Heart of the Sea

Chapter 31 - Deal with the Dark One

Hey guys! Hope you're having a great new year so far! Here's a couple of chapters. Hope you enjoy, and good luck on all you partake on this year!

- Chelli

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The next morning everyone was late to work. Killian and Emma finally decided to leave Lili by herself for the first time since she'd been at the house, and Lili took full advantage.

She would have no more helplessness.

Lili dressed well, pulling on a grey tank top and collared midnight blue overshirt. As her leg was still confined in her cast, she stayed in her sweatpants, but made sure everything else was up to standard. Her hair was pulled back, a fresh layer of kohl was sketched on her lids, her mother's ring was fitted well on her finger, her leather cuff was bound on her right wrist, and she'd stolen one of Killian's spare daggers (temporarily, of course). She was ready.

Lili crutched out the back door, down the beach a good ways from the house, her back to it. She shut her eyes and did her best to catch her breath, face flushed. Depths she needed to exercise.

Once she'd caught enough of her breath, her eyes snapped open.

"Rumplestiltskin. Rumplestiltskin. Rumplestiltskin!"

"No need t'yell, dearie."

She flinched as he appeared behind her.

"What c'n I do f' you this fine day?"

She turned around to face him. "I want you t'take off my cahst, and heal my leg completely."

He chuckled. "Getting impatient, are we?"

"Just shut up an' do it."

"Y'know your mother had that same look in her eyes on her last day," he smirked, ignoring her. "All that hate and fire. That impatience." His smirk twitched. "She didn't have to wait long," he crooned.

"Shut up and heal me!"

"It'll cost y' two favors."

Lili's eyes narrowed at him. "Fine. Just bloody well free me."

Gold watched her for a few moments before he flicked his hand and Lili gasped. Her leg was suddenly much lighter, and she felt the bone finishing its work. She looked down to see her own foot there, the rest of her own toes. She gently set her foot in the sand, wiggling her toes, gingerly placing weight on it. He'd done as she asked. It was healed.

"Will that be all, Miss Jones?"

Her lip nearly curled at how he said her name. "Yes, that will be all. Go."

Gold bowed mockingly before he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Lili watched the spot where he'd been, not trusting that he was truly gone just yet. She poked at the spot, looking for any miniscule creatures, but found none.

Hmph.

Best be sure, just in case.

She took one step and promptly fell on her face.

Sod.

Lili lay in the sand for a few moments, trying to figure out what had happened. It was just the sand, right?

The smarter part of her told her that no, it was not.

She thought about it, and..well.

A second try couldn't hurt, could it?