Angelina held an apple steadily in her hand, eyeing it cautiously as she deliberated where the best spot to sink her teeth into it would be. "This is ridiculous," she thought to herself. "Why am I so scared of an apple?"
Lina knew exactly why she was so hesitant to take a bite of the fruit her mother was so keen on growing on a tree in their backyard. The last time she had, a sequence of disturbing visions had clouded her mind. Visions that she hadn't spoken about with anyone. However, Lina could tell that Regina had her suspicions. Her mom had not stopped dissecting every movement she made since Lina's little episode. Regina had been present for the convulsing fit Lina had endured. As crazy as it sounded, Lina had the foreboding feeling that Regina knew something that she didn't. But then again, Lina always felt that way when it came to her mother.
Lina was afraid of what she might see if she ate another apple. But her curiosity was stronger. She wanted to see more. She craved the possibilities of what the visions meant. She was sure Henry would have his theories if she told him. But Lina wanted to discover this on her own. After a moment's hesitation, Lina abruptly took a huge chunk out of the apple with her teeth, chewing vigorously and swallowing as quickly as possible. Nothing.
Eyes narrowed in confusion, she took another bite, savoring the flavor while opening her mind and soul to allow the visions to appear. Still nothing. This went on until all that was left in Lina's hand was a narrow apple core. She stared at it for a while, then, with a despondent huff, tossed it into the waste bin.
"Maybe I am going crazy," Lina thought as she drifted into the parlor at the front of the house. Mind still elsewhere, she found herself sitting down at the grand piano that Regina had insisted Lina put to good use. Regina never used it.
In fact, the only time she had ever seen Regina play the piano was many years ago, when Regina had not officially taken Lina in under her wing. Regina had not noticed Lina's presence either, otherwise Lina was quite certain she would not have continued to play the evocative tune. Lina stroked the keys of the piano and began to play a heartfelt, haunting melody as she remembered that day.
Lina paced the block that Mayor Mills resided in. It had been a week since the woman had stopped her from leaving the town city limits and had invited Lina to her house to have dinner. When it had happened, Lina had felt comfortable with the mayor, opening up to her in an instant while feeling an odd connection and understanding with Regina's complicated emotions and actions.
Looking back on it, the whole situation had been odd. Very odd. Since when did Regina Mills give seem to care about anyone? Much less a teenage girl? Lina had kept her distance after that day, not wanting to be a nuisance to the overworked, busy mayor. But there was something about her that drew Lina to this mysterious, most powerful woman in the town. Why was that?
Finally gaining the confidence to approach the massive house, Lina silently treaded walkway leading to the mayor's estate. Would the woman even want to see her? Had Regina's invitation been a one time event? Lina was about to find out.
She hesitated as she brought her fist up to knock on the door. Lina was about to bring her hand down on the door when the distant sound of music drifted to her ears. Lina paused and listened more intently. The music was coming from inside. Biting her bottom lip, Lina crept around the side of the house, searching for the source of the hypnotic melodies that reached her ears. The sound was hauntingly beautiful. Simple, depressing chords that hinted at something more than the sorrowful notes played.
Lina rounded the corner of the house, spotting an open window along the wall. She crept her way over to it as quietly as possible, the music growing louder as she did. When Lina peered inside, she was astounded by what lay before her eyes.
Regina was playing the piano. The enchanting and somewhat mesmerizing tune rang through the house. The mayor's eyes were almost fully closed, absorbed in the music she played. Her feet pressed down onto the golden levers at the base of the piano as both her hands flew across the long, ivory keys. The melancholy melody sung out like a lone wolf crying out to the moon. Regina leaned into the grand piano as she played it, as if it would make the music more beautiful than it already was.
Lina stepped out of the window as to not get caught gawking over the mayor's abilities. She sat down on the grass, leaning her head against the wall as she listened to the delicate notes carry to her ears. She smiled at the thought of Regina opening her heart and soul through the stanzas of the music. With the music engulfing her essence, Lina fell asleep.
Regina had found Lina soon after she had fallen asleep. Although she had thought it odd, Regina had woken Lina up and invited her in for apple cider. Lina smirked as she remembered recognizing Regina's obsession of apples for the first time.
A buzz from her phone in her back pocket halted Lina from finishing the last set of notes in the song she played. Stopping abruptly, she pulled her phone out and glanced at the text message she had just received.
Lina,
It's Henry. I'm using Emma's phone. Meet us at Granny's ASAP. There's some stuff we need to talk about. See you there!
Although Lina vaguely wondered what this was all about, she quickly retrieved her coat and rushed out of the front door, thoughts still lingering with the angelic nature of Regina's piano skills.
…
Angelina was lounging in the Evil Queen's chambers, sprawled across an Ottoman chair, reading contemptuously when a sword sliced through the air and lodged itself into the stone wall. Angelina jumped and looked to Henry, Regina's father, alarmingly, but relaxed when she saw the Queen standing in the room, the thick sent of magic and billowing purple smoke that she had appeared in fading into the air.
The Queen was furious, that much was certain. Furious and triumphant at the same time.
"Would you like something to drink?" Henry asked politely, holding out a silver tray with a goblet of wine to the Queen.
"Do I look like I need a drink?" Regina snapped.
"I was only trying to help," Henry responded calmly, holding out the tray.
After less than a second's worth of deliberation, the Queen took the goblet. "Thank you."
"So," Angelina spoke. "How'd it go?" She was interrupted by the mirror.
"Now that was an awfully big threat. Destroy everyone's happiness. How do you plan on accomplishing that?" he directed his words at Regina.
"That well, huh?" Angelina answered her own question with a sigh, turning the page of the account of the history of the kingdom she read.
Regina looked back at Angelina with a roll of her eyes at the girl's witty nature. She then turned back to the mirror and smirked maliciously. "A dark curse," she answered.
Those words made Angelina slam her book shut in alarm. This couldn't be good...
"Are you sure your majesty?" Henry asked.
"But you said you'd never use it," the mirror protested.
"You made a deal when you gave away that curse," Henry added.
"You traded it away!" the mirror elaborated.
"She won't be happy to see you," Henry warned.
Regina basked in the glory of uncertainty between the pair, but snapped at Henry's final statement. "Since when do I care about anyone's happiness but mine?"
Angelina could tell that that hurt Henry. It hurt Angelina for hurting Henry! But, what were they talking about?
"Prepare the carriage," Regina commanded.
"What are you three arguing about?!" Lina intervened. "Where do you have to go and what is this dark curse?"
"I'm going to the forbidden fortress," Regina announced, not even sparing a glance at Angelina. She then strode out with purpose and determination.
"Thanks for the explanation..." Angelina sighed sarcastically, watching the Queen leave.
"She traded her curse in exchange for the Sleeping Curse with the Sorceress Maleficent," Henry explained as he stood at Angelina's side.
"Maleficent," Angelina echoed. "The same woman who put Princess Aurora...? she left the question hanging.
"Precisely," Henry nodded.
"What does Regina's curse do?" Angelina whispered fearfully.
Henry hesitated. "I am not sure. I don't think anyone knows aside from my daughter and the man that gave it to her."
Angelina turned to Henry and tilted her head to one side curiously. "And who gave it to her?"
"Rumpelstiltskin."
Angelina wasn't sure why a shiver ran down her spine at the name.
…
"Lina! Over here!" Henry called as soon as Lina entered Granny's . Henry and Emma had tucked themselves into the corner booth at the front of the establishment. With a smile, Lina took the seat next to Henry.
"Hey Henry. Emma," she greeted. "How are you?"
"Fine, thanks," Emma nodded. But Lina could tell that Emma wasn't doing well at all. And Lina was willing to bet that Emma's misery had something to do with Regina.
"Hot black tea," Henry grinned while pushing a mug to Lina.
"Thanks," Lina replied with a grateful grin, taking a large sip. "So… Why did you call me here? What's going on?"
"Emma and I have a plan," Henry started.
"A plan for what?" Lina looked to Emma for help. Although she played it off with a coy smile, the look Emma wore on her face looked slightly strained.
"A plan to get everyone in Storybrooke to remember who they are," Henry replied as if it was obvious.
"You mean as fairytale characters?" Lina asked slowly. Henry nodded. "But, according to you, I am a fairytale character. Why include me in this?"
"Because you're different," Henry replied. "Your story isn't in the book."
"How can you be so sure?" Lina retaliated, deciding to play along for the time being.
"I just know," Henry replied insistently with a shrug.
"Alright," Lina threw her hands up in surrender. "I trust you. Where's the book now? Can I see it?"
At this, Henry pressed his lips together and sighed. "Bad news. Mom knows."
"Knows what?" Lina responded, clueless as ever.
"She has the book."
"And that's a bad thing because...?"
Henry lowered his gaze hesitantly. Lina took another sip of her tea as she waited for Henry to respond.
"She's the Evil Queen."
Lina almost spit her drink all over Emma and had to cover her mouth to restrain from doing so. "What?!" she hissed with a dumbfounded expression.
"It's about time you knew," Henry shrugged.
Lina glanced at Emma after staring at Henry incredulously for a few moments. Emma had a steely look on her face that clearly stated she wasn't buying any of this. She was just going along with it.
"Hey, kid," Emma interrupted, directing her attention to Henry. "Shouldn't we be getting you to school?"
"Yes," Lina agreed, grateful for a subject change. "In fact, I need to get going too." The trio hurriedly left the diner.
"We need to come up with a name for our plan," Henry decided as they crossed the street.
"What plan? " Lina frowned. "I didn't know we have a plan."
"I'll fill you in," Henry reassured dismissively. "How about Operation Cobra?" he suggested.
"Operation Cobra?" Emma laughed. "That has nothing to do with fairy tales."
"Exactly!" Henry exclaimed. "No one will suspect it!"
"So what is your plan?" Lina pried.
"Short version," Henry started. "Keep these pages," he pulled out three, crumpled storybook pages from his pocket. "Away from mom."
"Why?" Lina scoffed, still baffled at how Henry believed Regina was the Evil Queen. "What happens if she finds them?"
"We lose all hope of breaking the curse," Henry stated solemnly.
"Good to know," Lina frowned, still not completely convinced. "Now, c'mon. We need to get to school."
…
Angelina stood amidst some of the foulest creatures and people in the middle of darkest corner of the Enchanted Forest. A large fire blazed in the night at the center of the congregation. All those present gathered around the fire in anticipation of why the Queen called them there. Needless to say, she felt completely out of place. At least Henry stood at her side. The only thing that kept her connected with the rest of the group was the intricate box she held in her hands, concealing some unknown object that Regina needed to enact the curse. If all went well, the curse would be unleashed, and who knew what would happen then.
"Who among us is tired of losing?" Regina started, addressing everyone present. "That is why I called you here. To put an end to our misery." The Evil Queen tossed something into the fire that Angelina couldn't distinguish before it was ripped apart by the flames. "Today we claim victory and move to a new, better realm. A place where we can finally win."
"And we'll be happy?" an Old Hag spoke up with so much hope in her tone.
"I guarantee it," Regina smiled darkly. "But first, I need something from you." Everyone looked to her expectantly when she paused. "A lock of hair from those with the darkest souls." All present looked to each other uncertainly. There were only a handful of dark spells that required a lock of one's hair, none of them good. "You must trust me," Regina went on. "Because if you don't, there are other ways," she grinned deviously. Regina gestured her hand to the vines overlapping each other all around the group and they instantly flared to life, threatening to intertwine and bind all those present. Angelina shivered, but held her ground.
Instead of rebutting, everyone hastily began to cut locks of hair from their heads.
"A wise decision," Regina nodded approvingly as she went around to collect the hair in a palm sized basket. Angelina silently wondered if the Queen expected her to cut off a lock of her own hair. She didn't feel as if she had a dark soul. Her question was answered when Regina bypassed her with eyes that dissected Angelina's every move, as if trying to determine how comfortable she was with this whole situation.
"All that remains is the final ingredient," Regina announced, looking to Angelina as a signal to bring forth the box. "A prized heart from my childhood stead." Angelina had to restrain from gagging as Regina picked up the heart, tenderly and carefully. "A glorious beast whose passing will fuel our victory," the Queen spoke more to herself than anyone. "Let my wrath be unleashed!" She cried as she threw the heart into the fire.
The flames grew so high that Angelina flinched from the intensity. Blackish purple and green smoke billowed from the fire and threatened to consume everything in its path. Angelina couldn't remember being more scared in her entire life. The only thing that might have topped this was walking into Regina's stable to find her brother's lifeless form when she was only seven years old.
Then, as quickly as the curse manifested, it diminished. Regina stood there a bit dumbfounded and confused when a little gnome began laughing maniacally at the failed attempt.
"Yeah, you really unleashed something there," he giggled. Not in the mood for humor and games, The Evil Queen froze him in an instant. Angelina dared to look at her and saw more determination ferocity than ever before. The Queen was infuriated. Which is exactly was why Angelina slipped away into the forest before another word could be said.
….
School had been a drag. Lina couldn't stop thinking about Henry's implication that Regina was the Evil Queen in his storybook. She supposed it made a bit of sense, but it also implied that the brief "dreams" she'd had weren't of just some made up Queen in Lina's imagination, but of Regina and herself...in another life...? Lina still wasn't sure about any of this. And, to top it all off, Lina had been forced to stay after school to take the Calculus test she'd missed the day before. Why did life have to be so complicated?
Lina strolled the few blocks to her mother's office. She was to meet Regina and Henry there so that they could go out to dinner as a family before escorting Henry to his therapy session, as was always the routine on Thursdays.
Deciding to enter the back way, Lina was flabbergasted to see her mom's apple tree strewn across the grass in the backyard. She stood there, looking at it oddly, before leaving to ascend the stairs to Regina's office. When she reached the top, she was met by Henry eavesdropping on a conversation that was taking place within Regina's office.
"Henry...what-" Lina whispered, but was quickly cut off by Henry making a slit throat gesture to shut up. She decided to listen along with him, and was a bit surprised to hear Emma inside, civilly discussing Henry with the mayor. It seemed to be going ok, until Emma spoke her next set of words.
"The poor kid can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality and it's only getting worse. It's crazy," she sighed.
Henry couldn't stay still anymore. "You think I'm crazy?" he asked in a hurt voice, emerging from behind the wall. Lina emerged as well, placing her hand on Henry's shoulder in comfort.
Emma looked guilty and shocked that her son had heard what she said. "Henry..." she spoke regretfully. She started towards him, but Henry quickly turned around and raced out of the building, clearly hurt and betrayed.
Lina looked to her mom to see a smugly triumphant look on her face. She had planned the encounter. Before racing after Henry, she flashed an incredulous and angry look at Regina. As she raced after her brother, Lina couldn't help but ponder that maybe Regina was evil after all...
…
Angelina sat at the window ledge, staring distantly at the view her chambers overlooked. They had improved a considerable amount in the past year. Originally starting out in the dungeons, having her own wing was the most drastic improvement she could have ever thought of. A breeze blew at her hair as she sighed, thoughts drifting to Daniel as they often did.
She hadn't seen or heard from Regina since her failed attempt to enact the curse. And that had been many hours ago. Angelina assumed she wanted her space to figure out what went wrong. In many ways, Angelina felt bad for Regina. But in other ways, she still despised the woman with a passion. After all, she had killed Daniel. However, she had come to the conclusion that there was more to the story than Regina ever led on.
Angelina pulled at the simple chain she wore around her neck. It was a silver chain with a small bronze ring attached on it. The chain had been her mother's, the ring her brother's. It was nights like this that Angelina wallowed in self pity. Despondently, she realized that tomorrow was her eighteenth birthday. Had such time truly passed that she was already approaching the age of adulthood? As her mind churned, attempting to recall all the years she spent rage driven and determined for revenge on the Evil Queen for murdering her brother, she sighed when she realized it didn't matter. Nothing did anymore. Daniel was gone. Her parents were gone. The curse would surely be enacted soon enough. Nothing would ever be the same.
Gone were the days of her youth, where Daniel tried to teach her how to shoot a bow and arrow. Gone were the times he would sing her to sleep. Gone were the sweet tendrils of his presence. Gone were her innocence, her heart and her life. Angelina began to softly sing a lullaby that she distantly remembered Daniel singing to her to keep her mind off of the wallowing sorrow that threatened to spill from her heart.
"Dark the stars and dark the moon."
"Hush the night and the morning loon."
"Tell the horses and beat on your drum."
"Gone their master, gone their son."
Angelina ran her fingers over the ring and sighed before continuing.
"Dark the oceans, dark the sky."
"Hush the whales and the ocean tide."
"Tell the salt marsh and beat on your drum."
"Gone their master, gone their son."
"Dark to light and light to dark."
"Three black carriages, three white carts."
"What brings us together is what pulls us apart."
"Gone our brother, gone our heart."
By that point, Angelina couldn't hold it in any longer. Bitter tears streaked her cheeks as the cold air slapped at her face. She didn't know how long she sat there, wiping her eyes and trying to gain composure. But it felt like centuries.
"Did Daniel sing that song to you?" a voice spoke.
Startled, Angelina looked back at the door. There stood Regina, closing the door behind her as she slowly tread towards Angelina.
"Uh...yes," Angelina mumbled, wiping her cheeks clean of tears. She watched as Regina sat across from her on an elaborate, cushioned chair. "When I had nightmares, when I needed comfort, or just when I wanted to hear his voice," Angelina elaborated. She saw Regina watching her every move with a soft expression. "How did you know?"
"It must have made quite an impact on you if you remember it after all these years," Regina ignored Angelina's question. "But that's not why I'm here," she adopted a more authoritative tone and clenched her jaw when she realized how vulnerable she sounded.
"Then, why are you here?"
"I need you to do something for me," the Queen's chocolate brown eyes locked with Angelina's.
"Is this about the curse?" Angelina whispered almost fearfully.
"In a sense," Regina agreed.
"You figured out how to unleash it?" Regina only nodded, a sorrowful gaze lingering beneath her features. Angelina released a breath and ran a finger over her brow.
"I will enact the curse tonight," Regina informed. "But, if you do as you're told, you won't be affected by it."
Angelina's ears perked. She wouldn't fall victim to the curse? "Why spare me?" she asked, astounded.
The corners of Regina's lips curled upwards into the hint of a smile. "You don't deserve to suffer."
Angelina couldn't believe her ears. Was she just hearing what she wanted to hear? "What does the curse do?" she swallowed.
"It will send all of those in its path to a distant world," Regina explained. "A world where there will be no happy endings. None but mine."
Angelina nodded slowly, digesting the information. "What do you need me to do?"
With a smile of satisfaction, Regina made a quick gesture with her hand to have a large scepter appear in her palm. The end of the scepter held a glass ball that illuminated from within. While Angelina inspected the intricate handle of the object, Regina offered it to her, holding out the scepter for Angelina to take.
"What is this?" she asked skeptically.
"When you see the curse coming," Regina instructed, "strike this upon the ground with as much force as you can. It will create a force field that will protect you along with anyone within a three mile radius of your location."
"So...I'll stay? I won't be subjected to the curse?"
Regina nodded in confirmation.
"What about your father?"
A pained look crossed Regina's face. "He won't be staying."
For some reason, Angelina thought that the Queen wasn't telling her something. But she shrugged it aside and focused on the matter at hand.
"And what will I do with what's left of the kingdom?" Angelina inquired.
The Queen smiled a genuine smile, something of which was rare. "Rule."
Angelina gasped. That couldn't be right. The Evil Queen was handing her the kingdom on a silver platter! "What's the catch?" Angelina narrowed her eyes.
"No catch," Regina assured. She hesitantly took Angelina's hand into her own, pleading with her eyes to take everything she said very seriously. "I may or may not ever be able to return, but if I do, just promise me that the kingdom won't be in ruins."
"I can guarantee it," Angelina smiled serenely, gazing into the Queen's eyes. Regina broke eye contact quickly, not wanting her last moments in her castle to be so intimate. Not before she was to unleash a curse with so much wrath, darkness and malicious effects. Regina stood uncomfortably, giving Angelina one last glance over, a foreign feeling filling gut. So this was goodbye. The girl she had allowed into her life was to stay behind and fulfill certain duties while Regina moved on to a happier existence. Somehow it didn't seem right. Regina turned to leave, clad in intimidating attire to gloat in the presence of Snow White before destroying her happiness.
"Your majesty," Angelina called out before the Queen could depart. A bit regretfully, Regina slowed to a halt and glanced at the girl from the corner of her eye.
"I truly hope you find your happiness," Angelina gave the Queen her blessing.
Regina was sure that in another time, another life, she would have rushed to Angelina and embraced her for even giving her a chance. For being supportive and choosing, against all odds, to stay with her in the dark, looming castle she called home. But the queen was well past all of that. There was no turning back. That sanction of Regina's heart had been crushed with the passing of time. Regina was incapable of love ever again.
…
Dinner had been the most awkward sitting ever. Henry was still depressed of what Emma had said. And while Regina tried to comfort him, Lina knew the truth. Regina Mills had manipulated Emma into saying that Henry was crazy in Henry's presence. And, unbeknownst to Regina, the whole ordeal was only hurting Henry rather than pushing Emma away.
After dinner, Regina had taken Henry to his therapy session whilst Lina decided to go on a stroll until Henry's session was over. Then she would pick him up and take him home. Lina pensively stroked her silver chain with a bronze ring attached to it. It didn't make any sense. Why was Regina so threatened by Emma? Other than the fact that Miss Swan was Henry's birth mother, the woman didn't have anything on Regina. Regina still had custody of Henry, still had the power and control of the town, and still had Lina. But perhaps that wasn't enough...
When the time came to pick up Henry, Angelina made her way to Archie's office. As she neared the building, she was astounded yet relieved by what met her eyes. Emma and Henry were walking hand in hand, both smiling foolishly like children.
"I see you two made up," Lina couldn't help but smile along with them.
"It was a trick! What Emma said. So the Evil Queen would think we don't believe. It's brilliant!" Henry spoke all in one breath. Lina looked to Emma for confirmation. She winked and made a face that spoke just go with it.
"Nothing like a dose of deception," Lina smirked. "But, please, don't refer to Mom as the Evil Queen." God I'm going to have a hard time getting used to that.
"But she is the Evil Queen," Henry mumbled.
"I'm not saying she's not," Lina mused. "I just think you need to give me time to transition to….that."
Emma nodded her approval at Lina's words. Don't crush his reality. "C'mon guys," she put her arm around Henry. "We need to get you home."
"What a glorious idea," Lina grumbled mostly to herself. Emma heard, however, and she laughed whole heartedly, nudging Lina in the shoulder. Lina chuckled alongside her, feeling as though that with time, she and Emma could maybe learn to be friends.
…
Angelina waited and waited for the curse. She could hear the distant roaring and billowing in the distance. From the window she could see it approaching. She clutched the scepter so tightly that her knuckles turned white and numb. All she had to do was strike the ground with it before the curse was upon her. Then she would be safe. Then she would rule. Rule. What an odd concept. Rule what? Whoever was saved in the aftermath of the curse?
"What is a girl like you doing in a place like this?" A woman's voice spoke from behind Angelina. She jumped and turned to face an older woman with chestnut brown hair gathered into a bun. As Angelina studied her, she saw that the woman adorned a black cloak with silver latches.
"And what are you doing with that?" the woman added, pointing at the scepter.
Angelina was at a loss for words. "Who are you?" she managed to say.
The woman smirked and began circling Angelina, making her feel very uncomfortable. "Many know me as a powerful sorceress. Others by the Queen of Hearts," she stopped directly in front of Angelina, face drawn close to hers. "You can call me Cora."
Cora. Cora. Where had Angelina heard that name before?
"What do you want?" she spoke instead.
"Not one for formalities are we?" Cora chuckled amusedly. "It's really quite simple," she mused. "I have a sudden inquisition to obtain that scepter," she said, eyeing the object Angelina held in her hand.
Angelina held onto it a bit tighter, protecting it from being wrenched from her grasp. "Well, I'm sorry to say you can't have it," she spat, not liking Cora's testiness.
"Aw," Cora cooed. "That's too bad. Because you really don't stand a chance protecting it." She held out her hand expectantly. "Give it to me now, and you won't have to face the consequences."
Angelina eyed Cora's gloved hand warily and debated whether to hand it over. Who was this woman and what did she plan to do with the scepter? Deciding to be a thorn in her side, Angelina took off in a dead sprint, departing her wing of the castle.
Cora sighed drearily after the young girl. "And I hoped it wouldn't come to this."
It didn't take long for Cora to catch up. One second, Angelina was running, the next, Cora appeared in front of her in a cloud of purple smoke. Something that Regina always did...
Without a second thought, Cora plunged her hand into Angelina's chest, took hold of her heart and squeezed, disarming her in an instant. Angelina shrieked as the searing pain inflamed her whole body and gasped when she couldn't breathe. She stared into Cora's eyes which were lighted with malicious glee at the pain she inflicted upon the young girl. Something about the way Cora looked at her reminded Angelina a lot of Regina. The eyes, the lips pursed upwards and the defined jaw line as it tensed in satisfaction.
However, as Cora stared at Angelina, something happened. Her face contorted in confusion, and her grip on the young girl's heart loosened slightly. Just when Angelina thought that the woman was about to withdraw her hand from her chest, Cora ripped the girl's heart out, leaving Lina gasping in pain.
"Curious…" Cora mused as she inspected the heart. "My dear," she addressed Angelina. "Might I inquire how old you are?"
Angelina stubbornly locked her jaw and gave the woman a hard glare that shined defiantly in her ice blue eyes.
Clearly agitated, Cora squeezed her heart with an angered sneer. "You will speak when spoken to, girl!"
Angelina couldn't help but drop the scepter through the pain. As soon as it hit the floor, Cora released her hold on Angelina's heart.
"Well?" she prodded impatiently.
Angelina gulped before answering. "Seventeen," she coughed, breathing heavily.
Cora narrowed her eyes at the answer, her eyes briefly flashing to Angelina's heart. "And when is your birthday?"
Angelina hesitated before answering. "Tomorrow," she resigned wearily.
Cora's eyes seemed to lighten at this news. "I see," she smiled so devilishly that it sent chills down Angelina's spine.
"Well, my dear," Cora smirked, shoving Angelina's heart into her chest so quickly and roughly that she doubled over in pain, falling to the floor against her will. "It seems as though that day will not come for a long time." She leaned over and retrieved the fallen scepter while Angelina watched miserably. She didn't have the strength to stop her. "You, see," Cora continued in such a sickeningly sweet voice that Angelina wanted so badly to punch her. "While the curse may take you to a distant land, time will freeze until a certain Savior returns." She grinned coyly and lunged forward to cup Angelina's chin with her palm. "And when that happens, well….. let's just say I'll be waiting…."
She shoved Angelina to the ground and grinned wickedly. "You will prove to be most helpful when the time comes… And for that reason I know we shall see each other again."
"Thank you for cooperating, dear," she said admiringly before vanishing in a cloud of smoke.
Angelina had no time to move or think before the fog and smoke of the curse engulfed her, sealing her fate and destiny as it did every other Storybook character in its path.
A/N: So what did Cora have up her sleeve? I guess only time will tell…. This chapter goes along with Season 1 episode 2 "The Thing You Love Most." The song Angelina sings is a song from the movie "Snow White and the Huntsman" entitled "Gone" by Ioanna Gika. Although the previous author originally wanted to write a chapter for every episode, I doubt I will do that. I have some interesting stuff planned come season 2 so I would like to get to that ASAP. PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think, if you're confused on anything, or even if you want to critique. It would be much appreciated. I don't know when I'll update again since finals are around the corner, but I'll try my best to get a chapter up within the next few days. Thanks for reading!