The only colour Ella saw was red. It had been a couple of days since Ella and the family welcomed the twins into the family but she couldn't help but feel like something was going on. She had noticed Lucy and Henry's strange behaviour around the the castle but most importantly how Lucy would disappear for long hours of the day only to reappear back at the castle alongside Henry at dinner time. Henry always told her the reason was Lucy had extra horse riding lessons but Ella knew things weren't adding up. However, when visiting Regina and the newborns Ella scent something funny going on between everyone. Like they knew something she didn't which only left Ella frustrated.
However, Ella finally knew why. Her long time suspicions were true. Lucy was having witchcraft lessons with the shadow-man behind her back and Henry knew about it. Henry had come clean the night after visiting Regina at her shared home with the shadow-man. Ella had forced it out of him, she wanted the truth. Ella knew something was going ever since her and Henry argued about Lucy's new found power of magic. Henry wanted Dr Facilier to teach her but like always Ella refused until one day Henry stopped asking and Lucy began improving out of nowhere. Hearing the words come out of her husband's mouth that Lucy was in the present of Dr Facilier infuriated Ella. The fact Henry had allow their daughter to be trusted in the hands of the Shadow man bewildered Ella to the point of no end.
Ella had stormed out of the bedroom after Henry had told the truth. Storming down the halls of the Castle Ella was in search for Tiana but found she was away for an Royal meeting. She wanted nothing more then scream in rage. She felt betrayed by her Husband, Henry and her were supposed to be a team. A team that worked together and not go behind each others back. Needing fresh air headed to the royal gardens only to find Henry waiting for her.
" Ella I know your mad but you saw the way Facilier was with my mother and the children. He isn't as bad as you think he Ella trust me." Henry said trying reason with her but Ella was't having any of it. " Trust...Henry right now I don't trust you...You been laying to my face about Lucy's magic for weeks. You let that man that you and I both know is not to be trusted with our Daughter." Henry nodded with disagreement. " Facilier can be trusted Ella. I mean ask Lucy ever since her lessons have started she been more confident with her magic. She has more control over them. Facilier helped her with that. Plus me and Facilier have been talking-"
"Wait, you and Dr Facilier have been speaking are you guys friends now. After everything that man has done to Tiana." Henry was becoming more and more frustrated. Ella refused to hear what he had to say on the behalf the shadow man. It was clear to him that she didn't want to give him an second chance, Ella only saw the villain and not the man trying to change.
" Ella you know he apologised for that. Please just give the man a second chance...Please." Henry was begging now. He wanted Ella to see what he saw in Facilier which was man trying to do better for his family. " Ella I beg you just give Facilier a second chance. My mother has invited us all as a family to the twins christening and I need you be opened minded there. this means a lot to my mum and you know this." Ella had become quite, she was beyond angry with Henry. Ella wanted to stand by her friend and Tiana saw Facilier as criminal nothing more nothing less.
" No Henry for the final time I don't want Lucy around the shadow man." Ella said sternly as she stared back at her husband. Henry however was beginning to feel defeated. He was at his wits end, Ella was clearly in no mood to change right now.
" Ella you know of my mum's history. When I was a young boy I pushed away my mum for her bad choices when all she wanted was love and people to understand her. Ella I will not push away my mum again." Silence filled the space between as Ella's thoughts raged on.
" Henry I think right now we need our space to think and I know Regina wants us as a family to be there at the christening but I think it's best if I didn't go." Swiftly turning the opposite direction Ella headed back into the Castle, far away from Henry or anyone for that matter.
"Wait it's too cold! please come back to bed Raphael." Regina whined, opening her tried eyes slowly as she felt her love exit out of the warm bed.
" Shhh my Queen go back to sleep I won't be long...I just need a glass of water." Raphael said softy to his love. Making sure the warm covers were wrapped around his love nice and tight again, Regina slowly closed her eyes again. "Don't be too long." Regina said tiredly as she fell back into her deep slumber.
Pushing back the fallen hairs from her face Raphael smiled as he watched her drift off peacefully to sleep. He didn't wanted to alarm her but he had some business to attend to night. For the past week Raphael had been trying to find a way to solve Naveen's mental state. He had promised Tiana he would but he never thought it would be this difficult. He had tried everything but to no avail. He really wanted to make this work but with every break through the more side affects appeared and he was beginning to think he made a promise he couldn't keep. Walking down to his small but private emporium under the bungalow; quietly closing the door not wanting to wake the girls in the got to work on the cure.
Just like every other night before, hours had passed and Raphael was back in the same place he started with. Nothing. Frustrated with himself Raphael dashed his book of ancient spells to the stone floor. He didn't want to feel defeated but more he tried the more his mind convinced him to believe such thoughts. Sighing he looked towards the clock. 4 o'clock in the morning meaning it was time for him stop his work. It would be long before Regina woke up to feed the twins and the last thing he wanted was Regina asking questions. He had made the decision to not tell Regina about the promise he made with Tiana. He didn't want her to worry or get involved. Many people believe that he was trying to get his queen back into dark magic but really he just wanted her to be happy like she was right now. Dabbing into dark magic was something he knew she didn't want him to do but the only way to help Tiana was to do just that.
Clearing his work space Raphael was lost in this thoughts. Mentally trying to figure things out he hadn't notice the door to his emporium had opened. Standing by the door Regina was holding both their girls in her arms, looking on with a curious expression. " Raphael?, My love what are you doing down here at 4:20 in the morning?"
Jumping slightly at the sudden voice Raphael turned round to see Regina and the twins in her arms waiting by the door. Dropping everything he was doing Raphael tried to think up a reason why he was down here at this hour. " I Was ju...just cleaning my Queen. It was really dirty down here and I just could leave it in this state any longer." Smiling nervously at Regina Raphael knew she wasn't buying it. Trying to look busy cleaning, Raphael began to rearranged the dusty bookshelf nearby him.
Narrowing her eyes at him Regina watched Raphael's weird behaviour as he arranged the bookshelf. Reading his body language Regina knew something was up with him. Raphael thought she hadn't noticed that for the last week he had gotten out of bed at midnight only to returned in the early hours of the day. She had. She didn't know what he was doing but she knew this man well enough and something was up with him. He was hiding something from her but what. As the silence grew between them for awhile Regina looked around the room with suspicion. " Why start cleaning now at such an early hour Raphael?"
" Oh...I..I..Just felt like it my Queen." Quickly changing the topic Raphael finished arranging the bookshelf and walked towards his love with a bright but still nervous smile. Gently picking up one of the twins from her arms Raphael placed a quick kiss on her cheek. " Now lets get these girls fed shall we." Raphael said as he soothingly bounced his little baby girl in his arms as she began to whimper. Leaving the emporium Regina remind where she was. Gently bouncing the baby in her arms as she began to whimper. Regina quickly scanned the room again. Top to bottom. " What are you hiding? " Regina said quietly to herself.
" Nothing." Raphael said startling his Regina.
"I thought you went up stairs!?" Regina said calming herself down by the sudden jump. Raphael knew Regina was going to let this go anytime soon. Stroking her back Raphael looked deep into her beautiful brown eyes. With all the love and seriousness he could muster.
" Regina there is nothing for you worry about I promise. Trust me."
Tiana Had arrived back home from her meeting and she was complete fatigue. Reaching her office she was surprise to Ella waiting for her. However before she could ask what was wrong with her today Ella had beaten her to it.
"Lucy is having Magic lesson with the Shadow man!" Ella was standing up from her chair now with fury in her eyes. " Henry and Dr Facilier are now friends all of a sudden and allowed our daughter to learn magic with him!" Ella ranted out her frustration to her friend. Pacing the office with hands on her hips as she raged on about how betrayed she was.
Sitting back down in a huff Ella had finally ran out of steam to go on. Slouching in her seat Ella brought her hands to her face as the stress was too much for her to handle. However Tiana listened to every word Ella had said. She never thought Henry would be friend such a man so quickly let alone allow Lucy learn magic by him. She felt sorry for her friend as she knew Ella shared the same level of hatred for the as much as she did. kneeling by Ella Tiana rested a hand on her nee. " Don't worry Ella okay everything will be fine." Tiana said comforting Ella in her despair.
Moving her hands from her face Ella looked at Tiana with complete and utter confusion. " What do you mean everything is going to be okay? Don't tell me you have had a change of heart. That man is nothing but trouble. Nothing good comes from that man you know that!"
" I know Ella but trust me I have this under control It wouldn't be long before Dr Facilier pays for his mistakes." Tiana said standing back on her feet. Sitting at her desk, Ella still looked confused.
" What do you mean Tiana? How are you so calm about this." Ella didn't understand but Tiana explain her statement. She told her everything and to be honest she was shocked and a little anxious about it. She knew what Tiana was planning would cause an up roar in her family and the kingdom. However at same time she wanted someone to take action on the situation. All Ella knew for sure was that she was in too deep for her turn back now. Her Husband had chosen his side and so had she.
Happily walking down the corridor Lucy was on her way to the royal gardens. She was in the mood to relax in the lovely sunshine by the flower patches and secretly wanted to practice her magic without anyone knowing.
Reaching the archway to the gardens Lucy began to hear loud voice coming from opposite corridor. One voice was familiar to her and with growing curiosity she went to check it out. Quietly walking down the corridor the voice only got louder and louder until she realise she was outside Tiana's royal office. Gently placing her ear to the door Lucy began to listen to the tense conversation. She recognised the voices to be her mother and Tiana. Her mother was mad again and Lucy was beginning to feel this was becoming the norm, nowadays. She knew her father and mother had an important conversation this morning but she made sure to stay away.
Was her mother angry because of the morning talk? Lucy thought as she continued to listen. Lucy listened to everything until she heard something she should of heard. It left her frozen to the spot and for the first time in an long time she felt truly terrified. How could her mother and Tiana be so cruel? Lucy thought as she continued to listen until heard something that made her gasp in disbelief; shaking her to the core. But then the talking stopped, everything went silence.
Scared that they heard her gasp Lucy ran down the corridor into the Royal gardens. Pretending nothing had happen. Lucy didn't know what to do. Her family wasn't the same anymore, everyone was at each others throats and she was anxious. Lucy wasn't sure how to get to her Abuela's house from here but she did know how to get to Zelena and Robin's little farmhouse.
Taking a deep breath and conjuring all the magic she could, Lucy focused on transporting herself to the little farmhouse. To her success her yellow magic engulfed her and within seconds she was on Zelena's door step. Lucy need help and she need it fast.
Sorry for the long wait but here it is...chapter 26, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. declaimer all characters belong to abc's Once Upon a time x