Chapter 3

Sinbad/Amir Khan - Berk Cankat

Rothbart - Toby Stephens

Derek - Torrance Coombs

Past

It had been over three hundred years since Odette's father placed the curse on her, and she hadn't aged a day because of it. She wished she could just leave, but then she wouldn't be human anymore. She would have to live out the rest of her days as a swan as her father pointed out. In order for her to change back to herself, she had to be on the lake when the moon rose at its peak to cast its reflection on the lake.

She used to love the lake since it was the one place that brought her serenity, but it made her lonely. The only other life she knew were the fireflies flickering their green lights. At least her father always came at night to give her a meal every night, but Odette knew it was part of the temptation.

He became relentless when it came to getting what he wanted. Whenever he gave her a new dress and a decent meal, it was his cruel way of showing her that she couldn't live without him. But, Odette never wanted to live a luxurious life. True, it may have made her life easier at the time, but that was before her family slowly dissipated. First, her mother had been killed by pirates as the necklace around her neck reminded her, then her younger twin brother became lost in another world where there was no magic, and now, something horrible had taken root into the father whom she once loved—something evil that darkened his heart as the years slowly rolled by.

Every night he always came to visit her to see if she was willing to go back with him, but Odette always refused. Even on the nights when he didn't ask, he always came to see if she would beg him to lift the horrible curse that he gave her. She had too much pride to give him such satisfaction. Odette would rather sit by the lake to watch the ripples like what she did now rather than be with her corrupted father.

As soon as she reached out to grab a petal on the lake, she noticed that she was covered in red smoke. It surrounded her and swirled around her figure so quickly that it disappeared in an instant only for her to be in an entirely different gown. Instead of the white, velvet dress that she wore with green satin sleeves and a sash, she found herself wearing a charming evening gown with specks of sky blue and gold stones around her bodice and around her train with her shoulders being exposed by the moonlight. Her long, wavy locks twisted and swept back to be tucked away in a knot with some hairline falling out to frame her face.

The crunching of boots alerted her attention, so she turned to see her father, The Dark One, slowly approaching her with a crooked smile and his hands behind his back, and all Odette did was stare at him. She used to feel so sad and angry all at once but that was a long time ago when he first inflicted the curse on her. Now, she feels nothing, especially when he continues to give her gifts like the dress she was wearing or the bouquet of lilies like how he leaned in to offer it to her while saying, "I made sure they were freshly picked."

She wanted to say something, but she couldn't. There was no point. Her father would only lift the curse if she agreed to go back home with him, yet he came every night to see if she would change her mind. She still wasn't surprised to see him conjure up a table with two chairs for them to sit on and enjoy the lavish feast waiting patiently to be eaten.

Her father used his magic with a flick of his wrist, and the next thing Odette knew, the lilies he held were inside a vase in the center of the table. Her stomach nearly growled when she noticed that her plate had venison with potatoes and vegetables. There was also a goblet of fine wine and rolls in a basket with a platter of cheese on the side and a candle so that she could see what was on her plate properly.

When he sat down, he gestured for the seat across from him, so she took her time to sit down because she didn't want to seem so eager to eat. She always had to wait an entire day for her father to come to the lake in her human form so that he would feed her. There were times, though, where the moon wasn't there for her to transform back, so he had no choice but to throw crumbs in the lake for her to eat. She could've sworn that there was a flicker of guilt crossing his face whenever he came to feed her in her swan form, but she might've imagined it. After all, the father whom she once loved was incapable of such emotion as his heart blackened with time.

All Odette did was stare at the food, while her father watched her. He didn't have any food in front of him as usual. He simply waited patiently for her to eat, and she eventually did by taking her knife and fork and slowly cut into the meat. She swallowed the small lump in her throat before she slowly brought the piece of veal to her lips to take a bite. Odette chewed slowly, taking in the savory juice, and when she finally swallowed it, she took her goblet to take a small sip of the nice fermented wine.

"What have you been doing today?" he asked when she set the goblet down.

She stared at him for a good minute before she turned back to her plate to cut more meat. "Nothing as usual. It's not as if I could go anywhere really. Not unless I don't want to be human anymore."

When she took another bite, he paused to wait for her to finish it swallowing it before he said, "You can still come home. I can lift the curse on you if you agree to come back with me."

Odette set her knife and fork to the side and stared him down, rebelling against her own father. "For over three hundred years I refused to go back, so what makes you think I'd return now?"

He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists on the table. "You're quite stubborn, aren't you?"

"I should think you'd be used to it by now."

Her father then stood and sauntered his way over to her as he leaned in when he got close to her so that he could scold her like a petulant child. "Keep being persistent, dearie, but one day, you will beg for me to lift your curse. No matter how long it takes, you will come home where you belong. You just need another day to think about it."

When he gestured towards the sky, Odette looked up to see that the moon's reflection was leaving the lake. Her eyes were filled with sorrow as she stood with her dress turning back to her white one while her hair fell over her shoulders, and the table of food disappeared with her father's flick of his wrist. She then made her way over to the lake, not minding that the bottom of her dress was getting soaked since she was used to it by now. Her father grinned maliciously when he watched her standing there to receive her punishment as her body burned bright and turned into a swan.

Her neck craned to see her father staring at her. If only she saw the pained expression on his face when she turned away from him, but he vanished before she had a chance to turn back around.

Present

Nora sat by the docks feeling the wind blow through her hair. The salty sea breeze moving through the currents and rocking the ships at their stations brought Nora serenity. It was one of her safe havens after all. What she enjoyed most of all was how the moon reflected its light on the water. She was drawn to it for as long as she could remember. There was a strange connection that made her captivated to it. Taking a deep breath, she tucked her hands in her jacket pockets and left the harbor with the moon as her guide to light her way home.

As she walked through the shops, she saw Mr. Gold's Pawn shop. The lights were off, and Mr. Gold was nowhere inside. She then looked through the window display and saw a golden necklace with a carving of a swan. It made Nora drawn by its beauty, yet for some reason, she felt as if she had seen it before even though she knew she never wore it before. She thought that maybe she saw it inside his store once, but she couldn't remember where exactly.

"Miss Moon." Nora turned to see Mr. Gold standing there with his cane and staring at her. "What are you doing?"

She then looked back at the display to watch the necklace glistening under the moonlight for a moment before she replied, "Nothing. I just noticed the necklace here." As Mr. Gold limped his way over to her to see it, she asked, "Where'd you get it?""

He clutched his cane as he spoke, "It belonged to my daughter."

Her lips parted slightly-shocked when she heard him. "I didn't know you have a daughter." All he did was stare at the necklace instead of her, and Nora had a sneaky suspicion of the answer to her next question. "What happened to her?"

"She's gone."

Those words hit Nora hard as she immediately regretted asking when she saw a flicker of emotion on his face. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."

"It's not like you knew."

"Still, it doesn't mean that I couldn't care. Everyone I've ever loved is gone too." That caught Mr. Gold's attention as he stared at her while she continued, "My mother and my brother died in an accident a long time ago."

"And what about your father?"

All Mr. Gold did was stare at her-somewhat fixated by her response, "I left him. After my mother and my brother's deaths, he became so different. He turned abusive and controlling that it made me cry every night, so I ran away. He might still be out there, but honestly, I don't feel anything for him anymore."

Nora noticed how Mr. Gold looked away from her to stare at the necklace in his window, and Nora felt sorry for him. He must have loved her so much. It was evident in his eyes. He just wasn't the type to admit it and that was fine for Nora. Nora's smile slowly grew though as she said, "It's a shame I didn't have you for a father. Your daughter would be proud to have someone like you."

A smirk appeared on his face in an instant, and he shook his head-almost not believing her words before he told her, "It's getting late, Miss Moon. You should get some sleep."

She gave him a warm smile and said, "Goodnight, Mr. Gold."

As she turned to walk away, Mr. Gold watched her leave-refusing to take his eyes off her. If only she remembered who she was, then his heart wouldn't be wrapped in pain. However, Mr. Gold wouldn't deny that the curse provided Mr. Gold an opportunity to make things right by being the father who she once looked up to again just like when she did when she was so young. This time, he was determined to never lose her again.

Past

Odette laid on the ground and stared up at the stars. It was something she often did with her twin brother. Whenever they couldn't sleep, they used to sneak out onto the field back in their village, laid on the ground, and made up stories on what the stars formed like a group of hunters running away from an ogre's stench or how a talking cat annoyed everyone with its singing. It was one of the most blissful moments she had with her brother but now he was gone. She started to wonder if he was still out there. After all, it had been three hundred years. Maybe by some miracle, he found a way to stay alive. Perhaps time worked differently in the world he lived in.

She soon lifted her head when she heard rustling behind her, so she stood and rushed behind a tree just in time before a man appeared. Odette couldn't lie that he looked intimidating from his tall stature as he could easily tower over her. He looked like he had a pointed chin from his red beard, and his piercing blue eyes stared out into the open-holding hatred for the world. His cape nearly fluttered behind him when the wind blew. Odette thought he might be a lord or a man with some sort of title at least when she noticed the gold chain stretching across his chest was covered in fine jewels.

When he went on one knee to cup water in his hands and wash his face, Odette saw it as an opportunity to leave. She didn't want anyone to find her. It only meant that they would be in danger. Her father made sure that anyone who made their way to the lake stayed away from it, yet this was the first time that Odette had seen a man in a long time. Her father would've hurt him a while ago or scared him off. She didn't understand how this man managed to get through without her father knowing.

As she took a couple of steps away from the tree carefully, she heard the man speak in a gruff voice, "How much longer do you plan on hiding from me?"

Odette froze but quickly hid behind another tree when she saw him turning around. She held in her breath when she heard his boots crunching the ground. She then shut her eyes and grabbed onto her mother's necklace for dear life while silently praying for the man to go away.

After not hearing anything for a while, she thought the man was gone, so she took a quick peek to see that he disappeared. Odette then came out of her hiding spot and headed over to the lake while looking around to see where the man had gone. It wasn't until when a puff of burnt orange smoke whirled around as the man appeared magically a few feet away from her and forced her to turn her around when he said, "There you are."

She gasped and wanted to back away only to realize that there was nowhere to run. If this man wielded magic, then it meant that he was dangerous. It probably also explained how her father didn't do anything to him. Maybe he hadn't noticed that this man was here because of his magic. Anything was possible with magic involved. Still, it didn't meant that she wanted anyone to get hurt-not because of her.

"Please," she pleaded. "Please just go. My father will kill you if he finds you here."

As calm as can be, the man replied, "I know very well that your father is The Dark One, Odette."

That set her on high alert. Odette was no fool. She knew her father made enemies. He just never discussed any of them with her. She thought it was his way of protecting her. But, then again, it made her wonder about one thing as she was tempted to ask, "How do you know my name? No one knows about me."

It was true. Her father kept Odette hidden very well for many years. Even before her curse, he told her that she had to stay in the mansion since many of his enemies would use her to get to him. Perhaps this man was one of them. She needed to be cautious around him. Yet, for some reason, the man gave her a toothy grin. "I have watched you for a while now, and it is a tragedy what The Dark One had done to his own daughter. That is why I offer you a means to escape your prison here."

Still cautious of the man, she asked him, "How can you help me?"

He smirked and revealed a black box as it appeared in his hands with the same burnt orange smoke he used earlier. When he opened it, Odette's eyes nearly widened to find a beautiful diamond-encrusted diadem. She still didn't understand how this would help her until he explained, "The diamond itself repels any magic placed on you. It also won't allow The Dark One to find you as long as you wear it."

This still didn't make sense to Odette. She wasn't naive enough to believe that someone was willing to go through all of this trouble out of the kindness of their heart to set her free if they knew that her father was The Dark One. There had to be a price for this. He wouldn't do this for free.

"What's the price?" she asked boldly. The man raised a brow, and his smirk nearly grew when she told him, "You'll be making an enemy out of my father if you do this? So, what do you want?"

"I want you to come with me. Come with me to the Queen's castle where you will stay."

That was it? There had to be more to it. "Why? What are you planning to do?"

"You're quite skeptical, aren't you? Then let me tell you this. I only want you to stay with me until I figure out a way to trap The Dark One. You won't have to worry about him anymore. You will be free."

"So that's it? I go with you while you think of a way to trap my father?" It seemed too good to be true, so Odette tested him. "Why not trap him yourself then, or do you intend to use me?"

"Of course not." He made his way over to her and her eyes nearly widened when he revealed the truth to her, "Truth be told, but as I watched you from afar. I grew to love everything about you. From your beauty to your grace. That is why I want you as my wife."

There it was, his desire. However, Odette could've sworn that his eyes were empty as he spoke to her. She wanted to refuse his proposal until she heard him say, "I understand it is sudden for you. If you do not return my feelings by the time I have trapped your father so that he won't attempt to find you again, then I will let you go. I swear to you."

It was a very tempting offer, but Odette didn't know if she should trust him. He seemed powerful indeed, yet instead of finding a way to trap her father on his own, he sought out to look for her. It was strange. A part of her still wanted to refuse. However, as the moon's reflection was leaving the lake, Odette realized that this may be her only chance to escape, so she turned back to the man to ask him, "You swear you'll let me go once this is all over?"

"Of course I will."

She breathed in deeply and nodded her head, hoping that she wasn't making a mistake. "Then we have a deal."

He smiled and took the diadem as he placed it on her head. The diamond on the diadem glowed as her body burned bright when the moon slowly left the lake. She closed her eyes, thinking it wasn't going to work, but when the warmth left her body, she opened her eyes again to find herself standing on two feet. She then looked at the lake to see that the moon's reflection wasn't there anymore, and she realized that what the man was saying was true.

"We must go now. The diamond won't allow me to transport us to the castle." the man said as he started to drag her.

Odette nearly pulled her arm back. "Wait! I-I don't even know who you are. What's your name?"

"Rothbart." He took her hand again and led her away from the lake as he said, "Now, come. There are soldiers nearby who will lead us back to the castle."

As Odette hurried out of there, she couldn't help but turn her head at the lake one last time. Her freedom finally awaited. It was in her grasp. If only her father hadn't been so cruel, then she wouldn't have the urge to leave him as her rescuer set her free from the cage her father imprisoned her in.

Present

Nora looked at herself in the mirror after she applied nude lipstick to see how she looked. She simply wore black jeans, a dark blue shirt with straps for sleeves, heels, a leather jacket, a pair of stud earrings, and a purse. Satisfied with her look, she grabbed her keys and headed out the door as she locked it behind her.

She then headed outside where she met Ruby. They smiled at each other and headed to the Moonlight Mirage bar. It got rowdy from time to time, but it was nice with its clean carpets and polished bar. The people working there all wore nicely stitched vests and tailored pants.

As soon as they made their way inside, Nora and Ruby headed over to the bar to order drinks. When they sat down on the stools, Ruby smirked when she looked over her shoulder, which confused Nora. "What?" she asked.

Ruby nodded over to her direction, making Nora see Sheriff Humbert playing a game of pool with another man while he downed his glass of whiskey in one go. He didn't seem to notice Nora though as she continued to stare at him.

"Why don't you go over there?" Ruby asked her. "I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind."

Nora turned back to Ruby and saw a mischievous glint cross her face, so Nora told her, "No. It's fine. He's busy over there anyway."

Both Ruby and Nora turned to the man approaching them as he set his glass between the two women and replied, "Well, that's a shame. If it were me, I wouldn't hesitate to approach anyone."

Nora knew exactly who he was, Amir Khan-the owner of The Moonlight Mirage. He was shorter than most men in Storybrooke, but he had a slender build. His hair and beard were dark as night, and his laughing-brown eyes matched the cold smirk creeping on his face. He was also known for having a scandalous reputation. Whatever problems came in Storybrooke, Khan was the man to go to if anyone wanted to get rid of it.

He then looked over at Ruby and nodded his head at her. "Ruby. Good to see you again."

"Khan." The way Ruby spoke his name sounded very much with disdain, and Nora knew it was because no one liked him for his reputation and violent behavior in Storybrooke. The scar from his temple to his chin was proof of it even though no one knows how he got it, but everyone believes it was from a fight since they couldn't come up with any other explanation. However, it didn't stop some people to go to him if they had any problems since he typically made them go away. "Scared a few kids lately?" Ruby asked with a coy smirk.

His grin grew, taking Ruby's challenge as he stood his ground and replied, "No, it's not on my list unfortunately. I'll have to look at my calendar."

"Good, then maybe the sheriff will lock you up."

"Charming as always, Ruby," Khan said, smirking at her.

It was awkward for Nora since she wasn't a confrontational person. Ruby made it look so easy. It made Nora uncomfortable though to hear them bickering. She didn't even know what to do when Amir Khan looked her way. "Nora...Moon, is it?"

"How do you know me?" she asked.

"Don't forget that you used to come here with Ruby, but I have to say that I haven't seen you around lately. Gold's working you like a dog, huh, to pay for the rent?"

Nora narrowed her eyes at him. It looked like everyone was right about Khan. His mouth got him into trouble a lot, but he didn't seem to care. He must have thought he was untouchable. She wanted to say something back, so she did, "Hard work leads to good rewards, and I can't say the same for someone who sneaks around and bends the rules to get ahead in life."

He chuckled as if what Nora said was amusing to him, but he quickly stopped to lean in and whispered in a sultry voice, "You know, I'm actually not so bad when you get to know me. Why don't I show you?"

Before Nora had a chance to decline, someone saved her when she noticed a hand clamping on Amir Khan's shoulder, forcing them to look to see Sheriff Humbert glaring directly at Khan and told him, "Why don't you go find another toy to play with?"

"Or what, sheriff?"

Sheriff Humbert glanced over at Nora for a moment-almost assuring her that he would take care of everything-before turning back to Amir and gave him a stern warning, "Or I'll make you stop."

Amir Khan noticed Nora and the sheriff's interaction with each other, so he smirked and replied, "Fine. I have business anyway."

They both stared each other down while Amir grabbed his drink and downed his glass in one go before practically slamming it down on the countertop. He then went past the sheriff and bumped his shoulder roughly on purpose before heading to another part of the bar to talk to one of his men.

Nora was so grateful how Sheriff Humbert jumped in. "Thanks," she told him.

"I couldn't just stand by, now could I?"

Ruby looked between the two and smirked when she saw Nora shyly looking away for a minute, so she grabbed her glass and said, "Well, you two kids have fun."

Nora's smile quickly faded when she saw Ruby ready to leave, so she pulled Ruby aside to talk to her without letting the sheriff hear them. "Don't leave me," Nora pleaded.

"Loosen up a bit. The sheriff's here, and I think you two would hit it off."

"How would you know?"

"Because I saw him staring at you a few times already." Nora was still against the idea because she didn't think she was ready to be in a relationship with anyone since she was working almost all the time, but Ruby managed to convince her, "Come on. He could surprise you."

Nora let out a sigh and gave in. "Fine."

Ruby smiled and walked away from them, leaving Nora alone with the sheriff. Nora didn't really know what to say to him. She just awkwardly stood there while the sheriff stared at her, making her look away shyly again. She was just glad that the sheriff spoke up, "You want a drink with me?"

Nora looked at him and noticed how he stared at her with the same intensity as he did when they first met at Granny's Diner, and that same fluttering feeling tingled in her chest again, so she gave him a smile and nodded. "Sure."

They sat down on the stools and ordered two drinks, and for the first time in her life, Nora's heart thumped against her chest when he looked at her with such a kind smile.

Past

Odette and Rothbart rode on the carriage that took them to the Queen's castle. Odette was slightly intimidated upon seeing it. It looked more like a fortress than a castle with spikes rising high with a grassy mountain behind it.

"Remember what we discussed. You need a new name if you don't want your father to find you so easily. Have you thought of one?" When Odette nodded her head, Rothbart replied, "Good."

As soon as the carriage stopped, one of the guards opened the door, letting Rothbart step out. He then extended his hand out to Odette to which she thanked him after taking it as he let her down. Still holding onto his hand, Rothbart led her up the steps that led her inside the front doors of the castle.

He guided her to a dark room with nothing but a fireplace to brighten the way. There stood one of the most beautiful women Odette had ever seen on the balcony. The train on her black gown practically spun when she turned to face them. Not a single strand of her hair fell out of place as it was sleek and precise just like the makeup that she wore. She was without a doubt though, one of the most intimidating people Odette came across. Her presence alone commanded an audience to bow down before her in a frightening manner.

Odette felt like hiding when the woman looked her up and down before giving her a smirk while addressing Rothbart, "And here I was beginning to wonder where you had gone off to only to bring a woman in my castle."

"Apologies, Your Majesty, but this is my betrothed. She will live here."

"Betrothed? It's the first I've heard of it." the Queen raised a brow in speculation before looking back at Odette and approached her slowly with her head held high. "And what is your name?"

Odette was at a loss for words by the Queen's presence and tone. It may had been calm but it was filled with much authority. It made Odette quickly forget what she was supposed to say. She had to think of a name quick, so she thought of a name similar to a mute servant she knew a long time ago who once worked for her family and the one connection she had towards her curse.

"Nora Moon, Your Majesty." Odette nearly stumbled on her words as she gave a false name to the Queen while attempting to curtsy. It may not had been the most elegant curtsy, but it did the job to show her proper courtesy.

The Queen didn't say anything which unnerved Odette especially how she stared her down, almost calculating what to say to her next. Thankfully, she turned her head to the open hall as did Rothbart when he saw how long the Queen was staring at the open. Odette couldn't help but look to see a a rather attractive man with a slender build. He also had facial hair around his mouth and covering his chin. He must have been someone important with the way he carried himself, especially since his dress robe wasn't common for a peasant from the intricate golden leaves pattern embroidered on the fine velvet he wore. It amazed Odette how she couldn't hear him. He was really light on his feet with such discretion.

When he drew himself nearer to the group, Odette could've sworn she smelled fresh mint coming out of his mouth as he greeted the Queen with a bow, "Your Majesty." He then turned his head at Odette and never took his eyes off her with a suspicious smirk on his face that made Odette uncomfortable. "So, this must be your betrothed, Rothbart?"

That caught Odette's attention as she looked at the sorcerer. She was curious why he would tell this man that he was engaged if Odette just struck a deal with him. Perhaps this man was Rothbart's right-hand man.

The Queen also didn't seem too pleased as she sneered down at the man. "It seems I was left in the dark about this."

"My personal matters are my own business, Regina, just as yours are." Odette was completely speechless to hear Rothbart speak the Queen's name so casually. "Sinbad, take Nora to her room."

The man then stepped forward and gestured towards the hall, so Odette willingly followed the man who she now knew as Sinbad, leaving the Queen and Rothbart behind. As they continued to walk down the halls, Odette took in her surroundings. It was somewhat similar to her father's castle—grim and dark. Although, even though her father is The Dark One, she would have imagined that his castle would be much more terrifying to step into. However, the Queen's castle surpassed him for being much more terrifying in terms of its structure. The only redeeming quality it possessed was outside as it was surrounded by nature.

"You don't seem too pleased that you're here," Sinbad stated with an amused smirk.

She knew he was right. She didn't want to be free this way. At least, she was finally away from the lake. However, Odette knew that there were going to be consequences if her father finds her. Odette simple hoped that it didn't happen. She also didn't want Sinbad to know her true feelings. He seemed to be the type to exploit people's weaknesses as he found it amusing to see the Queen and Rothbart's interaction. She needed to convince him that she was content with her new life.

"I am beyond happy that I am here with the man I love, Lord Sinbad," Odette stated with a deceitful smile.

She was caught off guard by his chuckling and was surprised when she heard him say, "Lord Sinbad?"

Was he not a lord? Odette certainly thought so from the way he walked to his clothes. She stopped to bow her head right away as she apologized, "I'm sorry. I-I thought that you were..."

He chuckled again, finding her stammering amusing. "No need. I still like the sound of it. The way how it simply rolls off the tongue. The title alone gives a great deal of power and authority, and it surely wasn't easy to come by. It took a great deal of hard work to get where I am."

That statement forced Odette to raise her brow as she asked, "You're not of noble blood?"

He stopped walking and stared at her, which confused Odette as he took a step towards her. He then reached a hand out slowly to tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. He was gentle with his touch, but there was something about him that made Odette shudder, especially when he whispered in a voluptuous voice, "And, if I tell you my little secret, then what secret will you give me in return?"

Odette's mouth slightly parted, somewhat stunned by his boldness. It also left her wondering why he wouldn't tell her if he was born from nobility. Odette was no fool. She knew that there were also men who climbed great ranks to become powerful.

"What makes you think I have a secret?" Odette asked, brushing him off.

"Because everyone does," Sinbad told her immediately. "And those who say they don't are all liars. So, if you're going to convince me that you have done nothing wrong," he paused for a moment to lean in and whisper with a wicked smirk, "then I'm afraid you're going to have to try much harder. Now tell me. Why has Rothbart himself taken an interest in you?"

It seemed that Rothbart hadn't told Sinbad everything. Odette knew right then that she had a chance. So, she came up with a story that might fool him. "Honestly, I was happy that he was. I never met anyone quite like him before."

"Hmm. You're not entirely wrong. There is a certain ring of truth in that statement, isn't there?" Odette didn't understand what he was getting at until he told her, "I certainly never would have imagined any woman to love him."

"What makes you say that?"

Instead of answering right away, he mused himself by letting Odette linger on the thought for a moment until he finally gave her his response, "Rothbart is notorious for getting what he wants. That's what makes him a terrific ally."

Odette wanted to understand more on what Sinbad meant, but before she could ask him, he opened a door that led to a bedroom. It was a beautiful room with its high ceiling, the marble stones echoed with each step she took further inside. There was also a chair by the large fireplace directly across from the bed. The bed was in a word, enormous. Odette was sure that she would be lost in its depths from its silk sheets. What she loved most though were the windows since they allowed the light to brighten the room, and they were big enough to poke her head out and enjoy the warmth radiating her face while the breeze swirled through her hair.

However, Odette backed away from the nice breeze when she heard Sinbad say, "Now, that is a genuine smile."

"It's just so beautiful outside."

Sinbad went over to her to look out the window as he said, "That's the first I've heard of it. People don't typically think so with a castle so frightening as the Queen's. She certainly changed it after her step daughter ran away."

"Her step daughter?" Odette asked.

Odette didn't like how a sky smirk crept up his face as he said, "Snow White. She's wanted for murdering her own father, the king. I'm surprised you don't know. Everyone in the kingdom knows who she is, yet for some reason, you don't?"

Odette knew he had her trapped. For over three hundred years, Odette hardly left the lake since she desired to be human again. There also weren't any villages nearby, so it wasn't like she could visit them, but then again, her father would never want anyone to see her. After all, he often told her that he didn't want any of his enemies to use her to get to him. Only now, she was at a queen's castle with people she had never met. Still, she didn't want Sinbad to know of her situation since he seems unaware himself.

"Of course I knew. I just simply forgot about her."

Odette's smile quickly faded when Sinbad brought up a good point. "And yet, there are posters around every village and in the forest." Sinbad then drew himself nearer to her which made her uncomfortable but she managed to remain on her spot. "I have to say that you are rather fascinating, and for that reason," the next words gave Odette chills as he whispered, "I can't wait to find out who you really are."

He then bowed and excused himself as he said, "Goodnight, Lady Nora."

With that, he left the room and shut the door behind him, Odette finally breathed out a sigh of relief. She couldn't believe the nerve of that man, but it also made Odette realize that she needed to be cautious since she was away from home. She never really interacted with anyone since she was fourteen years old as her father was determined to keep her hidden from the world after what happened to her twin brother. Now that she was alone, she needed to be more wary of people especially to those who may seek harm to her and her father. Despite everything he has done, she didn't want to see him get hurt. However, she knew if she escaped the Queen's castle, her father would surely find her eventually. She needed Rothbart to protect her for a while until Rothbart could find a way to stop him. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to stay for too long with these people. Odette simply had to keep her eyes wide open and be cautious around those she finds suspicious.

Present

Nora and Graham were playing a game of darts by the bar, and when Nora's dart hit the wood and fell to the ground, she practically cringed and gave Graham an awkward smile as she reminded him, "I told you I'm terrible at this."

Graham gave her his dart, but instead of giving it to her completely, he held her hand in his and assured her, "It's okay. I'm here." He then started to move her wrist and told her, "It's all in the wrist. You've got to flick it while releasing it at the right moment." He then demonstrated using her hand, and when Nora threw the dart. Even though it didn't hit the bullseye, it at least hit the target, and she was happy about that, especially when he pointed out, "See?"

When Nora turned her head at him, she noticed a small smile on his face, and it made her smile too. "Who would've thought I'd have a great teacher."

Graham then grabbed the darts and smirked while asking, "Ready for another round?"

"Aren't we already in the middle of one?"

"I like to give people a fair fight."

"You're still going to win though."

"Never underestimate yourself."

Nora's heart thumped wildly against her chest when her fingers brushed against his to take the darts from his hand when he offered them to her. It was still strange to Nora how she felt like this. She had many interactions with men before, but for some reason, it was different with the sheriff. It was just like the time at Granny's Diner where she felt this strange connection before. She still had no idea what it was, but she was willing to explore it. If only she noticed Amir Khan staring at the couple as the sheriff looked proud to see Nora's cheeky grin when she hit the target again.

Amir Khan then pulled out his phone to call a number and put it against his ear as it rang until it was finally picked up. He had a devilish smirk as he stared at them while speaking into his phone. "You told me to call you if anything would ever happen between Humbert and Moon. Well, it did."

Past

In the training grounds, one of the Queen's guards, Grim, was doing target practice. His arrows hit the target every time he released it from his bow. It was to be expected since he was a skilled hunter before he became the Queen's slave. He was just glad that no one saw him sneaking out earlier to feed his furry friend, Akela.

"Still training, Grim?"

He looked to see a man with shaggy brown hair and green eyes coming down from the steps that led to the training grounds. He was a soldier too, and his name was Derek. When Grim first met him, he didn't think much of him, but he was certainly a lot kinder than almost every men in the Queen's castle.

"Shouldn't you be patrolling the halls?" Grim asked.

"I was until I caught sight of someone. Rothbart brought some woman. Apparently she is to be his wife, and she is staying in the princess's old room."

Grim never met Rothbart but everyone in the castle knew who he was. He was a ruthless sorcerer who personally aided the Queen. Grim had seen him be cruel to one of the musicians. The singer was awful, and his skills at playing the lute wasn't the best, so Rothbart gave him a choice to keep either his fingers or his tongue. The musician was terrified and refused to answer until Rothbart threatened him by saying that he could just cut out his throat, so the musician chose to keep his fingers. Grim never forget the pitiful wailing when the hot pincers came as Rothbart ordered one of the soldiers to cut out the musician's tongue.

Grim brushed it aside and asked in a bored tone while he grabbed another arrow to pull it back from his string, "And what does that have to do with me?"

Derek shrugged his shoulders and told him, "Nothing. But it looks like a scandal might happen." Grim lowered his bow and seemed interested at first until he heard his friend say, "I saw Lord Sinbad whisper something in her ear. They were talking about secrets, but I couldn't quite make out what they were saying exactly since I was further away."

It was no surprise to hear how Sinbad flirted with a woman. Grim had seen Sinbad woo every servant girl in the castle. However, it made Grim realize something. If she was Rothbart's betrothed, then Sinbad should know better than to make any advancements towards her. Then again, Sinbad was one of the most arrogant men Grim had ever met.

"Forget it, Derek. She's just some woman. It's not like she matters to us anyway."

Present

Graham led Nora back to her apartment as they climbed up the steps. She then took out her keys to unlock the door. Before she put it in the lock, she turned to Graham with a bright smile on her face as she told him, "I had a really good time today."

"Good. I'm glad."

Nora looked back at her door and gestured at it as she asked him, "Do you want to come in to have coffee or maybe tea?"

"I...would love to, but unfortunately, I can't. I need to turn in for work tomorrow."

Nora couldn't lie that she was a bit disappointed, but she couldn't blame him for being so dedicated to his job. He was the only sheriff in town after all. It was his job making Storybrooke safe.

"I understand. Well, goodnight, Graham."

As Nora inserted the key in her lock, Graham stopped her as soon as she twisted it by saying, "How about a date? We could meet at Granny's for dinner tomorrow."

It was kind of adorable seeing him ask her out on a date. She did have a great time with him at "The Moonlight Mirage",so she thought it would have been alright to see where this would go possibly. "I'd like that," Nora told him.

"Great. I'll pick you up after work."

They both said their goodbyes to each other, and for the first time in a long time, Nora had never been so excited to go out with someone with feelings like this before. It was just amazing. However, it wouldn't be so simple as Amir Khan headed to the mayor's house to meet her outside where her apple tree was.

"You saw them at your club?" she asked him.

"Oh yes, and they were hitting it off quite well. It seems that ever since the savior came, many things have changed like time for instance. It also seems like that the sheriff and Nora aren't the only couples rekindling. Snow White and Charming too. Who would've thought he'd wake up to his coma."

"Yes, and you found his fiancé, Kathryn."

"You are welcome," Amir said with a sly smirk.

"But now we have another problem. In order for me to get around the police force, I need the sheriff, and I can't have Nora Moon interfering in my personal affairs."

"Ooh! I forgot you don't like to share with your precious toys."

Regina sneered at him as she scolded him, "Don't patronize me, Sinbad. Don't forget that the only reason why I gave you your memories is because of your discretion. You kept everyone's secrets and exploited them when necessary, and I needed eyes and ears to let me know what is going on in this town. Now, do whatever it is necessary to keep them apart, Sinbad, just like when you brought Kathryn back into David Nolan's life again."

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Amir gave her one last bow, almost in a mocking manner and left, ready to formulate a plan.

Hi everyone! I know it has been long overdue, but here is the third chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it, and please let me know what you all think. Stay tuned for more chapters!