Author's Note: Thank you for the follows, favorites and reviews! I appreciate every single one! My favorite scenes are the Evil Queen/ Angelina scenes, so this chapter is focused on that. This update has references to episode 1x04 The Price of Gold, so if you're ever confused, refer back to that. Reviews fuel me to post so please let me know what you like, don't like, etc. Until next time!
Angelina stared at her reflection in the mirror, unable to recognize the girl staring back at her. As the Evil Queen Regina had promised, Angelina had been given her own wing of the castle, including a library of books, her own chambers, own bathing facility as well as her own regal wardrobe. Tonight, the queen had requested her presence for dinner, meaning that Angelina was required to dress for the occasion. A palace servant had suggested a velvet royal blue dress with a round neckline that draped elegantly around the waist and hips. There were embellishments adorning the abdominal area of the dress, and the shoes were far less uncomfortable than they looked.
Although Angelina did look beautiful, an obvious step up from the rags she had worn the majority of her life, she also felt ridiculous and out of place. This was probably the queen's form of entertainment, dressing up a scullery rat in the finest materials and riches all around. She would laugh as soon as Angelina entered the dining hall.
That's what the dominant part of Angelina was telling her. It also urged her to remain where she was, refuse to arrive at the dinner table and be as stubborn as possible, despite the consequences. However, there was a sliver of her that probed within the confines of her emotional excuse of a heart. That sliver encouraged Angelina to leap at the chance to get to know the cold, heartless woman who ruled the kingdom. To pinpoint the methods behind her madness and discover where her rage lied. To dig up the bones of her past and try to uncover the small portion of the humanity that Angelina had seen in Regina's eyes in the dungeon a few weeks ago.
Remarkably, the small sliver of Angelina's heart won out the rest. So, when an escort entered her room, instructing her to follow, Angelina merely but nodded and obeyed the command. One thing was for sure; this was going to be an interesting night.
…
"I know you think otherwise," Regina spoke from the entry hall as she applied a plum shade of lipstick to her lips. "But I don't enjoy these Saturday City Council meetings. Sometimes they're just unavoidable."
Lina didn't look up from her book when Regina entered the room. In fact, she didn't even hear the clicking of her heels as they echoed off the walls. Lina was drowsy and tired. She had tossed and turned all night. Nightmares of a strange sort had kept her up most hours of the night. She had not discussed them with anyone, especially avoiding Henry's inquisitiveness. If she were to speak the dreams aloud, Henry would only accuse her of remembering her fairytale life.
"Now, you know the rules," Regina stated sternly, directing most of her attention to Henry.
Henry placed the comic book he read down onto the table like a businessman diverting his attention from his newspaper to a client. "Yes on homework, no on TV and stay inside," he listed like he'd been told many times before. "Right Lina?"
Although Lina didn't hear him, she knew that she was being addressed due to the brief silence that followed. She looked up hastily from the paragraph she'd read over and over again and still hadn't digested yet. "Right," she swallowed, hoping that that made sense.
"Good boy," Regina smiled admiringly at her son. She cupped his chin lovingly with a genuine smile. "Under no circumstance do you two leave this house," she instructed.
"You mean don't see my mom," Henry rebutted harshly. Regina backed away as if the words had physically punched her in the face. Lina instantly kicked Henry from underneath the table to silence him from saying anything more. He winced but didn't open his mouth again. Why couldn't he just keep his mouth shut?
"She's not your mother," Regina sneered defensively. "She's just a woman passing through. Now do what I say or there will be consequences," she warned as she turned her back on her children and made a headway for the door.
"I'll be back at five sharp," Regina called over her shoulder before the door closed behind her.
It took all of a few seconds for Henry to jump up and gather his belongings. "You coming?" he asked.
"Where?" Lina narrowed her eyes curiously.
"To see Emma," he pointed out as if it was obvious.
Lina repressed a groan and set down her book. "I don't think I'll join in on this Operation Cobra business today, squirt."
"Why?" Henry asked, curiosity and hurt combined in his voice.
"I'm not feeling too good," Lina admitted quickly.
Henry absorbed that answer and did a quick evaluation of Lina. "You really don't look to good," he offered in agreeance.
"Gee, thanks," Lina laughed sarcastically. "I don't care if you hang out with Emma," she added truthfully. "But you need to watch what you say to Mom. Being defiant will only make her more strict on the both of us."
"But she's-"
"The Evil Queen, I know," Lina groaned. "But she's the woman that raised you for ten years. So please, show a little respect. Understood?"
Henry looked as if he was going to argue, but to Lina's surprise, he nodded resolutely in compliance. "I'll try."
"That's all I ask," Lina smiled, clapping Henry's shoulder. "Ok," she sighed. "You can go." Instantly, Henry leaped up and bounded for the door. "Be careful and be home before five!" Lina yelled after him as he burst out the door. She wasn't sure if he had heard or not, or even cared for that matter, but Lina was content to have the house to herself for the day. She needed a day to herself. And first on the agenda was sleep.
…
"I must say," the Queen spoke from across the table, taking a small sip of the wine her servants had continuously provided for her throughout the whole duration of the meal. "I'm quite surprised at your placidity this evening."
Angelina had sensed the queen watching her every move all throughout the sitting. In many ways, Angelina was uneasy because of this, never meeting the queen's eye, making an overly large effort to divert her attention to anything but the woman sitting across from her.
"Is the silence unnerving to you, my queen?" Angelina asked in a sardonic, mocking tone, meeting Regina's gaze for the first time that night.
"Not at all," she replied with equal combativeness. "However, I am quite disappointed that you've yet to try the apple tart." The queen smiled vexingly as she witnessed Angelina's face drain to a pale white.
"With all due respect, your majesty," Angelina adopted a stern look. "Given my recent encounter with the fruit, I'd rather not savor one."
"I assumed as much," the queen leered. "Yet, you must have had a certain liking for apples before you tasted mine. The way you climbed that tree to reach it was reminiscent of a child." The Evil Queen stared at Angelina with a curious gleam in her eye. "Did your family-?"
"I see what you're trying to do here," Angelina cut her off, not willing to discuss the family that the queen herself had callously destroyed. "Regretfully, I am not one to discuss my upbringing or my personal life," Angelina's words dripped with sarcasm.
The Queen gave no indication offense of being shut out by Angelina. If anything, her unwillingness to speak only drew Regina to the girl even more. "It seems as though we have something in common," Regina stated, tracing the outer rims of her plate of food that had hardly been touched.
Angelina's ears perked at this statement. So the queen didn't like to discuss personal information as well. It made sense. But the idea of sharing a common characteristic with someone as malicious and devious as the Evil Queen was enough to make Angelina's stomach churn.
"Hopefully the only thing we have in common," she groused. Whether or not the queen had heard Angelina's comment was never addressed, for Queen Regina continued to badger the girl with more questions.
"Tell me, Angelina. Have you any friends? Companions?"
Angelina rolled her eyes in annoyance before responding. "You mean is there anyone else that I've recruited in my plot for vengeance?" Angelina chuckled darkly. "If my bow and arrows count, then yes." The queen gave her an odd look, something on the verge of tribulation and perplexion. "I've lived a rather solitary existence," Angelina explained in retribution.
The queen breathed deeply, and Angelina could have sworn that she heard her whisper something beneath her breath.
"If we're going to indulge in conversation," Angelina drawled in a tone vaguely similar to the queen's, "It would only be fair for me to ask a few questions of my own..." She met the queen's eye innocently.
Regina paused momentarily before shrugging. "I don't see why not," she agreed.
"Excellent," Angelina smiled thinly. "Do you have parents?"
"Of course I do," the queen scoffed. "Everyone does, dear. Or have you not been taught-"
"Not what I meant," Angelina snapped. "Are they alive? Do they live here with you?" The queen gave no indication of answering. Angelina exhaled softly in frustration. "If we're going to hold a conversation, we might as well let our guards down and talk. I'm willing to if you are."
Queen Regina regarded Angelina warily for a brief moment while the girl waited expectantly for her to speak.
"My father lives here, in the castle," the queen finally gave in. "And my mother...does not." Regina took a large sip of her wine. Angelina thought about digging deeper than that, for there was a bitter edge to the queen's voice when she spoke of her mother, but she figured it would be too invasive.
"I believe it is my turn," the queen said, shaking Angelina out of her thoughts.
"So it is," Angelina responded with a small smile. "What would you like to know?" Perhaps the night wouldn't turn out so terrible after all.
…
4:55.
Lina paced about the house, nervous as hell. Her nap had been fairly beneficial, but where was Henry? What if he wasn't home in time? What would she do to cover? Lina ran her fingers through her hair and released a breath as she went to the window to look for any sign of Henry and Emma or Regina. None. Lina waited for what seemed like hours, when in reality it was only a few minutes.
4:59
The door burst open. At this point, Lina was on the verge of an anxiety attack. Therefore, when the door opened unexpectedly, Angelina jumped and expected the worst.
"Lina?!" a boy's voice called.
"Oh my god," Lina exhaled in relief, rushing to meet the voice at the entry. "Henry!" Sight of her brother and his backpack confirmed the assumption.
"Are you kidding me right now?!" she hissed semi- angrily. "You cut it way too close, squirt."
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry!" Henry apologized, holding his hands up in a surrender.
"Sorry's not gonna cut it! Mom's gonna be home any minute!" Lina snapped. She opened her mouth to continue, then paused as she heard clicking outside of the now shut door. Clicking in time of steps. The clicking of heels. Lina knew that sound anywhere. Regina. "Or now," she squeaked. Coming to her senses, she shooed Henry away.
"Go! Go! Get upstairs!" she urged. Henry instantly complied, sweeping up the stairs in a hurry. "Act like you've been reading or something! Dammit, you dropped your shoe!" Lina called after him. But it didn't matter. Henry didn't pick it up, for the front doorknob was beginning to click and turn open.
"Crap..." Lina grumbled as she ran as fast as her feel could carry her to the kitchen. Her main goal: make it look like she'd been doing something besides fretting over Henry. She quickly pulled out leftover lasagna from the night previous and shoved it into the oven. Swiftly setting the dial to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, she jumped back from the appliance just in time for Regina to peek into the room.
She studied Angelina for a few brief moments, then asked, "Where's Henry?"
"Nice to see you too, Mom," Angelina answered coolly. However, Regina looked in no mood to be playing games. "Upstairs reading," Lina sighed. Regina nodded slowly, calculatingly, as if measuring how plausible the answer was before leaving. Once the woman left, Lina released a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding.
"From now on," she promised herself. "I'm going to go with Henry whenever he sneaks out. If he continues to leave solo, it would only a matter of time until Mom found out. He needs my backup."
And that's what Lina continually reminded herself the rest of the evening. No one deserved to be alone in matters such as this. Operation Cobra or not, Henry was her brother. It was Lina's job to protect him and be there for him when need be.
…
"How did you learn to shoot a bow and arrow?"
"Like anything else...practice."
"Did you have an instructor?" the queen relentlessly pursued.
"Uhh.." Angelina trailed off into her own train of thought. "Not really. When I was a child, Daniel..." her throat closed and she found herself unable to continue. The Queen's interest increased upon hearing the mention of Daniel's name. Angelina gave no indication of continuing.
"Go on..." Regina urged gently with a soft expression.
Angelina sighed and bit her lip in contemplation. "There are some things that aren't worth mentioning your majesty," she whispered audibly. An uncomfortable silence settled over the two. Angelina's eyes stung with tears threatening to spill while Regina stared off into space, consumed with thoughts of a tragic love story in her mind.
"How close were you...with Daniel?" the queen broke the silence a bit dreadfully.
Angelina looked to the woman in surprise. She had the same expression across her flawless features that she had expressed in the dungeon weeks prior to this night. The queen was expressing sorrow. She regretted Daniel's death...but why?
"I'll only answer that if you answer something for me," Angelina sighed, regaining her composure. Regina only but waited patiently for Angelina to carry forward.
"Why did you kill him?" Angelina asked in the steadiest voice she could muster.
Regina flinched at the directness of the question. Why was this girl so certain that she was the one who killed Daniel? The queen's jaw tightened and her eyes flickered with a whirlwind of emotions occurring all at once. She huffed uncomfortably at the accusation and released a small smile.
"Perhaps there are some things better off not mentioned," she admitted in a small voice not suitable for a queen.
Even though Angelina felt an odd sense of pity for the woman, the more dominant part of her was furious, frustrated and exasperated that the queen always seemed to avoid justifying the murder of Daniel. Why wouldn't she just tell Angelina? At this point, a heartless, "I never loved him," would be more satisfying than the uncertainty. However, Angelina doubted that was the case. There was too much compassion and sorrow in the queen's eyes for that to be possible.
"I hope you know this doesn't change anything," Angelina spoke in a cold tone.
"Pardon?" Regina's vulnerability vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.
"Dining with you," Angelina went on to explain, tracing the rim of her wine goblet with her fingertips. "Civilly sharing a meal. Courtesy won't make me hate you any less."
The Queen laughed in such a way that disarmed Angelina of her coy demeanor. "Who said that this was a courteous gesture?"
Confused and taken aback, Angelina narrowed her eyes at the Evil Queen. What was she playing at? Why had she called for this arranged meal? Had the food been poisoned or drugged? No...Angelina had been sure to check with each bite taken. Then what...?
Suddenly, it hit her faster than the strike of lightening.
"Don't tell me now that this whole thing was a test!" she growled through a clenched jaw.
"Of course it was, dear," Regina flashed her pearly white teeth in a condescending smile. "Surely you figured that out."
"Why?!" Angelina barked.
"I had to see if I could trust you," the queen responded as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.
It was then that Angelina noticed all the armory and weaponry dawning the room. Albeit, it was a part of the decor of the dining area, but the presence of all the different items that Angelina could have used against the queen suddenly became overwhelming and oppressive. Her head throbbed and her heart pounded. There were no knights or guards anywhere in sight. Only servants. It had all been laid out for her to succeed if she'd taken the bait. Why hadn't she noticed this earlier?! In pure anger and bewilderment, Angelina slammed her fork into the table and used all of her strength to pulverize it against the table. She shook as her muscles strained. She felt the fork's form bend and compress beneath her palm, and didn't stop until the utensil snapped in half upon the table with a loud, abrupt thud. Angelina gasped and blinked stupidly for a brief moment, shocked at what she'd just done.
"Now, now, dear," the queen crooned mockingly, though her eyes spoke differently. "That was silver." The queen's brows furrowed as her eyes flickered to the silver fork. How was it that she was able to break it? Surely the girl couldn't be that strong.
However, Angelina's glowering at the woman, giving her a look that could kill, broke all train of thought spinning in the Queen's mind.
"Now you listen, and you listen well," the girl snarled, leaning into the table as her hands gripped the ledge. The queen cocked her head inquisitively at Angelina's sudden change of heart. "Do not take this night as a way of things to come. You can never trust me. If the opportunity arises to betray you, I will. If I'm ever given the change to kill you, I'll take it. You made a big mistake allowing me into this castle. I will have my vengeance."
Regina regarded the girl for a few moments, pursing her lips and arching her eyebrow in a daring manner. At last, after a tense pause, she spoke.
"These are all trivial matters I am very aware of," she said with an amused grin. "That is why I want you. However," she raised herself upright and began to slowly prowl to Angelina's seat. "You could afford to learn a few manners." With a quick snap of her fingers, the queen magically bound Angelina to her seat.
Angelina struggled to free herself as soon as she became aware of the restrictive presence of the invisible binds. Regina continued to approach her, her stance threatening and demeaning. Once standing before the flustered girl, the brunette grabbed at young girl's chin with her thumb and forefinger, forcing Angelina to stare into her eyes.
"Don't forget who you are dealing with," she warned slyly. And before Angelina could open her mouth to rebut, the queen had her whisked away to her chambers in a billowing cloud of purple.
Angelina was shocked to see her surroundings change so quickly. A mere second ago, the queen had stood before her, and now, she stood in her room, quiet and alone. Fuming and seething.
This was it. No more games. Angelina was going to confront Regina again, right here, right now, and end this. Regardless of if she died, Angelina was going to end her misery right now. Stalking towards her door, purpose and determination, wrath and acrimony clouding her better judgment, Angelina took hold of the doorknob and pushed on the large wooden doors. No movement. She tried a bit harder. The doors wouldn't budge. She was locked in.
How dare that woman confine her? How dare she ask questions about Daniel? How dare she feign concern for Angelina's life? How dare she absolutely ruin all of Angelina's logic and drive?
Angelina hated her. Hated her with all her being. Queen Regina was pure evil. Malicious, calculating and cold. And now, Angelina was doomed to spend the rest of her days in this dark, looming castle with the one woman she couldn't stand.
Feeling hopeless and vulnerable, Angelina pounded on the door, screaming and crying out all her frustrations and sorrows. She cried for Daniel. She cried for her family. She cried for loss of innocence. She cried for herself.
She continued until her knuckles were raw and bleeding. And even then, the tears wouldn't stop pouring. She crumpled to the floor in a heap, feeling more lost and childlike than she ever had in her entire life. She curled into a ball and continued to weep quietly to herself.
Why was life so harsh? Why did every possible scenario she entered end with the worse results? What was her other alternative? Death? At this point, death would come willingly. At this point, that's all Angelina wanted. Death and peace of mind. Death and the presence of her departed family. Take it all away. Nothing could be worse than the cards she'd been dealt.
Angelina's cries echoed throughout the corridors of the castle until the late night when she eventually cried herself to sleep against the door. Unbeknownst to her, Regina listened from around the corner as the young girl's emotions played out, shedding a few afflicted tears of her own at Angelina's distress.
…
"So what fun filled adventure did you and Emma embark on today?" Lina teased as she sat next to Henry on his bed.
"We saved a girl from having to give up her baby to Mr. Gold," Henry responded dutifully.
"Okay..." Lina drawled with her eyebrows raised. "Not the answer I was expecting... How'd you two manage that?"
"Emma made a deal with Mr. Gold," Henry sighed regretfully. "She owes him a favor." He looked at Lina from the corners of his eyes. "Have you ever made a deal with Mr. Gold?"
Lina paused before answering. "No," Lina concluded. "Can't say that I have."
The two, brother and sister, sat silently for a few minutes, lost in their own trains of thought. But the silence wasn't uncomfortable. It was a silence of understanding. Despite not being related by blood, they were siblings. They loved and trusted each other just as blood related siblings did. They laughed and joked, argued and fought and simply enjoyed each other's company.
It wasn't until later that Regina Mills came to check on her two children. What she found warmed her heart.
Both Henry and Angelina lay sprawled out upon Henry's bed, fully clothed and fast asleep. Henry's arm was wrapped around Lina's torso and Lina's hand sat on top of his. Regina thought about waking them to put on their pajamas and sleep in their own rooms, but she didn't have the heart to. Instead, she placed a kiss upon each of their foreheads, turned off the light and cracked the door open (for Henry's sake, of course). She left with a small smile playing upon the corners of her lips, knowing that her children were compatible and loved each other. That had been Regina's greatest fear when adopting Henry. She had been terrified that the two wouldn't get along well. Although she'd known it for a long time, Regina fell asleep confident that the two were, not only siblings, but best friends.