Here it is, the next chapter
And another long one it is not as long as the last one... but not off and so I hope everyone that likes them enjoys, once more if they don't sorry but I really couldn't find a good cut off point for it and so it spiraled.
I would like to thank all that reviewed on the last one much appreciated this one is for you all, I hope you like as I think personally, to date - its my most emotional chapter yet.
have a few more people entering now and will maybe be in the next few with the addition of other ones to... Hopefully I've kept them in somewhat character if not then once more I apologize and will try harder in future.
It would also mean a real lot if I heard your thoughts and opinions, so help me get to forty... please!
Happy reading. :)
She waited behind well after they had sunk into the water and down to the bottom. She didn't move a muscle just kept staring at the place she had dumped them looking at how the water – once disturbed, now was receding back to its calm state as the ripples dispersed and soon vanished. Soon it was just her and the silence once more which seemed to be louder now than it ever was before.
Eventually she snapped out of her slight stupor, blinking a few times to get back to reality before deciding that it was well overdue for her to leave. As her thoughts took her to the castle and the purple smoke started to appear, she couldn't help but let her gaze wander back to the water as the cloud started to encircle her feet and work its way up. The last thing she saw before her vision was overcome by smoke was a bubble of air that had made its way and broke the surface, the last showing of the men that now lay underneath.
She appeared back in the castle and in the middle of the entrance hall before looking around. It was quiet and so she mused that since the day was hot everyone must have done their own thing as she took off at a run in her quest to try to find the blonde. Up and down she searched – from room to room she went in pursuit of the older woman. She went to her Potions room before heading to her room before running off to the library.
Finally after scouring the entire castle her venture took her outside as she stepped out on to the steps at the top. The sun was blinding her so she lifted a hand to shield her sight as she looked around finally coming across the woman in question after so long. Jumping down she took off at a jog getting closer to the woman who seemed to be looking at something.
As she got closer it appeared she was crouched a little facing the way of the lake which both confused and intrigued. It wasn't until she got as close as a stone throwing distance did she call out.
"Mal"
The blonde lifted her head a little as a sign of her acknowledgement she had heard as Regina came closer, she was so focused on her attention of the other Witch she didn't look down as she came to stand next to her.
"I need to tell you something—"She cut off her words on finally seeing that the other woman was only half listening and so followed her gaze in the direction to the ground before blinking a few times in surprise.
"Err… what- err, what the hell is that"?
Maleficent frowned at her words and gave her a slight irritated look before turning her attention back to the creature in front of her as all at once the expression changed from annoyance to loving and held out her hand. Regina was her give over the small sugar cube and the sweet smile that accompanied it before rolling her eyes.
"Oh my god, it's happened hasn't it?"
Pursing her lips, the taller woman stood straight and faced her. "What has?" The black-haired girl arched her brow a little before nodding down to the small animal in front of them.
"That – you've fallen in love with your food." The blonde, not one for improper manners – nearly choked on her breath as she faced the other witch. Regina was giving the small creature a look of slight bewilderment as if trying to understand what it was that had fully enraptured her so as the blonde replied.
"Are you out of you mind?"
The younger woman dragged her gaze away and turned back to her. "Me? Don't you think that's a question you need to be asking yourself, I mean look at it."
She held out her hand pointing back down as they both returned their gazes to it, the little creature ignored them both as if it couldn't feel their eyes boring down and contented itself with sniffing the ground, Maleficent had no idea what she was on about and so shrugged.
"What—"
"It's ok… I mean I think I've heard of something like this before its fine, we'll just get you some help."
"Regina I am not—" She was cut off again by the gentle hand on her arm as she looked at the offending limb and wondered idly if she could live without it… she harbored a guess no, but when had that ever stopped her in the past. The said offending hand attached to offending person started rubbing soothingly as she looked up to see the slightly condescending look Regina was giving her.
"It's nothing to feel ashamed of; it doesn't make you any less of a fearsome predator." A loud growl ripped through the air as the small animal immediately shied away from the threat making Maleficent look down. She saw the slightly terrified look and returned her scowl to a now smirking Regina.
"Are you happy? What joy did you get from that you miserable little gremlin – and will you, get off me!" Hands waved in the air irritably as she slapped the hand on her arm away. The other held up her hands in surrender on seeing the dark glare sent her way as she let up on her teasing.
"Alright – ok, sorry couldn't help myself." The blonde grumbled under her breath before turning back to her newest addition and tried to coax it back to her,
"Sorry is what you will be if you scare him once more." Regina nodded before watching the pair as she held out her hand, very carefully he took a few hesitant steps closer, he eyed the newcomer wearily before looking back to the blonde who nodded in encouragement before he crossed the slight distance and back in front of her as she gave him another sugar cube.
"So what is all this then?"
After making sure he got his treat the blonde looked back to the puzzled younger woman. "What do you think it is? He's a pet."
"… A pet" On seeing her nod Regina eyed the animal skeptically for a few seconds before turning back to her, "So what's it meant to be anyway?"
"What do you… are you – really?"
The older woman graced her with a look that implied she was an idiot whilst also wondering about her mental intelligence before she replied.
"What the hell do you think it's meant to be? It's a unicorn."
Regina took a few moments to look at the blonde dubiously then looking down to the small unicorn grazing at their feet before back at the blonde who was staring at her, before busting in fits of laughter. The older woman looked at her as she doubled up unimpressed, with her expression darkening the longer the other girl laughed.
Finally after a while Regina managed to compose herself long enough to stand up right and look at the blonde. What she saw was a less than friendly glare being sent her way as she tried hard to stop her laughter as she knew if she didn't some form of retaliation was coming her way, so wiping the tear from her eyes, she cleared her throat and nodded down to the animal.
"I'm sorry mal, but that is not a unicorn."
The outraged look almost had her laughing again but she controlled it as the blonde nearly hissed her response. "What are you on about? Of course it's a bloody unicorn – look, it has a horn in the middle of his head…"
"That could have been glued there." The older woman narrowed her eyes. "He is a unicorn."
Once more Regina held up her hands. "You call it whatever you feel like if you think it helps, but the fact is that, my dear – is a pony… and someone has screwed you over good."
Maleficent was near apoplectic with irritation. Her scathing looks and silent promises of hurt wasn't working like they used to and she was trying her best not to use any form of fire and scare the animal once more. But she was finding it increasingly difficult the more they spoke.
"No one screwed me, it's a genuine unicorn… complete WITH HORN, and what is your purpose of being here because if you don't leave soon I'll strangle you in your sleep tonight."
That was the best she could muster without wanting to hit out as she turned back to the small creature and ran her fingers through his mane. The sudden demand had Regina silent for a few seconds, not out of shock – but because now that she was remembering why it was she came to find the blonde, all of what had happened was coming back to her.
The older woman was waiting. She was silent and she was being as patient as she could but how the other witch had irked her, now taking her time her patience was stretching. Her dark scowling went unnoticed as she pet the magical horse but not for long as she turned her attention back to the younger girl.
"REGINA!"
The snapping of her tone had the dark-haired girl jumping slightly as she looked down to see the flat-out look of annoyance and nodded. She cleared her throat again trying to find the right words before speaking.
"I err, before… I got into a bit of a fight."
Maleficent resisted the urge to sigh out loud, was that really all she came to tell her. Closing her eyes she sometimes longed for the good old days of absolute solitude as she turned her head to look at her.
"Really, Regina"
The younger witch was cut off from speaking when the blonde interrupted. "Is that all you came to tell me? That you had a fight."
Regina opened her mouth but no sound came out allowing the Faerie to carry on. "I know wolves can be volatile little things but surely your old enough now to sort out your own problems… whatever you and... Ruby is it, whatever issue you have deal with it and try not to tell me."
"It wasn't—"
"And if she thinks about coming up here then tell her that if she tries she'll be meeting a fairly quick departure by means of a fiery exit."
"Ruby hasn't—"
"Such pests"
"MALEFICENT SHUT UP!"
It was the blondes turn to be jump a little. Regina had never raised her voice in a while that it had her silenced. She met the steely gaze of the raven haired girl.
"It wasn't Ruby I had the fight with." None of them spoke but their eyes talked all they needed to say as the blonde very slowly nodded once. "Ok… it wasn't your little wolfy friend," She turned back to the unicorn rubbing his nose on her hand hunting more sugar cubes.
"It was the Sheriff of Nottingham."
The blonde reacted so fast it nearly gave her whip-lash. All at once she stood and was in front of her, sugar cubes she had hidden in her hand fell to the floor as she took in what she had said.
"You fought with the Sheriff?" At her nod the blonde pressed further, "Why… how the hell did you even meet him let alone pick a fight."
Regina sighed and proceeded to tell the alarmed Fae all about what had happened that day, how Ruby was acting weird and when she all but snapped at her to leave she was going to but on stopping for a short delay heard the ambush that was happening. With another wolf they went to help the rest, resulting and not only a break out and fight with the kings men, but eventually a confrontation and another fight with the Sheriff.
The blonde had oddly been silent through the whole story. Nodding slightly when it got to critical points but never taking her fierce gaze from that of the other woman. When she finally got to the end, Regina waited for a response as she took in the older woman's reaction.
She held her breath at seeing the blonde so still and feared that she may have broken the Fae somehow she was so silent. What she wasn't expecting however, was the blonde to lift her hand and the air filled with a sharp crack as the blonde backhanded the younger woman so hard it sent her stumbling.
Regina felt dizzy as she reached up to hold her burning cheek. She turned to face the woman who had struck her, part in complete shock at the action and the other, borne from temperament – fury at having been attacked so as Maleficent turned to her slowly, her own face alive with rage as the fire in her eyes bore into her.
"You stupid girl," It was a whisper so faint it was nearly undetectable but it rose… it got louder until eventually she was yelling. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA JUST HOW IDIOTIC, HOW FOOLISH YOU'VE BEEN?"
Regina stayed silent as the older woman raged, the air filling with magic as her fury washed over them. The unicorn having bolted, she paid it no heed too caught up in the moment.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDE ON WHAT YOU HAVE DONE? OF ALL THE MORONIC, ASININE… COMPLETELY STUPID THINGS – THIS IS THE WORST?"
The still speechless Regina didn't know what to say. In all her time she had never seen the blonde this angry, not even when she burned down a few books that had been around longer than she had alive and almost caused her a heart attack, but this…
She actually felt fear for the first time in years and so more worried about the reaction then her own issues, she slowly started to back up – but not before Maleficent had turned back to her.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY NOTION… A SINGLE THOUGHT IN THAT HEAD OF YOUR'S AT JUST WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW!" The infuriated blonde stood waiting for an answer, silence reigned as the two stood before each other. She watched as Regina took her hand from her smarting cheek to see the mass of red covering the pale and normally flawless skin.
She also saw the large hand print which made a bolt of shame rush through her. She had never once raised a hand to her charge, death threats and a few fireballs now and again but mainly to keep her on her toes about what was what in the castle – never going as far as physically striking out.
She could sense a myriad of emotions coming from the younger girl – confusion to fear, puzzlement to worry, weirdly enough - until finally anger. She stood to her full height which was taller than that of the older woman as she stared her down, a small twitch of disgust curling around her facial features as she replied in a bitter, slightly shaky response.
"Nothing"
Tilting her head slightly Maleficent regarded the answer, not understanding. Was it that she didn't know or was she that arrogant in thinking of the backlash that came with tangling with that man?
"What do you mean nothing? Do you truly think that no good will come of this?" Eyes now black narrowed slightly as they bore into her face. It wasn't long before she spoke again, finally getting to the main point of their conversation.
"He will be doing nothing, because I made it so."
The older woman pulled her head back a little at the scathing and slightly ominous reply. She took in the angry girl and licked her dry lips. "You mean you—"
"Killed him?" She shook her head. "Not me personally, I gave him over to the wolves for that joyful little task. But the rest of his men are at the bottom of the darkling lake… Trapped forever more in a cage used to hold their prisoners."
It was the older woman's turn to be stunned. She faced the smirking girl as a torrent of her own feelings and thought rushed throughout her body. First as concern – both for the situation and Regina, than came disbelief that he was actually dead, lastly came the relief that followed, she had for so long been wanting revenge on the man who had been only one factor in the miseries of her life.
Now to hear he was finally dead. It made her happy. She turned back to Regina still silent but a lot calmer than she was before – if only Regina felt that way as she moved quickly to the blonde, all thoughts of hierarchy forgotten as she leaned over and forced her backwards, obsidian eyes burning into her own.
"I would have been more than happier to tell you that if you hadn't of gone off like you did. I'm glad that it pleased you in some way but just note – if you EVER, do that again… I will rip that hand off and force you to eat it…. one finger at a time."
A slight chill overcome the pair as they practically pressed together. The older Fae saw the promise in the inky orbs and knew at that moment that the younger girl had thrown out the structure they had built-in terms of where they stood. It didn't matter if she was the Dragon ruling; Regina would do well on her threat and so nodded, once.
It seemed to be enough as the younger girl curled her lip a little before moving back. She let her gaze drag over the slightly breathless woman before a knowing smirk took over and she turned away.
"If anything should come of it – IF - than I'll gladly do to them what I did to the others," She looked to the doors of the castle and started walking back in that direction.
"It's about time people realized the reason why they hate us… and why that should be fear instead." Before she walked away, she gave the unicorn that was hiding behind a bush a fleeting look before ignoring it completely. The blonde watched her walk away feeling drained.
That hadn't gone at all the way she had expected. What turned from a harmless discussion about the pony – dam it, unicorn. Then went on to a fight of sorts, she watched as the retreating figure disappeared into the castle feeling slightly empty for reasons unknown. She was also slightly unnerved from the very real threat that Regina had issued.
As a norm the younger girl had never so much as gone to stand on her toe in some sort of malicious attack. When she was in trouble and she needed to make a quick escape sure the toes where the first thing she went for as it was a sure thing. The older woman soon learned that lesson and so never tried to grab the younger girl when she was making a run for it after that.
But now… she had outright and willingly threatened her, showing no fear in the process. She stared in the direction of the doors long and hard even though she had long since vanished. Maybe she shouldn't have slapped her yes, but in the heat of the moment and just who it was she had picked a fight with her own fear overtook her causing her to lash out.
She hadn't meant to and she was all for apologizing… eventually. But with other witch issuing a warning of her own it had to make her think.
Was it the Dragon that had made her say it? Or was it the girl herself?
A cold, wet nose pushed on her hand making her look down to see the unicorn nuzzling her hand. Now that the fight was over and one of them had gone. The mean one in his eyes, he had come back to the blonde once more as she lifted her hand to his head and began to pet it idly, running her hand over his silky mane.
She had no answer but one thing was for sure. She needed to and fast otherwise she might just end up finding herself having to be on guard a lot more than before.
Regina stalked through the halls not looking where she was going making a lot of people jump to the sides to get out of her path which at that moment – was a straight and very undeterred route. She made her way to the doors as they opened on their own validation and slammed into the walls behind them as she walked right through.
She was feeling a lot of things that she could not, at that minute - process without some sort of drink as she walked down to the bottom of the gardens before moving through the trees and vanishing in a cloud of smoke. She appeared once more just on the outskirts of the small village that resided on the other side of the forest.
She had always hated this place, but as a rule and given who she had lived with she generally hated most places. But after having seen Ver Atticas and just how primitive that place was – how it could be both vile and corrupt and still give her shivers… that was a feat and so as the lesser of two evils, this small village was alright.
It also had a tavern, and any place – sans the last village, that had a tavern was more than ok in her eyes as she lazily waved her fingers and a cloak materialized before wrapping it over her shoulders and making her way into the clearing. She walked down the small path giving small nods to the people who passed her by before making her way to the inn.
It had to have been five o clock somewhere right? Luckily for her that it was seven and so had no issues with drowning part of her feelings away as she sat at the bar, maybe get something to eat to if it wasn't under-cooked or had rat hair in it the barman made his way over to her as she placed her elbows on the counter.
"What you aving?"
"What's your strongest?" The man peered at her, looking at her seemingly lithe stature and maybe wondering if she could handle such a drink. His gaze made her smirk as she looked at him from underneath her lashes.
"Trust me, whatever you have I'm sure is nothing compared to some of the things I've tasted on my travels." It was true, whilst in the North she had been privy to many a new thing and one of those was the alcohol, the first time she tried something that she had heard called the 'Ice melter' it felt like her insides had decided to twist themselves in a bid to ring out whatever it was she had consumed.
She had never had anything like it and if she couldn't already breathe fire she surely would have been burping inferno as she slumped into a horrendous drunken state after stupidly agreeing to three more.
The next day every little sound she heard felt like the trumpets of hell being called to bring back the demon hounds that were running loose in her head, Maleficent had no pity for her on seeing her crawl about as her legs had gone on strike in protest to what she had put them through the night before, the only thing the older woman did was make her tea and laugh at her.
Once her hangover had finally gone (She never believed in a higher deity but she thanked whoever was listening that time for getting rid of it) She swore never to touch that stuff again. No matter if the others laughed at her for being a wuss, there was more to life than spending it possibly in the two-bit hospital they had for the rest of eternity.
But of course on the last night they were there she had caved to pressure and once more partook in the dastardly drink. After that things quickly spiralled in the result of them having to make a hasty retreat home.
Oh, how they were such fond memories.
The man cast one last dubious look in her direction before shrugging and moving off to fix his strongest drink. It was a boring day so maybe seeing her crumble would perk it up a little as she watched him go. She sighed and contented herself to staring ahead as the stool one over from her scraped on the floor as another patron sat down.
She didn't bother seeing who it was but from the corner of her eye could tell it was male. Even with the cloak he wore and the hood covering his head. She wasn't all that fussed really and so just waited in silence for him to come back.
"Having a rough day?"
She didn't respond thinking the man was talking to someone else until he spoke again. "Not in the mood to chat." It was then she tilted her head to the side a little as the voice this time was more clearer sounding meaning it were aimed at her before she looked at him.
"Depends"
"Oh?"
She nodded tightly as the man came back he put the drink in front of her and waited as she handed over two bronze coins she had pilfered from the pouches of people she passed by. Momentarily wondering why there were so many but ultimately not caring as he watched from his place behind the bar.
She knew what he was waiting for and so in smooth motion. She picked up the drink lifted it a little in a gesture of thanks before downing the concoction in once before slamming the small glass on the surface. The other man didn't say anything, merely waited before realizing that nothing was happening, that she had managed to swallow down what he indeed would have said, was his strongest mix of alcohol and not feel anything afterwards; he then truly believed what she had claimed.
He still didn't speak. Merely gave her a small nod of respect as she pushed it back over to him. "If you could keep them coming that would be great."
He picked the glass up and wandered off to do as she requested as he left the two alone once more. Well, he left her alone Regina didn't know who the other man was and was once more content to sit in silence until his weirdly high-pitched voice rang out once more.
"Depends"
She turned back to him… "What"
"You said it depends… I said oh, and then you didn't finish. If you were open to conversation you said it would depend. I'm curious about what that was."
A small rumbling like growl emitted from her stomach as she fought to keep it back in her chest. Though his face was concealed she could just see the smirk he wore and it irked her. She had come here for peace and possibly to drink all thought away, but now she had a wise arse in front of her who wasn't careful, might find himself on the end of a rather nasty bite.
Finally after glaring at him for a few seconds with him seemingly non plussed. She spoke just as the bartender came back with her second drink.
"On whether I can get drunk enough quicker than I have to think of asinine topics to appease little minds" Before knocking back the second glass of liquid. She hoped that it would put him off from wanting to talk but to her dismay he didn't look put out in the slightest, in fact if anything, he seemed to relish the blunt reply.
"Ooh – someone's a little mad I take it." She pulled back her lip in a grimace before turning to look at him. "And someone's pissing me off."
He ignored her less than thinly veiled hint as he went on. "So, I'm guessing you to saw the body outside."
She lifted her head slightly before shaking it. "What body." He leaned in a little closer, as if to impart some conspiracy making her roll her eyes but get a little closer. From what she could see he had cheek length hair which was awfully curly, she titled her head a little as she tried to see what he looked like but couldn't for the fabric in her way.
"A body of a man was found hanging from a couple of trees just on the outset of the village." His tone was one of barely restrained joy as she pulled back and frowned before shrugging.
"And"
"It's the body of not just any man… but that of the feared Sheriff himself" At that she cocked her head a little more. That did surprise her but not for the reason he thought. She had expected the wolves to want to drag out their punishment on the man, teach him a lesson in which he would have surely begged for death before giving it to him.
After all he had hunted them for weeks, only to have him dead a little over an hour later, she had to say she was disappointed in them for not living up to what she had imagined, if it were her she would have prolonged his agony, would have forced him to walk over hot coals and glass before she maybe thought about putting him out of his misery.
"Really"
"Oh yes, such a mess he was. Found by a few of the villagers, though it was hard to tell through all the bites and mottled flesh… shocking really,"
She made a non-committal noise and carried on drinking feeling his eyes on her. It had come as a bit of a surprise to him – he had after all been on his way in the hopes of making a few deals with the man who was now no more than a packs chew toy, he had heard after all about King Georges plight against the Whites and of the brewing war he was planning on waging.
He saw an opening to exploit and he took it, a man with big goals to accomplish needed some big capital to back it up, and King George, just like any other royal – was arrogant, brash, and foolish and had a thirst for power that rivaled his own near enough. His son, the prince James, was just as arrogant but didn't have the other man's cunning for battle - didn't have his leadership nor his charisma to charm a crowd.
The younger man was instead pandered, lazy, stupid and lacked any sort of potential that was needed of a king and as such the kingdom they ruled over was fast becoming one of the poorest. Hence why he was planning an all-out straight win or lose war on the Whites, not only was their kingdom prosperous but was also one of the largest with a good trading with other kingdoms.
The king had to be stupid or desperate to try something like that and more often than not the two went hand in hand which was where he came in, he knew more than most the sheer levels of desperation people would go to in order to get what they want, what they needed – himself having been that at one time in his life.
Desperate people did stupid things. They lost their sense of morals and reasoning in order to one up their enemies or gain materialistic items far beyond their reach. He craved when they did that, implored them – encouraged them as not only did they find themselves succumbing to the seductions he offered, but he also gained their souls without them knowing until he came to rip it from their very being by means they never thought possible.
He had come in the hopes of scoring a few more in the way of the foolish Sheriff and his men. They had complete access to the entire realm without having to gain permission from any higher authority, a man like that would have made an excellent ally as his dealings could have spread out much further and quicker if having him on board.
But alas he got here only to witness seeing his mutilated body being placed in the middle of the village square. He looked upon the deceased man's corpse pitying the valuable connections that had died with him and was all prepared to leave to go back to his castle but something stopped him.
A slight pushing at the aura around his magic had him turning to the forests edge. Carefully he walked around the side of the building to the left of him and waited just long enough to finally see what his senses had first picked up, there just beyond the first row of trees, a small purple cloud had materialized.
His eyes narrowed as it slowly faded from view leaving nothing behind as he turned back to glance as the villagers pottering around, ignorant to what was just on the outside as movement had him looking back to where the cloud had been as a young woman stepped out from between the trees.
His eyes may have taken her appearance. His mind may have gone blank for one maybe two seconds but his magic soared throughout his body making his blood tingle and his whole frame shake slightly. The strings that was his very being, the reason that gave him purpose was trying so hard to break free and connect with the young woman who had thrown a conjured cloak over herself before stepping out.
Her own aura blazed with the intensity of a hundred suns as she neared. It was so strong that it almost had him doubling over in submission, but he was powerful in his own right and bowed to no one so instead fought the invading magic as it washed over his trying hard to find a connection just as his was doing.
Oddly enough though it didn't look like she had noticed a thing. She kept moving never breaking stride not even when she passed his hiding spot did she stop, it was as if she never felt the magic pulling like it was with him. He watched as she moved away and into the village as he slowly came out from behind the building to watch her go.
Even if he hadn't of felt the familiar magic that was struggling in vain to go after her, the tendrils of magic that felt both dark and fiery mixed together, he would have known who she was from sight alone.
She looked so much like her Mother, facial features and the sharpness of her mouth was all Cora's except her hair which seemed as black as a raven's wing.
She was beautiful.
He found himself slightly in awe at just how she had grown. For he hadn't seen her in nearly seven years, his work left him very little time to spare and as such only had a few hours at certain times to go and check on her, he may have not been around but she was still his flesh and blood, even if it was just from the side lines he would make sure she was happy.
But once day he had found her gone. Nowhere to be seen and as much as he tried to look there wasn't a sight of her to be found, it both worried and confused him feelings that only until recently had been something distant. It wasn't until he had heard on doing a deal in a small town close by did he hear whispers of the Dragons.
Thy had apparently been sighted flying in the skies. People were shocked at the sight of two of them as they all had only assumed one still roamed freely and terrifying them all. Oh how he laughed at their panic on learning there was now two at large.
But now he knew that she was safe. Know he knew she had been with the Fae – where he didn't but as long as she was safe. And it had seemed, she was now fully aware of the other side to her, the side that had in the end saved her from a life of misery and possibly a loveless marriage if the other woman had anything to say about it.
He couldn't help but smile. She looked so grown up, so strong – so un-Cora he was proud of his decision and so pulling the hood over his head he followed on after her, which was how he came to be sitting next to her coaxing a conversation out of the reluctant and pissed of witch.
She shrugged once more and finished the last of her drink. The liquid was burning a path down her throat and was warming her stomach but it really wasn't doing anything to even attempt to wipe away the images of the last hour or so. Really what was the point in calling it the strongest drink he had if it wasn't doing its job properly.
He watched her down the third glass. Her posture as far too tense for it to be called a casual drink. Her mood was terrible and her attitude was something less than pleasant for small talk and her magic was crackling making the air around them thick with tension – put it simply, she was angry.
"You know most people find talking, to be a good solution to whatever is bothering them."
She rolled her eyes and turned to him. Why the hell was he still bothering her and shook her head. "I'm not most people – and right now talking is the last bloody thing I want to do so if you don't mind,"
They fell into silence after that with Regina nursing her drinks and Rumple sitting next to her, occasionally she would glance over to him. Not out of anything to try to talk but confusion as the man would mutter words to himself under his breath every so often, the odd hand moving about now and then.
It was slightly perturbing to say the least and she figured with the amount she was drinking none of it had kicked in and if it had then it was shit, abruptly she stood, knocking back her stool and making the cloaked man lift his head.
"Leaving so soon, Dearie?"
She gave him a slightly dark look before nodding and throwing the last of the coins on the counter she nodded. "Yep, but I do have to thank you."
"Oh?" She nodded once more as he turned to her now curious. "Just why is that?"
"Because, being down here… with the likes of creepy and odd little men such as yourself, it made me realize that no matter just how bad my situation is wherever. It's still ten times better than being here."
He didn't respond just looked at her from under his hood. She gave him one curt nod before moving to the door, he watched her go as a small giggle escaped his lips. He may not have gotten any work done, may have fallen behind in his curse making and just been insulted without retaliating, but he had just spent the longest he ever had with his daughter and that in itself was worth the lack of productivity.
He turned back to the counter and pondered. He had no doubt by now that she had something to do with the Sheriff's demise. It was the way she acted on hearing him being found the way he did, her face showed disappointment – something he himself would have if he had heard at just how short injustice was given to a man like that.
He took to sweeping the room with his eyes looking at the people sitting around him. Talking, laughing with their friends, drinking and slowly getting drunk. Finally his eyes landed on a two in the corner, a weedy looking one who was engaged in talks with his fellow drinker.
He watched at how they interacted. It was clear that the first was some kind of low ringer, the way he was subtly shaking – his hands how they reached out… the way his tongue darted to lick his lips every few seconds,
Clearly he was an addict to something. And by the looks of it was in the middle of trying to barter for something without much luck, he watched the other shake his head before standing. He watched how the first reached out to grab his sleeve and how it was forcefully pulled off as the other man leaned down to muttered something to him.
The first cowered back before nodding in earnest as he watched him leave. Once he had left the inn the man still sitting slouched looking slightly miserable but also, much to his delight as he took in his demeanour.
Desperate.
He may not have made much in the way of work this day but the night mightn't be a total loss as he stood, he made his way slowly over to the sitting man who looked up slowly from where he was silently despairing to see the hooded figure approach. He watched as Rumple slowly took the vacant seat.
"Who… Who are you?"
The hooded man smiled. "For now, that doesn't matter." He let his gaze rove over him and smiled to himself, this really was a done deal before leaning over. The other man looked at him closely trying to peer under his hood to see him but to no avail as Rumple spoke.
"You look a little down my good sir," On realizing his situation the curiosity on his face soon changed into hopelessness as reality dawned on him and nodded.
"You look like you could use a drink." He nodded silently more to himself then to the man across as he lifted his hand to gain the attention of the bartender, once he had given his orders he smiled toothily at him from under the hood, not that he could see as soon the man was back with his drinks.
"Sounds like you could do with someone to talk to." The man lifted his head from staring at his drink to look at him. He had no idea who this person was, nor why he had bought him a drink but there was something tender in his voice that had him nodding unconsciously as he began to tell him all about his problems.
Rumple sat and listened like any good man would until he finished his sorry tale and sat back in his seat his face falling once more before he took a sip of the liquid in front of him. The hooded man still didn't say anything for a while as the bar filled with noise and chatter until finally, he leaned back in closer.
"I could help."
The other man snapped his head back up, he didn't think anything could help in his case and miracle didn't happen for someone like him as hope glinted in his eyes and amusement shined in Rumples.
"Really?" He nodded slowly
"I could and so much more." He looked a little confused at that as Still keeping his face covered, he got even closer, "Tell me – what would you do if it meant you had enough to never have to worry about or want for anything ever again… to live like a king for the rest of your life… to save the life of that of your wife."
Once more the look of desperation on hearing his wife being mentioned took over and all rational thought left him as he latched on to his sleeve just as he had the first man,
"Anything…"
"Is that so." His head was in danger of falling off he was nodding that fast. "She's my world, if need be I'd give my life." That was what he liked to hear as he gently pulled his hand from his cloak and grinned wider, his sharpened teeth on show for all to see.
"Oh I wouldn't go that far my good man – not when there are other things to be had." Once more confusion took over as Rumple spoke again.
"Say, your soul."
On leaving the village Regina didn't go home she couldn't truthfully say she would and not want to get her own back for the slap and so decided to go somewhere to lay low for a while… the ale may not have gotten her drunk but on standing and moving it did make her a little light-headed and so once she got back into the outskirts of the woods she vanished once more.
She reappeared in the middle of the mountains somewhere halfway between the ground and the castle before turning and making her way to the small cave she had come across once on exploring and so had kept it quiet as she made her way inside. It wasn't really much but with a conjured bed and a few candles it was more than enough before she threw herself down.
She must have dozed off almost immediately as hard poking had her swatting whatever it was causing her to wake as it dodged her feeble attempt and resumed annoying her. She opened her eyes blearily and slowly before lifting herself up a little and yawning before shaking her head and looking up, wanting to know what it was that woke her and why.
"You didn't come back last night."
Maleficent stood before her looking down from where she lay as Regina cocked her head slightly at the statement… last night? Did that mean she stayed out the whole time… just how long was that and why did she care. Rolling her eyes she moved so she was looking up at the stone wall.
"Never bothered you before."
The blonde nodded once. That was true, she wasn't Regina's Mother nor her guardian. She could so what she pleased within reason as long as it didn't bother her or the place they lived, but they also hadn't had an argument on a scale this size before… certainly not one where they had physically struck out either.
She looked down at the younger girl who was now in the process of sitting upright and sighed. Regina looked up to see the blonde's eyes closed and a slightly pinched look on her face, she was agitated.
That got her own anger levels rising once more as she glared at the blonde who had the audacity to come here and not only not apologize for what she did, but also had the cheek to still be pissed, at her.
"What do you want."
Maleficent heard her tone and opened her eyes to find the other witch glaring darkly at her. It was surprising and well within rights to be so as she hadn't actually said anything meaningful as of yet. She nodded a little before replying.
"To tell you a story."
Anger gave way to confusion as she looked at her perplexed. The blonde chuckled under her breath at the questionable look before turning and moving back to the entrance.
"Follow me."
She watched as the older woman retreated back to the exit and out into the open before huffing. How was it that she still found herself doing what the Fae asked even when she was close to murdering her as she stood and stretched out her muscles before following suit. She reached the entrance and had to shield her eyes from the bright morning sun as she stepped out of the cave.
She looked around to find the older woman looking out over the huge expanse of high terrain, she hadn't been this far from her castle in so long and had almost forgotten about it – if not for the magic signature that Regina gave as the other girl moved to stand next to her.
"Right, I'm here now what." In spite of their tiff the blonde turned at the lack of manners and gave her a pointed look. Regina saw the expression and laughed.
"You said you were here to tell a god damn story, as of yet I haven't heard one word that says your sorry, and as of yet I have actually to give a crap on how I speak to you, if you don't like it leave."
The other woman didn't say anything. They stared each other down a little trying to see who would look away first but it was clear from the dry and almost hateful glare it wasn't going to be Regina anymore as she gave her a small amused smile and looked back out over the mountains.
"That I did."
"So"
She again didn't say anything just took a few seconds to fully take in the surroundings. "Follow me."
Regina watched once more in disbelief as blue smoke encircled the blonde before she vanished from sight. She looked in the space she had just been and couldn't help the chuckle that escaped, she let her head drop to her chest but once more she followed suit as her own smoke engulfed her before she to, vanished from the cave.
She followed the scent as she landed right back where she started as she looked out over the lake that she had first com to and blanched, it was the lake she had killed the men in, why had she brought her here and looked around for the blonde only to find her sitting in a chair next to the large boulder.
Of course – even out of her comfort zone she still had to sit like a queen as she moved, a little shakily over to where she sat and perched herself on the rock. None spoke as both where lost in their thoughts – Maleficent, on how she was going to be telling a story she hadn't spoken of in more than fifty-five years and Regina was lost in yesterday's images of how she had so callously dropped them like a stone to their watery deaths.
"The Sheriff – as you know – is… well, was a feared man." The sound of her voice didn't register at first but the movement did as she broke free from the flashes tormenting her as she looked to the blonde.
"Hmm"
"He was a man well-known for being the best at catching criminals and keeping peace." She stopped as Regina once again nodded. She had a feeling that was a very long time ago and judging from the look on the blondes face. She was right.
"Until, and like everything else. One of the very few things on this earth that could make even the saintliest of men turn foul and deceitful, greed. He soon became overwhelmed with money once he started turning over well-known criminals, the bigger the thief the bigger the bounty, soon it got to a point where he no longer cared about keeping people safe or who it was he was arresting."
She paused for a moment to breathe and think as Regina pondered over what she had said so far, it confused her a little as to why she was talking like she had known the Sheriff as she knew the blonde – she hated everyone… sans herself and the helpers. She waited for her to carry on.
"It didn't matter who it was he worked for, if they had the money he was in their service soon it got so bad he was even working for the people he once swore to put away, the only one who was openly corrupt and was immune from punishment, was King Richard."
She turned and on seeing the quizzical look cast at her she explained. "King George's father, who at that time was reigning." Regina nodded to show her understanding but looked back when something came to her.
"Hang on – you said George's father?" Maleficent nodded. "But how can that be? From what I've heard King George is well into his late fifties possibly sixties – if the Sheriff was already corrupt before he took the throne… does that mean he was around when Richard was King?"
She was shocked when the blonde nodded her head, she was expecting her to say that it might have been a family thing. And that it was the Sheriff's father who was working for the King before the new one took over, she looked to the ground for a few seconds before looking back at her.
"How can that be? If that's true then doesn't that make the Sheriff…"
"Old?" She nodded as the other woman gave her a grim look before letting out a deep breath. "It's true, but George didn't take the throne until at least he was in his late twenties mid early thirties… the relationship he had with his father only lasted a few years, but it was still just as terrible as the one he had with George"
She was about to ask further but could see she was going to carry on with the story and so was content to wait. "It wasn't just people he was going after, when rumors started at just how valuable the supernatural world could be… he soon went from ordinary people with small bounty, to creatures that could amass him a fortune."
She went on to tell how he would - on word and command of others – go out and catch whatever it was they needed, all to be handed over in exchange for riches as soon as he caught them. What happened to them after no one but the employer knew as they weren't seen after that. Soon he became known a dangerous threat to all manner of creatures, from the wolves to Trolls he even went as far as capturing fairies to harvest their dust."
The younger girl sat horrified as she listened to all the older woman told her about the man she had in effective killed, may not have been by her hand but she did hand him over to his executors but on hearing how little he cared about the pain he put them through all for gold, she wished it had been her that had ended his life.
"Soon the small creatures weren't enough. He went after Chimera, Ogres, the giant Cobras anything that gave him riches, it also led to political power as soon he was allowed to do what he wanted, as long as he brought what they asked the royals soon turned a blind eye to his doings in their kingdoms."
Regina licked her lips. She didn't know what to say. She knew he was an imposing man – one who a lot hated and feared but she had no idea at just how low he was willing to go in order to line his pockets.
"Was it like that with all the kingdoms."
Maleficent nodded before stopping in thought as she changed her mind and shook it. "No – most of the kingdoms, back in an age when rules and the honest law didn't matter much in favor of power and greed, allowed him carte blanche when he visited. In fact it's why he openly favors the likes of King George and his arrogant brat of a son, he's had a strong understanding with that family for years."
She stopped for a breather and takes a sip of her drink she had conjured before continuing.
"It was only until when Leopold's father took a stance against him. He didn't like what he was doing when on his land on hearing rumors about his dealings in others, he knew they turned a blind eye and that in turn had led their people to hate the royal families in those kingdoms which resulted in revolts."
"He didn't want it so his own people turned on him. So he stood up to the Sheriff." The way the blonde spoke sounded like the Whites were an honest and wholesome family that they stopped him from his deeds because they couldn't bear to see what it was doing to the people that they looked after. But the look on her face told her that wasn't the case.
"So he stood up for his people because he was a decent man who hated suffering." She had to smirk at her own words, even more when she heard her scoff.
"Like hell he was, Edward, as his son is now, was a coward. He was a spineless, shallow, worthless creep of a man who was nothing without the people he lorded over. He knew if they turned against him he wouldn't have had the strength to hold them back, which was why he made a public declaration on him, behind closed doors he would have bowed in submission but out in the public eye of those in and around his kingdom, the other royals especially, would see the stand he took and follow suit."
Regina nodded. It made sense. She had heard from Ruby at just how adored that family was and how beloved their precious princess was to the stupid little peasants who mindlessly worshiped them. Make a show out in open give them what they want, hope like hell that the other kingdoms stood behind them and if the Sheriff tried to retaliate, he would have the full force of the royals on the opposite side .
It was a plan. Weedy and pathetic as he was she had to give him credit, it had paid off well in his odds.
"But wait – I'm sure I heard the Whites liked to hunt down creatures of the woods… and so forth, if that's true then why make a stand against the one man who could have helped them."
"They didn't, at first." Regina looked at her with some confusion. The story was getting a little too complicated for her and some of what she was saying didn't make sense.
"Then what…"
"He only made the stand after the last deal he made with the man fell through." She took another breath, this was where it got difficult. This was where feelings and emotions got involved and she had sworn never again to let such things take hold as she coughed a little to clear her throat.
Regina, watching the other woman didn't need her magic to sense the sudden change in demeanor. She didn't even need to smell the aura that was around her body as she looked out over the water. It was already there on her face. As she sat back a little more on her rock and waited.
"Apparently it was meant to be the hunt of the century, he had hyped it up so much that it almost became a bloody national holiday everyone was that excited about it, the Whites biggest hunt for the ultimate prize… The biggest and most sought after beast that lived within the realm"
It didn't take the younger girl to work it out. After all, how many creatures had she heard could be counted as the ultimate hunters dream, not many… in fact there had only been one… but now there were two.
"You"
Maleficent nodded a bitter look crossing her face as she drank. "Yes, they had finally deemed it a worthy enough opportunity, a show of just how great their kingdom was by bringing back something that had terrorized thousands all over, and a message at just how it was humans were the greater species."
The younger girl had to curl her lip in disgust. It wasn't very often she conversed with normal mortals but when she did all she ever saw were their flaws, there really was nothing special about them. And their eagerness to show their prowess proved that.
"They came here – to my home – to my sanctuary… Well actually it was just the Sheriff that came."
"Oh"
"Yes it seemed that his greed finally got the best of him and in spite of what Edward had offered he had a better deal with another who also fancied having the feared dragon above their mantle – he traveled with them only to cut them off at the bridge that leads to the village a few miles from here, he cut of their route and made it up here on his own."
She could see the way her chest hitched a little and knew that whatever it was must have been hard to talk about. It wasn't everyday Maleficent opened up about her life before she arrived and so knew she had to be careful. She lifted her hand and ever so slowly, placed it over that of the blondes.
The older woman looked at the hand lying over hers. It wasn't unpleasant but it also wasn't really recognized. This was hard enough without having to deal with what she was feeling at the moment and an act of… she could construe it as one of comfort, support… love. Was only making it worse, but she didn't say anything merely looked on
"I was in what would now be called my Potions room. It was the only room that at the time was soundproofed even before you arrived and so had been in there for some time. I never heard them enter the castle,"
A dark look overtook the slight hesitation as she spoke. "They came – his men and he, there was only a few helpers back then. Not as many as many of them still held that innate fear of me and so it was me and maybe… seven others. They were easy pickings and soon he had rounded them up."
She stopped once more as Regina did nothing but give her hand a gentle squeeze to show her that she knew and understood. "They rounded them up and waited, soon I left thinking nothing as I walked, it wasn't unusual for me to not meet anyone on my walks, there was only a few and the castle is a big place. But I knew something was amiss when I noticed a basket on the floor in the middle of the hall, which was when I smelt their presence."
Regina waited patiently as the blonde gathered her bearings, it seemed this story was taking more out of her than she thought as her eyes never left the other woman's face.
"I followed their scent to the great hall. That was when I saw them all lined up in a row and when I met him for the first time." She scowled a little.
"He was sitting in my chair looking as smug as the story's said. Of course he was charming, as well-mannered and polite he could almost pass for a gentleman, if I didn't know the reason why he was there of course. His smile said more of his intentions then his act ever did.
"So then what happened?" She turned her head slowly to look at the slightly wide-eyed look the other girl wore and gave a slight grimace. How she could still have such a look when she had already seen first-hand, some of the evils this realm had to give she wouldn't know, she also wondered when the day came it would finally fade away.
"What do you think? We sat down, we talked, and he proposed the offer of a peaceful surrender in exchange for the safety of my helpers and their lives to be spared. Naturally I laughed and said no I was hoping to call his bluff and on hearing my answer he didn't even wait. He had one of his men take the life of one of the younger men."
The raven haired girl looked away slightly as she gazed at the lake. It was as still and calm as before but the images still remained as the Fae spoke again.
"It was at a point in my life where once again humanity had disappointed me and I wasn't feeling all to charitable, with him there it just made me angry and so much so that I didn't even blink when the next one was killed."
The hand that Regina had placed over hers gripped her fingers a little. Something she did in return as she thought back to that day, she closed her eyes and tried to forget their faces.
"I still tried to call his bluff. To make it seem that they didn't matter to me and he could kill them all for I cared, the looks I got of them were ones I would rather forget, even when he had a third slaughtered and they tried to fight back it didn't bother me… that was until one of his men tried to sneak up behind me."
She had to commend the other girl, it had been the longest she had ever stayed quiet as a small humorless chuckle left her lips, maybe if she had told her all her angsty stories earlier it might have saved her earlier headaches.
"That was when I attacked. It was satisfying to see them falter slightly on facing the beast they had come to capture but nonetheless they put up a good fight in trying to corner me. In the end it was useless as no matter what they did they couldn't protect themselves from fire as they soon found out, but it wasn't without consequence,"
"The sheriff in the midst of my attack he must have snuck away and escaped. Anything his size or smaller he would gladly intimidate but he turned and ran that time. I thought I had won but on making sure they were all dead, also saw the my help to had been killed."
Regina held her hand tighter and didn't say anything when the blonde clutched it. "I found that he had stabbed the few remaining ones before he fled, I tried to save them but it was too late as the blood was all over the place one of them – a young girl, Sophia, had managed to hold on long enough to ask me if I could promise her one thing."
She breathed in deeply and looked out slightly distantly over the water before she carried on. "I had gambled and lost with their lives, and even in my black mood I didn't feel I had any other choice but to say yes, I had killed them after all… she was a newly christened Mother."
The younger girl snapped her head back up and stared at the blonde who was doing her best not to look effected. "She had been for a little over three months before her life was snatched from her, so she made me promise that I would look after her baby."
The look she was getting might have been well deserved at one time. But hadn't she already proven she could, - when it was necessary, take in children and look after them and so shot her an irritated look.
"She made me promise and with everything that I had done in my rage I accepted. She died a little over a minute later… I think she was just hanging on really so she was certain."
Silence washed over them as she stopped the story for a while. The mood was at a point where anymore talking and one of them was in danger of falling into depression. Regina was processing everything she had been told, in a way she could see just why she hated the Sheriff, anyone who had come into their home like that deserved the full wrath of anger aimed at them.
But she wasn't sure why she had been told the story. She cast a quick glance to the blonde who was looking somber and thought, for a moment, that maybe she needed to tell the story, tell the slight pain… anger… hurt and whatever else she been keeping in for so long, as she finally spoke again.
"So what happened to the baby…"
"Girl" She tilted her head slightly. Seemed to be a theme but she replied. "What happened to her… did you look after until she left or."
"What makes you think she left?" Regina didn't reply, she opened her mouth to speak but stopped on seeing the smallest hints of a smile at the corners of her lips,
"So she's still around?" At her nod she pressed further. "Do I know her?"
At the blonde laughed and nodded before turning to look at her fully "Well I should think you do. After all, you do pester her to make your eggs runny every morning so you can dip your toast into it. I would think it rude if you didn't know her name at least."
Realization dawned on the younger girl as her eyes widened once more. "Ingrid?" Maleficent nodded.
"There is a reason she is my oldest and most trusted server, she's been with me from the beginning." Regina sat back on her rock stunned at the news. None of them spoke for a little while as they sat… Before long the blonde spoke back up.
"So… do you now get just why I was so… concerned about you facing that man by yourself." She didn't respond at first as she thought it over in her head for a moment. She nodded eventually before speaking.
"You thought I was going to be another Sophia."
The older woman nodded. Glad that she didn't have to say it out loud, though her tolerance for feelings had been pushed to their limits that day as Regina turned to her.
"But I wasn't. I'm here and he's gone for good,"
"But you couldn't have known that"
"I had help from the wolves" She reached out and put her hand back over hers. "I am sorry about what happened to Ingrid's Mother and those others, but you were only one person against a group who had cut you off from helping. I had help, from ones a lot stronger than they were." The older woman didn't speak but did note the slight tighter grip as Regina looked stricken at something and looked away.
"And I killed them."
The blonde Fae looked at her as she stared out over the water, her eyes dimmed a little. "I killed them."
"Who," She turned to face the enquiring blonde as her lip quivered. "The men with him, once they had been caught and Ruby and her friends were safe, I gave the Sheriff over to them to do with what they liked but I took the others, I took them and I didn't give them a chance to explain. I just…"
It was the other woman's turn to wait as the younger girl seemed to fight with herself on something before finally carrying on. "I just dropped them in like stones and watched as they sank"
It was whispered but it could have been shouted for all the good it didn't do as the older witch heard it loud and clear, she was a perceptive woman by nature and so it didn't take long for her to work out just what she meant by the way Regina had stared at the water like she was trying to burn it with her eyes.
It also came to her that this was most likely Regina's first time killing anything other than the prey they hunted. Food was one thing a living person, even if they were far inferior was another and she now realized just why Regina had been so distant.
The younger girl wasn't a killer, she had never done so much as attack another without provocation… for mischief yes, to annoy others certainly, for malicious intent, no and now it was her turn to comfort. Very carefully she leaned over and in a turn placed her own hand over Regina's.
"I'm not saying what you did wasn't wrong. As I am the last person that should be telling you that, but you did what you thought was needed, you did what you thought was right and if that included the murder of a few men who would have taken your friend and her family away… then sometimes you need to dam the consequences."
Regina let out a small harsh laugh similar to her own and she winced at the canniness of it as she replied. "But at what cost? Those men could have had families… children, loved ones."
"And you don't?" She fell silent at that. "They chose to follow him… they chose to do his bidding regardless if they had those dear to them. Didn't the one they set out to catch have those to?"
She thought about her words. She was right, after all wasn't it the whole reason she had silenced them for good? Because they had gone after her loved ones, going to go after her loved ones… she closed her eyes as their screams still rang in her head. She knew she had done what was necessary in order to save them all, but she couldn't help feeling so torn inside.
"If it really was the only way then why do I feel like a part of me is missing because of it?"
This time Maleficent decided to push the comforts of her own personal space barrier as she moved ever closer to where the troubled witch sat and gingerly put her arm around her shoulder, Regina jumped slightly on feeling the contact before stiffening a little but once she realized that the blonde wasn't going away she relaxed before finally breaking.
The older woman looked a little alarmed at the sudden rush of contact as Regina clung to her. She could feel the tears that were falling from her eyes and sighed under her breath, not out of annoyance but out of understanding, as she lifted her arms and returned the desperate hug cradling her to her body.
"Because that sometimes is the price we have to pay in order to get by in this world," She muttered to her as the younger girl held tight.
"The things that keep us human are as easily frittered and traded away like coins in another's hand."
She kept her in her arms occasionally muttering words to her from under her breath." It will get better… It will get easier."
What she didn't say out loud though was how long that would take. As she ran her hand through the shining hair in a rare showing of tenderness, but the one thing she did know however, was when that time came Regina would no longer be the still tearful, slightly naive girl she was now, whose innocent bubble had been stabbed by the harsh sword of reality.
By the time she came to fully see all the evils in this world. She truly then would be the monster that thrived in a realm of misery, pain, suffrage and death.
She truly then would be inhuman.