To whom it belongs
Chapter 8
"Why would the Wicked Witch need Hook's heart?" Robin asked Regina. "Isn't yours needed for the spell?"
"Maybe she found a way around that or maybe—" she paused and looked around once more. "She's been using him as her little spy. Who knows how long he's been under her control. By the looks of this room, I'd say awhile."
Robin frowned. "So you mean to tell me that his place at the inn is just a cover? That he pretends to sleep there when in reality he returns here each night?"
"No doubt to report back to that witch."
Regina's heart raced. If Hook had been under her spell this whole time, who knows what information could have been given to Zelena.
"Have you spent much time with our pirate friend?"
Robin shook his head in disagreement. "Hardly any at all. Why? Do you think Zelena is trying to use him to find your heart?"
"Either that or she's planning to take us all out from within."
They looked at each other, realization dawning on their faces. In that moment they knew that their plan was doomed to fail since the beginning. If Hook had been Zelena's spy then there was no doubt that she already knew what they were planning.
"Grab your bow and let's get out of here." Regina commanded. "We need to warn the others."
Robin put up no fight as he followed her out the room. Regina made sure to take Hook's heart with her. Racing through the hall, their footsteps echoed through the corridors.
Regina knew that the arrow was meant to tell the others that their plan was to continue but given the circumstances, she needed a way to warn them. Since cell service out here was practically non-existent the flaming arrow would have to do. She decided that by meeting the others half way she would be able to return Hook's heart as quickly as possible.
They turned a corner, the front door in sight. Regina realized that she hadn't procured the ingredient. If Zelena wasn't lying about its existence then that meant that Henry was in danger. As soon as they got out of this mess, she would be sure to send him somewhere safe with Emma. She would protect him.
Robin drew an arrow from behind him and pointed it towards Regina.
"Care to help me out?"
Regina shook her head, clearing her mind. She turned her hand upwards and a fire burst from it, lighting the tip of the arrow. She opened the door for Robin and watched as the arrow flew across the sky towards the others.
Their bodies tensed, ready to run, when the air shifted around them.
"Leaving so soon?" the familiar voice questioned.
They turned around and faced the Wicked Witch. It was too late for them to escape now. Their only hope was that Emma and the others would get here soon and then maybe they would stand a chance.
Using her magic, Zelena pulled Regina and Robin inside, closing the door behind them with a loud thud. Zelena's eyes fell to the chest in Regina's hands. She clucked her tongue and shook her head in mock disapproval.
"Can't keep your hands off your big sister's things can you?"
The chest was ripped out of Regina's grasp and into Zelena's green hands.
"That's quite alright. I was only going to go and get it myself but now you've both saved me all that trouble."
Zelena retrieved the heart from inside and placed the chest on a small table beside her. She gripped it tightly and whispered into it. Regina strained herself to hear it but she couldn't. She must be summoning Hook. Regina couldn't help but wonder why she would call Hook and not Rumplestiltskin to do her bidding.
After the vision that Rumple had showed her, Zelena knew the perfect way to instill chaos. Clearly the pirate had feelings for the Saviour. Everyone seemed to trust him too. The thought of that made her smile. She couldn't wait to see the looks on the Charming's faces when Hook slid his sword into their daughters gut. Without the Saviour, the town would be distraught, making them much more vulnerable. Yet, there was still one more thing.
She looked to Regina and tilted her head. She was standing very close to the man they called Robin Hood. Hook had told her that he saw them together increasingly over the past few days. Perhaps the solution to her problem lied with this common thief.
She turned her head as the doors swung open and Hook appeared, followed closely by the others. Zelena smiled, knowing it wouldn't be long now.