A/N Hey guys! Here's the next chapter. Spoiler Alert- It's a cliffhanger. And hopefully this chapter will give our book 2,000+ reads! XD Thank you sooo much! Don't forget to Review and Share! :D
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Nova's POV
I open the door, causing the bell to go off. "Mr. Gold?"
"Back here, Nova." I walk to the back corner of the store where he was putting a scarf on a hanger. "What can I help you with?"
I sigh, "It's Destiny. She hasn't come home from her date with Graham last night."
Gold picks up a box and places it on a shelf, "Well have you talked to Graham?"
"Of course. He said that everything was perfect until the end. He said that she saw Emma with a guy and freaked out. I can only guess that the guy was Killian."
"Oh! Speaking of him, I did a little digging and it turns out that making him forget wasn't part of the spell. And I have a feeling that Cora has something to do with it."
"Well, can you undo it?"
He shakes his head, "No. But I know who can."
I make a face, "Who?"
"Destiny."
I groan, "She has no magic! The town has no magic!"
Mr. Gold just smiles, "Well I guess I'll just have to bring it back."
I frown at Gold, unsure what he's talking about. But I nod anyway.
"Ok, while you're... Trying to bring magic back, I'm going to go search for Destiny. If she passes by your shop, let me know," I call as I rush out of the door.
I stand outside of Gold's shop, searching my surroundings. Where do I start finding her? As though my thoughts were heard, I notice Emma walking across the street.
"Emma!" I shout. I run towards her. Hearing my voice, she turns to me.
"Hey. Everything ok?" She asks. I stop before her.
"No. Not really. Destiny's gone missing. I haven't seen her since last night." Emma frowns at the news.
"You sure she's gone missing? Maybe she stayed at a friend's or something?" I shake my head at her suggestion.
"Destiny's not like that. Have you seen her around? Graham told me she saw you yesterday with some guy?" I ask. Emma shakes her head.
"No, sorry. I didn't see her yesterday at the time. Though that guy was annoying. Couldn't stop flirting. If I hadn't walked away, I would have kissed him with my fist." I laugh.
"If I ever see this guy, I'll pass on the message," I say, with Killian in mind. Emma grins.
"I've got to go see Henry now but if I see her, I'll let you know," Emma replies. I thank her before she walks away. I look around, confused once again. I pull my jacket around me, feeling the cold bite away at me.
Where could Destiny have gone? I think. I feel uneasiness overwhelm me. Something is definitely wrong. I decide to ask the locals at the diner if they had seen Destiny. But as expected, they hadn't.
I exit the diner and notice a dark figure across the road. I narrow my eyes. Killian is leaning near a shop from across the diner. His eyes wander around, in search of something. They stop on me. He slowly grins.
Irritated, I rush over to him.
"Well, what do we have here? You're clearly not the beautiful, blonde haired maiden I saw yesterday," he jokes.
"That would be my friend you're talking about. Just to let you know, she's clearly not interested in you." Killian smirks and straightens up.
"That's what they always say," he replies. I fold my arms.
"Why are you here? Thanks to your little flirting act yesterday, my friend's disappeared."
"What could I have possibly-" At that moment, I cut him short.
"Why are you acting like this, Killian? You and Destiny were inseparable and now, you're just acting like a jerk!" Killian glares into my face. An unfamiliar darkness could be seen in his eyes.
"First of all, I prefer to be called Captain Hook and second, I do not know what you are blubbering about but I do not know this Destiny companion of yours. So if I were you, I would walk away right now. You wouldn't want to see my bad side."
Reluctantly, I step back. I had hoped, for Destiny's sake, that he was still the same Killian, but now I know he isn't. And I doubt he'd ever be. Shooting a glare back at him, I walk away.
How am I going to tell Destiny about Killian? I groan and pull out my phone, hoping for any messages. As I fumble with the phone I'm suddenly forced back. I look up and start to apologize but the words freeze in my throat. "Destiny! Oh thank goodness! I've been worried sick!"
Destiny's POV
I pull down my shirt, tugging at the edge nervously. "I'm sorry. I-" I stop. How can I tell my best friend that a curse that I had forgotten about and that she doesn't even know about is taking over. "Okay. I haven't been completely honest with you…"
Nova tilts her head in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"Well, when I was born Mother always said I was special. I didn't realize at the time that being special meant that…" I pause, taking a deep breath, "I was cursed."
Her mouth drops open and before she could say anything I continue, "I didn't know I was cursed until I started working with Rumplestiltskin. He felt the curse on me the first moment he saw me. But him being the person he is, he didn't tell me until years later..."
"Oh Dearie!" I groan and roll out of bed.
I try to adjust my tired eyes towards Rumplestiltskin.
"Can I not have a day when I don't have to hear your cackling voice?" I moan. I run a hand through my hair, feeling it get caught in a tangle as Rumplestiltskin giggles.
"You should know by now that moaning like a silly child will get you nowhere, dearie. Besides, I find no pleasure in waking you and may I remind you that-"
"I agreed to your silly price. Yes, I know." He grins triumphantly.
"Good. Now when you look like yourself, I expect to see you in the living room. There is something I need you to do," he replies before disappearing.
I stretch my arms out and start tidying myself up. I rush into the living room, finding rumple examining a page of a book.
"So, what is it that you need?" I ask as I join him. Rumple points at a plant looking object in the book.
"This. It's a very powerful herb and is extremely rare to find. But don't worry, nothing is rare in the enchanted forest." He grins towards me. I look back at the page.
"Why do you need it?" Rumple's head snaps towards me.
"That, dearie, is for my knowledge only. It's not poisonous if that is what you're concerned about."
"No. I was simply curious," I reply, forgetting how secretive Rumple could be. Suddenly, an irritating pain lingers near my wrist. I glance down and rub it.
"Something wrong?" I look back up at Rumple. I pull my sleeve down. I shake my head. Rumple raises an eyebrow at me before sending me off.
I search around the forest, cutting at branches in my way. I shield my eyes from the bright sunlight that had escaped the trees above. Slowly, I catch a glimpse of something. I move further in to find the plant I'm looking for. I bend down and cut at some of the roots. I shove the plants into my bag.
I slowly get to my feet. Out of nowhere, a sharp, irritating pain starts to spread across my body. I scream, falling to my knees. I stare at my hands, noticing black veins. I hug myself as I try to control the pain. Tears stream down my cheeks.
I feel a movement beside me. I glance up to find Rumple. He holds my arm and transports us back to his castle. Rumple lets go of my arm and removes my bag from me. I try to sit up on the floor, but I couldn't. My vision goes blurry.
I hear Rumple making something at the table. After a few minutes, he kneels down and hands me a cup of some purple liquid.
"Drink it. It should help lessen your pain." I hold the cup with both hands and start to drink it. I give the cup back, feeling a sour aftertaste in my mouth. I look down at my hands. The black veins slowly fade away with the pain.
"When did this pain start?" Rumple asks me. I struggle to my feet.
"In the morning. What's wrong with me?" Rumple looks towards me.
"I'm afraid you're cursed. I'm not sure how or who could have done this but that's the truth. I had hoped this wouldn't affect you but clearly, it has," he explains. I freeze.
"You knew I was cursed? What didn't you tell me!" I yell.
"Like I already mentioned, I thought this wouldn't affect your work for me. I chose not to say anything, thinking that you knew." I glare at him. Unable to say anything else, I storm out of the room, slamming the doors.
"Ever since then I've been cautious about losing control but since we've been in Storybrooke I'd totally forgotten about it!"
"So.." Nova pauses, "This curse, it's coming back?"
"To be honest, I think it's always been with me."
Nova takes my hand. She notices the faint black veins.
"Does Gold still have that plant thing he gave you?" She asks. I think for a moment before answering.
"I'm not sure. It would help with the pain but it won't cure it," I say gravely. Nova looks up at me with deep concern.
"We've got to get to Gold now. Maybe he can help in some way." Before I could even reply, Nova's already dragging me with her. After some time, I speak.
"Nova, I'm sorry I didn't-"
Nova glances back at me. "It's ok. It did shock me but... I understand why you hid it from me." She smiles reassuringly. We stop before Gold's shop to find it closed.
"Closed? Where did Gold go?" I ask.
"Maybe he's actually gone to get magic back." Gold bringing magic back? I widen my eyes.
"No... No, he can't do that. Nova, we've got to get to him,"
"What do you mean? Destiny, it's a good thing. We need magic." I shake my head. Why is this happening? If we bring magic back, then...
"You don't get it, Nova. If we bring magic back, it will strengthen my curse..." I pace backwards and forwards. Nova leans against the door.I run a hand through my hair.
"That Killian guy always seems to cause trouble. I don't know what you saw in him," she mutters. I stop and glare at Nova.
"Excuse me?"
Nova walks to me."Look, I know you like him. But he's not the guy you know anymore. He's made that very clear." I frown.
"That's because he doesn't remember me. When we get his memories back, he'll be the sweet Killian I know." Nova shakes her head.
"That's why Gold is bringing magic back. He says that you are the only one who can make him remember. By using magic." Hope floods through me. I blink back my tears.
"Then I guess I don't care if my curse gets stronger. All I would want is Killian back." Nova lets out an annoyed sigh.
"I can't believe this. Killian is not worth more than your life. What about me? Is what I think no longer important now?"
"Of course it's important. But if this is the only way to help Killian, then I will do it. I thought you'd understand..." My heart beat speeds up and I feel the veins, that were once painful but now only offer a sense of power, fly across my skin. "You said you'd understand!" Sparks fly from my hands and I watch Nova press herself against the door.
"Destiny! Calm down! This isn't you!"
"What if it is? Huh! Would you still love me if I was a villain? What if I'm meant to be evil? I mean I WAS born with this curse. Maybe it's a sign!" My hands heat up even more. "There might not be magic in Storybrooke but unlucky for you, I've always had the power. I just never had a reason to use it!" With that, I push my hands forward and before the blast could hit Nova, a purple cloud appears in front of her. When the smoke clears, she was no longer there. I look around in anger. I spot her further down the road. Before I could cast again, the smoke surrounds me and in a matter of seconds, I'm transported into what looked like a Captain's Room on a ship.
"That wasn't nice, Destiny."
I spin around and throw a fireball in the voice's direction. I watch it burn a hole in the wall. "Cora. Why did you take me?"
"Oh you'll thank me later, darling. You'd never forgive yourself if you had hurt that weird little girl."
"I would watch who you say weird to," I remark. A purple smoke twirls in front of me. It disappears, leaving Cora's smug face behind. She places her hands on her hips.
"You confuse me sometimes, dear. One moment, you care for this girl. And then the moment she says something about your love, you're ready to rip her head off. I must say, I do find it amusing when you lose it."
I clench my fists.
"I'm sure you didn't call me here to analyse me. What do you want, Cora?" Cora's smile widens.
"Always straight to the point." She circles around me slowly.
"You know, we can help each other. Why should we waste time being enemies when we can be a perfect team?" She stops before me. I raise an eyebrow.
"What makes you think I would even consider us working together?" Cora stays quiet for a moment. Her way of creating suspense.
"I can cure your curse. Does that change anything?" I grow uneasy.
"And I'm guessing you want something in return. You know, you're sounding a lot like Rumplestiltskin." Cora smirks. She walks closer to me.
"Don't worry. It's something you can do fairly well. Now do we have a deal or not?"
"Count me out. I'd rather die with the curse than help you," I reply. A sharp pain sparks through my arm. I bury my pain inside. Cora's face hardens with disappointment.
"That's a shame. Here I was, thinking you would care more about your mother's friend?"
"You might've been my mother's friend, but you are no friend of mine. And keep my mother out of this! Now before I burn a hole into your pathetic head, i'm going to leave." As I try to walk past her, Cora grabs hold of my neck and pushes me against the wall. The impact triggers my veins to tighten. I gasp in pain.
"You always make it ridiculously hard. You're just like your mother. Stubborn. I gave you a chance to join me. That will not be a mistake I'll make again," she spits. I struggle under her grasp.
"You can kill me if you want. You can't change... My mind," I groan. Cora grins with the corner of her mouth.
"I won't have to. I'll see you soon Destiny. You'll come to me, begging for my help."
She moves her hand across my face. A faint purple smoke escapes from her fingers. I cough as I feel it mask my face. Before I could say anything, I black out.