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Beyond Here Lies Darkness	By : LotornoMiko Category: M through R > Once Upon A Time Views: 3724 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Once Upon A Time fandom. Nor do I make any money off of it or this story.

Chapter List
- 1-One
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Four
- 5-Five
- 6-Six
- 7-Seven
- 8-Eight
- 9-Nine
- 10-Ten
- 11-Eleven
- 12-Twelve
- 13-Thirteen
- 14-Fourteen
- 15-Fifteen
- 9
- 10
- 11
The dark hears the woman speak, tastes the defeat in her words. Even broken and without hope, Emma Swan's inner light is still brilliant, still an untainted purity that draws the darkness to it. It's a power like nothing the Dark One has ever seen, a light to rival and combat the darkness, ying to it's yang. The darkness should fear that light, should fear what it could do. But it's a power wielded by inexpert hands, the light easily smothered by the shadows and the suffocating embrace of the darkness. Just as it can destroy the light, so too can dark be destroyed by it in turn.

Having tasted only a sliver of it's true power, the darkness is learning to be cautious. Is actually taking a step back to watch and learn, to assess the threat this power might pose it. Already it has done something the Dark One does not like, it's vessel's host, the man Killian Jones being drawn out of the prison the darkness had sunk him into.

As surprising as it is unwanted, the darkness had never intended for Killian Jones to get free. Having wanted to smother Killian Jones completely, to drown him in darkness until nothing of his sanity remained, the light has upset all that. Because Killain Jones is not crazy, or brain dead, the man in complete control of his facilities, though he is weighted down by his guilt.

The darkness feeds off the man's guilt, though it's not a particularly pleasing taste. Better will be the moment Killian Jones completely gives up on hope, the darkness ready to swallow down all of the man's despair, then crush him one final time. Killian Jones is not anywhere near that moment, the man stubbornly hanging on. The darkness doesn't understand, doesn't believe in the power of hope, can't comprehend the amount of care and concern the pirate feels for one person in particular. It's all soft hearted emotions the pirate feels for Emma Swan, and it's all so far out of the darkness' ability to understand.

Easier to swallow is the despairing emotions, the fright and the guilt. The darkness knows about those, has caused those feelings in it's victims, has even used them to manipulate those it targets. Just as lust can drive a man to do a great many things, so can fear, and despair, and cause a desperate desire to live no matter what.

But Killian Jones isn't thinking about saving himself. Isn't thinking selfishly for once in his life. He's all about Emma, about the concern she rouses in him, the tender developing affection the pirate still fights because now he deems it wholly inappropriate to feel. He's almost as confusing to the darkness as Emma Swan is, and unlike the case of the woman, the Dark One doesn't like what the pirate makes it feel.

Feeling sickened by the pirate's thoughts, his selfless concern, the darkness can only pace in agitation inside the body. Killian Jones feels it's turmoil, the darkness' agitation a prickling awareness in the back of his mind. But it doesn't try to seize control, doesn't try to lock Killian down in that prison of shadows. It gives the man free reign to do as he pleases, and for that Killian is wary in turn. Because he doesn't trust the silence, doesn't believe this freedom will last forever. He's locked into a waiting game with the darkness, knowing that eventually it will surge forward, and then Killian will be lost again, and this time it might be for forever.

Desperate to make good use of what time he has left, Killian tries not to give in to the frustration and worry Emma makes him feel. Because she's not leaping at the chance to escape, and Killian can understand why. Her family is in danger, threatened by more than death and torture at the two evil queen's hands. The darkness itself is involved, and it's fury will be boundless should it lose the woman that it lusts for. And yet Killian can't give up on the ideas of escaping it, even destroying it.

But Emma doesn't give even a flicker of interest in the ideas Killian tries to brainstorm with her. Worse than dismissive, she just doesn't seem to care, and that worries the pirate even more. Because he doesn't know all that has been done to her, can't tell if she's really that dead to hope, or just that good an actress. And Emma's not offering any clues on her own, stoically composed now that she's over her bout of crying in his arms.

Killian had thought the crying had been bad enough but this? This Emma who hides all feeling, who lets her voice be dead of any emotion? It's a dozen times worse, Killian unable to ascertain just how broken inside she now is. He doesn't recognize it as a defense mechanism, Emma having learned first hand just how exciting the darkness has found her every emotion to be.

There's very little the darkness doesn't find exciting about Emma Swan. Even the danger her light might have posed to it, is more arousing than something the darkness truly fears. An alien, otherworldly existence, it's wants and desires have gotten confused, mixed together with the pirate's, and further enhanced by the fact it has finally tasted a woman in a way the darkness was never meant to.

Because by far, all who had come before Killian Jones, had been inherently good. Men who thought to defeat the darkness, to destroy it. Only to fall victim to it, and become prisoner to it's own wants and cruelties. Always quick to act, to torture and ruin, the darkness had destroyed those closest to the vessels, killing whole families before being subdued. Even Rumplestiltskin, the worst of it's vessels, had been helpless before it when it went after the woman that he and Killian Jones had both loved.

The darkness had reveled in the pleasure that kill had given it. Downright euphoric over it, the darkness had sealed it's own fate. Because with that murderous act, Rumplestiltskin had set out to learn a way to trap the darkness. Determined to make sure the dark would never act out again, it had taken Rumplestiltskin years to get enough power to lock the darkness down tight. What the darkness tried to do to Killian Jones, Rumplestiltskin had done to it. Losing something like three hundred years to exile in the vessel's own body, the darkness was determined to never let Killian Jones have a chance to do the same to it as Rumplestiltskin had once done.

Especially now, when it was free to enjoy itself in ways it had never before. It might still be a slave to the dagger, but for once it's master's wishes were in sync with it's own. Cora didn't care at all about Emma Swan, actively encouraged the darkness in it's twisted pursuits. And though the darkness still wanted Cora dead, it was content enough for now with Emma in it's bed, as the Dark One waited out it's chance to strike down the red haired queen and all she held dear.

Cora's days were numbered, and she didn't even realize it. And when she fell, the darkness would take the dagger and hide it so that no one would ever again use it. Determined to never again be anyone' slave. the darkness looked forward to the time when it would once again be free. When everyone, even those with true evil in their hearts, would know to fear the dark, and worship it.

But in the meantime, the dark has Emma, her fear and that of the fear the truly good of Storybrooke felt, more than enough to sate it. It doesn't consider that fear a weapon that can be used against the dark, doesn't think that the few good who remain free might work past it, to unite and ultimately topple the darkness. It doesn't even think that Emma alone, can become powerful enough to defeat the dark. And it's right. Because alone, even the light is not enough, but together with another, with a soul that is starting to resonate with hers? There might just be a chance, where good can win for once and for all over the dark.

But does either of those two souls have enough time to do what is needed? Does Emma, who is already so tired and defeated, have enough left in her to let down her shields and actually start caring? For someone other than her friends and family, for a man whose body has hurt her, whose desire has become a nightmare? Can she ever truly bond with a man whose guilt is so consuming, he might let it blind him to just the chance of the two of them? Can Killian even let his feelings show when he believes them to be so wrong in the face of all that has happened? And what will the darkness do, should it recognize the true threat the two souls together present?

Because right now it doesn't, the dark only cautious because the light has surprised it. Not understanding the hows or why of what it has accomplished, the darkness doesn't realize Emma's soul had glowed brightest with her heartache, the pain she was in, her attempts at muffling her tears reaching past the barrier and into the shadowy prison Killian Jones had been trying to escape. Even before he had become truly aware of it, Killian had heard Emma crying, and reacted on a level beyond mere instinct. His concern, his internal need to comfort the woman he was coming to care for more than he had ever though possible, rousing him to rush out of the dark, and into the horrors of the reality Emma Swan had been facing on her own.

But waking up is only the first step, the road a long and hard one that neither Killian nor Emma will be able to navigate alone. Even together it will be difficult, the dark a treacherous thing that will not be denied so easily. Especially of something it wants so badly, the woman whose soul shines with the purest of light.

Killian can't actually see the light, though he has a sense of what Emma Swan is. Of the goodness inside her, of the strength and determination and beauty both outside and in that had been strong enough to seduce even the dark. He thinks Emma too good, too pure, too beautiful for someone like himself, Killian Jones finding himself unworthy of her long before the darkness had possessed him.

Those unworthy, I don't deserve her feelings, are made a million times worse, now that Killian has an inkling of what has been going on, what has been done to Emma Swan. He doesn't want to name the crimes out loud, but her pale and bruised flesh, is covered with more than just blood. It hurts to look at her, at it, the evidence of the dark's brutality, a stark reminder to the pirate that he and Emma have lost their chance. Not even the avoiding that he's been doing, can change what has happened, what will happen again if Killian doesn't act fast.

Desperate for more than just himself, Killian can't think fast enough the ideas he voices out loud to Emma. Any idea is considered, even the ones that seem positively impossible to achieve. Killian's not sure what will actually work, the darkness and Emma both seeming indifferent to the schemes he comes up with. The darkness might even go as far as to laugh at him, Killian inwardly furious, and trying to ignore the monster in his head as he follows a few steps behind Emma around the damaged room.

Making no real movement towards any of the clothing scattered about the room, much of it in tatters, Emma seems to be gaining back some of her physical strength. At the very least she's no longer swaying, her legs no longer trembling so violently from the effort it took to stand upright. She never once turns to Killian, who follows as close as he dares, the man ready to catch her should her body give in and collapse.

She doesn't so much as stumble, heading into the private bathroom, a luxury enjoyed by the captain of this pirate ship. Killian stops in the doorway, his eyes briefly assessing the damage that has been done even here. Emma busies herself with drawing a bath, with finding soap, a wash cloth, and even shampoo, all these things scattered about the room.

Eyes landing on a cracked mirror, Killian is startled by the changes to his appearance. The magical glamour done to further enhance his darkly attractive looks. He looks nothing like the gold scaly skinned imp that Rumplestiltskin had once become, and for a moment Killian allows himself to become distracted. Wondering what the reasons behind the changes were, why the darkness changed the person who held it so much, Killian almost doesn't hear Emma's question.

"Was it worth it?"

Killian draw his eyes away from the mirror, finding Emma by the porcelain made bath. She meets his gaze squarely, no sarcastic edge to her voice as she repeats the question. "Was your revenge worth it?"

Taken aback, Killian can't even take hope in the fact that Emma is showing interest in anything. Not when her question hurts so much, the guilt and self loathing rising within him. He doesn't have to consider the question at all, Killlian slowly shaking his head as he tells her no.

"No...nothing is worth what I've unleashed. I've found that out the hard way."

And just like that, her interest is gone, Emma turning to bend over the tub. She's testing the water with her hand, uncaring of her nudity, or what her position shows. Killian quickly turns around, but not before he gasps and feels the surge of lust that is the darkness appreciating the view. Killian is staggered by how intense that feeling is, how the darkness lets out a demanding growl for him to turn around and look at Emma. Killian fight the command, digs both his hook and his fingers into the wood frame of the doorway. His knuckles go white from how hard he grips the doorway, Killian refusing to look at Emma and experience any more of the hateful lust that the darkness has for her.

Battling the darkness, and his own body, Killian casts about for something, anything to say that will distract it and him. He hears the quiet splash of water disturbed, and knows Emma has settled into the tub. And still he doesn't turn, all his schemes and plots momentarily forgotten as Killian begins trying to tell Emma something he feels she deserves to know.

"It wasn't about my hand."

"Hmm?" A disinterested sound from her, Emma more intent on the bath, and the experience of getting clean without the Dark One's so called help.

"My revenge. It had nothing to do with Rumplestiltskin taking my hand." Killian explained, still gripping the door. It's all he can do, the darkness not about to allow him to walk their body away from Emma when the dark is wanting to go to her and act on it's lusts.

"My hand's loss was nothing compared to what Rumplestiltskin really took from me." Killian continued, though Emma said nothing in response. Killian didn't know what kind of reply he'd want, if anything she could say, do or feel wouldn't make him feel even more worthless and like a dog. But he wanted her to know, wanted her to understand that it had been more than just revenge, than it had been based on a love lost, on a love actually destroyed. His whole world had been in upheaval, Killian losing what he had thought was his only chance at a happy ending. He had wanted to die, and only the idea of getting revenge on the one who had taken Mila, had been what had kept Killian Jones alive for all these years.

"When he...when she..." He stumbled on the words, his courage faltering for one second in the face of his need. "There was a woman. Mila. She was the love of my life, the only love I thought I'd ever need."

"Now I'm not trying to make excuses." Killian added, with a vicious undertone to his voice. "Nothing can make right what has happened. I know that now. But I was heart sick and stupid, and all I wanted was to get my revenge and then die. I didn't believe in the price of revenge, didn't know it would cost not only me, but you, and just about everyone else around us. Hell, some days I think I still wouldn't have cared, so blinded by my own pain."

"What happened exactly?" Emma asked, and though it was a painful memory, he'd gladly share it with her.

"I loved a woman name Mila, and do did Rumplestiltskin. And though it wasn't in any way right, I stole her from him, and we were happy together. My Mila and I had a whole future together to look forward to, the happy ending everyone strives for. We were going to grow old together, have a family together, build a life together. We didn't get more than a few years, some cruel twist of fate having us have a run in with a Rumplestiltskin who had gained the power of the darkness."

Killian let the silence fill the room, let Emma think about all he had said, all that was implied in the fact he had not only taken a woman from a man, but a man who had one day become the host to the Dark One. Killian could almost imagine Emma shivering in reaction, though he didn't turn or go to her to check.

"All these years..." Killian finally said. "All these years I thought I understood what had happened. What...WHO had killed Mila."

"But now?"

"Now I'm not so sure." Killian admitted. "I always thought Rumplestiltskin killed her out of jealousy for loving another. But what if it wasn't him....what if the darkness had possessed his body, the same way it has mine? What if it was the darkness acting out? What if I've been wrong all this time, seeking a revenge against the wrong one, when it was the Dark One who might have been truly responsible for killing Mila?"

"Hook..."

"I know what it's capable of now." Killian added. "I know how it can take over, how it can lock me down tight, and do as it pleases with MY body. What if it had been the same for Rumplestiltskin those first years? What if I've been hating the man and instead of the monster? And even if it had been the man who had done the murder, can anything, even the loss I suffered, truly make it okay with what I've let happen to you and the people of Storybrooke?"

She doesn't try to soothe him with an answer Emma doesn't truly believe in. She doesn't lie and offer false hope, doesn't try to claim that it's all right. Most of all Emma doesn't absolve him of his sins, speaking quietly about how she just doesn't know.

Killian knows better than to hope for her forgiveness, and still it is disheartening to not get it. He inwardly flinches, starts to turn slightly towards Emma. He meets her eyes and lets her see how sorry he truly is, how troubled he is, how much he regrets everything that's happened. Most of all, he lets her see and hear the sincerity of his next words, Killian telling her for sure that his revenge had not been worth it.

Killian doesn't know what he expects to happen next. Or even what Emma could say. But she's not looking disinterested, a thoughtful gleam to her eyes as she considers what he had just told her. Hope starts to surge within him, Killian thinking that maybe Emma is ready to consider a plan of attack, their next move against the darkness.

"Emma..." Thoughts race in his head, faces flash by as Killian remembers the people he has covertly stalked and studied in this town. Trying to think of who can be used who might stand a chance against the darkness, his next idea not even half formed when the pirate realizes his gaze has drifted, and it's not just him who is gazing at Emma's soap covered breasts.

Jaw clenching, Killian tries to walk out of the room. Actually takes a step into the bedroom part of his cabin. But he can no more escape the sight of Emma wet and soapy, then he can the Dark One, or it's hunger and already it is moving to wrench back control of the body. Killian fights and screams out a warning that is halted mid syllable. Fights and scrambles with his hand and his hook, trying to find purchase as he plummets down a dark endless abyss. The last thing he is aware of hearing is the darkness' laugh, it's purr a totalt mockery as it sends Killian back to the prison made of shadows.

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To Be Continued...

Been a hectic week with Christmas, too much sleep, and my mom being sent to a hospital emergency room right before Christmas Eve. She's okay now. Didn't get to work on any fic this whole week cause of the hectic nature of these last few days, but am pleased with punch I was able to write out this chapter today! Yay!

I personally like how this chapter came out (so much better than nine!) though I do have one worry. And that maybe it spoils something a little too much in regards to something that will happen much later on. But oh well, still like the chapter!

*bounces off*

----Michelle
- 9
- 10
- 11
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Beyond Here Lies Darkness