Sails of Destiny

A New Dawn

The first light of dawn crept into the Captain's quarters, the soft golden rays casting a gentle glow over the room. Killian's eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the light, and he turned his head to see Amira still asleep beside him. She lay on her side, her features peaceful, her dark hair splayed across the pillow. A small smile tugged at his lips, and he allowed himself a moment to simply watch her, to take in the calmness of her expression.

Quietly, he slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her. He moved across the room to the small table where he kept a few personal belongings. Among them was a framed picture of Milah, his first love—the woman who had changed everything for him. He picked up the picture, his eyes tracing the familiar lines of her face.

The pain was still there, the ache of losing her, but it wasn't as sharp as it once had been. The grief that had once consumed him had softened over time, and now, as he looked at Milah's face, he felt something else—a sense of acceptance. He would always love her, but he knew that he couldn't live in the past forever.

His gaze shifted, and he looked over at Amira, still asleep in his bed. He never thought he could love again after Milah, never thought he'd even want to. But Amira had come into his life, and slowly, without him even realizing it, she had begun to heal parts of him he thought were lost forever. Maybe, just maybe, it was possible for him to love again.

As he stood there, lost in thought, a sudden chill filled the room. The mirror on the wall darkened, and Killian's eyes narrowed as he saw Regina's reflection appear, her face twisted into a cold smile.

"Well, well, Captain," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "Enjoying the company of my dear stepdaughter, are we?"

Killian's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he set the picture of Milah down and turned to face the mirror. "What do you want, Regina?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Regina's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with malice. "I'm simply curious, Captain. You see, I sold Amira to you with the expectation that you would break her—that you would turn her into nothing more than a tool, a pawn to use against Snow White." She tilted her head, her gaze flickering to the sleeping form of Amira. "And yet, here she is, safe and sound, sleeping in your bed. Why haven't you done as I intended?"

Killian clenched his jaw, his anger simmering beneath the surface. He stepped closer to the mirror, his eyes locking with Regina's. "I don't take orders from you, Regina. Amira is part of my crew, part of my family. I protect my own, and that includes her."

Regina's eyes narrowed, her smile fading. "You protect her?" she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief. "Do you mean to tell me that you care for her? That you've allowed yourself to grow attached to her?"

Killian didn't answer right away, his gaze shifting to Amira for a brief moment before returning to Regina. "Amira is stronger than you give her credit for. She's not someone who can be broken, not by you and certainly not by me. She's earned her place here, and I won't let anyone take that from her—not even you."

Regina's eyes flashed with anger, her lips curling into a sneer. "You fool," she hissed. "Do you think that love can protect her from what's to come? Do you think that by caring for her, you can keep her safe from me?"

Killian's expression hardened, his eyes cold as he looked at Regina. "Love may not be enough to protect her from you, Regina. But it gives her something you can never take away—hope. And as long as she has that, she will always be stronger than you."

Regina's image flickered, her face contorting with rage before she disappeared from the mirror, leaving Killian alone once more. He took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest as he turned to look at Amira. She was still asleep, blissfully unaware of what had just happened.