The Heart's Desire

Chapter 7

Emma was woken early the next morning by Regina. She was told to pack some clothes, and to meet her in front of the château. When she got to the main entrance of the château she saw Regina and her daughter Margot waiting by a carriage.

"Where are we going?" Emma asked Regina.

"The Lord has decided that he wants to spend some time at his his sea side manor." Regina said.

"Will we be close to ocean?" Emma asked excitedly.

"Well it is his manor... by the sea. So what do you think?" Regina said in a rhetorical tone. "Don't think you'll be getting any free time to go down to the beaches. We are going there to get all set up before he gets there tonight."

Emma wasn't even worried about having to serve Killian, she was much to excited to be able to see the ocean again. Even if she could only admire it from a far.

During the long journey Emma had fallen asleep. When she had opened her eyes again it was late in the morning, and they were almost to the manor. When the most glorious sight caught her eyes.

"Stop the carriage." She called out to the driver, and before he could bring the carriage to a complete stop. Emma jumped from the carriage to get a better view of the ocean. She couldn't help but be mesmerized by the vigorous waves crashing against the rocks.

"Get back in the carriage Miss Nolan. We need to get to manor and set it up before he arrives." Regina called out to annoyed by Emma's little stunt. Though Regina thought the delay was a nuisance, Margot couldn't help but have big grin on her face. It took a lot to get under her mother, Regina's skin.

As Emma climbed back into the carriage she couldn't help but to ask, "How long will we be here?"

Margot answered, "It depends on what kind of mood he's in. It seems every decision he makes is based on his moods."

Shortly after they got to the manor. They began cleaning and setting up the rooms for Lord Killian. By the time the sun was setting he had arrived to the manor. Shortly after he had finished dinner, he had ordered Emma to bring some rum from his private collection up to his chambers.

When Emma reached his private chambers. She saw him out on the balcony looking out onto the ocean. The gentle lapping sound of the waves against the sand, and she could see his silver mask glimmer from the gentle moonlight.

"I've brought the rum you requested sir." She told said as she gently poured him a glass and handed it to him. "If there is nothing else you need, I'll be leaving."

As Emma was beginning to head for the door Killian called out to her, "Emma stay a moment."

"Regina is expecting me in the kitchen." Emma said hoping this was a good enough excuse to leave.

"She can wait a moment." He told her. "Please."

That one word was what made her want to stay. That one word, was the first time he seemed not so monstrous to her. It made her wonder what he had to say to her. So she stood there quiet and patient, wondering what he could possibly want from her.

"Come closer." He said, but Emma stayed right where she was. "Are you afraid of me?" He asked.

"I would be a fool not to be." She answered him, looking him in the eye.

"So why am I the one struggling to find words?" He asked.

"Well I suppose...that's because you don't really have anything to say to me."

"Well then you talk. Tell me about your self." He said as circled her, like a prey studying its next meal.

"There's nothing much to say. I'm here as your servant, but I'm not a servant. That is the whole story." She told him.

"I wouldn't have asked you for a conversation, if I thought that was true." He said to her. "I'm sorry you were not able to leave with your father. That way I wouldn't have to endure the torture of seeing you everyday."

Emma was taken aback by his words she wasn't sure how to respond to his words.

"I've wanted you, from the first moment that I saw you. I wouldn't have taken you against your will, but I also knew that I would lose you forever." He told her.

"That's why you wanted me here." She said.

"I told myself, 'She's the daughter of a sea captain. I'll bring her here, talking in the moonlight, and then...'" he paused looking at her serene face, "I'm a fool. All this must seem like some cruel insult to you. Forgive me, you can go back to Regina."

Before she left the room all she could think to say to him was, "I did enjoy seeing the sea."

"Really, I can't stand it." He said making her turn around.

"How can that be?" She asked, not understanding how anyone could possibly hate the sea.

"You can tame a wild horse, subdue a man, but the sea will always be far greater." He said as he started to slowly walk closer to her.

"That's what makes it so wonderful." Emma told him.

Then next thing she knew Killian had pulled her to him and forcefully kiss her mouth. Emma reacted quickly pushing herself off his chest, and punching him across the unmasked half of his face. All she to say to him was, "You are a horrible man." And immediately left him alone in his chambers.

Killian was in complete shock. No woman had ever tried to resist him. Then again Emma was not like most women.

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The next day Killian, immediately returned to his château. As soon as he was alone in his private chamber he removed his masked, and started filling an entire glass with green liquid. And immediately downing it within seconds.

"You're back sooner than I thought." Gothel said from behind him.

"Just as you hoped, I would." He said to her.

"Don't torment yourself. That girl is to naive to comprehend the allure of your attention."

"You don't understand me anymore than she does." He said sitting in his chair.

"I don't need to, in order to desire you." She said.

"Tell Alice to make up some more of the medicine." He said hoping Gothel would disappear from his sight.

"Just give in. It will make you feel much better than any medicine."

"I still have several days left. To get Emma into my bed. If I wanted it to happen last night, it would have." He told her, but Gothel just continued to stare at him, with a smug look on her face. "I need more medicine now!" He yelled at her. Then she him alone with his thoughts.

Killian knew if he was to win the wager, he was going to try a lot harder with Emma.