Cursed Hearts

Sister Mine

Nothingness. That was what Regina Mills felt inside as she slept fitfully through the unbearably long night. She slipped in and out of a deep slumber, drifting through a void of her innermost and close-kept memories, all robbing her of the peace she needed more than anything. Though her body was at rest, her mind was streaming with unwanted thoughts. She saw nothing but blackness in front of her, yet she felt years worth of terror, stress, and anger. It was hell. She had never experienced anything like it in her life.

Suddenly, the dark scene shifted before her. Regina was now standing within four walls and a warped hardwood floor; she could feel cold in the air and hear a breeze rustling outside.

Everything was so real.

Glancing around in a paralyzed caution, Regina realized that she had no idea where she was. She closed her eyes and willed her mind to wake up, but nothing happened. The situation she was in was far out of her control. Though the cabin was almost completely dark, the features of the room stood out strongly against the blackness. Surprisingly, the features reminisced themselves as regal, rather than the typical setting of a cabin in rural Maine. She took a step forward, which was met with a loud and frightening groan from the loose boards beneath. That was matched by another more forceful step, followed by a series of strides until she reached the front door. She pulled it roughly- again, nothing happened.

"Ah, you're finally here," a voice sounded from behind her, instantly triggering a fear that spread across her body like wildfire. Whipping around, Regina's chilling suspicions were answered when she saw the woman standing before her, arms crossed in a powerful stance, with eyes so icy blue Regina felt frozen in place.

"I was beginning to think you didn't eat any of the soup. Did you like it? The previous owner of this house left the cutest little recipe book. Add a little nightshade root and... Well, you get the idea."

Still stunned, Regina couldn't find the comeback she was searching for. "W-what are you talking about? This isn't real. This is all in my head."

Zelena let out a small chuckle. "Do you honestly believe that?" She then outstretched her arms out to gesture around the room they were in. "Despite what you think, you aren't in control here. I am." Her last words were cold and offered nothing but a threat to the other woman.

"Then what exactly am I doing here?" Regina responded, her eyes narrowing instinctively.

Zelena then took three steps in her direction, sauntering in a prideful manner that was almost sickening to witness. "I have some things I need to discuss with you."

Irritation began to run red in her vision; her unexpected visit to Zelena's quaint cabin in the woods was rapidly becoming a nightmare from hell.

"Then what is it you'd like to discuss with me, woman I've never met before? Please, do tell me why you drugged me and brought me to this lovely establishment in the middle of nowhere." Regina quipped, malice rising in her voice.

Zelena released a shrill laugh. "Now there's the evil queen everyone's been talking about!" Clasping her hands together, the woman took three steps closer to where Regina was standing. "I suppose introductions are in order- I'm Zelena, and for the past eight years, I've ruled over the land of Oz. I'm the most powerful witch in all the realms-"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure. What does that have to do with me? What do you want?"

Her question was met with a imminent smile- one that felt like a dagger slicing right through her soul. "Isn't it obvious? I want your daughter. I want all that precious magic that resides inside of her and I want it all for myself."

Instinctively, Regina opened her palm and willed a ball of fire to incinerate her newfound enemy. Instead, however, nothing happened. Nothing happening was becoming a bothersome.

"Sorry. my nightmare, my rules," Zelena said, her voice saturated with success. "This is all far too easy. You should really teach Caroline to avoid talking to strangers."

In a split second, the entire entity of the situation had changed completely. Regina was used to a good fight- she had been well versed in the art of taking down worthy opponents. But with her own child involved, her very flesh and blood? The once powerful and condescending woman was now a whirlwind of strangling fear.

"You're sick." Regina managed to speak, her words barely audible. "You're absolutely sick in the head. She's only ten years old."

"God, who are you now, the saint that fights against all evil? We both know that you would've done the exact same thing during your long reign as the Evil Queen. And you would've absolutely loved it- feeling her pure innocence draining from her body and entering yours."

Regina could feel each individual breath seething between her tightly clenched teeth. It was enough torture already that she couldn't hurt the red headed nuisance; but having no control over when she could leave? The magic she was experiencing was powerful and extremely rare. There was a small voice in the back of her mind begging for attention, one that told her that the woman before her held a danger that even she didn't know how to control. She tried to weigh her options, but there were hardly any options to choose from. One thing was certain- she had to make sure her only daughter was safe from harm.

"Just... Tell me what you want from me."

Another dangerous flame danced within Zelena's startling blue eyes, accompanied by a wicked smile. "Oh, I don't want anything from you. I actually brought you here to tell you something. Something very important." She then leaned forward, so close to the other woman that her breath grazed her cheek. "You and I share something in common, my dear. A mother."