Chapter One: Fireside Chat
Wiping remnants of my dinner from my mouth, I catch David looking at me with contempt in his eyes.
"Would you rather me starve?"
He left his chair and began pacing the room, the fireplace casting strange shadows across his form and masking the emotions at war on his face. The hero in him wanted nothing more than to fight the villain I would seem to be, while the father in him wanted to protect the family I still was to him and both could not be accomplished simultaneously. Therefore, he paced.
"It isn't called a blessing. I didn't ask to become... this. Do you think I like hiding from the sun? Do you think I enjoy being locked away in the shadows as my family fights for their lives against every new threat that pops up in this town? I know you all are very strong and will care for one another when I am not there, but knowing my limits will never change while others grow stronger is perpetually infuriating. Dawn to dusk I am a formidable opponent but, any other time and I might as well be an infant.
"And don't think I haven't noticed the way everyone else turns their nose up at me even when I do seem to be of use. I drink blood as a consequence of my curse, not as some dark ritual to amass my power. I haven't had warm blood since my first taste," David did nothing to hide his exasperation, but I ignored him and continued. "I chose to be different for the sake of my family and friends. A choice I still make for them. Every moment is a temptation to break free of this consideration and drink my enemies dry. I used to faint at the sight and now my mouth waters. I often wonder why I didn't refuse that first drink and die with honor." Taking a sip of wine, I slump further in my chair as David finally returned to his, refilling his glass with a healthy dose.
"I know you didn't choose this. Its just hard to deal with after everything we have faced already. Even Emma gave in to her dark side when she thought it was best for the ones she cared about. God knows Mary Margaret and I haven't been the perfect heroes. Its not that we are waiting for you to make a mistake and already hating you for it. We are just trying to protect ourselves in case you do." Shocked at his own honesty, David shook his head and looked at his wine glass. Then at me. "Are you doing anything to me?"
Then it was my turn to be shocked. Taking a quick mental inventory of my self, I realized I had been exerting an ocular ability. By staring at him and wanting to know the truth, that was exactly what I got. "I'm sorry. I didn't even realize I could-"
His sigh was quite audible. "This is what I mean. You don't even know what you are fully capable of. With so many rumors and speculation on your abilities, no one really knows what powers or strengths you now carry within you. This town has had its fill of dangerous magic. Even Regina is keeping her distance. And people have noticed. They're scared and acting out of fear." He sips his wine before setting it aside.
"I think Henry is the only one who still trusts me and I'm not sure how long that will last. I can't stand not being able to be with the people I care about. I have to fix this. If magic can't affect me, I may have to search out a cure elsewhere. A potion or item or person who can reverse this. There has to be a way and I will find it. I must."
I stand to leave, the clock on the wall reading fifteen minutes until midnight, when Killian comes through the door. "I've been looking for you," he tells David before noticing me, "both of you, actually. Henry's in trouble. Emma got a text from him that simply said "Help" and his phone is now dead."
Taking a swift sniff of the air, I feel it charged with the worried emotions of the two men before me. I had approximately six-and-a-half hours to help. And that was exactly what I planned to do.
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Thank you for reading. I love this show and was inspired to write because of it. Please review and leave any helpful comments. I hope to have another chapter soon, but need encouragement to start soon.
Until next time, keep being creative.