… Snow White showed to Henry that she wasn't what he thought she was.
The true face of evil.
Henry had no idea of how many times he spend in his cellar. He just knew that he asked to see the queen, but the guards just answered to him that it wouldn't happen. After all, he and his mother were a threat to the kingdom, and why would the Evil Queen be interesting into listening to a kid ?
So, he was there, waiting something to happen… And there was nothing, and yeah, if he hadn't been so desperate, he would have said to himself that it was boring. He had nothing to do, just… wait.
He couldn't fight, or help or even just do something. He felt so useless.
But then, things changed. For a time. But maybe not for good.
When the queen entered into the prison, and came not far from his cellar, Henry didn't know what to expect.
She approached him, with a pleasant and cruel smile on her lips, which was both appealing and terrifying.
"Hello there, she whispered to her grandson. How are doing, kid ?
- Not very well, he answered bitterly.
- Oh… you don't like the place where you are ?
- Not at all. In reality, I hate it."
Snow White smiled again. The boy was… quite funny. And interesting. And maybe a little weird.
Like his mother, in a way.
"Didn't you want to see me ? She demanded.
- Yes, of course, but the guards told me you didn't want to come in ?
- Well, of course. I am the queen, remember?"
Oh yeah, that was something he couldn't forget, even if he wanted to.
"No, you're not."
It was a great mistake, and Henry knew it at the moment he told it to Snow.
He saw her face become red with anger, and her smile disappeared.
Oh, Henry though, I should have choose another moment.
But she succeeded to calm herself, and another smile took place on her face.
It didn't reassure the adolescent, it almost more frightened him.
Because he never saw his grand-mother have that look on her face.
"You think so ? So, tell me, who is the real queen, if it's not me, hum ? Regina ?"
He didn't dare to answer.
But he had to try despite everything.
"You're not who you think you are.
- Maybe that's the contrary, she automatically answered. Maybe that I am not what you think I am.
- That could be a possibility. But the thing is that I know who I am, and I perfectly know who you're, grand-ma…
- STOP IT ! Snow exploded. RIGHT NOW ! I accepted your… disobedience for too long kid. So now, you will call as you must.
- How ? Asked Henry ?
He already knew, of course. He was testing her. He shouldn't have.
He felt something on his throat, that stopped him breathing, like a hand. And then, he understood, by seeing that she didn't move.
She was using her magic.
In order to kill him, or to threaten him, he didn't know.
And he didn't want to know.
He didn't have to, because just then, she let him fall on the floor, having difficulties to breathe.
And she was still smiling.
"It's clear. Your majesty, of course."
Henry nodded. Right, he learned the lesson. He wasn't playing any more.
"Alright… your majesty, he succeeded to say, standing up.
- Finally… wasn't it simple ? Now, we are talking. And we will do it right. What's your name ?
Henry froze.
- You… you don't remember ? Your majesty, he quickly added.
- Well… maybe I need you to help me remember it."
She didn't see the irony in her sentence, and of course, in other occasions, Henry would have laughed.
That could have been funny, if it hadn't been so tragic.
"Henry, he answered. My name his Henry.
- And tell me, Henry. Who do you think I am ?
He knew it was worthless. But at least, he could try.
- You're my grand-mother, you're the princess Snow White. And you're not the Evil Queen, you're a hero, someone good. You're not evil, and you're not a monster."
Snow White's look looked at him. She smiled, the same cruel and naughty smile.
"You really believe in it, don't you ?
And for a second, Henry believed that he was facing his grand-mother again. But the illusion soon disappeared.
- I do your majesty."
During a moment, Snow White's expression changed.
He looked as herself as the same age, she thought. Before she grew up, and before her happy ending was taken by Regina. Still full of hope.
A hope she would soon make disappear.
And she had an idea about the way of doing it.
"Charming ! She called then.
Henry was afraid. He knew now that nothing could work. And he was terribly afraid, because he knew what his grand-father could, furthermore in this world, without his heart, and controlled by Snow.
He came and looked at Henry with nothing in the eyes. And Henry's heart broke. Right. It wasn't his grand-father who was facing him.
Not any more. Not with these empty eyes.
That couldn't be him.
"My queen ? The heartless man said. What do you want from me ?
- I want you to bring the prisoner just here. I want to give to this young man, our dear guest, a lesson that I know, will be difficult for him to understand. But… I'm sure he will… in the end.
- You mean… the prisoner, darling ?
- Yes of course, my dear. Now go and find her."
And she let him go. But not before she kissed him, with still a grin on her face.
It could be seen as a passionate kiss, but Henry was disgusted by it. Because it didn't seem to be his grand-parents.
In fact, it wasn't. It was not a kiss full of passion, or love. But full of anger, and hatred.
Just as Snow White was.
At that moment Henry saw how his grand-mother changed because of the spell. He saw it before, but at that time, he just gave up.
But this wasn't over.
Oh no !
The worst of all was just coming right now.
Because Henry saw who was coming, next to the queen and to Charming.
Someone Henry goodly knew.
"Ruby ! He exclaimed."
The young woman answered nothing. There was just fear in her eyes.
And then, the terrible, cruel and soulless smile was back on Snow White's face.
"You can't do it ! Henry said.
Surprise was seen on the queen's face.
- Do what ?"
She was lying, of course, and Henry knew it. He knew what was going to happen.
But it was too late.
Quickly, Snow ripped out her heart, and took it in her hand.
"Someone told me that you had been a bad wolf Ruby, aren't you ? She whispered to Ruby's ear. That you were a traitor ? Is it true ?
Terror was in Ruby's eyes.
- I am not, your majesty, she succeeded to answer. I am a loyal subject to your majesty, I would never betray you, I swear !"
Maybe it was the truth. But it didn't matter for the queen. She was so close to Ruby, that her faces almost touch each other.
Ruby seemed to be troubled by her proximity with her queen, and Snow seemed to be pleased by that, because her smile became larger.
"That's so sad, Ruby, the queen said almost with sadness, because you could have been a so good ally to me, and a good fighter. If you hadn't betray me."
And just then, she crushed Ruby's heart, and the young woman fell on the ground.
Henry screamed, and the queen burst into laughter, and send a cruel and satisfied smile to her grand-son.
This last one was crying now, and trembling, and the queen approached him, and took his face in her hand.
"You see now ? You see who I really am ? Because kid, this is who I am. A monster. Someone cruel and evil. Someone who will kill you, and your dear mother, as my sworn enemy. And then, I will have my happy ending."
She was ready to leave, when she heard Henry's voice, as he was still crying.
"You have no idea of what you just did ! He shouted. You can trust me, grand-ma. YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT YOU JUST DID !"
The queen smiled, laughed, and left.
Henry looked at Charming's face, as he was following her. And he saw nothing, but emptiness.
He fell on the ground, crying, and trembling.
He couldn't believe that it did happen.
Ruby is dead.
His own grand-mother killed someone in front of him.
She killed Ruby.
She killed her.
Snow White killed Ruby.
She killed her best friend, who helped her so much times.
That can't be. That just CAN'T be.
But it was, even though he didn't want it to be true.
And at that moment, he realized that he saw for the first time the true face of evil.
Or at least, the face of evil that his grand-mother could have.
And could be.