Character deaths, major character(s) injured, and questionable behavior all around. This has been the hardest, most frustrating chapter to write. Not to mention my job picked up, and I couldn't find time to sit down and write. So blame life for this one.

Alex couldn't believe it as she watched the Evil Queen talk to Kelly in the other room. Emma, Snow White's fucking daughter, spoke tactical strategies with J'onn and Rosalie. Emmett was in the computer lab with Kieran, but he'd come back to look over some maps. The other odd one out was Bella, who stood on the wall with her eyes closed. Emmett said she was meditating, but it looked like more than that. Regardless, it was incredible how much things changed in an hour. Alex felt like she was spiraling in a good way. They traveled to a different realm just to help bring Kara home. That gave Alex something she hadn't felt ever since she lost her sister.

Hope.

"I came over to ask why you were glaring at me, but it's clear you're in your head."

Alex winced when she noticed Bella in front of her said, "I'm sorry."

"No, I get it. I've been in your position before."

"What do you mean?"

Bella shoved her hands into her pockets and sighed.

"There was a handmaiden at the castle who was obsessed with getting into the King's good graces. She wanted to take Regina's place, and she thought the best way to do that would be to tell the King about us. Kieran, Emmett, and I were secrets. The King would've gotten rid of us if he ever thought Regina's attention was diverted from raising Snow. One day, the King was having guests, so the entire castle was busy. Regina was in dress fittings, Emmett was on patrol with the older guards, and I was supposed to be in the library with Kieran. But I got hungry, and I left her there. I thought she would be safe, but when I came back, she was gone. I snuck around, checking every place I thought she would be, but she wasn't at any of them. I started to panic, but I couldn't tell either of our Moms. They were both distracted, and Emmett was too far out of reach. My Dad was already gone by then, so it was just me. I was so scared. It was pure luck that I ran outside when I did. The handmaiden was rushing through the gardens with Kieran, and I saw in my sister's eyes that there was something wrong.

"I didn't call for help. I didn't do anything but chase the handmaiden into the woods. Kieran's been the silent type for so long. We only knew something was bothering her if she cried or got fidgety. So it wasn't a surprise that Kieran wasn't screaming for help. She was just crying, clutching the handmaiden even though she knew she was in danger. I caught up with them, and that's when I discovered my magic. I don't remember much after that, just Kieran holding onto me with her face tucked into my neck with the handmaiden dangling in the air by the tree roots. There was a root around her throat, so she couldn't scream or anything. I kind of zoned out after that. It felt like I blinked. One moment, that handmaiden is alive. And the next thing I know, her limbs are… everywhere. I remember putting Kieran on my back and walking back to the castle. Kieran was barely six years old, and I'd murdered someone in front of her. That afternoon, I took the risk and went to our Mom, Liana. I asked – I asked her to find a way to block Kieran's memory so she wouldn't remember what happened. It's been killing me ever since. I've got a lot of blood on my hands, all from protecting my family and burying each memory until I can't feel the pain anymore."

Bella seemed to remember herself, and she cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry. That was – you've got enough on your mind."

"Being a big sister means taking whatever steps necessary to keep them safe. Even when you lose a piece of yourself in the process."

"I guess so. I was a mess in those minutes without Kieran, and I can only imagine how you feel after several days."

"Kara's strong, and I – I have to hold onto the idea she's alive. But I admit I'm tired of waiting to save her."

"Em and Kieran are narrowing locations based on Kieran's history with the Luthor family. Once they get Lex's location, we'll bring Kara home."

Alex nodded and changed the subject.

"What's the age difference between you guys?" she asked.

"Emmett was nineteen when he jumped into the portal to save Kieran, who was fourteen. I was seventeen at the time. But somewhere along the lines, whether the portal had something to do with it or not, our ages got reversed. Emmett doesn't count, but Kieran's like twenty-six, which sucks because I'm twenty-three."

"So, you're the baby now?" Alex teased.

"Like hell," Bella scoffed. "Don't let this realm travel shit fool you. Kieran will always be the baby."

"She does have younger sibling syndrome."

"Don't get me started," Bella said, rolling her eyes. "But speaking of younger siblings, what's your favorite thing about Kara?"

"Her heart."

"Gross," Bella joked. "What's something you secretly hate but know you probably shouldn't?"

"She's so trusting," Alex chuckled, running a hand through her hair. "She opens up to everyone she meets, and I have to remind myself that not everyone is out to get her. No one knows she's Supergirl."

"I don't see how they miss it. Those glasses don't hide shit," Bella snorted.

"Yeah, we have to talk about how you know all of this at some point."

"I told you. Comic books are a big thing where I come from, and I was obsessed with Kara's story. But people like Batman, Supergirl, Poison Ivy are fictional characters."

"Alright, fine. But I'm still going to ask you questions later."

"You can ask whatever you want."

"Good. Um. So, what's your favorite thing about Kieran?"

"She's cunning in a scary way. I'm telling you, dude. This version of her is watered down. The Kieran I knew was terrifyingly brilliant, and I admit I'm afraid of her when she's at the top of her game."

"I can see why. Lena Luthor garnered a reputation in certain circles for being smarter than every genius in the room. She created things that even the DEO couldn't replicate, and we have some pretty talented people on the payroll. Lena ended up being our dark horse, and it always blew my mind how easy she made it seem."

"It's frustrating too, though. Like damnit, woman, let me figure out my own work," Bella laughed.

"Nah, I think it's hot. And oh my god, do not tell Kieran I said that!"

"You have a crush on my sister?"

"Not anymore," Alex muttered sheepishly.

"Sure, that's what they all say," Bella teased. "But don't worry. Sam and Jess both admitted to having crushes on Kieran too."

"Of course," Alex sighed. She shook her head and added, "Dare I ask what you secretly hate about Kieran?"

"Nothing."

"What? You're kidding."

Bella laughed and said, "No, seriously. You have to understand because of where we grew up and how we grew up, Kieran was and will always be my best friend. She is my better half. Even if we are in the middle of a fight, or she's done something I didn't like, I know if I turned around, she's still there. But if I have to answer, I hate how Kieran doesn't see what everyone else sees. She's so damned incredible, and I'm always trying to get her to stop selling herself short."

"You can think Lillian and Lex for that," Alex said sadly. "The fact Kieran survived the Luthor family is…."

Alex trailed off when Bella stared at her, confused, and Alex winced.

"Shit. You don't know, do you?"

"What are you talking about?"

Kieran's hands paused over the keyboard at the message blinking back at her.

Al. X. Ander: Come and find us where we first introduced you to the world.

Kieran chewed on her bottom lip. She glanced over her shoulder, making sure Emmett wasn't coming, and she erased the message board. Some part of her said go and tell your family, but Kieran ignored it. She could handle it without getting them involved. Steeling her nerves, Kieran cleared the history and left the computer lab, leaving her phone on the table. She snuck out the opposite way of where the others were and hurried down the hall. Lex and Lillian were her responsibility, and she wasn't going to let anyone else get hurt because of them.

"Kieran, I need- Kieran?"

Bella poked her head into the lab with Alex behind her, and she frowned when she found it empty.

"Where did she go?"

"Maybe to the bathroom."

"Without her phone?"

Alex stepped into the lab and bent down by the computer. She clicked a few buttons, and she said, "Huh. That's weird."

"What?"

"The computer's been wiped," she said.

It hit Bella, and she ran out of the room with Alex on her heels. She entered the room where the others waited and didn't even realize that Emma and J'onn were gone, too busy getting Regina's attention.

"Momma, Kieran's gone. She left her phone and erased the computer. I think she found out where Lex was, and she went by herself."

Regina sighed and looked to Emmett, and he nodded.

"It's online," he said.

"Where is she?"

"She's heading East. J'onn and Emma are maybe two minutes behind her," he said.

"Wait, what? You knew she would leave?" Bella asked.

"Yes. The moment Emmett got the text from Rosalie, I went to Charlie and Emma to plan for it. Charlie managed to procure a tracking device I gave to Emmett, which he put on Kieran's collar when he hugged her. The moment Kieran left, it activated, and Emmett's been watching it for the last several minutes. Emma and J'onn went after her, and I knew J'onn would keep Emma safe. Rosalie will stay here with Alex and Kelly for Kara's return. The three of us are going to offer backup to J'onn and Emma, as well as bring your sister home."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"And me?" Alex huffed.

"Because we knew you would try and sneak out with her."

"I – okay, that's fair," Bella muttered.

"And I told them that you wouldn't be okay with staying behind, so I'd rather ask for your forgiveness than permission," Kelly added, speaking to Alex.

"It's my sister!" Alex argued. "I'm going."

"Alex, please, let us do the dirty work," Bella said. "I promise we'll bring Kara home."

"This isn't-

"Just a rescue mission," Regina interrupted. "While we are going for Kara, this is personal. I know what abuse looks like, and I do not intend on letting their actions against my daughter go without consequence."

Alex ground her teeth, and Kelly stepped forward, cupping her cheeks.

"I am the last person who ever imagined saying this, but let them go. Let them do it their way," she said softly.

Alex closed her eyes and rested her forehead on Kelly's. She gave a sharp nod, and Regina swept out of the room with Bella and Emmett behind her.

Kieran kept her head high as two guards led her to the living room. She should have known they were at the old house, the one no one knew about because it was purchased under an alias. They wanted to make a point by using the home where they shot the first picture of Kieran with Lex, Lionel, and Lillian having lunch meant they were playing the guilt game. There were guards all armed and eager to shoot at a moment's notice. The place was heavily fortified and protected, and Kieran wondered if she made a mistake coming alone. They reached the living room, and the first guard opened the door while the second guard pushed Kieran into the room. The door shut behind her, and she fought the urge to fall into her old habits. Her hands twitched at her side, tempted to tug and pull at her shirt while she stared at the floor. Lillian eyed her from the couch, cold and detached as usual, and Kieran broke. She dropped her gaze and shuffled side to side. She didn't even need to look to see the smug satisfaction on Lillian's face.

"Hello, Lena," Lex greeted.

"Where's Kara?"

Lex stood and went over to the wall, pressing a button near the light switch. The bookcase fell away and revealed a glass wall that showed Kieran how far Lex and Lillian went in making their point. Kara hung from chains with green lines pulsing beneath her skin. Her suit was torn into shreds, showing bruises and cuts all over her torso, and someone carved an S into her side. Blood steadily dripped from her forehead, and it was clear her ankle was broken. Kieran tapped on the glass. Kara lifted her head, and blue locked with green. The room was soundproof, but Kieran felt like she heard Kara saying her name. Then Kara's eyes widened. She was screaming something, but Kieran couldn't figure it out. She didn't feel Lex behind her until it was too late, and a needled pricked the side of her neck. Kieran's vision blurred immediately, and she slumped into Lex's arms. Lex kissed her forehead and smiled at Kara. He pressed the button, and Kara soundlessly screamed Kieran's name until the wall closed.

J'onn finished tying the piece of cloth around Emma's waist, and she ground her teeth. It was a through-and-through, and no major artery was hit, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt. Emma leaned against the tree and took deep breaths.

"Who the fuck hires men to hide in trees and shoot at random people?" Emma grumbled.

"I mean, we were trying to sneak on his property."

"Whose side are you on?" Emma groaned.

J'onn sighed and asked, "Are you sure you want to wait on Regina?"

"Always," Emma murmured.

Sure enough, Regina, Emmett, and Bella appeared behind them. Emmett was the first to notice Emma's injury, and he stepped back with concern was written all over his face. Regina kneeled beside Emma.

"You idiot," she scolded. "I sent you to look around, not get shot."

"I'll be sure to tell the other guy that," Emma said dryly. "And we were ambushed, Gina. Lex has the kind of security all paranoid men have."

"How many have you seen?" Emmett asked.

"Maybe fifty? All with semi-automatic rifles and on rotation every five minutes," J'onn said, his eyes solely on Emma. When Emma's eyes started to droop, he huffed and bent down. "Listen, she wanted to wait for you, but I can't risk any longer. She's lost too much blood, and we need to get her to a doctor."

Regina kissed Emma's forehead before J'onn gently picked Emma up.

"Take care of her."

"I will," he promised.

J'onn gave no warning before shooting into the air, and Regina glanced at Emmett.

"Make a path?" she asked.

Emmett took off, gunshots soon following in his wake. Then there were screams, shouts of terror, and Regina waited patiently for Emmett to return. Once he did, Emmett held out his arm.

"Fifty up, forty down," he said. "I saved the last ten for you."

Regina nodded in approval and looked at Bella, arching an eyebrow.

"Coming?"

"Not yet. I got a quick thing to take care of, but I'll be back in a second."

Bella stepped backward into the trees and merged with the wood.

"It's so weird how she does that," Emmett muttered.

"Be happy she's on our side. Come on, let's find the girls."

Emmett tracked Kieran to a dining room, and he frowned when he saw no one there. After Regina got rid of the remaining guards, they split up to cover more ground. Emmett was about to leave when he heard it. It was faint, but it was there. Emmett walked up to the wall and placed his ear against it.

There.

Emmett took a risk, punching through the plaster. Only he found glass, and Emmett kept ripping the wall apart until he saw her.

"Shit," Emmett whispered.

He didn't even think before jumping through the hole he made and snapping the chains around her wrists. Kara's body fell forward into his chest with little resistance, and Emmett didn't have a choice. He had to get her back, so he adjusted his hold on her and pulled out his phone. Emmett shot a message to Rosalie, telling them Kara was in bad shape, and then texted Bella's phone. He had no idea if she had service wherever she was, but he wanted to tell her they had to find Kieran without him. Kara was barely breathing, and Emmett wasn't going to let her die. He swept Kara into his arms and glanced down into dim blue eyes.

"Hi there, Supergirl," he said. "My name's Emmett. I'm Kieran's brother, and this is going to be a bumpy ride for a bit, but I'm taking you home."

Regina heard the trigger pull and turned just in time. The bullet stopped mid-air, and she let it fall to the floor. A woman stepped out and narrowed her eyes on her.

"What are you?"

"Do you not mean who?"

"A human would not be able to stop a bullet, so no."

Regina stared at the woman in front of her, and she said, "You must be Lillian Luthor."

"It depends on who is asking."

"My name is Regina. I am looking for my daughter?"

"I'm afraid I don't know whom you're referring to."

"You may know her as Lena?"

"Ah, I see." Lillian cocked her head. "You truly traveled into a different realm to get her back?"

"You say that as if she is not worth traveling for."

"Are we talking about the same person?"

"I am asking nicely. Tell me where my daughter is."

"And if I don't? Got any more parlor tricks for me?" Lillian mocked.

Regina took three quick strides and snatched the gun out of Lillian's hands before the woman could blink. She put it against Lillian's forehead, and she backed her into the wall.

"Does this seem like a magic show to you? Do I appear to be the type to play such childish games?" she asked coldly. "Tell me where my child is."

Lillian looked her in the eyes, and she paled.

"She- she's upstairs," Lillian stammered. "Third door on the right. Please, please let me go."

"Oh, I forgot how lovely it sounds when someone begs for their life," Regina murmured. "Do it again. Go on, beg some more. Make me want to spare your pathetic, miserable life. Give me a good enough reason not to wrap my hands around your throat and snap your spine after the hurt and pain you put my daughter through. Give me a reason where I want to give you a second chance after you made her feel worthless and less than perfect. Kieran is one of the brightest and most brilliant souls in existence, and you tried to dim her light, so you better make it worth my while. You better cry, plead, and whimper for my mercy because I have every right to put this gun down and tear you apart with my bare hands."

"Please, please, please. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I was jealous and afraid. I saw how smart she was, how much more she would be compared to Lex, and I didn't want that to happen. I was just angry and scared, please. She-

Regina pulled the trigger, and Lillian dropped to the floor.

"Oops, not good enough," she said flatly.

The window to her right opened, and Bella crawled into the house covered in blood and dirt. She shook off most of the soil and barely spared Lillian a second glance as she approached her mother.

"Where have you been?"

"I went and took care of those guys who shot Emma," Bella explained.

Regina's lips twitched, and Bella pointed upstairs.

"Third door on the right?" she asked.

Regina nodded, and Bella waved off the gun.

"Nah, I got it."

Regina forced herself to stay put and said, "I'll be right here."

Bella's smile was both grateful and relieved as she ran up the stairs.

Lex paced back and forth in front of a semi-conscious Kieran. He was waiting on his mother, so when the door opened, he expected Lillian. Except it wasn't Lillian, and he was suddenly pinned to the floor. Dirt-stained fingers trailed down his cheek, and orange eyes flashed black before returning to orange.

"Tell me, does it scare you to look into the eyes of death?"

Lex opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. He started shaking, and hands traveled up to his head. The orange eyes never let up, never faltered, and fingers pressed into his temple. All he felt was fear, raw terror, and Lex had the fleeting thought that Superman would save him. It was ironic that those were his last thoughts.