CHAPTER 3
Even though The Evil Queen's curse had been broken, the residents of Storybrooke still found themselves trapped in a world that wasn't theirs, with seemingly no way back home. With little other choice, they decided to carry on with their day-to-day lives. The shops, restaurants, and bars once again opened their doors, while the dwarves began to mine for fairy dust, and Prince Charming continued to desperately search for a way to bring his wife and daughter back.
Shae was beginning to get stir crazy. With Regina continuing to keep her promise to Henry to not use magic, and an entire town of angry people out for her blood, her and Shae had barely left the house for days.
"Come, Shae. We're leaving." Regina suddenly announced one day as she retrieved her coat from it's hook by her front door.
"Oh, oh! Let me guess where we're going judging by your face." Shae said excitedly as she joined Regina by the door.
Regina fixed her with an irritated and impatient glare. "Let's see…" Shae muttered, studying her face intently. "We're going to the mall! No? Ok… We're going to the park!"
Shae then gasped, slapping her hands on her cheeks in mock surprise. "We're going to Disney World!"
Regina sighed heavily, rubbing her already aching forehead. "Why are you like this?"
"I ask myself that all the time." Shae admitted with one of her quirky smiles.
"Well, please do let me know when you come up with an answer." Regina replied with heavy sarcasm.
They got into Regina's car and a short while later, Regina parked it outside of Granny's diner. Shae glanced worriedly over at her from the passenger seat.
"Granny's?" Shae asked in surprise. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"It's fine, this won't take long." Regina replied as she got out of the car.
Shae sighed, trailing along behind Regina as they entered the diner. It was mostly empty, save for a handful of residents and Mr. Gold, who was seated in a booth at the back of the diner. Granny and Ruby were both missing, both tending to things in the back kitchen. Everyone except for Gold immediately got up and rushed out at the sight of Regina and Shae.
"Wait at the counter, this will only take a minute." Regina muttered to Shae.
Shae snapped into a mocking salute, prompting an eye roll from Regina. Shae obediently chose a barstool, resting her chin in her hands and letting out a bored and heavy sigh.
"Oh! Hey, Shae!" Ruby said with a smile as she returned to the counter.
Shae was pleasantly surprised by her friendly greeting, and smiled back. "Hey, Red."
"Actually, it's Ruby here." Ruby told her.
"Right, right, Ruby." Shae corrected. "I like it. One of the better names I've heard around here. Like, what the hell is up with 'Mary Margaret?' Who has two first names?"
Ruby laughed, tucking a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. "So, did you finally ditch the old ball and chain?"
"Not exactly." Shae replied glumly, tilting her head over at Regina, who was now seated at the booth across from Mr. Gold.
"Oh." Ruby said, her brow furrowing. "What are they talking about?"
Shae listened in on their hushed conversation for a moment, then chuckled. "Well, she just threatened him, he threatened her back. They're basically measuring magical dick size."
Ruby laughed again, shaking her head slowly. "Great, cuz that's exactly what we need right now."
"I know, right?" Shae agreed.
"Well, uh, do you, you know, want anything?" Ruby asked with a shrug. "I don't really know what vampires eat. Can you even eat food?"
"I can, I just prefer simple stuff like raw fruits and vegetables." Shae explained. "With the whole heightened sense of taste thing, anything more complicated than that just tastes… Gross. I can taste every ingredient separately. I tried to eat pizza one time, it did not go well."
Ruby frowned. "Aww, that sucks, pizza is the best!"
Shae sighed. "Unfortunately not for me." She said sadly. "Honestly, though, I could really use a drink."
"Oh, uh, ok. We've got beer." Ruby offered.
"Ugh! Can't stand the stuff. Got anything stronger?"
Ruby thought silently for a moment, then smiled, holding up a finger. Shae watched as she went into the back again, ogling at her backside as she walked. Ruby was clad in a pair of strikingly short red shorts, which accentuated her long legs and curvy bottom quite nicely. Shae grinned, biting her lip as she did.
Ruby returned a few moments later, a bottle of scotch in her hand. "Granny keeps it around for special occasions." She explained as she poured Shae a glass.
Shae grinned again, leaning back in her barstool. "Oh, am I special occasion?"
Ruby smiled a coy smile, winking as she did. Shae smiled back, raising her glass. "Cheers." She said, taking a generous sip.
"You know, Ruby, I think you're my only friend in this town." Shae went on. "Besides Regina, and she hates me."
Ruby laughed again, and Shae couldn't help but notice what a gorgeous smile she had, her full, ample lips a shade of bright red. "Well, us monsters have to stick together, right?" Ruby said, giving the vampire another wink.
Shae laughed too, nodding slowly. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Besides, I know why you're doing what you're doing." Ruby went on. "David told me all about the deal you made with Regina. Do you really think she'll give you your heart back?"
"Yeah, I actually do." Answered Shae. "Regina may be evil, but she always keeps her word."
"Well, if you're sure." Ruby said with a shrug. "I would say you could ask Gold for help, but it looks like they're on the same side, for now."
Shae suddenly picked her head up, her eyes wide with a sudden realization that had popped into her head. Ruby wasn't paying attention, she was busy watching Regina and Gold talking quietly in their booth.
"Gold… Rumplestiltskin… Ruby, that's it!" Shae said in an excited whisper.
"Huh? What's it?"
"Shh! Quiet!" Shae said, and Ruby's eyes widened as she reached out and clamped a hand over her mouth. "I have half an idea… I'm putting it together…"
They sat in silence for a moment as Shae stared down at the counter, her mind working. "Ok, I now have a complete idea." She announced, removing her hand from Ruby's mouth.
"Come, Shae. We're done here." Regina commanded as she got up from the booth and walked toward the door.
Shae suddenly grabbed Ruby by her shoulders, pulling her forward and planting a kiss on her forehead. "Muah! Ruby, you're a goddamn genius!" She said excitedly. "I'll be back tonight. Have some more of that scotch ready for me."
Ruby watched as Shae followed Regina out the door, her brow furrowed in confusion. She gently rubbed the spot on her forehead that Shae had kissed. "W-What did I say?"
XX
Later that night, Regina was seated on the couch in her living room, engrossed in the book sitting in her lap. Her reading was suddenly interrupted by the sound of Shae's heavy boot steps heading toward the front door. Regina got up from the couch curiously, and found Shae ruffling her hair in the mirror hanging on the wall by the door.
"Where are you going?" Regina asked her.
"Out." Shae replied simply.
"Did I say you could go out?"
"No, but I'm gonna do it anyway."
Regina glared viciously at Shae, unable to believe what she was hearing. "Well, then, perhaps I'll just crush that heart of yours into tiny bits."
Shae suddenly stopped adjusting her hair, turning slowly to Regina, a devious grin on her face. "No, you're not gonna do that."
Regina let out a laugh. "Oh, is that right? You sound pretty confident about that."
Shae's grin got bigger. "Yeah, I am. Want to know why?"
"Oh, do tell."
Shae hooked her thumbs into the belt loops of her jeans, slowly walking toward Regina. "See, I realized something earlier." She explained, still grinning from ear to ear. "You're back to your full power, right? If any of these idiots around here even so much as looked at you wrong, you could turn them to dust with a snap of your fingers. Hell, you could level this entire town if you wanted to."
Shae stopped just in front of Regina, folding her arms across her chest. "So, who exactly am I supposed to be protecting you from, hm?" She asked, fixing the former Queen with a knowing smile. "Who's the one person more powerful than either of us combined? Who's the one person that you're actually afraid of?"
When Regina only silently glared at Shae, the vampire leaned in close, her face inches away from Regina's, her grin broader than ever.
"Rumplestiltskin."
Regina scoffed. "He doesn't scare me."
Shae barked out a laugh. "Then you're dumber than I thought! He scares the shit out of me! He's probably the only person that could actually kill me with magic."
"What exactly is your point here, Shae?" Regina asked irritably.
"My point, my dear, sweet Regina, is that you don't give a rat's ass about your angry townsfolk." Shae went on. "You're only keeping me around just in case old Rumple decides to pay you another visit."
Shae leaned forward again, smiling mockingly at Regina. "Which means… You. Need. Me." She said, gently tapping the end of Regina's nose with each of her words.
Regina swatted her hand away furiously. "Fine, yes, I need you."
"Finally! You admit it. Ugh, it felt like my life was buffering for minute there." Shae breathed, rolling her eyes dramatically.
"Just what the hell are you getting at?" Snarled Regina.
"I'm amending our deal." Shae announced.
"Is that so?"
"Indubitably!" Shae said with another quirky smile. "I'm guessing all the wards and spells you've cast on this house are strong enough to keep even The Dark One out, right?"
"Yes, I believe so." Regina answered slowly. "Why?"
"Good! So here's what's going to happen." Shae went on, stepping up close to Regina again. "When you leave this house, I will be by your side, protecting you from whatever you need protecting from. BUT, once you're safely behind these walls, I'm going to do whatever and go wherever I want. Got it?"
Regina fixed Shae with a furious glare for a few silent moments. "Fine." She growled eventually.
"Aw! You're so cute when you're mad!" Shae cooed mockingly, pinching Regina's cheek.
Regina swatted her hand away again irritably, crossing her arms as Shae resumed fixing her hair in the mirror. "I'm assuming you're going back to Granny's to see Ruby, yes?"
When Shae raised an eyebrow at her, Regina laughed. "Oh, don't look so surprised. I saw the way you were leering at her earlier."
Shae gave her a small shrug. "What can I say? It's my nature. We vampires are insatiable creatures."
"Oh, trust me, I am well aware of that."
Shae smirked as she smoothed out her shirt. "Oh, I'm sure you are." She replied. "Besides, you can't tell me that you haven't noticed that ass. Cuz DAMN it be fine!"
Regina rolled her eyes at Shae, which prompted another laugh from the vampire. Shae then turned on heel, waving her hand casually. "Anyway… Toodles!"
Shae threw open the door, stepping out into the night, walking briskly down the sidewalk away from Regina's house. She smiled, feeling quite proud of herself. She finally had the upper hand. She was finally free to do as she pleased, within some constraints, but that didn't bother her. She would continue to do what Regina asked, like she promised, but if she happened to find her stolen heart while enjoying her new found freedom, then, all the better for her.
XX
Granny's was packed full that evening. The seven dwarves were scarfing down some of Granny's famous lasagna after a long day of mining, and David and Henry were enjoying some hot cocoa. The lively chatter within the diner came to a screeching halt as the door burst open, and Shae walked in.
"What up, players?" She said in greeting, spreading her arms wide.
"You're back!" Ruby said excitedly.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Snarled Granny, staring daggers at the vampire.
David and the dwarves all leapt to their feet, fists clenched. David stepped in front of Henry protectively, fixing Shae with a defiant glare.
"If Regina wants Henry back, you can tell her to come face me herself." He growled fiercely.
"Calm down, dude, I'm not here for Henry." Shae replied, raising her hands in surrender. "I'm only here to enjoy the atmosphere and maybe have a drink or two."
"Come on, you guys, she's not going to hurt anybody." Henry pleaded with them.
"Of course not! Unless you give me a reason to." Shae agreed with a grin. "Otherwise I'm as harmless and cuddly as a teddy bear."
"You told us the other day that you were going to rip our lungs out and feed them to us." Growled Grumpy.
Shae's face fell into a frown. "Right, yeah, I did say that, didn't I?" She muttered. "Well, I didn't really mean it."
"I don't care! You're not welcome here. So get out!" Snarled Granny.
"Granny!" Ruby chided her grandmother.
"Come on, is that any way to treat a paying customer?" Shae asked.
"You're not a customer, you're a menace!" Shouted Doc.
"Get out of here!" Happy yelled.
The rest of the diners all joined in, rising to their feet and shouting angry threats at the vampire. Shae once again raised her hands in surrender, backing toward the door.
"Alright, alright, I'm leaving!" Shae shouted over the din.
She backed out the door, shoving her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket, stomping down the sidewalk. She stopped momentarily to light a cigarette, taking a long drag and breathing out the smoke, watching it twist and turn in the night air.
"Shae! Wait up!"
Shae turned around and found Ruby hurrying after her, pulling on her coat as she walked. Shae fixed her with a curious glance once she caught up to her.
"I'm really sorry about that." Ruby said sadly.
Shae shrugged. "It's alright. I don't really know what else I was expecting. The Evil Queen's lackey isn't exactly a welcome sight." She replied glumly.
"Yeah, I guess not." Ruby muttered. "They just don't understand, you know?"
Ruby grabbed Shae's cigarette from out of her hand, taking a drag off of it. "Don't tell Granny." She said when Shae gave her a shocked look.
Shae laughed. "Your secret is safe with me."
Ruby smiled, linking her arm through Shae's. "Come on, there's a bar down the street. It's kind of a dive, but at least no one will know you there."
Shae walked arm in arm with Ruby as she led them to the bar called The Rabbit Hole. Once inside, they got themselves some drinks and decided to start up a game of pool.
"I'm surprised you like whiskey." Shae was saying as Ruby racked up the pool balls. "Most girls can't stand the stuff."
"Well, I'm not like most girls." Ruby replied with a wink.
Shae couldn't help but stare as Ruby bent over the pool table, lining up her shot. Her shirt was strikingly low cut, allowing for a view that Shae found incredibly enticing. She glanced away with a smirk when Ruby caught her staring.
"So did you really used to date Emma?" Ruby asked her as she took her shot.
"Nice shot!" Shae exclaimed. "But, uh, yeah I did."
"So is Emma, like, bi or something?"
Shae shrugged. "I don't know, honestly. From what I heard, I was her one and only. Happens a lot, actually."
Ruby laughed lightly. "Oh yeah?"
Shae nodded with a grin. "I think it's the whole androgynous thing. A lot of women find me… Comfortable. Familiar."
"So is that why you dress the way you do?"
Shae gave another shrug. "Honestly, I've just never felt comfortable in womens clothes, or with long hair. I've never even worn a dress, or put on makeup."
Ruby raised her eyebrows in shock. "Really?"
"Really!" Shae answered. "Just try and imagine me in a dress. Go on."
Ruby looked Shae up and down for a moment, then started to giggle. "Yeah, no, not your thing."
Shae laughed, picking up her pool cue and leaning over the table. She closed one eye, staring down the cue at the white ball, carefully lining up her shot. She slowly drew the cue back.
"What about Regina?"
Shae fumbled with the pool cue at the sound of Regina's name, causing the white ball to shoot haphazardly to the side. She frowned, clearing her throat and turning slowly around.
"What about her?" She asked.
"How did you guys even meet, anyway? Aren't you from another world? Other than The Enchanted Forest, I mean."
"Well, yeah, I am." Shae replied, running a hand through her messy hair. "But, uh, I don't really want to talk about Regina."
"Oh, come one, please? I'm just curious." Ruby pleaded, pouting her full, red lips.
Shae smirked again, unable to resist those lips. "Alright, alright." She muttered in defeat. "Uh, well, I actually first met Regina the moment I came out of the portal into The Enchanted Forest. I literally ran into her."
"Seriously?" Ruby asked in shock.
"Seriously." Shae answered with a nod. "That was before she even became Queen. Many years later, we met again. It was a pretty strange twist of fate."
XXXXX
The fallen autumn leaves crunched under Regina's boots as she walked determinedly through the forest. Her mother had just accepted King Leopold's marriage proposal for her, much to Regina's own dismay. She had been desperately searching for a way to escape her mother and the King, so she and Daniel could finally be together. She didn't want to be Queen. All she wanted was her love, her Daniel.
Late the previous night, unable to fall asleep, Regina had happened upon an ancient and curious book in the library. It was a book all about long forgotten magic, and she found one particular chapter to be most interesting. It spoke of different realms and worlds, and how to travel between them. One page spoke of an ancient and magical mirror, said to be a portal to another world, a mirror that happened to be on top of a hill in the forest, just outside her mother's castle.
Regina was determined to find this mirror, and somehow figure out a way to open the portal. She and Daniel could escape to a completely different world, far, far away from her mother.
Regina's heart soared as she spotted a steep, grassy hill in a clearing just ahead. She pulled out the page she had torn out from the book, glancing down at the picture. She looked up again and smiled. The hill she had found looked exactly like the one in the picture.
She marched forward, ascending the hill as quickly as her legs would carry her. The hill was quite steep, and she found her breaths coming shorter and shorter, half from exertion, and half from excitement. When she finally reached the top, she let out an audible gasp. There it was, the mirror depicted in the book.
The mirror was quite large, standing at least a head taller than she was. The forest had overtaken it, covering it in dirt, leaves, and vines. Regina rushed forward and began tearing the vines off of it, brushing the dirt and grime off of the glass.
As soon as her hand made contact with the glass, the mirror suddenly began to glow a bright blue. She gasped again, jumping back. Had she just activated the portal?
She stepped carefully forward, squinting into the blue light. A curious, black mass had begun to form in the center of the mirror, growing larger and larger by the second. Regina watched in wonder as the mass started to take shape. She watched as a head formed, then shoulders, then some lanky arms and legs. She took another step forward, but then stopped when she realized that the figure in the mirror was running, running right towards her.
"WATCH OUT!"
"AHH!"
The wind was knocked out of her as a person suddenly came sprinting out of the mirror, crashing headlong into her. The world spun wildly around her, and her head bounced painfully against the ground over and over again as she tumbled backward down the hill. She could hear cries and grunts of pain as the stranger from the mirror rolled along next to her, but all she could make out was a tumbling black blur.
She finally rolled to a stop, facedown in the dirt at the bottom of the hill, stabbing pains coursing through every part of her body. She picked her head up when she heard a groan, and made out the hazy figure of the person from the mirror lying in front of her. The stranger turned his head toward her, and the last thing Regina saw before she lost consciousness was a pale gray face and blood red eyes.
XX
Regina began to wake slowly, her head pounding with pain. She opened her eyes, and found herself staring up at the night sky, the stars obscured by the tops of the trees. She turned her head to the side, and realized that she was now in a completely different part of the forest.
"Keep searching, you useless pisspots!" She heard a man shouting from nearby. "She's injured, she can't have gone far!"
Regina turned her head to the side, and gasped when she saw a man clad in black leather armor crouching behind a thicket of bushes beside her. The stranger jerked his head to the side as she sat up, and Regina was shocked to find that it was not a man at all, but a woman. She had a messy crop of short, jet black hair, pale skin, and red eyes.
When Regina opened her mouth to speak, the strange woman dove over to her, clamping a cold hand tightly over her mouth. Regina let out a muffled cry, tugging at the woman's arm.
"Shh! Calm down, alright? I'm not going to hurt you." The woman whispered to her. "I just need you to be very, very quiet."
When Regina nodded hastily, the stranger removed her hand from Regina's mouth, turning her attention back toward the bushes, craning her neck up to peer over the top. Regina silently followed suit, and saw a score of men gathered in the clearing a few yards in front of them. They appeared to be knights of some kind, a red sun emblazoned on their white chainmail armor. There was a very large man barking out orders in the midst of them, with long brown hair that was flecked with gray, and a bushy brown beard to match.
"Keep on your toes, men." The man was telling the knights. "This is a new world. There's no telling what manner of dark creatures haunt these woods."
The woman next to her turned to Regina again, placing a finger silently to her lips. She searched the ground for a moment, then picked up a rock. She peered back over the bushes again, then brought her arm back, hurling the rock over the heads of the knights.
"Over here!" One of the knights shouted as the rock landed, snapping twigs in the process.
Regina watched as the men all sped off in the direction of the sound, leaving her alone with the strange woman from the mirror.
"Thank god." The woman breathed, turning around with a groan, resting her back against the trunk of the tree behind her.
"T-There's an arrow in your chest." Regina told her.
The woman glanced down at the arrow protruding from the left side of her chest. "So there is." She said with a chuckle. "That was quite a close call. Almost got my heart."
She then grabbed the arrow by the shaft and ripped it out with grunt of pain, tossing it to the side. She leaned her head back against the tree for a moment, breathing out a relieved sigh.
The woman suddenly let out a cry of pain, pounding her fist into the dirt. Regina gasped as the veins in her hands and neck bulged out, turning black. The woman doubled over in pain, and Regina noticed there were three more arrows lodged in her back.
"Oh my!" Regina exclaimed in shock. "Hold still, I'll get those out."
The woman nodded, and Regina crawled over to her, kneeling behind her. "I-Im Regina."
"Shae." The woman replied, grunting as Regina yanked out the first arrow.
"Shae." Regina repeated, pulling out another arrow. "That's an interesting name."
"It's short for Shaeogora." Shae explained with a painful grimace. "But if you want us to get along you won't ever call me that."
"Oh, I won't, I promise." Regina replied earnestly. She then jerked the last arrow out of Shae's back. "There, last one."
Shae let out a contented sigh, leaning back against the tree again. "Thank you, Regina, you're very kind." She said with a grateful smile.
Regina smiled back, giving her a small nod. "I should probably get you to a healer." Regina said, but then stopped suddenly, examining the wound in Shae's chest. "Hold on, you're not bleeding!"
Shae glanced away from her, her eyes shifting nervously. "Er, well, no, I don't really do that."
Regina's brow furrowed in confusion. "What exactly are you?"
Shae gave her a shocked and offended glance. "Well, that's an awfully rude question." She said indignantly. "I don't go around asking what you are! Though I'm assuming you're some sort of sorceress."
"Sorceress? No, of course not!"
Shae looked surprised. "No? Well, you could be. You have very powerful magic." She replied. "This whole world does, in fact. Where exactly am I?"
"The Enchanted Forest." Regina explained in a rush. "How do you know this world has magic? That I have magic?"
"I can sense it. You're positively radiating with it." Shae explained. "Seems an awful great waste to not use it."
"Yes, my mother says so all the time." Regina replied darkly. "She's been wanting to teach me for years."
"I see. So your mother is a sorceress?"
"Yes, but I don't want to be like her. I won't use magic. Not ever."
Shae let out a chuckle, but then suddenly doubled over in pain again. Her veins pulsed again, the blackness creeping up her neck and into her cheeks.
"A-Are you alright?" Regina asked in concern. "It looks like you've been poisoned!"
"I'm alright, it's just the silver." Shae said through gritted teeth. "I'll be fine as soon as I get some blood."
"Blood? What for?"
Shae suddenly held up a finger to her, staring out into the trees. A bush a few feet in front of them rustled slightly, and a rabbit hopped out of it. When the rabbit saw them, it stood rigid in its spot, nose twitching as it watched them carefully.
"Wait here." Shae breathed to Regina.
Before Regina could question her, there was a black blur of movement as Shae rushed at the rabbit, disappearing through the brush. Regina got to her feet, staring at the spot where Shae had disappeared. She then heard a strange noise, and decided to investigate.
She stepped through the trees, following the sound. She spotted Shae a few yards in front of her, crouching on the ground and holding something to her face. As Regina drew closer, she let out a shocked gasp. The thing in Shae's hands was the rabbit, now dead, blood dripping onto the ground from the wound in its neck.
Shae snapped her head up, and Regina gasped again, tripping over a root and falling to the ground as she tried to back away. Shae's lips and chin were covered in the rabbit's blood, long, sharp, animal like fangs protruding from her mouth.
Shae stood up, then jerked her arms out wide as her body convulsed. Her veins bulged and pulsed again, but this time they ran a deep, blood red, her eyes glowing bright. Shae dropped her arms and rolled her head around on her shoulders, her neck cracking as she did. The fangs disappeared and her eyes returned to their normal color.
"That's much better." She said, breathing out a contented sigh.
"W-What are you?" Regina asked, trying to stop her body from trembling.
"I'm a vampire." Answered Shae. "Are there not any others in this world?"
"I-Im not sure. I've heard stories and legends, but I've never seen a vampire."
"Oh, I see…" Shae muttered. "Well, I'm sure they're around. We tend to keep to ourselves, and not announce our nature quite as spectacularly as I did."
Shae then stepped over to Regina, holding out her hand and smiling down at her. When Regina only continued to eye her warily, the vampire sighed.
"Look, I meant it when I said I wasn't going to hurt you." She said. "Besides, I don't feed on humans. At least, not any more."
"Really?" Regina asked, still suspicious.
"Yes! It's been many, many years." Shae replied. "You humans are much too fatty. I'm trying to watch my figure."
Shae smiled cheekily at her, and Regina hesitated for another moment, but then gingerly took Shae's hand, brushing herself off as the vampire pulled her to her feet.
"Now then, Regina, how well do you know these woods?" Shae asked her seriously.
"Fairly well." Regina answered slowly. "Why?"
"I need to get back to the mirror before anyone else comes through." Shae explained. "Can you take me back there?"
Regina glanced all around her, then nodded confidently. "Yes, I believe I know the way back."
"Excellent! Lead the way then."
Regina smiled, turning around and marching back through the trees, Shae following along beside her. "So, I-I know you likely didn't, but I must ask…" Shae began as they walked. "Did you happen to see a man come through the mirror after me? He's tall, brown hair, pale, red eyes like me."
Regina shook her head. "No, I only saw you, I'm afraid."
Shae sighed heavily. "Dammit, Remus." She muttered under her breath.
"This man, Remus, is he your beloved?"
Shae stopped walking for a moment, fixing Regina with a baffled stare. "My what?"
"Your beloved." Regina said again, also stopping. "You know, the man you love."
Shae continued to gape at her for a moment, then burst out in laughter, doubling over with her hands on her knees. "The man I love? Oh my, that's a good one!" She exclaimed, snorting with laughter.
When she noticed the confused look on Regina's face, she straightened up, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry, you've no idea why that's funny."
"No, I'm afraid I don't."
"See, Remus and I, we're not exactly each other's type." Shae explained, gesturing for Regina to lead on.
Regina continued walking, still eyeing the vampire curiously. "What do you mean by that?"
Shae let out another laugh. "Well, Remus prefers men, and I, well, I'm rather fond of women."
Regina nodded slowly. "Oh, I-I see. I have heard of… People like that."
Shae suddenly frowned. "Don't tell me it's outlawed in this land."
"What? No, of course not!" Regina replied, giving her an appalled glance. "Is it in your land?"
"No, not technically, but it is severely frowned upon. People like me and Remus had to love in secret, or else be publicly flogged, or worse."
"I'm so sorry, that's awful." Regina said sadly. "There are people who frown upon it here too, but people aren't punished for it. I think everyone should be able to love whoever they want."
Shae smiled fondly at her. "Well, that's certainly refreshing to hear."
They walked in silence for a few moments. Regina bit her lip, her mind overflowing with questions for this vampire from another world.
"Why are you dressed like that?" Was the one that popped into her head first.
Shae's brow furrowed in confusion. "Like what?"
"Well, like a man."
"Do women not wear armor in this world?"
Regina shrugged her shoulders. "Not typically, no."
"Hmm, I see." Shae muttered. "Well, I've never quite felt comfortable in dresses and skirts and… Corsets. They're not exactly practical. Neither is long hair, it just gets in the way. I've always kept mine short."
"Well, you're not wrong." Regina replied with a laugh. "Have you ever worn a dress?"
"Only as a child and never for longer than a few moments." Shae answered. "I remember the women who ran my orphanage as a child trying to force me into them. I'd always immediately take it off and go steal some breeches from Remus. Eventually they stopped trying, and I haven't worn a dress since."
"So, this Remus, he's been your friend since you were children?"
"More like my brother." Shae replied with a wistful smile. "We've done nearly everything together. We were raised together, we got turned together, we served Count Dracula together, then we fled together-"
"Dracula… I know that name." Regina muttered suddenly.
"I'm not surprised." Shae replied with a shrug. "He's a very powerful and very ancient vampire. Stories even claim that he was the first one ever created."
"Oh, I see. Is he the one that… That made you?"
"Yes, Remus too. We served in his court for a long time after that." Shae answered, her smile fading.
"Why did you leave?"
Shae's face fell into a dark scowl. "Because he started a war."
"What kind of war?" Regina asked, hanging on Shae's words with bated breath.
"A war on magic."
Regina gave the vampire a confused glance. "Dracula started a war on magic? Don't vampires have powers themselves?"
Shae nodded. "Yes, we do. I supposed it isn't fair to say Dracula started the war. He was the one that gathered forces to defend magic. Van Helsing was the one that started it."
"Van Helsing?"
"Abraham Van Helsing." Shae spat angrily. "He was the man we saw earlier, the big one with the beard."
"I see, and the men with him, are they knights of some kind?"
Shae laughed sourly. "Yes, they call themselves The Knights of the Sun, and Van Helsing is their fearless leader."
"Why exactly does this Van Helsing hate magic so much?" Asked Regina, growing curiouser by the minute.
"It's a bit of a long story, but long ago he was turned into a werewolf by a dark sorceress." Shae explained. "The same one that made Dracula a vampire, or so the story says. Van Helsing despised the creature that the sorceress made him, so he cursed magic, and any man, woman, or creature that has it. He spent many, many years hunting and killing any kind of magical creature he could get his hands on. He eventually started an order of knights to help him, and, when he had a large enough force, he traveled all across the land to every king, queen, lord, lady, duke, and count. I'm not sure if he persuaded or intimidated them, but whatever he did, he caused almost every single noble in the land to turn against magic, to join his cause to destroy it. Many rulers had court wizards and mages, and those that weren't caught and executed went into hiding."
Shae clenched her fists, her scowl growing fiercer as she went on. "When Dracula heard about what Van Helsing was doing, he was furious. He retaliated, gathering his own forces of magical creatures and magic users. Even the werewolves joined his side, which was shocking given that vampires and werewolves are natural enemies. But there were some of us that knew this war would only cause ruin, and we begged Dracula to stop. We found a magical mirror, the one that I came through. We begged him to use it, and we could let the humans have our world, and we could escape to a new one, a better one."
Shae sighed, her eyes suddenly very sad. "But Dracula refused. He didn't want to just fight to keep magic in our world, he wanted to take over, to destroy Van Helsing's forces so magic could reign supreme. He saw humans as lesser beings, as cattle to sustain him and his children so we could have all the power. And many of his magical allies agreed. He promised the mages and sorceresses that they could become kings and queens in his new world, and he promised us and the werewolves that we would have an endless supply of mortals to feed on. He was going to create a magical utopia. I won't lie, it was an enticing offer, but Remus and I, along with a few others, refused him."
"I can imagine he was not pleased about that." Commented Regina.
Shae laughed darkly. "No, he was not. So we went into hiding. Dracula sent men and creatures after us, and many of us were caught and killed, but Remus and I continued surviving, running from place to place to keep Dracula's men and Van Helsing's off of our trail. But, eventually, the war that both sides had promised drew closer and closer, both armies marching off to battle. That was when Remus and I decided to leave, to find the mirror and go to a new world where we could live in peace."
"How did the two of you get separated?" Regina asked.
"I'm still not sure how, but Van Helsing found out we were planning to use the mirror to escape our world. He found us just as we were opening the portal." Shae explained. "We split up, running in opposite directions to draw Van Helsing and his men away. The plan was to get them off of our tails and meet back at the mirror. I lost the men that were chasing me, and waited for Remus for a long time. But Van Helsing showed up instead. Remus and I had promised each other that if one of us fell behind, the other would go on. So… I-"
"You went through without him." Regina finished for her.
"Yes." Shae replied sadly. "I fear something terrible has happened to him. But, I made a promise, and Remus and I have never broken a promise to each other, not ever."
"But, there's a chance that he's still alive, right?" Regina asked, and when Shae nodded, she went on. "Is that why you need to get back to the mirror? To go back and find Remus?"
"No, I'm going to destroy it."
Regina stopped in her tracks. "What?" She exclaimed.
"Van Helsing and his men followed me here. I fear I've unleashed a beast unto your world." Shae replied, stopping as well. "I can't risk any more of his men coming through. It'll be war all over again."
"Can't you just close the portal?" Regina asked desperately.
"I could, but someone else could open it again. No, I'm not risking that."
"But you can't destroy the mirror!" Regina cried. "Daniel and I need to run away to a new world!"
Shae's brow furrowed in confusion. "Who's Daniel?"
"He's… He's the man I love." Regina replied. "King Leopold has proposed to me, and my mother accepted. Daniel is only a stable boy, but I love him! I-I don't want to be Queen! Not if it means I can't be with Daniel."
Shae barked out a laugh, shaking her head slowly. "Oh, so young, so naive." She muttered in amusement.
"Young? You don't look to be very old yourself." Regina replied hotly.
"Oh, I'm much, much older than I look." Shae replied with a grin. "Vampires don't age. Didn't you know that?"
"How old are you, then?"
"A lady never tells."
Regina narrowed her eyes at the vampire, then crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, you can't destroy the mirror. I won't let you." She stated defiantly.
Shae's grin suddenly disappeared, her face falling into a menacing glare. She walked slowly toward Regina, who began to back away, suddenly quite frightened of the vampire.
"And how exactly do you plan on stopping me, hm?" Shae asked darkly, continuing to bare down on Regina. "You may be powerful, but you don't use your magic. And even if you did, there would be very little you could do. You have no idea what I'm capable of."
Regina jumped as her back hit a tree, and Shae stepped up close to her, grinning menacingly. "Do you know what happens to a person when they're drained of their blood?" Shae asked her quietly. "They get all shriveled up, like a prune, except much less appetizing."
"Y-You said you don't feed on humans." Regina stammered.
"No, I don't, but that doesn't mean I can't." Shae answered, still grinning. "See, the blood of animals can sustain us just fine, but there's just something about human blood that is so… Enticing. Humans are much more savory than animals."
Shae leaned in close, and Regina shivered as she gently traced a finger down her neck. "And I bet you, my dear, would be quite… Delicious."
The vampire leaned in even closer, and Regina squeezed her eyes shut as she felt Shae's warm breath on her neck. She swallowed hard, clenching her fists, waiting for the pain.
Regina opened her eyes again when she felt Shae pull away, and she found the vampire giving her another cheeky and quirky smile.
"Really had you going for a moment there, didn't I?" Shae asked with a laugh.
Regina let out the breath she had been holding, trying to stop the trembling throughout her body. "That wasn't funny." She replied irritably.
Shae laughed again. "I thought it was."
Regina sighed, pushing away from the tree and straightening herself up. "Well, I suppose you're right, I can't stop you from destroying the mirror."
"No, you can't." Shae agreed. "Besides, you'll be much better off marrying your King."
"No I won't, I don't love him!" Regina replied incredulously.
"So? You'll have power, wealth, an entire kingdom at your fingertips." Shae said. "Besides, trust me when I say that love will bring you nothing but pain. You're much better off without it."
Regina's face fell. "I see… Did you lose the man- sorry- woman you loved?"
Shae glanced away from her, clenching her fists. "Yes, I did."
"I-I'm very sorry to hear that." Regina replied sadly. "But mine and Daniel's love is everything to me, I can't marry someone else. We're going to run away together, and if we can run away to another world then my mother would never find us. We'd be free!"
Shae let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine, fine, run away with your Daniel." She relented. "But I'm telling you that my world isn't where you want to go. Weren't you listening before? There's about to be a war! My world will be nothing but ash soon.
When Regina didn't reply, Shae went on in a frustrated and desperate tone. "Van Helsing may be here now, but his army is still there, and if they win, you'll be killed. Even if you never use magic, someone will eventually find out that you have it. Then they'll kill Daniel for consorting with a sorceress. And if Dracula wins? You'll both be captured and thrown in a dungeon cell, fed on by vampires every day till you die. Or you'll be torn apart by werewolves, or any number of beasts that roam my world. You're much better off running away to somewhere else in this world. At least then you might have a chance."
Regina remained silent for another few moments, but then she sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're right. Your world sounds horrible."
"It is horrible!" Shae heartily agreed. "Now can we please keep going? I've got to get to that mirror before any more of Van Helsing's knights come through."
"Yes, of course, we're almost there." Regina replied, setting off again.
"Good. Now, we'll have to approach cautiously. I have no doubt that Van Helsing has men guarding the mirror, in case I come back."
When they arrived just outside the clearing with the hill, they found that Shae's suspicions had been correct. There were seven men in total guarding the mirror, four at the top of the hill and three at the bottom.
"What do we do now?" Regina whispered to Shae as they peered out carefully at the men from behind some trees.
"Right, I'd really rather not fight these idiots." Shae whispered back. "That rabbit was enough to heal me, but I'm not quite strong enough to take them all down."
Regina nodded sternly. "Alright, I'll draw them away."
"Wait, what? No! Regina!"
Regina ignored her, creeping through the trees around to the side of the hill. Once there, she put on a terrified face, stumbling out of the trees and pretending to be out of breath.
"Help! Please, help me!" She shouted. "There's a vampire, she was chasing me!"
"Where? Where did she go?" One of the men asked as they rushed toward her.
"That way!" Regina replied, pointing into the forest.
"Come on! The vampire, she's over here!" A knight called out to his brothers at the top of the hill.
The men went crashing into the forest, their friends barreling after them. "Don't worry, my lady, we'll make short work of that creature." One of them stopped to tell Regina.
"Hurry, please! She's so scary!" Regina called after them.
Once all the men were gone, Shae krept out of her hiding spot. She made her way over to Regina, looking pleasantly surprised.
"Nicely done." Shae said with a grin.
Regina gave her a modest shrug, and followed as Shae started climbing up the hill. Once at the top, they found the mirror still glowing a bright blue. Shae then pulled a small book out of the satchel on her belt, and started flipping through the pages. Regina stepped closer as she did, and noticed the pages were filled with strange runes.
"What is that?" She asked curiously.
"A spell book, written by the ancient elves of my land." Shae explained. "They're the ones that made this mirror, and others like it. They used them to leave my world centuries ago, but they left some things behind, like this book."
"I see. So you need a spell to destroy the mirror?"
"Exactly." Shae replied. "The elves were very powerful magic users, and the mirrors they made can't be destroyed by any normal means. Aha!"
Shae finally found the page she was looking for. "Stand back. I've never done this before, so I have no idea what's about to happen."
Regina obeyed, taking a large step back as Shae raised her hand toward the mirror. She looked down at the book in her other hand, then started speaking in a strange language. Regina watched silently for a few moments as Shae continued chanting in what Regina assumed was ancient elven. But, nothing seemed to be happening. The mirror stood glowing as bright as ever.
"Dammit, I'm not strong enough." Shae muttered suddenly. She then turned to Regina. "I need your help."
"Me?" Regina asked in shock.
"Yes, you. You have enough magic to make this spell work."
"I told you, I don't know how to use magic."
Shae sighed. "Yes, I know that. But you don't have to. Just, here, put your hand on my arm."
Shae took her by the hand and placed it on her arm, as she outstretched her own at the mirror again. "Now, close your eyes, and imagine magic flowing from your hand and into my arm."
Regina nodded, closing her eyes. She pictured in her mind her hand glowing with a bright, purple light. She then pictured the light flowing down Shae's arm, into her hand, and then out toward the mirror.
"Brilliant! You're doing it!"
Regina opened her eyes, and was shocked to find that what she had been picturing in her mind was actually happening.
"See? I told you you were powerful!" Shae said with a smile. "Alright, here we go!"
Shae began reading from the book again, and Regina felt the ground tremble under her feet. A humming noise started emanating from the mirror, growing louder and louder as Shae continued chanting. Regina gripped Shae's arm tightly as the ground shook violently.
Shae finished the spell, and a pulse wave of magical energy erupted from the mirror, the glass shattering. Shae grabbed Regina and threw herself protectively on top of her as the pulse wave shot toward them.
The ground finally stopped shaking, and the forest grew quiet once again. Shae got off of Regina and helped her to her feet. They turned around, and found only the golden frame of the mirror was left standing, broken glass lying all over the ground.
"I'm sorry, Remus." Shae whispered sadly.
Regina placed her hand gently on Shae's arm. "I'm sorry about your friend."
Shae gave her a small smile. "Thank you. For everything, I mean." She said quietly. "I know you wanted to use the portal to run away with your Daniel but, trust me, it's better this way. And I couldn't have done it without you."
Shae then took her by the hands, and leaned forward, pressing a light kiss on her cheek. Regina smiled, feeling her face flush with heat. "So, um, what will you do now?" Regina asked.
Shae shrugged. "I don't know, really." She replied. "I suppose I'll go explore this world of yours. I know I at least want to put as many miles between me and Van Helsing as I can, for now. He's not a man to be trifled with, and, without Remus, well, I fear my revenge will have to wait."
"Revenge?"
"Yes. Van Helsing took something from me many years ago, something I cherished deeply." Shae replied with a scowl. "He will pay for what he's done. He's weaker here, so it's only a matter of time now."
"There! She's up there!"
Regina and Shae both whirled around at the sound of a man shouting, and Regina's heart sunk. There was a score of King Leopold's men at the bottom of the hill. Amongst them was Cora, her mother.
"It's my mother." Regina breathed, turning quickly to Shae. "You have to go, now!"
"What? Why?"
"She's very powerful, and I have no idea what she would do to you if she finds out what you are." Regina said quickly. When Shae was about to protest, she went on. "Please, you have to go!"
Shae nodded, pulling her into a tight and grateful embrace. She let go, placing her hands on Regina's shoulders. "Good luck, Regina, and thank you. Perhaps our paths will cross again someday."
Regina nodded, and watched as Shae turned around, stepped around the now broken mirror and disappeared into the forest. Regina sighed, turning to face the king's men and her likely furious mother. She felt deep in her heart she would likely never see her strange vampire friend again. But she truly hoped against hope that, someday, she just might.
XX
Regina smiled wistfully as she wandered through the old stables of her mother's castle. It was all the same as she had remembered. Only, this time, Daniel was not there to meet her. He was not there to steal kisses from her in secret. He was gone, forever.
"Regina?"
Regina turned around, and her heart stopped. "Daniel?"
Daniel nodded, and Regina ran toward him, throwing herself into his arms. She kissed him desperately, feeling his arms, his shoulders, his face, unable to believe he was real.
"Oh, Daniel, is it really you?" She asked, tears streaming down her face.
"Of course, it's me." Daniel replied, smiling down at her. "Now, come, lets go!"
"W-What? Where are we going?" Regina asked.
"We're running away, remember?" Answered Daniel, gently wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Oh, Regina, I don't care where we go, as long as we're together."
Regina smiled as he kissed her again, wrapping her arms around his neck, her heart soaring as he held her in his arms.
"I love you, Daniel." She whispered as he pressed his forehead to hers.
Daniel opened his mouth to reply, but suddenly let out a pained and strangled cry. Regina gasped as he fell to the ground. She knelt beside him, and when she looked up, she saw her mother, holding Daniel's glowing red heart in her hands.
"NO!" Regina screamed.
But it was too late. Cora crushed Daniel's heart, the gray, shimmering dust slipping between her fingers. Regina looked down, watching dust slip through her own hands as Daniel's body disappeared before her.
"Daniel, no!" She sobbed, more tears drenching her cheeks.
Suddenly, there was the sound of someone laughing behind her. Regina sprang to her feet and whirled around. There was a woman standing in the doorway of the stables, a woman with black hair, pale skin, and blood red eyes.
"Shae?"
Shae smiled, slowly walking toward her, her boots making no sound at all. "I told you so." She said pointedly.
"W-What?"
"Don't you remember what I told you in the forest, the day we met?" Shae asked.
She stopped in front of Regina, gently brushing away her tears with a cold, pale hand. She then took her hands, leaned forward, and pressed a kiss on her cheek. When she pulled back, she was grinning deviously, large fangs protruding from her lips, her eyes glowing red like flames.
"Love is pain."
XX
The Evil Queen woke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest, her body covered in a cold sweat. She shook herself, gazing out the window of her carriage. Though it had been many years since her love was taken from her, Daniel was still often in her dreams, plaguing her sleep with his memory. However, this was the first time that the vampire from another world that she had met so long ago had appeared in her dreams. She hadn't so much as thought about Shae in years. Why was she suddenly in her dream now?
The Queen was travelling through the forest, on her way back to her castle after another failed attempt to find and capture Snow White. She must have fallen asleep at some point, for now her and her company of armed guards were travelling slowly through a small village.
Regina spotted a large group of villagers gathered in the center of the town, surrounding a wooden platform. She squinted her eyes when she saw that they had someone tied to a stake atop the platform, and a large, bearded man with chainmail armor was standing next to the prisoner on the platform, holding a torch and addressing the crowd. There was a score of armed men all around him, garbed in the same type of armor. They all had a large, red sun emblazoned on their breastplates, a sun that was all too familiar. She turned her eyes back to the person tied to the stake, a person with short, jet black hair.
"Stop the carriage!" Regina commanded loudly.
When the carriage rolled to a stop, Regina stepped out, the captain of her guard and several of his men following behind her. There was a cry from among the villagers as Regina made her way toward them, and they all turned around, their eyes wide with fright. They all parted as she sauntered forward, except for the armored men, who stood defiantly before her, surrounding the platform.
"Just who in the hell are you?" Asked the bearded man with the torch.
"You will mind your tongue when addressing the Queen!" Her Captain called out in response.
The bearded man raised his eyebrows. "Oh, I see, you must be the one that folks around here call The Evil Queen."
Regina spread her arms wide. "Guilty as charged." She replied, grinning wickedly.
"Well, Your Majesty, if you would kindly be on your way, our business with this creature does not concern you."
"Actually, it does concern me." Regina replied. "You see, this 'creature' happens to be an old friend of mine. Isn't that right, Shae?"
Shae's head was bowed, her chin resting on her chest. When she heard her name, she picked her head up, and smiled weakly. "Regina?" She breathed. "Well, well, the years have certainly been kind to you, haven't they?"
Shae grinned at her, looking her up and down. She started to chuckle, but then coughed, crying out in pain as the veins in her neck and face pulsed black, the same way they had years ago when she had been shot with silver arrows.
Regina suddenly noticed that Shae was not actually tied to the stake. She was being held there by several swords that had been shoved through her body, straight through into the stake. She even had a dagger through both her hands, holding them behind her back. Regina looked down, and noticed that logs, straw, and twigs were piled all around the wooden platform.
"Are you planning on burning her alive?" Regina asked in horror.
"Aye, it's the best way to kill these vile creatures." The bearded man replied, who Regina realized was the man that Shae had spoke of years ago, the one named Van Helsing.
"Apart from a silver sword to the heart, that is, but that's a bit too quick for my taste." Van Helsing went on. "I want this one to suffer."
"I think listening to your stupid voice is suffering enough for all of us, don't you?" Shae quipped, joking and sarcastic as ever despite her predicament.
Shae grunted in pain as Van Helsing struck her in the face with his fist. "Enough, you loathsome parasite!" He growled. "I think it's finally time I put an end to you."
Van Helsing's men and the crowd gathered all cheered as he lept lightly down from the platform, lowering the torch toward the logs gathered at the base of the stake.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Regina said menacingly, gesturing to her soldiers, who all drew their swords.
"Do you have any idea what manner of creature has been plaguing your land?" Van Helsing snarled, his own men unsheathing their blades as well.
"Yes, I am well aware of what she is." Regina replied dismissively. "But the only plague on my land has been you, Van Helsing."
When Van Helsing looked shocked, Regina let out a dark and dangerous laugh. "Oh, yes, I know exactly who you are." She said with another wicked grin. "You and your men have been wandering my kingdom, spreading your hatred and malice toward magic."
Regina took a step forward, causing Van Helsing's men to brandish their swords at her. Regina laughed again. "Magic may have been looked down upon in your world, but here, magic is everything, magic is power."
She then summoned a fireball into her hand, causing the crowd to gasp. Shae stared down at her in wonder, choking out a painful laugh.
"You're using magic now, I see." She said with a grin.
"Yes, and you'll be happy to know that you were right." Regina replied, grinning back. "I am very, very… Powerful."
Van Helsing remained silent as Regina sneered at him, his hand clenching around the pommel of his sword.
"This woman is now under my protection." Regina announced to the crowd, extinguishing the fireball. "Anyone who attacks her, myself, or my men will be charged with treason."
"We're not from this world." Van Helsing snarled. "You're not our Queen!"
"Well, you're in my world now, so I suggest you do as I command." Regina replied menacingly.
Van Helsing tossed the torch aside, drawing his sword. "So be it." Regina said with a small shrug. "Kill them."
Her guards all charged at Van Helsing and his men. Most of the villagers decided to flee, but a few remained, armed with axes and pitchforks, and rushed into the fray alongside Van Helsing's knights. Regina used her magic to toss a few knights and villagers aside as she stepped up onto the platform with Shae. She flicked her hand to the side, and all the swords buried in Shae's body flew out of her.
Regina grabbed the vampire by the shoulders as she fell forward, lying her down on the ground and kneeling next to her. Shae cried out in pain again as more blackness crept up her cheeks. Shae was looking much worse than when Regina had seen the last time she had been exposed to silver. Her pale gray skin was a sickly green color, and her cheeks and eye sockets were sunken. If she wasn't awake and talking, she could be mistaken for a several days old corpse.
"Damn, this is good leather." Shae groaned as she glanced down at all the holes in her black leather armor.
"Are you alright?" Regina asked concernedly.
"Yes, or rather, I will be, thanks to you." Shae replied with a grateful smile. "This is some strange twist of fate, eh?"
"Yes, I suppose it is." Regina replied with a smile of her own. "How did Van Helsing and his men capture you anyway?"
"Well, they've been chasing me ever since the day I came out of that mirror." Shae explained, pushing herself up into a sitting position. "And, well, lets just say I made some mistakes."
Regina chuckled. "I would say that's a gross understatement."
"Retreat! Retreat!"
Regina turned her head and saw Van Helsing and what was left of his men rushing into the woods, her soldiers giving chase after them.
"NO!" Shae shouted, grabbing onto Regina's shoulder and getting shakily to her feet. "He can't get away, not again!"
Regina gasped as Shae stumbled forward, tumbling off the platform and landing face down in the dirt. Regina rushed over to her, and Shae groaned as she attempted to get up again.
"Shae, you're weak." Regina said. "Come, I'll take you back to my castle, you can rest and recover there."
"No, I can't, I-I have to-" Shae started to protest.
Regina then placed her hand on Shae's forehead. "Shh, sleep now." She whispered.
Shae's entire body glowed with a soft, blue light, then she slumped unconscious to the ground. Regina stood, beckoning to the captain of her guard.
"Captain, put this woman in my carriage, I'm taking her back to the castle." She instructed. "Once there, put her in a cell. Then, have one of your men slaughter our fattest pig and take its blood to her."
"Blood, Your Majesty?" The Captain questioned. "What does she need blood for?"
"She's a vampire, she needs it to heal herself."
"A vampire?" The Captain asked, staring down fearfully at the unconscious Shae. "Are you sure you want her in your carriage?"
"It's fine, Captain. She's an old friend, she won't hurt me." Regina replied dismissively. "Once she has recovered, put her in shackles and bring her to me, understood?"
Her Captain nodded, and instructed a few of his men to load the vampire into The Queen's carriage. Once Shae was safely slumped in the seat, Regina got in after her, sitting across from the vampire. She leaned forward as her carriage set off again, gently brushing a stray long of Shae's messy black hair off her forehead, muttering to herself.
"A strange twist of fate, indeed…"
XXXXX
Shae and Ruby spent most of the night drinking and playing pool together, only deciding to leave when the bartender told them he was closing up. Shae enjoyed Ruby's company, especially since she was likely the only person in Storybrooke that didn't seem to hate her for working with Regina. Shae had never been bothered by what others thought of her, she was used to being feared and hated. But she had to admit, it was definitely nice to have a friend again.
Over the next several days, Shae took to wandering Storybrooke late at night. She always ended up back at Regina's father's mausoleum. She somehow knew that her heart was still there, but what she couldn't figure out was where exactly.
She was standing in front of the mirror hanging on the wall of the right side of the hallway, when she suddenly heard footsteps. She turned around, expecting to find Regina, but was surprised when she saw Ruby descending the steps.
"Hey! What are you doing down here?" Shae asked her.
"Looking for you." Ruby replied with a smile. "I went to Regina's house but she said I'd probably find you here."
Shae's brow furrowed. "She knows I'm here?"
"Uh, yeah, I guess."
"Hmm, well, I guess it doesn't matter." Shae said with a shrug. "She probably knows that I can't get in."
"Get in where?" Ruby asked, coming to stand next to Shae.
"I'm not really sure." Shae replied. "There's something behind this mirror though, like, a room or something. And I'm pretty sure my hearts in there. But I can't figure out how to get in."
"Did you try breaking it?" Offered Ruby.
Shae nodded gravely. "She's got it magically protected. Probably some sort of blood seal, so only she can get in."
"Oh, I'm really sorry." Ruby said with a frown.
Shae shrugged again, giving her a small smile. "Eh, it's alright." She replied. "So, uh, you said you were looking for me. What's up?"
Ruby bit her lip, fiddling with her fingers nervously. "Well, I, um… I need your help."
Shae raised an eyebrow at her. "Help with what?"
"Well, the full moon is coming up soon, and I haven't, you know, changed since I've been in Storybrooke." Ruby explained. "Now that magic is back, I'm guessing I probably probably will. And I'm just… Worried. Worried that I'll hurt someone."
"Weren't you able to control the wolf before?"
"Yeah, but, it's been so long, I'm afraid that I won't be able to any more."
Shae narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Ruby, folding her arms across her chest. "Is that why you were so nice to me the other day? Cuz you need my help?"
Ruby looked offended. "What? No! I was nice to you because I'm a nice person, and because I like you."
When Shae silently raised another eyebrow at her, Ruby breathed out a relenting sigh. "Ok, well, maybe needing your help had a little something to do with it. But the other stuff is still true, though!"
Shae sighed. "Alright, fine. What exactly do you need my help with?"
Ruby gave her a shrug. "I dunno, you're a vampire. How to do you fight the blood lust?"
"You don't. You feed it."
Ruby's mouth gaped open in shock. "Are you seriously saying that I should kill someone?"
"No, no, no! Not a person, an animal. There's plenty of deer in the woods around here. You need to hunt."
"Hunt?" Asked Ruby.
Shae nodded. "Yeah. Werewolves in my homeland hunted pretty frequently to tame the beast, vampires too. At least, the ones who didn't feed on humans, anyway."
"Did you used to feed on humans?"
Shae bit her lip, staring down at the ground. "Yeah, I did. The man who turned me, he was a Count, and he kept a supply of humans for us to feed on in the dungeons of his castle. After I left, though, I started feeding on animals. And in order to purge myself of human blood, I had to hunt almost every day for a while. Which might be what you have to do to keep your wolf at bay."
"How am I supposed to do that?" Ruby asked exasperatedly. "I only change during the full moon, and I might not be able to control myself."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Shae replied with a knowing grin.
"What?"
"Look, I think I can help you." Shae went on. "Meet me at the toll bridge tomorrow night, eight o'clock."
"What are we going to do?" Ruby asked as Shae walked toward the stairs.
Shae stopped, turning back to Ruby with another knowing and devious grin. "We're going hunting!"
XX
The next night, Shae was waiting at the toll bridge, leaning against the railing, a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. Her supersonic hearing picked up Ruby's footsteps before she saw her.
"Hey, you actually came!" Shae said as Ruby joined her on the bridge.
"What, did you think I wouldn't?" Ruby asked with a smile.
"I just didn't think Granny would let you come out with me again, since you went home drunk last time." Shae replied with a grin.
"Well, I didn't exactly tell her that I was meeting up with you." Admitted Ruby.
Shae gasped, slapping her hands on her cheeks in mock shock. "Lying to your grandmother? You bad, bad girl."
Ruby grinned, stepping up close to Shae and poking her in the chest. "Oh, you have no idea."
Shae grinned back as Ruby leaned against the railing next to her, taking her cigarette out of her hand and taking a drag. "So, what are we doing out here anyway?" She asked.
"Right, follow me!" Shae said, setting off toward the woods.
"Where are we going?" Ruby asked as she hurried after the vampire.
"Into the woods!"
XX
Ruby followed Shae as she led them deeper and deeper into forest bordering Storybrooke, Shae singing raucously as they walked.
"Into the woods!
It's time to go,
It may be all in vain, I know.
Into the woods!
But even so,
I have to take the journey!"
Ruby laughed, shaking her head slowly. "Did you write that yourself?" She asked.
"What? No! It's from Into The Woods. The musical?" Shae said, and when Ruby simply shrugged, she let out a frustrated huff. "Jesus Christ! Did you guys not get any culture from this world in the last twenty eight years?"
"Well, it's not like any of us could actually leave Storybrooke to go to the theater." Ruby replied defensively.
"Alright, I guess I'll give you that one." Shae said. She stopped walking, glancing around her and nodding in a satisfied way. "Right, I think this is far enough."
"Far enough from what?"
"The town, people. I told you, we're going hunting."
"I can't, remember? I can only turn when it's a full moon." Ruby said, crossing her arms impatiently.
"See, I don't think that's true." Shae replied. "All the werewolves I've met had the change forced on them during the full moon, but otherwise they could change at will."
"Well, the werewolves you met were from your world, right?" Ruby asked, continuing when Shae nodded. "So, werewolves from The Enchanted Forest are different. We can't change at will."
"No, I don't think so." Shae insisted. "All werewolves and vampires, no matter what world they're from, came from the same two men, centuries and centuries ago when they were first created."
"You're serious?" Ruby asked, looking shocked.
"You've never heard the story?" Shae asked.
When Ruby shook her head, Shae sat down on a nearby log, gesturing for Ruby to sit next to her. When Ruby was seated comfortably, she went on.
"Well, nobody actually knows what world these two men came from, but from what I heard it was pretty similar to one like The Enchanted Forest." Shae explained. "It was a world full of all kinds of magic, and the people who didn't have any magical abilities were always seeking ways to get them. The first werewolf and vampire were two such people, two brothers, Abraham and Alucard Van Helsing, though you probably know Alucard as his more popular name, Dracula. Which is actually just Alucard spelled backwards."
"Hang on… You're saying that Dracula and Van Helsing… They actually existed?" Ruby asked, mouth gaping open in shock.
"Yeah, I've met them both." Shae replied. "They weren't originally from my world, but they stayed there for a long time. Dracula was the one that turned me."
"You're joking."
"Oh, come on, we came from a world of literal fairy tales." Shae said. "But you don't believe that Dracula is real?"
Ruby thought silently for a moment, then gave a shrug. "Yeah, alright, I guess that's fair."
"Exactly! So, anyway." Shae went on. "Alucard and Abraham hunted down and captured a dark sorceress, or, a witch, or… Whatever you want to call her. They demanded that she give them powers, or else they'd kill her. They both wanted eternal life, and Abraham, he wanted to be the greatest hunter that there ever was. So, the witch gave them exactly what they wanted, with a little twist. Alucard was made one of the undead, cursed to drink the blood of others to sustain his immortality. And Abraham was made half man, half wolf, cursed to turn into a beast any time there was a full moon, ripping apart anyone he came in contact with, friend or foe."
"I thought Van Helsing, or, Abraham, was a monster hunter." Ruby cut in. "Why would he do that if he was a werewolf himself? Or is that not true?"
"Oh, no, it's true." Shae replied. "See, Alucard, he had no problem taking to his newfound power. He even began to enjoy draining the life out of humans, after a time. But Abraham, he hated what the witch had made him. So he swore to only use his beastly power to hunt down monsters like himself, and his brother, and anyone or anything else that had magic. He hated magic after that, said it was evil, impure. He even started a war over it, his brother fighting on the other side. Their armies were marching off to battle when I left my world."
"So, how come Abraham was immortal but we aren't?" Ruby asked. "Granny used to be a werewolf too, but she lost her power, and got old."
"Ah, well, I'm guessing it has to do with the fact that your wolf blood, and Granny's, was passed on, not given to you through magic." Shae explained. "It's different for me too. See, Dracula can't be killed with silver to the heart, or fire. But I can, and so could all the other vampires that Dracula made. I think our power got… Diluted."
"Oh, well, I guess that makes sense." Ruby replied with a shrug. "So what happened to Abraham and Alucard? Who won the war?"
"I'm not sure." Shae said, also shrugging. "Van Helsing ended up following me to The Enchanted Forest, and Dracula, well, I don't know. Nobody has ever found a way to actually kill him, so I'm sure he's still kicking around somewhere."
"Wait, Van Helsing was in The Enchanted Forest?" Ruby asked, looking panicked. "Do you think he's here in Storybrooke somewhere?"
Shae laughed, shaking her head slowly. "No, he's dead now."
"Really? What happened to him?"
"I killed him." Shae replied simply. "Well, technically Regina delivered the final blow, but I did most of the work."
"Regina killed Van Helsing?" Ruby asked, her mouth gaping open again.
"Yes, technically, she did. But that's an incredibly long story, and we've got work to do."
Shae sprang to her feet, holding out her hand to Ruby. Ruby narrowed her eyes at the vampire for a moment, but eventually relented. She took Shae's hand, and Shae pulled her to her feet.
"Right, so, I'm positive that you can change into a wolf any time you want, you just don't know how." Shae went on.
"And I'm guessing you're going to try and show me." Ruby replied, crossing her arms.
"Exactly!" Shae agreed. "Now, the werewolves I've met told me that, right before they change, they feel a sort of heat… Or a pressure, right about…"
Shae stepped up close to Ruby, placing her finger right in the center of her torso. "Here." She finished.
Ruby stared up into the vampire's blood red eyes, breathing in her scent. She smelled like freshly fallen leaves in the forest, and just a hint of lavender.
"Actually, it's more like…" Ruby began, taking Shae's hand and sliding it up slightly, so that the tips of the vampires fingers brushed against her breasts. "Here."
Ruby grinned, biting her lip in a coy and tantalizing way. Shae stared down at her for a long moment, but then drew back a step, clearing her throat awkwardly.
"Right, ok, good, t-that's good." She stammered. "So, um, what you need to do is focus on that spot, and that heat, that pressure. And think of something that makes you angry."
"Angry?" Ruby asked, looking confused.
"Yeah, magic in any form is all based on emotion." Shae explained with a nod. "From what I learned about werewolves, they're all about rage. I heard that they could trigger a transformation if they got too angry."
"Ok, so, focus on the spot and get mad. Got it." Ruby summarized with a nod.
"Pretty much, yeah." Shae replied. "So, what makes you angry?"
Ruby thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I dunno, Granny pisses me off a lot."
Shae shook her head. "No, you gotta dig deeper than that."
Ruby nodded, thinking silently again. "I'm pretty pissed at Regina for cursing us and taking us from our homes."
Shae shook her head again. "No, 'pretty pissed' won't cut it. You need something that really, really enrages you. It's probably something that you don't ever want to think about, because just thinking about it for a second hurts too much, makes you crazy."
Ruby stared down at the ground, fists clenched. She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling tears starting to well up in her eyes. Then, she felt it. The pain, the heat, bubbling deep in her chest.
"Oh, I-I feel it!" She gasped.
"Good! Don't lose it, keep going." Shae said excitedly. "Tell me about it. What happened?"
Ruby gritted her teeth, trying to stop the tears from coming. "There was this guy, back home, Peter… He… He was the love of my life."
"And? What happened to him?"
"Snow and I, w-we thought HE was the wolf. So, one night, during the full moon, I snuck out to meet him." Ruby said, her voice shaking with emotion. "I-I chained him to a tree, so he wouldn't hurt anyone when he changed. But, he wasn't the one that changed…"
"You were." Shae finished for her.
Ruby nodded, tears leaking out of her eyes now. She doubled over in pain, the heat deep in her chest getting worse.
"What happened to him, Ruby? What did you do?" Shae prodded.
Ruby shook her head, her face streaming with tears. "It wasn't my fault…" She sobbed.
"What wasn't your fault? What happened? Say it!" Shae shouted at her.
"The wolf… The wolf ripped him apart!" Cried Ruby.
"No!" Shae shouted back. "It wasn't just the wolf. It was you, Ruby! You did it!"
"No! It wasn't… I didn't…"
"Yes you did! It's your fault!"
"FINE!" Ruby screamed. "I KILLED HIM!"
Ruby cried out in pain, falling to her knees as the heat spread all throughout her body. "That's it, Ruby! Don't fight it!" Shae told her, crouching down in front of her. "You gotta let go! Give in to the beast, Ruby. Just give in!"
Shae leapt back as Ruby screamed with pain. She watched in wonder as Ruby's body began to twist and change. Her hands and feet curled in, forming into paws, black and brown fur sprouting all over her body. Her face morphed into a pointed snout, her scream turning into a howl.
Finally, the wolf stood before her. Shae smiled, clapping her hands together excitedly. "You did it, Ruby! You actually did it!"
The wolf that was now Ruby turned her black eyes onto Shae. She then threw her head back, letting out another long, triumphant howl. Shae laughed, clapping her hands again.
"Awesome! Ok, now we gotta find something for you to hunt." She said excitedly. "I saw a whole family of deer around here just the other day, they're probably still-"
Shae stopped as Ruby suddenly turned her back, pawing slowly forward, sniffing the air intently. "Ruby? Ruby, can you hear me?" Shae called out.
The vampire felt a breeze roll by, saw it ruffle the wolf's fur. Ruby suddenly dropped her head low, letting out a fierce growl.
"Uh oh."
Ruby took off like a shot into the woods, heading straight for town. Shae sprinted after her, using her power of superhuman speed to try and catch the wolf. Ruby was fast, much faster than Shae thought she'd be.
Shae finally caught up to Ruby, reaching out a hand toward her tail. Ruby snarled viciously as Shae clamped her hand around it, and howled as Shae sent her sailing through the air, back toward where she had come from.
Shae was a black blur of movement as she ran to the spot where Ruby had landed. She stopped as the wolf staggered to her feet, growling viciously.
"Ruby? Come on, I know you're in there!" Shae said desperately.
Ruby only continued to growl at Shae, the hair on her haunches standing straight up. Shae cried out in shock as the wolf suddenly lunged at her. She fell back onto the ground, grabbing Ruby's nose and jaw just before she was able to clamp her teeth around her throat.
They struggled for a moment, Shae attempting to push Ruby's jaws away from her face. The wolf raked Shae's chest with her claws, and the vampire screamed and howled in pain. She finally managed to shove Ruby backward, scrambling to her feet, holding her aching chest.
"Ruby! You've got to take control! You can do it!" Shae shouted at the wolf.
Another breeze blew by, and Ruby's head snapped up, her nose catching the scent as it rolled in. Shae could smell it to. Someone was nearby.
Ruby took off again, and Shae gave chase, but chose a different tactic this time. She ran full tilt around to Ruby's side, flanking her from the right. She then rushed forward and lept through the air, tackling the wolf to the ground.
The vampire and the wolf were a tangle of fur and limbs as they rolled around on the forest floor, Shae grunting and Ruby snarling. Shae finally managed to gain the upper hand, wrapping one arm around the wolf's neck, the other around her torso.
"Sorry about this, Ruby." Shae muttered.
She squeezed her arm tight around the wolf's windpipe, holding it there as Ruby's struggling and flailing grew weaker and weaker. Finally, Ruby went completely limp, and Shae collapsed back onto the ground. As soon as she was unconscious, Ruby shifted back into a human, lying sprawled out on top of Shae.
Shae groaned, sitting forward and shoving Ruby off of her. Ruby's limp body rolled off of Shae, lying face down in the grass and dirt. Shae glanced down, examining her torn shirt and the deep claw marks in her pale, gray flesh underneath.
"Well, I guess that could have gone worse." Shae breathed.
She rolled Ruby over, kneeling down next to her. "Ruby? Hey, Ruby! Wake up!" She said, gently patting Ruby's cheeks.
Ruby let out a groan, her eyes fluttering open. She sat up slowly, staring dazedly all around her. When she finally noticed Shae kneeling beside her, she gasped.
"W-What happened?" She asked.
"Um, well-" Shae started to say.
"Oh my god!" Ruby exclaimed, pointing at Shae's gouged chest. "D-Did I do that?"
"Uh, well, yeah, kinda." Shae stammered.
"Oh my god!" Ruby said again. "Shae, I'm so sorry, are you ok?"
"I'll be fine, I promise." Shae said reassuringly. "It's ok, it was only your first time. We'll just try again tomorrow."
"No! No, absolutely not!" Ruby replied furiously, getting a bit unsteadily to her feet. "Shae, I could have killed you!"
"Yeah, I knew that from the start." Shae said. "And you didn't kill me. That's the important thing."
"Well, it looks like I almost did!"
"Almost only counts in horse grenades!"
Ruby stopped short, fixing Shae with a confused stare. "What?"
"Wait, wait, I said that wrong." Shae muttered, then waved her hands dismissively. "Never mind, forget it! Look, I'm not going to let you give up after just one try. You asked for my help, and you've got it, sister."
"Why are you being so stubborn about this?" Ruby asked furiously.
"Because I want to help someone for once!" Shae shouted back.
Ruby's furious gaze softened as they stood in silence for a moment, Shae staring at the ground, chewing on her lip ring anxiously.
"Look, I've spent most of my life doing a lot of bad shit, and hurting people." Shae went on in a quiet voice. "When you asked for my help, I just… I don't know… I just thought it would be nice if I could use what I am to actually help someone for a change."
Shae glanced back down at the ground, kicking a tree root lightly. Ruby breathed out a heavy and relenting sigh. "Fine, we'll try again tomorrow." She said.
"What? Really?" Shae asked, her face lighting up with excitement.
"Sure." Ruby replied with a smile. "But if it all goes wrong again, that's it. Ok?"
Shae nodded vigorously, and Ruby stepped up to her, lightly touching the torn fabric of her shirt. "I guess I owe you a new shirt."
Shae shrugged. "Eh, don't worry about it. It was an old one anyway."
Ruby brushed her fingers across Shae's bare skin underneath one of the tears, her brow furrowing. "You're… Cold." She whispered.
"Well, I am technically a corpse." Shae replied with a light laugh.
Ruby smiled, continuing to run her fingers across Shae's chest. She stopped, glancing up at her, her eyes full of yearning. She snaked her arms gently around Shae's neck, breathing in her scent again. Shae placed her hands on Ruby's hips, the heat and the tension between them drawing to a peak as Ruby leaned in closer, her eyes fluttering closed.
"Ruby." Shae whispered, her lips brushing against Ruby's. "Ruby, stop."
Shae pulled back, removing Ruby's arms from around her neck. "We really shouldn't."
Ruby gripped the front of Shae's jacket, biting her lip and staring up into her blood red eyes. "Why not?" She asked her. "I know you want to, I can tell."
Ruby grabbed Shae's hands, placing them back on her hips. She smiled, wrapping her arms around Shae's neck once again. Shae turned her face away, pushing Ruby gently away from her. Ruby's brow furrowed at the sudden sadness on Shae's face.
"I-I just… It's just a bad idea, trust me." She said, running a hand through her hair. "I uh… I gotta go."
Shae turned around, shoving her hands in her pockets as she walked briskly away. Ruby watched her go, her heart racing, her face flushed with heat. The wolf always brought out this side of her, the side that ached with unyielding desire. She had always been able to suppress it, but she couldn't this time, not around Shae. She only hoped that she hadn't completely scared the vampire away.
XX
The next night, Ruby was relieved to see Shae leaning against the railing of the toll bridge, cigarette in her mouth, just like the night before. Shae seemed to be unaffected by the tense moment they had shared, which Ruby was grateful for. They both silently decided not talking about it was best.
Unfortunately, that night went just about as well as the previous one. Shae came out unscathed, but she still had to chase Ruby down before she attacked anyone in town. Shae insisted that they keep trying, coaching her on how to maintain control over the wolf. Ruby refused at first, but after much begging and persuading, she agreed to try again.
They tried again and again, every night for a week straight, and Ruby began to notice that she was able to keep control for longer and longer each time. Finally, on their seventh night in a row, Ruby had been running through the woods for almost four hours, Shae always a few careful steps behind her.
"Excellent!" Shae exclaimed as they stopped for a break. "Now, there's two does and a buck about a mile north. Can you smell them?"
The wolf sniffed the air carefully, then turned her gaze back on Shae, nodding her brown, furry head. She took off in the direction of the scent, Shae following after her. She leapt through the air, her jaws closing around the buck's neck as she landed. She tore into the soft flesh, tasting the warm, delicious meat in her mouth.
When she was fully satisfied, she rubbed her bloody muzzle on the grass, shook out her fur, and turned around to find Shae bent over a doe, her fangs deep in its neck. Ruby sat back on her haunches, waiting patiently as Shae drank. When she was finally done, she stood up, clenching her fists as her body jerked, her veins pulsing a deep red, her eyes glowing. She smiled at Ruby, retracting her fangs back into her gums, her eyes fading back to their normal blood red.
"Awesome! Ruby, you did it!" Shae exclaimed excitedly.
Ruby threw her head back, howling long and loud. Shae laughed, clapping enthusiastically. "So, what do you want to do now?" She asked the wolf.
The wolf turned her black eyes back onto Shae for a moment, then took off running again. Shae laughed again, keeping pace alongside her. Ruby's paws pounded the dirt as she ran, her heart racing with exhilaration. She loved to run as a wolf. She felt alive, at peace, and… Free.
Ruby slowed to a stop in a small clearing, morphing back into her human body. She turned to Shae, smiling gleefully. "I did it!" She exclaimed.
"Fuck yeah, you did!" Shae heartily agreed.
Ruby ran over to Shae, throwing her arms around her. She laughed as Shae lifted her into the air, spinning her around and around in circles. Shae set her down, and Ruby beamed up at her.
"Thank you, I couldn't have done this without you." Ruby said, still smiling.
"Eh, you would have been ok." Shae replied with a modest shrug.
"No, you really helped me, alot. Thank you." Ruby said again.
Shae smiled, giving her a small nod. "You're very welcome."
Ruby smiled back, stepping up her and lightly adjusting her leather jacket. "I'm, uh… I'm really glad you're here, Shae."
"Me too." Shae replied, still smiling warmly at her.
Ruby left her hand on Shae's chest, biting her lip as she once again felt the intense, unrelenting ache of desire. She didn't wait this time, didn't hesitate. She grabbed Shae by the front of her jacket, pulled her close, and kissed her full on the lips.
To Ruby's surprise, Shae didn't push her away this time. She wrapped her arms tightly around her, brushing her tongue against Ruby's as their lips parted. Ruby snaked her arms around her neck again, entangling her fingers in Shae's jet black hair.
Their embrace deepened as their lips parted again, vigorously exploring each other's mouths with their tongues. Ruby was delighted to find out that Shae burned with the same desire that she did. She bit down on Shae's lower lip, grabbing the vampire's hands and sliding them up to her breasts. Ruby moaned as Shae squeezed them roughly, brushing her thumbs over her hard and swollen nipples.
"Fuck me, Shae. I want you you fuck me." Ruby whispered breathlessly against Shae's lips. "I want you to take me right now, right here."
Shae removed her hands from Ruby's breasts, stepping away from her. "Ruby, wait, no… We… We really shouldn't." She stammered.
Ruby rushed forward, grabbing on to Shae's jacket again and kissing her fiercely. "Please, Shae. Please! Please…" She begged. "I want you so bad…"
Shae pushed her back, squeezing her eyes shut and shaking her head. "No, I just… I… I-I can't…" She stammered again.
Shae stopped her sputtering, staring silently at Ruby, her eyes full of longing. "Oh, fuck it." She breathed.
She pulled Ruby against her body, and Ruby hummed happily against her lips as they kissed again. "I want you too." Shae whispered as she roughly sucked on the skin of Ruby's neck.
"Then take me, take me now!" Ruby whispered urgently.
Shae moved back to Ruby's lips and, without breaking their embrace, they both kicked off their shoes, tossing their jackets roughly to the side. Ruby slipped her hands under Shae's shirt, momentarily breaking away to pull it off over her head.
"Woah… What?" Ruby breathed in shock at the sight of Shae's mangled chest. "D-Did I-"
"No, no, different werewolf." Shae replied hurriedly. "Really long story, kinda don't want to talk about it right now."
"Right, yeah, ok." Ruby replied with a nod.
Shae pulled her in again, and their lips crashed together once again. Shae immediately started on Ruby's jeans, unzipping them and pulling them down, her black, lacy underwear going down with them. Ruby stepped out of her pants, kicking them roughly to the side, and let out a moan as Shae slipped a finger between her legs, gently stroking her from end to end.
"Damn, you're already so wet…" Shae whispered in amazement.
"I told you I wanted you." Ruby whispered back with a sultry grin.
"Well, I guess I'd better clean you up."
Shae grabbed Ruby by her hips and pushed her up against the tree behind her. She didn't even bother removing Ruby's shirt and bra. She immediately got on her knees, spread Ruby's legs wide, and placed one of them over her shoulder, locking her in place.
"Oh, fuck! Yes!" Ruby moaned loudly as Shae placed a deep, gentle kiss into her center.
Shae used her thumbs to spread Ruby's lower lips even wider, softly teasing her clit with the tip of her tongue. Ruby writhed and squirmed, tugging on a fistful of Shae's hair.
"Please! Oh, Shae, please. Please!" Ruby begged her once again.
Shae grinned, wrapping one arm around Ruby's thigh slung over her shoulder, and used her other hand to slip two fingers deep inside her.
"Oh god! Fuck! Yes!" Ruby moaned as Shae slowly pumped her fingers, using her tongue to massage her already glistening clit.
Shae sincerely hoped that no one was in the forest nearby at the moment, for Ruby was extremely loud, screaming louder and louder as Shae thrust harder and deeper inside her. Shae could tell that the young woman was about to cum, and she stopped, slipping her fingers out from inside her, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"What? No! I was just about to cum!" Ruby whined, biting her lip in a way that Shae found completely irresistible.
Shae leaned forward, pressing a feather light kiss on her lips. "Oh, I know." She whispered, grinning devilishly.
Shae pulled Ruby's shirt off, kissing her again as she began working on the clasp of her bra. "Mmm, you're so cruel." Ruby purred, biting in to Shae's shoulder as the vampire kissed her neck.
"I never said I wasn't." Shae replied, grinning again as Ruby's bra slipped to the ground.
She was now completely naked, and Shae stepped back to observe. "God, you're breathtaking." She whispered in wonder.
Ruby smiled, stepping forward, working on the button and zipper of Shae's pants. Once they were unzipped, Ruby slid her hand down them, and Shae gasped as she slipped a finger between her legs.
"Mmm, you're wet too." Ruby whispered, pressing gentle kisses up and down Shae's neck.
"I told you I wanted you too." Shae replied, tilting her head back with a soft moan as Ruby ran her finger along her clit.
Ruby pressed a gentle kiss on the base of Shae's throat, pulling her hand out from her pants as Shae brought her head back down.
"Then take me." Ruby said, wrapping her arms around Shae's neck. "All the way, this time."
Shae grinned, pulling off her pants and her plaid boxers, kicking them away. She lifted Ruby into the air by her hips, and Ruby wrapped her legs tightly around Shae's waist. Shae carefully knelt down on the ground as they kissed, breaking away to lay Ruby gently down onto the grass.
"Mmm, oh, yeah!" Ruby moaned as Shae immediately put her tongue to work again, licking her womanhood from end to end.
As Ruby's breathing became more and more labored, Shae slipped three fingers inside her this time, causing Ruby to gasp and dig her nails into Shae's shoulders. Ruby threw her arms back on either side of her head, basking in the sensations that Shae's fingers and tongue were giving her.
Shae began to pump her fingers harder and deeper inside her, furiously licking her clit at the same time. She had Ruby screaming again, her cries of pleasure echoing off the trees.
"Oh god! I'm gonna cum! Please, don't stop! DON'T STOP!" Ruby screamed as she reached her climax.
Shae didn't stop this time, and felt the muscles of Ruby's womanhood clench hard around her fingers, soaking her hand in her warm, sweet juices. Shae removed her fingers, wiping them on the grass as she began licking Ruby from end to end again. Ruby moaned softly, running her hand gently through Shae's hair as she continued to shiver with pleasure.
Ruby wrapped herself around Shae as the vampire surfaced, placing gentle kisses on her neck and gently nibbling on her earlobe.
"Oh my god…" Ruby whispered through labored breaths. "I don't I've ever came so hard in my entire life."
Shae pulled away from her neck and kissed her lips. "Did you know that a woman can cum an indefinite number of times?" She asked with a grin.
"Mmm, is that so?" Ruby purred as Shae took one of her nipples into her mouth, massaging the other with her fingers.
Shae released Ruby's nipple from her mouth with a satisfying pop, leaning forward and kissing her neck again. "Absolutely. You can make her cum all night long, if you know what you're doing."
Ruby drew in a sharp breath through her teeth, digging her nails into Shae's back as she sucked vigorously on the tender skin of her neck. "And you definitely know what you're doing…"
Shae pulled back, grinning down at her. "Oh, I sure do."
"Well, it just so happens, so do I." Ruby replied with a grin of her own.
Shae gasped as Ruby wrapped a leg around her waist, and flipped them both over. Ruby laced her fingers in with Shae's, pinning them roughly to the ground over her head. Shae grinned, gasping again as Ruby sank her teeth deep into the skin of her shoulder.
"You sure you know what you're doing down there?" Shae asked as Ruby slid back, brushing her luscious brown hair out of her face.
Ruby simply grinned deviously at her in reply. Shae gasped, breathing out a low moan as Ruby plunged her face between her legs.
"Oh, fuck, you're pretty good at that." Shae said as Ruby began to lick her slowly. "Have you been with a woman before?"
Ruby raised her head, giving Shae a wink. "Don't tell Granny."
Shae laughed, letting out another moan as Ruby's tongue went back to work. She then propped herself up on her elbows, eyeing Ruby curiously. "Was it anyone I know?"
Ruby surface again, rolling her eyes at the vampire. "What does it matter? Stop talking!"
Ruby grabbed Shae by her throat and shoved her back down to the ground. Shae laughed. She was really enjoying Ruby's dominant and aggressive side.
Shae's moans of pleasure grew louder and louder as Ruby worked her clit with her tongue. Ruby slid two fingers inside her, thrusting and licking in unison. This time, it was Shae's screams of pleasure that echoed through the forest.
"Oh, fuck, Ruby! OH GOD!" Shae screamed as she came, her back arching high into the air.
Ruby surfaced as Shae slumped back into the grass, pressing gentle kisses on her chest. She frowned as she ran her hands up and down Shae's mangled torso.
"I really wish you had nipples." Ruby said, pouting her now smeared red lips.
Shae sat forward, snaking her arms up Ruby's back. "Sorry, I lost those a long time ago."
Ruby smiled, gently running her fingers through Shae's hair and kissing her tenderly. Shae let out a contented sigh, gently tracing her fingers up and down Ruby's back.
"You really meant it when you said you knew what you were doing." Shae whispered with a smile.
"Mmhmm… And you really meant it when you said a woman can cum an indefinite number of times, right?" Ruby asked with a grin.
When Shae nodded, Ruby's grin got wider. "Good. Then let's make each other cum all night."
Shae grinned back. "Sounds good to me."
XX
The morning sun krept through the trees, sending beams of pale golden light down onto the two women in the clearing, still totally and completely wrapped up in each other. They were on their knees in front of each other, kissing furiously, each with two fingers inside each other, massaging each other's clits with their palms.
They moaned into each other's mouths as they pumped their fingers vigorously. They matched each other beat for beat, stroke for stroke. Their moans got louder and louder, and both their heads snapped back as they came in unison.
Shae collapsed backward into the grass, and Ruby collapsed on top of her, resting her head on the vampire's cold chest, her breathing labored. They lay there in silence for a while, both completely and totally spent. Ruby's breaths began to even out, and she traced her fingers along the indent in Shae's chest.
"What's it like?" Ruby asked, tilting her head up to look at Shae. "Not having a heart."
Shae thought silently for a moment, then sighed. "You know how some people see the world through rose colored glasses?" When Ruby nodded, she went on. "Well, I see the world through gray colored glasses."
Ruby's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Well, uh, I dunno, everything is just sort of… Blah, you know?" Shae replied, running her fingers up and down Ruby's smooth, bare back. "I don't really feel anything. Sometimes I can, sort of, but I think it's only because I remember what things are supposed to feel like. I can laugh at a funny joke, but nothing makes me laugh so hard I cry anymore. I actually haven't even cried at all in twenty eight years. I still get sad sometimes, but I never cry. I get angry a lot, though. That's one emotion that's stuck around."
Ruby propped herself up on her elbow, staring down at Shae, her eyes full of sadness. "I'm so sorry, that sounds awful." She said quietly.
Shae shrugged. "Eh, after twenty eight years I've gotten used to it. Honestly, Ruby, I'm kinda scared to get my heart back. I don't even know what it's going to feel like to… Feel again."
"But you are positive Regina will give it back, right?" Ruby asked, still skeptical about Regina's deal with the vampire.
"Oh, yeah, she will." Shae replied with a nod. "Regina may be manipulative, cruel, malicious… But she's always kept her word. If she says she'll give it back, she will. When is the real problem."
"What do you mean, when?"
"My heart is the only thing that Regina holds over me, the only leverage she has. She's not about to give that up any time soon." Shae replied glumly. "I might end up waiting another twenty eight years. That's why I've been trying to find it myself. But her goddamn magic is hiding it."
Shae then smiled excitedly. "See? Anger. I can still feel anger."
Ruby laughed, gently running her fingers up and down Shae's mutilated chest. "Well, I know there's at least one other thing you can feel."
Shae grinned against Ruby's lips as she kissed her, rolling onto her side and wrapping her arms around her. Suddenly, there was a beeping noise from somewhere nearby, and Ruby broke away.
"Uh oh, that's my phone." She said.
She got to her feet, searching the ground for her pants. When she finally found them, she pulled out her cell phone.
"Holy shit!" She cried. "Is it really seven-thirty?"
Shae shrugged, causing Ruby to panic even more. "Shit, shit! Granny's gonna kill me."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were a high school tween with a curfew." Quipped Shae.
Ruby glared at the vampire. "Will you just shut up and help me find my bra?"
Shae laughed, getting to her feet and helping Ruby gather up all her clothes. She found her own as well, and they both hastily got dressed. Once she was fully clothed, Ruby cupped Shae's face in her hands, kissing her gently.
"Ok, well, uh… Bye!" She stammered, patting Shae's chest.
"Bye." Shae muttered, watching as Ruby hurried away from her toward town.
Shae chewed on her lip ring nervously as she started her walk back to Regina's house. She hoped Ruby wasn't going to tell anyone about what they did. She wasn't ashamed in the slightest, but Ruby was a nice girl, and she was already treated differently due to being a werewolf. Shae knew that it would only get worse if the people of Storybrooke found out that she slept with Regina's vampire lackey. She drummed her fingers against her leg nervously. If there was one person besides Granny that could absolutely not find out, it was Regina herself.
XX
Shae stepped through the front door of Regina's house, whistling an upbeat tune. She gave a casual salute to Regina, who was sitting in the living room. She continued whistling as she walked into the kitchen, opening the fridge and grabbing up an apple.
When she turned back around, the apple slipped from her hand. "GAH! Jesus fucking Christ, woman!" She shouted at Regina, who was suddenly directly behind her.
"And why exactly are you in such a good mood this morning, hm?" Regina asked her, smirking in a way that Shae did not like one bit.
"Can't I just be in a good mood?" Shae asked nonchalantly, stepping around Regina.
Regin grabbed her arm. "Hold on, dear, you have something on your face."
When Shae turned back toward her, Regina reached out, gently brushing her thumb against the corner of her mouth. When she pulled her hand back, Shae's eyes grew wide. On Regina's thumb, was a small smear of bright red lipstick.
"My, my… What a delightful shade of… Red."
The way Regina spoke the last word sent a shiver up Shae's spine. She straightened herself up, smoothing out her face. "Why, thank you. Red's always been my color."
She gave Regina what she hoped was an indifferent look, then turned around again. She only made it a few steps before Regina spoke again, causing her to freeze rigidly in her spot.
"Careful, dear, you don't want Granny finding out that you're fucking her precious granddaughter."
Shae turned around slowly, glaring furiously at Regina. "Oh, don't look so surprised. You know I have eyes all over this town." Regina said, maliciously.
"If you tell anyone, I swear to god I'll-" Shae snarled as she stomped furiously up to Regina.
"You'll do what? Kill me? Don't make me laugh."
"Oh, I just might."
"No, I don't think so." Regina sneered. "Because after all this time, after everything we both have done, you still don't have it in you to kill me."
Shae clenched her fists, silently glowering at the former Queen. "Besides." Regina went on. "I still have your heart, and I know you know where it is. Which means, I also know you know, that if you kill me, you'll never get to it."
Regina stepped up close to Shae, placing her hands gently on her chest. "And now, with this new little morsel of information I know about you, I know that… You. Need. Me."
Regina tapped her finger on the tip of Shae's nose at every word, and Shae smacked her hand away, seething silently at the irony.
"Or rather, you need me to keep my mouth shut." Regina went on. "I'm sure a whispered word in the right ear would eventually makes its way back to Granny, and she'd rally the whole town against you for defiling her precious Ruby."
"I didn't defile anyone." Shae snarled through gritted teeth.
"No? That's not the story I heard, or rather, that's not the story Granny will hear." Regina replied, sporting another wicked grin. "After that, well, not even your friend Snow White and her family of fools would be on your side."
"Alright, fine, I need you to keep your mouth shut." Shae admitted. "So what exactly do you want from me? Am I not allowed to leave the house anymore?"
"Oh no, dear, I'm not amending our deal any further." Regina replied. "Please, feel free to have another romp in the forest with your wolf girl. Just remember what kind of power I have over you now."
"This was a one time thing, it won't happen again." Shae said quietly.
Regina laughed. "Oh, Shae, we both know that's a lie." She replied. "You always go back, remember?"
Shae wrinkled her nose as Regina stepped past her, patting her cheek as she went by. Shae breathed out a nervous sigh, running a shaky hand through her hair. What kind of mess had she made now?
XX
Later that same night, Shae was sitting at the bar of The Rabbit Hole, downing her ninth glass of whiskey, finally starting to feel a bit of a buzz from the alcohol.
"Don't you think you've had enough?" The bartender asked when she called for another.
"I'm a vampire, dude, it takes a lot for us to get drunk, alright?" Shae spat angrily. "Besides, I'm paying you for them, what else do you care?"
The bartender shrugged, pouring Shae another glass. Just then, she felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out, and noticed that she had a text from Ruby.
"911. EMERGENCY. Meet me in the clearing. HURRY."
Shae's eyes widened as she read Ruby's text. She downed her glass of whiskey, slapped some money onto the bar, and quickly stepped out into the night. She didn't waste any time, using her power of superhuman speed to reach the clearing as fast as she could.
When she arrived, she found Ruby alone, the forest quiet. All seemed to be perfectly normal. "Hey! What's going on? What's the emergency?" Shae asked in a panic.
Ruby turned around, her face lighting up when she saw Shae. She ran toward her, leaping into her arms. Shae grabbed onto her thighs as Ruby wrapped her legs around her waist.
"I'm horny." Ruby said simply, shrugging her shoulders.
Shae couldn't help but laugh as Ruby kissed her. "Alright, well, maybe next time don't use '911' and 'emergency' in your booty call text?"
Ruby grinned, brushing her finger softly across Shae's lips. "It got you here pretty quick, though, didn't it?"
Shae sighed as Ruby kissed her again. She held her for a few long moments, enjoying the taste of her lips, the scent of her hair as it tickled her face. She then set her down, a little reluctantly, and took her by the hands.
"Ruby, listen, I… Well…" Shae started to say.
She stopped as she looked at Ruby smiling up at her, biting her lip in the sultry way that Shae couldn't resist. She glanced away from Ruby's lips, trying to keep in mind everything that Regina had said.
"Shae, are you ok?" Ruby asked, placing her hand gently on Shae's cheek. "You look… Weird. Is something wrong?"
Shae closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of Ruby's hand on her cold, pale face. She bit her lip, opening her eyes again and found herself staring into Ruby's own beautiful, brilliant green eyes.
"Oh, fuck it." Shae said once again.
She threw off her jacket, wrapping her arms around Ruby's waist, kissing her urgently. Ruby kissed her back with the same amount of passionate urgency, and they both began to tug at each other's clothes.
The vampire and the werewolf once again lost themselves in each other, making passionate love until the morning light shined down on them through the trees. They would spend each night afterwards the same way for weeks, unable to keep their hands off of each other for longer than a few hours.
Shae knew deep down that they couldn't go on much longer keeping their passionate affair a secret, especially not since Regina knew. But she couldn't help herself. Every night she would tell herself that it was over, that she wouldn't go back, and every night she was drawn out into the woods, where Ruby would be waiting for her.
It had all started innocently enough. All she had wanted to do was help Ruby take control of her powers, to actually use her own beastly nature to help someone.
"Well, you know what they say…" Shae muttered to herself as she sat at the bar of The Rabbit Hole alone one night, drink in hand, thinking about Ruby. "No good deed goes unpunished."
XX
