IV. A wicked fate

now playing,

kiwi by harry styles

descendants two

"Hey, man. Hey." The curly haired pirate grinned, look around at the familiar faces. "Hey, I know you."

"Uhh, no. Don't know you either, man." Ben tried to play it off but making it seem super unbelievable. Estella rolled her eyes at him and mentally face-palmed.

"Uh,yeah,you do. Come on, man! I'll give you a hint. My dad is quick,slick and his neck.. Huh.. Is incredibly thick." Gil, the son of Gaston, pointed to his neck while raising his eyebrows at the group. His attention was now off them but on a poster of King Ben on the crumbling wall.

"Oh, You're King Ben! You're Jay, Carlos, Evie, Gwen and Random pretty girl. Hey, guys!" The group sped off into a different direction while Gil muttered to himself about Uma.

The group finally made it to the destination, Jay throwing a rock at a 'DANGER. Flying rocks' sign which made Stella laugh at It's irony. They all pushed Ben up the stairs with a tight smile.

"Wish me luck."

"Oh,yeah, you're gonna need a whole lot of luck." Gwen called out but groaned out loud as Evie landed a slap at the back of her head.

Stella giggled at this before leaning up against the pasty grime covered wall. They waited there for what seemed like hours before they all perked up at the sound of clanky steps on the metal stairs.

"Where's Mal..?" Estella asked, the smile of seeing Ben no longer on her face.

"She's not coming back."

"What?" Evie gaped, looking up the stairs. As Ben trailed off, Stella stayed close behind him not wanting him to get lost.

"Ben, we shouldn't trail off from the group.." Stella gripped her friend's leather jacket in her fist, frantically looking back to the group. Ben continued to walk on without a word until they crashed into someone.  Ben simply backed away but Stella gulped as she looked up to this tall figure.

"Well, hello ther' Aren't yeh a pretty little thing?" The thick accent surrounded the small girl, stepping backwards slightly as she realises Ben had been moved to the side by Gil. He thrashes around in his arms trying get to his friend. She sees his hook and hat she gulps, A pirate. Stella sighs inwardly and flutters her eyes shut before glaring upwards.

"I'm not a thing you stupid Pirate." She huffs at him, causing a long string of manic laughter to escape the boy.

"My apologies lass." Before he knocked her on the head with his polished metal hook. The last thing she heard was Ben's booming voice calling out her name as her head hit the ground.

The damp, musty scent of the pirate ship filled Estella Tink's nose as she struggled against the rough ropes biting into her wrists. Her pulse thundered in her ears, but her face remained defiant, even as her heart pounded like a caged bird. The dim lantern light flickered, casting eerie shadows over the deck, and her eyes darted to Prince Ben beside her. His usually composed demeanor was strained, his golden hair disheveled, but his reassuring nod gave her strength.

Estella swallowed hard and glared at the figure striding toward them.

Harry Hook.

The infamous pirate of the Isle of the Lost. His dark eyeliner smudged around piercing blue eyes gave him an edge that was both unsettling and strangely magnetic. His tricorn hat was cocked jauntily, and his hook glinted menacingly under the flickering light. His wicked grin made it clear he enjoyed the power he held over them.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Harry drawled, twirling his hook lazily. His gaze swept over Ben before landing on Estella, lingering for a beat too long. "Prince Charming and his little pixie friend. What a treat."

Estella straightened her spine, lifting her chin. "Don't flatter yourself, pirate. You won't get away with this."

Harry chuckled darkly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh, darling, I already have." He leaned closer, his breath warm and teasing as he smirked. "And you better get used to me, because you're not going anywhere."

Estella clenched her fists, ignoring the heat creeping up her neck. She wasn't sure if it was from anger or the unsettling way Harry's attention seemed solely focused on her. She shot back, "I'd rather swim back to Auradon than spend one more second near you."

Harry arched a brow, clearly unfazed. "A fiery one, aren't you?" He turned to his crew with a laugh. "Looks like we've got ourselves some entertainment, lads!"

"Harry," Ben said firmly, stepping forward as much as the ropes allowed. "If you're looking for leverage, I'm the one you want. Let Estella go."

Harry tilted his head, mockingly thoughtful. "Oh, Benny boy, I don't think so. She's far too fun to let go." He leaned closer to Estella again, his smirk widening. "Besides, I have a feeling this one will make things... interesting."

Estella glared daggers at him. "You're insufferable."

"Flatterin' me already, love," Harry retorted, his voice dripping with mock charm.

Before Estella could snap back, a shrill whistle broke the tension. Uma, the sea witch and captain of the ship, sauntered over, her green and turquoise hair gleaming under the lantern light. "Harry, stop toying with them and get back to work," she commanded, rolling her eyes at her first mate's antics. "We've got a deal to make."

Harry gave a dramatic bow. "Aye, Captain." But not before he cast one last lingering glance at Estella. "Don't go running off now, love. Wouldn't want you to get lost."

Estella didn't deign to respond, but her stomach twisted. There was something in the way he looked at her, like she was a puzzle he was eager to solve.

As Harry disappeared below deck, Estella exhaled sharply, turning to Ben. "We have to find a way out of here."

Ben nodded, his face grim. "We will. Don't worry, Estella. They won't win."

But as the ship rocked gently on the waves and the sound of pirate laughter echoed through the night, Estella couldn't shake the feeling that Harry Hook was going to be a bigger problem than she'd anticipated.

And worse, a small, treacherous part of her wasn't entirely sure she wanted to escape him.

The moment the cabin door slammed shut behind Uma and Ben, Estella's sharp eyes darted around the room. The ropes binding her wrists were tight, but not impossible. She'd spent enough time around her fairy godmother to learn a few escape tricks, and if there was one thing she wasn't going to do, it was sit around waiting for pirates to decide her fate.

Shimmying her hands in the coarse ropes, she muttered under her breath, "Honestly, I should've stayed home and studied for King Beast's history quiz. At least that torture came with snacks."

After a few determined pulls, she felt the rope give way, and her wrists slipped free. A grin tugged at her lips. "First step complete," she whispered triumphantly.

Ben glanced at her in surprise, but she shook her head. "You stay put. If I get caught, I'm playing the 'helpless damsel' card. You're too... princely for that."

Ben opened his mouth to argue, but she was already creeping toward the door.

Slipping out onto the deck, Estella was immediately hit by the cool night air. The ship swayed gently under her feet, the sound of waves slapping against the hull mixing with the distant laughter of the crew. The deck was dimly lit, the lanterns swaying in rhythm with the ship. Her heart raced, but she forced herself to focus.

"Find a lifeboat," she muttered to herself, scanning the ship. "Find an oar. Find... freedom."

Her plan might've worked if she hadn't tripped over a stray coil of rope, her light frame landing with a thud on the wooden deck.

"Well, well," came a familiar voice, laced with amusement. "Look what the tide dragged in."

Estella groaned inwardly as Harry Hook emerged from the shadows, his signature smirk firmly in place. He looked maddeningly relaxed, leaning casually against the mast, his hook gleaming under the moonlight.

"I was just... stretching my legs," Estella quipped, brushing herself off and standing. "You know, long day of being kidnapped and all."

Harry stepped closer, his boots clicking softly against the deck. "Stretchin' your legs, were ya? Funny, it looks more like you were makin' a run for it."

"Run?" Estella raised her brows, feigning innocence. "On this ship? Where exactly would I go? I was just... taking in the night air. Pirates have terrible ventilation, you know."

Harry chuckled, low and dangerous, and closed the distance between them. "You've got a sharp tongue, love. Careful it doesn't get you into trouble."

Estella crossed her arms, refusing to back down even as he loomed closer. "Trouble? With you? Please. The worst you can do is threaten me with that oversized fish hook."

He tilted his head, his smirk deepening. "Oh, darling, the hook's not just for show. Want me to demonstrate?"

Estella rolled her eyes, though her pulse quickened. "If you're going to do something, stop with the dramatics and get on with it. Or is all that eyeliner slowing you down?"

Harry laughed, a genuine sound that caught her off guard. His piercing blue eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, the banter faded. The intensity of his gaze made her breath hitch, though she'd never admit it.

"You're somethin' else, pixie," he murmured, stepping even closer.

Estella refused to step back, even as the space between them disappeared. "And you're exhausting," she shot back, her voice sharper than she felt.

Harry reached up, his hook lightly tracing the air beside her cheek. It didn't touch her, but it was close enough to make her shiver. "You're bold, I'll give you that. But you're not as clever as you think if you thought you could escape me."

"Escape you?" Estella scoffed, though her voice wavered slightly. "I didn't even know you were lurking around like some overgrown shadow. Isn't there a pirate code against stalking?"

Harry leaned in, his face dangerously close to hers now. "No code for what I do, love. And don't flatter yourself—I've caught plenty of stowaways."

Estella's breath hitched, but she forced a smirk. "Oh, I bet you have. And I'm sure every single one of them swooned over your charm and good manners."

He grinned, clearly enjoying their exchange. "You've got fire, pixie. I like that."

For a moment, the tension crackled between them, charged and electric. Estella's heart hammered against her ribs, and she hated the way she noticed just how striking his eyes were under the moonlight.

But then, as if she remembered herself, she stepped back, breaking the moment. "Well, this has been fun, Hook. But I think I'll go back to my cell now. You know, where you so kindly tied me up."

Harry tilted his head, studying her with an unreadable expression. "I think you're enjoyin' this more than you let on."

"Oh, absolutely," Estella repeated with a mocking smile, though her stomach churned as Harry's grin widened. She hadn't meant to challenge him, but her mouth often acted faster than her brain.

Before she could retreat further, Harry moved. He was quick—too quick—and in an instant, his hand clamped around her wrist.

"Alright, pixie," he said, voice dripping with amusement. "Since you're so eager to play games, how about I give you my full attention?"

"Let go of me!" Estella hissed, twisting in his grip, but his hand held firm.

Harry leaned down, his mouth close to her ear as he murmured, "You've been given plenty of rope—literally. You really thought you'd get away, didn't you?"

"I was doing just fine until you showed up," she snapped, pulling harder, but it was useless. He was tall, broad, and infuriatingly strong.

Harry chuckled, clearly entertained by her struggle. Without another word, he hooked an arm around her waist and effortlessly lifted her off the deck.

"What are you doing?!" Estella shrieked, her fists pounding uselessly against his shoulder. "Put me down, you overgrown sailor!"

"You don't give orders here, love," Harry drawled, carrying her across the deck like she weighed nothing. "If you wanted a private audience with me, all you had to do was ask."

Estella wriggled violently, her face burning from the indignity of it all. "This is kidnapping!"

Harry smirked, barely breaking stride as he kicked open a door at the far end of the ship and stepped into a dimly lit room. "Funny, I thought that was obvious when we dragged you onto the ship."

The room was small, lined with wooden shelves and a worn desk cluttered with maps and charts. A single lantern swung from the low ceiling, casting warm, flickering light over the space.

Harry kicked the door shut behind him and set Estella down. Before she could dart away, he pinned her against the wall with his forearm, his face inches from hers.

"Now," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You're going to stay put for once, or do I have to tie you up again?"

Estella glared up at him, her chest heaving as she struggled to keep her composure. She hated how small she felt next to him, how he loomed over her with that cocky grin like he knew exactly how infuriating he was.

"You're disgusting," she spat, her voice sharp despite the lump forming in her throat. "What kind of man drags a girl into a room just to intimidate her?"

Harry tilted his head, his expression softening into something almost thoughtful. "Disgusting? That's a bit harsh, don't you think? I'm just keeping you out of trouble."

"Trouble?" Estella scoffed, narrowing her eyes. "I'm not the one waving around a giant hook and kidnapping royalty."

Harry's smirk returned, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—curiosity, maybe. "You've got a mouth on you, pixie. But I think you're all talk."

Estella straightened, ignoring the way her pulse quickened at the intensity of his gaze. "And I think you're compensating for something with that hook."

Harry barked a laugh, his free hand coming up to rest on the wall beside her head. The move caged her in completely, and she was acutely aware of the heat radiating from his body.

"You know," he murmured, his voice dropping, "most people would be terrified in your position. But not you. You just keep fighting, don't you?"

Estella swallowed hard, her heart pounding as his face hovered closer. She refused to look away, though every nerve in her body was screaming at her to do so. "Maybe because I know you're full of hot air, Hook. You talk big, but you're nothing but a cocky pirate who doesn't scare me."

Harry's lips twitched, his blue eyes locking onto hers. "Oh, love, I think you're scared. Just not of me."

The air between them felt impossibly heavy. Estella could feel his breath on her face, warm and teasing, and she hated how her body betrayed her—how her chest tightened and her legs wavered under his piercing stare.

"Is that what you think?" she whispered, her voice unsteady but defiant.

Harry leaned closer, his face so close now that their noses almost touched. His voice was barely above a whisper when he said, "I think you're afraid of how much you're enjoyin' this."

Estella froze, her breath catching in her throat. She hated him—hated his smug grin, his sharp wit, his maddeningly handsome face. But he was right, and that made her hate herself more.

She didn't respond, and for a moment, it felt like time itself had stopped. His eyes flicked to her lips, and hers did the same, drawn in by some force she couldn't explain.

Harry's hand moved, his hook brushing lightly against her side as his fingers hovered near her cheek. His thumb grazed her jaw, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Go on, pixie," he whispered, his voice soft but teasing. "Tell me to stop."

Her heart thundered in her chest, her lips parting slightly as she struggled to form words. For once, she was at a loss.

But before anything could happen—before either of them could cross the line they were dangerously toeing—a loud crash echoed from above deck.

Harry blinked, his hand dropping as he stepped back. The spell between them shattered as he straightened, his grin returning as if nothing had happened.

"Saved by the bell," he said with a wink, heading for the door.

Estella stayed frozen against the wall, her heart still racing as she glared at his retreating back.

"Next time," she called after him, her voice shaking but strong, "you're the one who'll need saving."

Harry chuckled as he disappeared into the hallway. "We'll see about that, pixie."