Chapter 2

| A Cave in the Woods of Storybrooke (9:45 pm) |

Regina sits alone in the corner on her bed, doodling in her journal.

"You've been with us for months now and you're telling me you still haven't made any friends?" Fiona asks her.

Regina peeks up at her and sighs, "I'm not really the friend type. And I'm not in the mood to talk either, I feel that my energy is rather low. Now if you'll excuse me." She continues drawing and misses the look of annoyance on Fiona's face.

"I'll ignore the rudeness for now because I'm quite curious. How could you possibly be thirsty when we just ate a week ago?"

Regina sets her pencil down roughly, "Because you refused to let me have my portion remember?"

"Oh right, silly me. You should have been more focused during training, then I would not have had to punish you." There aren't many ways to punish a vampire, so Fiona takes away what they love the most, the blood of a human of course. Which either forces them to feel like shit until the next killing spree, or have to go out and kill an animal. And animal blood could never compare to the sweet, delicious blood of human beings. But even doing that requires permission.

"You know how serious this group takes things, how serious I take things. Especially now, when we are planning how to destroy the best company out there that hunts our kind." Fiona stares daggers at Regina.

"I know, I know. And now I am paying the price, I get it."

She notices the way Regina rests her chin on her hand for support and sighs, "Go on then, go out and hunt something. No humans though, not yet. Hunt whatever animal you come across."

Regina arches a brow towards her. "It's fine, I'll manage until the next hunting party."

Fiona clenches her jaw, "That wasn't a suggestion, it was a demand. I can't have you all weak and scrawny as we prepare for one the biggest battles of our lives. And that's saying something because I've been around a long time. Now go." She points her finger towards the cave entrance.

Regina slams her journal and heads out of the cave.

| 10:00 pm |

Emma slips on her jacket, grabs her keys, and heads to the door. After she introduced her friends to Ruby, they all trained together for the rest of the day. Emma was tired.

Instead of driving home, she drove to a spot where she does all of her thinking, a bench just outside of the woods that has a perfect view of the small lake. She sometimes reads or writes here, thankful for the streetlamp right beside it. Going here now was bold considering the recent circumstances, but Emma highly doubted the Shadow Bloods would attack tonight.

She kept her ring on though, just in case. She shut her car door and went to the bench. The lake looked beautiful, the moonlight causing it to glimmer. She smiles as she thinks of the first time Henry became obsessed with the moon.

Henry pointed his stubby finger in the air with wide eyes, making little gasping sounds. Emma laughs, "That's the moon buddy. Isn't is amazing?"

Henry just smiles his adorable little smile and continues to admire it. Emma looked up too, for the first time taking in how remarkable it truly was.

It amazed Emma how Henry could open her mind up in a whole new way, and make her think about things differently. She never-

Emma jumps as she suddenly hears leaves rustling, behind her. She swallows hard. This would be my fucking luck, she thinks. She turns her head slowly and sees a figure of a person.

She sighs with relief when she doesn't see that dim light around it. Good, not a vampire.

Regina comes closer and Emma notices how stunning she is. She has dark shoulder-length hair and dark lips. "I'm sorry if I scared you." The woman's voice is deep and sultry.

Emma smiles, "Nah it's alright. That's bound to happen being out at this time of night." She shrugs.

Regina smells the intoxicating smell of the beautiful blonde's blood. She is so thirsty and so tempted. She may not be able to drink her blood, but she can smell it, right? She won't kill her, no. She wouldn't want to disobey Fiona, not when she's already in a deep with her.

Regina sits beside Emma, now that both women see each other in the light, they can't quit admiring each other's abnormal beauty. The blonde's eyes shift down to Regina's plump lips before Regina asks, "What are you doing here anyway?"

Emma looks at her with curiosity, wondering why she even cares. "Ehh, it's a good place to think. Not to mention the scenery, especially with the full moon." She glances towards it again, Regina doing the same.

"It's quite gorgeous." Regina says in agreement. The two women stare in silence for several minutes. Emma feeling relaxed and Regina trying not to squirm.

Emma turns to the woman with a friendly smile and sticks out her hand, "I'm Emma by the way."

Regina glances her way returning the smile, "I'm Regina." She looks down to grab her hand and notices something. Her grip tightens slightly as she turns Emma's hand to get a better view of the peculiar ring on her finger. Regina suddenly feels the anger boil up inside her. She's one of them, she's part of FH. She decides right then and there that she doesn't care about Fiona's orders. Emma kills her people, she deserves to die.

She tries to keep her voice collected as she says, "That's a pretty ring, unique." She tries not to wince at how stiff her voice came out.

Emma pulls her hand away, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. She feels a sudden change in the air. "Uh thanks, my...grandma gave it to me." She lies.

Regina's lips purse, "Hmm how sweet." She was waiting for Emma to stop looking her way to make her move, she assumed this woman could fight after all. But the damn girl wouldn't turn away. The way Emma was acting, Regina knew that she suspected something of her.

All of a sudden, Emma's cell phone rings. Emma blinks rapidly and pulls out her phone, "Hey Belle. Sorry, I was heading there soon, I just took a bit of a rest after work."

Regina smirks. Perfect. Emma was distracted on the phone so Regina creeps closer and closer to her neck.

"Hi baby! I know Mommy's late, but I will be home shortly to tuck you in, okay buddy?" Emma smiles as she talks to her son.

Regina freezes. She has a kid? And from the sounds of it, the child seemed young. Finding out this information, Regina just couldn't do it. As Emma continues to talk, Regina gets off the bench and rushes back into the woods.

"I love you too baby. Bye!" Emma hangs up, "Sorry about-" She looks around and sees that Regina is nowhere to be found. Even though things got a bit weird towards the end, she felt a little disappointed that she was gone.

She heads back to her car, excited to see her son.

Regina slows her pace just inside the entrance when Fiona suddenly pops out from behind a tree. "Geez, you scared me. What were you doing there? Were you following me?" Regina frowns.

"Well you were taking ages to simply kill an animal so I came out here to see what your deal was. Who were you talking to?"

Regina clenches her fists, "One of those FH people. She was wearing one of those rings."

Fiona looks at her with confusion, "What and she didn't attack you?"

It just hit Regina, if she was wearing one of those rings, why didn't she attack? "I...I don't think she knew. But it's strange because she should have been able to tell."

Fiona rubs her chin in thought, "Hmm that's intriguing. Did you do anything different lately? Eat something strange like a potion or anything?"

"No, not that I know of." Regina's brow furrows and she begins to think about the past few days, there had to be something that was different because in the past, everyone who wore one of those rings could tell what she really is.

"Don't lie t-" Fiona starts.

"Wait! I forgot, of course...this amulet." She reaches down and pulls out a black amulet from under her shirt and smiles.

"Where on earth did that come from?" Fiona asks.

"My father, it was sent to me from him with a note. It said this amulet would protect me. I thought he meant it would bring me luck but I guess it keeps those rings from working and my eyes from glowing." Wicked smiles creep onto both of their faces.

"Hold on, I thought you weren't in contact with your father anymore. Something we discussed." Fiona crosses her arms.

"I'm not, I don't even know where he lives, he just occasionally sends me stuff. They appear by my bed when I return from training. I don't know how he knows where to find me every time and I don't know who brings the stuff to me. It's just there."

Fiona's eyes light up as an idea strikes her. "I was going to scold you for not killing of that bitch since she's our enemy but now that you have that amulet, I have a fantastic idea."

Regina purses her lips, "Why do I have the feeling I'm going to hate this?"

"Because you are going to hate this. But that's just too bad for you. You said earlier you're not the friend type, well that changes now. I want you to befriend that woman, and when you do, I want you to gain her trust so that she will tell you about FH's plans. Having someone who is sort of on the inside is exactly what we need."

Regina raises her eyebrows, "Are you serious right now?"

"Oh I'm sorry, did I stutter? Yes I'm 100% serious. You will do this Regina, you don't have a choice. Unless you choose to betray me. And you don't want to know what happens when you betray me." Her eyes glow red. Vampire eyes tend to glow when they feel strong anger or hunger. Those are the only times it's uncontrollable.

Regina glowers at her, that's all she can do. She hates having to be controlled all the time. But that's just how it is for her now.

"Do I make myself clear?"

Regina slowly nods her head, "Yes."

"Good, you will get started tomorrow. Now for the love of god, could you please kill something? You need to be energized. No one will want to be friends with someone who looks like they might pass out any second." With that, Fiona turns around and heads back to the cave.

Regina huffs and starts tracking for animals. About five minutes in, she hears something rustle a few meters ahead of her. She slowly creeps and when she's close, she sees that it's a rabbit.

She sighs, well this will have to do for now. She charges with her vampire speed and easily catches the rabbit. She looks into it's innocent eyes and scolds herself. So tries to never look her prey in the eyes before it's killed (if it's innocent) because she oddly ends up feeling bad. But they have to do what they have to do.

She closes her eyes and bites into its neck. The rabbit makes a loud, painful noise and starts squirming. Regina continues to suck the blood until the rabbit is lifeless and empty. She then buries it. If the animals are small, they can bury them. They do this because the bite marks are just too different to associate with another animal.

With larger animals and with humans, they burn them when they are done or display them in a way that makes it look like an animal attack. Actually most covens do the second option. But the Shadow Bloods like to make the body disappear completely.

Regina licks her blood-covered lips and wipes a bit that dripped down her chin. She feels her energy regenerating. Now she will be ready to start Fiona's stupid idea. How am I supposed to do this?

She lets out a loud groan and punches a tree. But because of her strength, her fist goes all the way through. She rolls her eyes and heads back to the cave.

Emma opens her front door. She meets Belle and Henry in the living room. "Mommy!" He runs into Emma and hugs her legs. Emma smiles and rubs her hand through his thin hair.

"Hi my big boy!" She lifts him up and kisses his cheek, "I missed you kid."

"Me too! Come read me a story!"

"Sure thing, go brush your teeth and meet me in your room. Pick out a short one though since it's late."

"Yay!" She watches him charge to the bathroom.

She turns to Belle, looking at her with apologetic eyes, "I'm sorry for being late."

Belle smiles, "Pff don't be. It's quite alright! I enjoy that boy's company too much to complain about overtime."

Emma grins too. Henry is a pretty cool kid, she is so proud to call him her son.

Belle puts on her coat, "Alright, I should probably head home now. Goodbye, Emma."

"Bye, Belle. And be careful okay?"

"I sure will!" She is almost out the door when Emma stops her. "What is it?"

"Look um...you should probably bring extra clothes and your overnight stuff just in case I ever come home late again. It's just...you never know what could happen at this time of night, you know?" She rubs her hands together as she thinks about the coven.

Belle gives her a concerned look, "Uh...yeah. Yeah of course. I'll keep that in mind, thanks Emma. Well goodnight!"

Emma gives her a small wave and shuts the door. And so the extreme nerves officially begin.

Hmm. I wonder how Regina will approach this upcoming friendship with Emma. Let me know your thoughts and opinions! :) Thanks guys!