Emma held my hand as we walked through my mother's gardens. My mother sent a note after dinner, letting me know she wasn't too happy about my absence, but would allow it because of my 'condition'. Emma snorted at that phrasing.
She sent dinner to us. I would have thought the gesture kind, if I didn't already know she was manipulating me.
We walked the gardens before breakfast, the early bedtime causing us to wake early. It was strange, being able to walk in the sunlight without magically protecting myself.
Emma smiled at me as I admired flowers, in the sunlight. Magically enhancing myself to walk in the sun for periods of time could be magically exhausting. As a hybrid, I could walk in the sun without any problems, enjoying the sun without any fear of burns.
"Feels-," I paused, thinking. "Warm. So warm."
I could see the love in Emma's eyes, and feel it through our bond. She probably felt my joy at being able to walk in the sun without protection.
"We should probably go to breakfast." I sighed. Emma reached out and squeezed my hand.
"We should." We didn't move. Emma laughed.
"Fine, let's go." I said after we stood, enjoying the sun for a little longer.
My mother was already at the table, as was everyone else. We were late.
"Difficult morning?" She asked as I took my place beside her.
I adjusted myself, doing my best to get comfortable.
"A morning stroll after a long night." I offered.
"I would guess that after so many years as a vampire, becoming a hybrid would have its benefits." My mother snapped her fingers. Food appeared, served by the usual, heartless servants.
"Indeed." I was uninterested in this conversation.
I ate greedily, to my mother's continued disapproval. At this point, I didn't care. I wanted to get out of here. I was beginning to feel trapped.
We were dismissed as breakfast completed. Lena pulled me aside, without speaking, she led the way toward the room where Alice was hidden. Emma followed, it seemed wolves really did get more attached during pregnancy.
I made sure no one was watching, following or listening, using my intensified senses to make sure we were covered before nodding to Lena. She lifted a hand and pushed through her own magic, grabbing my hand to tug me in after her. I latched onto Emma, dragging her in after me.
Alice lay on a couch in the corner, an empty plate and a cup discarded on a table beside her.
"Thanks for the food." She looked at Lena begrudgingly.
"It was nothing." Lena answered, tersely.
Alice sat up.
"When do we enact this plan?" She looked very eager.
Lena looked to me, as did Emma.
"We're still waiting on the Madhatter." I wanted to be sure the White Queen would be close enough for this to work.
"What exactly is the plan?" Lena wanted to know.
I glanced at Emma. We had woken up early this morning and begun planning, then took a walk to clear our heads. It was enough for us to be sure.
"The White Queen will serve as a distraction, you and Alice here will go to retrieve the hat." Lena opened her mouth to speak, I held up a hand. "I will give you a vial of my blood for the blood magic, don't worry."
"And your mother? She still has the spell we need." Lena asked.
Emma and I exchanged looks.
"Let us take care of that." I knew what I would have to do. It was something I had to take care of, but I wasn't facing her alone. Emma would make sure of that.
"The rest of my pack will help you, once you have the hat, get some to the White Queen, if you can." They would keep her safe from any potential danger until we completed our part.
Alice looked around the room. She let out a long, sad breath.
"You mean to tell me, we're waiting around for now?" She wrapped arms around her knees. Lena had gotten her better clothing than the dungeon rags she was wearing the night before. She wore colorful pants and a nice blouse, the sleeves flowing. They were loose on her thin frame. It would take time for her to be healthy again.
"Unfortunately, yes." I told her regretfully. It must have felt like she didn't escape. She couldn't leave this room until we were ready.
"Lena, those potions Alice told us about, can we brew them here?" I asked. Lena pursed her lips.
"I'm going to need help moving the instruments for the brewing." I nodded at that.
"Kara can help." Emma frowned at my offer. I shook my head, feeling her desire to protest through our bond.
As we left, I took her hand in my own.
They obviously have a deep bond. I told her.
Emma's tense shoulders relaxed.
I'm just not sure if we should encourage it. Emma answered. I allowed my curiosity to reach her through our bond.
Kara is in a fragile state, any connections she builds, could be, Emma hesitated, much too intense, and just as fragile.
You can't protect her forever. I told her.
Emma huffed. I know.
We wandered for a time. This castle was beginning to feel like a prison. Perhaps that was why my mother wanted to leave so badly.
It slowly came to me. We could go to her once the White Queen was here and offer her our answer as well as a little more.
After all, who wouldn't want a little immortality? Especially someone as power hungry as my mother?
It would be days before relief came. Lena finished the potions Alice needed within three days. Kara sneaked her out into the gardens in a tiny, smaller form. It seemed that was all Alice needed to reinvigorate the fight within herself.
We spent those days dodging my mother's desire for an answer. I asked to view Wonderland, perhaps we could create a union of our power. I pretended at being interested in having power over not only our domain, but hers. She bought into it eagerly, giving Emma and I, tours of some of the local area she reigned over.
It only locked in my desire to keep her away from my home. Fear tinged the eyes and the actions of the locals. They bowed and scraped at displaying perfect respect in her presence. Many looked underfed, some had the marks of beatings on their skin. A few held the vacant expressions of the heartless.
We were being guided on one such tour through a nearby farm town that fed my mother's soldiers as she went on about how she had to take the hearts of quite the number of the farmers. They had been a little too resistant to her reign.
"The head of the village to this little farm town led quite the resistance." She smiled at some far away memory. "Even once I held his heart in my hand, his people continued to fight. It was quite admirable."
We rode in a carriage, watching fields slip by. The carriage halted as we arrived at the village.
The head of the village stood with a number of villagers, eerily arranged to greet my mother. He bowed to her as she approached him.
"Just think of it, Regina." She smiled, coldly. "A world of people, bent entirely to your will."
I hid my displeasure at the thought.
"I can see the temptation." Bile rose in my throat, even as I spoke the words.
Hooves thundered down the road. My mother's guard shifted, hurrying to surround their queen protectively.
One of her own guard appeared on the edge of the village, riding in as if chased. He dismounted as he came closer.
He bowed as he came closer to my mother.
"Your majesty." He addressed her, out of breath. "There is an urgent matter at the castle."
His eyes darted around. He didn't seem to want to address the problem out in the open. My mother frowned at him.
"What could be so urgent that you would disturb this day out with my daughter?" Fury edged her voice.
The soldier glanced around. He stepped closer to my mother.
I tuned my hearing toward his whispered words.
"The White Queen has been spotted, she is only a day's ride from the castle."
Emma and I exchanged looks. It was almost time.
My mother straightened her dress, smoothing hands down her torso. I spotted the bump where the magical scroll had to be. She dismissed the soldier with a snap of her fingers.
"We must cut this trip short, an urgent matter has come up." My mother turned to me and Emma. "Once we reach the castle, I must ask that you and your pack return to your rooms, I will have dinner sent to you."
I knew she didn't trust us. I nodded my acceptance. She was confining us to our rooms so that she could reassure herself that none of us would do anything she didn't want.
The carriage ride back was silent. My mother's thoughts were far away. I could see plans forming behind her emotionless eyes.
"Straight to your rooms." She told me. I shook off the memories that order evoked. Emma took my hand and pulled me along.
I hid my smile until we reached our rooms.
One more day.