Chapter 10. Unearthly Commands and Regrets

The first thing Azael realized upon waking was that he was not alone. The air about him held a static charge that ghosted across his body, a distinct smell of sulfur and an underlying scent. Dead roses.

Azael sat up and scanned the room. There was no other living soul seen. He pushed the covers from his body and stood.

"Come now. Are we not beyond such games?" Azael called out to the emptiness.

"But games are all we have left. And I do enjoy playing them with you." An incorporeal voice answered.

"Well I do not. Now show yourself or take your leave."

A cloud of shadowy smoke materialized on the bed. When it cleared, there lay a beautiful woman. Her hair black as coal, draped across her pale shoulders and drastically contrasted with the stark white sheets. She languidly stretched her body, extending her long shapely legs to dangle close to the edge. She looked up at Azael with a wicked grin and glowing red eyes.

"You are no fun lover. Can't a girl jest with a man she has not seen in over a century."

"Yes, I suppose a girl may. But you and I both know you are no girl." Azael reached for a shirt suddenly feeling the need to cover.

The woman agilely sprung from the bed to land in front of Azael. She seized his hands as he was buttoning his shirt and stopped him from continuing.

"Oh, you are right. I am so much more than that." She dragged a long tongue up from his sternum to the base of his neck.

Azael threw the woman down onto the ground.

"Lilith, are you insane?!" He yelled, gently touching the scalded line on his chest.

Lilith howled with laughter as she stood from the ground.

"What's the matter Azael? You once reveled at my touch. If I remember correctly the more pain the more pleasure." Lilith replied as she took a seat on the bed.

"Forget what I said before. You are insane." Azael spat as he ran his hand across the mark healing it instantly.

"Don't tell me being around these mortals has tamed you?" Lilith pouted before smiling broadly.

"What do you want?"

"Simply to say hello and to see what the great Azael has been doing."

Azael stared at Lilith. He felt his anger rising. He wanted so much to exact his rage but knew that it would do more harm than good. A fight between them now would bring the entire inn down around them if not the town.

"Well you have had your fun. I suggest you disappear."

Lilith watched as Azael dressed. The clothing was strange, but she could not deny that it did nothing to hide his magnificence. Out of all the lovers she had taken to her bed, he had been the only one she desired to return.

"Why are you in such a hurry to dismiss me? Are you so eager to return to your charade? Or have you forgotten your true purpose?"Lilith leaned back against her hands.

"So, you have been reduced to messenger I see." Azael was pleased to see he had wiped the smugness from Lilith's face. "Out with it then, what is my purpose?"

Lilith rose from the bed to stand by a chair in the far corner of the room. She waved her hand across it and suddenly a sword appeared.

Azael's eyes widen as he took in the sight of the familiar weapon. It had been a long time since he last beheld its beauty, but not long enough that he would forget its use.

"By your expression I gather you comprehend the task." Lilith's smile had returned as she watched the emotions cross Azael's face. "Our Lord requires replenishment to his ranks. You are chosen to see that it is done."

"How can this be? I delivered far more than was required last time." Azael leaned against the small dresser, staring into the small mirror. His reflection showed a man that was both tired and worn.

"Well that is true lover. However, you see our Lord has had some difficulty in, how do you say, taming them. It seems their wickedness has made them feel entitled. And you must agree with me that this makes them less than compliant as fodder."

"Then what would he have me do? Find a more docile sinner? I am sorry to say that there is no such animal"

"Who said anything about evil? Our Lord has brilliantly decided that we should start fresh. Mold our own so to speak."

Azael turned on Lilith with an incredulous look.

"You cannot be inferring to what I believe you are?"

"You above all others should know the benefit in innocent souls. Is that not right, Praeceptor?"

Azael roared as he clutched Lilith by the throat and slammed her against the wall.

"How dare you call me that?!" Azael's eyes flashed an unearthly blue.

"There is the Harvester I know." Lilith grinned, her teeth bared. "That is it. Unleash your fury. It will make your charge all the more sweet."

Azael dropped Lilith from his grasp and stepped away from her. He could not possibly do what was asked of him. The lives of the innocent, the children of Storybrooke would be no more. Henry, he thought. He too, would be sacrificed.

"I know that you are not accustomed to taking a soul of this kind. But you have no choice."Lilith rubbed her throat in an attempt to ease the pain.

"And should I refuse? Who else will he get to complete this mission?"

"No one." Lilith shrugged.

"No one? Then how, pray tell, will he collect his prize?"

"He will simply obliterate the town and take what he wants. Shame that so many must perish for the sake of just a few."

Azael tore at his hair frustratingly. He was at an impasse. If he did not do this, everyone would cease to exist. If he did, many here would wish they had died. An image of Regina's face frozen in anguish crossed before his eyes.

"I see that you have much to think about so I will leave. Yet, remember this Azael, our Lord is not patient. He will have what he desires. It is up to you on how he receives it." Lilith disappears in a cloud of smoke leaving behind the stench of rotting flowers.

Azael falls on his bed, his head within his hands. He had faithfully served masters without question for longer than he could remember. One had demanded he train soldiers to fight for a cause of his own making. The other commanded him to kill to fulfill his purpose. In his eyes, neither of them truly understood the destruction they caused, waging a war no side could remember the reason for why it started.

Azael slowly approached the chair and what still lay across it. He reached out and grabbed the hilt. Lifting the sword, he wondered if it had ever been this heavy as it felt now in his hand.

Ruby lost herself in the echoing clang as her fist connected once more with the hanging cylinder. The sound reverberated through her body causing a lull to take over her senses. This reminded her of a story she read, tribesmen falling into hypnotic states at the sound of drums playing. She could relate, as her mind cleared during each of her sessions. The metal stood against her onslaught much better than the heavy bags David and Emma used whenever they exercised in the station's paltry gym. She laughed to herself, remembering the first time she had broken one of the bags. Ruby swore Emma was going to have a heart attack.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Emma exclaimed as she held in her hands the foam stuffing which had once been inside the heavy bag.

"It's not my fault Em. All I did was hit it like you told me to." Ruby stood with her hands on her hips.

"Oh no, I told you to box with the thing. Not take your "wolfy" anger out on it." Emma held a hand to her forehead looking about the floor.

"Emma, you know it's not easy for Ruby to control her strength especially around the full moon." David swept up the pieces from the floor.

"That was not exercising control. That was a full on tear. What the hell were you thinking about? Or better yet who were you just opening a can of whoop ass on?" Emma grabbed her water and began to take large swallows.

Ruby turned her face choosing to drink her water instead and ignore Emma's question. She was not about to share whose face she had just seen at that moment.

"Well it doesn't really matter now does it? Ruby, you really need to get a better grip. And Emma, you are going to have to go and get another bag." David hoisted the broken bag across his shoulders, taking it out to the dumpster.

"And how do you suppose I do that? It's not like we have extra money just lying around."

"Well why don't you just ask Regina?" Ruby wiped at her face with a towel.

"You have got to be joking? I spent an hour in her office the last time explaining the budget when I purchased that one."

"Well I don't see what's the big deal. You did explain it helps keep us in shape and the benefit to letting off a little steam now and then right?" David said as he returned to sweeping up the rest of the debris.

"Oh yeah, I told her. And you don't want to hear what she said about how I shouldn't have a problem "letting off steam" with Hook and Neal being around." Emma huffed.

Ruby nearly choked on her water as she laughed. David did not say another word and continued his clean up hoping it hid the blush that rose to his cheeks. He understood well that his daughter was a grown woman but hearing about any extracurricular activities she might partake in was crossing a line.

"So what should we do? I really don't mean to bust up the place but the bag did help."

Emma looked on her friend and realized that she was not to blame for their predicament. If only there was some way of helping Ruby to keep her sanity without costing money out of her own pockets. Suddenly, Emma was struck with an idea.

"Come one David. Grab your keys. We're going over to Michael's."

"Michael's? Why are we heading there?"

"I think I know of something Ruby can spend all day kicking the shit out of and help protect our spare bag."

David looked on his daughter confused but shrugged his shoulders and followed her out the door.

Emma had returned that day with an old truck muffler which she had Michael solder a hanging arm to. After a few adjustments and reinforcements to a beam, Ruby was now the proud owner of the first metal punching bag, Emma lovingly dubbed "the can".

David had scoffed at the idea saying that he had no idea how it would work. But after watching it withstand the punishment Ruby inflicted on it and seeing as the other bag was still in one piece, even he had to admit Emma was right.

"Wow I guess I'm not the only one with some pent up aggression." Emma strolled in putting her hair up in a ponytail before sitting down on a bench to wrap up her hands.

"What's the matter, Neal not living up to expectations?" Ruby laughed before continuing her workout.

Emma turned a stunned look on Ruby.

"Did you forget?" Ruby tapped her nose."Heightened sense of smell."

"Have I ever told you how creepy that is?" Emma indiscriminately smelled her t-shirt.

"Well it's not something I can turn off especially this close to the full moon. And I seem to be having a bit of trouble with control lately." Ruby swung and connected with the metal denting the surface.

Emma realized there was something wrong with Ruby. It was not uncommon for her to become far more aggressive during this time, but she had become adept over the years at tamping down those feelings. Today, Emma could see that Ruby was close to a frenzied state.

"Sorry 'bout that. Maybe I should have taken two showers this morning. Maybe added a little lye to my skin for good measure." Emma chuckled.

Ruby stopped and suddenly bent over in laughter. Emma smiled grateful her attempt at humor had helped.

"Go ahead laugh at my pain."

"Well Ems you make it too easy. How the hell did you end up in the same predicament you swore you wouldn't ever do again?" Ruby went back to hitting "the can" but at a slower steady rhythm.

"Yeah that's me. Total screw up. God how could I have been so stupid?" Emma hung her head in her hands.

"So what was it this time? Too much Jack and too little inhibitions?" Ruby had made her way over to sit by Emma.

"That's the worst part 'bout this. I was stone cold sober."

"Really? And you still did it?"

"Yeah that's what I don't get. I was at that stupid meeting at Regina's with my folks. Everything was ok. Then I get into it with Regina as always and I stormed out. Next thing I know I'm at Neal's and we end up in his bed locked at the hips. What the hell is wrong with me?"

"Jeez Emma. I don't know what to say."

"Neither do I. All I know is I was so pissed when I left Regina's. God that woman can be so infuriating. I was on my way to the Rabbit Hole to grab a couple of beers but I ended up at Neal's instead. I had decided that maybe talking it out would help me calm down. But one thing led to another and well you know the rest."

Ruby rubbed her hand against Emma's back trying to comfort her. She was well aware of what was going on between Regina and Emma even though neither of them knew themselves. Ruby could not only sense it, but smell it coming off their skin whenever the two were in close proximity. However, it was not her place to explain the obvious to her friend. Some things were better left to self-discovery.

"What's done is done Emma. What do you plan on doing now? You know you can't keep going on like this with Neal. It's not healthy for either one of you. And what about Henry?"

"I know, I know. I have been racking my brain about all those things and I still don't have an answer. Neal's a good guy despite everything. And he loves Henry. When I'm with him it's like old times. No worries. No stress. Neal's just..."

"Uncomplicated?" Ruby finished Emma's thought.

"Yeah, he is. There's no guessing on what he's thinking, or figuring out what he wants. What you see is what you get."

"So then, what's the problem?"

"I don't love him Rubes. I care about him and always will. But I don't love him." Emma tried to hold in the tears that stung her eyes.

Ruby reached over and took Emma into her arms. She held her friend and allowed Emma to take a moment. Ruby knew that caring for someone was not the same as when someone held a piece of your heart. There was no comparison to that type of passion.

"Hey now, it's not all bad is it? I say as long as you are honest with Neal and yourself, it should all work itself out in the end." Ruby smiled reassuringly.

Emma nodded and wiped her face with her towel.

"Well I could do worse right? And Henry should be happy about his parents getting along."

"I don't really believe Henry would care who you ended up with as long as you were happy."

Both women sat on the bench in silence, each contemplating where exactly their happiness could be found. In a simpler world, they could have turned to each other. Then, as if having the same thought, they looked at one another and laughed. The only love each felt for the other was true friendship.

"So are you done playing with your toy?" Emma stood stretching out her neck then her shoulders.

"Why you got something else in mind Sheriff?" Ruby stood crossing her arms.

"Yeah, how 'bout we do a real workout." Emma began a slow circle around Ruby, her fists coming up to guard her face.

"Careful Ems, you do realize you are suggesting tangling with a werewolf." Ruby grinned, taking a defensive stance.

"I promise to take it easy on ya." Emma swung a right cross which Ruby ducked easily.

"Oh ok, if you promise to take it easy, it's only fair if I return the favor." Ruby jabbed with her left, which Emma deflected with an open palm.

"Don't hold back on my account. Wouldn't want you to get sloppy in your old age." Emma executed a combination landing a hard right to Ruby's midsection.

"Nice shot. And don't worry I'm in pretty good shape for an old gal." Ruby countered with a combination of her own landing a left to Emma's ribs then a right to the jaw.

Emma's head jerked to the side and she tasted a bit of blood in her mouth. But when she looked on at Ruby her smile was radiant.

"Oh it's on wolf. You drew first blood." Emma concentrated on her magic, pooling her strength into her hands.

"Bring it Savior. Show me what you got." Ruby felt her heart race. It had been too long since she had been able to cut loose.

Emma nodded her head and rushed in. In a flash, both women were throwing punches and landing hits. It was a choreographed dance of violence only they could have perfected. Blow after blow each of them felt their troubles fade. Their thoughts were solely on the moves and countermoves necessary to continue.

After an hour, both women sat on the floor, backs pressed together, trying to catch a breath. Their bodies were sore but their spirits were lighter than when they had begun. Sweat and blood mixed on their skins. But neither of them had ever felt more relaxed.

"I think you broke my nose." Ruby held a towel on her face trying to staunch the flow.

"Well I think I'm gonna have to learn to see outta one eye." Emma brought her fingers up to tenderly touch her right cheek and eye socket that would no doubt swell soon.

"Yeah we're a mess. I don't know 'bout you, but I feel great." Ruby leaned her head back to lean against Emma.

"Oh yeah. We definitely have to do this more often."

"Agreed."

Emma and Ruby remained on the floor passing a bottle of water between them.

"What in god's name happened to you both?" Tinkerbell stood at the doorway, uniform in hand, looking down at the Sheriff and deputy sprawled on the floor of the gym. Their faces flushed, bruised and bloody.

"Hey Tink. Don't mind us. Ruby and I were just clearing our heads." Emma stood from the floor and brushed away at her sweats.

"With what a hammer?" Tinkerbell laid her uniform down on a table and walked over to them. "Sorry to tell you Ruby but I think your nose is broke." Tinkerbell winced at the sight of how Ruby's nose veered slightly off center.

"I told you Ems. This is gonna hurt like a mother." Ruby brought her hands up to her face placing two fingers to either side of her nose.

"What is?" Emma asked. Then before she could continue, she flinched as she watched her friend snap the bones of her nose back in place. "Jesus Christ Rubes! Give a girl some warning next time." Emma screeched.

"That was fucking gross." Tinkerbell shook her head trying to rid her mind of the image.

"Yeah well, I wasn't gonna let it heal like that. Besides you think that's bad, I've seen Granny set her own forearm after getting it crushed in an avalanche." Ruby shivered at the memory.

"Enough talk about broken body parts. You're gonna make me sick." Tinkerbell felt nauseous and did not want to end up losing her breakfast.

Emma laughed as she noticed the green tinge on her other deputy's face and decided enough was enough.

"Alright I think that's enough excitement for one morning. Let's get ready for work guys." Emma grabbed her stuff before making her way out of the gym.

Ruby chuckled and went to reach past Tinkerbell to get her bag when she suddenly stopped. She took a long whiff and turned wide eyes on the small fairy.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me?!"

"What?" Tinkerbell answered in surprise pulling back from Ruby.

"Am I the only one around here not getting laid?" Ruby turned towards Emma her hands held up at her sides.

Emma looked to Ruby then to Tinkerbell who was clearly red faced.

"Um…I think I'll go and get ready now." Tinkerbell grabbed her uniform and ran for the changing room.

Ruby had snatched her bag and was hurrying past Emma when stopped by a hand on her arm.

"Uh, what the hell was that about?" Emma looked up into her friend's face, her brows knit in confusion.

"Well it seems your stalker issue has been solved."

Emma continued to look on in confusion. Ruby patted Emma's hand and smirked.

"It seems our resident fairy has been consorting with your pirate."

"Hook and Tink?"

Emma could not believe what she was hearing. At Ruby's nod she fell against her friend laughing. The tears ran from her eyes as she failed to control herself. Ruby joined in holding her hand against her stomach. Emma finally got a hold of herself and sighed in deep relief.

"Well in an odd twisted fairytale way it kinda makes sense." Emma was pleased that it had happened. Sure, she had bore a slight attraction for the pirate but that was as far as her feelings went. She was happy that two lost souls from Neverland could find solace with one another.

"Yeah those two do make for an unusual couple. I guess it's like they say, to each their own." Ruby shrugged and walked out towards the front of the station.