Destiny's POV:
In the blink of an eye, my vision is clouded with green smoke. Once dissipated, I take in my new surroundings. It looked like a spacious warehouse. I turn towards Regina who also takes in her surroundings.
Grinning widely, Zelena strolls away from us, circling around the center of the room as though avoiding something. I raise an eyebrow at the ground.
In the center of the room, is a circle engraved into the ground. Four circles are drawn on the round edge of the main circle, where ingredients lay. Including Mary Margaret's baby, sound asleep. I silently sigh with relief.
"That's much better. Now that it's just us, we won't be distracted by unwanted attention." Zelena says.
"I'm flattered you wanted us all to yourself," Regina remarks, smiling with the corner of her mouth.
Zelena flings her cloak behind her as she twirls around to face us. She lets out a small laugh.
"Dearest sis, you never cease to mock me. But that won't matter when I destroy you both and open this portal right before your eyes," she sneers, approaching us.
I smile.
"I'd like to see you try. Just because you have my curse, it doesn't mean you're invincible." Zelena's lips quirk up.
"Oh, but this is different. Because my mother kindly bestowed the curse on you and I happen to be her daughter, the curse is more… compatible to my blood than it was to yours. So you see, dear. The curse prefers me," Zelena explains with triumph.
My jaw slightly clenches. But I disguise it with a carefree smile.
"So what if the curse likes you better? It was my tribe that brought magic to the world. So, dear, I'd watch how smug you are," I counter.
Zelena's smile fades into a frown.
"You think you're more powerful? Why don't we put this to the test?" Zelena's eyes cloud with darkness, her dark smoke tentacles stretch out behind her.
I turn to Regina and signal towards the circle. Regina nods with understanding.
I produce a magic ball in my hand and step back, creating more of a distance.
"Now, now. We haven't even started yet," Zelena coos, grinning at my retreat. She stalks towards me. Smirking, I aim it at her. She swats it away with one of her tentacles. As I distract her, I glance towards Regina who sneaks behind and rushes to the circle. But Zelena senses what she's up to and aimed her tentacle at her.
"Regina!" I yell. But I'm cut short as one of Zelena's tentacles slams into my stomach. I crush back into the ground, the air escaping out of my lungs. Regaining my breath, I struggle back to my feet.
I widen my eyes as Zelena strolls to Regina. Clenching my fist, I punch the ground. Whispers of cracks can be heard before it grows louder. The cracks deepen and travel towards Zelena.
Caught off guard, Zelena spins around and dodges the cracks underneath her, only to stumble clumsily to the ground. Wasting no time, Regina grabs her heart from the ground and rushes to Mary Margaret's baby, hauling him into her arms. She casts a brief look at me, her face promising her return, before she disappeared in purple smoke.
"Nooo!" Zelena screams, her voice eerily echoic.
"That's the problem with you, Zelena. You can never hold onto what you want," I smirk.
Zelena stumbles to her feet, her endless dark eyes glaring at me.
"You are asking for a death wish," Zelena threatens. I smile defiantly.
"Was that not what you had planned? Or were you just using your dear mother's curse to do party tricks?" I add fuel to her growing fire. Zelena's tentacles tense up around her, their sharp points angled my way.
"Well, that's a start," I tease. Letting out a growl, Zelena tries to stab me with her tentacles. I dodge each stab, struggling to keep my footing as they strike more and more. I hide my face behind my right elbow, a magical shield materialising around it. The tentacles chip at the shield like a nail against glass.
I circle around her and attack back with shots of magic.
"Do you still consider this a party trick?!" Zelena yells, a sly smile across her face. I ignore her remark and focus on my shattering shield. Zelena sure does have a temper. Panic sneaks into my mind. I need to do something before her tentacle finds its way into my heart.
Chip. Chip. Chip. Zelena smiles darkly as her tentacle jabs a hole into my shield. On cue, I dissolve the shield and hold my hands up above me. Seeing her chance, Zelena summons all her tentacles at once. They all aim at me like a single blade.
Heart pounding fiercely, I urge heat to flow through my veins, up to my hands. Gradually, my hands heat up, glowing a brilliant, orange yellow light. Before the tentacles could reach my head, the heat glides around me into the shape of a dome. I press my eyes closed, praying for the shield to withstand her attack. To my success, Zelena cries out in pain.
I peel open my eyes to find Zelena stumbling back, her face distort at the burning tentacles around her, their dark matter dripping to the ground. I splay out my arms, vanishing the shield. Zelena's breathing becomes ragged. Her eyes dart to me.
"I will not lose to you!" Zelena screams. Before I could react, she thrust out her arm to me, her magic wrapping itself around my throat. Her hand starts to close slowly, almost making a fist. My throat starts to close up. Panic-stricken, I rub at my throat, unable to rid myself of this suffocating feeling.
Zelena smiles darkly.
"I've got you now, Destiny."
My face burns up. I rattle my brain for a solution, but all I can think of is my throat blocking up. As my eyes betray me and start to close, Zelena's triumphant laugh grows muffled as it reaches my ears.
Regina's POV:
As the purple smoke fades, I find myself before a bemused Henry and the rest of the group.
"Mom!" Henry cries with relief, slamming into me. I stumble back slightly, sparing a hand to ruffle his hair.
"Regina!" I look over Henry to find Robin rushing to me, his face flooded with relief. Before I could greet him, he pulls my face to his and kisses me. He pulls back, a one sided grin on his face. My face flushes. I brace myself for Henry's questioning look.
"Mom…" Henry trails off, his eyes switching from me to Robin Hood. Robin glances at me, an apology on his face. I ruffle Henry's hair again.
"I'll explain everything later," I say to him. He nods slowly, a cheeky grin on his face.
"Regina!" Mary Margaret says, her smile widening at the sight of her child. She hurries to me and takes the child into her arms. Robin Hood steps back. David and Emma stalk behind her, cooing at the now-awake child. I smile warmly at them whilst hugging Henry. My smile fades as Nova approaches me, her worried face asking me a silent question. Where is Destiny?
I break out of Henry's hug.
"Destiny… wanted me to get Mary Margaret's baby back to Mary Margaret. I'm going back to help Destiny," I quickly say before Nova could ask. Nova nods slowly, her face still wearing a worried look.
"Just make sure she's ok. I know Destiny is powerful and all but Zelena is unpredictable," Nova says. I nod in return. She pulls a small smile.
I turn my attention to my hand where my heart rested. Sighing with relief, I penetrate it into my chest. But the heart refused to enter, instead, causing a slight spark of magic to erupt. It hit me like a small breeze. I stare at it, my eyebrows raised. It should have gone in… unless… unless Zelena had cast a spell on it.
I grit my teeth. When I see her again, I will make her suffer.
"Henry. Can you keep this safe for me?" I place my heart into his already- cupped hands. His eyes widen with awe as the heart pulsed and glowed. He nods at me.
"Sure. Be careful," he replies.
Nodding, I raise my hand.
"Wait!" Mary Margaret yells. I stare at her.
She approaches me, David and Emma following behind.
"We're coming with you," she decides. I shake my head.
"I may be powerful, but transporting four people is going to be a task," I argue. They exchange glances.
"We can't let you and Destiny fight her alone. Destiny has done enough for us. We need to help you," David replies, his face as determined as Mary Margaret's. I roll my eyes.
"I know you like being the hero, but now is not the time. I need to get to Destiny before Zelena skewers her with her tentacles."
"Fine. Take me with you."
We all glance at Emma. Mary Margaret tries to protest but David stops her.
"I may not have my magic, but I can fight. I'm the savior for a reason." Emma persists. I sigh.
"Fine. You can come. If no one has any other ideas…" I trail off. David sighs.
"I don't usually agree with Regina. But she's right," David replies, giving Mary Margaret a slow nod. I glance at Mary Margaret who stared at Emma reluctantly, before slowly nodding.
"Great. Can we get a move along now?"
"Wait! Emma is going to need a weapon and my sword seems to have gone…" I sigh. Before David could finish, I materialise a sword from thin air. I throw it to Emma who catches the hilt with one hand. I give her my can-we-go-now look.
Grinning, Emma rushes to me and grips my hand firmly. Nodding, I twirl my fingers, surrounding us with purple smoke.
Destiny's POV:
A sudden warmth floods me, taking me by surprise. The numbing pain starts to dissolve inside me. I open my eyes with ease, seeing Zelena's victorious grin. Zelena raises her eyebrows. I touch my neck, feeling my throat opening up. I gulp down air eagerly. What is happening?
A cluster of tension forms in the palm of my hand. I flip my hand over, noticing my veins growing visible in a purple colour, my other hand reflecting the same thing. I take a deep breath. Thank God for my power. I glance up, grinning at Zelena's mortified look as she realizes her hold is broken.
"I'll give it to you. You almost got me there." I stalk to her. She slowly steps back with each of my steps. I hold out my palm, summoning my magic to its center.
"But did you honestly believe that you could defeat me with that curse?" I say. Zelena shrugs.
"It was worth a try, I guess," Zelena replies with a small smile on her face.
I stop. She stops.
"Now here's what's going to happen. You're going to let me take you to the sheriff's office hassle free and I won't burn you to ashes. How's that?" I negotiate, angling my hand so she can see my magic. Zelena pulls a close- lipped smile.
"I know you wouldn't burn me. You've gone all nice after I took the curse from you." Zelena's face grows soft.
"All I want to do is cast the spell and fix my past. Do I not have a right?"
"Not when it comes to ruining someone else's life."
Zelena shakes her head.
"Did you never once hate Regina?" I raise an eyebrow.
"It was her mother that killed your mother. She even cursed you! And not once did you feel revenge burn inside you, consuming all your sane thoughts until it was all you can think about? I find that hard to believe," Zelena stirs. I shake my head with disbelief.
I knew what she was trying to do. Regina and I have been friends for so long and it felt good having her back. But I can't stop Zelena's words filling my heart with uncertainty.
Keeping my face neutral, I reply, "Why would I want to take revenge on Regina? Cora was never a loving mother to her and Regina couldn't have stopped her mother from cursing me. You should be glad that you didn't have to live with Cora. Are you not tired of hating your sister?" Zelena tries to protest but I ignore her.
"Forget the past, Zelena. Living in the past never helps anyone. Stop this stupid jealousy and sort things out with Regina. Build that family bond you always wanted." I dissolve my magic and hold my hand out. A sign of peace.
Tears spill from Zelena's eyes, her face displaying her mixed emotions. Silence wraps around us both, growing more and more suffocating.
Finally, Zelena stares at me. A sudden shiver rushes down my spine.
A tentacle slams against my face, throwing me towards the circles on the ground.
The impact freezes me for a moment before I glance back at Zelena, a surprised but pitiful look on my face. What did I expect from a witch?
"Why should I build a bond with the daughter that got it all? I have a right to the past Regina had. I have a right to be queen. And now that I have the chance… why let it go to waste?" she justified, her face crazed by the temptation.
I try to get to my feet, but something glints in my direction. I narrow my eyes.
A few inches away, David's sword rested, half broken. My mind reverts back to that night, when Zelena had taken my curse. My cheek had felt sore the next day, as though it was cut and healed up. I raise my eyebrows.
If Zelena had cut my cheek to get my curse, then maybe...
I lay on my back and face Zelena. Without realizing, Zelena had still been talking.
"I know you lied when you said you didn't want to hurt Regina. How could you not? I would hate to put an end to you and let all that magic go to waste. So why don't we make a deal?" She strolls to me.
Ever so slightly, I shift back. Zelena pulls a wicked smile. Exactly what I wanted. Behind me, I stretch out my hand, fumbling for the sword. My heart relaxes as I feel the firm hilt of the sword. I grip it and slide the sword behind me, careful to angle it away from my back.
I stop moving and let Zelena approach me. She kneels down, her face looming over me.
"If you let me cast the curse and get rid of Regina, I'll ensure that my mother doesn't kill yours. I'm sure you loved your mother dearly…" She trails off, waiting for my reaction.
I pretend to be thoughtful. I pull a small smile.
"You're right. I did love my mother dearly. And as tempting as it is, I know my mother wouldn't want me to so I think I'll pass." With a quick breath, I slash the broken sword across Zelena's face. Zelena screeches, her hand hovering near her cut cheek.
A drop of blood falls on my hand, stimulating my power. Whilst Zelena was distracted, I raise my hand and slowly lower it. The dark mist of the curse emerges from Zelena and attracts to my hand like a magnet. It slowly absorbs into my skin.
Before warning alarms sound in my head, the curse clouds my mind. I shiver as the familiar darkness blind me. I notice purple smoke erupting into the room before the curse consumes me.
Regina's POV:
As the smoke faded, I stare blankly at the sight before me. Zelena slumps to the ground, gingerly feeling her fresh wound on her cheek. I switch to Destiny. Destiny shakes viciously, awkwardly sitting on her knees. She crouches over her knees. A purple aura lingers around her like steam.
"Destiny!" I rush to her whilst Emma handles Zelena. Gently, I roll her shoulders back, forcing her to look at me.
"Destiny..." I trail off as Destiny opens her eyes. Her eye colour flashes from brown to solid black. A breath catches in my chest. Destiny, what have you done?
I touch her cheek.
"Destiny. Fight the curse. You are more stronger than you were before. Do not let it consume you again," I plead. Destiny stares blankly at me before whispering.
"Get away from me, Regina. I don't think I can hold it back." She jerks back and glances upwards. The veins in her neck start to darken.
I pull her face towards me with both hands.
"You can. Do you hear me? I am not going to lose my friend to the curse. Not again," I whisper. Destiny smiles sadly before the purple aura slams into me.
I stumble back, adjusting my balance. Destiny collapses to the ground, the aura dissipating. I sigh with relief. She had done it…
"Get out of my way, savior!" I spare a glance at Zelena who shoots Emma with her magic. Emma deflects it with her sword. I aim my magic at Zelena, surprised as a white ball collides into her. I stare at my hands. What's happened to my magic? I think back to Henry. I had broken the curse. Was this a result of it?
"Regina, your magic…" Emma trails off, looking as surprised as I was.
Zelena suddenly laughs.
"Looks like you've gone all soft. At least it'll make it easier for me to kill you!" She yells. She rushes to me, her hand sparking with green magic. A last pathetic attempt at winning. I wait for her to draw closer, forging a hand cuff with my magic.
I glance at Emma who notices the handcuff in my hand. She nods at me. Before Zelena's magic could touch me, Emma intercepts the attack with her sword, reflecting the light back at her. Zelena shields her eyes, stumbling back. Gaining advantage, I clamp the handcuff on the wrists, dissolving her magic.
I step back and grin as Zelena pathetically tries to break free from the cuffs.
Zelena stares up at me.
"Take these off me!" Zelena demands. I shake my head.
"No. Actually, I quite like the look of them on you. If it's the color you're moaning about, I can always change it to suit you?"
Zelena pouts at me.
I take a step towards her.
"You know, I would have felt sorry for you. I don't know about my mother but if you were my child, I would have never abandoned you."
I take another step, now an inch distance between our faces. I bare my teeth at her.
"But you kidnapped my child. You tried to erase me from my existence. And for you to be standing here unscarred… Take that as a blessing in disguise."
Zelena snorts.
"Your speech was really heartfelt but I don't need your pity, sis. And when I find a way to break out of these." Zelena waves her wrists in my face.
"I will erase you," She snarls.
"Then there is no reason you should be alive."
A shiver shakes down my spine at the echoic voice. I knew that voice. I shift my attention to my left where, as I had dreaded, Destiny stands, her black irises aimed at us. Her purple aura lingers around her.
I spare a quick glance at Zelena, whose face pales.
Destiny takes an unstable step towards us.
I step between Destiny and Zelena. I splay my hands towards her.
"Destiny. Please stop. You are not thinking straight." Destiny stares through me as though I was nothing but an obstacle in her way. My heart sinks.
"You don't understand, Regina. I'm thinking more clearly than I have been in the past few days." Destiny straightens up with ease. She's not fighting the power.
"I have tried to do this the right way. But then she kidnapped Nova, almost killed Killian-"
"Which he deserved for his incompetence, dear," Zelena cuts in. I give Zelena a dark glare.
"She even tried to kill you, Regina. How can I let someone like that live?" Destiny continues. She stops an arm's distance away. I avoid staring into her obsidian eyes.
"If you kill her, then you'll be no better than she is," I persuade. She pauses. I hold my breath. Destiny lifts her chin.
"Then so be it. Don't get in my way."
A tentacle stretches from behind her. My eyes widen.
"Destiny, stop!" The tentacle angles towards Zelena. I grit my teeth.
"I'm sorry, Destiny," I whisper.
Before Destiny's tentacle could pierce Zelena's heart, I push Zelena back and burn the tentacle away. I spare a glance at her.
"Emma, get Zelena out of here!"
Emma shakes her head.
"I can't leave you here! Destiny isn't in her right mind!" Emma yells. I step away from Destiny, who steps towards me.
"Now's not the time, swan. Leave or I'll make you leave," I growl, my eyes now on Destiny. I hear a heaved sigh, followed by distant, hurried footsteps.
Destiny stalks to me, her unnerving eyes pinned on me.
"You chose Zelena over me. After everything I've done for you…" Destiny trails off. She tilts her head at me, a predatory look on her face.
I shake my head.
"I did not choose her over you. Zelena will be punished for what she did. But I do not want her blood on your hands. Destiny. I understand how tempting it is to end someone's life. Believe me, that's all my life revolved around. But I resisted it. Snow is still alive. Fight this, Destiny. Do not let my mother win," I say, stopping. I splay my arms out.
I let Destiny approach me. Her face reflects her inner battle between dread and submission.
Until disgust spreads its way across her face.
"I wasted my friendship on you. I should have killed you when I killed your mother," Destiny spits. I try to keep my face neutral but her words sting me more than I wanted them to. Destiny's tentacle peeks out from behind, angled my way.
I grit my teeth. There's only one way I could remove the curse from her.
"Goodbye, Regina." As the tentacle strikes at my chest, I thrust my hand into her chest. I grab hold of her heart.
Destiny gapes, her eyes wide.
With a silent prayer in my head, I squeeze her heart. She lets out a ear piercing scream as black smoke evaporates out of her. The smoke grows thicker and thicker until it is all I can see.
The forest was surprisingly beautiful when bathed in the midday sunlight. I never noticed it before. Never really bothered. There was no room for light in my life, only darkness. Until now.
Turning my gaze away from the magical well, I glance up at the man beside me, his hand firmly around my waist.
As if sensing me, he turned to look at me, a smile creeping across his face.
I sneak an arm around his waist.
"Never did I think I would fall in love with a thief," I say mischievously.
Robin snorts.
"I didn't exactly have it in mind to seduce the evil queen," he retorts. I laugh before a thought takes over. Evil queen. The words feel foreign to me. Almost like a distant memory of my past.
"What's wrong?" Robin asks, searching my face for an answer. I take a sudden interest at the ground. I sigh.
"I used to think that, to get my happily-ever-after, I had to grab it by force. I guess it was something I got from my mother." Robin lets out a breathy laugh.
"I was so wrong. I had hurt countless people because of my hatred towards Snow. If I had just held onto my light, I could have got everything. I would have still been good." I shift my attention to my hands.
"I am not sure if I deserve this light magic," I say, more quietly. But Robin catches onto my words.
He turns me towards him and props my chin up. I resist the urge to divert my gaze.
"Now you listen to me. You may have done a lot of things in your past that you regret. Hell, I'm hardly a saint myself. But what I have seen you do now, how much you care about Henry and also, you saving Destiny… I believe you deserve that magic."
I try to protest but Robin pins me down with a disapproving look.
"See this as a sign, Regina. That you are now on the right path. And whenever you feel like the evil queen might strike." He wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me closer. He stares into my eyes.
"I will be there, pulling you back to the right path. No matter what. Because you are worth it," he whispers, his breath hot against my lips.
My restored heart flutters. I wrap my arms around his neck and smile.
"Well, you are definitely making the right path hard to resist." With a playful grin, I lean in and kiss him. Warmth erupts inside me, addictive like a drug. I pull him closer, wanting more warmth. This is everything I had wanted. Everything I had missed. I had been a fool for guarding my heart.
I pull away, my lips still lingering near his. We exchange hot breaths. Robin's lips quirk to the side.
"You're not a bad kisser," he comments. I grin.
"Neither are you."
A cough sounds beside us. I stiffen. We both turn to find Nova, smiling awkwardly.
"I hate to ruin your moment but Destiny's waking up," she informs. A small smile spreads across her face before she quickly walks away.
I untangle myself from Robin. We both exchange warm smiles before heading towards the magical well.
I had taken a gamble in squeezing Destiny's heart and it had paid off. Enough darkness had drained from her heart that she eventually fainted. I had transported us back to the others, my body shaking from our encounter. Gold had told us that Destiny's curse would still be in her blood and therefore, along with Killian, Robin and Nova, we rushed her to the magical well in the forest.
As we approached, I exchange nods with a relieved Killian. We could see that it had worked. Destiny leans against the stone wall of the well, her arm hanging over the wall. I peer inside the well, watching as the last of her darkness disappeared from her veins.
Destiny's eyelid twitches. Her forehead creases. I sag with relief as Destiny opens her eyes. I take a step after another to her.
I wasted my friendship on you. I should have killed you when I killed your mother…
I ignore Destiny's past words and kneel in front of her.
Calming my sudden frantic heart, I say, "Destiny."
3rd POV:
"You can't lock me in here like a caged animal! Let me out!" Zelena screams, gripping so hard onto the cell bars, her knuckles became white. She shakes at them with all her might, as though she can break them from their hold. But to no avail.
The office speaks silence to her. There is no one here to hear her. No one to help her or care about what she was feeling. Zelena had never let the loneliness sink in, not even when everyone was against her.
But now… letting the silence fill her ears, her heart starts to absorb it in. She even let herself ask: Was it really worth it?
"You should really stop wailing or you'll lose your voice, dearie," a voice calls.
Zelena's throat tightens. Even with the consistent tapping of a stick, she knows Rumple is here. She can smell the revenge pouring from him.
Rumple steps into the light of the lamp above, a sly grin on his face.
"Hello, Zelena…"
Destiny's POV:
Rubbing my arms for warmth, I stare down at Zelena's handiwork. Regina had objected me coming here, not after I had narrowly recovered from Cora's curse. But I couldn't leave a portal unattended. I had stopped Zelena from casting the curse. For my own state of mind, I had to destroy the portal.
Unable to fight my stubbornness, Regina demanded to escort me here. On our way here, I couldn't help but feel a distance between us. Like something unsettled lingered in the air.
I couldn't remember much of what had happened while I was under the influence of the curse, but I felt enough had happened, especially since I couldn't shake off this blanket of guilt.
The night breeze hit me from behind, sneaking into my back. I pull at my cardigan, hoping it would protect me.
"I did try to warn you but you would not listen." Regina joins me, her face dripping with disapproval. I give her a sidelong glance and smile.
"Will you quit being my mother? It's pretty intimidating," I tease. Regina grins.
"Someone needs to be the grown up here," she counters. I gawk.
"Says the one who was getting all secretive about having feelings for another man." I inch closer to her, my voice a whisper.
"Nova let it slip about a certain moment you and Robin had…" I trail off, holding in my laughter at Regina's reddening face.
I nudge her arm with my elbow playfully.
"Look at you being all shy." I laugh heartily, making her laugh with me. I slowly smile. Everything feels normal now. With everything happening, there was a time I thought normal would never exist.
That blanket of guilt envelopes me again. I frown.
"Regina. Did something-"
"Destiny!"
We both spin around. Killian stops a few steps into the warehouse, panting slightly. His eyes take in our expressions. He hesitates.
"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?" He asks, trying to hold my stare.
Regina shakes her head.
"No. It's ok, Killian. Destiny is all yours," Regina says, quickly rushing away. She turns to me, lifting her eyebrows playfully. I give her a scowl. As she leaves, I can't help but feel like she knew what I was about to ask. I have to find out what happened.
I turn to Killian who takes slow, cautious steps to me. I take a deep breath.
It had felt like ages since the last time we were together. When he was everything I could think of. A pang of guilt hits me. Since Zelena had become a problem, I hadn't given our relationship a thought. Even when I forgave him. But it didn't mean I didn't miss him.
I spin around, focusing again on the circles. Killian stops beside me. His warmth rushes to me. I try to not lean into it.
Killian speaks first.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to see if you were alright after…" I force myself to look at him.
"It's fine. Regina looked like she was in a rush anyway," I reply. Killian slowly nods.
The wind grows stronger, biting at my back and spreading through my body. I rub my arms helplessly.
A jacket envelopes my shoulders. I glance to my side to find Killian, jacketless. He pulls a small smile.
"I forgot how stubborn you can be," he remarks. Despite myself, a smile tugs on my lips.
"I also forgot how much I missed your smile," he says softly. For a brief moment, I see his eyes soften. I quickly turn back to the circles.
Killian stiffens, worried he had made a wrong move. I shake my head.
"I'm sorry, I didn't-" Killian shifts in front of me. He touches my arms gently and stares into my face.
"It's ok. I understand. A lot has happened and I don't want to rush things between us. We can stick with being friends. If you want," he replies, a warm smile on his face. I smile and nod in return. God, I did miss him.
A thought enters my mind.
"If you had a chance to erase something in your past, would you do it?" I glance at him. He stares ahead, his eyes unfocused. His jaw tenses. The movement makes me frown.
"I would no doubt be tempted. But as the crocodile says, magic comes with a price. And i'm not sure I want to face that price," he says carefully. I nod at his reply.
"You were thinking of your mother, weren't you?" Killian asks. I step around Killian. I crouch down and examine the marks, keeping Killian from seeing the answer blatantly on my face. I stretch a hand to erase them, but I stop my hand hesitantly.
"At the time when my mother died, we were not on good terms. I had walked away and stayed with Regina for the night. And when I had came back in the morning to apologise, that's when Annika had told me the news. Everyday, I blamed myself for her death. If I had stayed…" I stop, clearing my throat.
"I would be lying if I didn't wish to say I'm sorry to her and just hold her one more time," I reply. I stare skyward, trying to push back the threatening tears.
The ground suddenly rumbles, causing me to fall on my back. Killian helps me up and as we both stare at the circles, my eyes widen.
A purple liquid erupts from the ground, filling the deep markings of the circles.
No, I mouth out as the rumbling ground grows louder, drowning out my voice.
Before I could drag Killian away from the circles, wind rushes at us, pulling us down into the spiraling portal.