Hi Everyone! Thank you for being so patient! I'm sorry it took me so long to post this chapter. I had some minor setbacks but I'm back on the game. I hope you are all enjoying! Thank you again so much for your reviews! And thank you for following my story and making it a favorite. You guys are my motivators! And I am delighted when I read all your comments; your words fuel my fire! Thank you! Xoxo

Chapter Seven

The Caves

"Who are you so afraid of anyway?" Regina had asked this of Gold knowing very well she was only challenging him for information. She could only imagine the caravan of souls that would line up to seek revenge on her for all her past misdeeds; Gold's could possibly include half of hell. Regina knew that she should feel more afraid but she didn't. No one from her past had the capacity to cause terror in her for it was she who did the terrorizing. All except one. Regina understood that encountering her mother would fill her with so many raw emotions. Emotions she didn't care to feel right now. She was here on a mission and she didn't want any of her own baggage to get in the way. But the idea of seeing her mother sent a chill through her. They had made amends and Regina had suffered her death immensely. She would love to see her mother one day again. But despite all of her evil doings, to see Cora, down here in the bowels of hell would kill Regina. She hoped deep inside that Cora had repented and righted her wrongs, but even if she had...would a soul as evil as her mother be forgiven so easily?

Emma felt as though they had walked miles. Up ahead she could see a clearing where the tormented souls seemed to converge. They hadn't spoken much this whole time. Regina seemed to be angry she could only produce soda for drink and Gold was just quiet. Emma's thoughts would vary between Hook, then Henry, her parents and concern for Regina. She had concluded that she could not under any circumstance allow anything to happen to Regina. Whatever it took she needed to keep her safe...for Henry. Emma looked up once more at the sky hoping to see something pleasant, hoping the view had changed. The sky was red and cloudless. Not the kind of sunset red with varying pinks and yellows or blues and whites, no this was a mute red. It felt like being in a hot, and dreary red painting.

Finally arriving at this new clearing all three curiously looked around. They don't see much there except multiple dark cave entrances that the souls are being led into.

"Move it now! Hurry up! You don't want to make the master come out do you?!..." The giant creatures yell at the souls.

Emma looks at Regina at hearing "the master." The one thing she negated in her mind was him. The thought of encountering this being filled her with a different kind of dread. How terrifying would he be? How hideous and powerful. What would he do to them given the chance? Could they avoid him? Her thoughts were racing with fear. Meeting the grim reaper was frightening enough but this made her want to turn around and run back to storybrooke.

"Will he be part of the equation?" She directs her question at Gold.

"I certainly hope not." Gold sincerely answers.

It's isn't lost on Regina how Gold looks all around him while saying this. 'He probably already knows we're here.' She thinks to herself. She's most definitely not inclined towards meeting him but she's ready if that's what it takes. Regina isn't afraid of anybody.

Regina tiredly sits over a dead branch while they wait for the souls to be herded into these caves.

Emma turns to her, "How do we know which one?"

"I guess we'll have to ask the muscle heads over there."

Out of nowhere a black bird appears above them. It dives close by and flys around them. "What's a crow doing here?" Emma follows it with her eyes.

"That's not a crow that's a Raven." Gold answers.

"Okay." Emma is unsure of why it matters what species of bird this is.

As if on cue Regina quietly answers, "Ravens are mythical birds believed to be spirits or human-like creatures taking the form of a bird."

Emma whispers, "For what purpose?"

At that moment the beautiful black velvet-coated Raven perches itself on a nearby dead branch. Regina is Closely following the Raven with her eyes distractedly and gets very close to Emma, "To watch us."

This sends a chill up Emma's spine. She looks over and locks eyes with Regina. She tells herself that what's giving her gooseflesh is the information Regina shared and not Regina's hot breath against her neck. It's been too long since I've seen Hook. She reassures herself.

"Could it belong to him?" Emma looks at a worried looking Rumple.

"Maybe."

"Well, I can easily get rid of it." Regina stands with a fireball in her in right hand preparing to cinch the bird.

Emma's eyes go wide and she grabs Regina's wrist, "Wait!"

Rumple jumps in, "What did I tell you about using magic here?"

"I will do whatever I damn-well please."

"Hey both of you...stop! What if the Raven is here to help us?"

Both Regina and Rumple look at Emma as if she grew an extra head.

"Oh my God you are your parent's child." Regina makes the fire ball disappear and spins in frustration.

"No really? What if it's a messenger bird or something?"

"What like in game of thrones?" Rumple looks at Regina and they both smirk. Emma can't believe Regina is siding with him.

"All I'm saying is that we should wait before cooking it. It may not even be for us." Emma gives Regina a look of hurt she hasn't seen from her in a long time.

"Well, I suppose we wouldn't want to attract any unnecessary attention to ourselves." Regina says this as she glances sideways at the Raven.

Emma lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Suddenly they hear a great noise coming from the caves. When they look they see a giant wall of rock closing the entrances. Emma runs for the the closest cave.

"Wait, please we need to get through."

"You are alive." The giant creatures continue closing the entrances ignoring her.

"Stop! We need to go inside!"

"You are alive. Go home."

Emma reaches for a muscular arm trying to stop it. "No! The man I love is somewhere in Tartarus and I'm not leaving until I find him"

The monster looks at her with his angry eyes but stills his movement. He whistles at the others and they stop their movement as well.

"Which one?" The monster asks Emma.

"I don't..." Emma shakes her head.

"Clear your mind mortal. Find him only with your mind. These stones appear solid. They are not. They do not exist. Only your mind creates a cave."

When did the monsters become Deepak Chopra? Emma shakes her head and tries to rid herself of sarcasm. She closes her eyes and thinks of the first time Hook kissed her. She thinks of his confident lips and how he wrapped his arm around her. She remembers how good she felt being kissed by someone who loved her. She opens her eyes with newfound hope but nothing has happened. She is still standing in front of the same cave with Regina by her side.

"This must be the one." The monster tells her.

Without another thought she begins to walk forward. As Regina takes a step forward the Raven swoops in out of nowhere; flying side to side in front of her preventing her from moving forward.

"Crazy bird! Get out of my way." She swats at hit with her hands.

The Raven is in a flight of disarray as it appears determined to keep her there.

"Did I pick the wrong door?" Emma says this aloud not to anyone in particular.

"Mortal chose the door. Mortal knows the way. In your mind. Bird is crazy...Go."

Regina manages to get under it and moves quickly following Emma.

"Gold! Are you coming?" Regina yells back. He looks at the disconcerted bird but he knows staying back is not an option. Neither Emma nor Regina will listen to him. So he makes the decision to follow them all the while guessing who the Raven might be. As they step forward into the darkness they fail to notice the Raven enters as well.