge of the cliffs by Poppy Lane. My associate and I will take care of the rest."
Neal nodded and left the shop, eager to get his business settled.
He was in such a hurry that he never noticed the two figures standing nearby in the shadows.
Killian was about to go after Neal until Emma stopped him. She directed his attention to Zelena, who had a wicked smirk on her face.
"What a fool. I'm going to enjoy taking the rest of his powers, and draining the beauty from his precious vampire while he watches."
After watching the witch for a little while longer and seeing nothing, Emma and Killian left the alley and made their way to a nearby park.
Through their mobile communication device, Emma and Killian updated Nemo on the case and its latest findings.
"It doesn't surprise me that Zelena is looking for a way to reverse her curse. The jealousy she had caused her skin to become as green as the envy that possessed her heart. And from what I know about sorcery, it will stay that way until she mends her ways."
"So her magic can't reverse the effects of curses?" Killian asked.
"Few have the power to use magic to reverse a curse. While any curse can be lifted, it is normally through an action, because the spell has to be tied to a behavior or feeling.
Magic powerful enough to lift a curse would have to be wielded by a massive and highly disciplined coven, or by an elder who has spent centuries studying the craft."
"It sounds like Zelena's quest was always bound to end badly." Emma said. "She can't help herself, or the pirate that's under some kind of curse. He's been helping her so that he can get whatever's wrong with him reversed. He's not going to be happy when he finds out he's been helping her all this time, for nothing."
"She might prefer us catching her. We'll treat her better, make her punishment less painful than that pirate will when he finds out she deceived him. Pirates are not exactly known for their compassion, understanding, and forgiveness." Killian said.
"Any witch who practices forbidden magic is automatically stripped of their powers." Nemo recited. "The counsel of magic wielders and the High Counsel that represents all supernatural beings have made that law. As for the cursed pirate, we have to find out who he is first. If he is know to have taken a life, or several, then he will have to be disposed of. At the very least, he will be imprisoned, just like Zelena. However, if they refuse to surrender peacefully and/or try to take your lives, you are well within your rights to take theirs."
"I still get to dispose of Neal, regardless of what his behavior when we confront him will be, correct?"
"Yes, Killian." Nemo rolled his eyes. "Once you are done using Neal to track the maker of the forbidden potions, you may deal with him in any way you wish."
"We could deal with him after we capture Zelena and the pirate she's working with?" Emma suggested. "Once we have the witch and the pirate apprehended, we can put our entire focus onto disposing of Neal."
"Love, I often struggle with what's sexier about you; your mind, or your body." Killian breathed every word gazing at Emma adoringly.
Nemo cleared his throat. "I believe the two of you have responsibilities to the law you are supposed to be taking care of at the moment. All recreational activities must wait until you have completed your assignment. Preferably when you are out of the earshot of your boss."
After assuring Nemo that they would refocus on the job, they said goodbye and hung up.
Already knowing the location for the would-be trap, Emma and Killian made their way to the place, with the plan to take the criminals by surprise.
"I wonder how Neal thought he was going to lure us to this castle?" Emma wondered out loud.
"Most likely with something idiotic." Killian shook his head. "I'm willing to bet he's heading toward our home now, probably with the plan to wait for us until we return, then annoy us into chasing him at the castle."
Emma laughed. "Or maybe he's planning on stealing something from our front stoop, then leaving a note saying we can have the item back if we meet him at the castle." An idea entered her mind, "I'll send him a message that I wish to speak with him and ask him to meet me at the council house, tomorrow. Since it has union registries and bonding ceremony licenses there, it won't occur to him that there are rooms in the underground where supernatural beings are executed."
"That will certainly save us time and energy we would use to track him down." Killian nodded.
Surprise was on their side, as well as speed and stealth. Vampires were naturally quiet. Werewolves could move in silence when they wanted to. Besides their supernatural abilities, they also had other skills that aided them in investigations.
Like lock picking.
When they reached the castle, they stood on the outside, listening for which room the witch and her cohort might be residing in at that moment.
Once they located the room, they searched for a way inside. That was when their lock picking skills came in handy.
Luck was on their side when the door they found opened without a squeak.
They quickly moved through the halls in total darkness easily, thanks to their supernatural sight.
Locating the room they wanted again, they stopped for a moment for Killian to shift into his wolf form, in case the man they heard with Zelena was either a beast or a cyborg with superhuman strength.
Together, they kicked the door in, splintering it into pieces and taking the occupants of the room off guard.
"Zelena of the West, by order of the supernatural council, you are under arrest for dealing in forbidden magic." Emma shouted.
"Don't just stand there!" Zelena shouted at the other being in the room. "They'll arrest you too unless we kill them."
Killian found himself face to face with a large boar. The creature's height while standing was just short of Killlian's snout when in werewolf form. Short black wiry fur covered its entire form, except for long curly hair trailing from the top of his head and going down its back, and black curly hair framing and hanging from its snout and chin. Large tusks stained nearly brown protrude from its mouth.
The beast charged toward Killian with its head lowered. Obviously with the intent to gore him. But Killian's beast form was faster, and stronger. A simple leap over the pig, swiping its flesh with his razor sharp talons over his face and down his back as he went, incapacitated it enough for Killian to have the upper hand in battle. The pig swung around, its hard hoof raised toward Killian's face. But once again, Killian saw it coming and with a quick swipe of his paw, soon had the creature squealing in pain.
While Killian dealt with the creature, Emma focused on Zelena. The witch tried to throw several fireballs at Emma, but the vampire easily dodged them. Zelena screamed in frustration as she continually missed her target. Her furry increased when she realized she was setting fire to her potions and spellbooks.
All of her hard work and research was destroyed. And it was her own doing.
When she ran to her research, hoping to salvage something, she was distracted enough for Emma to pounce and place cuffs on her, binding her powers and making it possible to get her to the council, to face punishment.
Killian had to knock the pig unconscious before he was able to get cuffs on him.
"Whoever this boar is, he's a fighter." Killian commented. "Even severely injured, he wouldn't stop fighting me."
"If I had to hazard a guess," Emma said, "I'd say that's Blackbeard. We had two pirates as suspects, and one of them was a cyborg. Since we know silver is a cyborg and that pig is not, then he must be Blackbeard."
"I've always said you were a clever lass." Killian, who had shifted back to his human form, smiled with pride at her.
Emma and Killian transported their captives to The Dungeons, which were magical holding cells for supernatural beings. They would be kept there until they could be seen by the wesen council, and given their sentences.
Emma then sent a message to Neal, requesting to meet him at the Council house the next day.
The following day, they were brought before the high council. Since the crime was committed by multiple types of supernatural creatures, it had to be the council that oversaw all that had to decide their fate.
A truth spell placed on the seats ensured that the accused made a full and honest confession.
The pirate admitted that he was in fact known as Blackbeard. He also explained that he was cursed to transform into a large pig every night.
"Turns out old Flint was a sorcerer. It's what made him so good at being a pirate. No other could catch him thanks to his magic making his ship faster than all others. And his ability to make it invisible when need be. He placed this curse on me when he caught my men and I trying to steal from him. That witch promised she could break the curse. But it turns out, she's not as skilled as she believes."
"You ungrateful bastard!" Zelena screamed. "After everything I've done for you! You would be rolling in mud and muck if it wasn't for me."
"I would be sailing the sea's if it weren't for you!" Blackbeard yelled back. "You promised to make me richer and more powerful than my wildest dreams."
"You promised to steal the boots and cloak that allowed Flint to travel anywhere and make himself invisible. It was how he was able to know the plans of the royal ships carrying high valued items. Because you failed to get me what I required, and got yourself cursed in the process, I've been stuck searching through the homes of inferior beings, looking for items to aid in my vengeance."
"I wish I had never encountered you, you green bitch."
"Likewise, you filthy, greedy, drunken pig!"
Considering that both beings had been committing heinous acts for years, been punished, yet had never learned their lesson, the council that it best to sentence both beings to death. A sentence that was carried out immediately.
It was relatively painless. A simple wave of crystal by a powerful sorcerer and the lifeforce of both beings were drained from them.
Neal had tried to get a hold of Zelena about the change of venue for the trap they had planned. When he had not heard back from her, he just assumed she was busy doing witchy things, or was too stuck up and full of herself to bother to reply.
He had no concern about anything. He was under the full belief that Emma had finally come to her senses and was willing to return to him and forget all about her werewolf.
He still planned on taking Emma's powers away. As well as get rid of Killian. He wouldn't want to risk Emma changing her mind, again.
Entering the room where Emma had requested they meet, Neal stopped short when instead of seeing Emma, he saw her boss, and her werewolf lover.
"What's going on, here!" Neal demanded. "Where's Emma?"
"You are a great fool." Nemo said with a pitying look. "Time and again you have been warned to stay away. That you do not have a claim on Emma. I'm afraid now, you have reached beyond the amount of patience that is expected."
Neal didn't understand what the water demon was talking about, until he realized that Killian was shifting into his wolf beast form.
"The council has made it clear." Nemo spoke as if giving a declaration. "When one supernatural being has gone past the expected limits of tolerance and patience, that being may be put down by the one who it has offended most. The council has also stated that if any being is a threat to a beast being's mate, the beast being may do as they like with the offending creature."
Neal realized with terrifying clarity that Killian was now allowed to kill him.
And by the menacing look in his eyes, the wolf creature was going to make it as painful as possible.
Neal tried to flee. But it was no use. The understanding of what was about to happen came too late. Killian was too close. Too fast. Too strong.
And the rage he felt toward Neal only made Killian more powerful.
Teeth and claws were all Neal could see. The knowledge that his end would only come after a great length of tremendous pain crossed his mind.
With one paw, Killian dug his claws deep into Neal's head, holding it in place as he tore away flesh and bone.
First his arms, and then his legs were ripped from his body. Blood spurted everywhere, painting the area in crimson.
Neal was forced to watch in horror as the werewolf's large clawed foot came up and kicked into his middle. He was split open so deep that his organs tumbled out of his body. The clawed foot swiped down, once again ripping away every inch of sensitive flesh, including the organ that had only just grown back.
Thumbs went into the eye sockets, rupturing the soft orbs within.
His scream of anguish was soon muffled when a large talon entered his mouth. His tongue was torn away, leaving behind a gaping socket that quickly filled with crimson liquid.
Gurgling, choking on his own blood, Neal could no longer attempt to beg for his life. And though he couldn't see what the wolf was doing, he could feel every swipe and drag of razor sharp claws. His bottom jaw was torn from his skull. Finally, what was left of his head was severed from his spine.
His task completed, Killian shifted back to his human form.
Nemo brought for waves of water to wash the bloody remnants down the provided drain, and wash blood and tissue off of Killian.
"That's one problem gone from yours and Emma's lives." Nemo said. "It must be a relief to you both."
Killian nodded. "He's no longer a threat to Emma. Her being safe and happy is all I've ever cared about."
"Now you have that certainty that she will be." Nemo padded Killian on the back. "The two of you have done well. You can have the week off. That should give you enough time to get the celebration out of your system."
Killian grinned. "There is no getting Emma out of my system. But I thank you for the time off anyway."
Emma had chosen to return home once she had escorted Zelena and Blackbeard to the council. Any and all feelings she had toward Neal were in the past and she felt content in just knowing Killian would deal with him.
Emma wanted to focus on how she and Killian would be spending their night. And she wanted to reward Killian for always being so good to her.
When Killian entered their home, Emma called to him that she was waiting for him in their bedroom.
Wearing a white garment so sheer he could see every line and curve of her sensuous body, Killian was certain she was an ethereal being, and that he had somehow entered Heaven.
"Nemo said we had the week off." He said as he approached. "I intend to spend every second of it with you in this bed."
"It's a good thing I thought to stock up our pantry while you were handling things. I wouldn't want us to have to leave our home for anything."
"Such a clever lass." Killian growled as he pounced on Emma, elongating his claws to tear the garment away. Too eager to get at her body to bother with pulling it off of her.
Turned on further by Killian's aggression, Emma wrapped her arms and legs around him, and met his lips in a savage kiss.
Their last coherent thought before succumbing to passion was that they were going to enjoy their week off.