Chapter 20

“Nice of you lovebirds to catch up. Now Killian, you’re going to make noise banging against that huge plate of armor over there, and Emma, you’re going to climb up on that statue and wait for the giant to come—then you blow the powder in his face. As for me, well, I’ll be right over here in case this goes sideways. But I believe in you guys,” I said, stepping a good distance from the entrance.

Emma rolled her eyes. “Let’s go, Killian. You can use that bone over there to bang on the armor.”

Killian picked up the bone and walked toward the armor while Emma climbed the statue. Once she reached the top, she signaled to Killian.

He began banging.

Growling. Heavy footsteps.

The ground beneath us shook.

I saw the giant coming out of the castle and knew—we were screwed. He was bigger than the statue Emma was on. There was no way we could knock him out from up there.

“Oh, damn it,” Emma muttered.

“Hey! Hey, big git! Yeah, you want to kill a human, huh? You want to kill a human?” Killian shouted, waving his arms.

I blinked. He was actually… trying to lead the giant into Emma’s direction. And for once, I was surprised—he actually had a brain.

The giant stepped closer, crouching near Killian, a hand reaching—

Pfff!

Emma tossed the powder in his face.

The giant blinked, stumbled—then dropped with a thunderous crash.

Once I saw him hit the ground, I made my way to the entrance. “Killian?” I called.

Emma hopped down from the statue, scanning the area. “He’s out cold,” said a voice from the far side of the giant.

“I don’t mean to upset you, Emma, but I think we make quite the team,” said Killian.

“Urgh, let’s just go. We have a compass to get,” I said, wishing the giant had landed on him.

“Alex, don’t think I didn’t hear you call my name. One might think you care,” said Killian with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes and left them behind, entering the castle.

Gold. Everywhere. Coins, jewels, goblets, swords. Every room glittered with treasure.

“Whoa,” I whispered.

“They hoarded all their greatest stolen treasures in here,” Killian said, eyeing a jeweled crown.

“We don’t have time to waste,” said Emma.

“What’s the rush? We’re in a room full of treasure,” Killian replied.

“I was starting to think you had a brain, but I take it back. How long do you think that powder will last?” I snapped.

“I have no clue,” Killian admitted.

“Exactly why we need to stay focused,” Emma said.

“Come. Everything we need is right in front of us,” Killian said, leading us deeper inside.

“They killed all the giant housekeepers too? How are we going to find a compass in this mess?” Emma asked.

“I have to agree with Emma. By the time we find it, the giant will be awake,” I said, kicking a pile of gold.

“Well, if you were complaining less and looking more, maybe we’d find it faster,” Killian said.

“I wonder how much treasure we could carry down the beanstalk…” he added.

Emma and I stared at him.

“In addition to the compass, of course,” he added.

We rolled our eyes and kept searching.

“What the hell…” Emma said, kneeling by a skeleton.

“That would be Jack,” Killian said.

“As in Jack…” Emma began.

“…the Giant Killer,” Killian finished.

I picked up his sword and scoffed. “There’s no way he killed a giant with this toothpick.”

Killian tried to walk away, but Emma dragged him back.

“It’s about bloody time,” Killian said.

“Emma, if you wanted to make out with the man, please—not in front of me,” I said.

Emma flushed and let him go. “It’s a tripwire,” she muttered.

She traced it upward. “It’s a security system.”

“Well, that’s a plausible excuse for grabbing me,” said Killian. “Next time, don’t stand on ceremony.”

“Let’s find the compass and go home,” Emma said, walking ahead.

“You know, I’ve got to hand it to you, Killian. You just don’t know when to give up,” I said, patting his shoulder. “Desperation really isn’t a good look for you.”

We entered another chamber. More treasure. Still no compass.

“Give me a boost, would you, love?” Killian asked Emma.

“So I can’t see what you’re pocketing? No way. You give me a boost,” Emma shot back.

“Try something new, darling. It’s called trust,” Killian said.

“That’s the thing, Wonder Boy—we don’t trust you. Never trust a pirate. Which makes me the best person to boost up,” I said.

They both agreed. Just as they got into position—

Crash.

Something fell in the distance.

We all froze.

Then came the footsteps. Heavy. Fast. Towers of gold fell like dominoes.

“Quickly—get under something!” Killian shouted.

We scattered—but too late.

The giant crashed through the doors, charging toward us.

Stone rained down from the ceiling. Killian got buried.

“Hook!” Emma shouted.

“Shit. Emma, we have to run!” I said.

She froze.

“Fucking hell,” I muttered. I grabbed her hand and yanked her behind me.

The giant roared, closing in.

“Shit, shit, shit! Why does this shit always happen!?” I shouted.

Then—a hand. Big hand. It snatched us both up.

“Ugh—any chance you could let us go, big guy?” I wheezed.

He only squeezed tighter.

“I’ll take that as a no,” I groaned.

“We’re not what you think!” Emma said. “You have a compass. We need it!”

“Listen, you big oaf. We don’t care about the rest of your treasure. Just let us take the compass and we’ll go!” I added.

“I don’t care what your reason is,” he snarled, still squeezing.

Emma gasped, “No! For my son. To save my son. Don’t you have a family?”

The giant’s eyes narrowed. “Your kind killed them all.”

I saw black at the edges of my vision. No way I was dying like this.

My teeth elongated. Canines sharp as knives.

I bit his hand.

“ARGH!” the giant howled, dropping me.

Emma followed.

We bolted.

“Alex—sword!” she called.

I tossed it to her.

She sprinted toward the tripwire.

I realized what she was doing. With the giant gaining fast, Emma slashed the line.

SLAM!

A cage dropped.

The giant was trapped.

“Nice security system. Efficient,” Emma said, pointing the sword at him.

“No, no, no!” the giant begged.

“What’s a big fellow like you afraid of a tiny sword for?” I asked.

“Because I bet it’s dipped in some kind of poison,” Emma said.

“You have a compass. I need it,” Emma pressed.

“You’re going to kill me either way. Go on. Do it.”

“You don’t know us,” Emma said.

“I know your kind,” he growled. “They massacred us. Destroyed our beans.”

“I heard it the other way,” Emma replied.

“That’s because the victors get to tell the story.”

Emma stepped closer with the sword.

“Okay, okay! Stop!” he said, passing a small object through the bars to me.

The compass.

“See? I’m not the bad guy,” the giant said.

Emma lowered the sword.

“Maybe you were telling the truth,” she said.

“It doesn’t really matter. We have what we came for. Is there anyone else like you?” she asked.

“No. I’m alone,” he said.

“Maybe we should let him go,” I said.

“How can we trust him not to kill us once we do?” Emma asked.

“We just have to,” I said softly. “Or we’d be no better than Jack and the rest of his men.”

Emma turned, catching sight of something on his neck.

“A bean…” she said.

“Emma, look—it’s a bean,” I pointed.

“Can this make a portal?” she asked.

“Not anymore,” said the giant. “It was destroyed. I wear it as a reminder.”

“Not all humans are the same,” I said. “You’ve just met the worst of us.”

We turned to leave.

CRACK.

The cage broke.

We spun around—but the giant wasn’t charging.

He lumbered to the far wall, pulled aside a stone, revealing a hidden passage.

“Go,” he said.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because you could’ve killed me—and didn’t. You get one favor. Now go before I change my mind.”

“Actually, I get two,” Emma said.

“What?” the giant and I both asked.

“Well, the way I see it, I could’ve killed you twice. With the powder. And when you were knocked out.”

“…What do you want?” the giant asked.

Emma led us to the collapsed stones.

“Seriously, Emma? Do we have to help?” I groaned.

“Yes, Alex. He helped get us this far. We owe him,” she said.

“Fine. But when he double-crosses us, I’m saying ‘I told you so.'”

The giant lifted the stones. Emma and I dragged Wonder Boy out.

“You are bloody brilliant. Amazing,” Killian wheezed as we pulled him free.

“May I see it? The compass?” he asked.

Emma showed him, then quickly pulled out a shackle and chained him to the wall.

“Damn, Emma—I didn’t know you had it in you,” I said.

“What are you doing?” Killian barked.

“I… I can’t,” Emma said.

“Emma, look at me. Have I lied to you? I brought you here. Risked myself. The compass is in your hands. Why do this now?”

“It’s simple,” I said. “You’re a risk we can’t take.”

“She’s right. I can’t take the chance that I’m wrong about you,” Emma said.

“You’re sorry? I got you the compass!”

“We got the compass, Killian. Not you,” I said.

“You’re just going to leave me here to die? Let that beast eat me? Crush my bones!?”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. I’m sure you’ve gotten out of worse,” I said.

“Exactly. And he’s not a beast—and you’re not going to die. We just need a head start,” Emma said.

“Swan! Swan! SWAN!” Killian shouted as we left.

“I’ll see you, Wonder Boy. It was truly a disappointment meeting the oh-so-great Captain Hook,” I said, laughing.

On my way out, I spotted the giant.

“Hey, I’ve got a question.”

“If it’s another favor, the answer is no.”

“No. I just want to know your name.”

He blinked, surprised. “Anton.”

“Anton. Cool name. Make sure that one’s stay is very unpleasant, will you?”

He grinned. “That, I can certainly do. It’s been a long time since I last tormented a human.”

“Have fun. Later,” I said, heading for the beanstalk.

_________________________________

As we climbed down the beanstalk, we spotted Snow and Mulan in the middle of what looked like a full-on sparring match.

“Well, I can’t say I didn’t see that one coming,” I said dryly, watching the two women go at it like it was the final round of a tournament. “Honestly, I’m kind of impressed.”

“Come on—we have to stop them,” Emma said, sounding exasperated.

“Nah, let ’em duke it out,” I said, pausing mid-descent with one foot braced on the ropey vine and an amused look on my face. “I’ve always wanted to know which Disney princess could actually throw down. My money’s on Mulan.”

“We don’t have time to waste,” Emma said, though she didn’t exactly look away from the fight either. “But… if I were betting, I’d say Snow. She did take down that ogre.”

“Okay, fair point,” I conceded. “But I still say Mulan. She’s got that no-nonsense, military precision vibe. Meanwhile, we all know who’d be at the bottom of the list.”

I nodded toward Aurora, who was just standing there watching like someone lost on her way to a tea party.

“Now that we can agree on,” Emma said. “I mean, what could we expect? She spent most of her movie asleep.”

“True, except in the one with Angelina Jolie,” I added. “She actually had a personality there instead of just being a blonde extra.”

“That’s true,” Emma said. “Though that movie was… far from accurate. Maleficent actually hates her.”

I stared. “Wait—how would you know that? …Don’t tell me. The dragon you killed—was that Maleficent?”

Emma shrugged. “Uh… yeah? Did I not mention that?”

“NO, you didn’t!” I gaped at her. “How could you kill one of Disney’s greatest villains?!”

“Sorry I didn’t want to be dragon food,” she muttered.

Before we could get into it further, Snow suddenly got Mulan in a chokehold.

“Shit—come on,” Emma said, jumping down.

“Stop—!” she began, but I landed directly on top of her.

“I would call that a perfect landing,” I said with a smirk.

“Perfect landing my ass, get off!” Emma grunted, shoving me off her.

“Emma! Alex! Are you okay?” Snow asked, hurrying over and helping Emma up.

“We’re just peachy. Not like we just jumped from a beanstalk or anything,” I said as Mulan helped me up.

“We’re fine,” Emma added. “Though after two earthquakes and a giant descent, I think my brain’s still rattling around a bit.”

“I’m glad you both are safe,” Mulan said calmly. Then she turned to Snow. “But please inform your mother that I only followed orders—and nothing more.”

Snow gave her the kind of death stare that could frost a window.

“Well, good to know you follow orders to the letter,” I said, clapping Mulan on the back. “But maybe next time aim for less strangling.”

“I gave you my word. I do not go back on it,” Mulan said seriously.

“I like that about you,” I said, grinning. “I think you and I are going to make a beautiful friendship. You’ve got my back, I’ve got yours. Just don’t try to strangle me.”

“Deal,” Mulan said, the tiniest smile tugging at her lips.

“Not that this isn’t adorable,” Aurora said, gesturing between me and Mulan, “but did you guys at least get the compass?”

“Yep, we did. Now let’s get out of here,” Emma said, holding up the compass.

“Where’s Hook?” Aurora asked.

“Wonder Boy is in a bit of a… sticky situation right now,” I said, barely holding back laughter.

“We’ve got ten hours before he can follow us,” Emma said. Mulan and Aurora began packing up the supplies.

“What did you guys do?” Snow asked, eyeing us suspiciously.

“Oh, nothing major,” I said. “Just gave a giant something to watch for a few hours.”

“Okay, fine,” Snow said, “but you told her to cut it down?”

“Yes, I couldn’t risk—” Emma started.

But Snow cut her off, stepping forward and grabbing her shoulders.

“We go back together. That’s the only way. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Emma nodded and moved in to hug her.

I stood there awkwardly, unsure if I was supposed to join the moment. Before I could decide, they broke apart.

“Good. Now let’s go get that dust from Cora,” Snow said, firm as ever.

“Then we go home,” Emma added.