Hey guys! Here go my apologies for the delay… you've already read similar words hundreds of times, so let's just say that my life's a little crazy right now… and I've been writing another Fanfic as well (which is done and almost completely posted! It's called "The Beginning" and it's a SQ story (of course) if you want to check it out). Anyway hope you'll enjoy this chapter! Thanks for reading
"So Cora doesn't know a thing about you. And Regina is indeed working against her mother"
I victoriously smiled. We finally had some good news.
"What happens now, Saviour?" asked hopefully Ruby.
"Well. Now we infiltrate the Government."
"Ok. How do you want us to proceed?" Killian intervened.
"You will highjack the Government's system to deliver a message, as we said. I want Cora to think you're the number one threat. Ruby will replace me and you will help her. If you have any question, you ask Snow-White, who will come to me. As for me... I will teleport myself to Cora. Tomorrow."
Chapter 10. New Work.
Ruby and I trained all night long, and tried to predict and answer every possible questions Cora could ask me. We planned and resolved any worst case scenario. And we found out a way to communicate. I enchanted two little mirrors, directly connected to each other. This way I would be able to speak to Ruby anytime I would need it.
When the morning came, we went back to the meeting room, where Hook was already waiting for us.
"The tape's ready, Saviour."
"Really?" I was surprised he had done it during the night.
"Yes." He simply answered, pressing a button on the remote he was holding.
All the screens lit up simultaneously, Killian's face appearing all around the room. His speech was direct, powerful. He was letting the Government know that he was the Saviour, and would not stop fighting against it, until all their prisoners were released, and Cora down. Many records of our previous rescues were also running, emphasising our concrete actions, and our lack of fear.
"Nice work, Hook!" Ruby exclaimed, once the screens returned dark.
"Indeed, it is!" I approved.
"What now?" Killian asked.
I thought about it for a few seconds before answering him.
"I don't really know. Maybe you should wait for half an hour and diffuse it, so that they'll see it while I'm with them?" I suggested.
"Brilliant! This way you'll tell us their faces when they see it" Ruby laughed.
Hook only grinned and nodded his approval. I took a deep breath and exhaled:
"So I guess this is me leaving, and telling you to be careful?"
I knew my tone sounded unsure, lost. I didn't feel overly confident, suddenly.
"Hey, don't worry, Ems. You're the Savior. Everything's gonna be fine" tentatively smiled Ruby.
I smiled back and nodded.
"Seriously, be careful. I'll talk to you on our mirrors tonight, ok?"
"Sure, honey" Ruby answered.
There were tears in her eyes, but she knew better than to give into them. She just looked at me encouragingly. I looked at Hook, saluted him, and he smiled.
"Be confident. Don't let them get to you, Savior" he said.
I chuckled darkly, and looked at Ruby one last time before I vanished.
I focused on Cora and landed in front of a sort of conference. I recognised Peter, Belle, Cora, Graham right away. Many other faces were also present. Including Regina. She seemed even more beautiful than ever before.
They all looked at me, dumbfounded. I focused once again on Cora, not wanting to speak. For the mere reason that I didn't know what to say exactly.
"Emma. Is that correct?" Cora finally said.
I simply nodded, haughtily. I wanted her to know that I wasn't scared.
"What are you doing here, my girl?"
"I'm here to see if you still require my services" I slowly said.
"You changed your mind about wanderers?" Cora sounded very much doubtful.
"Not at all. But I very much need money" I shrugged.
Cora simply looked at me for the longest time. But I wasn't afraid. I could see her suspicions slowly going away as I maintained an eye-contact with her. Finally, she loudly laughed.
"You should have thought about money before, dear"
"The way I see it, you could really benefit from my powers" I insisted.
"My daughter has the same as yours" Cora pointed out.
"True. And she's your most valuable subject, isn't she?" I smirked.
Cora didn't answer.
"Two of the same kind wouldn't be too much, if you ask me" I continued.
Regina smirked. I could see it from the corner of my eyes. And Cora noticed it too.
"What do you think, Regina?" she asked.
"I think that Emma Swan is awfully preposterous and arrogant, Mother. No one could match my powers" the brunette smugly smiled.
This made Cora laugh again.
"Tell me something, Emma. What about your girlfriend?" Cora asked darkly.
"My girlfriend?" I repeated, lost.
"The werewolf, if I remember correctly?" Cora clarified.
"Oh… Right, Ruby. I have had no news from her since last year…"
"When you left the school" Cora added.
"Right" I answered, uncomfortable.
"Why did you?" Cora kept on.
"I was fed up with the wanderers and the taleners feud" I explained.
"But now you want to take a part in it?" Cora raised an eyebrow, dubitative.
"Not exactly… I just need the money. If you have any job that would require me to help you without taking part in this matter, I'd take it" I slowly explained.
I knew it was going well. Not wanting to take a direct part in the conflict was proving her that I wasn't looking for information. Plus, I wasn't denying my hatred for the whole war point, which was probably a good thing for Cora. She was looking for honest answers. She wanted to know if she could trust me. She was testing me. And I just knew her suspicions weren't really high right now.
"Fine. Regina, can I trust you to confide her some missions?" Cora inquired.
"Of course, Mother" Regina quietly agreed.
"Splendid. Now that you have your job, I will ask you to wait…"
Cora was interrupted mid-sentence by screens that lit up all around the room. And Hook's voice reasoned all around the room, just as his face appeared everywhere. The message was being delivered. I wanted to laugh at the flabbergasted faces of Cora and Regina. But I didn't, of course. My features expressed surprise and disgust, just as theirs. I needed it to work. I needed them to trust me. To trust that I hated the war.
When the screens turned black again, Cora turned to me. I maintained my position, but I changed quickly my features from surprised to impassive. I wanted her to think that I was a little impressed by her, and that I wanted to make a good impression on her.
She chuckled and said:
"See what we have to deal with every day?"
"You know what I think about all this…" I murmured loud enough for everyone to hear me.
"I think I do. Wait for us outside, please"
I left the room quietly. Everything was going smoothly, according to the plan. I waited for an hour in silence and patiently. But I knew that once they'd show up again, I should make them know that I was irritated for the wait. The old me would have reacted badly to that. And Cora needed to think that the old me hadn't changed. I needed to be as haughty as she remembered me to be. This hadn't really changed anyway. Finally the door opened, and Cora and Regina exited. Alone.
"Follow us" Cora instructed me.
I heavily sighed, pissed off. And Cora smirked. Regina just stared at me warningly. I didn't maintain the eye-contact… I needed to focus on the task at hand, and looking at Regina wouldn't be good for me.
They led me into a white room, in which were one table and three chairs. The both of them sat next to each other, from one side of the table, and Cora invited me to seat in front of them.
"So… we need to ask you some questions, Miss Swan" Cora began.
I simply nodded, and waited for the interrogatory to begin.
"What have you been doing for the past year?" Cora continued.
"I was in San Francisco" I simply answered.
"Doing what exactly?" Cora inquired.
"Trying to help people… non magical ones, that is" I shrugged.
Both women raised their eyebrows simultaneously. This made me smirk.
"Something funny?" Cora asked.
"I had never noticed your resemblance before…"
Cora sneered, but Regina's features darkened. I almost felt guilty for comparing her to her mother. Almost.
"She's my daughter, dear. We are exactly the same" Cora confidently said.
Regina lowered her gaze, and didn't say anything.
"Anyway, have your powers lessen?"
I was about to answer her negatively, when I noticed the inappreciable nod of Regina.
"No… I mean yes, probably." I rectified quickly.
"Well… is it a yes or not?"
"I think they probably have, but I can't know for sure" I clarified.
"I see. I would like to check it by myself. Would you agree to fight against Regina?"
I looked at the said woman, feeling my stomach churn in the process.
"Absolutely"
"Splendid" Cora happily said, standing up and leaving the room. I remained in the same position, not understanding where she had left. Regina stood up as well, and with a flick of her wrist, made the table and the three chairs disappear. I fell on the ground.
"Ouch. You could have warned me that we'd be fighting, now!" I angrily protested.
Regina haughtily sighed, and said:
"Well, now you know. My mother is watching us. Would you be kind enough to stand up? Our time, contrary to yours, is precious"
This was her way to inform me that Cora was watching. And from the look on her face, I easily understood that I had to impress Cora in order for her to want to keep me, but not too much, if I didn't want her to be too suspicious. I slowly stood up and frowned. This wasn't going to be easy.
Regina closely watched me, and we fought. She threw many objects to me, which I froze, or changed into different things, less dangerous. It lasted for a long moment and reminded me of our former fights when I was her student. But when she elevated me up in the air, I didn't even try to fight it. I knew I had to let Regina win. I wasn't even sure if in this moment I would have been angry enough to fight her grip, anyway. I was more stressed than angry…
Regina simply stared at me, while I was still immobilised. And Cora reappeared.
"Very interesting" she approved, darkly smiling.
Regina released me, and I crashed on the floor. I could have easily fallen on my feet, but I thought that my pathetic landing could wipe away any trace of suspicions.
"Your powers are indeed much extended" Cora kept on.
"Thank you?" I hesitantly said.
"You seem to have gain much muscles as well" Cora noticed.
Shit… I hadn't thought about that detail. I couldn't help noticing Regina's hungry stare at my body.
"Life in the streets with ordinary people can be dangerous… especially when I'm not supposed to have powers" I improvised.
"True" Cora nodded. "Very well. You will be given a room in the Ministry. And for the time being, Regina will give you some minor missions. You will be paid consequently. Is it alright with you?"
"Absolutely" I confirmed.
"It's settled then. Wait here. Graham will come to lead you to your new location"
With that, the two women left without turning around. And I waited for Graham to show up. I wanted to kill him, but I had to be careful. No good would come from that. Ten minutes later, I was with him, and he silently led me to my room. He showed me a door, and left me alone in silence. Not a word had been said, which was a little surprising. I entered the room, and faced nothing more than a single bed, a bedside table and a wardrobe.
I let myself fall on the bed, and waited. I didn't know what to do now. I desperately wanted to talk to Ruby, but I was afraid that someone would spy the room. So I just waited for something to happen. For someone to come. I eventually fell asleep. Which hadn't occurred in quite some time, regarding the fact that I didn't sleep anymore. But I could tell right away that I was dreaming.
I was in the same white room I had been before with Cora and Regina. But only Regina was there. Waiting for me.
"Sit" she instructed.
I did and waited for her to keep on.
"This is the only way I can speak to you safely" she informed me.
"So you can come in my dreams" I clarified.
"Yes. My mother is not entirely convinced that you're not a mole. She wired your bedroom. If you need to speak to your… friends… don't do it there" Regina advised me.
"You were in my dream the first day I saw you" I pointed out.
"Are you listening to anything I'm saying?" Regina asked, annoyed.
"I am. But I need you to tell me that you almost fucked me the first day you saw me" I smirked.
"I almost fucked you in your dreams, Miss Swan"
"Irrelevant. You wanted me the first time we met" I victoriously smiled.
Regina sighed, exasperated.
"Could we focus on the important matters?"
"But it is very important to me, Professor"
Regina's eyes darkened.
"I'm not your Professor anymore" she pointed out.
"But you love it when I call you that"
She didn't answer, and simply looked at me. I could see all the lust in her eyes, burning her soul. And burning mine.
"Why can't you just tell me where the deported are if you work against your mother?" I asked.
"Because she prevents us from doing that" she answered.
"How?"
"She prevents me from saying that, too" she sighed.
I knew she was being honest.
"Ok" I said, defeated. "How long have you been working for us? What did you want to do with Henry?"
"Quite some time, now. My code name is Apple. You probably heard about me… and I knew you'd be there to take Henry. I needed to see you" she explained.
"Why? And why did you send Belle after Ruby if you didn't want the kid?" I asked surprised.
She looked at me as if I was completely dumb.
"Because I needed to talk to you. And Belle needed to speak with Ruby."
I frowned, a little lost. Regina bit her lips.
"I knew who you were… the Savior. I guessed it months ago. I just knew it… and I… I didn't know why you had left m… the school" she kept on.
"You needed to talk to me to know why I had left?" I asked, disbelievingly.
She nodded.
"I was… very angry at you for it. It was one of the reason why I began to work for my mother in the first place"
"You killed wanderers because you were angry at me?" I seethed.
"I looked for wanderers to find you" she corrected me.
This took me out of guard. At this point, I wanted nothing more than to take her in my arms, and kiss her.
"I didn't find you… and then I realised what my mother was doing with them, and… I couldn't live with myself" she whispered.
"What does she do to them?" I asked, desperately.
"I can't tell you… but you must be extra careful… I told you, your room is wired. She will be looking for your every movement. And she can't know that we are…"
"In love?" I suggested.
She looked at me, shocked. I simply smiled at her and said:
"You were shattered when I left the school, spent the last year looking for me, and used a boy for an excuse to speak to me…" I pointed out.
"Are you?" she eagerly asked.
"Am I what?" I said, confused.
"Are you… in love with me?" she stuttered, uncomfortable.
I sniggered.
"You're the only thing I can think about, I stopped sleeping because I couldn't stand seeing you in my dreams, and your beauty continuously leaves me speechless. What do you think?"
She stood up so quickly I didn't have time to react. The table disappeared and she straddled me, but before we could kiss, a door opened, and I awoke.
Graham was standing in the doorway of my room.