Fragmented Lies

Chapter 8: Destruction and ruin

A/N: We're almost at the end here, one more chapter (+ a small epilogue of sorts that I will publish along with ch 9) I'm a wee bit nervous about how you'll react to my ending here. Again all mentions of tech stuff, bio-toxic stuff, weapons, etc are all made up in my head.

So please don't chop off my head after reading this chapter. I've explained myself in the end chapter notes :)

Thanks to SnowBelleWells for beta reading. I couldn't have polished this off without her help. Enjoy.

Chapter 8: Destruction and ruin

Once they got to the other side of the door, they swept down the hallway, but it all seemed too quiet for some reason. Killian felt a tingle of dread wash down his spine, and he glanced over at his boss. M was on high alert too, her hand holding the small gun he'd given her, ready to fire if they were ambushed. The tightness in her jawline showed him that she wasn't thrilled about being here, and knowing that the bastard had her son, Killian could understand her uneasiness. Yet, he seemed to be getting different vibes from her as well, her eyes giving away more than just fear for her son's life.

They reached the end of the hallway and found a set of metal stairs leading upwards, strangely misplaced next to the old medieval-style brick walls. Killian motioned to David, letting him know that they should walk up there. This had to have been added by Gold himself, and who knew what the man had built inside this place? The large pool room they'd just left behind was also something one would never see in a castle like this.

David nodded and made a silencing gesture to everyone as he and Killian walked up first, guns ready to fire. Killian could feel his blood pump through his system as they peered over the topmost step with caution. The area above the metal stairs was large and rigged with various modern tech and furniture. The carpet was an obnoxious red velvet style, with darker swirling patterns woven into it. Killian glanced to his right and saw a long line of monitors right next to what looked like a section of large windows. The eerily green light flickering behind the windows indicated that they somehow were located above the pool room.

The room was empty, so David motioned for them to move up, and they fanned out into the room, making a full sweep to be sure no one was there to surprise them. Killian walked to the large windows and peered down in the vastness of the pool room. This might be where Gold was assembling whatever he was making. The green biotoxic water, Viridi Ignis, was part of the experiment M and Gold had worked on 20 years ago. Killian shook his head, 20 years was a long time to hold a grudge and yet keep working on re-structuring the biotoxic water to do what he wanted it to do. If nothing else, Gold had been persistent in whatever diabolical plan he'd hatched.

"What do you suppose he's doing here?" Emma's voice interrupted his musings. When he looked at her, she was looking into the pool room too, her eyes wide with astonishment.

"I have no bloody idea, love." He turned around facing her, his eyes doing a quick scan over her shoulder and making sure no one was about to interrupt them - either their team or some of Gold's men.

Her eyes narrowed slightly at the word love, but he picked up the small knowing and approving smile as she looked up at him. For a split second, he wished they were alone; it had been far too long since they'd last been alone. His eyes flicked to her lips, and she smirked when she slipped out the tip of her tongue to lick them. He groaned inwardly and mumbled as he passed her, "Minx." Her chuckle followed him as he walked over to David; he needed his mind to focus on their mission here, not the teasing woman he ached to be alone with.

David raised a curious eyebrow at him when he approached him, and Killian grumbled, "Don't!"

"Alright, keep your head focused here, please," David said with a small frown.