Cora sends Regina to kill Captain Hook, citing that he will go after Henry. But Regina's heart whispers suspicion, and she disobeys her mother. Spoilers for "In the Name of the Brother."
ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART
Alydia Rackham
Regina stood at the foot of the hospital bed, arms folded. Motionless. She listened as the heart monitor steadily beeped. She watched as his chest rose and fell.
He was sleeping. Handcuffs bound his right arm to the metal rail. Blankets covered him, up to his broad chest, but she could see he still wore his colorful, ragged clothing. Bloody cuts marked his lip and his forehead. Bruises marred his otherwise handsome face, and his pallor brought out how black his short beard, hair, eyebrows and eyelashes were. It seemed as if he'd hardly been attended to. As if they'd simply shoved him into this room, attached the machines to him and thrown a blanket over his form, then left. As if they had decided that an amnesiac Belle and an infuriated Dark One warranted more of their attention than Captain Killian Jones. Otherwise known as Captain Hook.
"First things first, sweetheart." Her mother's firm, soothing voice echoed in Regina's memory. "He came with me to this realm to exact vengeance upon Rumpelstiltskin. What do you believe he will do now that Rumpelstiltskin has left with Emma Swan? Risk tracking him through a land he does not know? Of course not. Perhaps he will attack Belle, in hopes of luring him back—but Belle is under the protection of Snow White, and her charming prince, as well as a legion of allies. While their focus is upon her, do you not think he will try a different angle? Perhaps attempt to bring Emma back? If Rumpelstiltskin needs her assistance so badly, do you not suppose he may come along? But what would bring Emma back, I wonder? Perhaps…something that both you and she hold dearest to your hearts…?"
Her mother had not needed to say Henry's name. Regina had felt her full meaning with every word she spoke.
"Go, sweetheart. Take his heart. Bring me the dust. Protect your child."
Regina stepped forward, her jaw tightening. She eased silently up to his right side, and glanced across his frame. He kept breathing. Kept sleeping.
He had no idea he was about to die.
Regina's hip touched the side of the bed. She held out her right hand, slowly reaching down toward him. Her palm hovered over his heart.
She hesitated.
Her thoughts stilled. She gazed down into his face.
For an eternal moment, she stood, completely still.
She lowered her hand, and rested it on the tattered material between two buttons on his coat.
His brow furrowed. His throat made a swallowing movement.
As if her touch hurt him.
Regina's thoughts rolled forward again. Like a heavy stone in a worn path. Deliberate. Weighty, and silent. She kept her hand where it was. But she put no pressure upon him. Her eyes narrowed.
Then, she curled her fingers tightly around the front edge of his coat, took a swift breath, bent down over him and closed her eyes—
And the next instant, in a whirl of black and purple smoke, she vanished them, leaving the handcuffs clanking against the rail.
To be continued…
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