Daughter of Darkness || Once Upon a Time

Chapter Seven | Those Who Have Cheated Death

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|The Underworld, One Week Earlier|
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Killian awoke in a boat sailing across a river that looked as if it used to be bright green but was now murky and littered with garbage of various sorts. A cloaked man was standing in the opposite end of the boat from where Killian was.

When the boat bumped against the shore, the cloaked man spoke. "Are you Killian Jones?"

Killian nodded. "Yes."

"Hades will see you now."

And then a cloud of smoke enveloped the pirate, carrying him off to where Hades waited.

Killian was greeted by a three-headed dog when he appeared. A man sitting on a throne snapped his fingers and the dog backed away from Killian and sat down at the man's feet.

"You're lucky he's not full-sized at the moment," was the first thing the man said. The second was, "You must be Killian Jones. What a pleasure it is to finally meet you."

"Um..." Killian had no idea what to say, where he was, or even who he was talking to.

"Ah yes. I forgot to introduce myself! How rude of me," the man exclaimed. "I am Hades, Lord of the Underworld! And you, after all this time, are finally dead."

Killian still wasn't sure how to respond, so he simply stood there silently.

"Captain Hook, they called you," Hades continued. "The great and terrible one-handed Captain Hook. Well now you're here, and I have a special place for people like you. People who have cheated death."

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|The Labyrinth|
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Neal wanted to kill himself, but he was already dead. When Merlin had arrived three weeks before, things got a little better. But how well could things go when you were stuck with a bunch of villains who had lost their magic? Especially when one was your grandfather.

Merlin and Neal had split the room they were stuck in in half. Merlin, Neal, the Apprentice, and occasionally Nimue were the only ones allowed on one side of the room. All of the other Dark Ones, Pan, and anyone else who had cheated death had to stay on the opposite side of the room.

The Dark Ones had all vanished for some reason Neal didn't care to ask about, and when they reappeared, Nimue stepped across the line dividing the room in half and lowered her hood. "The darkness has made another transition." Neal noticed her skin was no longer scaly and was back to how human skin should look. "Neal, your father is the Dark One again. Emma Swan is still alive, but Killian Jones is dead."

Merlin nodded. "Thank you, Nimue."

"But it is worse this time," she warned. "This time, Rumplestiltskin has the power of all of the Dark Ones."

"Did you say Hook is dead?" Neal asked.

Nimue nodded. "Captain Hook, Killian Jones, whatever you wish to call him. He is dead and he will be joining us shortly."

As if on cue, Killian shimmered into existence in the room. Neal quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him across the diving line so he was no longer stuck with all of the former Dark Ones.

"Where am I?" he asked.

"Where all people who have cheated death go," Merlin answered. "The center of the Labyrinth."

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|The Throne Room|
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Hades summoned Persephone into the room. She stopped brushing her hair and glared at her husband. "What do you need?"

"Killian Jones has died, and Rumplestiltskin has taken all of the darkness. Soon, the others will be down here looking for him. And then we can put out plan into action."

Persephone smiled. "Excellent. Have you told the furies yet?"

"They were next on my list."

With a flick of Hades's wrist, the three furies were standing across from him.

"I have wonderful news!" Hades announced. "The Captain is dead, and soon, we can begin."

Tisiphone stepped forward. "My Lord, when shall I go after Robin of Locksley again?"

"When I summon you," Hades replied. "Tisiphone and Alecto, you may go. Megaera, I have a special request for you."

Tisiphone and Alecto disappeared while the youngest fury stayed behind. "Yes?"

"I need you to keep and eye on Robin Hood when he is captured. The Evil Queen will try to rescue him, but you cannot let her. And when she tries, I need you to kill one of them."

Megaera smiled. "It would be my pleasure."

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|The Labyrinth|
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"So we're stuck here forever?" Killian was sitting next to Neal, who nodded.

"Like the ghosts from Pacman before the game starts. Although Hades may never let us out."

"What's Pacman?"

Neal opened his mouth to answer before deciding against it. "You know what? Never mind."

Killian glanced over at the other side of the room. "So Pan and Felix are over there as well as a bunch of Dark Ones?"

"Yes," Neal confirmed.

Persephone appeared at the door of the room and spoke. "Hades has finally released you into the maze. All of you except for Killian Jones." She stepped out of the way, and the Dark Ones besides Nimue all rushed out and into the Labyrinth.

Pan and Felix were the only ones still in the room on the opposite side from Neal.

"Why are you letting us out now?" Pan asked.

"Because soon, some of the heroes will be trapped in here."

Pan smiled and turned to Felix. "I guess Peter Pan really doesn't ever fail." The two walked out of the door in a much more calm manner than the ex-Dark Ones had.

"Which heroes?" Neal asked.

"I cannot say," Persephone replied. "However, if they run into the Dark Ones or Pan, things could go very wrong very fast. Especially with the Minotaur already running around."

Neal's thoughts instantly went to Henry, Emma, and his dad. If Pan ran into Henry again while Neal sat in the center of the Labyrinth not doing a thing, he wasn't sure he'd ever forgive himself. He turned back to the others, "I have to go. Henry, Emma, and my dad could be in danger."

"Emma?" Killian asked, suddenly very concerned. "Let me go with you!"

Neal shook his head. "You can't. Persephone said everyone except for you was released. If I find her, I will bring her here. I promise." With those words, Neal left.

Merlin stood up next. "If Regina is here, I need to find her. If I don't, it's possible the heroes will never escape the Underworld."

Nimue stood up too. "Let me come with."

Merlin hesitated. "Nimue..."

"I don't have the darkness anymore," she assured him. "Rumplestiltskin has all of it."

Merlin gave it. "Alright. Apprentice, would you like to join us?"

The Apprentice shook his head, "I will only slow you down. You two need to find the heroes before the Dark Ones, Pan, or Felix do."

Merlin nodded. "Goodbye, Apprentice."

"Goodbye, Merlin."

As Merlin and Nimue left, Persephone vanished. A figure stepped out of the shadows from the side of the room where the Dark Ones had been. "Now that they are all gone, perhaps we can catch up, Killian."

Killian's eyes snapped up when he heard the voice. "No..."

"Welcome to the Underworld, son."