Hello guess who's back, back again. Longer chapter this time, this took me two days. I apolagize for any mistakes, but most of all enjoy! Ps. I'd like to thank the new subscribers and reviewers!
"Nothing. There is nothing here!" Emma throw the books off her table, and sighs dramatically. We've been reading books for hours now, and even though I now know that Hades' dog Cerberus is actually called spot, we are no closer to finding a way to revive the stupid pirate or how to leave the Underworld without Hades' help.
"Don't worry love, it must be possible." Hook takes Emma's hand, and pulls her in for a kiss. I look away, but when I look to Regina, I see her with Robin, and that's not really a picture I want to see either, so I just focus on the book on front of me, when a cruel voice sounds from behind of me.
"And where did you hear that?" Great. That was just what we needed. A visit from the bloody devil himself.
"Hades, leave us alone", Robin says bravely.
"I don't think so, since you are up to things I do not particularly approve of. Such as leaving the Underworld."
"Yeah, if you try to leave he'll follow you around everywhere, like a creep", I comment, making him look at me.
He smiles, before replying: "It's for your own good. If I'd let you back out again, you won't know the world anymore."
"Then why take me in the first place? You could have just let me to die." I feel rage boiling inside, and I ball my fists to make sure I don't burn the library down.
"My reasons are mine. So why don't we all just leave the library, and no one has to get hurt?"
"Not in a million years, not until we find a way to revive a departed soul!" Emma, please stop screaming. Sincerely, everyone you've ever met.
"Revive the dead? That is a dangerous business, that shouldn't be headed back in again." Boom. That was a mistake.
"Again? You mean it's been tried before? Did it work?" One of the many things I learned as an assassin was to spot if someone was about to lie, and Hades was. He darted his gaze to object left of Emma, and hesitated before he spoke again.
"No."
"He's lying." Emma looks at me, and I explain.
"You hesitated, and you looked away. Someone who lies does that. So it did work. How? When?" Emma's gaze shifted back to Hades, and I can see she wants to get answers, no matter the cost. Hades hesitates, looking from me to Emma and back. Behind me Regina goes to stand next to Robin, feeling the up building tension in the room. I too stand on guard, not knowing if he'll attack or if he'll keep calm. He decides on the latter.
"Yes, it has been tried", he states calmly, not showing emotion.
"And did it work?" Emma asks impatiently.
"Yes. And no. The person in question got back, but was merely a ghost of her former self. Only a god can reinstate life, and besides me there won't be any gods around here."
Emma looks at Killian with despair, and I curse internally. Why does everything has to be so difficult? Think, Rae, think. Hercules, no… One of the other gods…Maybe we could contact Hermes, but would he help? I don't think so… wait. Hold on right there. I've got it! I feel Regina's hand on my shoulder, and I realizes I moved in happiness, and she doesn't want give anything away.
"So give up Miss Swan." Hades disappears in a cloud of smoke. I motion for Regina to come closer.
"I've got it", I whisper. I don't want to get Emma fired all up again.
"What do you have in mind?"
"Persephone. Hades wife, Goddess of Spring growth, of flowers and stuff. I just read a chapter about her."
"You think she might help us?"
"She is known to be very forgiving, and when Hades releases prisoners, it is mostly because of her. She is also righteous though, so we have to make sure to be very convincing when we ask her." Regina nods.
"Let's not tell the rest yet. This might be in vain and then they'll get even more desperate. And with them I mean Emma." I chuckle softly and agree. Meanwhile Robin is eyeing us with suspicion, but doesn't say anything.
Emma and Killian are standing in a lose embrace, and I know they're both wondering how they are going to solve this obstacle.
"Why don't we go back to the weird small house, see how Belle's doing, and figure this thing out with all of us?" I notice I used the word 'us', and see if anyone noticed, but so far so good.
Emma nods, and Regina and Robin come forwards to the door.
"What are you doing? We ain't walking back again." I swiftly move with my hand and an indigo, dark blue cloud of smoke surrounds us, carrying us to Snow's loft.
"Please never do that again", Robin says, while trying to stay standing up.
"Sorry, it takes a while to get used to the dizziness. Hey Snow, Charming." The couple is startled by our sudden presence but recovers quickly.
"So? How'd it go?" Snow asks with way too much cheery happiness.
"Terrible. We had a visit from Hades, and he literally just told us to give up", Emma states.
"Well, that's rather negative love. At least we know it is possible, just that it is not the right way." Hook tries to kiss her, but she pulls away.
"So we are still no closer. Hey kid, how's Belle doing?" Emma walks to the double bed standing in the corner, where Belle lays, accompanied by the little boy, Henry.
"She's okay Mom, just tired. She's really upset about what happened to Gaston." While we walked to the library I filled everyone in on what happened, and they were all rather surprised to hear that Belle actually killed someone. Well, he was already dead but still, such a thing from a sweet person like Belle shocked them. Then Emma send Snow a text, whatever that is, and now they know as well.
"Good. I remember being pregnant from you. You tired me a lot kid." Regina shifts uncomfortably, and I take her hand in affirmation. She is a bit stiff at first, but I guess my hand in her feels good because she firms her grip a bit.
"If I may, I'll give you a bit more detailed version of what happened", Robin offers. Snow and Charming nod, and they go to sit on the bench on the other side of the room.
In the mean time, I think about how Regina and I are going continue our relationship. We need to talk.
"Regina, we have to-"
"I know. Come upstairs." I follow her up the stairs, and we sit down on the bed. I lean into her a bit, and luckily her body accepts me, and we sit like this for a while.
"He makes me happy."
"I see that. And I want you to be happy. I'd just like to be a part of your life."
"I want that too. But we have to figure out how to place you in our already large family." She chuckles.
"Pff, I'd hate to see birthdays in this family."
"Ha, what about Thanksgiving?" She laughs.
"What?"
"Oh, right. Never mind. You have a lot to learn when you get to our world. It's rather different than the Enchanted Forest."
"I assumed so, if only just judging on the clothes and machines already here."
"Uhuh. So, Persephone?" She changes the subject, and I'm glad she does, because this is a subject we're both not keen on to talk about.
"Yes. The first thing I want to do is ask around a bit if people know when she's here exactly around the time of the year. It is still winter, so she is supposed to be here. However, she is known for being rather spontaneous. Let's go ask around in town."
"All right, we'll start in the Diner, and then just on the street?" I put my thumb up, and we head downstairs.
"Where are you going?" Emma asks.
"We're following a lead for Rae's mark. We'll back before 6, so we can have dinner." Emma nods, and Regina says goodbye to Robin and Henry. We then head out and walk towards the main road. When we arrive at the Diner, it's almost empty. We still go in, if only to ask the Blind Witch what she knows.
"Regina", the Witch says melodious, "What an pleasure to see you here again. What can I get you?"
"Answers", I snap at her, and she turns towards me in surprise.
"Alive, but reeking of the dead. Who are you?"
"She is none of your concern. What do you know about Persephone?"
"Persephone? Whimsical woman. She doesn't show her face often." Regina glances upwards, and I remember her doing that when we were in the Enchanted Forest. It means she's pretty much given up hope.
"Do you know if she's here now?" Whatever the Witch says, I won't give up hope.
"Oh yes, she's here. She's always here in the winter, it's warmer down here. No, it's in the summer when you have to be quick." I turn around sharply, and Regina looks at me with disbelief.
"She's here", I state. Regina nods and smiles. Then she pulls me out the Diner, the Witch still talking, and we head out onto the street.
"Okay, what do we do now. We tell them, or we do it on our own, or we go to her ourselves, or-" Regina stops my rambling by kissing me on my cheek, which shocks me so much I just stare at het with open mouth. She blushes.
"I'm just happy, we can maybe actually leave this place. I can't believe we only had to ask one person!"
"Yeah, me too…"
"So, I suggest we go back to the others and tell them the plan, and divide tasks."
"All right, let's go." Regina waves her hand and we reappear in the apartment. But to our surprise, only Robin is there.
"Robin? Where are the others?" Regina walks over to him and gives him a hug.
"Emma and Killian went for a walk, and Snow and David went to search for the Dark One."
"So Henry is here?"
"Hey mom, I was upstairs." Henry comes walking down the stairs.
"Of course you were. Any good comics here?" Regina pulls him in for a hug.
"Nah", he answers when she lets go, "Only really old ones." He turns to look at me.
"Hey."
"Hi", I reply. He must assume I'm his age, judging on the way he speaks to me.
"Have you seen the new snapchatfilter yet?" The new what? I crease my eyebrows in confusion.
"Uhmm, what exactly are you referring to, young prince?"
"Oh, sorry. I thought you were from my world too. You're my age though right?"
"Eh, depends on your age." Regina leaves this awkward situation, and she and Robin go to the kitchen. Henry and I sit down on the couch.
"I'm 15." Whoops, you're bit of scale there kid. I laugh softly.
"Sorry to disappoint you, your Highness. I'm 23 years old, not counting the cursed or dead years." His eyes widen in surprise.
"What? No way! You look so much younger! And you can call me Henry by the way, we don't use such formal language." What strange world they must live in.
"Haha, thanks. It's an enchantment. People see me the age they want to see me. Do you have friends, Henry?" Because he imagined me the same age, he must be quite lonely. I've had a lot of assumptions through the years. Most around 20 though. Most men of those as well. Perverts.
"Uh, I guess? Not much though, I don't really live a normal life you know," he stammered. I slowly nod. He's right though, a trip to the Underworld isn't really what a normal adolescent would do.
"Agreed." There's an awkward silence.
"Soooo, you can do magic huh?" I'm glad he started on something easier then How'd you get here?, and I smile.
"Yup. Would you like to see something?" He nods enthusiastically. I rub my hands together, and stare intensely at the table in front of us. I should do the job. I move my hands slowly in predefined movements, and the wood of the table begins to stir. Henry looks with fascination, as a huge wooden dragon flies up from the table. It flies around the room a few times, getting surprised gasps from Regina and Robin. After it makes a looping, I shrink it to the size of a big bird. It comes down and settles on my shoulder. Henry moves slowly towards me, admiring the beautiful craftsmanship.
"You can pet, it won't bite", I hinted. He nods slowly, and extends his hand towards the dragon. When his touches the 'feathers', he lets out a surprised yelp.
"It's soft!" I hum in agreement, and the dragon shifts from my shoulder to Henry's. When I turn around to look at Regina and the arrow man, I see her looking at Henry with such love that it melts my stiff heart.
"Cute right?" Henry Is too busy to reply, but Regina walks over to touch it as well.
"It sure is, where did you learn to do that?" She sits down.
"I used to do it as a kid, before I met you. I was quite a lonely child, and I discovered my magic at a young age, so I made myself friends."
"Ah, of course." Regina's eyes sadden, and the dragon flies over her to sit on her lap. Regina pets it, and the dragon begins to glow. Woah, calm down there! I realize my magic is taking control, and I take it back. Unfortunately creating such a dragon takes quite some energy, and I start to feel tired. So I let go of the magic and the dragon disappears into thousands of feathers.
"Wow!" Henry exclaims. A cloud of white feathers falls through the room, disappearing into sparks upon touching the ground. Regina looks around with wonder in her eyes, and I think I finally made the first step to bonding once again with Regina. I smile to myself, and look upwards.