He stood in front of the wall mirror, staring at the image depicted within. The image was of Killian Jones, Captain of the Jolly Roger. He had short brunet hair and eyes the color of the ocean but in his recent memories, those eyes had been different. Pitch black orbs that shined with lust and cruelty...he shook his head, trying to rid himself of such horrible feelings. He knew that for a time he had gone by the name of James Hook, The Scourge of the Sea. It was so hard to believe that he was ever like that creature.
The things he did...evil, just plain evil. He destroyed everything he touched, took whatever he wanted, killed all who got in his way, but it was the women that paid the ultimate price. Hook had captured and broken countless women and Killian knew that he would never do that. He had promised his beloved Clare and his Swan Lake to never go that far and yet for some reason he had. No! He was Killian Jones! He was not that monster, that abomination! He was not James Hook! He was not the man that murdered Alice! His tirade stopped abruptly as he remembered brief snippets of his time with the fiery woman that bore the same name as his mother.
He sank into his chair, one arm on the table and the other arm rubbing his face like he was in pain and utterly exhausted which to be fair, he kind of was. The Scourge had bedded and beaten Alice so fiercely and so often that his own body was paying the price. He tried desperately not to think about what that bastard had done to her...he enjoyed every bit of it; stripping her of her freedom, bending her to his will, reveling in her pain, and loving every single moment when he made her lose herself to pleasure, making her scream for more and beg for his touch.
Killian felt like he was going to be sick and moments later, he threw up in a nearby bucket that was placed in his room by his first mate, Mister Smee. He asked how he had become his first mate and the man replied that his former first mate, Simeon Black, had attempted to use Alice's godson as leverage to make her submit to him, Hawthorne, and Jefferson which had genuinely surprised him. Mister Smee explained that Hook didn't like the fact that someone else had touched his wench and sent them to a place where they would live out their lives in agony. He was then promoted due to his friendship with Alice because it guaranteed that his property would not be tarnished by another.
Killian rinsed out his mouth and splashed water onto his face, the blue box around his neck catching his eye. It belonged to the feisty redhead that went toe to toe with the Scourge of the Sea...until he killed her. The image of her cold lifeless body laying on a bed of flowers flashed across his mind's eye and he felt such horrible guilt. Hook used his body to kill that woman and the bastard had been so fucking sadistic that he actually used diluted Dreamshade to slowly weaken her until one day, shortly after he had finished using her body yet again, she died.
Hook was a disgusting and foul beast unlike anything Killian had ever experienced before. He had been possessed or infected with a terrible evil that made him commit countless atrocities against a single woman that had done nothing to invoke his wrath yet treated her like she was nothing more than inanimate object to be used however he saw fit. He thought back to when the shift had occurred and it initially started at Milah's betrayal but went into full swing after he had taken her body to shore and burned her remains. Did that traitorous bitch curse him from beyond the grave or did he simply inherit the combined evil of Augustus Torrin and his filthy bitch?
Time was meaningless to the younger Jones and he was honestly surprised that his crew hadn't turned against him from the lack of adventuring. They just kept on sailing the sea he called home, restocking as needed before simply departing yet again. William Smee was turning out to be an incredible first mate. He was the perfect choice for his second in command. The only reason why he had reverted to Black after Clare died was because he didn't know any of his crew well enough to not stab him in the back. Only for that very man to torment poor Alice, but it still pissed him off that Hook viewed the woman as nothing more than a play thing. She was his property, not his lover. He called her his wench, basically telling the world that she was a slut that spread her legs only for him.
There was so much missing from his time with Alice. In fact, the last year or so of her captivity was nothing but a blur of sex and sleep. He couldn't recall anything specific at all except the fact that the Scourge held no regard for her physical health because he just continued using her while her body practically caved in on itself. She had lost so much weight that her skin had sunken in and he could see almost every bone in her body. Her pale white skin had always been so cold and dry, the lack of proper nourishment and rest taking its toll. Sweet lord, the bruises...there had been so many of them.
He felt the nausea coming but managed to keep the contents of his stomach from erupting though his chest and throat now burned quite painfully from the lingering stomach acid. He remembered the changes to her hair most of all because his favorite color was crimson red followed ironically by sapphire blue, a dark sapphire at that. Her hair had darkened during her captivity, turning from the shining crimson he loved so much to a dingy and dull brown color with a few dark auburn highlights. It was so dry and brittle that it had started thinning out. Another year or so and she probably would have been bald.
There was one thing about the memories of those times that really confused him...her eyes. Those deep sapphire orbs, exhausted and in terrible pain, but they never changed. Her eyes were always warm and kind, open and welcoming, and full of an emotion that should never have been directed towards that beast...love. She had loved him...right from the start which didn't make sense because that would imply that she had met him before...met Hook before, but how could that be?
'To change the future is to change the past.'
That's what the blue clad woman had said in his dream after he had just found out that Clare had been pregnant with Erin.
'Lightning, it flashes bright then fades away. It can't protect, it only destroys. The sea makes for a much better shield than I could ever be. Find her...find our star...she shines only for you now.'
Liam...was the star he spoke of The Star Child? Is...was Alice the Star Child and he simply hadn't known it because he definitely recalled the times Hook spent with Silver Jones. How would the boy feel when he finds out about all the terrible sins committed against her by that monster? He wouldn't even be able to look the lad in the eye because his only excuse was that it wasn't him, but he had no physical proof of this.
In fact, the only proof he had that Alice had been there at all was the pendant around his neck and a rather odd looking fob watch, a large one at that. It was a deep blue, almost black...very similar to the sea on a moonless night. The engravings were silver and in some kind of circular language that made his heart ache every time he looked at it, but the front of the watch was the most puzzling of all. At the center of the front side was a smooth circular stone that had an almost ethereal shine. It was extremely thin, so much so that he should have been able to see through it easily, but he couldn't...even if it went through the whole watch...it felt so deep like his beloved sea.
The former lieutenant was startled out of his thoughts, jolting slightly as there was a knock on the entrance of his quarters. He allowed the knocker entrance which turned out to be a rather excited and grinning Mister Smee. He asked the man what had made him so happy and his answer filled his stomach with dread and apprehension.
'Mister Silver is at the nearest port and is requesting permission to come aboard. It's been six and half years since we last saw him. Oh I bet he has a bunch of new dishes he wants to cook for us! Permission to head to the nearest port and retrieve Silver Jones, Chef extraordinaire of the Jolly Roger, Captain?'
The ocean eyed man nearly refused his first mate's request, but seeing his eyes so full of life and hope...he simply couldn't do it. So much pain and sorrow had occurred aboard this vessel already, no need to add to it simply because he was bloody petrified of their chef's possible reaction to certain events.
'Granted.'
He was taken off guard when the man hugged him briefly, having been too caught up in the moment before dashing out of the captain's quarters and informing the crew of a change in course. He heard quite a bit of cheering when William Smee told the crew that the Wave Rider was returning home. Killian sank onto his bed and stared blankly at ceiling. Was Alice the Star Child...he needed to find out before they reached the nearest port. Fortunately, they were still several weeks out, having decided to sail in deeper waters for a time.
In the coming days, the Terror of the Deep searched through the ship's library...an idea that Alice had come up with apparently and Mister Smee had implemented. Most of the books were more fact than mythos or even historical. The Star Child and her Guard held a very long history...eons supposedly. There had to be something! He swore his first mate could either read his mind or simply had the best timing in creation because he walked into the library carrying a stack of historical records and a bag with several large scrolls containing mythological tales.
'Oh...hello, Captain. Are you looking for something to pass the time or did you have something specific in mind?'
The pirate captain weighed the pros and cons of telling his first mate his suspicions...could he truly trust William Smee? All of a sudden his world spun and he found himself on the floor. There was a terrible ringing in his ears and he could not stop making the room spinning around. He was moments away from hurling, his stomach churning most mightily from extreme nausea.
A gentle warmth spread through his body and the nausea faded. The warmth continued to move through his body until the room finally stopped going all over the place, but that's when he noticed that the palms of his first mate, Mister Smee, were glowing in a soft golden light that reminded him so much of his missing Swan Lake.
'Over exertion, lack of proper nourishment, dehydration, and a bit of liver damage but to be expected from someone that consumes alcohol on a semi-regular basis, but you have clearly been neglecting your personal health for the last seventeen months. That is unacceptable, Captain.'
His first mate's hands moved to his head and the ringing disappeared, along with a pressure that he hadn't even known was there, and out popped a woman's name.
'Kali.'
Killian Jones found himself once again in that golden field, but something was wrong. The sky had been filled with the light of the setting sun the last time, but this time...it was so dark and stormy...ominous.
'Kali!'
That was her name! The blue clad woman with amber skin was named Kali but where was she? She had appeared straight away last time yet now she was nowhere to be seen. The ground beneath his feet gave out and he was plunged into water. Fortunately this was a dream so he knew he wouldn't drown, but when he breathed in the water...he kind of wished he hadn't because the water around him brightened and could see everything quite clearly...including a very large sea creature with tentacles and glowing red eyes...and it was staring straight at him.
He stared straight back, trying to understand why he wasn't bloody terrified out of his mind. He was a bit uncertain, yes, but there wasn't any actual fear. Then he did something completely stupid and started talking to the damn thing like it could actually understand him.
'Something's happened to Kali. She didn't come to me when I called. I need you to find her or at the very least find out what happened. I may not understand everything just yet but I know that she is important to the ocean that I sail and that you call home. I also know that I'm not afraid you and by all rights I should be but I'm not.'
The tentacled creature let out a whale like noise as it raised one of its tentacles towards him and stopped a short distance from him. He hesitantly reached out with his right hand and touched the tentacle.
The Captain bolted upright, breathing heavily. His chest was bare and he was covered in sweat. What the bloody hell was that all about? After he had touched the sea creature, he had some kind of weird vision thing but it had felt more like a memory but it was impossible. Why because Alice had been there. Under normal circumstances, this would not be an issue but he had been a child in that vision and she looked the same as the day Hook captured her ship.
He looked up as his first mate entered his quarters, carrying what appeared to be fresh water and clean rags. How long has he been out for? The moment Smee saw that he was awake, he hurriedly set down the tray and rushed over to him, attempting to push him back down.
'You need to rest, Captain! You've been gravely ill for almost a month!'
Month? He didn't feel ill...just confused. He looked at his first mate, really looking this time and he could see the genuine worry, not mere concern, but actual worry in the man's eyes.
'Tell me something, William Smee...do you view me as a friend?'
The only reason he was asking was because he was in desperate need of a willing ear, someone he could go to for advice without blabbing it to the entire crew, and then there was the fact that the man's powers felt similar to Swan's.
'No, Captain. You're family.'
Now that took him off guard. He hadn't expected the man to feel so strongly for him...especially after everything that had transpired with the Scourge of the Sea. He was broken out of his thoughts by his first mate, only to render him speechless.
'I knew that you wouldn't recognize me considering the last time I saw you was shortly after you met Her Ladyship. You and Liam were practically obsessed with her. For a long time, I was jealous and even angry because in my mind, she had stolen my only friends. When I became an adult, I decided to join the Navy so I could get as far away as I could and who was the first person I collided with...the daughter of the Star Child, the Magi of Light, Venus.
She sensed something inside of me, something that was trying to claw its way into being, devouring my soul in the process. Venus...she saved me. She drove out the creature within me but in order to keep me safe, she made me into a vessel of power...her vessel. She filled my entire being with her golden light and told me to use it only on you and her mother.'
'Alice...was Alice the Star Child?'
Bloody hell, why did he just blurt out his thoughts like that? Was it because they had supposedly been friends when they were children...why doesn't he remember William?
'Seeing as we'll be reaching port in a few hours, I'll answer that question and the answer is yes and no. The woman you knew as Alice was indeed the Star Child but Alice is not her true name nor is she dead.'
Killian's eyes widened in shock. Alice wasn't dead?! That was impossible! He...Hook had seen her lifeless corpse, had slept next to her as the warmth of life had faded away...it's impossible, absolutely impossible!
'There is a saying associated with the Child of the Stars. If something is impossible then she is definitely involved. Her Guard were able to successfully revive her, but it took her quite a while to recover and if I was a betting man, I'd say that when Silver comes on board so will she.'
His first mate left to get him something to eat and suggested that he make himself presentable. Wouldn't want to make a bad impression, now would he? The younger Jones followed the man's advice, getting cleaned and dressed. He reached for his coat, but then remembered how much Hook had loved that coat. He grabbed it and tossed it in the back of the closet, not wanting anything to do with it or him. He looked down at what he was wearing...too similar.
He went digging through his clothes, trying desperately to find something that didn't scream Hook. He was surprised when he found a trunk at the bottom of the closet...that hadn't been there before. He knelt down to examine it, looking very much like an ordinary trunk. He undid the latches and lifted the lid, smiling slightly at the rather foreign looking clothing. He remembered Swan wearing clothing of similar design, albeit surprisingly feminine for such a masculine style. He quickly dressed and took a look at himself in the mirror. Blimey, he looked good...exotic too.
Smee called to him, saying that they were about to dock, and he took a few moments to steady himself, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. He reopened his eyes and went above deck, watching his crew work diligently to tie off the ship and securing it fully to the dock. The Terror of the Deep put on a mask of calmness as the silver haired lad boarded the ship, more like jumped on the ship with a massive grin on his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but Silver spoke first.
'Killian Jones, as I live and breathe. It's been a while since I last saw you. I had hoped to see the Captain again, but no use lingering on what was. There is, however, a slight problem in whether or not you remember the orders he left about my mother.'
So it was true...that part of the Scourge's memories was indeed accurate, but that conflicted with the beast that Killian remembered. The Hook in his memories would not have given orders like that, especially after how he had treated Alice aftet said orders were given. It was a moot point. That creature was gone and he was once more in control of his own body.
'Aye, I remember and I will honor his words.'
A cloaked figure came on board and the younger Jones had to keep himself from audibly gulping and balling his fists to hide his sweating palms. He was taken off guard when the cloak collapsed in on itself, falling to the floor, and moments later, a small weight disappeared from around his neck. He reached up and realized that Alice's pendant was gone, resulting in one very pissed off Captain demanding for its return.
'Oh do say please, you arrogant sod. Nice to know some things never change, little Killi.'
That voice...Alice! He looked up and caught the briefest glimpse before she started jumping about then pushed off from the main mast, spinning and flipping several times midair, before landing like a badass directly in front of him with a smirk that would have made the devil proud. Around her neck was the blue box that he has worn every day for eighteen and a half months.
His eyes soaked up every detail about her. Her hair was once more the majestic crimson he loved so much, woven into a single braid. Her dark sapphire eyes sparkled and shined, glowing with a light from within. Her skin held a healthy glow and her bones were no longer on display. He realized that she wore clothing that was far too similar to the Scourge's for his liking, specifically the vest and he wouldn't be surprised if it did once belong to Hook. She wore dark trousers similar to Clare's and a white long sleeved shirt similar to Swan's. It was like she was an amalgam of the people in his life. Even his brother was represented in the way her sword was attached to the back of the belt instead of to the side...though she carried two and they were shorter than the average sword.
He was broken out of his thoughts when the woman he had been silently analyzing for two minutes started kissing him and rather passionately at that. He wasn't entirely sure what to do; should he respond or should he push her away? At the very least, he wanted to know what to do with his damn hands?! Dear God, why was it always the most impossible women that were capable of rendering him speechless and unable to move?!
Fortunately she relinquished him, giggling at his shell shocked state. He stared at her with his hands slightly raised, very much like with Clare though less pronounced. He lowered his hands and cleared his throat before welcoming her aboard the pirate vessel known as the Jolly Roger. He gestured to his first mate, saying that he would get settled into her quarters.
'That won't be necessary, William. I'll be staying in the captain's quarters. *looks to Killian who is about to suggest that she would feel more comfortable elsewhere* Don't bother, little Killi. I happen to quite like them. Besides this will allow us to discuss private matters without having to constantly seek each other out.'
What did she mean by private matters? Oh he found out relatively quickly over the next few weeks. How you may ask...by preventing the woman from jumping his bones. She was rather adamant in her pursuit, her advances being quite passionate, but he refused her every time despite the fact that every part of him wanted her. For it was through Hook's memories that he had fallen in love with her which was all the more reason to stay away.
The dark haired pirate refused to let that beast harm her anymore, but every time he denied her, the more frustrated she became, bringing her to tears quite often and making his heart break every time...but it was the only way he could protect her, to shield her from the darkness within himself...a force that was building inside him and he was fighting so hard to keep the monster restrained. It was at the beginning of her fifth week on board that he realized that if she stayed on board, the Scourge would rise again, so when they made port that evening, he told her to get off his ship and never come back. He kept his back to her so that he wouldn't see her face and she wouldn't see his pain.
'Killian...why are you doing this? Why are you pushing me away? I know what is in your heart Killian Jones, I've always known. Every day you wore my pendant, I could feel you and the love you have for me. That's why I chose to come with Silver, even though it meant acknowledging the fact that my Captain was no longer here.'
Killian snapped, his rage and pain fueling his words.
'How can you call that thing, Your Captain?! After everything he did to you, how much he hurt you?! How can you have any kindness for that terrible creature?! He beat you, used you, tortured you...he bloody murdered you! Tell me...tell me why, during that whole time, your eyes never changed!'
'Because he is my Captain. He has always been my Captain and he always will be. Oh and for the record, he didn't kill me...that was the trio of idiots; Black, Hawthorne, and Jefferson. They are the ones that killed me, not him...never him. Why because he loves me.'
'No, he doesn't and i remember quite clearly how he felt about you. He enjoyed every second of bending you to his will, using you like you were a toy to play with and nothing more. He hated you, despised you...I'll admit that he was possessive but that's only because he viewed you as his property, calling you his wench and declaring to the world that the Star Child was his own personal whore.
He never loved you at all and you need to accept that because I won't be able to protect you from him forever. He's already trying to claw his way out and sooner or later, I will lose which is why you have to leave. I'll do whatever it takes to shield you from that monster!'
The look on her face, it was wrecking his heart and his resolve was wavering. His control was beginning to slip and he could feel Hook pushing even harder. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she begged him to release the Scourge of the Sea, to give back her beloved Captain. No! He refused to give up!
'CAPTAIN!!!'
He watched as she fell to her knees and just wept...he couldn't do this, but he didn't understand. Hook was a monster...wasn't he? The one single moment of doubt was all the Scourge of the Sea needed to fully extract himself from the best and Killian watched in shock and alarm as Hook emerged from his body...with a body of his own.
'On your feet, wench. *the redhead's eyes snapped upwards and she smiled* Your Captain has given you an order, wench, and you will obey.'
'As my Captain commands so shall it be.'
She rose to her feet, wiping away her tears in the process. Hook took a step towards the Star Child and Killian's mind filled with images...the memories of everything the monster had done to her. He shouted out No! before pushing the bastard to the opposite side of the ship. He had to push the ginger in the other direction to prevent her from going to that terrible creature. He drew his sword from its sheath and charged at the Scourge of the Sea, fully intent on killing him and not a single shred of doubt in his mind.
Hook: You just love dragging things out, don't you wench?
Artz: *sheepish* The article got a bit longer than I originally intended so that's why I'm stopping it here.
Poseidon: *staring at an image in her downloads file* Yeah nope, she's not dragging it nor is she going for suspense.
Hook: *walks over to him and looks at the image himself* Bloody hell, wench.
Artz: *giggles* Its perfect, I know.
Poseidon/Hook: Post...now.
Yuna: *punts them out of the article* What do you think she is trying to do, idjits!
Loved it! Absolutely loved it! Thanks so much for sharing this brilliant post! :)
ReplyDelete