We own no one but our own people
A/N Sorry for the long update time, I got back from Afghanistan a little less than month ago and I'm trying to get everything settled again. Anyway, I hope you enjoy. And review. But mostly enjoy
The Enchanted Forest
"Papa! Papa, Mama, you gotta come now!"
Jacob and Eliza Cassidy looked up from the field they were plowing to see their twelve year old son, Brian, sprinting down the hill from where he was supposed to be guarding the sheep, a look of terror on his face.
"There's a wolf in the meadow!" cried Brian desperately. "He's attacking the sheep! Please, Papa, hurry!"
Eliza and Jacob dropped their baskets of vegetation, Jacob grabbing a crossbow and Eliza grabbing a Sheppard's stick, and rushed up to where Brian was standing.
"It's in the meadow!" cried Brian again before he sprinted off with his parent's right behind him.
When the small family reached the top of the hill, Jacob grabbed Brian by the collar and yanked Brian behind him.
"Stay behind me, Son!" ordered Jacob as he pointed his crossbow and what was sure to be a bloody scene laid out in front of him.
Instead, what he found was his sheep grazing peacefully in the meadow while Brian's dog, a large long haired white sheep dog named Emmet, keeping a watchful eye on his flock as his tail waved happily in the mid morning sun.
Brian giggled from behind his father and both Eliza and Jacob turned towards their son, who now had a grin on his face.
Jacob sighed as he kneeled down to Brian's level. "Brian," he began strictly, wiping some of the smirk off of Brian's face. "Did you lie about the wolf?"
Brian's grin faltered even more as he nodded.
"Why?"
Brian shrugged as he looked down at the ground. "I thought it'd be funny."
"It's not. What if next time you cry wolf and there really is a wolf attacking the flock or you your mother and I don't believe you? You and the sheep could get killed, Brian. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
Brian nodded solemnly. "I understand, Papa."
Jacob chuckled and ruffled his son's hair. "Good lad. Now, why don't you prepare the wool to take to the fair tomorrow?"
"Yes, Papa. Come on, Emmet."
Rufus ran through the meadow to reach Brian before the two hurried off towards the house.
Several hours later, after Brian had finished his daily chores and prepared the cart with his family's wool so he would be able to head off bright and early, Brian laid in his bunk with Emmet resting his head at the foot of Brian's bed, frowning at the muffled conversation he was overhearing.
"We'll never be able to make enough," his mother exclaimed worriedly. "We're going to lose the farm, the house… Everything."
"Listen to me, Liza," said Jacob quietly, "I will not let that happen. I won't let you or Brian suffer."
"But how are we gonna get through this? Winters coming soon. We don't have the money to survive."
"I'll think of something," Jacob promised. "Trust me…"
Early the next morning Brian had hitched up the mini cart to Rufus's neck and was helping the large dog pull the cart full of the sheep's he and his family cared for wool.
They had gone almost two miles when there was a loud sound of horse whinnying and sounds of a carriage being pulled at great haste. Brian turned and saw the large ensemble of black horses carrying large knights who surrounded a menacing black carriage pulled by four of the biggest Horses Brian had ever seen.
Brian tried to pull both the cart and Emmet off to the side of the road but one of the cheaply made wooden wheels caught in a large hole in the middle of the dirt road. Brian tried in vain to pull the cart out of the way but the caravan had reached him before he had a chance.
The carriage and knights stopped, several surrounding the boy and his large dog, who growled menacingly at the Soldiers.
Brain swallowed hard as the carriage door opened and out stepped Regina, wearing an ankle length black dress made of the finest lace that Brian had ever laid eyes on.
One of the knights stormed over to him and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. "Bow before your Queen!" the knight barked as he threw Brian to the ground.
Rufus growled even more furiously at the Knight who had thrown Brian to the ground. Regina slowly made her way over to Brian, looking down at him with a smirk. "What are you doing on my road, boy?"
Brian swallowed hard as he looked up at her. "My- my Papa asked me to take our wool to the market," he explained.
Regina scoffed as she walked over to the cheaply made cart, Emmet growling so low it made one of the Knights take a step backwards. As Regina stood there, smirking at the labors in the cart, Brian's eyes caught sight of the large black treasure chest saddled between the four Knights.
His mind whirred as his thoughts began to whirr and he suddenly straightened out to his full height.
"I'm sorry for disrupting your ride, your majesty, but I really need to get going."
"Oh really?" Regina turned away from the cart to look down at Brian, her brow raised with a sly smile forming on her lips. "And just what on earth could you possibly be in that much of a hurry over?"
Brian sighed and gazed down at the ground, kicking the dirt beneath his feet. "It's just… he made me promise not to tell and his powers are unlike anything I've seen, I can't imagine what'd happen if I was to make him angry."
"And who would that be?"
"My family and I's land owner," Brian answered. "He gets a very large portion of our wool and income and we can't say no to him or anger him because he's a very powerful wizard. He claims to be the most powerful in all the realms and honestly, your majesty, I wouldn't doubt it with the book of his."
A sly grin overtook Regina's face as she studied the boy's face. "And just what book would that be?"
"The Gorgonite. He says it's the most powerful, evil, dark spell book that was ever written. The Gods themselves are fearful at the spells it can produce. He can turn whole kingdoms into ash with just one simple spell." Brian shrugged carelessly. "If you want, your majesty, I could get it for you. For a price of course."
Regina glared at him and took a step loser, ignoring the dogs harsh growling. "You're lying to me, boy."
Brian struggled not to show his sudden unsought of panic. "No, I'm not. I promise."
"Silence!" Regina took another step forward, making Brian take several steps back in fear. "Do you know the sentence for lying to the Queen?" Her hand reached for his chest, a cruel smirk on her features. "It's death…"
Just as her fingertips grazed his chest, Emmet let out a loud ferocious bark and clamped his teeth down hard on her arm, making her scream in pain. Brian pushed by her and sprinted into the woods. He had only gotten a few feet when Emmet cried loudly and began whimpering in pain. Brian stopped and had begun to run back when Regina appeared before him in a puff of black smoke, her eyes flashing dangerously, her sleeve I tatters with blood running down the fabric.
"You just made the biggest mistake of your life, boy!"
Without warning Regina slammed her hand into his chest and yanked out his heart. Brian gasped at what Regina held in her hand and he looked from Regina to his heart. "What… what do you plan to do to me?" he asked though his tears.
Regina looked down at him, smirking at his tear stained face, her evil grin making him shudder and terrifying him beyond anything imaginable. "Oh you'll see…"
Storybrooke
"Thanks for the ride," said Olivia as Emma pulled up to Grannies Bed and Breakfast.
"You're welcome," said Emma as she quickly wrote her number on a scrap piece of paper and handed it to Olivia. "If you need anything, don't be afraid to call."
"Thanks. I'll see you at nine to go to the mechanic?"
"Sure thing."
With an awkward smile, Olivia opened the door. "Let's go, Calvin."
"Thanks," Calvin muttered towards the blonde as he followed Olivia out of the car, shutting the door behind him.
Emma glanced over at Cassidy who appeared deep in thought, the same look he had the entire way home.
"You okay?" asked Emma with a bit of hesitation.
Brian slowly shook his head. "That woman," he muttered, "that Mills woman… I met her before… I know I have."
Emma shrugged carelessly. "Maybe she took a trip to New York once?"
Brian shook his head again. "Not in New York. Somewhere else I just… I can't place it."
There was a long drawn out silence before Brian cleared his throat. "Sorry about that. I'm just… I'm sorry."
"No it's fine. You had a long night." Emma gave a short smile to Brian who could barely managed a grimace back before he nodded towards the Inn where Olivia and Calvin were standing outside while Olivia glared daggers at Emma, sending a shudder down the blondes back.
"You should probably get going," said Emma to which Cassidy nodded in agreement.
"Yeah sure. Thanks." He gave her a final smile before he got out of the car.
Emma and Olivia locked eyes one final time and Emma swallowed any retort she wanted to throw Olivia's way before she drove off.
"I don't like her," said Olivia as Brian approached them.
"I think she's nice," Brian said with a shrug.
Olivia eyed him wearily and Brian smirked as he wrapped his arms around Olivia and brought her closer. "But way too young and way to blonde," he assured her before he kissed her, gaining a loud 'oh come on!' from a disgusted Calvin.
The couple finally broke away with a chuckle from Olivia and a roll of the eyes from Brian before they headed into the Inn.
"It's like something out of a story book," Calvin gasped as he gazed around the old Inn.
"Or a horror movie," Brian added as he too looked around.
The three of them approached the desk where Granny was standing behind writing something down in her records.
"Excuse me," Olivia called out cheerfully.
Granny put down her glasses along with her pen and turned towards the group with a smile. "Welcome to Granny's, how can I…" But her voice faltered when her eyes landed on Olivia and a look of dread took over her face. "For… forgive me, are you relatives of Regina Mills?"
Olivia narrowed her brow in confusion. "No. Why?"
Granny breathed a sigh of relief and placed a wrinkled hand over her heart. "Nothing it's just you two look so much alike. Anyway," she added as her smile returned. "What can I help you three with?"
"We'd like two rooms please," Olivia announced.
"I get my own room? Sweet!" Calvin said with a beaming grin which made Olivia chuckle.
Granny began to flip through the books. "Would you like a forest view or Square view? There's a small upgrade for the square view but since you're renting two rooms from us I'll be willing to waive it."
"That's very generous of you. Two squares it is."
"Excellent! Can I have your names please?"
Olivia pointed to Calvin. "Brian Cassidy, Calvin Benson, and Olivia Benson."
"Olivia? Such an uncommon name in these parts. It's very beautiful if I may say so."
All three turned and their eyes fell on Mr. Gold who was looking at Olivia, a small unnerving smile on his lips. Olivia narrowed her eyes in confusion once more. What was with all these people? "Um… thank you?"
Gold chuckled before he turned towards Granny who appeared nervous. "The rent isn't due until next week."
"Oh I'm not here about rent, Dearie," Gold assured her with a smile that sent a shudder through their spines. He shrugged carelessly as he turned towards Olivia once more and reached in his pocket and pulled out a very familiar looking wallet. Olivia's wallet. Olivia immediately reached in her pocket and felt it empty.
"I was driving back from work, saw the abandoned car, went to go see if anyone was there and saw the wallet on the seat," Gold explained as he tossed the wallet to Olivia. "I figured they'd come here to spend the night."
"Thanks." Olivia eyed him wearily, not quite trusting the man standing before her.
"You're very welcome. And I must say… Olivia…" The brunette detective cringed as her name fell from Gold's lips. "Your name suits you."
With another smile Gold turned and left, thinking of only one thing.
"This will certainly shake things up a bit…"
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