A/N Big thanks to my new beta greek-god-of-hair for reading this over. Just a quick warning, this chapter gets a bit rough, but I believe I mentioned that this is one of my darker stories.
Enjoy and please review ;D
Nothing had changed when Emma came to consciousness. The air was still damp with mildew and all around her was still dark.
Pushing herself up, mindful to the new ache in her bones, she walked up to the bars that entrapped her and wrapped her pale fingers around them. They were icy to the touch. She peered down the hallway but saw no guard, or perhaps they were around the corner. Nevertheless, it was quiet.
Calling out Red's name, she received no answer and very soon she became aware that she was alone. Fear struck her deep in her core. Not for herself, but for Red. The werewolf had already looked a state and it worried the blonde. What could they possibly have done to her? Had they taken her to get executed?
Her hold on the iron grew and she placed her forehead against them. What had she done?
People had taken blame for her a few times in her life. For instance, there was a quiet soldier named August that took a particular liking towards her even though she hardly spoke to him. Once when she was caught sneaking out of her room, he had taken the blame with little hesitation.
Of course there had been consequences, but never anything dire or life threatening.
There was a wisp of air from behind her and by the time she turned around, the purple smoke had dissipated, leaving behind just the Evil Queen and her wicked smile.
"Thinking of a way to escape, dear?"
There was nowhere for the blonde to move in the confined space. Instead, she narrowed her eyes and stood her ground.
"What have you done with Red?"
"That's none of your concern."
In the darkness of the cell, Emma could see those devious, smoky eyes studying her. Her face. Her eyes. The way she held herself. It had never left the older woman's mind the entire night and it only fueled her wicked flame.
"It's every bit of my—"
In a quick motion, sharp nails gripped her chin hard and the brunette leaned towards her as if to bite.
"I do not appreciate your tongue, princess. Did your parents fail to teach you manners?"
There was no way to filter the words that were about to spill out of the pale woman's lips. Her innate ability to rebel against her superior had yet to be snuffed. It was one thing for someone to order her around, but it was completely another thing for them to go about it with physical force.
Emma wasn't used to that. Just as she wasn't used to filthy men trying to take her like she was a fresh piece of meat.
"Go to Hell," she growled.
Even though she had only been in the presence of the brunette for such a short amount of time, it should have been common sense not to spite her. Magic or not, Regina's aura wasn't exactly a cloudless summer day.
She felt the magic this time before it took complete hold and next thing she knew, she was against the wall. The shackles she had stared at the night before cuffed around her wrists.
It wasn't a fear that overtook her, but more of a panic. Her limbs were her protection and now two of them were restrained. She tried kicking, but then her feet were easily secured in another set of cuffs.
There was a sharp, burning impact upon her skin as a cruel hand came down upon her pale cheek. The elicit cry that fell from pink lips made the Queen's own blood colored lips turn into a smirk as green gems looked upward in a hooded gaze, teeth bared like a vehement wolf.
"I don't care who you might be or whose breath gave you life. You are in my kingdom now and will fall to my command regardless of your own petty thoughts," slender fingers began to trace down the woman's throat, "What is of interest to me is how this little game is going to play if you proceed to be so ungracefully stubborn. You better learn your place, Princess. Are we clear?"
Emma ground her teeth.
Regina was so close to the blonde that she could smell her essence once again. She could have leaned forward and bit her…if that is what she wanted to do. In such a state she felt vulnerable, yet it excited her which made no sense.
She wasn't sure what the brunette was to do next; therefore, it took her off guard when her skin suddenly felt bare as if the damp air was directly hitting it. One quick glance downward and that was exactly right. In the blink of an eye the clothes on her back had disappeared to only god knows where.
She gulped.
"W-what are you doing?"
Regina raised a hand and a ball of light appeared in front of them, illuminating what had been hidden. Now that she could finally see the blonde completely she took a step back and watched as the young blonde squirmed uncomfortably in the shackles.
It was a rather lovely sight to see and reminded her of prior days when her favorite plaything had left those harsh slashes across the stone. She had to hold back a chuckle.
Regardless of how obvious her attempts were working, Emma continued to yank at her bonds, allowing her muscles to ripple. Her pale skin was marred with bruises that she wasn't content with. The only mark from her own hand was the pinkness on her cheek. She wanted a clean slate to work with not this beat up canvas. Fortunately, the coloring to the marks was a sign that the healing process was working in a timely fashion.
Her gaze drifted upward and found a dark shadow of something on her palm. She took a step forward again and reached for her hand. When the fingers attempted to swat at her own, she smacked them easily and with a low, "stop moving" she was able to open up the palm to view a long diagonal cut against pale skin.
"What is this from?"
She waited impatiently and right when she was about to reprimand the woman for her silence, Emma spoke. Her voice was strong, but laced with a hidden worry.
"Your huntsman."
Crimson lips twitched with what might be jealousy. Emma was now property of the Queen; consequentially, anyone who dared leave a mark on her that wasn't of her own doing would face severe punishment.
Beginning at the collarbone, black nails trailed across soft flesh as if she were tracing it for future events. This young soul looked nothing like a princess, but more of a warrior. There was no ounce of baby fat leaving a taunt muscular structure which was excruciatingly taunting. There was a flame in emerald eyes that conveyed a sense of dominance that strangely intrigued the Queen. It wasn't dominance over others; conversely, it was over herself. Despite her limbs being bound, she was trying to show that she was still in control when the fact was she was at the dark woman's will.
The blonde's breath hitched when fingers ran between her breasts. This was definitely not something she was used to. She may have roughhoused with the soldiers, but they knew better than touch royalty in other ways. James would have surely had their heads for that.
Her heart was threatening to pound from her chest, but her mind was carelessly elsewhere. Her panic was slowly dying down as a new sensation, a new interest, took over. She wanted to reach out and pulled the darker woman close to her, something to rid away the chill, yet at the thought alone she was feeling warmer.
"What do you want with me?" Emma whispered lowly.
The brunette chuckled darkly.
"Funny. I thought it was you who came to me? I would have assumed you had an agenda?"
It was rather humorous, actually. All these years of yearning of escape, of traveling to this unknown land, and she had never actually thought of what would happen next after she got the Dark Palace. She had been so stuck on trying to find an escape that she never took the second to plan out details
"I assumed my thoughts weren't in your interest?"
"They aren't, but humor me, dear. What plan did Red have sneaking you out of Lucia? Did she really believe I would see past this deception?"
Hands were making their way up her sides, up finely toned arms.
"Red has nothing to do with this."
"Yet she was hiding you away."
"She was protecting me."
The brunette's eyebrows raised high and she threw back her head in a wicked, taunting laugh. Green eyes took in her demeanor. It was cruel, sinful even, but soulless? Surely, this woman had some heart inside of her.
"Of course. The wolf still clings to her past, protecting what isn't hers to protect."
Emma frowned, confusion marring her face. Regina caught it quickly.
"You look bewildered, my dear Princess. It's almost endearing in your bounded state. Are you unaware of your mother's past with the werewolf?"
So there was a history there.
"What do you know?"
A single, razor nail traveled from her chin, down the front of her throat, and between her breasts leaving a harsh red line.
"It's a pity to be left in the dark, isn't it?"
Narrowing her eyes, the blonde let out a growl. If she kept fighting against the metal she would surely cut into her flesh, yet she still struggled.
"Tell me what you know."
"You're a persistent one, aren't you?" the older woman leaned close and breathed into her ear, "I don't believe you are in position to ask questions from me, Princess."
Thrusting her head forward, she crashed into the Queen's, sending her stumbling back.
"My name is Emma," she hissed.
A swirling smoke of purple raged through brown eyes as she grabbed her own head. Such audacity. She strode forward like a phantom, wrapping her slender fingers around the pale woman's throat fiercely.
"How dare you! Do you have any idea what I am capable of? I may have had a single thread of desire to perhaps let you go after a while, but after that move you're better off rotting down here."
Her grip tightened and the blonde's face was turning a fearsome red; nevertheless, Emma refused to submit to this. It must have been the royalty in her talking, but she wasn't a rodent to be stomped on. Instead, she kept her emerald eyes locked on dark amber. She could feel her lungs aching. She could feel the burn.
Her vision was starting to spot, but then before she was able to pass out the hand let go. The first intake of air was painful and she let out a shaky cough, yet other than that she grew silent.
"I'm done with you for today."
She waved her hand and suddenly a new restraint took hold of Emma's throat. It was a metal collar that fastened itself to the wall, all the more prohibiting neck movement.
In a wisp of amethyst, the Evil Queen vanished along with the light that had been glowing above her head. The darkness settled around her like a serpent, wrapping its cold fingers around her skin. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed for the thumping in her chest to dampen.
"…Fuck…"
A/N It pains me to say this, but I will be going on a hiatus for a bit. I'm not sure exactly for how long. It may not be the biggest deal since I update dramatically slow anyways, but I'm hoping to completely push it aside as in no brainstorming. I've realized much of my free time is centered around writing fanfiction which hasn't been the worst thing except I've neglected other duties such as working on my original novella. I also need to catch up on reading a few books as well as figuring out where my life is going. Anywho, I do hope my departure won't hurt too much. I really need a refresher. I'm hoping to update A Heart in Disguise and Lacey Stares before I go. Thank you all so much for your feedback and for taking the time to read my work. Fanfiction has really allowed me to grow as a writer and I cannot thank you enough. Much love, my dearest readers!