The mirror was aware of her presence. It was a protective measure Cora had implemented, just in case. She knew Emma was there and because it suited her plans she cancelled the spell that would have harmed anyone other than Regina for touching it. As Emma opened the mirror, the Cora inside altered her voice and her appearance to that of her daughter.
Emma dropped the mirror in shock as it spoke. It remained open on the floor, spitting out the harsh voice of the Evil Queen, facing away from her. The mirror thought it was talking to Regina, she realised. It was telling her to destroy her enemies, to take back her son and get revenge for everything Snow White had done to her. Then it mentioned the Saviour. Emma listened, frozen in place as it suggested how to deal with the only witness to her new curse.
How long had Regina been listening to the mirror? Emma couldn't understand why she would have such a thing. Regina had been trying so hard to be good… She was supposed to be able to tell when someone was lying to her! Was Regina using magic to trick her into trusting her? No wonder she panicked when Emma had found the mirror before. If it had started talking back then the secret would have been out.
Emma couldn't listen to the mirror anymore. She reached down to close it and returned it to the table, her hand shaking.
Emma had been right. The ride made her feel great and she was smiling as she walked back through the town. She stopped at the grocery store and picked up the ingredients to make a special dessert, a treat for Emma's sweet tooth. She got to Mary Margaret's apartment and knocked on the door. There was no answer so she assumed Emma had finished watching her film and gone to the Sheriffs station to catch up on some work. It didn't matter; she would head over to the diner and put the shopping away, ready for later.
When that was done, she walked back through the town, pressing the button on the walktetalkie to tell Emma she had finished her ride. Emma didn't respond straightaway and when she did her voice sounded strange.
"Are you okay?" Regina asked.
"Yes, I've got a headache so I think I'll stay home tonight."
"If you want, I can bring over some of the meals I froze and left at the diner? I've just dropped off supplies."
"It's fine, I picked up some ready meals at the store, I'll just microwave them and have an early night."
Regina stood at the corner of the street where Emma lived and watched her walk towards Mary Margaret's apartment. "Do you need me to pick you up some headache tablets?"
"No thanks. I've found where Mary Margaret keeps them. I'm just sitting around in my pj's and I have everything I need, so I'll see you tomorrow."
Regina frowned. Why was Emma lying to her? Where had she been today that made her act this way?
She took a moment to think back over her last conversation with Emma. They'd been in the diner. Emma had made a chocolate cake. They'd eaten some of it and tidied up the kitchen. Emma had suggested taking a break. No wait, before that. Emma had knocked over her handbag. She'd asked about the mirror.
Regina shook her head. That was silly. She'd explained it was just an old mirror. Emma wouldn't have any reason to suspect anything else.
Except… she had that stupid 'power' to tell when someone was lying.
Regina allowed herself, in her head and not out loud, to swear.