Chapter 6: This chapter is probably going to be short and almost all first person because there won't be flashbacks this chapter.
First Person P.O.V:
So it was only logical to assume given the evidence shown that Madame Bernellay was murdered by . . .
"Hey, you're Amara right?" a meek voice mumbled to me. My reality was pulled back from a fascinating murder mystery novel to Granny's diner, where I was indulging in a soda with a side of french fries. Not the most dignified thing to eat but I had a certain weakness for the fried foods of this land. It was a treat to just sit and be alone without anyone badgering me. Well usually that is . . .
"Who wants to know?" Lowering the book I was holding my breath a bit while reading, I glowered at Jake Erison. Also known as William the "Boy Who Cried Wolf" back in our world. Here he was just a punk skater boy who worked in a music store his father ran.
"I wasn't bothering you, was I?" he asked sheepishly.
"Oh no," I droned "I was just about to find out the mystery to who killed the main character in my book but I can read that anytime."
"Well technically you can I mean it's a book . . ."
"What do you want, Jake?" I snapped picking up the last of my french fries and devouring it.
"Well you're friends with Isobel Boyd, right?" Without bothering to ask, he took a seat next to me.
"Define 'friend'."
"Well, if someone wanted to know what she liked about someone . . ." he began with small grin on his face that was starting to blush bright red.
"I'm not being your wing girl."
I pushed my book back up to my face extremely grateful to my father for not enrolling me in a high school here. The teenagers in this world didn't usually have to help their family work for a living and marry early. So they spent adolescence riling in stupidity, some never recovered.
"Give me one good reason why not," Jake whined taking the book down from my face.
"Okay one: She doesn't talk to me that much anymore, two: she already has a boyfriend, three: you're more than capable of doing things for yourself, and four—" I tapped my chin quizzically. "Oh right: I just don't want to."
"Come on, you know she'd be better off dating me than that complete asshole Richard she's going out with. You could just talk to her, what do you say to that?"
Taking a huge sip of my finished soda and sucking in all the air with a straw, letting an unpleasant hiss come out, Jake got an uncomfortable look on his face until I finally stopped.
"That answer your question?" I asked with faux sweetness, dropping my smile to a grimace as I rose from the table and put my black jacket on.
A dart whizzed across the room past me towards Emma and hit the front door, missing her face by inches.
"What the hell you could've hit me!" she shouted incredulously at Graham, who had been the thrower.
"I never miss," the sheriff reassured her. There was something about him that was definitely off and it wasn't just the enormous amounts of alcohol he'd consumed. The two had been fighting on and off again ever since he had hired her as deputy.
As the two got into yet another heated debate I turned my attention back to Jake.
"Look," I began. "I get that you like Izzy, and to be fair you'd definitely be better for her than Richard. But just talk to her yourself. Believe me I wouldn't know the first thing about sentimental garbage." I handed Ruby the payment for my food and walked to the door.
Jake looked like he was about to argue with me from across the diner when Granny called out, "Jake your orders ready!"
I darted out of the place while his attention was diverted. Walking the streets I caught a glimpse of Graham as he grabbed Emma and embraced her in a passionate kiss.
Regina was seriously going to love that, I thought smirking.
Emma pushed Graham away then stalked over to me. "Hey Mari," she mumbled exasperated and I gave her a small wave.
"Deputy," I greeted her.
"I thought you'd be, um, babysitting Henry or something. Not at the diner this late."
"It's my night off. Ever since that mine field incident Regina's been staying home usually," I explained as we walked in the cold, damp night. "So I suppose this means you're interested in something else of our mayor's now hhmph?" I asked with a sly grin.
"No I am not," she hissed. "And you knew about them too? God, has everyone in this town just been laughing at me behind my back?"
"No not everyone knows about those two but I would stay away from him. I don't think that lip lock's going to make Regina treat you anymore kindly."
"So who was that boy you were talking to? He seems nice" Emma asked, changing the subject.
"If you're implying what I think you're implying Ms. Swan you're either as drunk as Graham or have forgotten who you're speaking to," I snapped and Emma laughed.
"Oh, right. Because that would make you a normal flesh and blood teenager and we can't have any of that."
After I realized she was walking past her apartment building and making the turn to my house, I glanced at her. "Are you following me?" I asked irritated
"You bet I am. This town may be small but I wouldn't feel much like a sheriff's deputy letting a teenage girl I knew walk this far by herself."
Rolling my eyes, I chuckled. "Yes because if there's one thing you should have learned by now is that I'm the one who needs protection."
After a while of silence Emma piped up, "So what do you think I should do about Graham?" she asked politely.
I laughed. "Why does everyone think I can solve relationship problems? It's ridiculous."
"Is that what the boy wanted from you, help asking someone else out?"
"If you really must pry, yes, that girl Izzy who you met in the hospital."
"Right, Ashley's step-sister." Emma nodded. "So you have no interest in ever falling in love?"
"About as much interest in it as getting a surgery I don't need."
"That cynical, huh? Guess I shouldn't talk, I am too. It's just . . ."
"You're interested in Graham," I finished for her. "You know Miss Swan, I could care less about your love life but here's my advice since you asked for it: to hell with Regina and do whatever you want to do."
"You just want me to get her pissed, don't you?" Emma asked, shaking her head.
"You know me too well deputy." I laughed as we approached my house and she patted me on the shoulder.
"We're here now, night."
As I walked up the stairs, Emma called, "Oh and Amara, thanks for the advice." I nodded back to her as she disappeared down the driveway.
I noticed my father standing at the doorway. "You know you could ask me to drive you home."
"Walking is a good way to clear my head," I droned, stalking up the staircase. "Oh and I'd keep an eye on our huntsman. There's something off about him lately."
"Yes well, being Regina's love slave and drinking too much will do that to a person," my father chided sitting down the on our couch turning the television on.
"Very true," I chuckled. "But no. What I mean is he's spacing out, and defying Regina which he hasn't done before at least to my knowledge," I told my father.
"Alright I'll keep an eye on him. Maybe do a little digging to see if his curse is breaking for some reason," he agreed.
Nodding, I went upstairs and went into the bathroom washing my face. Today I'd been asked to give romantic advice to not one, but two people and lived in a town where once the curse was broken my employer would like nothing more than to rip my heart out and stomp on it (quite literally) as punishment for doing so.
I hope my father had a game plan to find Baelfire and get us as far away from Regina as possible.
"When is this ever going to help me in life?" Henry complained looking about ready to throw his math book in the fire place. Sitting in the kitchen while I was in the living room flipping through channels must have made him burn with anger.
"It's not but it's schoolwork so do it or I'm going to tell your mother about the time you broke her most expensive vase," I called to him, smirking as I munched on popcorn.
The doorbell rang and I got up, answering it. Graham was standing there looking distraught.
"Sheriff," I greeted leaning back on the door and crossing my arms "Regina's not here at the moment. Plus it's the daytime so I don't think even she's in the mood right now."
"I need to see Henry." Graham, noticing my puzzled look, explained, "It's about the book he has. I know it sounds weird but will you please let me in?"
Giving him a gesture with my head to enter I called out, "Henry, someone's here to see you!"
Henry looked up from his homework and looked curiously. "Graham." He smiled. "What can I do for you?"
When the sheriff explained that he wanted to see Henry's book and the wolf he kept having visions of, we gathered around the kitchen table and Henry flipped through the book.
"So it was a wolf you saw?" he asked and stopped at a page with an elegantly drawn but fearsome wolf. "This wolf is a spirit that guided men who deserved it and showed compassion to others, when they were lost in the woods he saved even hunters," he read the page. "Does this look like the wolf you keep seeing?"
"Yes! It's most definitely the wolf I saw when I kissed Emma."
"You kissed my mom?" Henry asked cringing "That's gross!"
Choosing to miss the golden opportunity to point out he'd kissed both of his mothers, I interrupted. "Not that this isn't all fascinating, but what's the point?"
"The point is that the wolf isn't something you should be afraid of. Graham it's a guide and is trying to help," Henry explained, grinning with triumph at solving the case and making another believer.
"Then I should follow it and see what it wants, maybe it's trying to tell me something." Graham nodded and started to rise from the table before Henry pushed him back down.
"Wait!" he piped up. "I believe this entire thing with the wolf also means something else." He showed us a picture of a fierce warrior with a knife in his hands that covered most of his face. "You're the huntsman from Snow White. The reason you have such a connection to Mary Margaret is because that's who she is and you've spared her life, and after that the evil queen ripped your heart out and kept in in a vault." Graham looked at that moment as if this piece of information was a huge realization to him. "It's probably also why you have a . . ." He grimaced, shuddering. "Connection with Emma. Because without you, she wouldn't have been born."
"Is there anything besides the wolf I should look out for?" Graham asked.
"Well if you're from Snow White and spared her life, I'd keep a watch out for the Evil Queen." I spoke up. "She'd be out to kill you after all."
"And who's the evil queen?" Graham asked curiously.
"My mom, well the other mom. The one who adopted me," Henry explained.
"Regina? Well that would . . ."
"Explain everything I know." I laughed and grabbed Graham by the arm. "Really, Sheriff, this history lesson has been quite a lark. We really must do it again sometime but now I think you should be looking for your wolf don't you?" I asked sarcastically pulling him towards the door as he glanced back at Henry.
"Thanks for the help Henry," he said gratefully. "Now I have a feeling I know what I'm doing."
"Goodbye," I snapped, slamming the door behind me which surprised Henry.
"What did you kick him out for?" he demanded.
"Well if he's who you say he is then not only did he defy your mother in the past which got him his heart ripped out, but is also now in love with Emma then I don't want to be around any of them when that little ordeal takes place."
Henry nodded with understanding as the front door opened and Regina stepped in.
"Hello, Henry." She smiled brilliantly at him as she gently stroked his face. "How was your day today?"
"It was fine," he said with the same deadpan voice he usually gave his mother. "Can Mari stay for diner?" he asked with a smile.
Regina directed her attention towards me with a grimace. "I'm sure Amara wants to get home to own family," she grunted.
"I don't exactly have any plans." I put on a fake sweet smile. "I'd be delighted to stay."
Regina looked between the both of us before she let out a defeated sigh. "I'll make an extra batch of lasagna." She groaned and I giggled at her displeasure.
Third Person P.O.V:
"Regina, there's a lot that can be said about you but saying you don't make a damn good lasagna would be a lie," Amara commented causing Regina to roll her eyes.
"Yes well I suppose as mayor I should feed the less fortunate every once and a while," she spat rising from the table and grabbing her and Henry's empty dishes ."Henry, go up to your room and get ready for bed," Regina instructed, heading towards the kitchen to clean the dishes.
"But it's still so early . . ." Henry whined crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"I said go to bed, so go to bed!" Regina tried to hide the annoyance in her voice but it did cause her son to shudder.
"Okay, I'm going!" He rose from his seat and smiled at his baby sitter. "Night, Marshmallow."
"Sweet dreams." Amara watched as he ran up the stairs and waited until she heard his bedroom door close before crossing her arms and sauntering over to Regina who was placing dishes in the dishwasher.
"I trust you can walk yourself out," the mayor asked bitterly.
"Oh I plan on it believe me." Amara went over to the counter and watched Regina place dishes back in her cabinet. "So what do you plan to do about the Graham situation?"
Regina stopped what she was doing and gave the girl a surprised look before hardening her glare. "There is no problem dear, Graham is mine as he has been for a long time." she grinned remembering her own wickedness.
"Is he now? Because you're not an idiot Regina. You know very well our new little friend has been tearing him away from you."
Regina looked worried for a second then continued placing dishes in her cabinet. "I wouldn't be worried about Miss Swan too much. She will be out of this town before long and everything will be the same."
"You mean with Henry still ignoring you and having only me for support?" Amara spat.
"You are not his family, you would do well to remember that!" Regina yelled. Despite the anger, she quickly managed to compose herself, fixing Amara under her cold gaze. "Is there a point you wanted to make, young lady?"
"As a matter of act there is: Graham is slowly remembering who he is. You're losing control your majesty," Amara hissed the formal title. "You know when you start to lose control over everything you have a grip on it just crack . . ."
Regina, as if fate wanted to prove the girls point, dropped a dish on the floor causing it to shatter.
Amara tisked. "See what I mean? Perhaps you need to punish someone . . . in that special way only you can." She emphasized the special way only you can part.
Regina who was picking up the shattered pieces and looking to the point of a breakdown took a deep breath and turned to the girl with a grin. "You know, I think you're right. Amara, would you mind watching the house for a little bit? I think a visit to my dearly departed father's grave is in order," she sauntered out of the house, leaving Amara to sigh.
"I really am like him aren't I?" she whispered with a mix of horror and . . . relief that she would probably please him by taking after him.
Regina flew the door to her mansion open with a triumphant look in her eyes but there were smudge marks around them as well as if she'd bene crying for a bit, much to a certain teenagers surprise.
"So, did you do what I think you did?" Amara asked from the couch where she was flipping through channels.
"Yes, it had to be done. Pets that disobey their masters must be put down." Regina explained and grabbed the remote from Amara, shutting the television off. "You know I should thank you. You gave me the courage to do what needed to be done."
Amara shifted conformably under Regina's sadistic smile. "Nonsense. You would've done it anyway and you know it."
"That's not the point. You're really the spitting image of the man who raised you. A no good manipulator."
"How dare you make judgments against me you hypocritical, lying piece of…"
"You're looking rather pale dear" Regina interrupted with faux concern "I do believe that's guilt in your eyes, don't worry it'll go away once you wash your hands in more blood" the Queen smirked enjoying the look of horror the girl briefly got on her face.
"I have to take my leave now Madame Mayor. Have a pleasant night knowing you killed an innocent man." She walked to the door and almost was out before Regina commented,
"And you have a nice night knowing you insinuated that I do so." She grinned brilliantly as Amara slammed the door shut. After all the guilt and torture her father had put her through, she was only happy to give the same treatment to that little brat.
Well the demoness certainly wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight.
Sorry I haven't updated in a while I was sick for a long time after an operation and haven't had the inspiration to write until recently so let's hope I can keep on track even with school. Anyway got to love Amara's double agent work XD she's insane but pretty awesome still. And if case any of you didn't get it by the cover photo she's played by Isabelle Fuhrman (Clove in the Hunger Games and Esther in Orphan) I thought she'd be perfect. Sayonara until next time!