Chapter 11

Edwards POV…

"Emily?" I whispered her name when I woke up, my eyes weren't open yet, but as I reached for her for fingers only touched empty sheets. All I found was the feel of bare sheets and when I opened my eyes, I was alone. I didn't look around the room at first, I couldn't. I wanted to hope that when I turned to glance across the room that she would be standing by the window or just out of sight somewhere else, but the hope was short. I always knew somehow that she wouldn't be. That this had really been our final meeting and something inside me began to wither at the thought. Part of me wanted this to be her trick. To be her way of getting back at me for the many times I left her to lay alone in bed, but it was all just a flicker of false hope that I had let fester within my heart. I knew she wouldn't be there, and I knew there was absolutely nothing I could do to make her come back.

"I've watched her sleep as I stood by the door so silently, so many times, perhaps she will have done the same" I thought it as I was turning and yet no one stood by the door when my eyes turned to stare at the dark brown wood.

The whole room was empty and when I saw she was gone, I moved to follow her. I dressed hurriedly, but as I reached for my hat, I stopped. There was a folded letter sitting on top of it with my name scrawled across it. My heart stopped in that moment, I felt it pounding at first, but as the letter slipped into my hand that was when it stopped. I knew it could only be from her. Emily had left me this final parting of words and yet as I looked at it at first, I couldn't bring myself to read it. I didn't want to know what she had to say before we parted this way, but I knew I couldn't leave it unread either. Yet when I opened it and began to read my heart still hadn't started beating again.

"It's over, Hyde, she's not coming back to you this time" whispered Jekyll as I read her words twisting the knife he'd already placed in my heart.

Edward,

Don't go after me. I know your first instinct will be to find me like you did before and speak those words you speak so well to bring me back, but I can't return to you this time. I hope you know I am not writing this letter to hurt you, but to stop you because that is the last thing I would ever wish to do. I cannot return to you with Jekyll there to haunt us because as much as I know you will try you cannot fight to protect me. I don't want you to chase me, but only think of me fondly. I want us both to remember our time together and the love we shared, and I don't think that possible if you come after me now. We find ourselves in a perilous situation with no clear answers. Jekyll will never let you go and to kill him is to kill you. We have no options except for the one before us. We must be parted. I know I will never love another, and I don't wish to. I will hold you in my heart always and though I knew you probably wish to fight Jekyll for a chance at our future I know it is a fight you can't win for you would only be fighting yourself. I know that if I stay you will try to protect me, but how can I expect you to protect me from yourself? That would be nearly impossible, so I won't ask that of you because as much as we might love each other, some things just aren't meant to be, and that seems to be the fate we must suffer. I must protect myself, Edward, which means I have to protect myself from you. So please don't come after me. Just remember I'll never forget you and I'll most certainly never stop loving you. Most importantly remember that this must be goodbye.

Love Always,

Emily

I read her letter once, twice, but it was on my third time reading it that my legs gave out. I poured myself a glass of brandy and reread it as I sat perched at the end of my couch. For a while, I only stared at the brandy before downing it in one shot, and in that single instance, I launched the glass at the door. It was a useless endeavor to go after her because she didn't want me to. Emily was gone and there was no getting her back.

"You've cursed me to a life without Emily" I whispered the words though I didn't know why because I knew Jekyll didn't care. It was as that thought went through my mind that the man in question chose that moment to voice his opinion.

"You'll find another woman. Dozens of them I'm sure. She was never good enough and the fact that she couldn't handle the truth only proved that" exclaimed Jekyll his smirk an image within my mind at the words. His words only angered me, yet I couldn't hurt him. I couldn't do anything to him and yet, he had ruined me by taking from me the one person that I genuinely loved. And I did love Emily. I didn't want to continue this life without her and yet I didn't want to give up despite the plea her letter posed. The guttural need to chase her was still there inside me and in that moment, I didn't know what instincts to follow. I didn't know what was going to happen now, but what I didn't understand was that it was all about to be taken out of my hands. As the thought to end my life began to once again override each of my senses a man appeared to give me a choice that until that moment had remained completely hidden. I didn't see him until his voice sounded from directly behind me.

"You could still get her back" said the impish voice the very tone of it was shrill and high pitched and all my senses seemed to rise as I turned toward that voice.

When I turned, I didn't altogether know what I was seeing. The man looked to be human, yet also some sort of reptile with skin of gold, and I felt something startle within me as I looked at him. I didn't know what to make of him especially when I looked into the deceptive chill of his eyes feeling an instant dislike as those eyes looked into my own.

"I've been watching your story playout, dearie, and it appears you're in need of some assistance" exclaimed the man walking towards me. He walked with a purpose. His stance was certain and not a step was taken without reason. The longer I looked at him, the more uncertain I became, and yet I couldn't look away. I couldn't tell him to leave because something about this man made me wonder what he would bring to whatever seemed to be happening now. How could he rewrite the tale Emily and I had been living? He circled me as I circled him.

"Step carefully, Hyde, I have no knowledge of this one" whispered Jekyll as we did his own uncertainty suddenly laced with my own.

"Who or what are you?" I said ready to defend myself if necessary.

"Just consider me a benefactor. Rumple Von Stiltskin. Someone who wants to help you especially in the wake of losing your female companion" said the man moving his hands suddenly with a flourish. That was when the windows that looked out upon the alley disappeared and I experienced magic for the first time. I don't remember blinking, but suddenly there was a door when my windows had been. A golden door materialized out of nowhere and with it the burn in my veins I knew so well took over the situation. Jekyll was taking away any power this man might give me to reunite with my beloved and my soul was withered enough that I didn't have the strength to fight him. Jekyll was taking back control. I didn't want to wither in front of this man, but my choices were few. I fell back until I felt my hands as they gripped the desk, but when I looked at the man before me, he didn't seem surprised by any of the events playing out before him. I didn't want to go now, but as the burning intensified, I could only give myself to the reality of my existence.

"How long have you watched?" I whispered the question seeming to slip out as I faded away destined to never receive an answer.

"It seems I will be continuing this conversation with the good doctor" said the man with an impish chuckle that curled something within me. I didn't get a chance to comment as everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, I was in my cage now within the recesses of Jekyll's mind. I felt weaker than I had before as I watched through Jekyll's eyes as he and Rumple von Stiltskin watched each other quietly.

The golden door was still there, and I could barely understand what was happening. One moment, the man seemed to be explaining the confines of this door to my other half, but then before I could fully understand it, the door was opening. I watched Jekyll walk through and I found myself unsure how I felt about it. My mind went to Emily. I would never see her again, yet that had been the case before this man appeared.

Maybe this was a new chance though because in this land if I could separate myself from Jekyll, maybe I could make my way back to her. That was my last hope as the door closed behind us.