This is the short version of Dark Hearts. We just couldn't wait anymore, so we chose to publish it now. It's gonna be a complete version, so if you want to read the extended one but you don't want spoilers, don't read it.
In the meantime we thank all of you for your support!
Regina wrapped herself in the black cape. The light wind filtering between the trees made her shiver despite the warm clothing. She hid behind a pillar while a guard walked by for the watch. As she was sure that the road was clear she ran towards the woods, without looking back. She stopped only when she was sure to be far enough.
She took some moments to catch her breath, then started walking again until she found an old ruin covered with ivy, black in the moon light.
«Where are you?» she shouted, looking around.
Regina had to wait a little bit more. The Dark One was watching her rom behind a tree between the crumbling walls, her figure hidden in the night, a tiny, amused smirk on her face. After a few moments, though, she ran out of patience.
She came out, watching with ravenous eyes the young queen.
«If you yell like this, my dear, the king himself will hear you. And I doubt that's what you desire, is it?» she inquired, her head slightly tilted.
The young woman turned abruptly, a bit frightened, her heart looked like it was clobbering her ribs.
«Who are you?» she asked staring at the stranger. «What are you doing here?»
The Dark One smirked, showing pearl-white teeth.
«What am I doing here?» she repeated slowly pacing towards her. «I'm here to teach you magic, of course.» she plowed on while she started moving around her, a shark. She slightly gesticulated with her hands while talking.
Regina watched her every move.
«I don't know who you are… Where is Rumple?» she asked looking in her eyes, alarmed by her behavior, by her looks.
Emma laughed, a low laughter, short, vibrant, as she walked behind her back.
«You don't have to worry about him anymore. Now you can rely on someone much more… capable.» she answered going back to face her. She stopped before her, studying her up to down, her hands interlaced behind her back. The short black, scaled leather jacket sparkled with the white full moon light. Her white hair seemed to shine in the night, like her skin.
Regina could barely hold herself from stepping back.
«Why ever should I trust you?» she asked, making a step towars her instead. Eyes on hers, she hardened her voice and stare, loading them with suspect. «If you hurt him you'll hurt me too…»
The Dark One's eyes mirrored a tiny, amused smirk when the young woman came next to her.
«And why should I?» she asked. «He was hurting you. He was using you.» she replied staring back at her, evidenlty amused even though a hint of tension permeated like a pungent odour on her pale and severe face, with high cheekbones.
«How do you know that? And how do I know that you won't use me instead?»
Emma suddenly moved her face closer to hers and lowered her voice until it was just something more than a mere whisper.
«I don't need you. But you need me, my magic.» she suggested. Then she moved aside from her, and went back walking, never actually far from her.
The young queen thought about it for a moment, sighed.
«It's true…» she had to admit. She gave her another suspicious look before she surrendered. «So will you teach me?» she asked with evident effort.
The Dark One glanced at her, as if she was evaluating her.
«You'll have to give me something in return.»
«Of course…» the youger woman replied, not surprised at all. She didn't look that different from Rumplestiltskin. The hint of worry she felt from him vanished quickly, replaced by teh urge to know. «What do you want?» she inquired, trying not to make transpire the fear she was holding back since the new Dark One had made her appearance.
The Dark One kept staring at her, in silence, for some minutes. The she rapidly approached her, slightly touching her body with her own. She titled her head to whisper in her ear: «Your firstborn.» she sentenced.
Reginas' body paralyzed.
«My… But I don't want a child… not from the king… you can't ask me this!" she shouted, horrified.
The Dark one turned her head to looke in her eyes from that poor distance. A smile cracked her pale face.
«The fact that you're his wife doesn't mean you must be faithful to him.» she suggested in low voice, almost like if she was telling her a secret.
Regina moved away from her.
«I don't love anyone… so I can't give you what you want.»
Emma laughed, and this time the sound echoed between the forest's trees.
«Agree, then: you've got nothing to loose.» she said fixing again her eyes on hers. They were light, blue or grey, maybe, but they looked black, and not because of the darkness surrounding them, but thanks to the one irradiating from the slender body of the woman.
«If I don't have children, you won't get anything.» the queen hesitantly responded.
The Dark One gave her an enigmatic smirk.
A contract appeared in her right hand, a long scroll that unrolled for three spans. She handed her a red quill.
Regina took the quill without moving her stare from her eyes. She thought about it for a few moments, then she signed the contract.
The Dark One smiled, satisfied. She made the contract disappear and so the quill.
«Excellent choice, my dear.» she commented.
«Now… your turn. Teach me magic.»the brunette replied with a smile, as if, with that signature, she'd found confidence and bravery.
Emma smiled at her, amused.
«Show me what my inept predecessor taught you.»
Regina took a deep breath and opened her hand. She closed her eyes, focusing to make a fireball appear. She had to try a couple of times before she succeded.
The Dark One bursted into laughter shaking her head.
«Pathetic! Is it really this that he taught you?» she mocked her laughing again.
Regina lowered her gaze. The flame extinguished together with her confidence.
«He said that I had to find the strenght in me, but he never said how…»
Emma sighed and put her hands on her hips.
«Moron. It's not about strenght…» the woman explained stepping away from her. «…. It's all about hate, anger. Emotion.»
She turned and moved her right hand, where a grand fireball appeared. «You must want it, Regina. Power. That must be your aim. Vengeance is just a toy confronted to it. But power…» the fireball burnt up, lenlighting the Dar One's eyes. «… is what you need. Snow White won't pay until you're powerful enough to make her suffer. Hate her, more than you do now. When you're powerful enough, nothing will stop you. And that's when you get what you deserve…»
«But I want revenge! Because of her I've lost everything! I want her to suffer like I did… like Daniel did…» she eventually whispered while a lonely tear slid over her face.
The Dark One materialized an inch from her and took her face in between her fingers, holding it. The younger woman froze up as the Dark One was before her. Her cold hands made her shiver.
«This…» the woman whispered, her grey eyes open wide. In her left hand a small bottle appeared. She collected the queen's tear with it, the she plugged it with a little cork moved by magic. She then held it between thumb and forefinger without letting go her face.
«… this is your last tear.» she concluded before letting her go suddenly. The bottle disappeared in a black whirl of smoke.
Regina blinked twice, disoriented.
«What am I to do? I hate her more tha annyone else… but if I can't do this…»
Emma smirked.
«You will, my dear. I saw it.» she replied giving her an ambiguous gaze.
«Really?» A smile crossed Regina's face. She focused again on her hand. On her hate, her rage. Revenge. A sudden heat made her snap her brown eyes open. She sneered seeing the flame in her hand. It was powerful, it crakled hot and dangerous. «I did it…» she whispered.
The Dark One's smile grew wider.
«This is just the beginning, Regina.» she warned her without hiding the quiet satisfaction, though her eyes always revealed a sort of weightless sadness.
«Yes…» Regina murmuredlifting her eyes on her, a smile on her face. «I want to learn everything…»
Emma nodded, pleased.
«Let's begin with my name, shall we? For when you want to summon me.» she proposed smiling at her. She then made a bow to her, making her hand flutter in the air. «Emma.»
«Emma…» the younger woman repeated. «It doesn't sound scary…» she commented without thinking about it.
The Dark One lifted her brows, silent.
«Ehm.. but you do!» Regina added a moment later, slightly blushing.
Emma gave her a skeptic look.
«Blandishing me won't get you anywhere. And it's not about my intimidation skills you should worry about, but yours…» Her stare became darker but loaded, deep, almost… lusty. «… Your Majesty.»
Regina shivered.
«Yes, you're right…» she said stepping back. «I must go now, or they'll notice I'm gone…»
Emma laughed shaking her head.
«Kill them» she simply said while still smiling, staring at some undefined spot between the trees. Just after a few moments she turned to look at her again, the same amused smile on her face.
Regina nodded, frightened, the she ran away towards the castle. She was about to go back in when the guards found her. They rudely grabbed her by her arms, despite her protests, and brought her to the king.
Leopold looked at her confusedly.
«What's happening?» he questioned the guards, concerned.
«The queen was outside the castle, Your Majesty.» one of them answered kneeling.
«I… was just taking a walk!» the girl hurried to explain kneeling before the king.
Leopold moved his stare on his wife.
«In the middle of the night?» he asked suspicious.
«I couldn't sleep, Sire.»
Leopold sighed.
«Escort the queen to her chambers.» he commanded. «And make sure she doesn't get out until dawn.»
The brunette didn't raise her eyes on him. She just let the guard walk her to her room, hoping that that was her only punishment.
