Chapter 28: The Land Without Magic

Hyperion Heights - 2 Years After the Curse

Eloise Gardener wandered the streets of Hyperion Heights enjoying her freedom after being held captive for two years. But she wasn't just wandering without a purpose - no she was on a scavenger hunt of sorts. She was looking to see who all was transported here courtesy of her curse. She had found all of the people she was looking for except for one - one very annoying blonde fairy who was in love with a pirate. Eloise hadn't seen the fairy in a very long time - since long before she cast the curse. But she knew the fairy had been in the realm when the curse was cast because she knew the fairy had been with the pirate as the curse took hold.

Eloise thought to herself, "I have to find out where she is. She needs to be here for my plan to work. Luckily I still have something of hers to do a locator spell with. Then it's just a matter of luring her back and I have just the motivation in mind - that pirate!"

Eloise hurried back to her apartment after stopping at the bookstore to purchase a world map and map of the United States. She locked her apartment door and assembled everything she needed to cast her locator spell. Then she cast the spell and waited to see where it would lead on the two maps. On the world map, a mark appeared in the northwest section of North America. On the United States map, a mark appeared in the state of Oregon, specifically Portland, Oregon.

"Well at least she didn't go too far from home," Eloise said aloud to herself. She quickly cleaned up the items from the spell and poofed herself to Portland.

Portland, Oregon

Detective Jade Wilde hurried into her favorite coffee shop to get her morning jolt of caffeine in the form of a large vanilla cappuccino with an extra shot of espresso. The barista recognized her and began making her order before she even got to the counter.

Jade said to the barista, "Ok I know I'm in here everyday and that's why the others know my order, but how on earth do you know it already? You've only worked here three days."

The barista said, "Oh I just have a great memory for faces and remembering things."

"Wish my memory was that good," Jade said jokingly, as she paid for her drink and picked it up.

"You never know when your memory might suddenly get better. Have a good day, Detective," the barista said with a sly smile.

Jade walked out of the coffee shop thinking how strange the woman's last comment was. She shook it off and climbed into her red 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS with two black stripes down the middle and drove off to work.

As she drove, she sipped her drink thinking about her caseload that awaited her on her desk. About five minutes after she had left the coffee shop, while stopped at a red light, she suddenly started having images flashing through her head - images of being a fairy, images of a pirate, images of a horrible place with a horribly cruel man-child, images of the man-child's brutal death at her and the pirate's hands. A horn honking behind her startled her - the light had turned green. She pulled through the intersection and into the first parking spot she saw.

"Oh my God, oh my God. Killian. The curse. I have to get back to him. I have to get back to Hyperion Heights," she rambled to herself aloud. Her hand went to chain around her neck that had a ring on it. Now she knew why she wore the ring - it was her engagement ring from Killian. She took a couple of deep breaths to calm herself down and then pulled back into traffic.

She went to the precinct where she worked and logged on to her computer once in her office. For the first time ever, she was glad she had a private office with a door that closed. She didn't want anyone to see her in her slightly unhinged state or see what she was about to look into or hear the phone calls she'd be making.

First she went to the Hyperion Heights Police Department website to see if there were any openings - there was for a detective. Then she looked at the list of personnel and their photos looking for Killian and one other person. She found Killian, whose cursed name is Detective Colin Rogers, still looking devilishly handsome. Then she found the other person she was looking for - Rumplestiltskin, whose cursed name is Detective John Weaver. If anyone else was awake it would be Rumple.

She placed a call to HHPD and asked to speak with the recently promoted, according to the website, captain - who just so happened to have been her training officer when her cursed self got out of the police academy.

"Jade Wilde, long time no hear. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call today?" Captain Michaels asked when he answered the phone.

"I see congratulations are in order, Captain Michaels," she said in response.

"Thank you, Jade. But seriously you never call. So what's up?" he asked.

"I saw on the website you have an opening for a detective. Nobody worth promoting there?" she asked.

"No one has placed high enough on the exam since Rogers. I assume you're interested in the job since you called." Michaels said.

"Yes I am. I could be back there in two weeks if we get the paperwork pushed through," Jade answered.

"Why do you want to leave Portland? Not saying I don't want you back, but when you left you said you'd never step foot back in the Heights. What's changed?" he asked her.

"I can't explain it really. I just feel that right now I need to be there and not here," she told him because she sure as hell couldn't tell him the truth - he wasn't from her realm.

"Okay I get it. I'll start the paperwork on my end. You go talk to your captain and get the paperwork started there. What's your captain's name?" he replied.

"It's Connors. I know he's in meetings all morning, so the earliest I'll be able to talk to him is after lunch," she tells him.

"Sounds good. Stay in touch on this," he said.

"Will do," she said. They said goodbye and hung up.

After hanging up, she turned back to her computer and did a phone number look up for Detective John Weaver. He answered after two rings.

"Weaver here," he said.

"Weaver, it's Jade Wilde. This is going to sound like a strange request, but if you're near Rogers, can you move away from him?" she asked.

"Not the strangest request I've been asked today. But you're in luck cause he's not here right now. So what can I do for Miss Wilde?" Weaver asked.

"Well first off its detective now and secondly what would you say if I told you fairy tales are real?" she asked.

"Firstly congratulations. Secondly, I'd say what's your proof?" Weaver replied.

"I know what happened to your father, Rumple," she said.

"And who's my father? Hell who are you?" he asked.

"Your father was Peter Pan and I am Tinkerbell," she said holding her breath.

"Well, dearie, what happened to him?" he asked.

"I'll tell you in person in two weeks when my transfer there is complete. Is Killian awake?" she replied.

"No your pirate captain is not awake. I assume Pan is no longer breathing air," replied Weaver.

"You assume correctly. Anyone else awake?" she asked.

"Not that I'm aware of at this time. You said something about a transfer. Are you taking the open detective position here?" he asked.

"Yes I'm taking the spot. I'll see you in two weeks, Rumple," she said.

"See you in two weeks, Tinkerbell," he replied and hung up.

Jade sighed as she hung up the phone. Killian wasn't awake, Rumple was. She realized it was not going to be easy being around Killian knowing he wouldn't know who she really is. She also had no clue who the hell had woken her up. Then she realized that the barista from the coffee shop was someone she knew from the realms - it was Gothel! She must have been the one to wake her up, but why? Jade figured all her answers lied in the Heights...too bad she had to wait two weeks till she got back there to look into it.

Jade turned to the case folders on her desk and figured she might as well get some work done till her captain was out of his meetings. She sighed and opened the top one and refreshed her memory of the case, then got to work.

She worked all morning updating her files, making phone calls, tracking down forensic reports and such. She was so engrossed in her work she lost track of time until there was a knock on her office door.

"Come in," she called out.

Her captain walked in, shut the door, and sat down in the chair across from her desk. Jade waited for him to speak.

"So I just received an interesting phone call about you from a Captain Michaels. Care to explain?" Captain Connors asked.

Jade looked at her watch, shocked that it was so late in the day - explained why her stomach was growling - she had worked through lunch. "I meant to come see you about that when you got back, sir, but I lost track of time. I'm sorry you were blindsided," she said apologetically.

"Blindsided, yes just a bit. I thought you were happy here, Wilde. I also could swear I remember you once telling me you would never step foot back in the Heights. So what gives?" Connors asked.

Jade took a deep breath, unsure of how to answer that. The truth was out of the question. Family needing help was also no good - she had none. Finally she said, " I'm not sure I can explain why, sir. I just feel that right now I really need to be there and not here. I have been happy here but it's just that lately I feel like something is missing. When I was in the Heights, I had a life outside of work. I had friends. Here all I do is work and go on the occasional blind date set up by the wife of another cop who means well. I just need to be back there. I hope you understand, sir."

"I understand. I wish you'd stay but if you feel you need to go, then I'll push the paperwork through. How much time are you giving me?" Connors asked.

"I told Captain Michaels I'd be there in two weeks," Jade informed him.

"Okay. Then I suggest you get to work clearing your current caseload before you go," he said getting up from his chair.

Jade nodded and said, "Thank you sir and already on it." Connors nodded and left her office.

Once Connors left, Jade grabbed her jacket, keys, and cell phone and left to grab something to eat. While she waited for her food, she called an old friend to see if she knew of any place for rent that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg. The phone rang for so long unanswered that Jade almost hung up before it was answered.

"Roni's Bar. Roni speaking," said the woman who answered the phone.

"Roni, it's Jade. Got a minute?" Jade asked.

"For you, I've got 10. What's up girl?" Roni asked.

"I'm moving back to the Heights in two weeks. Know of any place for rent that won't cost me an arm and a leg that isn't owned by Victoria Belfrey?" Jade asked.

"You're moving back? Thought you said you'd never step foot back in the Heights? Not that I'm not thrilled you're coming back. It's just a shock," Roni said.

"Why does everyone keep reminding me of that today?" Jade said, chuckling. "Look I just need to come back and conveniently there's an opening at HHPD. So do you know of any place?"

"Not off the top of my head but I'll start looking for you. You can crash at my place if you need to till we find you a place if we haven't found you one by the time you're back," Roni said.

"Thanks Roni. I'll be in touch," Jade said. She gave Roni her cell number and they hung up. The waitress brought her order then and as Jade ate, she thought about Killian and how much she loved and missed him.

When she got back to the precinct, Connors called her into his office. He had her paperwork ready and needed her signature. She signed and dated all the places he indicated and thanked him for getting it all together as quickly as he did. Then she went to her office to continue working on her caseload, knowing that when she got home she had to start packing up for her move - a task she was not looking forward to.

One Week Later - Portland, Oregon

Jade was sitting in her office at the precinct when Captain Connors came in and sat down.

"Congratulations, your paperwork went through and is finalized. Here's your copy," Connors said, handing her a folder across the desk.

Jade took the folder and said, "Thank you, sir. And I have something for you as well. My last case file that I just finished up." She picked up a folder from her desk and handed it to him.

He took the folder and said, "Great. Thank you. Well then I guess this is goodbye. Again, I'm sorry to see you go but I get it. Our loss is Hyperion Heights gain."

"Thank you for understanding. Now if my friend could find a place for me to live so I don't have to crash at her place that would be awesome," Jade said, as her cell phone rang. Jade glanced at the caller i.d. and said, chuckling, "Speak of the devil. Do you mind sir?" He nodded for her to go ahead and answer it.

She picked up her phone and answered it, "Roni. Please tell me you found a place."

"Hello to you too. Yes as matter of fact I have. A two-bedroom, two bath apartment for $100 less than you told me you could afford. Includes all utilities and a cute neighbor to boot. Great neighborhood and close to the precinct and your favorite bar. And most importantly not owned by Belfrey," Roni informed her. "I'll text you pics of the place as soon as we get off the you like it, text me back and I'll get the paperwork handled for you."

"Seriously for a $100 less than my budget and all utilities included? What's the catch, Roni?" Jade asked. "It's a dump isn't it?"

"Seriously. No catch. It's not a dump. It had been, but the entire building was recently renovated and everything is brand new. Just look at the pics and get back to me, okay," said Roni.

"Okay I'll look at the pics and get back to you. Talk to you later," Jade said and hung up. She looked at her captain and said, "Well she better be right about this apartment or I'm gonna enjoy kicking her ass."

Connors laughed and said, "I'm sure you will. Come see me before you leave today, since you finished your last case and don't need to come back in the rest of the week." Jade nodded her agreement and he left.

Her phone dinged several times in a row indicating several new text messages. She opened the first picture from Roni and then all the others, each picture showing an amazing apartment. Then she messaged Roni back saying she'd take the apartment and that she wanted to move in by Thursday if possible. Roni texted back to say she'd make it happen. Jade then finished packing up her personal belongings from her office and went to see Connors before she left. He hugged her goodbye and told her if she ever decided to come back to Portland to give him a call - he'd find a spot for her. Jade told him thank you and said goodbye.

Back at her apartment, she worked on packing up her stuff. After a couple of hours, she got a text from Roni.

The apartment is yours and you can move in on Thursday. Let me know what time you'll get here and I'll meet you there to help unload. - Roni

Great. Thanks so much. I plan to leave here by 9 a.m. so I should be there by noon at the latest. I'll call you when I'm a half hour away. - Jade

See you then - Roni

Thursday morning arrived with a moving van and the movers showing up at 7 a.m. Everything was loaded either into the moving van or Jade's car by 8:45. She dropped off her keys to the landlord and collected her security deposit check. By 9 a.m. she was on the road back to Hyperion Heights.