Chapter 4! Let me know what you think of my treatment of Daniel in this one I struggled with my choice, but ultimately Daniel being Regina via transfiguration somehow didn't sit well with me Enjoy!

Xoxo

Tasha V.

Emma was powerless. Her lips widened into a funny kind of smile, almost wondrous, as she took the woman's hand and knelt beside her on the prickly matress.

''You're...''

She was beyond words at this point. The woman seemed to be waiting for an end of that sentence, but all Emma could do was stare, in silence and utter awe. She wished she could slap or pinch herself, but it seemed her body was unwilling to listen to simple instructions when it came to motor skills.

''Your Highness?''

''Emma, please. Your Highness, the title...well, let's just say those are the two most hated words in my vocabulary. Right next to Princess and m'lady.''

''Oh?''

The raven-haired stranger's eyes shone brighter as she processed this information.

''Then...what should I call you?''

By that point, Emma had regained some of her senses and was able to communicate more openly, without fear of her brain losing any of its re-balanced coherency.

''Well...I think the more important question would be what I should call you.''

And the smile was back. Nodding understandingly, the woman stood up, on shaky legs, Emma noticed, and slowly walked to the window. Then she turned to face the blonde.

''I thought a woman of your stature should know better than to associate with criminals like me?''

''You're avoiding my question.''

''Yes, and the only reason you would have for asking me such a question would be that your mother dearest told you...absolutely nothing. Ohterwise, I can assure you, Princess...you wouldn't be standing here this evening.''

Emma felt a spark of anger ignite in her gut, and she let out an annoyed breath.

''My mother is not obligated to inform me of the reasons for her decisions. Or tell me tales of her past, which I'm sure you're a part of.''

''Oh, you have got that right, dear. I form a great part of the Queen's life.''

''Don't I get points for coming all the way here? You must admit, a Princess, trolling the tower for answers, in the middle of the night...that's gotta be worth an answer or two.''

''Ah, so...we've arrived to the bargaining stage of your interrogation. I don't know why, but it amuses me. Okay...you may ask two questions. And perhaps, I will be nice enough to answer them. Just so I don't seem rude, seeing you are my gracious host.''

The sarcasm was dripping from every words the woman uttered, but the smile on her gorgeous face never faltered.

Emma swallowed, and gathered her thoughts.

''What's your name?''

''That's your question? My name? You don't want to know more? Just my name.''

''You did say I get two questions, right? I'll just make sure query number two brings more answers. Now...the reply please.''

Touche, the woman thought.

''I've been known as many things, called many names...but, I suppose the one that sticks in everyone's mind, the one - I need to warn you – instills a certain feel of...''unease'' in most anyone is...Regina.

Flashback, 6 years prior

As Regina spurred her horse to go faster, she could feel the cold wind blowing from the east, and her stomach twisted even more painfully. ''How could she already sense me, it's not possible! I made sure of it!'' Her thoughts raced frantically through her worn-out mind as she ploughed across the serpentines and dirt roads. She was nearing her home village. But, the closer she came, a different kind of unease overcame her entire being until she was stuck between the two forces, making her choose which of the two would be a lesser evil.

The cold never subsided, even though it was the middle of July. She rode in through the gates of her native settlement, and for a brief moment, all was well, and she felt safe. But then, the clingy notion of disaster was back. The night was thick like ink and curdled blood, and when she looked at the moon, her oldest, bestest friend and ally, she could clearly see a bright orange-ring around it. She had only seen it once in her life, when her father died, and knew that the other side was calling out to him in that way. But now, she had no idea why the orange was so threatening, so foreboding. Whatever it was, she somehow knew she could prevent it.

As she came closer to her old house, she saw the lights were on. She guessed Daniel was up, reading, as he often did. She hoped the food she'd left him with before her little escape was enough.

She approached the door and as it swung open, she encountered an empty kitchen, and sounds of feet thumping on the floor above.

As she ascended the few steps, her stomach screamed in agony, and she doubled over in pain, keeping in the cries she wanted to release so desperately. She held onto them for Daniel's sake. He was her best friend, and she wasn't going to put him through the turmoil, too.

But, as her pained vision cleared, what she saw made her want to vomit.

Daniel was hovering over a girl's frame, her blonde locks spilling across the expanse of Regina's own pillow, her own bed! She was clearly unconscious, and Daniel was half-way through undressing her. It was then that she noticed the gleaming butcher's knife on the dresser.

Fury boiled over in her entire being. Purple watery smoke swirled round her hands in a thick mist, and she murmured a brief incantation which sent jets of fire outwards. Not enough to kill, but she most definitely wasn't ruling that out as an option.

Daniel screamed, oblivious to her presence. He rolled on the wooden floor, trying to ease his pain and put out the fire set to his shirt.

''Daniel...tsk, tsk,tsk...I really did believe we were over this. You promised. Though, I should know better by now than to believe other people's promises. A knife? Really? Taking it a step further this time?''

When he looked up, he just smirked, thinking she'd let him off the hook as always when he smiled that ''enchanting'' smile at her. Instead, he saw that her eyes were focused on Emma, lying flat on her back. He struggled to get up.

Regina took a deep breath, and approached the bed. She leaned in closer, and gasped in horror.

''My cider?! You dared use it on a helpless young girl, just so you could get your wicked, disgusting way with her?!''

The deeper and slower her sentences were, Daniel took more steps towards the door, looking for a quick escape. He knew, however, from the look in her brown spheres, that that was it. No more trust. No more anything. The love had long since evaporated, and he had nothing else to save him. And just as he thought it, he saw the blood-red anger reaching its peak, as Regina prepared to throw him into the pits of despair. Which she did.

She focused all her strength on him, and grit her teeth together in emotional agony. Her best friend, almost a brother, her Daniel...had reduced her to mothing more than a murderer.

Invisible ropes reached him, and he screamed. She muted his sobs with a silencing charm. In a matter of seconds he was nothing but a pile of ashes by her feet.

There were no tears. She was sure she would never be able to cry again.

End Flashback