Vivien paced the marble floor of the grand entryway as quietly as possible. In shoes the steps sounded like gun shots, in socks she'd slipped and almost cracked her head open twice. Now she was barefoot, the faint slaps of skin on hard stone marking her speed. Regina hadn't been gone long. It was only an hour after sunset when she returned from whatever scheme Rumplestiltskin had hatched. No good ever came of dealing with Gold, Vivien knew that in her bones and this time was no different. She raced to the door as soon as she heard the latch and stopped abruptly when she saw Regina walk in. Her demeanor was as strong and dignified as usual but her movements were measured, controlled. There was a deliberateness to how she held and carried herself that belied pain. Vivien sensed danger.
She was also sheet white, shading to blotchy red and yellow at the edges of her eyes. Beads of perspiration were scattered in a rather dainty, delicate way across her skin.
"You're still here." The brunette acknowledged Lake with a terse nod. Vivien couldn't quite tell if Regina was pleased by her obedience or annoyed by her presence. Maybe both?
"What happened to you?" Lake took a cautious step forward, testing the menace in Regina's notoriously large personal space bubble. (A nearly physical wall hit Vivien from 8 feet away the moment the front door opened.)The Queen acted as though she didn't understand the question. Her eyes were trying to convince Vivien that absolutely nothing was out of the ordinary. Not even the way her hands trembled as she undid the buttons on her jacket.
"They're back safe. Snow and Swan. They managed to find a route home and we cleared the path." Regina turned and hung her jacket, keeping her back to Vivien a few seconds longer than would be necessary. What was she trying to control; anger? Her enemy Snow being back couldn't be thrilling her. Swan was a bit of a problem as well, considering how she figured in Henry's life. Was it anxiety that she'd now lose Henry for good? Why did it feel like Regina was fighting something more than emotion right now?
"'We cleared the path?' Who did what?" Vivien took another step closer. Six feet away now. The woman was positively radiating volatile threat. Getting closer only intensified the feeling that she'd been turned into a massive time bomb with only seconds to count.
"I did. Ok? I cleared it," Regina squared her shoulders and turned slowly, "Rumple wanted to keep some of our old enemies from the forest away and blocked the route. I had to clear away his spell to let Emma and Snow through."
The anger in her words was cracking the façade of control in her face. She wasn't just glistening with perspiration anymore, she was genuinely sweating. Lake inched in again.
"How bad? Regina, how bad was the spell? What was his spell going to do?!" Vivien's questions got louder when no answer came immediately. There were many barrier spells, from the low level equivalents of an alarm system clear up to –
"It would've killed them. Anyone that came through, however many. He was expecting an army." Regina finally surrendered. She leaned against the wall, exposing a fraction of the crippling effects she was trying to keep at bay.
"Shit. Regina! Shit shit shit! You've been detoxing magic and now you suddenly absorb a black spell?! SHIT!" Lake closed the 5 foot gap between them in a single lunge, grabbing the Queen's arm and neck. Regina didn't even fight. Either she was too weak to resist or she knew what Vivien needed to check. Lake was going to bet it was the weakness – Regina was hardly the trusting type. Her pulse was maniacal; nothing but a whisper at her wrist but pounding like a speed metal drum solo at her neck. Her breathing was shallow and rapid, her whole body in fight/flight adrenal response to supernatural forces at war within.
"What, you don't have a magic balm for this?" Regina's voice was starting to waver, trying to stay forceful and humorous but it too was cracking at the edges.
"It's a DEATH SPELL." Vivien reiterated – louder than necessary. That was the customary reaction when people didn't understand you, right? Speak louder and slower as though they're brain damaged.
"I am aware of that, Miss Lake and since it wasn't a deafening spell I'll ask you to lower your voice." The mayor attempted to glare between winces, "The effects will wear off by morning."
The brunette pushed herself off the wall and – with herculean will – straightened herself.
"This isn't a hangover, you can't just sleep it off!" Lake protested but Regina was already moving past her towards the stairs. Her step was forcefully steady, if still slower than her usual abrupt pace. Vivien followed at a few paces behind, still trying to frame arguments.
"Just let me check you before you go to sleep. Some spells you'd never wake back up – like a concussion!" she knew the comparison was ludicrous but diminishing the scale of danger might also reduce the level of stubbornness she was encountering.
"Very well, one check and then no more arguing." Regina finally relented as she swept into the bedroom without pause. Just as well; pausing might've allowed reality to crash into whatever power she'd harnessed through denial. She sat down on the edge of her bed, posture erect, hands folded as though she were about to commence a meeting. It was a perfect façade except for the way her body wavered back and forth ever so slightly.
Lake shook out her hands before lifting Regina's wrist. She held it in one hand while her other fingers rested against the woman's beaded forehead. To an outsider it would've looked for all the world like she was checking for pulse and temperature. As soon as she touched Regina's head she felt a reciprocal weakness wash through her. Is it getting cold in here? Her hands began to quiver, making it difficult to hold both grips. Don't push too hard on her forehead, she's barely sitting upright as it is.
A knot in her stomach turned in on itself, becoming a sucking hole. It felt like everything inside her was plummeting through it to her feet, like she was bleeding out. Blood. I'm wet. Am I bleeding? Vivien snapped her eyes open and saw the sheen of sweat that had broken out over her own skin. Her normally tanned tone had paled, as though even her color had been sucked away. Can't hold it. There's too much.
A memory stirred and writhed inside her head: standing in a winter blizzard, naked, so freezing cold that she felt she was burning. Master it. Control it before it kills you. Every time she focused her mind to harness the biting wind and make it slow another shiver would rip through her muscles and shake her thoughts loose. You get no relief until the storm abates. Are you going to let it win? Why was it always a choice between winning and dying? Why couldn't there be a moment when she could just walk away? She cried from sheer frustration, each tear painful as it froze to her skin in the icy wind. Magic is about survival. If you don't control it, it WILL kill you.
Vivien pulled out of the memory. Her heart was racing and she forced herself to take slow, steadying breaths. Misery was still cascading into her system. Everything she looked at had a blurred quality, like a camera just out of focus. Too much. Damn it!
She finally gave up and yanked her fingers back from Regina's brow. Stepping back she could feel the room spin as she moved. That memory; it wasn't one of hers. She'd never been forced to endure that specific torture. But it had felt as real as everyone of her own.
"Very clever, Miss Lake. Absorbed what you could, did you?" Black eyes gradually fluttered open now that the contact was broken. The color looked clearer, sharper. What Vivien had done helped, but it wasn't enough.
"It's too much for one person, Regina. It's too much even for two. I can't clear it." Vivien started to shake her head but immediately stopped when she thought of how dizzy she was already. Her hands felt like ice but she was on fire inside, moments from vomiting.
"I didn't ask you to. Now, if you're quite done? I need to rest." Regina pulled her legs up onto the bed and lowered back to lie on her pillows. She wasn't even going to bother trying to undress or get under the covers; either would require more effort than she could spare. Her eyes were dropping closed.
"If I knew the recipe Gold used, or if I grabbed some things from my office –!" Vivien thought out loud.
"You aren't going anywhere, Lake," the eyes opened fully once again, "I still haven't decided what sort of danger you pose. I will reconsider your situation in the morning. You will not leave until then."
To underscore her decision she tossed an off-hand gesture at the window. Vivien caught the split second purple shimmer that flickered in the air beyond the glass. A barrier spell. She was now imprisoned. Too numb to continue fighting, she moved to the door but paused.
"Did you control the storm?" She still could feel the painful stabbing of the shards of ice being whipped through the air.
"I control everything. Feel free to sleep in the study or the guest room." Regina didn't even open her eyes. With those simple, cold words Vivien was dismissed for the night. Her swaying, shuffling steps led her from the master bedroom, down the hall and into the first bathroom where she promptly threw up.
Shit, Regina. Was all she thought as she curled up on the rug beside the toilet and passed out.
Lake awoke sometime late that evening. Glancing at the color of night outside the window she knew it had to be after 10 but couldn't quite be midnight. Midnight had a particular color in Maine. She rose unsteadily from the floor and rubbed her face, trying to remove the pattern the rug had ingrained on her cheek. Most of the symptoms of the magic she'd taken away from Regina had abated. She hadn't been able to clear anywhere near enough. Her comatose sleep had been a maelstrom of nightmares from her own past and images she didn't recognize. Either her subconscious was getting creative or she'd picked up more than one memory from Regina. Thank god she'd been the one pulling magic away. If Regina had accidentally gotten any of her memories . . .
Vivien shivered. Her clothing was damp with sweat. It only took three tries to find the guest bedroom (who has a TV room upstairs?) and she was relieved to see there was a spare robe for visitors. Ensconced in the fluffy black robe she hung her jeans and shirt over chairs to dry. She eyed the luxurious queen bed, made up to precision perfection and undoubtedly outfitted with the finest, fluffiest down. It would be a shame to wreck it in the throes of nightmares.
Thinking of bad dreams made Vivien venture back down to the sacred sanctum of Regina's room. She peeked in, expecting a rampant spell to take her head off. The room was dark but allowed enough moonlight to make out the figure on the bed. She had obviously been thrashing. The pillows and blankets were distorted in a chaos of directions as evidence of her subconscious warring with an entire army.
Vivien crept close enough to see that Regina was still breathing. It was labored and irregular; gasps for air interspersed with long intervals of dead silence. Her face was squeezed into a grimace, lines at her brow and eyes betraying the agony of effort even in her sleep. She was breathing through her teeth, a sound almost like a growl occasionally audible beneath the air.
Lake thought about reaching out and trying to take away more of the black magic spell but thought better of it. In her sleep Regina couldn't know or control any magical intrusions. It would be too invasive. Instead, she brushed her fingers lightly over fevered skin and focused only on pulling away fear. The Queen might still be fighting demons in her sleep but she wouldn't be terrified. It was one of the few purifying abilities Vivien still had left. She cursed, remembering a long ago time when she would've had the pure power within herself to eliminate any trace of a dark spell. Now she was so compromised that the best she could hope for was to achieve balance.
Regina's face relaxed some, a few of the lines disappearing. She was still sweating. Poor woman, she was already tiny and she'd probably burn off 5 pounds tonight alone. Vivien watched the Queen sleeping for some minutes, satisfying herself that she wasn't slowly being killed by the spell twisting around inside her. Perhaps sleep would end up being the best cure after all. Regina had probably been right, damn her.
A faint purple shimmer from beyond the window caught her eye. The barrier spell. Someone had crossed through the perimeter. The last thing Regina needed was to be awakened by someone pounding on the door or worse: hitting that god awful loud chime! Bolting from the room Vivien got downstairs and skidded across the massive entryway to hit the door just as the first knock struck. She yanked the door open, startling the visitor. The surprised blonde on the doorstep still had her fist in midair.
"Sheriff Swan, welcome back. It's nice to see you returned safely." Vivien stepped forward but realized Regina's spell cut her off right at the threshold. She did her best to lean casually in the doorway. Emma's eyes were a little larger than usual, her glance flickering over the black robe and bare skin but to her credit: she blinked once and masked any reaction.
"Thank you, Nurse Riv-Pon-Lake!" She stuffed her hands into her pockets, grimacing a little at her own mistake.
"Physical therapist actually, but close enough. And thank you for not trying Swamp." Vivien stifled her smile. She'd almost been able to see the woman's brain working, 'name, name, body of water, body of water!'
"Sorry. There's been so much to learn lately. Is Regina in?" her eyes darted over Lake's head, taking in the seemingly empty and silent mansion.
"Are you here on business? Is she in trouble?" Vivien straightened up, subtly positioning herself to block the entryway.
"No, no trouble. I just needed to talk to her about a couple things." The hands were out of the pockets now, arms crossing rather defensively.
"It's a little late for social calls, isn't it?" Vivien was no Regina, but she could arch a fairly mean eyebrow herself now and then.
"I would've thought the same, but you're here." The eyebrow came right back at her. Ooh. Touche. A game of body language was taking place; Vivien trying clearly to communicate that Emma shouldn't come in and Swan radiating that she didn't intend to leave. At this rate they'd end up arguing, which would definitely wake Regina. Vivien was trapped inside the house so she couldn't force Swan off the property, nor could she step out to finish the conversation. That really only left one option.
"Regina is sleeping, Sheriff. As I'm sure you can imagine, she doesn't do it well or often so I can't allow you to wake her up. It would probably be hazardous to both our health." Honesty always seemed to work on the blonde.
"Oh." Her frown was both frustrated and helpless. Blue eyes cast downward and Lake felt a stab of guilt. The woman sincerely needed to talk and for whatever reason, it was Regina she needed. I know that feeling. Swan was just about to speak, probably to leave a message or say goodnight or even apologize –
"If you don't mind staying quiet, you can come in and wait for her to wake up. Given her nature I imagine she only sleeps in bursts." Vivien opened the doorway. Damn me.
"Thank you." Emma's expression was a drowning person getting hold of the lifeline. She came in and looked towards the study. Obviously that was where Regina had hosted her in the past and there was a look of distaste in her scowl as she regarded the room.
"I don't know about you but every time I'm in the study I end up in the middle of a nasty interrogation. Care to sit in the kitchen?" Vivien walked to the opposite entrance. Bonus: the kitchen would probably have alcohol nearby. She really needed a drink.
"You've been in the grilling chair too, then?" Emma nodded and followed eagerly, sliding onto a stool at the island counter.
"Chair, couch, hearth – the whole room is just a massive inquisition chamber, minus the rack." Lake began opening cupboards, apologizing silently to Regina as she searched for anything to make the coming minutes or hours easier to endure, "But she has that bloody throne for herself."
"The big wingback chair! It's crazy, it looks completely normal until she sits down in it and then you expect the whole thing to be made of carved marble or gold." Emma's grin was natural, beginning to relax.
"Ah, here we go!" Vivien finally found the cabinet full of bottles. Opened wine, expensive cognacs, the requisite martini shaker, there had to be – Bingo! She clutched the bottle of grey goose and pulled it out. Mostly full, probably a gift from someone who didn't know the Mayor's tastes. She grabbed two glasses, eyeing Emma inquisitively.
"Please," Swan nodded, "I really should've believed Henry the minute I saw her in that chair."
The Sheriff was obviously picturing Regina in full monarchal regalia. Possibly clutching someone's severed head or a goblet of blood. They both were silent as the first taste of vodka began easing tense nerves.
"He's a smart kid. He's been right about a lot," Vivien paused, trying to find the diplomatic words, "But I don't think he's right about everything. There's a lot of life that probably isn't in that book of his."
"You're telling me? I just came back from the damned place. It is not a happy fairytale land. More like a psychedelic nightmare." She grumbled into the glass.
"What was it like there? Who did you meet?" Vivien sat down now as well, leaning forward. Perhaps there could be clues in the Sheriff's trip? Maybe she saw something important without even knowing.
"Lord," Emma took a stiff gulp,
"I met people I never should've had to meet. I met Sleeping Beauty for god's sake. She's a pain in the ass. She has this samurai woman as her personal bodyguard and I really don't know how she puts up with the girl. I met trolls, giants, pirates and knights. Even a sorceress. If I ever thought Regina was bad, I take it back. She's got nothing on-," Swan stopped suddenly and frowned, "Well, that's one of the things I need to talk to Regina about."
Vivien bit her lip. A sorceress? Someone that made Regina seem harmless? The cold chill down her spine cut through the vodka warming her chest. If it was her mistress it didn't make sense. Why go to the Enchanted Forest but send her servant to StoryBrooke? She always kept her pets on a short leash.
Vivien would've asked more questions but the firm set line of Emma's mouth told her that subject was off limits. Apparently it was a story for Regina's ears alone. She scanned back to the other keyword that she'd flagged for attention.
"Pirates and knights? Please don't tell me Long John Silver is real." She had to keep it casual. Lots of humor. Distract from the true focus of the question. Emma was a sheriff and a natural interrogator. If she thought there was information that Vivien wanted she might completely withhold it.
"I don't know but Hook is. Total bastard. The type who thinks he's more charming than he is. Sexy though; in a dirty, smells like seaweed and rum kind of way."
"What girl could resist?" Lake smiled but didn't press.
"The knight I liked. Right up until the moment I found out he wasn't actually real. Just a sorceress impersonating someone she'd killed."
Killed. Vivien hid the tremor in her breath with a quick sip. Don't overreact. You don't know that it's even her. The knight could've been anyone. The universe was a big place. Bigger than I imagined. It was totally possible for there to be two powerful sorceresses that went around slaying knights. She had to keep the panic at bay. Maybe tonight, after the meltdown in the library, a concussion, an interrogation and then a dark spell infection wasn't the best time to be having this conversation.
"How's Henry?" she turned the conversation abruptly on its ear. She needed something lighter.
"Hyper. Glad we're home. Kid's been talking my ear off since we got back. I only got him to go to sleep an hour ago, that's why I'm here so late." Emma glanced ruefully at the stove clock. It was past 11 now. It wasn't lost on either woman that sane people with normal issues didn't go out this late to have conversations. It was only those subjects so important that they forbade sleeping that drove people to knock on doors of virtual enemies in the middle of the night.
"Well, I wasn't really planning on sleeping tonight anyway." Lake shrugged. After spending the better part of the afternoon/evening either passed out on the study couch or the bathroom rug she didn't feel any real need rest.
She didn't stop to think how the statement might sound to anyone who wasn't privy to the events of the day. Emma's eyebrow flickered up for a moment before she covered her reaction with a drink. The gulp was a little larger than normal and she cleared her throat after the burn.
"Yeah, uhm, Henry never mentioned that you guys were close. You and Regina." Swan's gaze avoided eye contact until the words were completely out. Then the blue looked at Vivien before pointedly making a slow sweep of her appearance. In the course of the casual conversation Lake had let herself get a little too relaxed. The big and fluffy robe was a little too big and had slipped open in some places, making it patently obvious she was at least 90% naked. When Emma's eyes came back to her face the question was obvious.
"Not at all, Sheriff. We're not. Regina doesn't let people close, you know that!" Vivien laughed, realizing just how wrong an impression the blonde was laboring under. It was so absurd an innuendo it didn't even make her blush.
"Maybe not. But she has been known to have occasional . . . human needs." Emma wasn't being put off that easily.
Right. Graham.
So Swan knew that Regina wasn't completely made of marble. Vivien studied the Sheriff, wishing she could see through the blue windows into her thought process. She wasn't just looking for gossip, this was important for some reason. She was uncomfortable with the idea. Either she didn't like the idea of Regina being human enough to need intimacy or she didn't like who filled in the other side of the picture.
Once again, Lake wondered if Emma or Regina had any idea of the signals they gave off. The relationship went well beyond complicated. Swan herself probably didn't even realize how she sounded right now. Maybe she should. She obviously wasn't going to believe Lake's denials, no matter how true.
"Well tell me, Sheriff – why does it concern you? Are you suspicious of her and trying to protect me? Or vice versa? Do you dislike her so much that you don't want her enjoying any of the pleasures of life?" Vivien leaned forward, lowering her voice to the same deliberately sultry tone she'd learned from Ruby, "Or are you just plain jealous?"
The words had no effect. She didn't jerk back or startle. There was no blush or stammering argument. This woman did not rattle. She was every bit as stubbornly unflappable as Regina. Swan matched Lake's posture, leaning in closer on one elbow until their shoulders touched; the body language of secrets.
"Her last lover and only known friend both had their hearts ripped out. I think you might want to remember that. There is enough crap going on in this town, I don't want to find anymore dead bodies." The warning was imparted with the same breathy tones as Lake's seductive whisper. Then Swan straightened, grabbed the vodka bottle and refilled both their glasses. Vivien felt like applauding. The game had been masterfully played; the challenge circumvented and the situation diffused.
"I will never, ever play poker with you, Sheriff." Lake smiled and took her refilled glass, holding it up in a small toast.
"I gave that up after jail. I play a mean game of dominoes though." Emma returned the smile and clinked their glasses, the sound of truce. How could someone so infuriatingly obstinate and single-minded be so easy to like? No wonder Regina felt threatened by her; if the Mayor didn't force herself to hate the woman she would probably be her best friend. Few things are more frightening to a reclusive tyrant than someone they could truly like. Vulnerability and all that.
The thought was ripped out of her mind by a sudden pressure like being strangled. Slamming her glass to the counter and grabbing her throat Vivien choked, fighting the invisible force for a few seconds before it released and she collapsed on her elbows, coughing. Emma was on her feet, hand halfway to her holster and looking for threats. Lake waved at her, trying to convey calm.
"It's ok. I'm ok," she straightened and cleared her throat, "Regina's awake. I think she wants a word with me."
"That's what she does when she wakes up?" Swan stared, possibly rethinking the need for her conversation.
"Well, if she's pissed." Vivien grabbed her glass, gave a shrug and downed the contents before heading up to face the angry music.