Title: No Sunlight

Pairing: Snow/Charming

Rating: T

Warnings: Torture scenes/abuse, all out Evil Queen-ness

Summary: After the curse breaks, Regina must first regain control over her magic before getting her revenge against Emma and Snow. Dark. Canon until midway through 2x01.

Spoilers: Through Season 1 Finale/first half of 2x01.

Disclaimer: Y'all know I don't own any of this besides the plot, right?

Timeline: This story takes place after the townspeople go to confront Regina in 2x01, when Regina tries to use her magic against them. Regina's magic is back but inconsistent. The townspeople did go to confront Regina and Emma stops them from doing anything permanently, placing Regina under house arrest. The story picks up when Emma goes to check on her "prisoner."

Chapter 10: Strong Enough to Save

Snow marched up the sidewalk to the front door of the Mayor's Mansion, her feet pounding out sharp notes on the concrete. She noted quickly that the grass was overgrown and that weeds had begun to push their way through the sidewalk. It was strange to see the grounds in such disarray. Clearly, Regina was occupied with other things than keeping the mansion and its surroundings in its usual immaculate condition. Appearances would still matter to the Evil Queen, so what was keeping the usually vain woman busy?

The shrubs surrounding the door clutched at Snow's overcoat as she climbed the steps in quick succession. Without pausing, Snow raised her fist and pounded three times on the door. Adrenaline hummed along her skin as she thought of the woman the house contained. She knew exactly what Regina was: evil incarnate. The thought of the true nature of her stepmother, without the restrictions of humanity, and said stepmother imprisoning Emma had Snow banging on the door again. Charming, while quick on her heels, was not fast enough to stop her.

"Snow! Maybe we come up with some type of plan…!" he whispered urgently, with just a hint of sarcasm. Snow knew he was right, logically, but logic had gone out the window with Ruby's revelation that no one had seen Emma in three weeks. This news, coupled with a deep fear that Regina had her daughter, forced her to act. Had Emma been in her stepmother's hands during that entire time? Was Emma hurt or …? Snow couldn't even finish the thought, though a cold hand of fear was squeezing her heart, making it difficult to breathe. Her stomach twisted in knots as time passed and no one answered the door.

A few minutes passed, then Snow heard the click-clack of high-heeled shoes and the door swung open. Snow let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding in as Regina opened the door. Snow stared for a moment, taken aback. This was not Regina the Mayor. Her demeanor was wrong. Instead of looking defeated, this woman presented the same powerful, egotistical persona Snow had known as a child. This was Regina the Evil Queen that stood before Snow.

Regina was dressed in a stylish, well-tailored skirt and suit jacket. She was wearing a red silk shirt and expensive heels. She looked powerful and in control. It made Snow's blood boil.

"Yes?" Regina said, arching an eyebrow as she opened the door. "Oh. It's you," she said, disdain and arrogance displayed across her features as she addressed her stepdaughter. Charming might as well not been there, for all the attention she paid him. "What do you want?"

"Regina. Where's Emma?" Snow asked, brows furrowed, as she placed her hands on her hips, watching the dangerous woman.

Regina fought to hid a smile and settled for the smirk that played across her features as she contemplated her stepdaughter.

"Lost your daughter, have you? After you worked so hard to find her," Regina mocked.

Snow slapped her. "How dare you," she spit out between clenched teeth. Regina, shocked for the moment, simply raised a hand to the red mark, her mouth forming an "O" of surprise.

Charming, for his part, hadn't moved. He was staring into the open door behind Regina. He felt his heartbeat accelerate. His eyes were drawn to a hook in the hallway. Was that Emma's red leather jacket…? He pushed into the house, past Regina, nearly walking on her in his haste to confirm his observation.

"Wait-," Regina protested, spinning on her heel, as she attempted to grab his arm. "You can't come in here!"

Charming ignored her and shook her hand off his arm easily. Snow followed her husband. "Oh yeah," she snarled. "Watch me," she retorted, stepping into the hallway, past Regina. Neither one of them noticed the villainous smile that spread on the Evil Queen's face. Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly.

James replaced the sword in the scabbard on his side and put his hand on the jacket. It was hanging on one of the three hooks in the hallway. There was no mistake; it was Emma's. He pulled the jacket off of the hook slowly, Snow watching his movements. He started to hold it up at Regina accusingly, one finger pointing in her direction. As he turned it over, he froze, his eyes on the dry, dark fluid that covered the bottom of the jacket. Snow saw the stains, too, and knew them to be blood. She fought past the initial wave of nausea as fear punched through her. Her eyes met Charming's and knew the horror in his eyes matched her own. Snow whirled around as the door slammed shut behind her, the pounding of her heart beat filling her ears.

Purple smoke filtered around the hallway, surrounding Regina as her manner of dress changed to reflect the identity Regina had resumed, one Snow was intimately familiar with, the Evil Queen. Clothed in a beautiful black, silk dress, that billowed out around Regina's body, Snow felt herself take an involuntary step back as peals of terrifying laughter rang out, surrounding the couple.

Snow's face was grim with determination as she pulled out the small dagger Ruby had lent her and faced her stepmother. Behind her, she heard James unsheathe his sword. Though the moment was brief, she felt comforted, knowing he was at her back, as they faced Regina.

"What did you do to Emma?" James asked, anger making his voice thick.

"If you wanted to know, all you had to do was ask, dear," Regina replied condescendingly. She smiled wickedly and snapped her fingers.

The purple smoke surrounded Charming and Snow for only a moment. Snow closed her eyes against the magic that filtered around her, knowing it was a worthless defense. She wanted to reach for Charming, to know that he was still beside her, and garner what little comfort she could from his presence, despite the fact she would rather him not be there, if only to keep him safe. But she knew, with all her heart, that they would face the monster before them the same way they had agreed to do everything: together. That included fighting Regina and rescuing their daughter.

Snow felt the world shift under her feet as she was transported from the mansion's hallway to this dank environment that smelled like mold. She opened her eyes to darkness. There was only a single bulb humming softly in the…dungeon. There was no other word for this place. She heard Charming move slightly behind her, the boots he wore crunching against the ground.

"No…please…"

Snow heard the voice coming from a far wall. It sounded weak and sad. Snow squinted against the darkness to see the figure. She was suddenly very afraid of who she was going to find there. Snow swallowed hard. The sound seemed to echo in the chamber. Slowly, hesitantly, she stepped forward until she could see a woman's form. Further steps, and the form cleared, confirming her fears.

"Emma…?" Snow called softly, both wanting to save her daughter and afraid of how much of Emma there would be left to save.

Behind her, Snow heard Charming's strangled cry of despair, as he was suddenly able to make out the figure of their daughter.

Snow raised a hand to her mouth in shock as she took in Emma's ruined form, wanting to deny what her eyes told her was true.

Her daughter hung in wrist shackles, no longer able to stand. Malnutrition had made Emma's already thin form emaciated. Her eyes were dark, glittering orbs in a face that resembled a skull, more so than her once lovely daughter. Her skin appeared waxy. She looked pale and gaunt in the meager light. The blonde looked closer to death than to the living.

Her clothes were tattered, unsuitable even to be made into rags. Emma shivered endlessly and Snow felt goose bumps raise on her arms that had nothing to do with the cool breeze floating through the dank dungeon.

Worse yet then her malnourished body, were the marks of abuse that covered every inch of visible skin on the young woman. Later, when she had time, Snow would be sick at the mental image of her tortured daughter. Now, a cold fury coursed through her as she moved to help her daughter. Snow made a silent promise to Emma. Regina would pay dearly.

Emma was dozing. It should've scared her that she was becoming accustomed to sleeping in the chains, but the torture that Regina put her through left her drained, both emotionally and physically. That, coupled with her body's need for sleep, forced her unwittingly into slumber.

Emma was startled awake by the sound of footsteps. Visitation from Regina was unpleasantly expected; she had never had any other "visitors" other than Regina, she reflected numbly.

The soft voice that called her name was so familiar. The darkness was her environment now; the light, meager that it was, made it difficult to see the two forms standing in the dungeon. Emma opened her eyes, squinting past the light, certain that one of the figures would be Regina.

Her eyes widened in shock and horror as she realized who was standing in front of her. Emma pushed with her ruined legs, trying to stand, the sudden surge of fear and adrenaline giving her strength. She found her feet and strained against the chains that bound her, praying that she was hallucinating.

"No…please…" she called sadly. This was too cruel, even for Regina. Either Mary Margaret…Snow White…her mother… was standing in front of her, captured, the way the Sheriff was, or her mind had finally broken and she was hallucinating that she was about to be rescued. Either option was intolerable to her fragile mind. The second figure took a step forward and Emma realized that it was David Nolan… James…Snow White's Prince Charming…her father.

Before Snow could take another step towards her daughter, terrifying laughter filled the dungeon. Emma jerked back against the wall, teeth clenched, hands balled into fists as Regina entered, the purple smoke of magic preceding her. She stood in all her evil glory before the trio, separating mother and daughter from James as she faced him.

"You've got me, you sick bitch," Emma rasped, her face contorted, full of reckless fury. It didn't matter what happened to her, she would do or say whatever was needed to keep her family safe. "Let them go!"

Regina turned towards Emma, giving James an opening. Sword in hand, James gave a yell of fury and threw himself at the Evil Queen. She side-stepped him, laughing at his effort and swept her hand in an arc. There was a thud as he landed, having been thrown magically through the air into the wall behind him. He slid down the slimy stones, resting quietly in a heap. He moaned once and then was silent, blood pooling under his head on the damp floor.

"NO!" Both Emma and Snow yelled simultaneously, their voices merging together into one full of fear.

Regina laughed again, giddy at the pain she was inflicting on the two women in front of her. She advanced on them. Snow stepped between Emma and Regina, her arms outstretched, shielding Emma with her own body. Snow would do what she had to do to protect her daughter from further harm. Snow could feel Emma trembling behind her. Snow wanted to turn to her, to tell her that everything would be okay, that James wasn't dead, even if the futile words were empty.

"Ms. Swan…you asked me when I would let you die," Regina said casually, malice glinting in her eyes as she surveyed the mother and daughter standing in front of her. "I will make you a deal. Your father is dead. Your mother…will be joining him shortly. Once they're both dead, you may join them, if you wish," she sneered. Regina was now standing within a few feet of Snow and Emma, hatred and satisfaction apparent in every line of her face.

The Evil Queen closed the distance between herself and Snow, hand hovering near Snow's chest. "I've waited so long for this…" she whispered, an evil smile curling across her face in triumph. "To have the heart of Snow White." She plunged her hand towards Snow's chest.

A/N: Yep, TBC…hopefully not too long. My fabulous beta, TJMack, is working her butt off to make sure that these next chapters are an appropriately awesome pay off for the build-up I've put Emma & Co. through. As usual, please REVIEW! And also, a little appeal to those who are following the story but haven't reviewed…pretty please review, otherwise I have no idea what you're thinking about the story.

Music: Tenth Avenue North "Strong Enough to Save"

"You fought
but you were just too weak
so you lost
all the things you try to keep
now you're on your knees, you're on your knees

But wait,
everything can change,
in a moment's time you don't have to be afraid,
cause fear is just a lie
open up your eyes

And he'll break
open the skies to save
those who cry out his name
the One the wind and waves obey
is strong enough to save you..."