Overhill and Underhill

Chapter 1

Author's Notes: I played with this one a bit before deciding to put it out. I hope you guys enjoy and if you feel so inclined please let me know. It motivates me to keep going with it. I'll be kind of busy next week so it may take me a bit to get this next chapter up but it'll be done soon enough. If you follow any of my other fics I'll be soon working on Wonderstruck again. I hope you enjoy! - Scarlette

After a very hearty, very Irish breakfast of eggs, sausage, bread, and sautéed mushrooms, and puddings Emma finally got on the road. The traffic in Dublin had been pretty crazy but as soon as she'd made it out into the country, it had cleared up dramatically. Now she found herself driving on a very thin, country road with nothing but rolling fields, the occasional herd, and more greenery than she'd ever seen in her entire life. She pulled her little silver car over twice to take pictures, unable to believe the beauty of such simplistic scenery. She'd email them to August and Mary Margaret when she finally reached Rosses Point and found the hotel she was staying at for a few nights.

The two-hour drive quickly turned to four as she found excuse after excuse to pull over and pull her camera from its bag, which rested in the front seat beside her. It began to gently rain as she continued on her route, glad her little car had a built in GPS that she could use to get her to her destination. Her phone was turned on to International calling for the few weeks she was here but she'd prefer not to use the device unless she had to. She had never been really big on technology though she'd found it useful from time to time. Like now, she thought eyeing the GPS that displayed a map and a blue arrow that pointed her in the right direction to her next destination.

"Geez these roads are so narrow." She muttered to herself, making sure to drive on the left side of the road. Traffic rules were confusing her as she'd learned to drive in the states but she thought she was doing a rather exceptional job all things considered. She breathed a sigh of relief as she crested a hill and the small town of Rosses Point finally came into view. She grinned brightly as the rain began to slow then stop completely just as she entered the town limits. She could see the metal man lighthouse and various different buildings and narrow streets. It was tiny, smaller than she expected but she liked it immediately finding it was different than the big city of Boston. It was a great place to start her journey and she fully intended to enjoy herself to the fullest. She pulled the car up to the Rosses Point hotel. She had been surprised how cheap the hotel rooms were but she supposed when it was a tiny town they could afford to go a bit cheaper on tourists.

The Raddisson offered contemporary rooms and was only a little ways outside of the village proper. It was perfect. She parked the car and pulled her camera, snapping a photo of the front of the hotel to document for herself her entire trip. She bemoaned the fact that she'd forgotten to take a picture of her breakfast that morning but she'd do that the next day to make up for it. The little hike would help her figure out how to get the best shots of the metal man nearby. She put her Nikon in its bag before digging out her overnight bag then her big duffle and walking into the hotel. Best to get situated so she could go explore before the sun set.

The rain came in quickly and with it a thick heavy fog. It was unexpected and she ducked into a little restaurant to escape the damp. Austie's Bar and Restaurant was beautiful with large open windows that overlooked the water. She liked the exposed brick walls and thick beams. The menu was diverse too which she enjoyed. She contemplated the fish and chips before noting they had burgers. She had a weakness for a good burger and she couldn't resist ordering it. Her waitress was pleasant. A cute brunette with red streaks throughout her hair named Ruby. She liked her too; finding her pleasant to talk to and very gossipy.

"So what brings you to Rosses Pointe?" She'd asked, seeing as the weather had scared off customers and she was her only customer.

"I'm a photographer." She offered.

"And you're not from here." Ruby observed.

"No, I'm from Boston."

"You mean the Boston as in the city in the US?"

Emma nodded, taking a sip of her soda and smiling at the dreamy look on Ruby's face.

"I've always wanted to go to the states but my Grandmother keeps coming up with reasons why I shouldn't leave."

"I'm sorry." Emma offered sincerely and the slender girl shrugged.

"Let me go check on your food. You should really go and see the sights. It is pretty here when it's not raining."

"I can't wait. I'm looking forward to taking photos when the rain clears."

"Well if you need a tour guide, you let me know. I'm available most days but nights I work here so it's a bit tougher."

"Well I need sunlight for pictures though I have a pretty good night lens." Emma tapped her chin then grinned brightly when another waitress brought her burger out. "Oh this looks great. I'm so hungry."

Ruby laughed, "Well I'll leave you be to eat. Be right back with a refill."

"Thank you." The blonde grinned before digging happily into the thick cut fries with a low groan. She grabbed her camera from its bag beside her and snapped a picture to send it to her friends before digging in. This was the perfect way to end her first day in Ireland and though jetlag was beginning to take its toll she was too wired to crash straight after dinner. She finished quickly and paid Ruby before stepping out into the thick fog of the evening.

"At least the rain has stopped." She muttered to herself.

Wandering through the thick fog and eyeing the little shops that were closed up, she began the trek back to her hotel. She passed by two buildings with an alley and glanced over without thought. She went on by before pausing and moving back. In between the buildings, on the right side of the white washed brick wall was an open doorway with a small sign labeled Antiques. The fog seemed to retreat from it and she found herself drawn there without a thought. She took a step up and then into the shop. She glanced around, noting that everything seemed to be dusty and old but nothing in particular stood out to her. She noted a portrait hung up on the wall and moved towards it. The subject, a little girl holding a white dog was a good subject. She shifted her camera bag wondering if the proprietor would allow her to take a photo of it for her own remembrance of her trip.

"Good evening."

"Oh!" Emma jumped, whirling around to face a young blonde woman with large blue eyes.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to frighten you." The young woman offered her a small smile.

"I didn't expect anyone to come up behind me." She was glad she hadn't dropped her camera in her shock.

"She's beautiful isn't she?"

"Yes, she is."

The woman tilted her head and offered a small smile. "I have a portrait in the back. I haven't hung it up here. Would you like to see it?" She paused. "I ask because you seem fond of them." As though she'd read the question that danced at the forefront of the photographer's mind.

Hairs rose on the back of her neck but Emma couldn't find it in herself to turn down the offer. Though her instincts screamed this could be dangerous, she was drawn to it like a moth to the flame. She nodded, "yes."

"Come."

The smaller woman led her through the small store then behind a desk with a cash register perched on it. They entered a cluttered back room that was as dusty as the room out front. The slight organization of the first room was clearly lacking here as various baubles decorated bowing shelves and books and other things were piled up on a large oak table in the middle of the room. The woman moved past the table and motioned Emma to follow her.

"Here she is." She pointed to a picture that was leaned up against the bare brick wall.

The gilded gold frame didn't take away from the portrait in the least in fact it seemed to enhance the beauty of the subject. The garden background was fully in bloom and the woman standing on the garden path not only suited the background of blooming roses, jasmine, orchids, and cherry blossom trees, she outshone it easily. Dressed in a rich royal blue dress and standing sideways to show off her slender figure or to make her look even more regal, Emma wasn't sure, but whatever the reason it was a great choice. The woman appeared tall and slender with a beautifully shaped face and pretty lips. Her warm honey brown eyes seemed to sparkle with mischief or something else all together she couldn't be sure. A small Mona Lisa like smile played on her lips, a small scar bisected the top one. The only flaws on the woman's otherwise perfect face. Her thick black hair, fell down her back in loose waves, covered partially by a small black hat that matched the thick black onyx and diamond choker wrapped around the woman's elegant neck. She was stunning in every way and the longer Emma looked at the picture, the more in love she found herself.

"Who is she?" She murmured, wanting desperately to know. There was no way she was still alive seeing as the painting looked quite old despite how vibrant it still appeared. She mourned briefly that knowledge.

"I don't know. She's been here since I took over the shop a few years ago. I can't find anything out about her. She's just…well she's too pretty to be out in the open where just anyone can see her. She doesn't belong out there. I wanted her to go to someone that appreciated her." The younger woman shrugged.

"Would you sell her to me?" Emma asked, barely able to tear her eyes away to look at the smaller woman.

The woman gave a small smile. "What would you pay for her?"

"Anything." The taller blonde offered without thought.

"Then she's yours."

"What?"

"She's yours. Take her."

"But I…surely I owe you something for her."

"I've never had anyone look at her the way you have. She belongs with you. Take her, have her shipped back to your home but don't leave her here."

"How do you know I'm not from here?"

"Your accent gives you away. You're American."

"Yes I'm from Boston." She didn't offer her name and the girl didn't ask.

"I'll have her packed up and sent to your hotel. Which one are you at?"

"The Raddisson."

"All right, she'll be there tomorrow."

"Thank you." She offered in a daze, her eyes still firmly held on the enchanting woman in the portrait.

"Good evening."

"You called me and I came." The woman in the short white dress responded coolly. She was clearly irritated and doing very little to hide it.

"It's nice to see you too Regina." The young blonde closed the door of the antiques shop eyeing the woman that seemed so out of place amongst the dusty artifacts she had collected.

"I wish I could say the same Tinkerbelle but seeing as I'm here and not at home…"

"I sold your painting tonight."

Regina sucked in a breath through her teeth, "What?"

Tinkerbelle moved towards the other woman only to pause a few inches from her. "An American came in. It's rare that anyone comes in but she was drawn here. She looked at a few things and I offered to show her your portrait. I can't explain it but I felt compelled to show her. She's not one of our kind, I could tell that. She's perfectly human. I gave it to her, your portrait. She said she'd pay any price I named for it and like you wished I didn't charge her but I let her take it."

"Where is this American now?"

"Back at her hotel I'd imagine."

"Why is she here?"

"I don't know…she had a camera bag with her though. Perhaps she's a photographer?"

"Or a tourist. One or the other."

Tinkerbelle bit her lip watching the darker woman begin to pace. It was rare to see Regina agitated but here she was displaying what she'd see as a very human reaction and if called on it would only serve to make her angry.

"This woman what did she look like?"

"Blonde, fit. Long hair, green eyes. Pale."

"That shouldn't be hard to find. If she's still here."

"I'm sending the portrait over to her tomorrow morning. I'm sure she'll still be here at least until I do that."

"Well I'll take a look at her then." Regina twisted on her heels, taking a few steps towards the door.

"Regina," Tinkerbelle called.

The other woman paused but didn't turn around.

"I haven't seen anyone look at you the way she has since…"

"Don't."

Tinkerbelle flinched at the dark, low tone. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. Do as you will and I'll see our American friend tomorrow."