-Friday July 17: Act of true love (Regina and/or Emma commit an act of true love)

My Demons

I didn't want it to happen like this. I didn't want her to know… not like this, not at all if only I could help it. But the Beast had escaped it's realm and come here to our town to Ravish everything that I hold dear.

It is built of my guilt which I wanted to banish along with all regret about everything I had done. But Guilt is much stronger than Regret. It has a more firm hold on me than any other emotion except one.

I t took form of a Beast. A winged dark horse with a demonic rider. Harbinger of death. Invisible to most eyes… but In Storybrook most had been witness to my atrocities, so they were able to see.

Not Emma… Not Henry. No they couldn't see The Evil of my guilt. They didn't know me.

I watched as Emma walked out of Granny's one afternoon. My demon rode up to her and snatched her up into the sky. I reacted with my magic and pulled at her, but he did not relent and it's tether carried me off with them.

Somehow I maneuvered myself, so that I could get to Emma, who still didn't understand what held her and fought against an invisible barrier. "Regina, What's happening?"

"It's my demons… " I answered holding on tightly.

"So only you can see it?" She asked confused.

I ducked as the demon reached out to hit me. Except he hit Emma squarely on the chest. "Ugh," she grunted in pain.

"Hang on." I said materializing a dagger and stabbing the leg of the rider. He roared and let go of Emma. I teleported us to safety in my vault as we plummeted to the ground. Once there I placed her gently on the floor and reached for her chest. I needed to see.

"What the hell just hit me?" She asked.

"My guilt." I whispered. "It's come to consume me. Take everything I love and destroy it."

"Then why was it after me?" She asked. I looked at her for a second and stepped away from Emma. "Regina look at me." she said softly. She turned slowly toward me. "Why, Regina?"

"Because…" I said searching for a more plausible answer. One that she would believe more than the fact that I was madly in love with her. "Henry would be left more vulnerable if you weren't here."

When I finally looked back at her she looked satisfied at the answer. "So how do we stop it?"

The entrance to the crypt opened and I knew that my demons would not be kept out of here, where most of my guilt lay. "We have to get out of here." I said stepping back to grab at her hand. My demon appeared in front of us, and reached for Emma with it's sharp claws. I ran at it, and tackled it.

Emma watched as we rolled and struggled on the floor. I was sure she thought me insane as all she could see was me. Then he reached for my throat and crushed. I clawed at the demon with my hand. Then his sharp claws came out, and stabbed me in the chest taking a hold of my heart. With my death this will end, and Emma and Henry both would be safe "Regina?"

I could hear Emma calling for me but as the demon tugged my heart, I felt Emma's hands on it as well. and She took it in her hands and buried it deep within her. And I felt a warmth radiate throughout my body. A blast of energy emanated from her chest and blasted at the demon and he dissipated into non existence.

For my part I could still feel my heart still beating in my chest. But it wasn't there. It was nestled right next to Emma's heart and they kept time together. "Shit Regina… Are you okay?" she said coming to me watching all of the horrific wounds she had watched appear on my body heal.

I couldn't think about an answer because at the moment I was overwhelmed at the intensity of what had just transpired. I could feel… that should be impossible with my heart out of my chest but I could feel the depth of love that I knew was always there. "You love me…" Was all I managed to say.

Emma stopped trying to help me up and just wrapped her arms around herself. as if to protect the hearts beating there. "I…"

"Emma, You love me too…" I said sitting up.

"Too?" She asked

"Too…" I said and leaned forward in my need to connect with her. "That's why he was coming for you. Henry is protected."

"I just killed your Demons?" Emma said a little smirk forming on her lips.

"You slaughtered them… and you couldn't even see them." I answered.

"Saved you again!" Emma said with a grin.

"Are you counting?" I asked quirking my brow.

"I'll save you for eternity." she whispered and leaned forward to kiss me.