Couldn't sleep, decided to write more. I am having fun with this. Never realized how much longer it takes to type out stories than to just think them ;) Reviews are appreciated, I'm new to this, I want to make sure I am doing things well!
Chapter 2
"Ok!" Lorelei rubbed her hands together excitedly. "First off, how about I drop my presence just a little. This way Rumple can lower the shield on these boys, and himself and we can all work out a plan". Lorelei didn't seem to do anything but looked to Rumple with a sort of expectant look.
"There is no chance of me dropping my own shield dearie, I remember what happened last time I ran in to you. It will save me a bit of energy however to drop theirs." He waved towards Henry and David and presumably removed their shields.
"I feel the same. What exactly just happened?" David asked.
"Sirens have a sort of… aura. It's a natural gift for them. They call it a presence, because when you are in their presence you can't help but be infatuated with them. Some choose to drop the presence in order to maintain a somewhat normal behavior from men, some amplify it in order to drive men a bit crazy. Too strong a presence will ultimately drive a man to stop eating, drinking and eventually breathing just so they may focus on the sirens more thoroughly." Gold glanced at Lorelei then with a somewhat disgusted face. "And this presence can also give the sirens the ability to make you do whatever she wants you to do."
Henry shifted his feet and blushed rather intensely, obviously thinking of things that shouldn't be thought of.
"No worries, boy. Sirens only force people into action when absolutely necessary. And really Rumple, you make it sound like we just go around making men die and that hasn't even happened in nearly 200 years".
"Only men? Can you not control women? Is it based by gender or sexual orientation?" Regina was suddenly very curious about this woman's abilities.
Lorelei again gave her a brilliant smile, "It's not based on anything, actually. Sirens do not enchant men on purpose, mostly it helps get them to go away. We have no interest in men, except in the fact that men are needed to reproduce with women in order to make more women. Therefore when we cross paths with a man, it is easier for them to be enchanted and then told to go away than to deal with them in a civil way."
Emma was just a little confused by all of this but also a little intrigued. "You send all men away? So, what about, you know, reproducing? Little baby sirens?"
At this Lorelei wrinkled her nose and Emma thought she nearly gagged at the thought. "No. No reproducing or babies. That's a human thing. It's disgusting actually. Sirens don't reproduce. There are exactly 1,000 sirens. Always have been and always will be." She held up a hand to Regina "No sirens are not immortal. Well, one is, the queen. Sirens are simply reborn. When a siren is killed or dies in some way they are simply reborn in the birthing pools. They climb out and go about their way. We do like to have a bit of fun however, very entertaining with the ladies. Hence the need to not kill all the men. Men help create ladies." She finished as if this explained everything.
David looked thoroughly confused by this however, "wait, the ladies? What would a siren want with women?" Snow was red faced as she shushed him and whispered something in his ear. "OH! Oh, ok… right, yeah that makes sense. Ok. I'm not asking anymore questions." He put his red face down too.
"Yeah fun. A thousand half ass immortal lesbians. Got it. So back to this finding Hook thing?" Emma was a little impatient apparently. She didn't seem upset by the lesbian race though, that was interesting enough to make Regina stop questioning the siren.
"Hook. Killian Jones. Right." Lorelei raised her arms as if about to do something, then lowered them with a look of curiosity about her face. "Why are we finding this dead man?"
With another eyeroll Regina was the one to answer, "because he died snuffing out the darkness from the world, saved everybody and was actually tricked by Rumple so Emma (being in love with him) has decided we need to save him and bring him back to life." She crossed her arms and looked out into the nothingness.
With a look of utter boredom Lorelei simply said "uh huh". She looked at Rumple who shrugged a bit and smirked. "I see. And how, exactly, do you intend to bring him back to life?"
"I will give him half of my heart". Emma stood tall and stubborn looking into the sirens eyes as if daring her to challenge the idea.
"Uh huh." Lorelei began to pace a bit tapping her chin with a finger while frowning slightly.
Regina meanwhile was a bit lost in her own thoughts. Why did Robin stay behind? Why didn't it hurt? She couldn't imagine letting Henry or Emma go into the underworld without her. This is the sort of things family did for each other. Maybe he didn't think of her as family in the same way she thought of them. When did I start putting Emma in the same category as Henry? Well she is his mother I guess. Would I have let the charmings go? Probably not. They would have fallen off the boat and drowned before ever reaching shore. I suppose this means these people are my family. And Robin…? She shook her head to clear the thoughts. Not really the best time to be pondering things like this. Refocusing on her surroundings, she realized she was standing right behind Emma. She quickly stepped back a few steps, hoping no one had noticed.
Henry was the only one who had seen her suddenly be right behind Emma, but he didn't understand why and so just let it go. "That is possible right? For them to share a heart? They did it, after all". He pointed towards Snow and David.
"Yeah, some people can share a heart. True loves and all that." Lorelei was still pacing a bit. Finally she stopped and walked up to Emma, staring very intently into her eyes. "Ok, if finding this guy will get me out of the underworld, then let's find him." Before Regina could blink, Lorelei was right in front of her.
"What are you doing?". Regina refused to move, no matter how uncomfortable this woman made her.
"I need you to think of Killian."
"No, Emma loves him, not me. I hate him. Do try to keep up dear." Regina crossed her arms and looked at the siren like the idiot she obviously was.
"Ah yes, but see, you have very strong emotions. I have a feeling your emotions are a little intense even." Lorelei said.
Someone huffed as if this was an understatement but Regina couldn't quite tell who. "Fine. I am imagining him. Complete with odor and arrogance." And then something did happen. Electricity.
All at once, it was as if a strike of lightening hit in the middle of their group and it was over so quickly Regina actually thought she imagined it. That is until she rubbed her eyes to try and rid them of the white streak she was seeing. It was as if there really had been lightening. But how?
"What was that?" Emma was rubbing her eyes too and it felt like every hair on her body was standing on end. "Was that lightening? What the hell?" Regina was finally able to see clearly again and looked to see where everyone was. Except everyone wasn't.
"Henry?! Emma, where's Henry?" Emma in turn began blinking her eyes rapidly searching for Henry. But he wasn't where they were, which was someplace other than the open plain.
Regina was searching around frantically, they were in a cave maybe of some sort. There was the same dim lighting but they were surrounded by rock in every direction. They stood at a dead end, a single tunnel leading onward to a curve. Emma reached Regina and took her hand to try and calm her down.
"Hey calm down, Regina. We'll find him. And us, we'll find us too. Maybe we should find out where we are and then Henry will be where we are going…?" That didn't really make sense but she was panicking too.
Regina felt Emma take her hand and stared at it for a few moments while the blonde rambled something at her. Snapping out of the slight shock of contact, she calmed a bit. "Yes. We will find a way out of wherever we are and then Henry." She took a step towards the tunnel, "Oh and not to mention, causing a certain siren to be reborn."
"Maybe Snow and David are with him?"
Regina stopped and looked at her before moving on again towards the tunnel, she hadn't actually noticed they were missing also. Rumple she hoped landed in some fire pit. "Yes, they would be better than alone for him I suppose."
Meanwhile, in a very similar rock like cavern, Snow and David were trying to calm themselves down. Henry was not with them. Neither was Lorelei or Rumple. "He took Henry, I know he did. Somehow he got that siren woman to get rid of us so Rumple could steal Henry." David was trying to think of why but was coming up a little empty handed.
Snow took his hand and they headed for the tunnel in front of them that curved out of sight. "David, why would he steal Henry? And the sirens hate men. Why would she help him to steal another boy?"
"She could've lied. It would make more sense wouldn't it? Sirens probably kill women to keep the men to themselves."
"Is it really so hard to believe that a race of females who have no need to reproduce would rather, be intimate, with women than with men?" Snow didn't see this as being hard to believe. At least women didn't have stubble faces. Personally she preferred men in bed, but she could still see the appeal.
"I don't know. I guess I don't really want to think of how men are only good for reproducing". David looked a little offended actually.
Snow laughed a little, "Oh no, men are good for lots of things. Opening jars, reaching the high shelves. Although I guess some women are strong, and tall…" At the look of hurt on Davids face Snow laughed a little and kissed him lightly, "I'm just kidding, I love you. Men are good for lots of things." Another kiss and he didn't think to wonder why she couldn't elaborate.
Henry cleared his eyes, "was that lightening?" At the sound of no response he quickly opened his eyes to see no one around. His heart beat faster as the panic set in a little. He was in a cave of some sort. One tunnel. And alone. He ran towards the tunnel hoping beyond all reason someone would be around the corner.
Rumple opened his eyes only to find Lorelei staring at him a little too much like a lion eyeing a steak. "What did you do?"
"I sent them to the caves. Why did you bring them here?"
"They asked me to bring them here to find the pirate."
Stepping closer, Lorelei was nose to nose with the man. "Why did you bring them here?"
The dark one smirked his smirk and disappeared in a cloud of magic. Lorelei paced a bit, nervously wondering what the imp could be up to. She stopped when she felt it again. The feeling of being watched. The humans didn't feel it of course. Sirens were far more sensitive to the worlds. And none were more sensitive than the siren queen. She glanced in the direction of the unseen eyes and knew that Hades did not approve of her sending them to the caves. It was the one place he couldn't reach them. As she stood up straight and cocked an eyebrow, he eyes flashed silver and every rune on her body began to glow and she disappeared in a strike of lightening.