Chapter XL

The Temptation of Regina Mills

She had studied magic for years. She had learned from the Dark One and the Mistress of All Evil. She had practiced on the poor and powerful alike. She'd learned hexes and twisted spells that maimed and killed. She had cast the darkest curse in the history of any realm. She was powerful, experienced and had planned out this moment step-by-step.

She was terrified.

Regina could feel the outline of the amulet pressed against her palm. The same palm, the same design. Her skin prickled and stung like the memory physically manifested. She resisted the urge to throw the amulet.

The magic that emanated from the artifact was dark, deadly and it made her feel dirty. Even her own dark magic paled beside the overwhelming evil connected to the amulet.

The pearl in her other hand was small and pure, a little love to remind her why she was risking everything. It was Aurora's keepsake, her saddle ring. Regina understood all too well how precious it was.

Regina understood that better than the other women realized. Aurora, Rory, reminded her of herself. A younger and sweeter version of herself. A version of her that might have existed in a world where Cora had a heart. Belle was right, this girl deserved a chance at love. How could Regina refuse her?

She had ruined and taken lives, chasing her revenge. She couldn't undo what she had done, but she had to try something. She needed, to quote Henry's favorite super-spy, to wipe the red from her ledger. It was time to make amends. It was time to be a better person. It was time to return to the balanced path. She owed it to her father, to her son, to herself. She owed it to Aurora. Phillip's demise was her fault. If she wanted redemption, then she needed to help people. Helping Aurora was as a good place to start as any.

Regina pushed her fear and uncertainty down and focused. It was time.

She closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. She found her center and focused on her power. She opened her eyes and cleared her throat. She recited the Elvish spell enunciating each word.

Regina pushed her magic into the amulet. She could feel the air crackling around her, the magic thickened the air. The magic was powerful, primal. It resonated in the room almost musically, like an orchestra warming up. It was beautiful but wild.

She started the spell again, and the magic grew stronger. It was vibrating in her bones now, an unpleasant feeling just shy of pain. The magic was manifesting in sparks and faux lightning. It was a wild storm as the veil between their realm and the wraith's warped and weakened. The air pressure rose and dropped in waves, her ears popped in protest. The room grew dim; the torches flickered and burnt a low and sinister red. Thunder rumbled in the room so loud that she could barely hear herself.

The floor beneath their feet quaked as she began the third and final recitation. Her unsteady knees and racing heart made it even harder to stay standing. The last time she'd fought the wraith she'd almost lost her soul and her life. There was no room for error or fear this time. There was too much at stake.

The circles should protect them but the what ifs plagued her. What if she hadn't cast the protection spell correctly? What if it wasn't powerful enough? What if this was a trick? What if Belle and Aurora betrayed her? What would happen to Henry if she died? Would Emma miss her? She stumbled over the Elvish words. She was shaking, fear and doubt were crippling her.

Then a warm hand wrapped around her wrist. Aurora stood close and gave her a reassuring smile. Belle was already at her side and she wrapped her free hand around Regina's other wrist.

They believed in her. They were relying on her. Not only to help Phillip but to keep them from joining him. They trusted her, the Evil Queen, to do that. Regina raised her head, squared her shoulders, and steeled her spine. She continued her recitation. She could do this.

She uttered the last word and the summoning spell was complete. The air immediately grew cold. A phantom wind rushed around them. It tore at their hair and gowns, almost as if it were trying to drag them out of their circle.

Belle and Aurora's grips on her tightened. Regina stood strong, defiant and ready to fight. Fight for her redemption. Fight for the two women who had put their trust in her. Fight for Philip, who had not deserved to die. Fight for Storybrooke and everyone in it. The wind stopped, but the room was winter cold. She could see her breath. The air, the fabric of reality, rippled and warped.

This was nothing like last time. She was forcefully pulling the wraith into their world. It appeared slowly, and the sheer amount of magic it took to pull him through to their realm was draining her. She wouldn't have anything left to fight it with soon.

Regina could feel the grooves of the amulet bruising her palm, but she didn't dare loosen her grip. She grit her teeth and snarled as she poured
all her power into the spell.

"Who dares-" The voice was so loud that Regina's knees buckled. Its power was enormous and dark, like nothing else she had ever experienced. This was the thing that had almost destroyed her. "-to summon me?"

The wraith's voice drowned out everything else. It was a deep resonating roar that boomed in her skull. It was excruciating. Regina turned her head to look at Belle. She seemed unaffected.

"Regina."

She could see Belle's lips moving but could not hear her over the cacophony in her skull.

"Can't you hear it?"

Belle shook her head. "Only you." She spoke slowly and over-annunciated so her words were easier to see on her lips. The bookworm was clever like that.

Of course, Regina realized. She was connected to the wraith. As a previously marked target, she could communicate with it. Lucky her.

"You." The voice bellowed in her head again and she stumbled. Two arms wrapped around her waist. Belle and Aurora helped her stand up straight again. Their support was the only thing keeping her on her feet.

"I remember you, Regina Mills. Your soul tastes of sorrow and old blood."

She froze. Her heart pounded in her throat and her stomach dropped.

"Such a strong soul. You will not escape me again."

It flew at them and Regina held her ground. She refused to flinch. The Wraith hit the barrier of their circle. The magic repelled it with an explosion of black and white sparks.

The circles' protection held. They were safe for now. That made Regina feel better, stronger, more confident.

"I-we" Regina projected her voice with certainty and pride, like a queen. "have summoned you to rescue a soul you took." She tried to tap into the endless confidence and poise she had as The Evil Queen and Storybrooke's Madam Mayor. "Prince Phillip. He is a good and innocent man and you will return his soul."

She felt Aurora's hand squeeze tight around her wrist and could feel her body shudder and her breath catch.

Regina opened her hand to show the wraith Aurora's precious pearl. She clenched the gold amulet tight in her other fist. "I have your amulet. You must do as I say.''

Dark laughter rumbled like thunder. It shook her entire body. Regina's skin scalded and froze. The surrounding room spun in a blur of flickering oranges and blacks. Regina's stomach lurched and her head felt like it was in a tightening vice.

"The amulet does not control me, you foolish girl. I must do nothing. The souls I take are mine and I will never release them. They are damned. Like you will be."

The words cut her, like a poisoned blade. Foolish girl? Those were her mother's words. How many times had Cora hissed that at her? Too many to count. That thing, that wretched wraith, was getting into her head. It was trying to manipulate her. It was preying on her weaknesses. It was so powerful, so overwhelming, so insidious. She could feel it tugging at her soul.

Emma wasn't here to save her this time.

"Or you" the hiss wrapped around her like a serpent. "Could embrace the darkness again."

It was circling them, floating outside of the protective barrier. Regina could feel its power buzzing as it tested the circle's power. The creature's red eyes bored into hers. She saw those eyes in her nightmares. What flesh that wasn't covered in darkness was putrid, slick and rotting. The wraith was neither living nor dead; it was a creature that bridged both worlds. It was a ghoulish monster that only brought death and destruction.

"You're a collector too. Let me explain the difference between hearts and souls, Your Majesty. Souls are so much richer, so much more satisfying. They can tell you everything about a person. Their strengths, their weaknesses, their passions, their hatreds. A soul is the most powerful part of a person. They pulse in your palm, the essence of humanity, both good and evil. It is an intoxicant like no other. You would love it."

Its red eyes were terrifying but enticing. Tempting. It was like showing an addict a parcel of their favorite poison. It would be dark decadence and it made her remember. It made her want.

"We could rule them all. You have so much darkness, so much potential. You were born for far more than this sad mortal life." It circled again. "The darkness clings to you, permeates you, flows through you."

The Wraith stopped and floated in front of her. It scraped a single finger along the barrier. Sparks jumped and showered down to the floor. "Why settle for queen when you could be a goddess, darkness incarnate?"

Its unblinking red eyes overtook her. Red washed over her vision, blotted out the world, became everything.

Everything was red. Red. Red like blood dripping down the wall. Red like royal rubies and garnets decorating her bare skin. Red like seduction. Taking whomever she wanted whenever she wanted, taking with or without permission. Everything was red.

No. She closed her eyes to blot out the red. It didn't work.

Everything was red. Red. Red like the streaks in Ruby's hair. Red like the apples on her tree. Red like Emma's jacket. Everything was red.

Regina opened her eyes, "No."

The Wraith screeched and pounded on the barrier. Sparks crackled, showered and blasted across the room. The white and black pulsing was a strobe effect that made the room seem to spin and move. The walls pulsed rhythmically as if the room was breathing. Everything shook. The tile floor cracked and plaster dust fell from the ceiling. Somewhere a window shattered and wood split.

"Don't." She couldn't tell if she was screaming or whispering. "Break the circle." She was sweating and shaking. "No matter what happens, don't break the circle."

Regina held the medallion up as high as she could. "Prince Phillip's soul!" She squeezed the pearl in her fist. "You will give us back his soul!"

It circled them, dragging its monstrous fingers along the barrier.

"Why are you doing this?" Its red eyes flashed again. "You have no feelings for this Phillip. These women aren't your friends. This one-" It paused in front of Belle. "-is connected to The Dark One. The creature who gave you my mark."

She raised her chin a little, "Aren't you well informed?"

She watched it, wary. Every cell in her body vibrated with magic and terror.

"She went to him willingly." The Wraith continued. "She had a choice, and she chose him. She voluntarily served your tormentor. She happily served him. She loves him. She could have chosen anything, anyone, and anywhere. You never had a choice, and she did."

It was right. Regina had most of her choices stripped away from her.

"Why are you helping her? Rumplestiltskin used you. He is the reason for all your suffering. He is the reason you will never, ever, be happy. Yet she still loves him. She deserves this fate. He deserves it too. Take her from him."

He scratched his black talon down the barrier, its red eyes lingered on Belle. "Give her to me. Take your vengeance. You deserve it. He has taken so much from you. Take away her wasted choice Take her away from him. Make them feel your pain. Your fear. You deserve justice."

The Wraith floated away from Belle and back towards her. Its words were silken, sinful and seductive.

"The Dark One, The Queen of Hearts and The Hypocritical Princess. They should all pay. You can make them pay. Let me help you get what you desire, what you deserve."

Belle squeezed her tighter. "What is it saying?"

That shook her out of the almost-trance the Wraith had her in. Regina shook her head to clear it and sighed, "Trust me, you don't want to know."

The Wraith caught her in its gaze again. She tried to look away. She tried to look at Belle or Aurora or anything other than it. She failed. The inescapable power of red eyes pulled her under again.

Everything was red. Red. Red like Leopold's bloodshot eyes bulging as he died. Red like blood-soaked leather and steel scourges destroying the Dark One's maid. Red like the flames licking at Snow White tied to a pyre. Everything was red.

No. Not red. She wasn't red anymore.

Everything was green. Green. Green like Esmeralda's eyes. Green like the soccer tee-shirt that Emma thought looked so good on her. Green like her father's coat of arms. Everything was green.

"No." Regina turned back to the wraith. She shook her head to clear it, to purge the wraith's tempting touch. "No. All I want" The torches rose with her temper. The fire burned higher and hotter, parts of it phosphorus white. "Is Phillip's soul!"

The wraith recoiled and hit back with its own power. She felt a cold wind blast past them. It reeked of corpses rotting in the sun. The scent filled her sinuses and sank into her skin. It was awful.

The only thing that kept her standing was Belle and Aurora's grip. The wraith raged, its otherworldly shriek shattered her skull. The entire building quaked. More glass shattered. The cracks in the floor, walls, and ceiling grew longer and wider. It was tearing everything apart.

She felt a soft cloth press on her face. Rory leaned close. "You're bleeding."

Regina wasn't sure if it was her nose, mouth, eyes or ears. It felt like she was sweating blood. It felt like she was dying. When would this be over? She had a date with Emma. She wanted to go home to her Emma.

"You" Soft hands pulled Regina's face up. When had she let her head tilt so far forward? "can do this." Rory smiled at her. She was innocent, naïve and so sweet. Regina couldn't bare to disappoint her. Aurora was looking at her the same way Henry used to. Like she could solve every problem in the world.

"Help-" Was she slurring her words? She couldn't tell. "-me stand." Belle and Aurora helped her back to her feet.

Regina held the medallion up, but her fist was shaking.

The wraith still floated at the edge of their protective circle. It wasn't so calm now. It was like a tiger pacing in a cage, hungry for its next meal. It was playing with them. It circled them, testing their circle for gaps or thin spots. It could tell that she was weak that there was a limit to her magic.

The Wraith could sense her weakness. It circled them, but it's horrible red eyes never left her. Regina could feel its power clawing, scratching, and grating against her own. It felt like doom. It coated her skin like slime; it clung and made her feel polluted. It was too close. She could feel it trying to pull her soul away. Her heart rate tripled and she could feel bile crawling up her throat. She felt panic taking over. She was backed into a corner of her own design. There was no escape.

"You will give us Phillip's soul, Wraith."

"Two" It held up two long and twisted fingers. "Two souls. All magic comes with a price, Witch. If you desire Phillip's soul, you must make a sacrifice. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. We must balance the scales. One soul for another is equivalent exchange. It is a reasonable trade."

"Now you want to be fair?" She sneered at it. A reasonable trade? It sounded like Mr. Gold now. This wasn't some dust-covered knick-knack. They were discussing a person's soul, their essence. She fought to keep her face blank. She couldn't show the wraith she was afraid or disgusted. She couldn't show Aurora that she was horrified. She couldn't show Belle that she was tempted.

"Fair?" The wraith moved around the circle again. Its movements were slow and smooth. "Fair? Few things are fair. Is it fair that sweet little Princess Aurora gets her Knight in Shining Armor back? Was it fair that you lost your precious Daniel twice?"

Regina was ice cold again, right down to her bones. Daniel. She could see his smile, wide and boyishly innocent. She could hear him singing off-tune love ballads to make her laugh. She could smell him, horses, hay and linden oil. She could feel his short dark hair between her fingers. She could taste the sweetness of his kiss.

"Let Aurora and Phillip be together in eternity. Sacrifice the girl and you can have Daniel back. What has she done to earn this? A sleeping curse? That is child's play. She didn't suffer. She didn't sacrifice. She doesn't know real pain or loss. She had everything handed to her on a silver platter. Now she gets her Happily Ever After too? She's spitting in your face, mocking all that you lost. Maleficent should have killed her years ago. Finish your dearly departed dragon's work and give me the girl. You could finally be with the man you love. Henry would have the father he deserves. You would have everything you've ever wanted. You would finally be happy. You would have Happily Ever After with your lover and son like you dreamed about once upon a time."

Regina couldn't move, couldn't blink, couldn't think. She sank into the red maelstrom of its eyes.

Everything was red. Red. Red like the wildflowers, sweet peas, that Daniel had picked for her. Red like the lumpy scarf and crooked hat that Daniel's little sister had knitted for him. Red like the love that they'd shared. Everything was red.

Love again. Those had been Daniel's last words to her. They hadn't been save me or I'll wait for you at the crossroads. He had told her to love again. He wouldn't want this.

Everything was gold. Gold. Gold like Daniel's pure heart. Gold like Emma's gorgeous curls. Gold like the tie that she'd helped Henry with that night. Everything was gold.

"No." Love again. Regina shook her head. "You don't have Daniel's soul. This isn't about me or Daniel. Keep your demonic deals, I won't play your damnation game."

Anger and adrenaline zinged through her. "How dare you use my son against me? How dare you mock my friend's memory? I am a Queen, not a pawn for you to manipulate! You have no power here. This is my protectorate and these are my people. You won't harm any of them. Not now! Not while I'm alive to stop you!" She didn't stop to think or consider her words. It all spilled out of her in a rush. "I called you here for one thing and one thing alone! Phillip's soul!"

The wraith flew back, almost in surprise. She had broken its hold on her again and it was not pleased. It erupted in anger. It was furious, and that fury fed its dark magic. It grew larger and more intimidating. It's cloak longer and the surrounding smoke thicker. It was darker than night and colder than winter. They all gagged as the stench of charred flesh filled the room.

"Then pay the price!''

The wraith's power was like nothing she'd ever experienced. Regina stumbled back and Belle and Rory barely kept her in the circle. She collapsed, her ankles were too weak and her heels too high. She landed on her knees with a painful crack. Her beautiful gown billowed out around her. Cold sweat clung to the silk. Her hair was in disarray, it fell in her face. She was defeated.

The other women fell too. She took them with her. They were in a huddle on the floor, protected only by a few circles and waning hope. The building, the entire world, shook. Black and white light, sparks, bolts and explosions, lit the room up. Windows shattered. The air in the room crackled and switched between blazing heat and brutal cold so fast it was painful. The torches went dark, their light snuffed out by pure darkness.

"What" She could finally hear them again. "Is it saying?" Belle's voice was calm and quiet, soothing.

Aurora gently wiped her face. "What does it want?" Her voice was as kind as her touch. Regina wished she didn't have to crush her spirit.

"Another soul. All magic has a price. Its price for Phillips soul is another soul."

Regina felt tears on her cheek. They mingled with sweat and blood. She wasn't even sure when she'd cried. When had she become so weak?

"It- " She choked a little. "It wanted me to betray you." Both of you. It tried to tempt me." She shook her head. "And Spirits help me, I was tempted." The words kept coming, she couldn't seem to stop or soften them. She didn't want them to know about the depraved things that her mind had conjured with so little prompting. The Wraith hadn't put those grisly images in her mind. They had already been there, waiting in the dark parts of her head and heart.

Belle reached down and wiped her tears away. "And you resisted. See? I told you that there is good in you."

Belle was too kind, too forgiving, for her own good. Her touch was soft and gentle. Regina didn't deserve this. Not after what she'd done to her. She'd used and abused Belle. She could not imagine being strong enough to forgive like this. Kind enough to wipe away her tormentor's tears. Belle walked the balanced path, and she did so with ease.

Regina turned to Aurora. "We didn't plan for this. I didn't know." She should have known. All magic came with a price. That had been one of the first things she'd learned. She held her hand open, the pearl sat in her palm. "I don't know what you want me to do."

All the color drained from Aurora's face. She looked young and fragile. She looked like a lost girl. She had never expected or prepared for a cold and cruel world. She was soft, sweet and innocent. Aurora didn't deserve any of this. She too walked the balanced path, not with ease, but with innocence.

Rory reached out and took the pearl with shaking fingers. "Another soul? We would have to condemn someone else?"

Regina wished, more than anything, that she had something else to offer Aurora. Another way, another chance. There wasn't one. She'd scoured the realms for years, had destroyed lives, and made deals with the devil and had never found one. Not for Daniel. Not for anybody.

"Phillip." Aurora shook her head and now she was crying too. "He would never forgive me if we did that. I could never forgive myself."

Regina ached for her. If anyone understood how Aurora felt, it was her. "I'm sorry." She had no other words. Even if she did, they wouldn't it help. Words couldn't do anything to help Aurora right now. Her pain was too great, her grief too fresh, her heart too broken.

So Regina did what her own father had done so many years before. She pulled the girl into her arms. "I'm so sorry that I failed you.''

Belle joined their embrace. For a moment everything was quiet. It was just the three of them in their circle. Three women mourning. Mourning not only for Phillip but for everything. Everything they had loved and lost. Everything that would never be. Everything they had broken and everything that they could never repair.