Hyperion Heights, Present Day
Henry's voice broke through as he read to Lucy, who still lied motionless in her hospital bed. "Every curse can be broken. You just need belief, maybe the help of your family, but Emma learned that."
Near the bed, Jacinda slept in a chair, her knees curled up to her chest - as Henry continued to read: "And when she did, she knew she could believe in anything if it would save her child."
He then gazed at the little girl before his attention fell on the book in his lap. He looked over the illustration of Emma breaking the first curse with a True Love's Kiss with ten-year-old Henry.
Henry couldn't help but sigh as his eyes strayed back over to Lucy. He then told her, "Now I get it. I really get it. Because I would do anything to save you, no matter how crazy. So, Lucy, if that means there's some other world where I really am your dad, then... I believe it, Lucy. I believe."
He ran his hand over the illustration before he slowly leaned over her. He then pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead. When he pulled back, he waited for her to open her eyes.
His countenance deflated and his shoulders slumped as she continued to lie there. He then closed the book as his heart broke - matched by the sadness written in his eyes and on his face.
San Francisco, Present Day
Zelena closed the trunk to Alena's bug as Regina leaned against Henry's car, her cell phone at her ear.
"That was Henry. Lucy's no better," she then lamented once she came to stand by her sister.
A saddened expression overtook Zelena's features. She then perked up and suggested, "Well, tell him to try True Love's Kiss."
"He already did," Regina began, "Belfry must have done the one thing she's been trying to do for years…she took Lucy's belief."
Anger then exploded on Zelena's face as her sister then bemused, "It doesn't work unless both of you believe in True Love."
"So, if we want to help Lucy…" the red-head began with a shake of her head, knowing the heartbreaking price of an otherwise sound idea, "we both have to get our magic back - and help Alena control her growing powers. And there's only one way to do that."
Her somber expression was matched by the lifeless gesture of her hands. With her eyes welled with tears, Regina supplied, "Break the curse."
Lucy's hospital room then flashed as the brunette continued, "But if we do that, Henry dies," as he took his little girl's hand in his.
"And if we don't, Lucy does," Regina finished as her granddaughter's stillness is shown.
Zelena then sighed and planted her hands on her hips. She then surmised, "At least Alena knows what's at stake."
Regina averted her eyes and pulled on the hem of her jacket. She received narrowed eyes from her sister.
With crossed arms, Zelena then chided, "Don't tell me you haven't told her about Henry's heart."
"Don't look at me like that," Regina stated. She then defended, "Between dealing with Victoria and Drizella every day, pretending that this curse is nonsense and like she just met her family, and having Jack have no idea who she is, Alena's life is pretty much a nightmare. I didn't want to add to it."
Zelena considered her sister's word. She then sympathized, "I get it. This curse is horrid for everyone and makes our lives a living hell."
Regina offered a nod before Zelena pointed out, "But you and I both know that Alena needs to know about Henry. She needs to know exactly what we're dealing with."
With a deep breath, Regina conceded, "You're right. She does need to know," pulling her cell phone from her jacket pocket.
"What are you going to say to her?" Zelena questioned as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I...don't know. But I guess I'll start with the truth," Regina surmised as she dialed Alena's number. The red-head simply nodded.
Alena immediately picked up: "Hey, Roni. Did you convince Zelena, or that is Kelly, I guess, to come back to Hyperion Heights?"
"Yes, I did, but that's not why I called," Regina told her, sharing a look with her sister. She offered a nod and an encouraging look.
"Then why did you?" Alena began. She then paused and continued, "Is everything okay? You sound like something's wrong."
Regina took a deep breath before she confirmed, "...there is, Alena. I really wish I didn't have to tell you this, but…you need to know."
Silence ensued on Alena's end. She then took a ragged breath before she said, "Just tell me. Please."
"It's about Henry. About what will happen to him if the curse is broken," Regina said.
She cast another look toward Zelena before she explained, "His heart is…poisoned. If the curse is broken, he...dies."
Alena gasped. Her voice cracked as she sobbed, "He'll-he'll…die? But - but Ella…and Lucy… and us. His - his heart - h-how?"
Regina sighed before she explained, "Drizella and the Coven. They kidnapped him and poisoned his heart while Jack was getting you home." Her tone became increasingly agitated as she spoke.
Silence - as well as sniffles - ensued once more. She then hesitantly questioned, "Is there anything we can do? At all?"
"We're…working on it," Regina answered - her voice a bit unsure. She then took a breath and spoke, "But Zelena and I are gonna help you with your magic - you're getting stronger, and we need to channel all that so you're ready to face Drizella and Gothel."
"Yeah, yeah, I will be," Alena told her, a bit of that fire reappearing.
Regina hummed her reply. She then said, "Listen, but for now, you just hold those girls tight and keep being a great mom."
With a deep breath, she surmised, "That is something I can do - and it keeps me sane." Her voice still shook slightly, but Regina couldn't be surprised.
The blonde then continued, "Speaking of being a mom, Emma's calling me. I'll see you - and Zelena - when you guys get back."
"Yeah, see you later," Regina told her before she hung up the phone.
Zelena then bemused, "I'm sure Alena's not great - which is the understatement of the century - but at least she'll be ready to fight, won't she?"
With a nod, the brunette confirmed, "She always is - or she'll find a way to be. She doesn't give up." She tilted her head as she commented, "Which is a good thing because I still don't know how the hell she's so powerful."
With crossed arms, Zelena said, "You told me hours ago, and I still don't quite believe it myself." She then quipped, "I suppose we'll just add it to our growing list of things to figure out."
Regina side-eyed her sister. She then resigned, "You are right. And the sooner we get back to the Heights, the sooner we can start working on it."
Zelena nodded before she held up Alena's keys. "I never thought I'd be reliant on a yellow bug to bring me to my family but here we are."
Regina couldn't help but chuckle. She and her sister then climbed in the vehicles and began heading back to Hyperion Heights.
Hyperion Heights, Present Day
Following Weaver's test for Anastasia, Gothel showed up - her sights set on the young girl. Anastasia's magic went haywire, nearly destroying the detective's locker - and tossing him, as well as her mother and the witch, across the room. The frightened girl then ran away.
She soon ran into her sister. Though she didn't quite recognize her at first, Anastasia knew she could trust Drizella and followed her to safety.
The sisters arrived at a mysterious and darkened place. Drizella ran her finger over a nearby table, frowning at the dust she found. She wiped off her hand as she peered around at the broken windows, the rooting wood, and a stone well.
Anastasia wore a confused expression as she looked around and questioned, "Where are we?"
Gothel then appeared from another room and explained, "In a gathering place…" as Drizella offered a small smile, "for me and my family."
Drizella then pulled out bracelets fashioned from vines and flowers as Anastasia fretted, "What is she doing here?"
She then anxiously looked back and forth between her sister and the witch before she asked, "What's going on, Drizella?"
She then seethed, "What's going on is I'm sick of living in your shadow," placing the bracelets on her wrists, "so I'm going to steal your magic like you've stolen everything from me."
She then snatched Anastasia's hands, and the magic-imbued bracelets reacted with the ones Anastasia wore.
Drizella then felt her power draining, and she began to suffocate from the hold with her sister. She then demanded, "What are you doing? Let go!"
"I can't!" Anastasia shouted. The sisters continued to shake as the powerful magic blew their hair and their faces.
Drizella was then thrown against the well. She exhaled sharply and questioned, "What the hell just happened?" running her hand over her face.
Gothel sauntered up beside Anastasia as she stated, "Exactly what I planned. I didn't use that vine to give her magic to you. I used that vine to give your magic to her."
Anastasia looked down at her hands before back up at her sister. Drizella then said, "You betrayed me," her expression of shock and hurt focused on the witch.
Gothel condescendingly pointed out, "Well, you should have listened to your mother then." She then pushed Drizella down the well.
She grunted as she landed with a thud, letting out a sharp exhale. She then looked up, surprise taking over her features as she realized she was not alone - and spied her mother.
Victoria seethed, "Don't even look at me."
"No, no!" Drizella complained as she lied on the ground, running her hands over her face. She then let out another groan as she slammed her hands into the dirt.
Out of the corner of her eye, she then spotted something colorful. She sat up and dug through the moss, grabbing the piece of fabric.
She held the fabric in both hands and looked at it closely. A smile then spread over her features.
"What could you possibly be smiling at?" Victoria then pointedly questioned.
Drizella leveled a glare at her mother as she answered, "Nothing that concerns you."
Victoria rolled her eyes. She then quipped, "You actually do have a point. Nothing you do ever concerns me."
With narrowed eyes, Drizella refuted, "Oh, that much I know, Mother. But I think you'll find that you'll change your mind when I finally have my victory."
With a scoff, Victoria told her, "Oh, please, like you could now actually manage to gain the upper hand."
"Don't underestimate me," Drizella chided. She then rose to her feet and held up the fabric: "And with this tapestry, I can have everything I want."
Victoria eyed the tapestry suspiciously. She then surmised, "So, this is about Alena - and Jack, I suppose - breaking this curse. And reuniting her family."
Drizella crossed her arms as she stated, "I wouldn't count on her having much luck. She's trapped."
"So are you in case you haven't noticed," her mother quipped. She then sighed and continued, "But if you two really are going to face each other, I'd say you two have some work to do."
The brunette regarded her mother for a few moments. She then said, "I'll find a way - I learned it from you."
"Clearly, you didn't pay close enough attention," Victoria told her as she moved her hair behind her ear.
"Perhaps," Drizella conceded. She then let her gaze fall on the cut tapestry in her hands, "But I now have the whole tapestry, and I now have everything I need to make sure Alena never breaks this curse."
Victoria scoffed as her daughter continued to gaze at the tapestry. She reverently ran her fingers over it as she murmured, "I will be victorious - and little Miss Goody-Two-Shoes won't know what hit her."
At her apartment, Alena left the door cracked open to her girls' room. As nothing had changed with Lucy in the hours spent at the hospital, she decided to go home - hopefully, her niece's prognosis would soon change.
She then sank on the couch as the day began taking its toll on her. Not only did Lucy's life hang in the balance - but her brother's did as well. If this curse were broken, Henry would pay the ultimate price.
As tears streamed down her face, she covered her mouth to mask her sobs. She knew the risks of breaking this curse - and she never expected it to be easy, but knowing that Henry's heart was poisoned was almost too much.
How in the hell was she supposed to help him be reunited with their rest of her family - and reunite with her own true love - if doing so would end his life?
She then pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her arms on them. The moment she closed her eyes, she found herself shrouded in terrifying darkness.
A swirling black and gray vortex appeared before Alena. Her eyes widened, and she screamed, "No! Please, no!"
Dark shadows emerged from the vortex. They moved toward Alena, and she attempted to run; however, the more she moved, the more her legs and feet seemed glued to cracked barren ground beneath her.
The shadows then began to speak in haunting voices: "Foolish girl!" "It's all just a game." "Your suffering will be my victory."
Alena closed her eyes in order to escape, but she found herself still trapped. The voices continued to haunt her, and they soon were accompanied by equally haunting images.
Cages. Candelabras. Daggers. Mirrors. Emerald Ruins. Masks. Lightening.
She began to shake with fear. The shadows then proceeded to grab her - she screamed once more: "No! Let me go!"
In the midst of the darkness, a blue light then appeared. Alena found herself drawn to it - she soon discovered it was a wisp.
It led her away from the shadows, the voices, and the images. When she was free, a white light moved closer and closer to her - and she touched it.
"Ahh!" Alena jerked her head with a start.
She breathed heavily as her hands felt around the hardwood floor in which she sprawled. She moved to a sitting position as her eyes adjusted to the darkness flooding her apartment.
As she moved, her hand glided over glass - she picked it up and realized it came from her busted lamp.
"Ow!" she then cried out as she dropped the glass. Her magic cackled in her palms and fingertips.
She took a long, slow, and calming breath before she stood. She groaned when she spied the ruins of her coffee table.
Just as she fumbled for the light switch, she heard footsteps running toward her.
"Mommy! Dark!"
"Happen?"
Alena bent down on their level and assured them, "It's okay. The lights just go out sometimes. But Mommy is about to turn them back on."
Both girls nodded. Emma then asked, "Play?"
With a nod, Alena answered, "Yes. You and your sister can go play."
The twins cheered before they skipped back to their room. As she watched them, a smile broke out across her features.
For a moment, she forgot that her heart still raced inside her chest.
She then made her way over to the breaker box. She proceeded to take more calming breaths as her magic still sparked in her hands.
With one more deep breath, she then carefully opened the box and carefully flipped the switch. She breathed a sigh of relief as the lights blinked to life.
Alena then walked back to the living room, her shoulders sinking when she once more spotted the destroyed lamp and coffee table - as well as the pillows and throw strewn on the floor.
She placed the blanket and pillows back on the couch before she set her attention on the furniture. She ran her fingers through her hair as she contemplated cleaning it all.
With her eyebrows furrowed, she then realized she could simply use magic. She looked down at her hands and saw the sparks - as well as the cackling - had calmed.
She then lifted her hands and focused her magic. In an instant, the coffee table and lamp were repaired.
Alena then sank back on the couch, pulling one of the pillows close to her chest. She let out a shaky breath as she desperately tried to rid her memory of the darkness. Of the shadows. Of the voices.
She never expected the nightmares to stop - but she wished they didn't leave her feeling so alone. Broken. Powerless.
Yet, if there was any chance - a chance - that these horrors could help her face the coming darkness that this curse would bring, she would fight. She would fight like hell until she made it out into the light.
Gothel led Anastasia by candlelight through the mysterious abandoned building. She stopped at a room and gestured for the girl to enter.
Gothel then turned on the lights, revealing the black hoods arranged in a circle. Anastasia shook with fear as she gazed around at the dark fabric - she finally managed to turn her attention to the witch.
She walked over to one of the hoods and ran her fingers along it. "They're beautiful, aren't they?" she commented as she removed the hood to reveal a mannequin with a hanger protruding from the top.
Still scared and unsure, Anastasia questioned, "Who do these belong to?"
"Right now, they belong to the darkness," Gothel explained before she faced Anastasia. She then continued, "But soon, we'll find the women who were meant to wear them. Our sisters. And the Coven of the Eight will be joined.
Anastasia only gave a slight nod, her hands fidgeting over her arms.
As Gothel continued to gaze around at the robes, she added, "And the Coven will only be joined when a very powerful light witch discovers her true dark potential."