Author's Note: I don't own any of these characters. The only thing I own is the journey I've decided to take them on. Thanks to all of those who've invented these "people"...they are so fun to play with.

Thanks, as always, to everyone who has taken the time to read this story.

Chapter 24: New Orleans

After the Jolly Roger was safely hidden just off the coast, Regina used magic to transport everyone to the shore nearby. It was late at night, but the streets brimmed with activity. The group walked a short distance into the French Quarter, and there they began to see a few signs of voodoo. A quick look in the shops in the hopes of finding a lead left them wondering how many of the tales and trinkets they'd seen were for the benefit of tourists and how many were genuine expressions of magic.

They stepped down a side road, away from the noisy revelry of Bourbon Street. "Anyone see anything that may help us locate this fiend?" Robin asked.

Regina shook her head, "I can feel the magic here, but most of what we're seeing seems more like cheap merchandise…fictional versions of what's obviously all around us."

"Take it from me," Emma cautioned, "sometimes the things that seem fictional are real. I'm engaged to Captain Hook, and if you grew up where I grew up, you'd know how crazy that sounds."

Regina countered, "This whole place is brimming with magic, but we're not going to find Facilier at a souvenir shop. We need to dig beneath the surface."

"What about the voodoo queen? Marie Laveau? Mom and I read about her when we were doing research. Maybe we should check out her mausoleum or some places like that," Henry suggested. "Maybe we'll find someone who knows Facilier."

"Good idea, Henry," Regina said proudly. "From everything I've read, that woman knew magic. It's a good starting point."

"Anything associated with her will be carefully guarded from intruders, especially at night. We'll have to be careful," Emma suggested.

It was well past dark, and any site associated with Marie Laveau did have plenty of security. The gang from Storybrooke wasn't the only group interested in the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. Most of the group was strategizing their next step when Emma realized Killian wasn't part of the discussion anymore.

She searched through the crowd, which was still rather vibrant given the late hour, until she found him. He wasn't really difficult to find. Although he'd mostly forgone his traditional clothing for more modern attire, he was wearing his long leather coat again, since it was large enough to hide his enchanted sword in a place that was still easily accessible. The long coat also had a place to hide his hook since he couldn't really walk around the streets of New Orleans with that type of hook for a hand while carrying an enchanted sword.

He was walking toward the street corner, staring into the distance as if something had transfixed him. Emma jogged after him to see what had captured his attention. When she caught up, she said, "Hey. What's wrong?"

"Wrong? Nothing," he answered, looking at her briefly before nodding to a building across the street. "Care to stop for a drink?"

Emma was initially annoyed, wondering why in the hell it was so important for him to leave the group without a word to get a drink, but when she looked at the sign, a sense of déjà vu hit her with almost tangible force. "Is that the tavern? The one from while we were gone…where we met Louis and he took us to Odalee the first time? Because it looks very, very similar."

"Looks the same to me as well. Perhaps a bit modernized, but that's the place."

"Oh my god."

"I say we head in for a drink. If a tavern like this pointed us in the right direction in that realm, perhaps it will in this one as well."

Regina, Robin and Henry caught up. "Let me guess," Regina dryly stated, "rum break?"

"When we were taken from Granny's that night…we met someone at a tavern that looked a lot like this. He took us to Odalee and she sent us on our journey. This is the best lead we've had so far, so I think it's worth checking out," Emma replied.

They all went into the tavern. It was still somewhat packed, with a bar at one end of the establishment and tables at the other side. A bartender was slinging drinks as fast as he was able and an overworked waitress carried trays that seemed to weigh more than she did to and from the dining area. When one of the larger tables opened up, Emma seized the spot. Henry seemed excited to be out at an hour when he'd usually be safely tucked in bed at home. They all ordered, deciding to take advantage of the break to eat and survey the place. Plus the food smelled so good. A lot of the patrons were eating breakfast, trying to sober up with eggs, bacon and coffee after a long night of partying. The best smell of all came from plain, powdered sugar-coated donuts. "Those donuts look good," Henry mentioned.

"You mean the beignets?" the waitress inquired when she saw Henry looking hungrily at the table next to them. "Best ones you'll find in town. You folks want a basket of them?"

"Sure," Emma answered.

"You have about an hour before we start closing up," the waitress mentioned as she grabbed a pen from behind her ear and took their orders.

When the waitress returned a few moments later and started to distribute the various plates of food, Emma looked at her name tag and said, "It's Tiana? Right?"

"Yes, ma'am," the waitress answered.

"Have you lived here a long time?"

"All my life."

"So what do you think about voodoo and all of the folklore here?"

"I think it brings in a lot of tourists," Tiana chuckled.

"Do you believe in any of it?"

"I believe tourism is a wonderful industry. Thanks to all of the wonderful people who come visit this town, whether for the music, the food, swamp tours or to chase the voodoo queen, I'll make enough money to open my own place someday."

Noting the weariness in Tiana's eyes, Emma asked, "You work a lot?"

"Every chance I can get."

"So you think all of this voodoo stuff is nonsense…tourism aside?" Regina asked.

"If it gets me a good tip, I'll believe whatever fairy tales you want...voodoo, big foot, you name it." Tiana said with a friendly smile, teasing, "In fact, I'm really a princess just waiting for her handsome, wealthy prince to show up. I guess in the meanwhile, I'll have to earn my own way."

Emma smiled and tilted her head, "Stranger things have happened."

Smiling again, Tiana said, "I'll believe it when he darkens my doorstep. I don't have a lot of time for fairy tales, princes or magical nonsense. But I do have time to grab you all refills, so I'll be right back."

The group kept talking amongst themselves as they ate. Killian and Emma looked for Louis or anyone else who seemed similar to someone they met while they were gone, but they didn't see anyone. As they were finishing up their meal, they heard the bartender shouting for last call.

"I wish we could have a chance to talk to Odalee just one more time," Emma said.

"How do you know Odalee?" Tiana questioned. She'd just returned to the table to deliver the bill.

"Oh…umm…" Emma began, but then fumbled.

"We met her on a journey earlier this year," Killian answered.

"This year?" Tiana said doubtfully. "We must be thinking of different people."

"You know her?" he inquired.

"I know of her, heard things. Stories from my mama mostly. She's not widely known outside of the little community I live in. Marie Laveau and some more notorious names tend to interest the tourists. You said you met her?"

"A few months ago," Killian answered.

"Well, it must be a different lady. She's been gone longer than that. Strange though, never heard of anyone else with that name," Tiana said. "Can I get you folks anything else?"

"We'd love to hear about her," Emma said.

"She was just a crazy old woman who lived in the bayou. Not much to tell."

"Have you also heard tales of a man by the name of Facilier?" Robin asked.

Tiana quickly looked around for a moment before she leaned down and said, testily, "What do you want with him?"

"We merely wanted to know more about him," Robin calmly answered.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from that man."

"I thought you didn't believe in 'magical nonsense,'" Regina said, quoting back Tiana's own words.

"I don't," Tiana stiffly answered. "But you don't need magic to be evil. Some folks are just best to stay away from."

"You've had run-ins with him?" Robin questioned.

"I know enough people who have," Tiana answered. Recapturing her smile, she politely added, "If you're interested in voodoo and local folklore, there are tons of tours that'll tell you all about it."

"We're more interested in the folklore that isn't on the tours," Regina replied. "In fact, if you're willing to give us a personal tour and share some of your stories, we'll be happy to compensate you for your time."

"I work too much to be chauffeuring around a bunch of tourists. No offense," the waitress said before she took their money and went to the register to cash out the check.

"For someone who doesn't believe in magic…she seemed really nervous about Facilier," Emma noted.

"My thoughts exactly," Regina agreed.

"She knows more than she's letting on. We need to convince her to give us that tour."

Tiana walked back over to them, looking around the table and saying, "It was nice meeting you. I hope you enjoy your stay."

Another waitress came bustling up, pleading, "Ti…Ti…please? Please can I have your shift tomorrow? I really need the money."

"I told you, I need it too," Tiana replied, irritated with the other girl's pleading, especially in front of customers.

"I think we can come up with a solution to suit all of our needs. You could give us that tour," Regina suggested. "That way your friend can work your shift here, and you can make some easy money on the side. Everyone wins."

"It's a double shift on Saturday. That's my best day," Tiana countered.

"What do you usually make?" Regina asked.

"One-fifty…sometimes two-hundred. Depending."

"We'll pay two," Emma offered, sensing that Tiana was somehow the key to finding what they needed to find.

Suspiciously, Tiana asked, "What exactly is it you all want me to show you that you're willing to fork over two hundred dollars?"

"Nothing freaky," Emma reassured her. "We just want to hear some of the stories that aren't on the tours. About Odalee. Do you know where she lived?"

"Sure. Lots of kids used to go poking around there."

"Maybe you could take us there?"

Tiana laughed, "You think you all are ready to go traipsing through swampland?"

"Absolutely."

"Alright," Tiana finally said, shaking her head as she obviously questioned their readiness. "But I get paid before we leave. And don't try anything funny…I'm not afraid to defend myself."

"You got it," Emma said. "Do you want us to meet you at your house?"

"Hell no," Tiana answered. "I'm not telling you all where I live. Outside here. Tomorrow morning at nine. Be on time. And be ready, the bayou isn't some walk in the park. There are snakes. Alligators. Leeches. Mosquitoes."

"We'll be ready," Regina said.

Tiana paused for a moment before she left and added, "One more thing."

"Name it," Emma responded.

"That man you mentioned earlier…"

"Fac—"

"Yea. Him," Tiana interrupted. "Don't say his name around me. I don't want to talk about him. I'm not taking you to see him. If anyone starts bugging me about him, asking questions, I'm done with our tour. Are we clear?"

"Absolutely," Emma answered.

As they left the tavern, Robin asked, "Are you certain that's an agreement that should have been made? Isn't Facilier the one we need to actually find?"

"I think this will put us on the right track," Emma replied. "Besides, if my gut is correct…he'll come find us."

They walked down through an open square, finding tables with Tarot card readers, fortune tellers and vendors who were just packing up their things for the night. Killian walked hand-in-hand with Emma as they navigated through the crowd, following Henry so they could keep him in sight. They nearly cleared the crowd when an aged woman grabbed Killian's arm with a force that seemed too strong for her condition. She had unkempt hair that jutted in every direction around her head, her eyes were sunken and bloodshot, and the way she moved and spoke made her seem positively unhinged. "You're an old soul," the woman began.

"Pardon?" Killian asked.

"You're an old soul," she repeated. "And you're not of this world."

"I've no idea what you're talking about," he immediately rebuffed.

"You're from a distant world, one that cannot be easily reached. You bear the burden of a thousand sins, but there's no need to carry that weight on your heart, for your good deeds will erase the debt from your soul." The woman grinned when she realized she had his attention, and then she added, "For a few dollars, I'll tell you your future."

"You don't want to know too much about your future," Regina cautioned. "It's dangerous."

"And this woman's a fraud. A con artist," Emma added, tugging Killian's arm.

The old woman frowned and hurried in front of them, tripping forward into Killian. As he caught her, she stared into his eyes and said, "Heed these words…An ally will be revealed in the wink of an eye. When the time comes to seize your destiny, you will find greater power in a gleaming smile than a star of amethyst."

Killian's head tilted as he listed to her words, his allies gathered around him, and then the lady extricated herself from his grasp and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Long after they returned to the Jolly Roger for the remainder of the night, the words of the old woman echoed in their minds. Was she a fraud whose words were meaningless? Was she a pawn sent by Facilier to manipulate them? Or did this crazy, scattered old woman really have insight into the future?