Chapter 3- Searching for the Swan
Present Day: Storybrooke
…
The headlights of the sheriff's car illuminated the misty surface of the city lake, throwing eerie vaporous figures into the air. It was late at night and the moon had risen to illuminate the steaming waters whilst crickets and frogs resounded in a cacophony of background noises
"Mom, she might not show up tonight."
Emma Swan and Snow White were stationed on the side of the lake where Emma had last seen the swan with the necklace. Snow was determined to see the bird for herself, to confirm or deny that it was her long-lost friend, Princess Odette of Schwanense. Emma still had a hard time wrapping her head around that one. What fairytale characters did not exist and why did her mother seem to know all of them? Swan Lake, amazing. It was a story Emma knew of course (although she did not recall how it ended) and was not too sure on the details. A quick scan of Henry's book will probably help to see if there were any useful clues she thought. Maybe even how to break the curse.
The moment after Snow had explained her own version of the fairytale of Swan Lake she had insisted on accompanying Emma to the lake that very night, despite it being a school night and her young son's wails of protest. David would be babysitting tonight and Hook was stationed at the wharf, seeing if the bird would flee to the ocean.
Back at the lake shore, Snow shook her head at Emma's comment. "No. Odette would not miss the opportunity to become human tonight. She has to be here." There was a note of desperation in her voice.
Emma shifted uncomfortably in the driver's seat of the sheriff's car. "We don't even know if she can turn human here Mom. Magic does not always work the way it should in this world and it's possible that she is just a swan in this world."
"Well then we will find her and figure out a way to turn her human!"
Emma dropped the subject that was clearly touchy for her mother. It was rare that she saw her mom lose control like this. A few awkward moments of silence passed as mother and daughter deliberately did not speak to one another. Emma knew that if this was her father she would not hesitate to keep pushing and find out what was wrong, but her mother was different. She had more… awe and amazement she supposed of her mother and seeing her lose her composure like this, well it was strange.
She hesitated, but curiosity got the better of her, "Mom what's wrong? You act as if her still being a swan is your fault but you tried your hardest to help her back in the Enchanted Forest."
Snow sighed. "It's hard to explain Emma, but she came to me at a time when I really needed something to believe in, to stand and fight for. I felt so inadequate as a princess and saving her was that thing that I could fight for other than running and hiding all of the time. It was…important to me that I save her." She heaved another sigh. "I know that's hard to understand."
Actually, I can understand that more than you know Emma mused to herself.
Snow smiled lightly at her daughter but then seemed to catch herself. "And now she is missing and still a swan. Which means that something happened that night at the ball and I failed. I failed as a princess and I failed as a friend." Snow hung her head for a moment. "I promised her Emma, I promised. I failed her once, and I will not do it again."
Emma nodded in understanding and said firmly," We won't Mom. I believe in you." She reached over and grasped her mom's left hand, giving it a small squeeze. Snow returned the gesture with a grateful smile.
"You know, I think I can understand why you felt that way about helping her," Emma said gently.
"Really?" Snow cocked her head a bit. "How so?"
"I've been…feeling odd lately," Emma started, a little uncertain of how to phrase it. "I mean I have not had a chance to be the Savior in a long time and, well—" she squirmed, a little uncomfortable at this admittance, "—I kind of miss helping others." There, she had finally said it out loud. Not to her father nor to her husband but to her own mother.
Snow tilted her head quizzically. "Emma you help people every day. You're the town sheriff and you're a very good one at that."
"Well yeah…but taking reports after a fender bender isn't exactly the same thing as savioring Mom. I miss making a difference," Emma smiled sadly. "There is nothing like realizing you've changed someone's life for the better, you know?"
Snow's eyes softened and then she smiled. Of all things for her baby girl to be missing about being the Savior, that was it? Emma was even more her daughter than Charming probably knew.
"I do Emma." She gave a slight nod and Emma returned it with one of understanding. "I really do." Her eyes grew distant. "I remember when I first came to realize that being a princess was a lot more than just wearing a tiara and getting to go to balls; it's a real job. Helping others, being there for my kingdom…that is what I miss about being a princess."
Emma glanced over curiously. "You do?"
Snow nodded. "I do."
There was a moment of understanding between mother and daughter before they both turned their full attention to the lake and resumed their stakeout.
…
If there was one benefit about this wretched world that the evil sorcerer Rothbart could tolerate, it was the ease at which people felt the need to blame others for their problems. This eventually led to accusations (however ridiculous), which led to pathetic people hiring lawyers, which lead to suing, which led to money is his purse and a very large mansion to call home. Granted, he could have simply created such a place with his illusionary magic but maintaining such a grand state took quite a lot of effort. Better to milk the pitiful inhabitants of this tiny hamlet for all their worth and keep the easy money coming.
Today had been particularly successful. He had managed to convince a pathetic old lady (not the crossbow-wielding owner of Granny's, she terrified him!) that it was entirely due to the drugstore owner's incessant sneezing that she had dropped her bag of purchases and ruined her favorite handbag in the messy carnage. Now that dwarf was going to be sued for every diamond that was his cut in the dwarf's diamond mine.
Oh how I would love to get my hands on some real dwarf-mined diamonds, he gloated while pouring himself a healthy splash of some expensive scotch to celebrate, Might even be able to do some real damage around here; teach that cheeky shepherd who thinks he is a prince a lesson.
He settled himself into his comfortable leather chair, ready to kick of his polished leather shoes and relish in his victories. That was when his respite was interrupted by a small but strong hand gripping his pathetic tuft of hair and yanking his head dangerously far back. The sharp point of a large knife settled onto the left side of his chest, its steel gleamed.
"I'm going to cut out your heart like you cut out mine!" Odette snarled. The full-sized butcher knife she had pulled out of the kitchen block held in her left hand did not waver once.
The evil sorcerer merely smirked. "Well Princess, I am impressed. In our time apart you have gone and discovered courage in this new realm."
"Would you like to borrow some?" Odette brought the knife up to the sorcerer's throat.
It did not phase the black-hearted villain one bit, "No thanks, trying to cut back." Then he frowned. "Although I have to say I am a bit surprised you managed to get this close. The security systems of this world are supposed to be very effective."
"Well a bird's-eye view gives a woman a different perspectives, different strategies."
Rothbart let out an evil chuckle. "Oh yes, the curse. So tell me…does absence make the heart grow fonder?'
Odette clenched her teeth and let out an angry, animal-like snarl. The knife flashed as she brandished it closer. "Ah ah ah, Princess!" Rothbart held up a finger. "Killing me will only insure that your curse lasts forever."
"Don't you think I know that you monster? Don't you think I would have figured it out after all of these years?" Tears of rage left moist lines down the dirty cheeks of the Swan Princess. "I will never give you what you want, no matter how long this curse lasts, but I will spare you further pain if you tell me this: WHERE IS HE?"
"Sorry dear, you'll have to be more specific."
"YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHO I MEAN!" Odette yelled with the pain of a broken heart and wedged the knife under Rothbart's neck further. "WHERE IS HE?"
"Such devotion you have, too bad he was not able to reciprocate it that night so long ago?"
Odette could not stop the tears that poured down her cheeks at the mention of that horrific night and her hands began to shake. The memory of when her life had all but ended and her heart had broken, it was as fresh as if it had happened yesterday rather than over 30 years ago; her breathing became more erratic and her heart started to pound.
Rothbart kept right on smirking at the sight of the suffering princess. He truly was enjoying this. "If you really must know, the moment your pathetic prince found out he had failed you and promised his love to another he ran to your lake, threw himself in, and drowned."
"You're lying! He would never do that."
"Am I? Why has he not searched for you all these years in Storybrooke after the first Dark Curse was broken? Why have you not heard his name mentioned? Why has he not tried to break your curse again?" Rothbart turned his head slightly and sneered back at her. "He is gone forever you pathetic little princess and now you have no one in this realm. No one."
Odette continued to spill tears of rage and sorrow while clutching the knife to Rothbart's throat. This evil man had stolen her life, cursed her into a state of half-existence, and caused the death of the one man she had ever truly loved. Every thread of her enraged mind was screaming at her, Do it! Kill him! Cut his throat! He deserves it! She would be fine living the rest of her life as a bird if she could just kill this monster. But something held her back.
At least for one second too late. A long iron poker came descending onto the exposed back of Odette's head. The world went white before her eyes and she crumpled to the ground.
Rothbart stood out of his chair, wiped away a trickle of blood, and healed himself with a wave of his hand. "Well done my daughter."
Odile's sagged lip smirked up at her father as she brandished the fire poker proudly. "You looked like you needed help Papa." She used her polished pointed-toed boot to dig into Odette's ribs and shove her onto her back, ultimately disappointed to see that the princess was still breathing. A wrath-like expression came to the horrid face of Rothbart's partner in crime as she reached down and yanked at the golden swan necklace from around Odette's neck, breaking the chain with a small snap. She dangled the article mockingly just over the face of her victim before pocketing the precious item and turning to her father. "We can finish the job here and dump her body in the woods where no one would ever find her."
"Now that seems a bit hasty my child. After all, it's not as if anyone knows she is here and can identify…"
"Police! Freeze!"
Odile raised the poker and whipped around to the sight of Sheriff Emma Swan holding her Glock level and aiming it right at the witch's head. "Lower your weapon Ms. Bart!"
Odile reluctantly lowered the iron poker as Emma did likewise with her Glock.
"To what do we owe this honor…sheriff?" Rothbart could not help the sneer at that last word. The idea that this realm allowed women to hold such offices of power irked him to no end. Even his own daughter was merely a means to an end and to be considered nothing more. "I do not recall calling law enforcement for assistance."
Emma gestured to one of the windows, where a red light was blinking from the white consul box above the frame. "Your silent alarm went off and I came as soon as I could."
"Oh," was all Rothbart said to that. Damn it, I should have gotten rid of that stupid device years ago! "Yes we have had a minor…incident. This crazy woman broke into our home and tried to kill me but as you can see sheriff, we have handled the situation ourselves quite well."
It was then that Emma took in the sight of the unconscious woman crumpled on the floor.
Emma quickly holstered her Glock and knelt next to Odette. "I'm calling an ambulance." She whipped out her smart phone and hit speed dial.
"That is really not necessary Sheriff Swan," Odile leaned the poker back against the fireplace. "I am sure she will be just fine." Her voice was cold, monotone. "She tried to kill my father after all."
Emma glared up at the woman who had just spoken. "Despite any alleged crimes, this woman is hurt and she needs help Ms. Bart." The voice of the ambulance crew on her phone distracted her for a second, but not before she noticed a look of pure hatred as the other woman gazed down at the unconscious intruder. What was that about?
After giving address details to the dispatcher and hanging up, Emma once again focused on the woman on the floor. She was breathing steadily and her pulse seemed alright, but she looked desperately thin and worn, as if she had not had proper food or sleep in years. Perhaps she was homeless? The tattered loose clothing and her state of uncleanliness certainly suggested that.
"Hang in there," Emma murmured softly, taking the victim's hand in her own. "Help is on the way."
Again, Ms. Bart seemed intent on down grading the situation. "The second you have her in that hospital you should lock her up in the psych ward," she spat out, "she came in here screaming like a banshee, threatened to cut my father's throat, and then—"
"Ms. Bart I will take your and your father's statements as soon as this woman is in route to the hospital," Emma interrupted, trying to control her tone.
Odile was mortified at the audacity of this pathetic excuse of a sheriff. To have a peasant talk to her in such a manner was most disconcerting! She opened her mouth to let out a string of complaints and demands, when her father's heavy hand descended onto her shoulder. "That is fine with us sheriff, we will leave you to your work then." He gave a slight bow and took a step back, taking his daughter with him.
As they retreated, Emma narrowed her gaze onto the lawyer's retreating dark form, scrutinizing every angle. Why was her superpower on fire? What were those two lying about?
But she would have to figure that out later, right now her focus was on this injured woman.
..
Odette slowly opened eyelids that were heavy with fatigue and pain. The room was barely lit but once her pupils dilated and she was finally able to focus, there honestly was not much to see. A dark, unadorned cell with a barred window, a small cot which she was lying on, and that was pretty much it. She lifted herself to her elbow, blinking while taking it all in. Her right arm automatically went to the back of her head, where she felt a large bump.
"Feeling better?"
Odette bolted upright, grasping the edge of her cot in fear and peered out of her cell. The woman who had spoken was standing just outside of the barred door, leaning against a desk and looking intently at her.
She settled down and managed a small groan. "I think so," she said softly as she unfolded the blanket from over her and scooted to the edge of her cot so that her feet dangled.
Emma smiled then reached behind her for something Odette could not see. There was a rustling of paper and then the sheriff was holding out a sack and water bottle through the bars of the cell. "Here," she said gently, "It's just a take-out from Granny's but you look like it will do you some good."
Odette hesitated, but then approached the bars slowly. The sack was giving off a tantalizing aroma. She accepted the offerings with a murmured, "Thank you", and then settled back onto her cot. The bag revealed a hearty roast, some greens, and buttered bread. Ravaged, she tore into the bread with her front teeth.
"Wow, you really wanted that," Emma said lightly, getting her first real glimpse of the prisoner. Despite the dirty face and old tattered clothing, she really was a very beautiful woman. Tall, regal cheek bones, sharp eyes, and a very good posture. She was on the thinner side but had stood straight and proud when taking the food, not hunched over with a wild-look like Emma expected. She certainly did not look like a crazy woman capable of murder.
Emma leaned back against the desk again, folding her arms. "So you might be in a spot of trouble."
Odette continued to chew, not answering. There was an awkward beat before Emma tried again. "Mr. Bart is talking of pressing attempted murder charges on you, as well as threatening, breaking into his house, and thievery." She shook her head and tried to sound sympathizing. "Honestly, my instincts are telling me you are not capable of such things so are you going to tell me your side of the story?"
Odette shook her head as well, polishing off the last of her meal by draining the water bottle of its content. "Why? You would not believe me."
"Oh yeah? Listen I have seen some pretty strange things in this town and if you're trying to tell me you can top that, by all means—"
"How long must I be confined here?"
Emma raised an eyebrow. "S'cuse me?"
Odette neatly laid the remains of her meal aside then stood, tilted her chin up, and looked straight into Emma's eyes. "How long must I remain in here?"
Emma frowned. "You are facing some pretty serious charges. I managed to convince Dr. Whale to release you into my custody so that the hospital would not be tempted to put you into the psych ward and throw away the key. I am required to keep you under observation for at least 48 hours and then after that—" Emma sighed and shrugged "—I'm afraid we will have to wait and see. At the very least you should stay here tonight and maybe this Bart fellow will calm down tomorrow and drop a few of the lesser charges."
Stay here tonight? The swan princess came forward to grip the cell bars tightly and her mouth went dry. Then she will see me transform! She opened her mouth, about to protest very loudly, but then caught herself and asked as calmly as she could, "Please, is there any way I can be released now?"
"Right now?" Emma spluttered, amazed at the audacity of the question. "You've got quite a knock on the head and you need to rest. You'll be safe behind these bars tonight, trust me. "
Odette was horrified at the thought. She tightened her grip on the bars. "Please. You have to let me go," she whispered as a salty tear slid over her right cheek.
Emma was startled by the sudden outpouring of emotions from this woman and truly hated what she had to say. "I'm sorry I can't," she explained gently. Her heart went out to the strange woman for some reason. "You attacked a prominent member of the community and he is not taking it lightly. You'll be lucky if I can talk him out of charging you with attempted murder and downgrade it to aggravated assault."
Odette loosened her grip, slid her hands down the bars, and narrowed her eyes at Emma. "Whatever that evil man told you is a lie."
"So why don't you tell me the truth?"
Odette was silent to that. Emma waited, but when it became clear nothing further was being offered she shrugged and turned away. As she did, her left hip bumped against her dad's messy desk, jarring it slightly. Emma cursed as folders and a few scraps of paper scattered onto the ground.
One of them managed to slide all the way to the holding cell. Before Emma could intervene, Odette had reached down through the bars and scooped up the hasty sketch of the heart-shaped swan necklace Emma had done just yesterday.
For some reason, the woman's right hand went to her throat and flattened as if searching for something. But there did not seem to be anything there that Emma could see beneath the loose collar of the shirt she was wearing. Odette's face blanched before composing herself and holding out the paper to the sheriff through the bars. But Emma had seen her expression. She opened her mouth and was about to really start asking questions when the other woman beat her to it.
"That necklace," Odette whispered. "Where did you get that?"
"What?"
Odette gestured to the top of Emma's red leather jacket where her swan pendant glittered in the fluorescent lighting of the station.
Emma fingered the charm lovingly. "An old friend gave it to me, years ago."
"It's very beautiful. It must mean a lot to you."
Emma looked quizzically at the other woman. Why in the world did she feel the need to ask her about her swan necklace? "Yes it does." Then she held up the drawing that she had made. "What about this one? Looks pretty similar huh? Do you know anything about it?"
Odette's expression saddened incredibly, and then she turned away, "I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Just tell me," Emma said to her. "What can I do to help you?"
Odette plopped wearily down onto her cot as she turned her head back towards Emma. "You can't help me. No one can."
Emma sighed and stared into Odette's gaze. The woman was young but her eyes were aged and exhausted as only years of grief and toil could do. "How do you know that unless you let me try?" she asked, her voice coming out as gently as she could. Odette shook her head. "You seem to know about this necklace." She took a few cautious steps forward, holding the other princess's gaze as she walked closer to the cell. "I know what it's like to have doubt, to have caution and wanting to do things alone because you believe no one can help you." Odette looked away, more tears forming in her eyes. For a while, neither woman said anything and Emma took this as a bad sign. "Please," she practically begged. "Let me help you. Tell me how I can fix it."
Odette was nearly shaking with grief, tears streaming down her dirty cheeks. "You can't fix it. He is dead," she whispered at last.
"Who is dead? What is going on?"
But the other woman was apparently finished talking. She had turned away and sat herself back on her cot, curling her legs underneath her chin and holding them with her arms as she silently wept.
Emma came right up to the bars. "I can help you, I promise."
Odette glanced up and really took in the sight of the other woman. She clearly wanted to help her, despite every reason not to. At this point she was a criminal in this realm and would likely remain in this cell forever. Should she trust her with her secret?
The last time I trusted someone with my secret it ended in disaster she thought. I have to do this on my own this time. I refuse to drag anyone else into this.
She closed her eyes and dropped sideways into her cot, refusing to answer any of Emma's further questions long into the wee hours of the dawn.
Emma finally gave up when she felt she was going to fall asleep on her own feet. She glanced at the wall clock in her office. 5:00 am and she had not slept all night. Time to head home. Her Dad was due for the late morning shift so maybe he would have better luck?
She paused before leaving the station and switching off the lights. The strange woman was still on her cot, sleeping or either resting Emma could not tell. All she knew is that she really wanted to help her, had to help her.
…
"Emma, there you are!"
Emma wearily dropped her keys into the bowl by the front door of her house and shrugged off her red leather jacket. Her mother and Killian were seated at the kitchen table, clearly waiting for her to show up and give their reports. Both looked just as exhausted as she was with bags under their eyes and bleary pupils that did not seem to focus well.
"Hey Mom, hey Killian," she said groggily. She slid over to her husband and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before plopping down hard on the third chair next to him. Lord it felt good to sit down!
"Long night love?" he asked as he held out a steaming mug.
She accepted his offered coffee gratefully. "Oh yeah. I hope you guys had better luck than I did?"
But both parties shook their heads wearily. "I stayed on the wharf all night love. Saw nothing but a few seagulls and pelicans," replied Killian. "Your feathered friend did not show up."
Snow likewise shook her head. "A swan did not show up at the lake after you left Emma," she heaved a sigh," I …really thought I could find her."
Emma reached over and laid a hand on her mother's. "It's okay Mom, we'll find her." She sipped at her coffee and sighed. "On a side note I tried to help this woman earlier but…she is not cooperating, no matter how much trouble she really is in." She took in more caffeine and started to feel much better. Aaaaa! The true magic of this world is caffeine in all its forms! "She matches the description of the woman who set off the alarms at Mrs. Shoe's shelter so, for all intents and purposes, she could just be a crazy homeless lady ready to cause a lot of damage," Emma sighed, "but somehow I am not getting that vibe from her. It's like she's afraid and refuses to trust anyone, but she does not seem crazy just—"
"Lost?"
Emma turned to her mother. "Yeah exactly." A strange sense of understanding passed between mother and daughter.
"Emma, what did this woman look like?" Snow asked quietly.
Emma frowned as she tried to recall. "Umm, about my age. Blonde hair, grey eyes, kind of tall, and—"
"Did she have a scar right here?" Snow interrupted while she laid an index finger on her right forearm. "A thin line that looked like it came from being grazed by an arrow?"
Emma sucked in a gasp. "Yes, she did."
"That's her! That's Odette!" Snow jumped to her feet and dashed to the front door. "We have to go back," she opened the door and groaned as she took in the sight of the rising sun, "she might be changing already!"
Snow sprinted down the pavement to Emma's yellow bug, her daughter and Killian right on her heels.
Upon entering the sheriff's station, the three of them rushed down the entrance hall and quickly rounded the corner to where the holding cells were. Snow skidded to a halt and Emma nearly crashed into her.
The cell was empty. Not a trace of the swan princess.
Emma was shocked beyond belief. "No she was here when I left Mom. I swear!"
Snow shook her head, soothing her daughter's ranting. "No, it's okay. I believe you honey. We need to search the building; she might still be in here."
"Righto," Killian said as he took to back to the hall leading to the other side of the building. Snow took the stairs down to the basement.
Emma was still in shock and walked slowly up to the cell, as if expecting to see the princess underneath the cot or hiding beneath the pile of blankets. How could she have gotten out? There was no way of finding out, the security cameras had been disabled since Rumpelstiltskin had magically messed with them, and no one else was on duty last night except Emma.
Emma fingered the bars of the still-locked cell when a small white object drifting on the ground caught her eye. Kneeling, she scooped up a single white down feather that clearly came from the chest of a magnificent bird
Emma held it up, staring in disbelief. Could it be a swan's feather? Had the woman transformed in the cell then squeezed her way out? Was that even possible?
"Swan!"
Emma jumped, Killian's call had completely startled here. Not knowing why, she pocketed the feather and then sprinted in the direction she heard his voice.
Her mother beat her to the utility hall where the pirate was. "Did you find her?"
Killian glanced towards both women, his expression grave. "No. Unfortunately I think I found something else." He gestured with his hook upward and both women followed the direction of his indication.
The glass window leading from the utility hallway into the outside world had been smashed. Even the metal reinforcements were bent irregularly; whomever or whatever had wanted to get out and had clearly been desperate. The panes were completely decimated but that was not what really caught Emma's eye. It was the streaks of red blood on some of the glass shards still clinging to the rim of the panes. A few down feathers, similar to the one Emma now had in her jean pocket, drifted in and out of the window with the soft morning breeze.
Snow gasped and clasped a hand over her open mouth. "Oh my gods!"
Emma was likewise shocked but able to keep some resemblance of coherent thought. "She escaped, and she was clearly frightened out of her wits of something to do it like this." She touched her mother's shoulder, trying to convey a sense of calm. "We're going to find her Mom, I promise." She gave Snow a comforting squeeze on the shoulder and her mother's hand went over her own gratefully, nodding her head.
"Aye love. Perhaps sooner rather than later," Killian put it. He reached up and carefully pulled out a shard of glass, stained crimson with the swan's blood. "These kinds of injuries are likely to do the poor lass much damage."
…
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