I gasped awake, my arm straining against the bonds that held me. They were tied in front of me as I sat on the floor of a cage, the same cage that Rumple was in, the same one we discovered.
When I tried to use magic, I couldn't. I quickly noticed, even from the dim light, that there was a cuff on my wrist. When the memories came flooding back, I jolted to my feet, unsure if my heart was still inside me or not.
Why hadn't Zelena killed me yet?
When the light came flooding through the doorway, I squinted, still unsure. When Hook came flying down the stairs and up to the bars, I couldn't breathe. "Father?"
"Kaleen," he whispered frantically. "We need to get you out of here. Can you just wave your hand and whisk the lock open?"
I shook my head. "There's a cuff on my bounded hands." I lifted them for him to see. He sighed before he began to mess with the lock. "What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here?" He asked, not stopping with the lock picking. "Saving my daughter." He paused in his speech just as he twisted the lock and it popped off. He opened the door and yanked me out, embracing me, his hand on my head and running down my hair, comfortingly. "Kaleen, I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me, love?"
I buried my head in his chest and nodded, tears beginning to come up. I nodded. "Yes." I pushed away from him. "Cut these bloody things off." He cut them and ripped the cuff off my wrist. I could feel my magic returning. "We need to get out of here, since you came alone."
I stepped into the light. "Hold onto me." Before I could wave my hand to teleport away, Zelena stepped outside, holding something in her hand.
"I don't think you're going anywhere," Zelena cooed, stepping up to us. My father took a protective step forward. "Oh, Captain, still so protective of something you never even knew you had." I snarled at her. Right as I gripped my father's arm and the magic flowed for me to disappear, Zelena held up...my heart.
My eyes widened and I swallowed, knowing that she could tell me to do anything she wanted, even kill my own father. I took a step in front of him and turned to him. "Leave now," I hissed.
"Kaleen—"
"If she wanted me dead, she would have killed me already," I said. "She could make me do anything. She could make me kill you. Go help the rest of them. I'll be fine." I took a step away from him and waved my hand before he could object. He disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving me standing with my back facing my cousin.
"There's no point in leaving since you can just call me back the second I do," I said, turning back around. "So, why don't you tell me, Zelena. Why in the hell haven't you killed me yet?"
She chuckled. "You see, I never wanted to kill you. Not like Regina, but you were in the way and I knew you would do anything to protect the precious baby."
"I have an oath to protect their youngest heir," I hissed. "So I guess that's true." Zelena laughed, walking forward to me. "In the city, you send a monkey after me. In Storybrooke, you sent one after me. Why did you want me so badly?"
"You have powerful magic, cuz, magic that could rival the Savior's," she said, slightly squeezing my heart and causing me to exhale sharply. "And I've needed it."
—
"Zelena has Kaleen?" Regina asked Hook. He nodded sadly.
"And Kaleen sent me away before Zelena could order her to do something," the father replied, a grim look on his face. Regina glanced up a the ceiling, thinking.
"We know that Zelena wants to go back in time," Regina thought out loud before it clicked. "Maybe she needs more magic." She snapped her fingers. "She needs Kaleen's magic."
"Why would she need light magic?" Hook asked. Regina thought for a moment, considering the question.
"It's not just any light magic," Regina said. "It's fairy magic, uncontrolled fairy magic, powerful magic that doesn't have to follow the rules of the fairies." Her eyes widened. "She needs Kaleen's fairy magic."
—
"He's gone," Emma said as she walked up to Regina, Snow and David with her phone in her hand. "I sent Hook to watch him but he's gone too." Regina held the story book in her hands, hoping that would make Henry believe again.
"Hook was here this morning," Regina said. "He was worried about his kidnapped daughter." She paused. "Both of them are gone? Let me use something of his. I can try a locator spell."
"I'm way ahead of you," Emma said as she typed in her phone. "I've got a GPS in his phone." Her eyes widened. "He's at the docks."
—
"Henry this is a friend of mine," Hook said in the falling snow. He motioned to Mr. Smee. "Mr. Smee."
Henry cocked his head in amusement. "Like from Peter Pan?"
Smee stared at him for a second. "You-You remember?"
"I've seen the movie a million times," Henry replied, smiling.
"It's quite a common name in the seafaring world," Hook lied while he turned back to Henry. "As luck would have it, he's making sail for New York and would be happy for the company."
"I am? I mean, I am."
"Really?" Henry asked, nodding his head. "Where's your ship?" Smee looked around before his eyes landed on a random vessel behind him.
"There she is."
"You're stealing it," Henry said as he understood everything. "Right?"
"Do you want to go to New York or not?" Hook asked quickly. Henry thought about it for a moment, unsure of what to say before a question came up.
"If you really want to help me," Henry said. "Then answer a few questions." He didn't wait for a response. "Is the person who killed my dad the same person that took your daughter?"
Hook stared at him for a moment, saying nothing, knowing that on the look of Henry's face, he understood.
Henry's face dropped. "I'm sorry."
"Captain," Smee said as he saw something flying over the horizon, flying straight for them and screeching.
"Mr. Smee we need to get the lad to the boathouse," Hook said when he saw it too, his eyes turning from pure sadness to alert and distress.
"Why?" Henry asked. "What's going on?" As he looked up, he saw it too. His eyes widened. "Killian what is that?!"
"Now!" Hook yelled, grabbing Henry's arm and running to the boathouse quickly. The creature screamed. As soon as they made it inside, Hook yanked the door closed behind him.
"What now, Captain?" Smee asked, obviously as distressed as he was.
"Take the boy there, the far exit," he ordered as he pulled out his pistol. "Find a new boat. I'll stay and deal with our winged friends. Henry! Go with Smee! Don't stop no matter what you hear!" Henry began to run, but stopped when he saw the monkey. "Henry go!"
Henry sprinted, faster that time as Killian shot the creature and caused it to turn to dust. He shot a second one just before Henry tripped and a third landed above him on a wooden beam, hissing at the fallen boy.
"No!" Killian cried, trying to shoot it but having no more bullets left. It jumped at Henry, soon being turned to dust as well when Emma shot it. David ran forward, throwing his sword at another.
Regina walked to the edge. "I never liked pets." She created a fireball in her hand and continuously shot at them with fire with Emma at her side, shooting them with her pistol and causing all that came close to be turned to brightly-colored dust.
Emma ran to her son. "Henry! Are you okay?" She helped the frightened boy stand.
"Yeah," he said, speaking way to fast. "What were those things?" David slid his sword back into the holster. "Why does he have a sword?"
"Everything's going to make sense in a minute, I promise," Emma said as she clutched the book in her hand. Henry hadn't noticed it yet.
"What are you talking about?" Henry asked, confused and frantic all at once.
"I'm sorry," Emma said. "You were right. I was keeping things from you. You deserve to know the truth." She held out the book. Henry stared at it, confused.
"About fairy tales?" He asked. "I don't understand."
"Do you trust me?" Emma asked. Henry nodded.
"Of course I do."
"Then I need you to believe," Emma said. Henry stared at her for a second.
"Believe in what?"
Emma paused before she spoke again. "Believe in magic."
"From a book?" Henry asked doubtfully. Emma shook her head.
"It's more than just a book. Do you believe in me?"
He searched his mother's face, his own twisted in a confusion, even as he answered. "Yes."
"Then take it," Emma said softly. Henry looked down at the book, unsure. But he reached out and took the book in his hands, magic flowing into him, giving him his memories back. He gasped as he recalled everything. Emma took a step back.
His voice was soft. "Mom?" He turned his head to Regina. "Mom!" Regina smiled, joy to vibrant to describe. She walked up to her son and embraced him tightly, missing what that felt like, almost crying from relief. He held onto her tightly. "I remember." He turned to Emma. "I remember!"
"Do it Emma," Regina said, holding Henry's shoulders. "Break the curse." Emma leaned forward, about to kiss her son's forehead before he disappeared in a green flash. Emma gasped and Regina whipped around.
"So sorry to interrupt," Zelena sighed, holding Henry against her, one arm wrapped around his chest. "Now who wants to say goodbye first?"
"Who are you?!" Henry exclaimed.
"You can call me auntie Zelena," she replied, smiling. Regina snarled, mother bear taking control of her.
"Enough of this," she hissed as she walked to her sister. Zelena said nothing when Kaleen appeared out of the blue and threw Regina back several feet. Before Hook could grab his daughter, she disappeared again and stood behind Zelena, dread in her face.
—
"Let him go," Emma said. "He had nothing to do with this. Kaleen do something!" I swallowed. Zelena had my heart. I couldn't do anything to save Henry. It was all Emma.
"Don't blame me," Zelena said, her hands moving to Henry's throat. "The captain failed me." I looked up at my father, confused as much as Emma was.
"Damn you, Zelena," he hissed.
"Hook, what's she talking about?"
"He knew that the price of that deal was," Zelena replied, turning Henry to look at her. "Your son's life." Henry wheezed and gasped as she choked him.
"Zelena, please," I whispered. "Please don't do this."
"In time you'll learn to understand," Zelena said to me as Henry gasped. "They are just distractions." I turned to Emma, tears in my eyes because I could do nothing.
"...mom…!" Henry wheezed. Emma closed her eyes, hands out in from of her as I felt the magic burst out of her. Light bathed Zelena. Zelena screamed, holding on as long as she could before the burn worsened and she had to let go.
"Run!" Emma yelled. Henry didn't hesitate. He bolted straight for his mother and I smiled with delight and relief, that he had made it out. Emma clutched his son close as Zelena screamed with frustration.
"Kaleen!" She hissed. "Look at me." I looked at her, not in control of my own body. I fought it as best as I could, but the tether to my heart still held firm. "I may not be able to get close to her but you can." Oh, God. Please no. "Kill the boy, won't you dear?"
My father's eyes widened as did Emma's. She moved her son behind her as I stepped forward.
"Kaleen," My father said. "Don't do this."
I shook, choking on tears. "I can't stop myself. Emma stop me!" My magic, like a switch, was flipped on and I threw Emma to the side, lunging forward and grabbing Henry. His eyes were wide with shock and horror.
"Kaleen!" He said. "Please!"
"I'm so sorry Henry," I whispered. I could see Zelena smiling with triumph. "I'm so sorry." My hands shook as I reached for his heart, but remembering that Regina had put a spell on it a year ago, I reached up for his throat and squeezed it. He gasped again, clutching my hands. "I'm so sorry Henry." Emma pushed herself to her feet.
"Kaleen stop!" She hissed. "Don't make me—"
"Do it!" I screamed. I shook as I struggled to fight on the tether to my head. I cringed from the increasing pain of fighting it. "Emma! Please!" She did the last thing I thought she would. She didn't use magic. She punched me in the jaw and as I let go, the used magic to chuck me against Zelena.
Zelena screamed in frustration. "Enjoy this moment together!" Zelena screamed, yanking me up by the collar of my shirt and choking me. I could see my father tense. He knew he could do nothing. "Because you don't have many left!" Zelena whipped her hand and we both disappeared.
—
I collapsed on my knees when we appeared back in her living room, gasping and shaking and in terrible pain. She stared down at me, disgusted. "No matter what I do, you fight me."
I looked up as I trembled. "I. Will. Not. Kill. Henry." I said in short bursts of air. "I would kill myself first." She chuckled, stepping over me.
"In time, he will die," she said. "I will be the one that makes you kill him." I stared at her, swallowing and realizing how much my jaw ached with pain. "Now we just wait for the baby and you my dear Kaleen…" she kneeled down to my level. "Will use your magic to cast my spell."
—
"I'm sorry, Kaleen," Rumple said. Zelena had left for only a short moment and we both stood in her kitchen. "I truly am." I shook my head, running my fingers through my hair.
"I know you wouldn't have taken my heart if you had a choice," I replied. "You don't need to be sorry." He sighed before a thought came to mind.
"When you returned, you were shaking," he said. I nodded. "Why?" I shrugged. I honestly didn't know why.
"I fought the tether to my heart I suppose," I said. "The more I fought Zelena's orders, the more pain I was in. It still hurts where my heart once was." He glanced at my chest and then back into my eyes.
"You shouldn't have been able to do that," he said blankly. "You shouldn't have been able to fight it at all." I cocked my head. I didn't understand and the look on my face told him I didn't. "When I'm tethered to the dagger, I am still myself but I can't fight Zelena's orders. "I cannot fight what she tells me. If I try, nothing happens. The heart is the same way." He brought his hand to his chest. "When you tried to fight it, you shouldn't have been able to."
I thought for a moment. "Then how did I?"
"I don't know," he said. "If I did, I might try it myself." He paused. "Now that the curse is broken, since Regina gave true love's kiss, everyone has their memories. Maybe they'll be able to protect the baby from us."
He sighed, nodding. "I truly hope so." With that, a tearing pain went through me. I gasped, my weight shifting to against the table. I moaned as Rumple rushed over. "Kaleen? What's wrong?"
I groaned, hurting to stand. "I don't know."
"I do," Zelena purred as she walked into the room. "You see, I did a little study on fairy magic and it turns out their oaths are quite serious." I glared at her. "You may be able to kill the heir under my control, but to protect them, you need to feel when they're in danger." My eyes widened.
"What did you do?"
"Only activate part of your oath," she said as the pain shot through me again. "You feel when the baby is coming." She looked down at me before she waved her hand over the heart and the pain stopped. I gasped and was finally able to stand. "And because of you," she leaned in. "I know that the baby is coming."
