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The magic lessons continued. Emma could lift things with her mind, it was fun. She would sit in her room moving things. Like the clothes she had dropped on the floor. She could easily put them in the box of dirty ones. She couldn't do heavy things though.

She wished her magic was going toward something more important than cleaning her room but she knew Regina would find out. She needed to learn more things before she would be able to defend herself against Regina and escape.

Regina had taught her some more magic. She could make potions for saving people. She felt more like a pharmacist with that. But there was other more important magic like turning a bug into a rock.

Regina wouldn't go very large with any magic. Emma knew why, obviously Regina didn't want her to become too powerful. Emma had an idea about that though, the book Regina used. Emma knew that it would teach her much more than Regina herself could. Emma planned on stealing it. Regina kept it hidden under her pillow.

That night Emma was going to take it. Since Regina would be sleeping she knew Regina wouldn't be watching. For extra measure Emma had recruited a young woman from the kitchen into helping her. Her name was Isabel.

Isabel was going to stand watch for guards while Emma snuck inside and grabbed it. Emma thought it was a very flawless plan. Isabel thought so as a day or two they would put it back and they would be save.

As night came around Emma went to Isabel's quarters. All the kitchen staff slept in the same big room with beds that looked like the ones that were down in the dungeon. She felt bad for them. Her room was ten times better and she didn't even work.

The kitchen staff got three meals, which consisted of bread and broth. This was part of their payment. That and somewhere to sleep at night. They didn't even get paid. Emma couldn't imagine living like that.

Isabel and all the kitchen staff never complained though. They told her stories about living in the streets. Reassuring Emma that they were blessed that at least they had food in there stomachs and a roof over their head.

Emma knew what it was like to live in the streets never knowing when her next meal would be. That's why she didn't budge them on it.

Isabel sat wide awake on her bed, Emma quickly went inside to tell her it was time. Emma made sure that they were quite. If any of the kitchen staff found out Emma knew that they might tell. Not all of them were kind like Isabel.

Once they were safely out they made their way to Regina's chambers. Emma crawled inside. Moving on her hands and knees so that if Regina did wake up she wouldn't see her.

As she reached the side of the bed with the pillow Regina moved a little. Emma could feel her heart beat really fast. She didn't even want to know what Regina might do if she found her there.

Emma waited a second and she heard Regina's soft snoring continue. She exhaled softly crawling the rest of the way to the nightstand. She reached up from down on the floor and tried to put her hand under Regina's pillow.

Emma suddenly felt Regina's cold hand touch hers. Regina brought her head down looking at Emma and said "what the hell are you doing."

Emma said "well I was, I was..."

Regina said "get up off of the floor, and tell me."

Emma did just that, she stood there mortified. She needed to come up with something and fast. Emma quietly said "I had a bad dream, I didn't know if you would appreciate me coming in here. So I hid. I feel save when when I'm around you. But if you want me to go, I understand."

Emma tried to walk out the door but Regina stopped her, by grabbing her arm and bringing her close. Regina said " I would never mind you coming here, come sit with me."

Emma did just that, she would need to pretend that she did have this nightmare if she wanted Regina to believe her story.

Regina patted the other side of the bed, Emma made her way there. Regina put her arm around Emma and said "so what happened in this dream."

Emma said "you wouldn't want to know, it's about my birth parents."

Regina's demeanor changed into a sort of angry one as she said "you can tell me Emma."

Emma had hoped Regina wouldn't of asked. She said "my mother and father had turned evil."

Regina said "don't worry about that Emma, your parents are as good as anyone could be. They are never going to turn evil. Those idiots will forever be good."

Emma said "well you were good and you turned evil so why couldn't they." Emma gave herself kudos for coming up with that. She sounded very convincing.

Regina became very quiet as she said "some people are just born evil."

Emma said "that's ridiculous, people are not born evil. You have a choice to be good or bad. You choose to be evil, my parents choose to be good."

Regina didn't seem to like that as she said "I never had a choice."

Emma said "yes your circumstances were becoming, but it's never too late to be a good person."

Regina said "for me, yes it is. After all the horrible things I have done. There is no coming back from that."

Emma said "that's just what you think, remember you were trying to be good before all of this. It's still possible."

Regina said "being good got me nowhere. I was alone. We are done talking about this. Now you can either sleep with me or go back to your own room."

Emma was about to say she would go to her own room when she had an idea. She could still get the book today. She could easily get it from under Regina's pillow when she fell back to sleep.

Emma said "I'm going to sleep with you, I'm still a little shaken."

Regina's lips formed a smile as she lifted up the blankets. Emma slipped inside, she found this very awkward. Regina said "goodnight Emma."

Emma said "good night Regina."

Regina said "what have I told you about that."

Emma clenched her fists as she said "goodnight mother." Emma could have screamed. Emma didn't particularly hate Regina but she wasn't her mother. She never would be.

Emma waited almost an hour before her heard Regina's snoring. Emma called out her name for save measures but there was no response.

Her hand quickly went under Regina's pillow, she quickly snatched the book. She made her way down the corridor down to her room. She placed the book under her mattress before making her way back to Regina's room. She had to so Regina wouldn't find out about the book.

Once Emma was back in bed it didn't take her long to fall asleep. It had been a long night.

XxxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxX

That morning Emma woke up to find Regina was gone. Emma never woke up early. Her early was ten. Regina had never liked this about her.

Emma went downstairs to the dining hall to get some breakfast. She found Regina there, she looked a little grumpy. She always was in the morning. But she didn't seem to be terribly upset which meant she didn't know about the book.

Once Emma walked in Regina have her a disgusted look. Emma said "what now."

Regina said "you really should be dressed before coming down here. A lady shouldn't come down before she has freshened up. Just try to make an effort for your people."

Emma giggled to herself a little as she said "they're not my people. There yours, but sure. I'll make an effort next time."

Emma rolled her eyes, taking a piece of toast and coffee before making her way back upstairs to her room.

She took the book into the bathroom where Emma knew Regina wouldn't watch her. She scanned the book, writing down spells she knew she might need. It took her most of the day but by supper she had searched through the book three times.

All she would have to do now was put it back. Before dinner Emma made her way to the kitchen to find Isabel. Emma found her cutting onions. When Isabel saw her she said "when I noticed you didn't come out, I thought you were caught."

Emma said "I wasn't, I made something up which Regina fell for. I got the book, but I need your help bringing it back tonight. I don't want Regina to find out."

Isabel said "the queen won't, not if we bring it back tonight. You can't come to the kitchen staffs quarter tonight. There is a rumor going around that someone is helping you. I'll meet you at your bedroom."

Emma nodded. Even though butterflies filled her stomach. If there were rumors Regina would find out soon. She just hoped the book would be back before then.

Dinner was the same as usual, which meant Regina didn't know anything. At the end Regina picked up a box and said "I have gotten you a gift."

Emma took it, she really wondered what it could be. When she opened it she found a leather bracelet. Almost like a cuff. Emma said "what's this for."

Regina said "it helps concentrate your mind while you're doing magic."

Emma became excited as she said "really, does that mean I can do harder spells?"

Regina said "yes we will start tomorrow, I think it's time."

Emma quickly put the cuff around her wrist. She looked down at her fork and she tried very hard to move it but it just wouldn't. When she looked up at Regina she found malice in her eyes and a smirk across her lips as she said "you really think I wouldn't notice, I warned you dear."

Emma tried to rip the cuff off but it wouldn't budge. She looked at Regina and said "take this off of me right now."

Regina said "not a chance, you cannot be trusted. I thought I could give you at least a little magic, but of course you ruined that didn't you."

Emma said "Regina I'm truly sorry, you can trust me. Please take this off of me."

Regina said "when you show me you can be trusted then maybe but until then, there will be no magic for you."

Emma crossed her arms, looking down at the said "Isabel is it, I'm very sorry my daughter has brought you into her little crusade. You will have to pay for her mistake."

Emma looked up to find Isabel's heart in Regina's hand. Emma said "no Regina you don't have to do this. She has done nothing wrong. I convinced her to help me. Don't kill her."

Regina said "someone has to be punished for your mistakes."

Emma said "remember how we talked about how your decisions make you evil. This makes you evil."

Regina said "I am evil Emma, that's not going to change if I don't teach this girl a lesson."

Emma said " yes it does, it does to me. You don't have to kill her. Look at her she is terrified, she isn't going to help me ever again."

Regina looked down at the heart for a second before putting it back inside the girl. Emma exhaled sharply as she said "thank you."

Regina looked at the young girl in front of her and said "if I even catch you looking Emma's way I will fire you. Now get out of my sight." The young girl bowed and said "yes my queen." Before quickly leaving the room.

Regina herself stood up and said "I have places guards in front of your door, I want you to go to your room and stay there until I tell you you can get out. I will have someone from the kitchen staff bring you your meals."

Emma nodded before standing up and making her way there.