The Dark Regal

Emma slammed to the ground, the entire weight of the beast's foot smashing down on her ribs, crushing them with each blow. She vainly attempted to roll away only to have the creature pin her to the ground, his deformed face inches from her, so close she could smell his rotten breath. The creature reached for her throat crushing her windpipe. She closed her eyes. It lifted an arm for one final blow that never came. Instead, when she opened them a dark masked female figured hovered over. Even through a black swollen eye Emma could tell her body was amazing.

"Can you walk," Emma could not see her face but her voice was low, smoky and void of emotion, not quite sultry but still sexy. A hand extended down to help Emma up but she quickly brushed it away. Emma had been on her own her own her whole life she did not need or want anyone's help. Not now or ever. Emma attempted to get up and walk on her own. She stumbled after one-step, a strong arm wrapped around her waist swiftly steading her. Emma pushed the woman away. She was limping and her gait was awkward, but she did not care as long as she could do it all by herself.

"Thanks, but I don't need your help or anyone else's."

"Your ribs are broken at least let me heal you."

"I don't need help from a witch." Emma said with more venom then she meant. She searched the room for her mother's amulet that the monster ripped off during the fight.

"Looking for this," the figure said sauntering up to Emma and placed it around her neck. She was dangerously close and whispered into Emma's ear. "You shouldn't place all your faith from trinkets of the past to heal you." Her words enraged Emma she turned and glared at the woman who stood next to her regally.

"You don't know anything about me."

"Oh that's where you are wrong Ms. Swan I know more than you think, your dead mother's necklace." The woman stepped closer, trailed her finger around the chain. "Your father's dagger," she trailed her hand down to an empty sheath. Then magically the blade appeared in her hand, before Emma could protest she slid it swiftly back where it belonged. "I know many things about you." Her arousing touch made Emma uncomfortable, she knew all about witches and their pheromones.

"Unless you know something about my parent's death, stay away from me." Emma said taking a step back. Never trust a witch they have many ticks and you will end up dead. Of all the monsters I have faced they are by far the most dangerous. Emma's father words were running through her mind. She already felt better; the amulet's healing power already working and her strength returned as soon as the sword was back.

"You are only human, those things can't protect you forever. You need to stop putting yourself in these situations. You are going to get yourself killed. "

"Thanks for the advice, but I can take care of myself I have been doing it long enough." Emma said truing her back to the woman and walked away.

"Really going into a Vulture's den alone, is suicide for a human."

"It' a job, I like money and I like killing as many of whatever those things are. Hell I like killing any demonic creature."

"If you keep putting yourself in this kind of danger than you're an idiot."

"I'll do whatever I want, who made you the queen of anything." Emma said turning to look back at the woman who had already disappeared. "This is why I hate witches." Emma yelled out. "Cause you all hide your faces and disappear."

Walking back home Emma heard laughter coming from an alley. He ribs still hurt and she was still babying her right leg. Her first instinct was to keep walking but then she heard a woman crying. Emma turned knowing she would regret stopping. She looked up to see a group of four men attacking a woman. Great I should never have looked. The witch was right I am an idiot.

"Hey boys, how about picking on someone who can fight back." Emma said pulling her gun out. She hoped the sight of it would be enough to scare the men off knowing she used all her bullets in her last fight. It was not, they laughed at her. She looked down at her gun finally, noticing the barrel had been badly dented. Really could this day be any more fucked. Frist I get my ass kicked, and then lectured now this. Two of the larger men charged her. Tossing the gun aside, she quickly pulled brass knuckles out of her pocket and braced herself for a fight.

The first one attempted to grab her. Leaving his torso open, she stepped in and punched him in the ribs. He turned slightly trying to protect his chest and she hit him again in his lower back, then his throat. The other man charged her and she kicked him in the knee. Then she kicked him in the groin when he fell to his knees, then punched him in the face, knocking him out cold. The first man attempted to move, and Emma grabbed his head smashing it down onto her knee. The other two ran off seeing her layout their friends in seconds.

"Are you alright?" Emma slowly walked over to the woman. She looked down to find striking eyes staring up at her. They were chestnut brown and had so much feeling behind them. Her dark hair was disheveled but Emma could not help but stare. She was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She reached her hand out and offered it to the woman.

The woman took it, and Emma helped her up. Her lip was bleeding and her shirt was torn almost completely off. Emma took off her jacket and wrapped it around the woman. "My apartment is close; I can lend you a shirt." The woman followed without a word. They walked the short distance to G's club.

"I live upstairs." Emma said taking the brunet's hand and pulled her along. The brunet's eyes widened at seeing the inside of the club. It was dark inside; with music blaring; naked girls hang from polls, topless waitress, and several drunk men. Emma just pulled her through the crowed, glaring at any man who so much as looked at them.

Once inside small apartment, Emma sat the woman down on the sofa. She went into the kitchen, and grabbed a dishtowel and some disinfectant. She sat down next to the woman.

"Is it ok, if I disinfect your cut?" The woman nodded her approval. Emma took the cloth and delicately appalled it to the cut. Then put a band aid over it. The woman smiled up at her, Emma got lost in her eyes for a second then she jumped off the couch. "Let me get you that shirt." Emma said stumbling over her own feet as she rushed to get the woman a shirt. Emma handed her the shirt.

"Thank you." Her voice was soft and sweet and somehow familiar thou Emma could not place it. Before Emma could point to the bathroom, the woman stood up. Removed the ripped shirt and swiftly replaced it with the white T-shirt and sat back down.

"You have a name, mine's Emma."

"Regina."