#cssns18

Emma felt like a failure. She was no hero or protector at the moment. She was not a coward, yet she had fled town without a second thought. She could go back, but what about the man that she tackled? She knew he was no ordinary man. Would he still be there? The familiarity she felt when she locked eyes with him scared her. She felt as if he could read her like a book. It reminded her of the dreams she used to have. 

She always wondered if all monsters were evil. Growing up in Haven Isles had led her to believe that, but part of her had doubts. She had thought about asking, but Blue didn't exactly hide her feelings about the subject. Merlin liked to speak in riddles, therefore was no help.

The only option she had was Liam. He would never judge her. He would offer to go back with her to complete her assignment. She shook her head. This was her job, and she needed to prove she was ready. Blue would love to see her fail because she resented the magic she wielded. 

She paced back and forth in an attempt to decide what to do. Should she wait for Liam, look for him, or go back and finish her job. Emma stopped in her tracks and gasped. She left Belle behind alone. If anything happened to Belle, it would be her fault; she had a feeling the other woman would not stop in her pursuit of adventure and going after the beast.

A white cloud surrounded her, and when it cleared, Emma was gone. Using magic was faster than any other method for travel. She appeared back in the same spot in the woods as before. Her eyes scanned the area. She found some indication of a fight and decided to follow the trail. 

Emma made her way to the stream and noticed there were no bodies to be found. The thought made her wonder if the Yaoguai had killed the stranger. But what happened to the body? There were signs of a battle, but the outcome was a mystery. Did Belle go after the beast on her own? The village was the best place to find answers to her questions. 

She disappeared in a white cloud only to reappear just outside the village so she wouldn't be spotted using magic. Some people were afraid of magic; it didn't matter if it were white or not. She would be called a witch. 

She walked the small trek to the inn she had left Belle behind at. She approached the man sitting behind the table closest to the door. 

"Excuse me. I'm looking for my friend. We got separated,-" Emma was interrupted by the man before she could continue her description. 

"Oh, yes. She picked up her things and left with two men. They paid some gold coins for a horse carriage and left." He took out the coins and admired them in front of Emma.

"Alright, thank you. Sir, one last thing. Has the monster returned?" she inquired. 

"I heard your friend and the men talk of a curse and something about it breaking. Whatever that means. We haven't had an attack since." 

Emma thanked the man and made her way to her room. Maybe she would find clues there, she thought as she grabbed her things. A curse? Who was cursed and why? It had to be a dark magic wielder that did something as despicable as cursing another human. 

She smiled as she found the book Belle had shown her. She could use this to track her friend and find out what had happened. She had to apologize for disappearing. She was still confused about the stranger she came across outside the cave. She felt her stomach drop. There was something about him that she couldn't pinpoint. He had beautiful azure eyes that reminded her of the water that surrounded Haven Isles. 

She shook off the thought. What was wrong with her? Her mind kept drifting to the man with the captivating eyes. 

Zoso had traveled throughout the realms to corrupt and feed the darkness by tricking people into making deals. The land without magic was not entirely without it. It simply took a different form. There, he was seen as a demon. There were creatures he used to empower himself through. He marked them as his own. All the deals he made had the same outcome in the end. A soul to take and feed the abyss of darkness that claimed him centuries ago.

The Dark One was creating an army of darkness to conquer the realms. He needed his deputy to be consumed by darkness. Killian Jones had proven to be a stubborn man. How would he be able to destroy the light's greatest weapon without him?

Zoso decided it was time to find Killian Jones and break him completely. He would take away everything from him. Time was no longer on his side. He had had a vision of his death, and there was no way he would allow that to come to pass.

It was time for a reunion with the pirate.

Killian, Belle, and Phillip traveled toward the young man's home. It turned out, he was a prince and the witch that cursed him wanted revenge on his beloved's family.

Killian tried to pay attention to the conversation between Belle and Phillip. The adrenaline of the fight between himself and the Yaoguai evaporated and his thoughts drifted to the lass that tackled him. The hunter named Emma had made him so curious. He wanted to know her.

He had been surprised the moment their eyes met. He was expecting something else, and certainly not to look into fiery green eyes. Then she just disappeared into a white cloud after taking one last look at him. Did she know he was a monster? 

A memory invaded his mind. Years back, he had been tracking Zoso and Rumple in a different realm. That was where he encountered Glinda a white magic wielder. At first, she had mistrusted him, but he helped them finally defeat the Wicked Witch. Although their magic differed, she had trained him in magic and gifted him with an enchantment that made his hook change into a functioning hand. He had never used it. There was no need to pretend he was not a monster. 

His thoughts drifted to the time he obtained his first trophy. The same day Jolly Roger was born. Then Jewel of the Realm, the ship his brother was supposed to captain but instead ended up in Davy’s Locker. King Fergus had given his nephew a miniature of the ship he was to captain. The replica had many jewels and gems. Killian shared the loot with his new crew, but opted to keep one and had a ring made of it to honor the true captain of the ship. He twirled the now enchanted ring with his fingers as he contemplated that he would never be a man worthy to wear it.

He had accepted his fate a long time ago, but part of him couldn’t deny the wish he had to follow the lass with emerald  eyes. Her presence had captivated him from the moment his eyes landed on her at the tavern. Now he sits in a carriage, trying to pay attention to a conversation his companions are having. There was talk about going after the witch that cursed the prince. Killian would gladly assist in the quest. Once they reached the young prince’s home, they could devise a plan.

The closer Liam got to the castle, the more difficult it became to breathe and move swiftly. He couldn't help feeling like he was freezing to death and no longer saw the beautiful scenery he had in town. This place was an icicle ready to take your life. There was no plant life. He could still see it had been beautiful before and was now lifeless.

He understood the pain that caused the descent to solitude for the ice Queen. He hoped it wouldn't cost him his life. He struggled to raise his hand to make his presence known as the heavy wooden door opened abruptly. A large block of ice roared as it took the shape of a man. Liam stood his ground against the ice monster that invaded his space.

Liam said soothingly, "I don’t mean any harm. I'm here to speak with Queen Elsa. All I ask is to have an audience with her. Once I finish, I will leave."

The monster melted into a little snowman. "Follow me. My name is Olaf."

Liam trailed behind the tiny snowman that introduced himself as Olaf.

"Queen Elsa doesn't accept visitors but-" Olaf stopped, looked back in Liam's direction and smiled. "I have a good feeling about you." Olaf led the way, happily bouncing as he hummed a tune.

Liam's lips lifted as he followed Olaf down several halls. There were portraits of a couple and two young girls sitting in front of them. There was no denying the royal blood. Liam could see how much the King and Queen loved their children. The younger one looked like a spitfire. The older girl had blonde hair and looked so prim and proper. Seeing the images of the siblings made him miss his brother.

Olaf stopped in front of the grand door. "The Queen awaits you."

Liam opened the door slowly, took a deep breath and walked in. "Your Highness. My name is Liam Jones. I have a proposition for you." His cheeks reddened. "I meant an offer."

Queen Elsa sat in her chair expressionless as she listened to him. A tiny part of her wanted to laugh at his embarrassment. It had been so long since anyone visited her. She knew it was her fault no one would venture to the castle anymore. She was left alone. She was curious about the proposition the man had for her. Part of her was angry at Olaf for letting him in, and she was thinking of melting the snowmen to teach him a lesson.

Liam stared intently at Queen Elsa; he couldn't help it. She was beautiful.

She motioned for him to continue as she allowed her eyes to linger on his face while he spoke. She thought he was a good-looking man. Well, she hadn't had many opportunities. She had been courted before, but the man had only wanted her kingdom. Anna, her lovely sister, was better suited to reign. She wasn't an anomaly, like her. Elsa would never forget her sister's death by a frozen heart. She blamed herself for the death of their parents. She only wished there was a cure for her like her parents were told, but then they got on a ship, never to return.  

Queen Elsa’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Tell me of your offer, Liam Jones.”

The top of Forbidden Mountain housed a castle hidden by the dark clouds. The empty palace held no warmth, but below it was a cave that housed its Mistress.

The cave was dark and filled with crystals. There was a dwindling fire in the middle of the open space. Soft snores filled the air not far. Green eyes opened and scanned for anything amiss. The scaled beast slithered close to the other side of the area to check on its slumbering companion. The beast huffed and the fire found a new breath. The razor sharp teeth glistened as the fire roared to life.

The magnificent monster's horns scraped the crystalized roof, causing a high pitch screech as it rose to its full height. It wiggled its talons as it made its way outside to spread its majestic wings and glide down the mountain to hunt for prey.

The road so far…

Friendships grow and a villain gains a mark in the hero column.

Rumplestiltskin had lived a very long life - one of luxury. Yes, it was at the expense of others' souls, but that didn't matter to him. Once upon a time, it would have mattered, but not anymore. During this time, his dark deeds had taken a toll on his body and heart. His appearance became more reptilian than human. The problem now was he was lonely. He wanted a companion. He'd made attempts to rectify that before and had failed miserably. Cora had chosen riches and power of her own over him. Years later, her oldest daughter had piqued his interest, but her insecurity had turned her into a green, wicked hag. Both were lost in their own darkness. Two more souls for his master. Later, the youngest went to him for training, and she too had been lost. Now he waited for an opportunity to make a deal with someone who was willing to exchange their freedom for his help.

 Rumplestiltskin still didn't know what his master's complete plans were when it came to Jones. Jones turned into the opposite of his master's desires. On more than one occasion, the damn pirate thwarted their plans. Rumple suggested ending the pirate's miserable life, but Zoso declined by saying he needed him for a specific task. The darkness needed to consume the pirate's heart; the problem with that plan was that although the pirate tasted darkness before, he didn't let it corrupt him completely. He found a way to resist.  

 Rumple may not be all-knowing or powerful as his master, but he has a feeling Killian Jones will be his master's undoing and consequently his own. He needed to find the dagger for self-preservation purposes only. He would not lose everything again because of Killian Jones.

 But first, it was time to make a new deal with a desperate soul. Perhaps this time he could get a lasting companion out of it.

  Enchanted Forest

 In the sea of deep green plant life, Whale finally woke up and found his way to Killian and their charge, Ruby.

 Killian turned to his friend and hissed, "Where have you been?"

 Whale grimaced as he felt the bump on his head. "I'm sorry, Killian. I was on my way to meet you and was knocked out."

 Killian pondered his friend's words. "Perhaps it was the hunter I encountered. He must've thought we were going to hurt the lass."

 "What happened to him?" Whale asked as he stretched his limbs and looked at the prone body.

 "He is only unconscious with no memory of meself or the lovely lass," Killian said.

 "Let's get the girl home," Whale said as he turned to the sleeping wolf. "We’re still missing the cloak."

 "There's a woman. A healer that can help." Killian said. "She's not far from here. I'll carry the lass to the cart. I'm going to have to put silver shackles on her to keep her controlled. If she wakes up without restraints, she might attack, and I won't be around to protect you."

 Victor sighed, "Okay, let's go."

 On the way to the horses, Victor kept a close eye on the wolf as Killian pushed the cart with very little effort.

 Killian glanced at his friend. "Victor, the tranquilizer you made is strong. I don't think she will wake up anytime soon."

 "Easy for you to say, you have superhuman strength and speed. I'm just a walking piece of meat to her," Victor scoffed.

 "Don't fret, we're almost there." Killian rolled his eyes at his friend's theatrics.

 "Killian, this healer you are going to go see. Why haven't you mentioned her before?"

 Killian smirked. "You're not my only friend, you know. I came across her not that long ago."

 "Ah, when you were searching for the Dark One? I still can't believe you left me behind. I could've helped."

 "Victor, I can't risk hurting anyone when he's around. The darkness around him can be overwhelming." Killian said.

 "Alright, but somehow it was safe for you to meet a healer."

 "She's a witch from a different realm. She has ways to protect herself from monsters like me. You don't. Don't you remember how we met?" Killian asked.

 "Do you truly trust this witch?" 

"She wields white magic. I believe she will be able to cleanse Ruby from the dark magic that forced her wolf out." Killian affirmed.

 "Can she help with the replacement cloak?" Victor asked as the wolf growled in its sleep.

 "I believe so. She's helped a lot of people and isn't afraid of me."

 "I know you think you're this horrible monster. Yes, I know you've done horrible things in the past, but now you're a hero. I think you have to trust yourself more. Maybe even fall in love. I know you have your dalliances but they never go beyond that." Victor remarked as he stroked the fur of the sleeping wolf.

 "Mate, I didn't know you were so sentimental. Alas, love isn't in the cards for me. Milah was it for me."

 "I know I'm not your brother or anything, but we're the closest thing to family. You're like a brother to me." Victor's eyes welled with tears and he ducked his head to avoid Killian's gaze.

 "Victor, are you crying?"

 "No, no of course not. We've lived a long time and sometimes I wish I'd meet a nice girl to finally grow old with." 

 Killian stopped pushing the cart. "Victor, I'm sure once you stop using my blood, you will age."

 "We don't have to worry about that. Let's get the beast to the horses." In all fairness, Victor knew Killian was right. He would only get in the way, Killian could move faster alone and he would be back sooner without Victor. He could easily transport himself with magic, but the less magic he used, the better.

 Once they reached the horses, Killian grabbed a harness from the cart. He quickly attached the harness to the horses, and they made their way to a clearing, not far from Granny's home. There was a small, abandoned little hut. They didn't want to deliver Ruby to her grandmother before she was back to her human form. They also needed to maintain Ruby's secret. After depositing the wolf inside without a word, Killian left his friend to tend to it. There was no time to lose.

  Killian arrived at the open space in the woods hours away. He looked around to make sure no one was around. He was about to knock on the invisible door when a clear wave of energy knocked him on his ass. He got up and started brushing off some dirt. "Glinda, it's me, lass. I need your help. I know you're home."

 A door creaked open, and a blonde woman wearing a white cloak appeared. "Hook, is that you?" She asked.

 "Aye, what was that?"

 "I'm sorry, I had to add a barrier for protection. To be safe. So what do you need help with?"

 "I have a werewolf. She has the scent of dark magic. She had an enchanted cloak to halt the transformations, but it went missing. I need to cleanse her and the enchantment to stop her transformation."

 "You think someone did this to her."

 "Aye, her eyes were a soulless black. Not a natural hue for a wolf's eyes."

 "Let me grab a few things." She tossed some items in a rucksack, mumbling to herself as if she'd made a list.

 Killian looked around the room. It was cozy, but he knew it wasn't what she was used to. In Oz, her native home, she lived in a castle, but here, she had  a small cottage with just enough to get by.

 "Okay, I'm ready. How do we do this?" Glinda asked.

 Killian scratched behind his ear. "Lass, I ran here. You know how I feel about using too much dark magic."

 She blinked, "I can use my magic to take us both to our location. That is if you're okay with being close to me."

 He nodded with a slight smile on his lips. She was a beautiful lass,  and he was aware she found him appealing, but to be in such close proximity to a woman and the scent of her blood might entice the darker part of him.

 As if she knew what was going through his mind, she said, "Killian, I can use my magic to put a slight barrier between us, if that makes you feel better."

 "Won't the effort drain you?"

 "It will tire me but not enough to not do my job," she said.

 He grabbed her bag and walked slowly toward her space. "Do it. I will guide you with my thoughts." He closed his eyes as she surrounded them with a clear field, and then with a burst of energy, the pair were swallowed by the magic in the air.

  Killian and Glinda instantly appeared in front of Victor and the sleeping wolf.

 "That was quick," Victor said as he laid eyes on his friend. Once his eyes landed on the woman, he raised a single brow appreciatively.

 "Victor, meet Glinda. Victor is my oldest friend. And this lass is the one you're here to help."

 Glinda took off her cloak, revealing a simple dress. She extended her hand for the bag Killian was holding.

 "Lass, we shall give you room to work. The wolf should be sleeping for a while." He said to encourage her.

 Victor and Killian walked away.

 "I suppose I can see the appeal," Victor said.

 Killian rolled his eyes, "I told you, I have no interest in those activities. I just want to find Zoso and Rumple and end them. Revenge is all I have left."

 "If you say so, but if you're not interested, do you mind if I court the lady?" Victor asked with a smile.

 Killian laughed. "I thought you didn't trust the witch."

 Victor reddened, "Well, she seems lovely, and you trust her." He shrugged.

 Killian nodded and turned his attention to Glinda as she cleansed the wolf, Ruby. He sat down on one of the beat-up chairs. Victor grabbed the other available chair and sat next to Killian.

 Glinda approached Killian. "Do you have the item you want me to enchant?"

 Killian reached into his pocket and took out a ruby pendant necklace from his pirate days. It was an expensive jewel. He handed her the necklace. "Make sure it's a strong spell."

 She smiled. "I will."

 She walked back to the wolf, whispered something in her ear, and started chanting. The pendant glowed a vibrant red. Once finished, she put the pendant around the wolf's furred neck. The pendant glowed once more as it surrounded the wolf's body and transformed her into a naked woman.

 Killian averted his eyes, while Victor admired the sleeping form. When Glinda waved her hand over the body, a dress appeared, covering up the young girl.

  Back in the forest, the unconscious hunter finally woke up with no memory of how or why he was there. He entered his humble home confused, but determined to find out what happened during his missing time.

  In Haven Isles, the sandy beach had been the favorite training spot for Emma and Liam. On one of their last training days, before they finally went on a hunt, Liam glanced in Emma's direction as she took instructions from Mulan. He wondered about his mother. Emma had mentioned his mother was a force to be reckoned with. She was one of the best hunters the Isle had produced. 

 He was curious about her. Did he take after his father or did he have more of her features? After his recovery, he wanted to ask about her, but he could never get the words out. Then later he realized that his little brother was gone. If time truly moved as he was explained, then he would need to mourn his brother.

 Emma was walking toward Liam,her long hair pulled up into a ponytail. She noticed a faraway look in his eyes. "Hey, Liam. Mulan says it's your turn. I think I upset her. Sorry."

 Liam smiled at Emma snd shook his head. "You know she is going to take it out on me."

 "I said I was sorry. Liam, are you alright?"

 "I just miss my brother. I wish I could have been there for him. I wonder if he met a good girl. Maybe I have great-nephews out there."

 "Don't let Blue hear you. You know she will oppose you seeking out any relatives. I'm sorry you missed out, but at least you get to know your origins."

 "Emma, do you think you can show me my mother's archives? Sometimes I wonder if she would have married the man who was her soulmate if she were still alive?"

 "Maybe, but you wouldn't be here. I've always hated that part. The soulmates thing is just another way they control you. Your mom, she didn't want that. She wanted to follow her heart."

 "Do you think it's possible to fight against that bond?"

 "Your mom did it." She shrugged. "Jonathan, that was the name of your mom's soulmate. After she left he fell in love with a mortal. I think it can be done. I imagine he was happy."

 "Have you met your soulmate?"

 Emma's eyes widened. "I don't think so."

 "How can you not know your soulmate? You're about to go on your first hunt. Shouldn’t you have met him by now?"

 Emma looked away. "Liam, Mulan is waiting for you. You're just going to anger her more and she will make you regret it."

 Liam wanted to ask if he upset her, but turned to look at Mulan who was staring daggers his way.

 Emma sat down in the sand. Liam was right she should have met her match by now, but for some reason, she hadn't yet. It made no sense. Unless he wasn't here. If her soulmate was out there, she would find him.

 Merlin approached Emma. "Hello, young one. Are you ready for your magic training?"

 Emma winced. "Can I have a break today?"

 "I'm sorry, no you can't. Blue already opposes your training if you show her you have no interest she will surely use that as an excuse to make us stop. It will be a disservice to you and your abilities. I sense something is bothering you."

 "Can you truly see everything that is to come?"

 "I can see glimpses, why?"

 "How is it possible that Liam's mom met someone who was not her soulmate and fell in love?"

 Merlin didn't expect that question. "Is this about your soulmate?"

 She turned to look at Liam. "Merlin, he shouldn't be here. His mom shouldn't have been able to meet someone out there but she did. It makes no sense. How is it the Isle let him in?"

 "Emma, sometimes things happen because they're supposed to. Perhaps Alice was supposed to meet Liam's father. Some things escape logic. Magic is one of them."

 "I know you know something you're not telling me. Merlin, I will not ask you what that is for now. I hope it's not a mistake trusting you."

 "Emma, some things are revealed to me as needed. I can't give you answers I don't have. I believe Liam is connected somehow. I still don't know everything."

  Emma and Liam had been training together for months now and were finally given their first assignment, much to Blue’s disapproval. 

 Merlin pulled Liam aside. “Liam, you have proven you're a hunter like your mother was. I know you and Emma will be leaving soon, but I have an assignment for you. Only you.”

 Liam stared at the man, confused. “I thought we always have to go in pairs.”

 “You will, but first you will retrieve a young lady showing signs of magic, and bring her here.” Merlin handed him a vial. 

 “I thought no one from the outside could come in?” Liam said as looked at the vial.

 Merlin laughed. “That’s what the vial is for. Liam, there is a very important reason why it must be you. Alone. Sadly, I cannot say why. You must trust me.”

 “What will I tell Emma?” Liam asked.

 “I will explain this alteration to her. You two are going together, but will have to go on separate paths. There’s also a reason for her to go alone on this hunt,” Merlin said cryptically.

 “You see the future, so is this part of the future to come?”

 “It is. This is fated, and no one can escape fate,” Merlin simply said.

She studied the slumbering man. "No. No, he is not. I just know. I feel it here," she said, pointing to her heart. "No, he is not a bad man," she stated firmly.

"I agree, I don't feel any darkness in him. What do you do when you visit him? I ask because I know you have a reputation for not staying still. Visiting him seems like a very boring activity for you," Merlin said.

Emma rolled her eyes. "I tell him about my day and I read to him too. Mostly archive stuff."

"About past hunters?"

Emma nodded. "Yeah. I read to him about my grandparents and my favorite hunter, Alice Burkhart."

"Why do you like Alice so much?" Merlin asked, curious about her answer.

"She was amazing and because she didn't want to be told what to do."

"Rules can be a good thing, young one."

Emma looked over to the bed. "Is he in pain?"

"Why do you ask?"

Emma sighed. "He is still sleeping because of rules. To me, that makes rules not such a great thing. He sometimes feels agitated."

"And you can feel his agitation?"

"Yes," she responded as if it were perfectly normal. "I can feel it; he feels really warm as if he is burning."

"To answer your question, no, young one. He is not in pain." Or so we thought, he thinks. "Do you want him to wake up?"

"Yeah, that would be nice." Emma smiled and nodded.

Merlin replied, "Well, wake him up, you can do it."

Emma's mouth opened and closed. "I don't have magic, I'm not magical." Her eyes returned to the bed.

"Young one, can I tell you a secret? This would have to stay between you and I. No one can know; the others are not ready."

Emma quickly nodded. She was always being treated like a little kid. Soon she will be out hunting and it irked her. She loved the idea of knowing something the others wouldn't know.

"Young one." Merlin smiled and approached her.

"You can call me Emma."

"As you wish. Emma, come with me." They moved closer to the bed.

"Magic is about emotion. You want to help your friend, correct?"

"Yes, I do," Emma replied honestly.

"Hold your hands above him like this." He held his hands above the body and they glowed a little. "Now, let your emotions awaken your power. All you have to do is look inward."

Emma mirrored his actions, scrunching her face in concentration. "That's all?" she asked before gasping as she noticed her hands glowing.

"Think of how much you care for him and your parents. Feel the love flow through you. Now send it to him."

She felt warmth in her fingertips and then a hoarse voice filled her ears. "Water, please."

Her eyes went wide. She looked down at her friend and his eyes met hers. He was awake.

Merlin smiled. "The secret is you have magic, very powerful white magic."

Emma still cannot believe her eyes. Her friend was awake, and she was the reason for that.

The raw power of Emma's magic was felt throughout the Isle. Blue instantly felt drawn to the source. She arrived at the open door of the stranger's room. She had to bite her tongue as she walked inside the room.

Blue was greeted with the Stranger sitting on the bed with eyes wide open. Merlin was standing next to Emma. "Merlin, what's the meaning of this? We had an agreement!" As she finally noticed Emma, she cried "What is she doing here?"

Emma squirmed under the glare of Blue. The girl wasn't a fan of the fairy; she was always so bossy.

The Stranger stared at the loud woman. He turned to look at the girl and smiled. The man the woman was yelling at seemed calm considering he was getting an earful. He was so confused; where the hell was he? Okay, it was obvious he was in an infirmary, but nothing else made sense. "Excuse me." He cleared his throat. "Where am I?"

Blue glared at him. "Excuse us a second." She grabbed Merlin and pulled him outside the room.

Emma's eyes followed Blue and Merlin. Once they were outside, she turned to the man. "Hello, I'm Emma. What's your name?"

The stranger looked at her and smiled. Her voice sounded so familiar. "Hello, lass. My name is Liam Jones. Can you tell me where I am?"

Emma smiled. "Sure, you're at Haven Isles."

"Haven Isles? What kingdom is this?" Liam needed to get his bearings so he could figure out how to get back to his little brother.

Emma raised a brow. "No kingdom here. This is a special Island."

"Lass, I need to get back to my brother and in order to know how I go about doing that, I need to know where I am. You say there's no kingdom?" Liam sighed.

"Mr. Jones, I'm sure they will explain everything to you," Emma assured him. "You're safe."

Outside the closed room, Merlin was still getting an earful. "How dare you wake him up! We had an agreement!" Blue crossed her arms.

"We did," Merlin smiled. "I didn't do anything."

"You expect me to believe he just woke up?"

"All I said was I didn't wake him up."

"Merlin, I felt magic. Very powerful magic."

"Blue, let me ask you, was I the only one in the room?"

Blue shook her head. "No, Emma was in there, but she doesn't have magic. Humans don't have magic, much less magic as powerful as what I felt."

"Are you sure?"

"What are you saying? You expect me to believe a human girl has magic?"

"Not only does she have magic, but she has the most powerful magic. She was born of True Love. I know you felt it. The raw power that girl has is immeasurable."

"But she never displayed any signs."

"It was dormant, Blue."

"And you knew all along, didn't you?"

"I did, from before the moment that girl took her first breath."

"Why didn't you tell me? Us? Do her parents know?"

"No one knew, just my Apprentice. Blue, you were not ready, I don't think you're ready now. That girl is going to save us all."

"I highly doubt that," Blue muttered.

"Blue," he scolded, "she is special."

"Merlin, she is reckless and-" she sighed.

He interrupted her. "Our salvation."

"You sound like Tinkerbelle and Tiger Lily. Humans will not save us, much less themselves." Sometimes she felt guilty for the way she treated them, but they were too trusting.

"Blue, I know you wish you could exile me as you did with them but you don't have the power to do so," Merlin reminded her.

Oh, she definitely would love to exile him or turn him into a tree at the very least. "So Emma woke him up, we should tell her parents. We need to discuss this new development."

After a brief discussion with Snow and David about Emma's newfound magic, they decided to finally find out how the stranger got on the Isle.

The group arrived in the room as the man was trying to get out of bed. He grumbled about having to get to his brother.

Blue was the first to enter the room, clearing her throat. "Excuse me." She arched a brow. He stilled and turned to face her.

"I have to get out here, my brother is out there alone and I'm stuck here!" he screamed.

Merlin was the one who tried to calm the situation. Blue glared at the man. "Please stay calm, young man. We will sort this out."

Snow and David kept their eyes on their daughter. How was it possible that she had magic? They would need to find out why.

Emma was fidgeting under her parents' gaze. She felt them looking at her, not with the normal adoration, but with wariness.

The man sat still as he prepared to listen to what they had to say.

"Alright, Mr…" Blue nodded, urging him to respond.

He cleared his throat. "My name is Captain Liam Jones. I was on a mission for my King. My ship was destroyed and I appear to be the only survivor. Now, can you tell me how to get away from here? I have to get back to my brother."

"What kind of mission?" Merlin asked.

Liam's eyes met his.

"For crying out loud, we can make you tell us the truth and you wouldn't be able to stop us," Blue added, annoyed.

Liam's hands curled into fists. "Ask your questions then."

Emma finally met her parents' gaze. She was waiting for them to tell her to leave, that she was too young. She wasn't a kid anymore. She would be hunting soon and her parents refused to see that.

"Mr. Jones, what kind of mission? And what does it have to do with Haven Isles?"

Liam looked at his hands. "King Fergus sent us - me - to retrieve healing waters from an Island. We didn't have an exact location, but it was rumored to be within White Waters Triangle. My crew perished, and I have no idea how I got here. Or where I am."

Blue and Merlin shared a look.

Blue nodded. "Well, you have reached your destination but the thing that still makes no sense is how you reached us. Haven Isles are protected. You shouldn't be here."

Liam contemplated the words. He should be dead alongside his crew. Why was he still here? He looked at Blue. "Then why am I?"

Blue walked toward him and leaned in closely as if she were inspecting him. "That's something I would love to know. You shouldn't be here." She turned away and paced back and forth.

Merlin leaned on the wall while Snow and David sat in chairs just glancing between Emma and Blue.

"How did you get past the blood barrier?" she muttered, sighing and turning to look at him. She pulled a pin from her hair and pricked him.

Liam winced.

Emma, Snow, and David looked horrified.

Emma glared at Blue. "Why did you do that?"

Blue turned to her and sweetly smiled. "Young girl, I'm going to give you a quick lesson. Seamen," she paused, "they are not to be trusted. This way, I know the truth. Magic doesn't lie. You will learn that soon enough." With that, she turned away to inspect the pin in the light.

Emma's eyes darkened a shade for a brief second. Sometimes she felt spurts of uncontrolled anger that frightened her. Yet other times they helped her train. Currently, she tried to calm her anger toward the fairy.

Blue was completely unaware of the turmoil in Emma. She was focused solely on the pin. The blood had a light glow, it was faint but she could see it. She said an incantation and the glow got brighter. "Impossible," she muttered. She turned to Liam who was just sitting, staring at the fairy. "Your parents' names, what are they?" she demanded.

Liam confusedly answered, "My mother was Alice, and my father was Brennan Jones."

"Alice." Blue closed the distance between them. "Her last name, what was it?"

Emma's anger had dissolved. She was intrigued by the turn of events.

"Her last name was Burkhart. She died when I was young. My brother was a baby."

Blue gasped and turned to Merlin. "How is it possible her blood is still connected to the Isles?"

Merlin only shrugged.

Blue glared at him. "Then what good are you? You're supposed to have all this knowledge and yet share none of it with us." She turned to Liam. "It appears you are alive because of your mother. She was one of us. A long time ago. She abandoned us."

Liam faintly remembered the weapons his father had found that had once belonged to his mother. He had sold them to get money and never really questioned why she had them. There was no history of his mother's family. "What do you mean my mother was one of you?"

Emma answered with a smile. "Your mother was one of the best hunters. She was friends with my grandmother and after her last hunt years ago, she never came back, so it was assumed she was killed. During your sleep, I would read to you about her."

Liam nodded slowly. "How long was I asleep?"

Blue answered, "Long enough for the people you love to be gone. Time here moves differently. You see, the day Emma was born was the day you arrived."

Liam turned to Emma. "How old are you?"

Emma smiled. "I'm seventeen."

"Seventeen years, but I don't understand. My brother was younger, he could be alive. He probably thinks I'm dead."

"Yes, seventeen years here. In your world, it has been decades. Sadly, you cannot leave the Isles. Only Hunters leave, and although your mother was one, you are not."

"I was a naval captain, I had training."

"I'm sure you had some training, but the training is different here. You have to master swords, bow, hand to hand combat, and anything that will lead to your victory over monsters, witches, all sorts of creatures. We are not fighting mere mortals. You wouldn't survive out there." She laughed. "You will stay here."

"You're telling me you would rather send young girls out there to die, then let me go and help fight. If what you say is true, my brother is dead and I have nothing left. This was my mother's home once. I would like to help."

Merlin smiled. "Blue, he has a point. He should have a choice."

"Merlin, who knows what kind of man Alice mated with to spawn him. The Island makes the pairs so that we can have the best protectors possible."

Liam glared at the woman. "My parents loved each other. Perhaps we weren't spawned because of magic, but I'm an honorable man who would do anything to protect the ones I care for."

"So tell me, great protector, why wasn't your brother with you? This brother you care for so much. Why did you leave him behind?" Blue mocked as she walked away from the bed.

Liam stood up and wobbled toward the fairy. "That wasn't by choice. I would never leave Killian behind."

Emma and Merlin help steady him.

Snow and David notice Emma's protective stance for the man. "Emma, sweetheart, maybe you should go to your room."

Emma turned to her mother. "No, I'm not a little kid. I will be hunting soon and I want Liam to be my partner. He is Alice's son. He isn't just some outsider."

"Emma, Duckling, you heard Blue. He has no training. He can get you killed."

Emma crossed her arms. "He can train with me. I'm sure he will be a natural just like his mom was." She smiled at Liam.

Liam smiled back at the young girl.

Blue turned to Merlin, who only shrugged. "He can train."

Blue was incensed. "We'll see how he does, but for now he has to stay put."

Emma glared at the fairy. "You had him sleeping for years! You didn't care if he suffered or not. Fine, he will train, and as soon as he is ready, he will be my partner. I'm not going to go on my first hunt until my birthday." Emma turned to Liam. "You have a few months to train."

David and Snow turned to Emma. "Sweetheart, maybe we should leave your friend to be checked to make sure he is alright. You can come back later."

Merlin, Blue, and Liam stayed in the room while the others took their leave.

Liam sat on the bed. "I don't understand how a young girl like that can go hunting, but you don't think I'm capable."

Blue scoffed. "Emma has been training for years. Yes, she is reckless but she is a natural. She excels in all of her training. Merlin, you will need to train her in magic. I just don't have the patience for her stubbornness."

Liam and Merlin both snickered.

"Blue, I will do that. Now perhaps, Mr. Jones would like to rest a bit."

Liam yawned. "Thank you. This has been a lot to take in."

Meanwhile, in the Enchanted Forest, Killian was tracking a monster who was terrorizing a small village. The irony wasn't lost to him. There was a monster out there who wasn't him. He was faster than other trackers out there in the forest.

He had been in the small village with Whale and had overheard a rally to go hunting a monster said to be terrorizing the neighboring village.

Killian, no Hook. He had stopped being Killian years ago. He was Hook, the monster. He picked up the trail fast. It was of a large animal. He didn't see the problem. Whale said the beast was only attacking farm life. Animals, cows, goats, and maybe some deer. It wasn't hurting humans, but that could change if it ran out of things to eat.

In the middle of the forest, he found a big wolf hunting a deer. Killian paused as he looked on. The scene in front of him was that of nature in its simplicity. Predator and prey in the oldest dance of time. Except this animal wasn't just a beast. He had gotten better with his magic after all the years since he was first cursed. He didn't like using it but in this case, he might need it.

The wolf had caught wind of his scent because it turned to face him with a growl.

Killian slowly took a step toward the beast which snarled at his advance.

Killian hissed and his fangs emerged. "Lass, I'm not here for a fight." He raised his hands in surrender.

The wolf took a step back.

"Lass, I'm here to help you," he soothed. "Your Granny sent me."

The wolf's golden eyes focused on him with recognition for a second. She growled and attacked. He was fast so she missed him. Killian's own eyes turned icy blue as he held his stance, a small syringe held between his fingers as he twirled it.

"I'm sorry, love," he said as he released the syringe in the wolf's direction while his magic controlled the trajectory of it. He ensured the impact wasn't felt until the liquid danced with the animal's blood.

With his concentration on the task, Killian called out for his friend. "Whale, you can come out now and bring the cart. I know I'm strong, but it's a long way back to the horses." He made sure the wolf was slumbering. He had heard a faint heartbeat just before he had injected the wolf with the tranquilizer.

Silence. No witty reply. Killian looked around. "Whale?" He wasn't about to go looking for him. It was just too quiet but he knew he had heard a heartbeat. He knew he didn't imagine that. Unless the good doctor was unable to misdirect all the hunters looking for the wolf.

His attention turned to the wolf. He had promised Granny he would find and return her. The old lady was trusting him with the safety of her grand-daughter, Ruby. Killian agreed to help because he had smelled dark magic. They both knew the girl wasn't acting like herself. Granny had also noticed the cloak she had was missing. It had been given to their family by a powerful witch generations ago. It was enchanted.

"Step away from the wolf," said a voice that came from the trees.

"Sorry, mate. This is my bounty. I captured it," Killian replied. He was genuinely curious about the owner of the voice. He had managed to sneak up on him. No one had done that since he became what he was.

The broken branches and dried up leaves rustled as the man stepped out of the darkened thicket. A man with rugged features stood tall with a determined gaze as he looked on to the sleeping wolf. "You need to step away from the wolf," he said.

Killian's gaze turned to the wolf as he answered, "Mate, this is not your fight."

The man slowly pulled out his knife. "I won't let you hurt the wolf."

Killian couldn't stop the eye roll. "Look, mate, I'm not going to hurt it. I'm taking her home."

The man pounced, and Killian moved effortlessly. The man was getting frustrated and his movements became frantic.

Killian growled, "I don't want to hurt you." He hissed as the knife nicked him and as a reflex, he backhanded the man, who flew back because of the force and bounced off a thick tree trunk. The man stumbled trying to get up. Killian sauntered to him and knelt next to the man. He grabbed him by the neck and squeezed enough for the man to gasp for air. His eyes turned icy blue, his voice becoming a silky whisper. "You will forget what happened here," he smiled. "You were tracking a wolf but lost the trail." The man simply nodded. "Sleep." The man's eyes rolled back and his body relaxed.

Killian got up and walked back to the wolf. Where the bloody hell was Whale?

The sterilized, blinding white room housed a small bed and a washstand with a white cloth, washbasin, and a jug of water.  The infirmary was empty if not for the man lying on the bed. A stern brunette entered the room and pulled a chair to sit on. She studied the man before her. How had he reached their home? She leaned closer, she waved her hand over his prone body. There was a familiarity about the man, but she knew that couldn't be possible. She had not left the Isles in centuries, but the recognition was there since the moment he had been washed ashore, and even though he had been quarantined, people were already talking about the mysterious man.

The stranger had stirred hours after he had washed up, Blue had opted to knock him out with her magic. She knew she couldn't keep doing that. They had no idea what to do with a stranger in Haven Isles; there had been no precedent. She would have to call a meeting with the council but for now, the man would stay asleep.

She will need to speak with Merlin and his Apprentice to decide on what to do next. Eventually, there will be a need for a meeting with the Head Hunters as well. First, they needed to know if it was a magical problem, and once that was settled, the Hunters would assess the type of danger the man could pose, if any.

The two Hunters who currently held places within the council were Leopold White and his wife Evangeline Van Helsing. They were two of the strongest Hunter bloodlines merged together. It hadn't been a surprise to find out they had been soul-mated by the Island's magic. Soon their daughter and her new husband would take their place in the council after the birth of their first child. The Island somehow would match the perfect couples, to sire the mightiest warriors and strengthen the blood magic that created the protective barrier that surrounded Haven Isles.

She would speak with Merlin first; she knew where to find him. She strode to the roundtable conference room.

Merlin was sitting down, talking to his Apprentice.  It was a little ironic. Merlin was a young, attractive man with dark hair and strong features, while his Apprentice was an older man with long, greying hair.

“Blue, we need to decide what to do about our guest. We are going to have to talk to the young man. We need to know what he knows," Merlin said as his Apprentice nodded his agreement.

"I have a suggestion, we simply pull his memories, and if we determine he is not a threat we let him leave," Blue answered quickly.  

Merlin looked at his Apprentice, leaned toward him and argued for a second with the other man.

"Blue I don't like the idea of pulling the man's memories without his consent," Merlin maintained.

"Merlin, we don't even know if we can trust him." The head fairy insisted. "I'm not waking him up without answers first. At the very least I need to know how it was possible for him to cross the barrier." Blue held her calm exterior, but it was clear she was losing her patience.

"Alright, how do you suppose we find out who he is without pulling his memories?" Merlin asked as he crossed his arms across his broad chest.

"I think that is the best way." She shrugged stubbornly.

"If I may make a simple suggestion," The Apprentice said gingerly, "we could use a simple truth potion."

Merlin looked at the Apprentice. "All magic comes with a price - we don't use it frivolously. I think we simply ask him what we need to know."

The Apprentice nodded and turned his attention to the Fairy who quickly showed her distrust. "What makes you think he will be truthful? Everyone lies." To say the fairy was mistrustful was an understatement. She hadn't left Haven Isles in centuries.

"Blue, I think it's time we wake our guest. We've been on odds about this for far too long. I know you don't trust him, but we need information. Because we cannot find an accord, he has been asleep for too long. You forget we were once from different realms." Merlin raised his hands in frustration, pleading, "None of us are indigenous of the land, the land itself was created. We have never welcomed anyone since then. There have been times when we could have, but your mistrust prevented us. For goodness sake, we don't have generations of families because you think it's best to keep only the young and strong." He paced the room while his Apprentice sat in silence.

Blue became furious and continued to voice her protest. "Merlin you know humans are fickle. They can turn on us at any minute. Just dangle wealth and power in their faces and they wouldn't hesitate to betray us. So yes, our people don't grow old here and retire, they serve their purpose to protect the realms and once their time is up, they gladly fade into dust." Blue stormed out of the room leaving Merlin and his Apprentice behind.

The Apprentice asked his mentor, “Sir, are you ever going to mention the prophecy to her?”

Merlin quirked a single brow, “how do you think she will handle it? She is set in her ways.” He stood up suddenly.

“Sir, is there something wrong?” the bearded man asked his mentor.

Merlin smiled at the other man. “She’s coming, our savior.”

At the infirmary, in a room not far from a slumbering man, a scream was heard throughout the Isles, and a cry echoed soon after.

The midwife announced happily, "It's a beautiful baby girl." The baby girl was handed to her father. David looked at his beloved wife, "what should we name our princess?" Snow smiled at her husband, "Emma." He held his precious child lovingly, unbeknownst of what her fate will offer. As the new parents held the product of their love and gazed into each other's eyes. Bright green eyes flickered into an icy light blue for a second that went unseen by the people in the room.

The months became years, and though the time passed slowly, Emma was growing so fast, her parents couldn't seem to keep up with her. She was very smart and inquisitive. always keeping her parents on her toes.

One day, Emma was exploring the Infirmary while her parents talked with Miss. Blue. Emma stopped in front of a room that always remained closed. She slowly grabbed the door knob and opened it, quietly entering the room. She approached the bed and saw a bearded man asleep. Emma peered closely at him. He seemed nice, but she felt a sense of recognition. Her nose scrunched up; she had never seen him before, but the familiarity was there. She felt safe. After that day, she would sneak in and read to him. She would talk about her day and her schooling, and eventually, she shared her dreams with him.

The soft bed was shaped to the small body resting on it. With a startled scream, the young golden-haired girl woke up, breathing heavily. Her teary, green eyes circled frantically around the room, her little body covered in a sheen of sweat.

The door opened and an older dark-haired woman entered and ran to her bed, scooping the girl into her arms and soothing away her tears. "Emma honey, what is wrong?"

"Mama it was a nightmare. I was so scared," the girl responded.

"What was it about?"

"Mama, are all monsters bad?"

"Well, I've never met one that wasn't, why do you ask?"

"Mama, you have to promise to not tell papa."

"Emma, I pinky swear."

The young girl should have known better; her mother was not known for her secret-keeping talents.

Snow was worried about her young daughter. Why would she be dreaming of monsters? Yes, she would grow up to be a Hunter, it was in her blood, but Snow couldn't remember having nightmares as a child, or anyone else mentioning they had one.  Her little Emma was fearless, she would jump from the highest cliff on the Island without a second thought, yet somehow she was dreaming of monsters? Emma should not have to deal with them until she became a full hunter, with training, not as a small child.

Emma failed to tell her mother that her fear was not caused by the monster, but by the ones trying to hurt him. She felt her heart constrict each time his life was threatened. By all accounts, she knew it made no sense, she knew her future would be to follow in her mother's footsteps and her grandparents’. Why would she have any concern for a monster's survival? That thought scared her. Was there something wrong with her?

Snow asked Blue about the dreams, if she had an idea on why or what they could possibly mean, but the fairy simply said she would need to speak with Merlin about it and never spoke of it again. Snow wanted to bring up the subject again, but Emma lied by telling her mother the dreams had stopped.

The lie had been to appease her mother; Emma knew Snow was worried. The dreams continued, they came sporadically or she denied them until they became dormant and she was simply able to block them. As she got older, she stopped thinking of them, so they disappeared into the back of her mind.

Emma Nolan blossomed into a beautiful young lady and she was the closest thing to royalty in Haven Isles. Her mother was a hunter who specialized in the bow. Her father was a shepherd full of courage. It was uncommon for a farmer to be paired with a hunter, but stranger things have happened.

Her maternal grandparents were both hunters, both skilled and powerful. The Nolan's were more kind; they tended to the animals which helped sustain the Island.

Emma easily picked up sword fighting, she became skilled like her mother with the bow, and was also an admirable hand-to-hand combat warrior, thanks to Mulan's training. . Emma was not only fearless and brave, but headstrong and rebellious - a combination that worried her parents.

Strangely, she had bonded with the outsider over the years of sharing stories with him and her dreams. He was her friend, the only one who didn't judge her - how could he if he was still lost in his dreams? She would read to him about her favorite hunter, Alice Burkhart. She admired her, although no one ever mentioned her name. Her hunts were legendary. Emma wanted to be just like her. She had found out about her in the Archives while reading about her grandmother, Evangeline.

A ghost from his past entered. The crew was loud and rowdy, no longer a merchant ship crew. They were now privateers. One of the men recognized Killian and approached his table.  

"If it isn't Killian Jones, the little brother of the sanctimonious Liam Jones. I see His Majesty’s Royal Navy didn't want you either." Captain Silver taunted as his crew laughed.

Killian hissed, his fangs surfacing. He looked up and his dark blue eyes had turned into an icy blue, almost white, shade.

In an instant, he rose from his chair and rounded the table. "I remember you, how could I forget?" He held out his hand and pointed to the still Captain Silver. "Oh yes, I remember you, Captain." His index finger trailed along the throat of his intended and broke the skin, his hook slamming and puncturing the wooden table. He tilted his head and whispered, "I'm going to enjoy this. However, I'm a man of honor, and therefore I will give you lot a head start."

The crew managed to come to their senses, they grabbed their Captain and left the tavern in a hurry.  They scampered out as fast as humanly possible, but Killian was faster.

He stood facing the ship that was his home for so long, waiting for the crew to arrive.

Captain Silver saw as his crew fell, one after the other. Their bloodied bodies dropped to the floor as Killian made his way to his former Captain and tormentor.

Captain Silver started to plea with Killian as he came closer to him, "Please, Killian, I don't want to die." he stuttered, "What would your brother Liam want you to do?"

"Liam would want me to not play with my food, calling it bad form." As Killian swiftly moved to hold the older man in place, his fangs punctured the skin and he drained him dry. Satisfied with finally taking his revenge from the man who tortured him in his youth, he strode to the other dead crew members and relieved them of a few trinkets. It wasn't about the wealth of the trophies, but what they symbolized.

Killian strode towards his ship. It had been so long since he was this calm. He had managed to make his foes pay for their transgressions. Ah, except the Spinner and Zoso. Killian had learned a few things from the contracts he had taken from his house and slowly made his way through the names on the signed deals.

Milah’s husband had turned out to be elusive. Zoso, on the other hand, would show up to give his approval. The more bloodshed the better, but Killian had found there was one thing that irritated the “man” to the end of time. That was simple - Killian dispatching his henchmen and women. Anyone that bared his mark was fair game. He smiled at the thought.

He kept on the path to his beloved ship - his only family left. It was strange to think of the ship as family, but she had become that after all the time that had passed since his brother’s loss. It was obvious that Zoso would kill anyone that mattered to him, so Killian decided to not get a new crew.

That meant no one to leave on guard of the Jolly. It turned out the ship was made with Enchanted Wood and was magical, and he was fast enough to do it all. He was still trying to understand his abilities because being a daywalker was not the only thing he could do.

The fact that the Jolly was unguarded made the ship very desirable.

Pirates.  

There had been a few pirate captains who had tried to claim the Jolly as their own and succeeded temporarily, but eventually, Killian would catch up and make them pay dearly. No survivors, no quarter.  

The last one to attempt to take her had been the fearsome Blackbeard. Once he caught up with him, Killian had enjoyed toying with him. He took his time, played a small game of cat and mouse with the man. A sword dance he had missed since becoming what he now was. Killian had shown his swordsmanship superiority with each blow he threw. His physical strength gave him an advantage over Blackbeard, and soon each punishing strike became too much for the other man. Killian was subdued by the piercing of flesh, with a combination of hook and sword. Blackbeard’s guts splayed, coloring the deck of the ship.  

It had been reminiscent of his favorite times. When he had his love, his Milah and crew by his side. A small reminder of a time he had some form of happiness.

In the end, it had been such a grim ending for the dastardly captain and his crew that word spread around fast and soon made Killian the scourge of the seas. No one dared to touch the Jolly Roger ever again.

Decades later, at least he thought it had been that long - he lost track of time - Killian arrived at the port town in search of a powerful witch from the neighboring Kingdom. He had hoped to broker a deal with her. He needed to learn about his abilities. But his timing had been off and he was too late. The Evil Queen had perished, if the whispers were to be believed. Yet no one said it out loud, in fear of her appearing and unleashing her fury. He was not surprised the villagers were still afraid of her since all royalty was evil and not to be trusted. He found that her name was quite fitting.

Killian was walking toward the harbor after a disappointing encounter at the Sea Shell Tavern. It was confirmed she was dead, torn apart by some monster.

A peculiar scent caught his attention. He diverted his path and soon was trailing a well-dressed man. The man seemed to be high born and had a busty barmaid on his arm. They were too entertained with each other to notice Killian or the other man lurking in the shadows ahead of him.  

The well-dressed man reeked of dark magic. Perhaps he could be of help to Killian. Perhaps his day was not a total loss.

The man hidden in the shadows emerged with a small dagger and quickly grabbed the well-dressed man. The woman gasped and ran away. No longer distracted by her, the well-dressed man nervously raised his hands to plead for his life. The man with the dagger walked closer to his victim with a wicked smirk.

Killian made his move, and with a swift motion of his hooked arm, the man with the dagger slumped before his feet.

The victim gasped, "Thank you."

Killian's head tilted in response and he leaned toward the man. "Killian Jones, but most people have taken to call me by my more colorful moniker, Hook," he said, flourishing his bloody hook as he took a vow.

The gasp was barely audible.

Killian's eyes changed to a lighter shade as the man lost his footing and fell on his back. Killian smirked, "Now, now I'm not going to kill you."

"You're not?" the man asked, still on the floor.

"I'm not," Killian confirmed.

The man peered over to see the bloodied body of his attacker. "Thank you," he said as he slowly got on his feet and attempted to walk away.

Killian laughed, "So typical of the wealthy to just walk away."

The man stopped at his words and turned to face him, "I said thank you."

"Aye, that you did. How about you tell me why you stink of powerful dark magic?"

The man paled as he looked around. "What are you talking about?"

"I can smell it all over you. No need to be nervous, calm down, mate. Your heart is beating so fast it might just jump out of your chest. Then what would be the point of saving you?"

"You smell it? But how? I didn't know dark magic had a scent." The poor man was so confused.

Killian laughed, "I can smell things others can't."

"How is that possible? Are you some kind of monster?" His curiosity winning, he moved closer to his new benefactor.

With a roll of his eyes, Killian set his gaze on the man in front of him, the shade of his eyes changing to an icy blue. "Your name?"

Without hesitation, the man answered, "Victor Frankenstein."

Killian maintained his gaze with the man. "Victor, why is there dark magic all around you?"

"The Evil Queen sought my services, and her dark magic lingers around me even after her death," he answered, emotionless.

"Ah, what kind of services did she require?" Killian prodded.

"Her dead lover back to life," the man answered.

"Are you some kind of sorcerer? Because that is not possible." Killian knew there were things he didn’t know, but to bring back the dead, he was sure couldn't be done.

"Not magic, science. I'm a doctor," Victor said, still unable to resist the need to respond.

"Is she truly dead?"

"I was successful, but something was wrong, he - her lover - was not normal. He was violent and she couldn't put him out of his misery. So he put her out of hers. I had to hide from the monster and flee her castle to save my life."

"What became of the monster?" Killian’s interrogation continued.

"He fled to a nearby village and slaughtered everyone he faced. Until some sort of hunter finally ended his rampage.” With that final answer, Killian released his hold on the doctor.

Desperation could lead to one's doom. It had claimed many lives and would most likely claim millions more. For Victor Frankenstein, it was his desperate need to prove to his father he wasn't a failure and that he had put his faith on the wrong son. His father, Alphonse doted on his brother Gerhardt. Victor loved his brother, but he also yearned for his father's approval. Alphonse had always thought of his son, Victor, as strange. Since he was a child, Victor would dissect insects, animals or whatever living thing he could get his hands on, and put them back together. His mother had told his father he was a curious boy.

Alphonse gave both of his sons a gift. To his favorite, Gerhardt, he gave a watch that had belonged to their mother, and Victor's gift was a commission to join the army as a physician. Alphonse hoped the army would end his son's scientific exploits, which has been funded by his father's money and housed in the family's summer home. Victor begged his father to let him continue his life's work, but his father refused to continue supporting his endeavors, and it cost his brother, Gerhardt’s, life. In his desperate need to continue his research, and bring his brother back to life, he was made a proposal he happily accepted. A proposal that offered the guarantee of success.

Years later, he found himself in front of a new benefactor, stuck in a different realm with a new motive - his survival.

That was how the friendship of Killian Jones and Victor Whale, formerly Frankenstein, began. Victor informed Killian of the magic books he had grabbed as he exited the Queen's castle and ran for his life. Together they researched the books. Victor had been curious about Killian's affliction, once their mistrust for each other faded. Their bond only increased once they realized they had a similar loss; they both lost brothers they loved and admired, men they considered better men than themselves.

Victor had offered his help since Killian saved his life. While studying Killian’s blood, Victor noticed the blood cells rejuvenated a sample of his own. He knew he could find a cure, but he needed time. For now, the doctor decided to develop a serum for Killian, using a combination of science and magic. He opted to inject himself with small amounts of Killian’s blood to halt his aging. The serum helped Killian so his need for blood could be controlled. On rare occasions, Killian would feed on willing participants. He would pay handsomely and never lost control. He would only allow himself to lose control in the presence of one of Zoso's people.

Endless blue water surrounded the group of Isles that were connected by clear waterfalls, the white sand beaches extending to kiss the surrounding sea. Not far from the shore, there were farms with perfectly ripe fruits and vegetables.

The Isles had a protective barrier around them, powered by the bloodline of its inhabitants. Time moved slower; it almost stood still. The Isles lush green lands were blissful.

Like any other civilization, some sort of government was needed for the Isle to function. Here in this magical piece of heaven, there was the council. At the top, there were the strongest wielders of white magic.