Dark Heart

Part Three

Emma's POV

It had been a few days that I was trapped in the cell. Hook would come by to give me food, but he wouldn't stick around. Every time he came to see me, his jaw was clenched tightly, and he avoided my eyes. It made me wonder why. I spent hours trying to get the cuff off my wrist, but it never slipped off. The leather began to peel, but every time I would rip a piece off, it magically replaced itself.

My stomach rumbled and I brought my knees up to my chest and cried into them. My parents had no way to get me out of here, but if they did, Hook could easily find me again. I kept reminding myself that I was the one who put myself in this position, just so they would be safe. As long as they were safe, nothing else in the world mattered to me.

The sun was beginning to set, and I knew Hook would be here soon with my dinner. Being trapped in the cell gave me a lot of time to think. It was something I didn't really want to do though. I was exhausted. The bed wasn't the comfiest, and it was cold in the cell. I knew that Hook wouldn't feel guilty. You couldn't be a sensitive person if you were a pirate captain and now Dark One. I had done my research on him and bits and pieces of his past. I had heard rumors, but I didn't know if they were exactly true. I always wanted to meet him in person and ask all of the questions that I had, but now that I know him, I was afraid to.

The door swung open and I looked up. Hook towered over me. He didn't have anything in his hands, and I was disappointed. I was starving. He held his hand out for me, which I hesitantly took. He helped me up off the bed and brought me out into the hallway. I stumbled over my feet and fell in front of him. It also didn't help that I was weak because of lack of food.

"Stand up, Princess," he said harshly. I tried, and after much effort, I was able to stand. He walked in front of me and I walked along the wall. He took me to the dinning room where a whole feast was set up. He helped me over to the chair and I sat down. "I owe you a very big apology." I wanted to be a proper princess and wait until he started to eat, but I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday when he brought me food. I looked up at him, waiting for him to continue. "I didn't want to put you in that cell. I have demons in my head, and I can't always control my actions."

I swallowed the food and began to talk. "You expect me to forgive you because of a few demons in your head?"

"No I don't. In fact, that's the last thing that I expect. I want you to trust me, and by locking you in the cell, I assume that I have lost your trust. For that, love, I am so sorry."

"Maybe not all of my trust." His head shot up and I suppressed the urge to laugh. "I won't ever try to escape again."

"That's not why I put you there."

"Then why?"

He looked down at his hand that was in his lap. "I can't tell you. You won't want to hear why."

I finally took a breather from eating. "Try me."

He stared at me for a long while, and I actually thought that he was going to tell me. He shook his head and leaned back in his chair. "No. I can't."

I nodded. "Alright. I won't push you."

He looked at me with a relieved look on his face. "Thank you." I nodded and started eating again. I was still hungry. Hook eventually dug into his food too. Once I finished eating, he escorted me to my room. I wanted to yell at him, but I just couldn't. Instead, I gave him a warm smile and leaned against the doorway. "Goodnight, Hook."

"Goodnight, Princess."

"My name is Emma." I hated it when he called me 'princess.' 'Love' or 'darling' was okay though.