Chapter 10 Surprise
Word Count 1939
"I don't know what you're talking about." Emma lied.
Regina laughed stepping closer towards Jefferson and Blue. "There is no point to lie. I already hold all of the cards." She gestured to her captives who both were obviously tired, hungry and in pain. Blue and Jefferson were tied back to back against a pole their hands above their heads and their bodies slack.
Emma watched as the other citizens of Storybrooke walked past them as if they weren't even there. "What did you do to them? How could they just ignore all of this?"
"It's so cute how oblivious you are. The curse dear." The Queen gestured to two people walking by, "Just look at them, completely unaware that we are even here."
Emma's hand slowly moved to the daggers on her belt. "The curse prevents them from seeing you torture people?"
Smirking Regina turned from Emma and faced Jefferson and Blue, "Well of course they couldn't see there Mayor inflicting pain upon someone, they'd start a riot."
With Regina's back towards her Emma slipped her daggers from her belt and into her hand. She felt Cleo rub against her and leg and looked down at the cat. Emma motioned her head to one of the cars on the side of the street. Emma had been inside a car only once. For her birthday last year Cleo had acquired a car and had taken Emma on a joy ride around the city. It was the first time Emma had seen a town other than Storybrooke and she loved every bit of it.
Cleo walked towards a car but turned back to Emma unsure of what to do. The cat pawed at the door and Emma quickly mimed a driving motion as Regina turned around. "Well where is Henry then?" Emma asked trying to keep Regina distracted.
"You won't be seeing him again." She scowled.
Emma herself had been slightly distracted trying to figure out her next move and instructing Cleo to get to the car but when she heard Regina's answer about Henry it wasn't at all what she had expected, "What do you mean I won't be seeing him again? What did you do to him?"
Regina laughed pacing around her prisoners. "I couldn't have my son spouting lies about me to the town. Of course he isn't affected by the curse and saw these two tied here. I couldn't have him creating more of a commotion than he already has. I thought when I had him burn that book years ago that these questions would never arise."
Daringly Emma took a step closer towards Regina, "Do you seriously think that he wouldn't have noticed that no one grows old here?"
"None of that would've mattered if you hadn't have come here. Ever since you left this little town all I've had to deal with is Henry lying to the people here, talking nonsense about a curse. I had Sidney follow him right to Jefferson's and from there I put the pieces together. Jefferson was never meant to leave that house and only one thing could change that." There was a fire burning in Regina's eyes.
Emma rolled her eyes, "You say he lies like you really believe there isn't a curse. You must really be going delusional your majesty." She smirked tauntingly.
A car started up and Emma saw Cleo as a human in the passenger seat. "You think Rumplestiltskin warned your parents about a curse, well dear that man plays on both sides of the fence and he warned me of a savior." Regina walked forward standing in front of Jefferson and Blue.
"As much as I'd like to hear the rest of this story—"Emma lifted her daggers in a fighting stance, "I think I have to be going." She threw the dagger at Regina.
Regina ducked as the dagger flew at her head but that wasn't Emma's target. The dagger spliced the rope holding Jefferson and Blue tied together when the car whipped around beside them. Emma spun around kicking Regina in the head and knocking her to the floor. She ran to Jefferson and helped Cleo get him in the back seat of the car followed by Blue. Emma went to the passenger side and got in the car, "Come on!" She cried to Cleo who took one last look at Regina before getting in the driver's seat.
"We should've finished it." Cleo said as she pressed hard on the gas driving out of town square.
Emma turned back in her seat to look at Jefferson and Blue, "That isn't our choice to make just yet."
"Where am I going?"
With Jefferson and Blue weakened Emma couldn't bring them anywhere safe in this town, Regina had gotten them once she could easily get them again. "Home."
"But Emma your parents…"
"We can't leave them here Cleo. Home."
"Wait." Jefferson groaned, "No one has ever crossed the town line except for you two. We don't know what might happen to Blue and I."
Emma turned around and reached for his hand, "And we don't know what would happen to you if you stayed. I'm sorry but we have to take a chance." She squeezed his hand slightly and released it. Emma turned back around in her seat and waited as they came across the sign that said 'Leaving Storybrooke.' Even though they had been driving the same speed as they neared the town line it felt like everything slowed. Cleo and Emma both looked into the back seat as they crossed over. "What's the verdict?" Emma asked.
"I think we'll be okay." Blue said, "Although if you're taking us to your home I'm not sure if your parents will be okay."
"My dad knows already." Emma said, "Mom however—"
Blue frowned, "Then my assumption remains. Snow will not like this at all."
Emma turned back in her seat as they reached the intersection, "Well she's just going to have to get over it." Cleo pulled over on the side of the road. "What are you doing? They can hardly walk. We're going to have to drive to the house."
"Let's think about this for a second Emma, you're filling your mother in on Storybrooke and the both of them that they will now have two visitors from the Enchanted Kingdom. Are you also willing to let them know about me?"
Emma wasn't sure how to answer that, her parents would have to know eventually and if she thought Princess should've been growing old years ago there were only so many more years before she should've been dead. "I think it's time."
Cleo sighed and pressed on the gas, "I think we're all going to have so much explaining to do." She turned the car to face the woods and slowly drove through small pathways and over small bushes. As they neared the house James and Snow were already waiting outside. At first Emma couldn't believe they were there but realized there entrance was far from quiet.
"What is this?" Snow cried as Emma and Cleo exited the car, "And who is she?"
Emma opened the back door of the car and started to help Jefferson out of it, "This is a car. That is Cleo better known as Princess my cat and this is Jefferson and The Blue Fairy."
If the situation hadn't been so overwhelming Emma would've taken a moment to laugh at the look on her mother's face. "Are you—" the words were stuck in Snow's throat. She turned to James who couldn't mask that he was aware of at least some of the situation at hand, "And you-?"
"Let me explain Snow. Emma heard us arguing that day about Storybrooke. She went there for a couple days but Jefferson advised her not to return for a while. Her special place was Storybrooke and I figured it out a few days ago. I told her she should return and that I'd let you know in a week or so. Obviously something is going on there that we don't know about because she's returned with Jefferson and Blue."
They entered the house helping Blue and Jefferson into chairs, "How long did Regina have you tied up for?" Emma questioned.
"A year? Maybe more." Blue answered unsure. "I lost count after the first few weeks."
Snow paced the room that now seemed rather small, "I told you she would stumble upon it. You should've never looked for it James."
"Now isn't the time or place for this Mom." Emma stood and faced her, "Regina is torturing people. We have to end this now. She knows about me. She's already harmed these two and she's made it clear that she's done something with Henry."
"Henry? Who is Henry?" Snow questioned.
"Regina adopted a son. I found him in Storybrooke and he already figured out that something was wrong. Long story short Regina figured it out kidnapped these two and tortured them until I returned."
Snow's hand went to her mouth as she gasped, "Oh my word." She took a better look at the pair, "You both look starved I'll fix something." Snow retreated quickly to the kitchen and small bangs of pots and pans were heard as she moved around the pantry.
Emma frowned and looked towards the kitchen, "She'll be okay Emma." James consoled, "Give her time to get used to it but right now I think we have some tending to do."
She nodded and looked back at Jefferson and Blue. "What do you need? Something to drink? I could draw a bath."
"I'd love a bath." Blue admitted. Emma nodded and put some water on the fire while she helped Blue to the bathroom.
After Emma poured the hot water in the tub she turned to Blue, "Do you need any help?"
"I'll be alright." Blue said, "Although I'd love if you could wash my clothes."
Emma smiled, "Of course, just leave them by the door and I'll clean them. We look the same size so I'll leave you a change of clothes by the door."
As Emma turned to leave the room Blue stopped her, "Thank you Emma."
She nodded her head and closed the door returning to the living room. "Can I get you anything Jefferson?"
He shook his head regretfully, "The thing I seek you can't acquire."
Emma placed her hand on his shoulder, "We'll get your daughter back I promise."
Cleo watched Emma from the kitchens where Snow was refusing any and all help from her and James.
"So you've been a human all this time?" James questioned.
She nodded, "Blue is actually the one who sought my assistance. I'll admit my help was first warranted by hate for Regina but as you could imagine I grew to love the three of you as a family." She heard Snow scoff but refrained from saying anything.
"Is Storybrooke as bad as Emma made it sound?" He queried.
"It's worse." Cleo admitted, "The people there have no idea who they are. The curse prevents them from seeing any evil Regina creates." She looked at Emma as she spoke, "I think a few years ago Emma believed that the Queen could be saved—"now Snow turned to listen to her, "But after what we saw today she won't need much convincing."
"Much convincing for what?" Snow asked.
A small frown formed across Cleo's face, "I think you know better than anyone."
Snow sighed heavily and nodded, "The Queen must die." As if that wasn't final enough, Snow turned around and continued to cook without a second thought.