Chapter 4: Apologies are Worthless
"I'm so sorry." a voice sobbed next to her. Regina's entire nervous system was on fire, but she was alive. She forced her eyes open to find Emma sobbing pathetically next to her on the floor. Apparently, Cora had either tired of their game or been called away or something for they were now alone together.
Regina tried to think of a good insult to teach the sobbing wreck next to her a lesson, that she didn't want any damn sympathy, especially from her torturer, but she was so tired her mind just couldn't work right now. Emma was whispering things to her again, "I've tried to overpower her, but I'm just not strong enough. I'm not you. She told me she hates you because she can't win against you in a fair fight. You're stronger than her."
A dry chuckle escaped cracked lips.
"Regina?" Emma asked, afraid she had tortured the poor woman into insanity.
Regina tried to mouth the words. Emma seemed to get the point and put her ear close to Regina's mouth. Regina murmured the words of the spell over and over again until she was sure Emma would remember them. Emma didn't know what the spell was for nor what Regina wanted her to do, but she made sure to memorize the words.
Emma returned to her former position not a moment too soon, as Cora sauntered back into the room. "On your knees." she barked. Regina moved her protesting body into position next to Emma. Cora grabbed Regina's chin and jerked her face upward to look at it. "I may have a use for you yet, my dear. But what do I use to get you to behave? Your boy, Henry?" Cora smirked maliciously. Regina jerked violently, Emma mirrored her involuntary movement. "Ah, but Henry works on both of you, doesn't it?" Cora pondered happily.
- Threatening Henry was a really bad idea, Cora.-
As Regina struggled to hold her mother still with her magic, Emma recited the incantation she learned from Regina over and over again in her head.
"Now, Emma!" Regina shouted.
With her face screwed up an ugly snarl, eyes flashing red, her hand sunk into soft flesh. Cora started screaming in fury and pain, but Emma's hand closed around her heart anyway and ripped it from her chest. Cora fell to the floor, glaring up at Emma hatefully.
Emma's blood boiled at the sight and her hand clenched around the heart. Then, a strange expression flowed across Cora's face. A face of acceptance and of defeat, but also glee... She had marked Snow White's daughter forever. She would die today at Emma's hands, true, but at least she already had part of her revenge. Emma would never recover from Cora. Regina had never recovered either. So there was no way Emma would. Emma's fist crushed her heart to dust and the miserable life of Cora was ended.
I know, I know, the story is short. But I don't have enough time at the moment to really stretch a story out. I've still got two other OUaT fics that I haven't been able to finish as of yet, due to time constraints. It's all there in my head, but finding the time to write it all down is hard.