Hey guys. This is a chapter I've planned to publish some time ago but I wasn't quite happy about it and it didn't really fit into the big story. So it doesn't have any influence on the main story, nevertheless I wanted to publish it. I hope you enjoy it – I hope you like it.
"Another man is ill, Captain."
"Same symptoms?"
"Aye, high fever, shivers, headache, talking in his sleep, anorexia when he is awake or unconsciousness."
"How many are diseased?"
"Seven. Crew men, no superior officers."
"Eli?"
"No, the boy is fine. But that doesn't mean anything. Everyone said he felt good this morning and an hour ago Cottrall broke down."
Killian sighed and looked at the water. "Emma needs to stay in our quarters. I can't risk her getting infected. As long as we don't know what this is or what's causing it we all have to be attentive."
"Aye, Sir. Commander Haddock and Mr Baskin are in the stowage. They are checking the supplies. Will we anchor tonight?" Smee asked and shifted nervously.
"Aye. I don't want to risk anything. Has anyone checked on Densworth? I haven't seen him since yesterday."
"I will send someone" Smee said and placed his red beanie back on his head.
"Emma?! You must stay in the cabin. It isn't safe out here. I told you... are you crying?" Killian was up in a second, he rushed towards her ignoring his cards which now laid open on the barrel. He and some crew members gambled every now and then to pass some time.
Emma buried her face on his chest. "He is dead" she said quietly, she wasn't even sure Killian heard her.
"Who is dead, Emma?"
"CAPTAIN! Charlston, he is dead!" Smee yelled and ran to him, "I was woken by a loud noise. Several men were talking nervously and then I saw it... Oh." He stopped immediately when he saw Emma in Killian's arms.
She still sobbed but Killian needed to know what happened. He wrapped his arms around her while he forced his first mate to go on.
"Charlston laid on the floor, his whole body was trembling uncontrollably. He was talking nonsense, louder and louder, nearly screaming the words. His eyes were opened widely, red and afraid. A moment later everything was over. He sagged, didn't move anymore. His body was nearly boiling, covered in sweat..."
Killian closed his eyes, trying to shield Emma. "What did he say?"
"Captain?"
"What did Charlston talk about before he died?"
"He... he was delirious..."
"Let me decide this, Smee."
"He talked about someone or something that was about to come or happen... he talked about the princess... about the mission and you, sir", he stopped and breathed heavily, "he was afraid, he repeated himself over and over again. He said he was burning inside, he wanted it to be over, he wanted water but he didn't drink when we offered him some, it was creepy, Captain."
Killian pushed Emma off himself gently. "Love, you need to go to the cabin. I need to take care of this incident."
Emma nodded slowly, not saying anything. "I will bring you there myself. Smee, I'll meet you in a minute in the crew quarters."
Killian took Emma's hand and led her to the hatch. He opened it and climbed down a few rungs. She followed him and he held her to help her down.
"Are you all right, love?"
"Yes, but I want to come with you."
"No, Emma, you need to stay here, I don't want you to get ill too. It's risky enough that I stay with you the nights. Infections are no fun in this realm. Many people died of what is called a flu in your realm. We don't have the medicine you have, especially not on a ship."
"I know. But Killian, please be careful."
He kissed her and left the quarter again, this time he used to door. He went directly to the crew quarters. He wanted to know exactly what had happen.
The night was almost over when Killian entered his quarters. Every single crew man reported what happened. Mostly the same, some details were different. Eight people on board were still ill. Now one was dead and nobody knew what was causing it or how it could be healed.
Killian stripped and joined Emma on the cod. She laid her head on his chest but didn't wake. He started to comb through her hair. He was afraid. Afraid of not knowing what was going on, afraid of not knowing how to help his men and afraid that Emma will get ill too. He fell asleep suddenly, his fingers still in Emma's hair.
When he woke up again, he was alone in bed. The sun was shining bright into the cabin. He stretched and yawned not willing to get up.
Suddenly someone knocked on the door. "Captain! We have a problem. Are you awake?"
"In a minute, Smee", Killian hopped off the cod and got dressed, when he opened the door his first mate looked at him nervously. "More men diseased?"
"It's the boy."
Killian closed his eyes. "Where is Emma?"
"When she heard it, she went to him. We couldn't stop her. She is still with him. But Captain, things look black. He is burning up, talking nonsense. Emma is trying to lower his temperature by making leg compresses but I don't think that will help."
"Thank you, Smee. Who is in charge of the vessel?"
"Commander Haddock, Sir. He and Baskin checked every supply yesterday, but they didn't find anything rotten or expired. They cleaned the stowage too. We tried to find out if the affected crew members have anything in common like what they ate, what they did, where they went. But no clues so far."
"Thank you, Smee", Killian wanted to pass him but his first mate stopped him nervously. "Aye?" Killian asked and looked at him sternly.
"It... ahm... it's probably nothing."
"If something is nothing or not can only be judged after it is said out loud."
"The princess... she..."
"Bloody hell, Smee, what about her?"
"She was there yesterday. When Charlston died."
"What? Why did no one mention that?"
"Everyone was too afraid?!"
"Of what? Me?"
"No... her!"
Killian frowned. That didn't make any sense. "What do you want to tell me?"
"Captain, I..."
Suddenly a bloodcurdling scream filled the whole lower deck. Killian and Smee exchanged glances and started running. When they entered the crew quarters they stopped immediately.
Emma stood next to Eli's hammock - the boy was screaming and Emma was talking to him or herself or nobody at all, Killian couldn't tell. Her glance was dull, far away and worried.
"Love?" Killian asked carefully, he stepped closer, but stopped when Emma looked at him.
"I can't let him die" she said quietly – nearly whispered.
"What are you doing, Emma?"
"I need to save him" she answered mechanically.
"Emma? Love?"
"He is dying, I can't let him die. I need to save him. I need to heal him. I won't let him die."
Killian barked at his crew to get back. He wanted to give Emma space, but he also wanted to protect his crew.
Smee looked at him worried, afraid and irritated.
"Emma. You know that you can't save everyone. All magic comes with a price!" Killian started again, his eyes fixated on her.
When Emma answered, her voice was raspy, dark and hardly recognisable. "I have to save him. I brought him here. I can't allow that he dies."
"Love, it's okay. Let go. Don't you see, Eli is in pain."
Emma looked at him sternly, her eyes were red and puffy, dark and angry. She shouted at him.
"Because of me. It's all my fault. STAY AWAY FROM ME."
Killian had to cover his eyes as Emma's outburst created a huge bubble of light which flashed trough the room.
He heard Eli scream, heard the nervous murmurs of his crew members and suddenly the light expired and a noise of a body hitting the floor filled to room.
Killian and the crew still covered their eyes when they suddenly heard some nervous, confused voices.
"Captain?" "What happened?" "Eli?" "Where am I?" "You look great, man." "You all right?" "Fendrik!" "How is that possible?"
Smee, Killian and the others looked up and saw eight men, including Eli, standing in the middle of the crew quarters, talking irritated and looking shocked but not a bit ill at all.
Finally one of the naval officers named Cottrall looked at Killian irritated. "Captain Jones? What happened? Did... did you find a cure? How is it possible that we are all recovered at the same time?"
Killian wanted to answer (although he had no real answers) when Eli suddenly cried out loud. Everyone turned around and saw that the boy was sitting on the floor next to someone.
"Bloody hell, Emma!" Killian yelled and ran to her. He shoved Eli aside and knelt next to Emma's body. "Emma? Emma! Love, wake up!"
He touched her forehead which was covered with sweat. "Bloody hell, she is burning up."
He picked her up slowly. She was unconscious, her whole body heavy; arms and legs dangling lifeless. Killian was more than worried but he didn't want to show his concerns in front of his crew.
He carried her to his cabin, every crew member he passed looked at them bewildered. Even Densworth didn't ask a single question when Killian passed him. The whole ship seemed to be buzzing, nearly glowing.
The sailors who were with Killian under deck before, tried to put together what had happen in front of their eyes. They talked with the recovered ones, set up theories, whispered with each other and avoided Smee's stern glances.
The sailors above deck had no clue what was going on at all. They only saw a light breaking through every crack of the ship, shining so bright they had to cover their eyes. But it was over within seconds. Haddock's loud voice echoing through the outbreaking turmoil. The men obeyed and went back to their duties immediately.
Haddock was concerned, he had heard screams below deck, he had heard the captain's voice, talking about Emma. He wanted to know what was going on down there, but he also knew he couldn't leave the deck right know. He had to wait for anyone coming up and talking to him.
„Emma?" Killian wiped a wet cloth over her forehead, she didn't move, didn't respond. Killian sighed and shook her gently. She is breathing, he calmed himself and laid a hand on her chest. Emma laid perfectly still, only breathing in and out, her face blank, white like a sheet.
Three days she didn't wake. Three days Killian stayed with her day and night. Everyone one board was confused about the latest events but no one had the courage to talk about it.
The seven healed crew men were grateful for their cure, only Eli felt miserable. He felt responsible, he felt alone and he was afraid of losing Emma.
Commander Haddock was the only one besides Killian and Smee who was allowed to be near Emma, he was the one who was with her when Killian slept or when he had to be on deck or somewhere else.
He sat at Killian's desk when suddenly he saw Emma move slightly. He rushed towards her and knelt next to the cod.
"Emma? Mistress?" He wanted to touch her but before his hand could touch her head he stopped himself.
"Killian?" Emma said with a weak voice. Commander Haddock wanted to get up to get Killian but suddenly Emma's hand found his.
He swallowed thickly not sure what to do now. He slowly placed his other hand on Emma's, stroking the back of her hand in a caring way.
"Killian" she whispered again.
Commander Haddock sighed. "No, Emma, it's me, Emmett - eh, Commander Haddock." He gulped again, staring at his captain's girlfriend.
She was a lovely and beautiful woman. He studied her soft features, her bright green eyes covered with her eyelids. Her soft pink lips closed, formed into a smile.
Emmett was still stroking her hand but felt the urge to touch her. He pulled his hand free and reached across the cod to put some loose strands out of Emma's face. He traced her forehead, her cheek, her jaw with his fingertips, started to caress her cheek with his knuckles.
"Killian" Emma whispered again making Commander Haddock flinch. He pulled back his hand and opened his mouth when he heard someone behind him. He slowly turned his head, looking at Killian directly.
"Captain! Emma... she..." he cleared his throat and got up. "I think she is waking up. She called after you. I... I just wanted to get you but... I didn't want to leave her alone..."
"Thank you Commander" Killian said walking to Emma slowly. He sat down next to her and took her hand. "Is there something else?"
Haddock shook his head walking towards the door. He was unsure what Killian saw eventually, was unsure about what happened a few minutes ago. He shook his head walking back to his duty on deck.
Killian watched the door close and turned his attention towards Emma the moment his second mate was gone. "Emma? Love?"
"Killian? Killian what happened?" Emma asked weakly, opening her eyes slowly. He looked at her concerned not sure what to tell her, not sure himself what happened.