There it was. The dagger. Laying there on the pavement as if no one had been standing there moments ago, and on it was a crudely chiseled name.
EMMA SWAN
"No.." came the weak voice of Snow White, who was still being clutched in David's arms. "NO! Emma no!" Her sobs were loud, and uncontrolled but no one cared.
David held her tight as they both buckled to their knees.
"What do we do?! How do we get her back?!" Hook pleaded. The Charmings were inconsolable, so he turned his attention to Regina, and Robin. "You!, you have magic bring her back so we can fix her!" He almost yelled.
Regina stood still in the arms of Robin. She was in shock, and Kilian shouting at her was not helping.
"She saved you for whatever reason so fix this!" the anger in his voice was clear now.
Regina felt a bit claustrophobic now, and pulled free of Hoods arms.
She moved forward, and with shaking hand picked up the dagger. The metal was cold, and although she knew no one else could feel it, the blade radiated with dark magic.
Kilian accosted Regina, making her shrink back, but before Hook made it too close Robin used his forearm and pushed the other man away. "Stand down! Nothing will be solved if you think attacking innocent people will fix this."
"Innocent?!, you can't be serious? She's more of a villain than I ever was. She's killed countless, and by letting Emma take her place she's killed again." The pirate seemed to be unreachable.
"Kilian, that is enough!" David came up behind Hook, and pulled him back.
"You know as well as the rest of us that Emma is, and will always be the Savior, and she did what Saviors do, she saved Regina. She saved any one of us from becoming the Dark One. It is not Regina's fault or even her job to figure all this out. So lay off."
Regina walked along the street and by this time everyone started emerging from their homes, and shops. She hid the dagger beneath coat. Everyone was mumbling, and whispering to one another, and Regina knew what she must do as the Mayor.
Robin caught up to her, and walked beside her.
Regina sighed. "Tomorrow i will send out a letter to everyone letting them know of Emma's sacrifice, and to also let them know that she is now The Dark One. If she makes herself known in this town, her family or I will be notified immediately. She is not to be trusted."
Robin thought about this for a moment. "Is she dangerous?" He asked
"I..Im honestly not sure. There is no way to tell how the pure light magic inside of her is handling this assault of total dark magic. For all we know shes fine, and the light can fight it off, but the latter to that is far worse. I just think for right now it is in the best interest of my people to keep their wits about them." Regina was close to her home now, and she more than anything just wanted to sleep.
Regina turned and faced her walking partner.
"Robin, this.. This whole thing could be seriously dangerous. Maybe.. it would be better..if.."
"...If roland and i get out of dodge, and let you, and the charmings figure this out?" Robin finished for her and looks of into the distance.
"yes."
"Well if you think it's best, Regina." He said smiling, and moved in to kiss her.
Regina turned her head. "Im still.. trying to get over what happened." Robin looked hurt. "but Regina I…" He started but she cut him off. "I don't know yet if I can excuse how quickly you moved on, Robin. I know you thought she was your wife, but she had also been dead for a few years, and..and what I thought we had, well it seemed very real to me. I'm sorry." Before Robin could speak a word Regina pushed past him, and up the pathway to her house.
The door slammed behind her as she used her weight to close it.
The dagger fell from where it had been tucked into her jacket, and clattered to the ground. The harsh sound of steel on her tile entry way rang throughout the house.
Regina couldn't sleep. She didn't know why, but since she had laid down that night sleep had been evading her. It was a hopelessly restless feeling that she couldn't place. The dagger was tucked underneath her pillow, and she wondered if maybe that could be it. Was it the magic, or the whole night itself. The image of Emma thrusting the dagger into the cruel unforgiving darkness for her. something about that action had seared itself in Regina's memory. She would never forget the look in Emma's eyes. It was a look they had shared many times, but in the darkness of her room Regina could now think of it in it's entirety. They trusted one another, and she could see how truly sincere Emma was about giving her a chance at a true happy ending. Something Regina wanted more than anything but had never felt possible until the blonde came into her life.. maybe it..
A loud bang came from the kitchen taking Regina out of her thoughts.
Regina's heart dropped and she immediately snatched the dagger from beneath her pillow.
Making her way down the stairs she made sure not to make a sound. Even if who ever was in her kitchen wasn't that careful. she could still hear movement. It sounded like the shuffling of feet.
Regina took a few breaths, then cautiously stepped into the kitchen. What she saw took her breath away.
Two deep golden glowing eyes stared at her from the other side of the kitchen island.
"Oh, Hey.." came the voice of the stranger.
"..E..Emma?" Regina said her eyes unconsciously welling up with tears.
"Yeah..It's me..You okay?" Emma asked.
"you idiot." Regina said with a half smile "You would be the one to sacrifice yourself then ask me how I am."
The soft chuckle came from across the room. Regina sighed, and moved to turn on the light.
"No!.. can, can we please just keep it off?" Emma nearly begged.
this startled Regina, and she pulled back her hand from the wall. "Very Well.. is everything alright? Should I call your parents?"
Emma leaned over and rested her elbows on the island top. "no.. not tonight. I..Regina i've been through hell.."
"I'm here.." Regina said. Then she moved into the kitchen. "Lets have some coffee."
