Part One: A New Life

Chapter One: The New Mayor

Cora

A loud noise started Cora Mills out of her deep slumber. She sat up quickly. She grabbed the obnoxious object and prepared to throw it across the room on to find that it was tethered down. With a groan, Cora banged the thing against the side table several times. By luck, for the clock more than the woman manhandling it, she accidentally hit the right button to stop the offensive sound.

Cora flopped back down on her bed. She was tempted to go back to sleep when she was suddenly remembered The Red Curse. She sat up in bed and took a look at her surroundings.

The bedroom, her bedroom, was decorated in reds, blacks, and whites. Her walls were white with black vines curving vertically up and down, some vines were punctuated with red hearts. Her furniture was stained black wood. The bed frame, the side tables, and the one tall dresser were all wood. There was a standing black-framed mirror near the closet. Her bed had a soft king-sized mattress. White and black striped sheets and a red duvet with matching red, black, and white pillows.

Cora rose from bed to stare at the wall above the bed. A large, horizontal painting of her palace and maze in Wonderland was hung above the black headboard. The headboard had a giant red heart in the middle. Her nightstand held her alarm clock, a black spiraling table lamp with a red shade. One the other side table was a table lamp and three books. One was her journal, red with Cora elegantly written upon its cover. The second book was a thick novel, Gone with the Wind was the title. The last book was a planner, black. On top of the dresser, there was another table lamp, an urn with Henry Mills scrawled on its shiny silver surface and a picture of Henry beside it. Beside the picture of her deceased husband was a family photograph of herself, Henry (Regina's son), Neal, and Regina.

Cora wondered around her bedroom to her closet. She opened the doors, stepped into the huge walk-in closet, and was pleased to see her wardrobe. Other than the reds, all the colors were dark. Blacks, blues, and grays. No sign of green. Most of the clothes were business attire. Blouses, blazers, and skirts (no trousers for her). On the back wall, were shoes, lots and lots of shoes. Shoes in different styles, colors, and heel height.

Turning around Cora saw another door. She went to it and swung it open. The master bathroom. She noted that the room was twice the size of the tiny room she had when she was a girl. There was a double sink on the nearest wall to the door. A long horizontal mirror was above the black and white marble counter that held the sink. The mirror stretched from one end of the counter to the other. The entire length was about her height. On the wall facing the door, there was a shower large enough to fit three people comfortably. The three walls of the shower where black tiles. Beside the shower was the toilet, black. Across from the toilet was the Jacuzzi bath. Black as well. The tiles on the floor were white diamonds with black diamonds in the center and in the center of the diamonds were red squares.

Cora couldn't help but smile. Her curse had placed her in the lap of luxury and she couldn't help but be pleased.

"Mother," Regina's voice called from somewhere close by. Cora heard footsteps approaching her room. Then there was a soft knock at the door.

Cora stepped out of the bathroom. She adjusted her disheveled satin nightgown.

"Come in," she said and Regina stepped in.

"Mother, you're not even dressed yet," Regina said. Her voice was timid as she walked to the still opened closet to gather some clothes for her mother.

Cora took the time to stare at her daughter. Regina's hair was longer than before, much like it had been when she was a teenager. The brilliance of her black hair duller than Cora had ever seen it. She could only guess, Regina didn't spend the money needed for proper hair care. She was thinner like she made it a practice to skip meals. Her clothing was basic. White pearl button blouse, a brown skirt that hung past her knees, nude stockings that looked like the only expense she afforded. Her shoes were plain black flats, slightly worn in some areas.

"Regina, dear, you really should take some pride in your appearance," Cora said critically.

"I know, Mother," Regina said. Cora could tell by the tone of her voice that this was a subject they visited quite often. "But I just can't find the time."

Regina stepped out of the closet and neatly laid her mother's clothes out on the bed.

"Is that so?" Cora asked hoping her daughter would expand on the subject.

"You know with Henry growing like a weed and Neal's studio and supplies, we just don't have the funds," Regina said softly.

Cora smiled at this.

"You spoil them too much," she said.

"I can't help it," Regina said as she walked over to the black dress Cora ignored before. "I love them and I would do anything for them."

Cora was silent. Regina took the silence as criticism.

"I know you don't believe a woman should sacrifice herself for anyone, but I just can't see things the way you do," Regina said as she held out undergarments for Cora to take.

"You will come to understand that you are just as important if not more so than the men in your life," Cora said.

Regina sighed.

"Can we not worry about me for once?" She asked.

Cora stared at her daughter. Regina's head was hung low.

"Oh alright," she agreed. "We have a busy day ahead of us."

She went into the bathroom to start getting ready. When she exited the room, she saw that Regina was not in the room. Curious, she went over to her journal. Inside, she learned about what was new in Storybrooke now that The Red Curse had been cast.

She read the follow:

Regina Mills-Cassidy

Regina's sense of loyalty knows no bounds. I told her to send money to a patient in the sanitarium and she did not ask why or for whom. She is too meek for her own good. Thank god she has Neal or she would be nothing.

Neal Cassidy

Sold a few paintings and photographs in Boston the other day for hundreds of dollars (he would not give me the exact amount). Today he went to see Adam and sold a sculpture of a rose to him. He is doing better in his line of work than I thought he ever would.

Henry Cassidy

Henry got his report card this week. Straight As. I couldn't be more proud of the boy. I must arrange a special treat for him today.

Ran into the Foresters today. Mary Margaret is absolutely glowing. Robin looks exceedingly proud. Poor little Roland did not look so happy. I supposed being adopted, he's not too excited by the little addition to their family.

Sheriff Nolan was in Granny's for lunch. His shy little sister, Emma by his side. I asked her how she was and the girl nearly jumped out of her seat. Keith Notting spoke to her when I sat at my usual table. David nearly busted the waste of space's nose when he stood to confront him. Lucky for Notting, Killian entered and stopped the fight that would have broken out.

Killian had lunch with me and then we headed back to the Mayor's mansion for some time alone. The things that man can do with his hands is enough to make my toes curl. The rest of him had me smiling for the rest of the day.

After my tryst with Killian, I went to the library to make sure everything was going smoothly for the new librarian. When the florist's daughter, Belle French said she wanted to revive the dead building no one thought she would be able to do it, but the girl surprised us all. Adam Gold was even there checking out a book.

Lastly, when my day was through, I got a phone call from the Sanitarium. A woman, named Zelena, was claiming to be my daughter. I only have the one daughter, Regina. My dear departed, Henry would be rolling in his grave to hear such a ridiculous claim.

Cora closed the book. She was smiling. The Red Curse had worked perfectly. Everyone was in the place she wanted them to be. She was confident no one will be able to break the curse. No true love kisses to be found. She made sure that everyone who could possibly break the curse was apart and moderately happy.

She believed making everyone unhappy was Regina's mistake when it came to The Dark Curse. Cora made sure that everyone was just happy enough to not want to disturb their lives.

"Mother," Regina called from some distance. "Breakfast is ready."

"Just a moment dear," Cora said. She placed the journal back on the side table and rose to get dress.

END OF CH. 1