The Art of Darkness

Chapter Twelve

Chapter 12

"Henry! I'm so glad we found you!"

"Regina! Killian! You have to help me! Did you bring rope? This is the tower my mom is trapped in."

"Henry we don't need rope. I remember when Snow built this she told her magic mirror it would have a secret door that would open to blood magic. We need someone who is related to her."

"No problem! I'm her grandson."

"Why are we bloody helping the bloody grandson of the bloody evil queen?"

"Because!" Regina snapped. Henry ran his hand around the base of the tower until he felt a door knob. He grabbed it and turned, the blood magic working. Inside was a dimly-lit staircase. They began running until they hit a corner.

"Stop!" Henry pushed Regina and Killian back behind the pillar.

"Henry it's just a guard!" Chided Regina, pretty sure they could take a simple black knight.

"It's not just any guard. Her name is Lily and she can turn into a dragon."

"Oh great lad! I knew there was a chance we'd get captured by the queen. I didn't think I would be incinerated." henry looked down and bit his lip trying to think of what to do.

"I know!" Cried Regina quietly. "Dark pixie dust. Capable of turning her into a bug." Henry nodded quickly. Regina rushed out from behind the pillar towards the guard. Sneaking up behind her, he quickly uncapped the bottle and threw it on her. The guard turned around on her heel to a face full of the dust. She quickly dissipated into a little lady bug who flew away; probably to try to alert the queen.

"Now my mom!: Shouted Henry, leading them up the pindly staircase. When they reached the top Henry smiled the brightest smile he ever had. "Mom!"

"Kid!" exclaimed Emma, "You found me!"

"Did you ever doubt I would?" Henry freed her from her chains with a flick of his hand. "Magic is easier than Mom made it look!"

"Henry!" She opened her mouth and awe and then shut it suddenly. "Yer a wizard, Henry."

"And You're quoting Harry Potter. Now come on!" They rushed down the set of circular stairs towards the landing where the others were waiting.

Emma, not expecting others with him, ran smack into the chest of a tall figure. She looked up to the handsome face. It was quite familiar, with scratchy stubble and a sharp jaw line. The piercing blue eyes gazed down at her intently. She immediately moved her hands to his chest, frozen in his gaze.

"Oh ... um, hello love." She suddenly pulled back. "You don't remember." She frowned. To her, it had been 28 painful years stuck up there. Her memories haunted her. She had dreamed of this reunion for ages. Without his memories she was crushed, there wasn't going to be any kissing. No hugging or crying or smiling or hearing him call her "Swan" once again.

"Killian, this is my mom, Emma. Emma, this is Killian." Emma bit her lip and smiled hesitantly, trying to block the tears that threatened to rush down her cheeks.

"Hello."

"Hi." She smiled not breaking eye contact as if she was hypnotized.

"Ah, um." He woke himself from his daydreaming. "We need to get away before the Queen comes." Emm nodded and they rushed down the rest of the tower and boarded the ship.

--------------------

"I understand you've been imprisoned for a long time."

"Yes. To me it's been 28 years."

"And you've been trapped?"

"Not just by a chain. I was cursed with being the Dark One."

"What is that like?"

"Well there are these voices ... and visions, hallucinations. And that's not all. I have my memories of our real lives."

"So you were ... tortured?"

"Yes." The answer escaped Emma as a sob, and once they started they couldn't be stifled.

"Hush, Hush. It's okay. Your lad saved you. You are okay." Killian gingerly caressed her cheek.

"Thank you." She cried. Killian brushed tears from her eyelashes. For a brief moment they paused and Emma felt like they were back to their old selves.

"That's not all that's wrong is there?"

"No ... Killian it's okay. It's nothing you can fix." As he absorbed that information he thought about it.

"Swan ..." She perked up at this, letting her false hope get the best of her. "Did we know each other before ... in your world?"

"Yes." She cried sorrowfully

"I take it we were close."

"Very." He frowned. He wonder if he should tell her about his night with Regina. It definitely would upset her more but if they truly were that close she needed to know. He thought about, swishing the decision back and forth in his mind.

"Swan I'm truly sorry this happened. I may not remember you but .. i'm having strange dreams. I think they're our past, from you world."

"What do you remember?"

"Well first you hold a knife to my throat."

"That's when I met you. You were a villain, Captain Hook. And you were working with the woman trying to kill me and my mother."

"It's a wonder we ever fell in love."

"It is." She laughed light heartedly recounting their past. What else do you remember?"

"I remember a sword fight."

"I won but you still got your way back to where you wanted to go, chasing your revenge."

"And then us kissing deeply in the jungle."

"That was our first kiss."

"That was good form." he laughed, "On my part at least."

"Not really." She thought of her parents only minutes away from them and the fact that he expected the kiss since he saved her father's life.

"Then there's some talking and more kissing. And then an ice wall."

"Elsa." She remembered her ice-wielding friend fondly.

"More kissing and then ... me with a hand."

"Our first date."

"You looked beautiful."

"You did too."

"Why did we wait so long?" The question struck Emma hard. She contemplated it.

"Because I was stupid. I wouldn't let you in. I wouldn't trust you. But Killian, you were and always will be, the love of my life. No matter what I have to do to get your memories back I will. I love you so much. There will never be a man as brave and dashing. I hesitated because I thought you were a pirate that would break my heart. And I was right. Losing you did break my heart. I know you can't remember. But somehow I will make you." Then, caught up in her emotions she planted a gentle kiss on his cheek, brushing her lips against his jawbone.

A wave of magic radiated through the air. A bright light flashing. Memories flooded from the dusty corners of his brain to the busy middle, weaving into a knot.

"Swan!" He laughed before pulling her in for a deep kiss. All of the sudden the laughter and tears subsided.

"Swan ..." He said gravely. "We have a problem."