The Evil Queen's Daughter - SEQUEL

Chapter 24

Marian clutched the pilfered keys close to her chest, standing with her back against the stone wall. She turned her head around, slowly, and peered around the corner. There was no one there. If only she could use magic, then things would be a lot simpler. It seemed it was a lot harder to sneak around a castle undetected than she'd once thought. Usually, she'd be ignored, unnoticed by the people around her, but today, she somehow felt that she was being watched.

Taking a few breaths to stable herself, Marian stood up straight with her chest pushed forwards. If she was to do this, she would do it with meaning. Baring in mind, this wasn't the sort of thing she was used to. She had seen a few of her husband's robberies in the past, but this was slightly different. There were no distractions, no lookouts, and no chest full of gold - Marian was on her own.

She sauntered down the corridor, making sure to look as non-suspicious as humanly possible. It shouldn't be too difficult to pull off, after all, everyone saw her as a kind, caring woman, who liked baking in her spare time. Marian almost laughed, if only they knew...

There was, of course, a downside to walking with your chest out and chin up. While making her way down the stairs, she collided with Belle, who was carrying a few too many books up from the library. The novels scattered around them, some falling all the way back down the staircase. "I'm so sorry." The girl apologised, leaning down to pick up her fallen treasures. "No, no." Marian replied, "I bumped into you. It's me who should be sorry."

Belle smiled and turned around, skimming the dark corridor for her beloved books. "Well, I'm heading down towards the library too. Perhaps I could accompany you to retrieve your books?" As much as Marian wanted to believe she was different now, that all she needed was revenge, she couldn't help but enjoy the prospect of having a friend. "I'd like that." Belle replied, before the pair made their way down the tall staircase.

"So, you and the dark one?" Marian asked, raising her eyebrows. She'd heard many tales of the brave, young woman that had fallen for Rumplestiltskin, and longed to know what drew her to love his blackened soul. "It may sound strange to you, but he truly has changed. He's become the man I always knew he could be, the man behind the beast." It was sickening, really. The young girl falling for the monster who held her captive.

"So, you loved him because you saw who he could be?" Upon hearing this, Belle smiled sympathetically. "This is about your husband, isn't it? About him and Regina?" Seeing Marian's reaction, she immediately knew this was the case. "Coming from a person she tortured for over thirty years, I want you to know that she really has changed. I'm not saying that I think Robin should be with her, but I understand how you must feel. It must be hard, knowing the person who tried to kill you has won the heart of the man you love."

Marian looked up in surprise, "You understand? I thought you and the dark one were still... together?" She looked away, sheepishly, and trailed her hand along the rail.

"As I'm sure you can understand, it's difficult at the moment. And when I said I understood, I mean it. Rumple was seduced by the darkness in the same way your husband has been by Regina." The pair soon realised they'd reached the bottom of the staircase, and parted ways before Marian could respond. In a way, the bookworm was right; Robin had been seduced.

She tried the door handle, and to her surprise, it was unlocked. Luckily, there was no chance of anyone being down here, since she knew that the wretched Queen was spending time with her daughter. Just the thought of it made her roll her eyes. How could her beloved girl, who she had raised, think the Evil Queen to be more of a mother than she was? It didn't make sense.

Luckily enough, her plan would fix everything; she'd never have to worry about Regina or her grasp on her family ever again.

Marian scanned the room, looking for a specific potion. It was one she'd read about in the castle's library, and was supposed to be held in a dark blue vial. The concoction was supposedly a rare one, and so Marian assumed that the Queen would keep it somewhere safe, and away from prying eyes. But where to start? The room was full of boxes, chests and shelves filled to the brim with all kinds of things she'd never heard of.

She sighed and placed her head in her hands; it was going to take quite the miracle to find the potion before Regina realised she was down there. As she looked up, something caught Marian's attention. It was a small, wooden chest, not unlike the ones the Queen had used to store the hearts of her victims in, and the perfect size for a dark blue vial.

Creeping towards it, she turned her head around sharply, knowing that being caught would cost her dearly. Once she received the confirmation that she was indeed alone, Marian undid the latch and opened the box. Inside was a layer of purple velvet, adjourned with an indentation in the shape of a small bottle. This had to be it.

While there were no labels anywhere on or around the vial, she was sure it was the right potion. Why else would it be kept in such a way? Whatever it was inside the bottle, it was something dangerous, that was for sure. Just how dangerous depended on the next stage of the plan.

Some might say the chances of Marian finding the potion were extremely coincidental, that it would be nearly impossible to find something like that in the first place you look. So, while some thought it complete luck, Marian was absolutely adamant that it was a sign, a sign from the universe that told her the plan would work, and she would get what she so desired.

But what it was she desired, was a lot less than simple. 

*AUTHOR'S NOTE - Sorry to leave you all on a cliffhanger there. Does anyone have any ideas about what might happen next? But as I'm sure you all know, it can't possibly good; I do seem to enjoy killing off characters. But I promise I won't kill Regina, if that makes you feel any better. Anyways, really hope you enjoyed this one and I'll start writing chapter 25 now! (Baring in mind I'm very unlikely to get it uploaded before tomorrow) Ly all and remember to vote and comment below!

Sarah xxx