Dark Hearts | Once Upon A Time

XXiX. Home Sweet Home

Storybrooke. Present-day

REFLECTING OFF THE water, the moon shines brightly over Storybrooke's harbour as Jaclyn and Killian lookout to the incoming land before they exchange a glance and a smile before they swing down on a rope to the deck and walking off the Jolly Roger, as it was protected by magic which made it invisible to the naked eye and only three people knew where it was and they were Cora, Killian and herself, Cora follows behind the two pirates and Killian begins to speak "My dear Cora, this is where we part ways, thank you for everything you've done but it's time we go and skin ourselves a crocodile"

"You might want to rethink that," Cora said appearing in front of them suddenly

"We had a deal, get out of our way" Killian growled trying to get past Cora

"Believe it or not I'm doing you a favour" Cora replied stopping both pirates from getting off the docks, Jaclyn raised an eyebrow and narrowed her eyebrows at the older woman almost challenging Cora to rethink her position.

"By preventing our vengeance?" Killian snarled

"Ask yourself how I'm doing this?" Cora replies seemingly unfazed by Killian's attitude

"By using your dark magic" Jaclyn answered understanding now dawning on her features as she looks to Killian to see his anger slowly fade and understanding easing it's way onto his hard features and Jaclyn for a moment was transported back to a time where her best friend didn't bore such a hard expression and his touch was more gentle

"Exactly" Cora grinned a little as if a plan had already started forming in her head "Magic is here and that makes matters a bit more complicated if you go half-cocked and try and fight an empowered Rumplestiltskin. Do you know what'll happen?"

Both pirates looked away uneasily knowing what would happen

After a short interruption the older woman turned back to her allies which ended up with someone being turned into a fish and Killian asking where his ship had gone "Good, you do. Now I've hidden the ship under a spell and away from prying eyes because right now we need the element of surprise. Now, are you both ready to listen to me?"

Killian and Jaclyn exchanged glances "Go on, your majesty"

"You look and the prisoner, watch that she doesn't escape after all she is our only leverage against the heroes " Cora pointed at Jaclyn "Killian you and I shall have a look at this little Storybrooke, shall we?"

* * * * *

Storybrooke. Present-day

Keira hadn't returned through the portal with them which had caused everyone to panic and look for her through the other side of the well, but she wasn't there and although everyone promised to keep an eye out for her and try to find the sarcastic blonde as much as they could, life moved on as much as Erica wished it didn't, it happened and she couldn't do anything to stop it

She couldn't slow down time

Every day since she had returned, she'd found herself fighting harder to control the darkness t's noisy and loud and itches. Her skin itches all the damn time, but she had to put on a show and pretend

She was good at pretending

 That was what she was trying to do as she walked into Granny's slightly later than everyone else as she had been trying to decide whether she wanted to actually go to the welcome back party the townspeople were holding a celebration for them returning back to Storybrooke

A few people acknowledge her presence when she arrived in the crowded diner but the party already seemed to be getting into swing. Though she seemed to be in the middle of a crowd, she had never felt more lonely