They weren't late. Parker knew they wouldn't be. The locket told her what to do and she listened. She ran as fast as her feet could carry her. Henry even managed to keep up. It didn't matter about the others. Henry was in her sights. She could conquer the world as long as she knew he was safe.
"Why here?" Parker asked.
The boy was huffing, bent over and breathing deeply. The thief understood that. She overexerted herself as well. There was a slow, even burn rising on her left side. She could feel the muscles tearing from the constant run. The boy wasn't as used to this as she was. He'd be feeling her pain in double.
"Because," Henry hissed as air tried to fill his lungs, "It's the only place nobody would think of. Why stash your evil book of magic right under everybody's noses when you're not allowed in there anymore."
"Right," Parker nodded, "that's exactly what Sophie and I would do with a painting."
She stepped forward cautiously. There were no vehicles in front of the giant office building but that meant nothing. Sophie didn't need a car to get places. She had magic.
I see you've finally decided to believe, the locket chuckled.
"No," Parker replied, "Magic's the only answer. Sophie wouldn't act this way if she were normal. She doesn't like hurting people. She cried accidentally killing a cricket once."
That's because subconsciously she knew it was a friend of Jimminy's.
"Parker," Henry said, "Who are you talking to?"
The thief's eyes blew wide in shock. Her hand leapt to her throat hiding the locket away. She silently cursed herself for being so unobservant. Then she plastered the biggest smile on her face. She winked and replied simply.
"Nothing," she said. "Where's the book?"
"That's why we're here," David Nolan said.
Parker turned around, ready for attack. She even managed to pull the small boy behind her. Her arms were poised to attack should Nolan even make a move in the boy's direction. But her enemy merely stared at her with a smile on his face. Regina stood by his side. Both were bloodied and rumpled but they were alive. They looked unharmed though. The blood wasn't that important.
"Mom!" Henry called, racing towards Regina at full force.
"Henry," Regina said, "What are you doing here?"
"I thought Sophie would go after him," Parker shrugged.
Regina turned her eyes towards the blonde. Her black eyes, so much like Sophie's, narrowed at the locket on her neck. Confusion flittered into those big eyes as she hugged her son. She turned towards her companion, questions in her eyes. David simply tilted his head down.
"That's impossible," Regina gasped, "The baby should have landed… here!"
"Your magic didn't work the way you thought it did, Regina," Eliot snarled.
Parker looked at the hitter in dismay. When did he start believing in such things? He and Regina weren't friends. Their loyalty was with Sophie. The only reason they were even protecting her was for Sophie. She didn't mean anything to them.
Relax, the locket soothed, he isn't betraying you. He's being helpful.
"We have company!" Hardison shouted.
The hacker rushed into the room faster than ever before. He grabbed the thief's arm and pulled her towards the back of the room. Parker wanted to argue with him, but that was stupid. Regina and David were armed with a sword and hands. Apparently magic really was real. Why else would Regina use her hands to protect her?
"Henry, with me!" Eliot ordered.
He didn't have a sword. He was just standing on the other side of the room. He used his whole body to protect the boy. He didn't exactly need a sword anyway. Parker saw him take out tons of people with a paper clip. Besides Sophie wouldn't hurt him. He was her friend.
%%%%%%%%%%%%
Nate didn't like the fact there was a crowd outside the building. He found it quite nerve-racking. There were too many people. They all stared at them as if they were heroes returning from war. Sophie greeted each and every one of them as if she were their queen. She waved. She shook their hands. She even gave them some weird predictions about the future.
Like she even has that power, Nate thought. He frowned at that. He was starting to believe Sophie's ramblings.
The entire drive over he had to keep her talking. He was afraid of her silence. He knew she was planning something big, something evil. He couldn't let her destroy the world. He kept her talking to see where her thoughts took her. There wasn't much detail he detained. He only got snippets of her thoughts. Magic was real. That was one thing he understood. He just didn't see how she could be under that belief.
Together they entered the mayor's office with no security at all. They were clearly expected. Nate had to wonder at that. Sophie wanted him to take her to the graveyard first. She even suggested using her powers. He was afraid of what trying out those supposed powers would do, so he volunteered to drive. She smiled condescendingly at him and agreed.
"It's not here," she had cursed, "She lied!"
Nate knew simply by her tone what trouble was on its way. Sophie's bloodlust only grew as the ride continued. She hated her sister. He couldn't understand how or why. He knew it had something to do with someone by the name of Icarus. A fire happened. She said he disappeared into a giant ball of flames. Maybe it was Regina who caused the fire. He didn't know and he didn't care. Sophie was losing her mind over it.
"Soph," he said for the millionth time that day alone.
"Relax, Nate," Sophie rolled her eyes. She was exasperated. She was talking about death but she was the one exasperated with his worry. "I've got it all under control. Our misery will end shortly."
"What brought this on, Sophie?" Nate growled.
He hoped he was doing the right thing. He figured taking her to the doctor would only end in another violent attack. He was reconsidering that very idea when they discovered Regina was in the office. He now knew letting her play this out was the wrong way to go. They needed to get out now.
"Sophie, let's go," Nate proposed, "You've got a check-up with Dr. Wales-"
"I'm not going anywhere, Nate."
He believed her too. He tried pulling her with him. The only thing moving were his feet. They were frozen to the floor. He had the sick feeling they would be until she got what she was after. He knew how Sophie thought. He had no idea why she was so focused on revenge.
"Hello, sissy," Sophie snarled.
Nate flinched. He could feel the sting of her words vibrating off of her. He knew trouble when he heard it. He knew Sophie. Whoever this woman was, this was not his grifter at all. This was someone darker.
"Nate," Eliot said, "You found her."
"What's left anyway," the mastermind replied.
"Where was she?" Hardison squeaked. Squeaked. The hacker was afraid of the grifter too. By the looks of everybody in the room, they all were.
"She paid me a little visit," Regina replied, "Right, sissy?"
"I wasn't expecting Charming to side against me," Sophie replied, "Don't worry. It won't happen again. I went to Granny's to get back-up."
It took the mastermind a minute to realize he was the back-up. It took him far longer to realize the gun was out. His hand automatically reached for it. He had to force it away. He didn't want Sophie to assume he wasn't on her side too. He needed her to believe they were still partners in this. He was afraid of what would happen should she think she was totally alone.
"Have you found the locket, sissy?" Regina stressed.
Sophie merely raised the gun and pointed it at her sister. Her eyes were red with hate. She was too consumed by the darkness to allow words to distract her. So the mastermind decided to act on her behalf. He found the locket alright. It was firmly wrapped around the thief's neck. Why was that so important?
The answer was on the tip of his tongue.
"Parker's wearing it, Soph," Nate said.
Sophie's eyes turned towards the thief immediately. It was a small tell, but something everyone could use. The gun rose a little higher. Clearly, Regina was the source of her misery. The question was why. He just needed to push her more. He could get the answer if he just tried. He could probably figure out the significance of Parker having that shining locket.
"I know what she's wearing, Nate," Sophie said, "That's why I'm here. It wasn't just our lives she destroyed with that stupid curse."
"That's right," David said, "All of us are still putting the pieces together again. You don't need to do this."
"Sophie, put the gun down," Nate whispered into the grifter's ear.
He wasn't sure why but he was the only one getting through to her. He had to keep it up. He had a whole team of desperate thieves counting on him. He just had to remain calm and whisper sweet nothings into her ear.
"She killed him, Nate," Sophie replied, "I know that doesn't mean anything to you but it's everything to me. She has to be stopped."
"It means everything to me, Sophie," Nate rasped into her ear.
Anger was flaring throughout his bones at her soft accusation. He didn't care? He was the one who would lose the most if she did what she wanted to do. Didn't she see his life was entirely wrapped around her little hands?
"I can't lose you," he stressed.
"You already have," Sophie replied taking a step closer to her target and clicking the calk all at once.
Nate scrambled to catch up to her. He grabbed a hold of her gentle wrist and wrapped his arms around her waist. He pulled her against him and ignored the slight struggle she gave. He planted a calming kiss on her neck and waited for her breathing to go back to normal. She was still quaking in his arms. Most of her weight was on him too. She didn't have much longer to live if he didn't fix this soon.
"Please don't do this," he tried again, "I need you."
"I don't need the gun to do this," Sophie growled, "Magic isn't working right."
"It comes with a price," Nate replied easily enough.
He wasn't quite sure where that came from though. He just knew it was the right thing to say. It was the truth and it felt like something buried deep inside him was starting to come undone. It was like the ache in his chest was starting to disappear. That was weird.
Sophie twirled around to stare at him. She lowered the gun and stared at him as if he had three heads. Her mouth was slack-jawed and she looked terrified. She was shaking so much that the mastermind pulled her closer just to keep her standing upright.
"You remember," she gasped. The look of fright on her face though was confusing. There was no amazement like there should be for whatever miracle she thought was happening.
"Remember what?" Nate asked.
The shaking was getting worse. It was like her entire body was experiencing a million years of great trauma all at once. Her nose was bleeding and her eyes flashed red. There was an odd energy developing around them too. Something in his gut was telling the mastermind the grifter was starting to affect everything around her.
"You don't know," she sighed, relief covering her features. "You're just pretending. You don't know who I am."
Nate stepped forward and placed his hands on her cheeks. He rubbed his thumb under her eyes and tried to clear away the red tears pouring from them.
Then he said, "I don't know who you think you are but you're not this. You're not a killer. You're an angel, so please put the gun down."
"I don't need the gun," she repeated.
"No, you don't," he encouraged.
"Nate, your conversation isn't going the way you think it is!" Regina screamed towards him. Her voice sounded horrified and resigned. It was as if she knew what was going to happen next. She seemed ready for it.
"Don't talk to him!" Sophie yelled at her sister. Her eyes were flashing red again and the blood was pouring from her nose. Her breathing was simply changing to erratic and she was shaking more. The wind was starting to pick up and that strange feeling was creeping into Nate's chest. It was Sophie who was causing it.
"Soph, calm down." He warned.
"I'm not, Sophie!" she screamed, her eyes staying red this time. Her breathing increased and became more of a quick pace than before. The blood on her skin was drying quickly and her hair was starting to flutter backwards. Her skin was deathly pale again.
"Nate," Eliot spoke slowly and softly, "get away from her."
"You won't hurt me," Nate swore for Eliot's benefit more than his own. He knew he was right. The grifter's madness made her feel guilty for him. It made her gentle towards him and made her crazy. He was probably the only one who was safe at the moment.
"I need more magic," she grumbled in response.
Then she broke out of his grip and made her way to the cabinet by the fireplace. She spread out her palm and the door clicked open. Regina stepped forward and threw her arm into the air.
"No!" She called then she looked at her arms in astonishment.
"Your magic isn't working because you're rusty," Sophie stated, opening the cabinet further and pulling out a book. "You should have worked on that the moment I arrived."
"I know you're angry with me but whatever you do please don't open that book," Regina begged softly. There were tears falling from her eyes and she was shaking almost as much as Sophie. "You don't know what it will do to you."
"Actually you don't know," Sophie purred, opening the pages with a simple wave of her hand. "You think inhaling the magic is all you can do? You're wrong. Mother showed me a spell even she wasn't powerful enough to try. I'm going to cast it and be the most powerful being on the planet."
"What are you talking about?" David demanded in confusion, "There's nothing that can be cast to make a person more powerful than Rumpelstilskin."
"Actually he's afraid of the spell too," Sophie replied, then she smiled and Nate felt his spine chill. "Here it is."
"Magic comes with a price, Sophie!" Nate screamed at her. He knew something horrible was happening. He knew Sophie was about to go over the edge. Yet he still couldn't believe it. Why would his angel choose the dark side?
"Yes and the price is death," Sophie grinned, "I can live with that."
"I don't want you to die!" Nate screamed towards the grifter, "Please don't do this."
Sophie ignored him and started reading from the book. David raced towards her with his sword drawn. Sophie just waved a hand and he was pushed back several feet into the furthest wall. Regina continued to wave her arms from side to side, making Sophie glow with several colors from the rainbow. The grifter was not deterred. She just kept reading from that horrendous book. Lightning flashed in the sky outside but no thunder sounded. The wind picked up and the grifter kept chanting. Then she stopped and so did everything else.
"Sss… Soo… Sophie?" Regina cried.
The grifter began to pout and look at the book in confusion. She shook it hard and twirled the pages. Then she finally spoke. "It isn't-"
The book turned red and caught on fire. The grifter quickly dropped it in her surprise and nearly screamed at the smoke billowing out of it. The smoke started to curl and change into a dragon. That dragon roared and smiled at every single person. It turned towards the grifter and smiled wider. Then it rose up out of the book. It flapped its smoky wings and flew right on into the grifter.
"No!" Nate screamed racing towards her with all of his might. He felt the hitter's arms wrap around his. He fought against the younger man, knowing it was futile. He just didn't care. He had to get to her. He had to save her before it was too late.
"I can't let you go, Nate," Eliot growled into his ear.
"She needs me!" Nate struggled.
Then he stopped because he was too distracted by the grifter. She was twitching and moaning and billowing with smoke. Then her red eyes flashed yellow and she stilled. Her eyes were now completely black, no white whatsoever. She looked possessed by a demon complete with demonic smile.
"Soph," Nate gasped struggling even harder against the hitter. He needed to get to the grifter before she disappeared. He didn't know why but he knew she wasn't lost yet. Sophie was still in there somewhere.
"I'm hungry," Sophie replied, looking towards her sister with a ravenous expression.
"No," Regina gasped.
The older woman shook her head in fear and started backing away. The grifter just smiled and took a step towards her. She was a predator enjoying the hunt. Her prey was trying to get away and she loved every minute of it. She wasn't interested in the kill, not yet. No she was only interested in causing fear.
"Don't worry, Regina," Sophie laughed towards her big sister, "I'm just going to crush your heart and consume your magic. You won't even feel it… much."
"You don't want to do this," Regina cried, "This isn't who you are."
"Oh I'm so much worse," Sophie purred, "You have no idea."
"Sophie, stop!" Parker screamed towards the grifter with all of her might.
The blonde thief even took the time to block the former mayor from view. She spread her arms out wide and braced herself for the grifter's wrath. She was determined not to allow the older woman any closer. She was standing up to the only female role model she had ever had. The poor thing looked sick at what she was doing too.
The grifter stared at the thief with a furrowed brow. She looked her up and down and backed away. There was fear on her face but her eyes were still pure black. Her head was shaking but she still wasn't Sophie. Then she turned towards the mastermind with betrayal on her features.
"You're all against me?" She asked. Her black eyes were begging for it not to be true. She looked downright distraught over what she was witnessing.
"No," Nate shook his head, shrugging the hitter off without a second thought. He moved towards her as slowly as he could stand. "We're not against you."
"Why can't you understand that she needs to die?" Sophie shouted towards him, "Why can't you just let me do it? Nobody will miss her! She deserves this!"
"You can't possibly believe that," Nate shook his head.
Sophie sneered at him and immediately swung her arm through the air. It looked as though the thief was being physically lifted into the air and placed back onto her feet. She was now right beside the hacker and out of harm's way. Then the grifter pushed her hand towards her big sister. Regina's arms instinctively rose to protect her and several colors started to swirl up and down.
Regina stared at her hands in amazement. She stared at her sister with determination and immediately shouted out. "Nate, True Love's Kiss."
The mastermind didn't need to be told twice. He rushed towards the grifter while she was distracted. He grabbed her by the shoulders and glued his lips to hers. Sophie was blessedly kissing back and then she wasn't. She pulled away and smiled politely.
"I'm not your true love anymore," she said.
As she spoke she fell away into a haze of purple smoke. The only thing left were the grifter's pearly white teeth, each one shimmering in the candle light. Then her smile grew bigger and bigger until it filled half the room.
"Smooches," it said. Then her smile disappeared with a pop and a flash of smoke.
The group of thieves stared at the puff of smoke in confusion and disbelief. Regina had a tear dripping down her cheek. Charming was coughing up dust as he entered the room. He was wearing a few pieces of plaster and wall but he would survive. Nate then turned towards the thief and stared.
"Achoo!"
The noise echoed throughout the silent room. Everybody turned their shocked faces towards its source.
"Sorry!" the small man replied, "That's why they call me Sneezy, you know."
"Sn… Sneezy?" Hardison asked.
"You remember again," Charming smiled at his old friend. He quickly rushed towards the fabled dwarf and gave him a welcome back hug.
"So Maid Marian is the Cheshire Cat?" Henry questioned.
"Magic's real?" Hardison sputtered, "Am I seriously the only one who finds this surprising? Sophie's a fairy tale character!"
"And now she's going to kill the Evil Queen," Parker said. She was staring at the mastermind with worry and confusion. He was staring at her with a bright smile. It was like he discovered chocolate or something.
"No, she would have done that already," Charming replied, "Her plans have changed."
"She's after Rumpelstilskin's magic," Regina replied, "Mother told her the secret of his destruction before I banished her from our land. She's one of the only people in Storybrooke who knows how to kill him."
"We have to stop her," Parker declared, "She's going to destroy herself."
"It gets worse," Charming replied, "She's already pretty consumed by magic pretty soon that will be all she will crave. Killing Regina isn't going to stop her anymore."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Regina growled.
"That this is your fault and we're not going to be able to save her anymore!" Charming replied.
"At least we have some good news," Nate explained, smiling all the while.
Hardison sputtered at that announcement. Even Eliot seemed to scowl at the mastermind's words. Everybody else was looking at him with pure curiosity of his logic. Nobody could see what good could be coming their way.
"What?" Hardison demanded, anger bubbling up and down his features in different successions. He was struggling to keep his composure after such an ordeal. Well, they all were. It's not every day that you discover magic is real.
"Are you kidding me? Magic is real! Sophie is obsessed with killing her own sister! She's a fairy tale character and you're telling us there's good news? Are you high?" He finished. His brown eyes were practically bulging out of his head he was so stressed.
"He's a fairy tale character as well," Henry pointed out softly.
"Anything else?" Hardison shouted.
"Parker's my daughter," Nate replied.
