"One day she'll get herself killed, I swear" the brunette muttered. When Emma turned around the corner and left the other women's sight, that day seemed to have come earlier than expected as she immediately started to scream.

"Emma!" Ruby shouted and ran off using her supernatural speed. Regina was the only one that didn't walk right in that trap. She leaned against the cold stone wall and peeked around the corner where she saw an unconscious Emma, bleeding from a large wound on her forehead and Ruby in her wolf form growling deeply at someone Regina couldn't see from her viewpoint. But she didn't had to. The childish laugh was enough to recognize her former master that helped the mob at their attempt to kill her some hours before.

"Immobilize everyone that crosses your path. Sorry dearie."

A loud PENG echoed through the cave and Ruby who was midway through her jump was tossed aside like a doll, hitting the stone wall. Regina knew it was suicide going in there, facing the Dark One on her own. He apparently thought her dead. Why else hadn't he followed her anymore when she fell off that cliff? So showing him she wasn't would just led to him killing her once and for all. But then Regina saw Ruby's feet move slightly. And that gave her an idea. What if she pretended to be defenseless? What if she made him think he had all the time in the world killing her, while she distracted him so the other woman could attack him from behind? Yes, that could work.

She stepped in when Gold was aiming at Emma with a gun Regina recognized as the one he used on her.

"Stop!" she shouted and he looked up with surprise written all over his face.

"Regina, what an unfortunate surprise."

The brunette held her shoulder pretending the bullet to be still in there.

"Stop it, Gold. You want me not them."

The older men let out a laugh, however lowered the gun, "Oh Regina, I thought I taught you better than that. Playing the hero now? When the only reason you were hunted down this very morning was because you were and always be a villain?"

"I know I'm not a hero" Regina corrected him. "I'm far from it. But for the people I care about I would do anything."

"Dying too? 'Cause that's what is awaiting you fool."

Regina starred right back at him, seeing Ruby getting up in the corner of her eye.

"So I am the one that caused you the most pain, Rumpelstiltskin? How did I do that? Because I locked up your precious Belle over decades?"

Gold let out a high pitched laugh, "Oh Regina, your hybris kicked in too aready?"

He came nearer, "Let me tell you something. From your family, you are the one that hurt me the least."

Regina startled, "You aren't under this curse."

"Indeed" Gold agreed stepping nearer to rip her heart out. That was when Regina magically busted him away in Ruby's direction. The man quickly got on his feet again. However Ruby was faster. She jumped forward, plunging her long sharp fangs in his shoulder. He screamed, which was a sound Regina was sure she never heard before. She picked up the gun he dropped to the ground and without waiting another second she shot him. Ruby however still growled and didn't let go of his flesh between her fangs, even though he was defenseless now.

"Let him go" Regina ordered not daring to come near her. The werewolf looked at her with cold killer eyes but Regina starred back, not flinching at any growl Ruby let out. Finally she opened her mouth and let Gold's body drop to the ground. He however was still conscious, groaning in pain but Regina's first attention was directed at Emma.

"Emma, wake up" she said and patted the blonde's cheek. The large wound on her head was still bleeding heavily and Regina wanted to use her magic to heal it but there was dirt inside that she needed to get out first, so instead she made Emma sit up and lean against the wall.

"Ruby! Please take care of her" she ordered and saw the other woman walking over still in her wolf's form.

"Why aren't you turning back?" she asked confused. The brunette turned her left side to her. Regina didn't understand till she saw the wound.

"Damn this bullets" she cursed. "I'm going to pull it out. Please don't bite my hands off."

The werewolf growled annoyed and lay down. Regina however had to hold back the sandwiches she had eaten an hour before, when she put a finger in the wound. This might be the most disgusting thing she had to do. Ever. Finally she got it out and Ruby immediately turned back into her human form.

"Thanks" she sighed and Regina only nodded, a little bit green in her face.

"You're going to tell me everything I want to know and I won't kill you. How does that sound to you?" she offered Gold who's powers we're blocked now. He didn't answer her, just looked at her in pain and Regina witnessed his transformation from the powerful Dark One to the coward he was a long time ago and never really stopped being. How he had survived all those years without his magic was a mystery to her. However she had too.

She kneeled down in front of him, grabbing his wrist, "Who's behind all this?"

"I don't know. I'm being controlled by my dagger" Gold hissed through clenched teeth.

"Where is it?" Regina wanted to know.

"I don't know" he winced.

"How do we stop this then?"

He groaned, "You'll need me and my dagger."

"Of course we do" Regina sighed annoyed, not sure if he just said that so they wouldn't let him die here alone. They had to save him anyway for Belle's sake. The librarian wouldn't forgive them. She was mostly helping them for his rescue and Regina had to admit she did a good job.

"Alright, we're taking you back to Belle. She can doctor you. But that bullet stays in there till we find your dagger. You'll be under it's control again if your magic doesn't stay blocked."

Gold nodded weakly and Regina called Belle. While she waited for the other woman to pick up she noticed blue light shining in the back of the cave. She made her way over and stopped in her tracks when she looked around the corner she hadn't noticed before.

"Regina? Have you found the place?" Belle's voice echoed through the cave. Regina cleared her throat, "Indeed, we have. These rivers … they're coming through portals."

"Portals to the underworld?" she asked, awestruck in her voice.

"Yes. Rumpelstiltskin says we need his dagger to close them. He doesn't know where it is? Any idea?"

"Rumple is alright? I thought he was under the curse too?"

"No, he's controlled by his dagger. So we need to find it. Soon. He's injured" she tried to give the bookworm a little motivation.

"Give him to me" Belle demanded and Regina sighed in annoyance, "Now is not the time for flirting."

"Just give him to me, Regina!"

Surprised by the sharpness in her voice Regina did as said. She stood near him, but was only paying attention to Emma who now was conscious again starring at her too.


Author's note: Chapter 8. That means we passed the middle of this story already. I'll still be posting every 1 - 3 days, so stay tunned.