Regina had picked a random direction and started walking, she didn't really have any destination in mind. All she knew was that she needed to be as far away from the town meeting as possible. She knew that the people would be pissed, and that they will probably be demanding answers. And quite honestly, she was in no mood to hear how her mother ripped her heart out for the second time, or how she decided to steal her baby away. She didn't want to stand around and hear the people as they verbally attacked her mother, because she wasn't sure what was expected of her. She knew that it was cowardly to run away like that, and avoid the confrontation, but she didn't care. Like Ruth said, right now she wasn't the Mayor, or the queen, and she didn't have the energy to be level headed, and be in control. She still needed to process everything that has happened, just like the rest of them and maybe even more.

Yes, they were all taken away from their homes, and had their memories of their lives erased, but they weren't taken away from their loved ones. They may have had different identities, but they still had their children with them. They knew who they were when they looked at them, and not treated them like total strangers. Said children didn't find themselves abandoned on the side of the road when they were eight, and were forced to claim that they didn't remember anything about their lives, just so that they wouldn't be called crazy. She understood that they all had a right to be angry, but when you think about it, how bad was it really for them?

Before she knew it, she found herself standing at the edge of the cemetery, staring at the only mausoleum standing in the distance. She took slow, unsteady, brisk steps towards the large stone building that houses her father's grave. She had taken that path a million times before, holding nothing but love and longing in her heart towards the man whose remains rested there. Even back in the Enchanted Forrest, she used to visit his grave a lot. But now, she held something else in her heart towards him, something that she never thought she'd ever hold, or maybe it was always there, but she was in denial about it. Whatever the case may be, she wasn't holding love and longing as she took those steps, or at least not only. She was filled with anger, and a sense of betrayal.

She pushed the doors open, and slammed her fists against the coffin, "why?" she cried, "why didn't you even stand up to her? Why did you let her get this bad? How did you not see the signs? Why didn't you ever try to figure out how she became this cold?" she sobbed, slamming her fists with each question.

Those were the questions that she was never able to find an answer for; how come he never tried to stand up to Cora? Why were his defenses always empty? Why didn't he try harder? How come he never tried to change her? Why did he let her get this bad? Those were the questions that had been nagging her since she learned the truth about her mother's heart , why didn't he ever look for a way to save her mother?

She fell to her knees sobbing, and rested her forehead against the cold plaque bearing his name, "I loved you with all my heart, and never understood why you never tried to protect me. I thought I did when I grew up, and saw how powerful she really was. But then I had a child of my own, and I realized that it had nothing to do with her, but everything to do with you. You were too scared to stand up to her, you were afraid for your own life, and you just stood there and watched as she tormented me, day after day" she almost screamed.

"You didn't do anything to stop her, and my baby was the one who suffered the most!" she mumbled dejectedly, "you didn't protect me from her, and I didn't protect Stella" she finished solemnly.

"My, my, our mighty queen sobbing like a common peasant" Rumple sneered, and she jumped.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed. Her voice was a lot stronger than she felt, and for that she was grateful.

"I saw you running away from the meeting, so I decided to have a special meeting of my own with you, since I already know what they will say" he stated arrogantly.

"Well, that makes one of us. You are the last person on the face of this earth that I want to see right now" she snarled, and he smiled devilishly at her.

"You don't get to make the rules here, dearie" he snapped, and before she could respond; he grabber her hand and pressed a large, golden pendent to her palm. Once it connected with her skin, she could feel it burn. She tried to get her hand back, and push him off of her, but he was deceptively stronger than he looked.

"Enjoy your last moments alive" he spat.

Stella, Claude, David, Snow, Cora, Ruth and Leopold all rushed out of City Hall and past the hysterical crowd. Various sounds of horror echoed with the howling wind, as dark clouds covered the sun that was shining mere minutes ago. Stella's eyes widened in horror, when she once again caught sight of the dark hooded figure sailing through the sky.

"No" she whispered in horror.

"What the hell is that?" David yelled over the sounds of the wind.

"The Wraith" Cora cried, and Snow's head whipped around to face her.

"The soul sucking creature?! It's a myth!" she yelled.

"Says Snow White" Cora retorted, as they all sprinted after Stella, who had already started running after it.

"I thought you said there was no magic here!" Claude yelled.

"How about we get rid of it and then ask questions?" Ruth snapped.

They didn't need to run that much, for just around the corner stood a terrified Regina and a smug-looking Rumple. Before any of them could comprehend what is happening, the wraith waved his hand in front of Regina, and she immediately fell to her knees, gasping for air as a blue light radiated from her body, and into his hand.

"NO" Stella and Cora screamed simultaneously, and Stella sent a fireball in its direction. The creature released a blood curling scream, and backed off a little. Regina fell forward, only for Cora to-who had ran in her direction- catch her, and protectively wrap her arm around her. She was gasping for air, and struggling to get precious air into her lungs. She looked up and saw the creature moving towards her again, only for Stella -who was now standing in front of her- to send another fireball hurling towards it. Leopold, Snow, and Ruth rushed to her side, while David and Claude both grabbed a smug looking Rumple.

The creature-seemingly annoyed with the little witch who kept getting in his way- swung his hand and Stella found herself sailing through the air and rolling onto the concrete. The creature turned around to face his prey, and once again waved his hand. No matter how hard Cora tried to wrap her arms around her daughter, it was futile. Regina once again gasped for air, as the creature sucked away at her soul.

Cora tried to pull Regina away, and desperately tried to access her magic, but she couldn't even feel inside of her. Suddenly, the Wraith moved his hand away from Regina, and she once again fell against her mother's chest, her own heaving as she coughed and gasped. Cora looked back up at the Wraith; she knew that he doesn't leave his victims unless he takes their souls. The only other way to save someone's soul is to mark someone else.

She looked at the creature, and caught the shocked look on Rumple's face, and the horrified one on Claude and David's. She followed their line of sight, and her heart sank. Stella stood defiantly a few feet away from all of them, glaring at the creature. Her eyes traveled down to Stella's clenched fist, and her blood went cold in her veins. Two metal chains dangled on each side of her fist, which was wrapped tight around a big, gold pendant. Even though Cora had only seen picture of it, but she still knew what it was. Stella was clutching the marker; she had just marked herself.

"Stella" she whispered in horror, and Regina's eyes flew open.

Everything happened so quickly that no one had time to intervene.

When Regina opened her eyes, two things were happening at the exact same time. Both the Wraith and Stella waved their hands; Stella releasing fire which surround her and the Wraith and effectively separating them from the rest, before she fell to her knees and gasped for air as the Wraith sucked her soul.

"STELLA" all four women screamed at the same time, while David tried to go through the fire. She moved towards the ring of fire, trying to get to her baby, but her mother's strong arms held her back. She squirmed and fought her mother's vice-like grip, but in vain. She saw the blaze of the fire slowly weaken as the one who controlled faded away before her eyes, she saw the glow of the blue light leaving her daughter fade away till it was no more, she saw her once vibrant and defiant baby fall lifeless to the ground.

Thanks to everyone who read, followed and favorited the story, I do it for you guys, and of course those who reviewed, you make my day.

To Bluerose, thank you dear, glad you liked it :)

To Artina, thanks dear. Your first question will be answered soon, as for the second one, they are hiding the fact that one of Stella's foster parents broke her arm when she was ten.

To Guest, hope I didn't keep you waiting long.

Reviews make me very happy, so keep'em coming :)