Chapter 26

Coffins and Curses

(Henry's POV)

I took a moment to process Daniella's confession. Before I could say anything however, she quickly muttered, "Do you hate me?"

I frowned, "For what?"

I saw fear in Daniella's face when she stuttered, "For being who I am."

"Who would you say you are?" Now, I'm starting to regret giving those pages about the Evil Queen to Emma. She burnt them and consequently, I have no clue about how Daniella fits into the story.

Daniella bit her lip. So, I continued, "Well to me, you seem to be really caring, pretty and smart."

Daniella's eyes lit up a little as she quietly muttered, "Really? But what about everything you've said before?"

"About what?"

"About Mother being...well...evil."

"I'm not talking about her, I'm talking about you."

"But she's our Mom."

"But you're my sister."

Daniella frowned before replying, "How are you willing to accept me into your family but not mother?"

I immediately avoided the question. Instead, I asked Daniella, "Why do you ask if I hate you?"

Daniella shrugged. "Because you've made it clear that you hate Mama. You've made it clear that you don't want to be part of our family. You've made it clear that you want nothing to do with people who you call 'evil'."

Daniella's words plummeted into me. She held her stare until I looked away. Then, I said quietly, "I don't hate you, Dani. Cos you're my sister."

"And how about Mama, hm?"

I clenched my fists together as I started, "Well...I don't..."

My sister stepped up to me, forcing me to look at her in the eyes. I slowly put my head up and continued, "I just wish she hadn't done all those bad things to Snow White and everyone else."

Daniella gave me a tiny smile as she took a deep breath. Then, she replied, "I wish things were simpler between our families."

My heart dropped a little at Daniella's choice of words. Our families...is she segregating herself from me? She must have caught my concerned expression for she quickly said, "Henry, you're still my brother. Mama loves you and so do I, alright? I don't hate you because Snow's blood is running through your body."

I felt a little bit of relief rush through my body. "Really?"

Daniella enveloped me into a hug. "Yeah." As I returned the hug, I murmured, "'love you too sis. Thanks for coming down here with me."

Daniella parted from our hug and smiled. "We don't abandon family, do we?"

"No we don't."

I watched as a grin lit up Daniella's face. She was about to say something but the ground suddenly shook. I gasped and held onto the glass coffin to see rocks falling from the ceiling. Luckily, none of them hit Daniella or me. However, there was a larger problem coming our way. One that paralysed me with fear. I shone my torchlight at the walls only to realise that it looked like a series of rough scales. Nervously, I whispered whilst pointing to them, "Dani..."

My sister turned her head around and stepped back whilst muttering, "No, no, no, no..."

Before I could ask her what was happening, the walls started to move and a large lime green eye appeared out of nowhere. It gleemed and blinked. Then, it focused on us for a second before a large mass of darkness heaved upwards and grunted. I stared at the beast in front of me in shock, unable to move or to respond. The dragon roared and bright red flames of heat blazed the insides of the cavern.

"GO! RUN!" Daniella shouted, as she pushed me back in the direction we came from. However, the dragon used it's tail and blocked the exit. Gasping, I looked up at the beast to see it tilt it's head back. Then, it faced us and released fire from it's open mouth. Luckily, Daniella reacted quickly and pulled me behind a rock where she was standing. "Henry, I'll try and distract the dragon. Your job is to get out of here."

"What?! I can't abandon-"

Fire blazed around the rock and Daniella looked up in fear. "Henry. Do what I say please."

"I can't-"

I was cut off by the loud flap of dragon wings, followed by a thundering roar. Daniella pointed towards the exit, which was now in view, "Let's go." She started running, dragging me with her hand. However, she didn't see the dragon's tail come in front of her face. A second later, she was in the air. I fell back onto the ground in horror, watching her collide with a tall rock and falling onto the ground, right in front of the dragon. "Daniella!"

The dragon slammed it's wings between us, blocking my sister from view. I was about to stand up when a strange raspy voiced filled the air. "I didn't think I'll see you again, Princess."

My mouth flew open. I looked up at the dragon's head which was looking down onto Daniella. The dragon could speak?!

I gathered my courage and screamed, "Don't hurt her! Please!"

The dragon's head turned towards my direction and it's horrible green eyes blinked. Then, the raspy voice spoke again, "Who are you?"

Before I could say anything, Daniella's weak voice urged, "Don't tell her anything!"

The dragon quickly turned back down, disappearing behind it's wing. Seconds later, I heard Daniella scream.

"Dani!"

I began to run, weaving around the rocks in hopes to get around the dragon's wing in order to see Daniella. However, the dragon spurted fire towards me. I dodged the flames but wasn't able to proceed forward. Then, the dragon grunted, "You aren't going anywhere, boy, unless I allow it. Now, go find the Evil Queen. Send her down here and I'll let the princess go."

I couldn't hear any movements from Daniella so I started to panick. "Promise me that Dani's going to be alive," I bargained.

"Oh, that depends entirely on you. Go and tell the Evil Queen to come down here, so that she can have a little chat with me."

Those horrible eyes stared into my own and slowly, I backed off towards the exit. The dragon removed it's wing and I just made out Daniella's unconscious body on the ground before flames surged through and air towards me. With one last glance, I darted away from the dragon and into the mine tunnels.

I was running at top speed through the tight passages. To my disappointment, the light from my torch wasn't enough. So, I squinted into the dark and pushed on, hoping that I was going the right direction. Not long after I left the dragon, the air started to feel lighter. My heart pounded. At least, I know that I'm getting closer to the top. Soon, my eyes began to see natural light pour into the passage. Yes! I'm close. So close...

But then, there was a rumble. I heard muffled shouts come from the outside. Before I could realise what was happening, rocks and dust fell from the ceiling and blocked the path in front of me. Startled, I stepped back and when the ground stopped shaking, I was back in the dark again. My breath stopped. No, no, no, no...

(Regina's POV)

"I'm trying to save him. And you know what, he wouldn't have gone in there in the first place!" You made him feel like he had something to prove!"

I fumed at Emma and screamed back, "And why does he think that he has anything to prove? Who's encouraging him?"

"Do not put this on me."

"Oh please, lecture me until their oxygen has run out. If it wasn't for you, Henry wouldn't have dragged Daniella into the mines too!"

"And what makes you think it was Henry's idea to go into the mines? It could have been your daughter's."

"No! The only reason why they're both down there right now is because of the ideas you put into Henry's head."

I didn't wait for Emma to reply. Walking away, I put my hands through my hair. I'm not going to lose two children on the same day...especially since I've just woken Daniella up from her coma!

I nervously watched Pongo, Doctor Hopper's dog, who was sniffing at the ground to get a scent of where Henry was. I exhaled and turned around to see Emma step towards me. She opened her mouth to speak, "Ok, we have to stop this arguing. It won't accomplish anything."

I huffed, "No it won't."

Emma sighed and stated, "What do you want me to do?"

"Help me."

She nodded as I continued shakily, "We need to find some way to punch through the ground. We need something big-"

"Like what?"

Behind us, a man answered, "Explosives. We need explosives."

In a matter of minutes, the rescue team had wired up the explosives to the mouth of the mines. Then, Emma shouted through the air, "Everyone step back." After a few moments of observation, she added, "Alright, we're all clear."

I frowned and instructed, "Blow it."

Then, I held my breath as a loud explosion filled the air. Dust rose up from the entrance of the mine. After the coast was clear, Emma rushed through the smoke. Seconds later, she came out again. I ran forward and demanded, "Did it work?"

To my disappointment, Emma shook her head. My stomach suddenly felt like it weighed hundreds of pounds. I turned to the rescue workers and shouted, "What was that? What the hell was that? You said that you could do this. You said that-"

Emma appeared next to me, "Madam Mayor-"

I whipped my head in her direction, "They could have killed Daniella and Henry!"

"I know, but this isn't helping."

"Yes, their incompetency isn't helping!" I paused and huffed, "Fine! Well then, what do you think-" I was interrupted by the loud bark of Pongo. Everyone rushed towards him and Emma breathed, "He's found something. Look! They must be right under here."

Marco and Doctor Hopper bent down and removed a metal covering to reveal a deep dark hole.

Emma was the first to comment. "What is that?"

I peered over the edge and answered, "An air shaft."

Marco immediately spoke, "We need to lower someone straight down, or the line would collapse with the sides of the shaft...Wait here, I'll get a harness."

After the tradesman left, I looked at Emma and stated, "Lower me down."

"No way! I'm going."

"They're my children, not yours."

"But Henry's my son too. And to be honest, you've already been sitting behind your desk for ten years. I can do this."

I held back an angry remark. Then, I sighed and looked down into the hole in the ground. "Just bring them both back to me," I whispered.

Soon, Emma was lowered down into the darkness. I stood by the sidelines nervously, twisting my hands together.They're not dead. They're fine. They have to be.

Suddenly, there was a muffled shout coming from the mines. "Pull me up!"

I gasped and ran over to the hole as the workers began to pull at the rope that Emma was harnessed onto. A minute later, I saw blonde hair poke out into the light. I grinned, seeing Henry being pulled out as well. The workers helped him up and I immediately rushed towards him. However, Daniella wasn't in sight. I stood up and shouted at Emma, "Where is she? Where's my daughter?!"

"Ask Henry, he refused to tell me anything."

I frowned and pulled Henry to one side. I noticed that Henry had tears in his eyes. "Henry? Where's Daniella? Was she with you?"

I watched Henry bite his lip. I took his shoulders and squeezed them. "Henry?"

Without looking into my eyes, he stuttered, "The dragon...it's got Dani."

My heart stop beating as I breathed, "What?"

"The dddddragon...next to the coffin...Dani, it's got Dani. It told me to get you. It told me that it wanted a chat with the Evil Queen."

I felt as if I had been hit by a cold wave. Then, I lowered my voice so that no one could hear except for my son. "Henry are you, you...serious?"

Henry looked up at me and nodded. I frowned and whispered, "Stay here." Then, I stood up and approached the group of workers. "Lower me down!"

Emma turned around and frowned, "No, I'll go. I've got the harness on."

I quickly spat, "Then take it off and give it to me!"

"Is Daniella down there?"

"Why would I be asking for that harness if she wasn't?!" I screamed. Emma nodded and in seconds, the harness was off. She handed it to me. My hands shook as I put it on. Then, the workers clipped me onto the rope. Before I was lowered into the darkness, I glanced around in search for Henry's face. I spotted his teary face so I forced myself to give him a small smile.

I hope this won't be the last time I'll ever get to see him.

I held my breath when they lowered me down into the darkness. Slowly, I felt the musty air overtake my body. I grimaced and fumbled for the torch that was clipped onto the harness. I switched it on and glanced at the rock walls surrounding me. When I hit the bottom, I unclipped the harness from the rope. Then, I took it off altogether. I don't need Maleficent seeing me tethered like a dog on it's leash.

With the small torch in my hands, I started moving as fast as I could through the mines. To my relief, I soon approached the large cavern area that Maleficent was trapped inside. Knowing that the fire from her breath and her stomach would illuminate the darkness, I switched off my torch and cautiously stepped into the space.

For a moment, the only sound audible to my ears was the crunch of gravel beneath my feet. However, that changed all of a sudden when Maleficent's stone-like body started to uncurl. Then, her green eyes opened and blinked. Wisps of smoke rose into the air as she breathed, "Regina."

I stood my ground and demanded, "Where is she? Where's my daughter?!"

Maleficent used her head to gesture towards the space hidden behind her wing. I started to make my way forward but she blew fire at me, forcing me to retreat. I looked up and glared at her, "Stop with these games. I know you better than you think. You're using Daniella as a bargaining chip. Why? What do you want?"

Maleficent grunted so I raised an eyebrow and continued, "You want to kill me?"

In a raspy breath, she answered, "No."

Her reply shocked me. "No?! I trapped you here for twenty eight years. Well, then, what do you want?"

"Unlike you, I've got better things than to seek revenge. Change me back. Revert me to my human form."

Quietly, I replied, "You know I can't. There's no magic in this realm."

"Find a way to do so."

I huffed, "But how about Daniella now? Hm?"

"I'll keep her here until you change me back."

I gasped and angrily shouted, "Didn't you hear me? There's no magic in this realm. Even if you kept Daniella here, I can't revert you."

"Well, you've just landed yourself with a quest to free me from this body."

I crossed my arms and glared at Maleficent, "No deal."

The dragon tossed her head upwards and let out a breath of fire and flames. I cringed a little. I have no intention of becoming grilled. Before I could come up with an alternative to Maleficent's deal however, she spoke again. "Fine. I'll let your daughter go but in return, not only will you have to turn me back to my human form whenever possible, you also have to help me find my daughter afterwards."

I widened my eyes. "You have a-"

"Yes. Now deal or no deal?"

I sighed and shouted, "Deal. Where's Daniella?"

Maleficent lifted her wing to reveal a slumped form lying on the ground. "Daniella!" I ran over and kneeled down next to her. As I scooped my daughter up into my embrace, I gently shook her. "Daniella! Daniella! Firefly...please..."

I held my breath. Then, Daniella gave a small mumble. I stroked her cheek just as she slowly opened her eyes. "Mama..."

"Daniella! Oh, thank goodness you're alright."

Daniella sat up with my help. She looked around hazily but when she spotted Maleficent's green eyes, she gasped and fell into my body. I quickly rubbed her back and whispered, "I'm sorry that you were used as Mal's pawn. But let's get out of here, shall we?"

Daniella nodded shakily so I stood up. I helped her stand and after she reassured me that she could walk, I let her lean on me whilst making our way to the exit. Before we left however, Maleficent grunted, "Don't forget to uphold your end of the bargain, Regina."

I turned around and gave my old friend a glance. Then, I turned back around and put an arm around Daniella.

It took several minutes to get back to the rope that hung from the air shaft. When I finally clipped myself back onto the harness, I let Daniella hold onto me in an embrace. Then, I gave a sharp tug at the rope, signalling for the rescue team to pull me up.

The rope started to straighten and slowly, I was lifted off the ground with Daniella clutching against my body. As we neared the surface, I felt sunlight surround my body. I squinted and was greeted by the sound of applause. Afterwards, I felt hands help Daniella and I out of the hole.

I stood up and unclipped the harness. Then, I wrapped my arms tight around Daniella, not caring what was happening around me. Quietly, I whispered, "Let's go home."

Daniella nodded and I parted from her arms. Scanning the crowd, I spotted Henry with Emma. I took a breath before taking Daniella's hand and walking towards them. When Emma saw me, she looked up frowned. "I never you knew you had it in you."

I raised an eyebrow. "To rescue my own daughter from the unseen dangers of a mine? Well dear, you haven't seen what I'm capable of." I paused and glanced at Henry. "Come, Henry."

My son reluctantly said good-bye to Emma and followed me to the car.

The journey home was silent but I kept trying to steal glances at my children from the car mirror. Whilst Daniella looked as if she wanted to cry, Henry had a look of guilt spread across his face. A look of guilt combined with a look of fear. I sighed.

When we got home, Henry trudged upstairs without a second thought. However, Daniella stayed awkwardly by my side. She followed me up to my room and after I put down my handbag, she fell into my arms. With staggering breaths, she uttered, "I'm sorry Mama...but I didn't want Henry to be in there alone."

As I rubbed Daniella's back, I whispered back, "I'm just glad that you're alive, firefly. But please don't ever do that again."

"Mama?"

"Hmm?"

There was a pause before Daniella stuttered, "Henry knows. He saw Maleficent. He saw the coffin...he knows."

I sighed. "Yes, he knows."

"What are you going to do?"

I thought carefully about an answer before stating, "I think we should all have a talk."

Daniella parted from my arms and frowned. "But-" Then, she exhaled and nodded. She raised her arm up to dry her tears and after I gave her a quick pat on the back, I padded over to Henry's bedroom. I knocked on his door and entered to see him looking at his book of fairytales.

"Come to my bedroom when you're ready, Henry."

Henry scooped up his book and turned to face me. Then, he stood up and walked out of his room. I followed him down the hallway and into my room. When I walked in, Henry was already sitting next to Daniella on my bed. I went over to my dresser and got out a box. Opening it, I retrieved the ring that Daniel had given me. I held it in my fist and sat down in front of my children.

Henry had hung his head down low. He looked like he didn't know how to feel so I reached for his hand. However, he starkly shook it away.

I swallowed. Then, I began, "Tell me what happened."

Daniella looked at Henry and since he didn't reply, she answered, "Henry wanted me to go out for a walk with him so I agreed. I didn't know that he was going to the mines until we got there. Afterwards, we went inside. I asked him why we were down there and he said that he wanted to prove that...that the curse existed. I tried to convince him to go back home but he refused-"

Henry cut in, "-well I said that you could wait for me outside..."

"Well I wasn't going to leave you in there! Anyway, we were walking for quite some time inside the mines when we arrived at the cavern. We didn't know that Maleficent was there since we were so focused on the coffin in the middle of the room."

I frowned at both of my children but specifically turned towards Henry and asked, "What were you thinking? I've told you that the mines weren't safe!"

Henry replied with his eyes still downcast, "Well you never said that there would be a dragon inside."

"I didn't have to. The mines were already collapsing ever since you brought Ms Swan into town."

There was silence until Henry grumbled, "When are you going to let me go?"

My heart stopped. "What? What are you talking about, Henry?"

"Keeping me here won't get me to love you. How long am I in prison? Till the curse breaks? Till I grow up?"

I put my hand onto Henry's lap as I replied, "Henry! I,...I love you. You're my son. Did you know that I was worried to death when I found out that you had gone inside the mines?"

Not answering my question, Henry continued, "So you're keeping me away from my real mom because you love me. That's not fair."

I glanced in Daniella's direction and snapped, "You know where we came from. That was really not fair. Of all the places I've seen, this is the fairest of them all."

Daniella remained quiet as the conversation between Henry and I escalated. He looked up and made direct eye contact with me as he shouted, "You ruined lives, you killed people, you made Snow White live her life as a bandit."

I narrowly suppressed the anger from the accusations that Henry had thrown at me. "Let's not talk about her."

"Fine then. How about me? You made it so that no one believed me. You made me feel like I was crazy-"

I cut him short, "Would it have made a difference hmm? If I had told you the truth, would you have still loved me as your mother?"

Henry paused and bit his lip. He ignored my question and opened his book to a page of an illustration of me. He shoved it in my direction and demanded, "How can you expect me to love someone who kills people for fun?"

Daniella spoke up for the first time, "For fun? What are you talking about? Mama isn't insane! She doesn't kill people for fun-"

"Well then can you explain what she was doing in this picture here?" Henry demanded, pointing to the image.

I brushed my fingers over the illustration and whispered under my breath, "The North Village."

"Yeah. You killed them all. Burnt it down to the ground."

"They refused to tell me where Snow White went! The massacre could have been prevented if only one person spoke up!" I stated firmly.

"Now you're blaming the evil things you've done on the people? What did Snow even do to you?"

I seethed, "Many things. She deserves to be punished!"

"So that just gives you an excuse to kill and-"

My cheeks flushed red. "Henry! It is not your place to question me."

Henry stood up and snatched the book into his hands. Then, he grunted, "Right, because the last time someone did that to you in the Enchanted Forest was your father. And you killed him."

"Henry! I-"

He had already run out of the room. I stood up to pursue him when Daniella grabbed my hand. I turned around and shrugged it away. Then, I strode down the corridor towards Henry's bedroom.

(Daniella's POV)

My heart was hammering. At each thump of noise that came up from the hallway, I jumped a little. Then, I took a breath and walked in the direction of Henry's bedroom. I heard shouting so I peeked my head nervously into the room to see mother with her hands in the air. "What I've done is nothing compared to what she's done to me!"

Henry stood at the corner of his room and shouted back, "Why do you refuse to tell me what happened between you and her?"

"The only reason why you would want to know is so that you can tell Emmaabout what I have done to her mother!"

Henry huffed and said, "Let me go! I don't want to be with you anymore!"

There was silence before my mother breathed, "What?"

Henry didn't reply. Then, Mama's distraught voice seethed, "I'm your mother Henry! That woman, Emma, gave you up for adoption ten years ago. She was the one who didn't want you. What makes it alright all of a sudden for you to run back into her arms, hm? Have I not provided for your every needs? Have I not loved you as my own? Tell me, Henry. Tell me."

"That has nothing to do with things! You've killed Snow's father! You've made Snow suffer. You've cursed everyone to be miserable in this land!"

"I've made them miserable? Me?! No. They are the ones who brought this upon themselves!"

He averted mother's gaze and rushed over to his backpack and started shoving things in. Despite seeing what was happening in front of her, my mother didn't move or say anything.

"Mama?" My voice came out as a dried crackling whisper.

Henry looked up in my direction. Then, he grabbed his storybook and brushed past mother. When he came up to me, he looked back and said quietly, "Why can't you just leave everyone alone? Why do you have to be the Evil Queen?"

After that, Henry ran down the stairs and a few seconds later, I heard the front door open and slam shut. I carefully tread over to my mother who fell onto her knees. I knelt down beside her and put my arms around her shaking body. "Mama?"

It was only after several minutes of silent tears did my mother finally speak. "So they've taken my son too."