Dreaming Out Loud

A Monster Made

Chapter 50: A Monster Made

Snow and Charming hurried into the shop and Belle noticed the alarm on Snow's face, as did Jefferson. He had been scarce lately, as he had spent a lot of time catching up with Grace, but his daughter was having some one on one time with her mother today.

"What's happened?" she asked, as Gold came in from the backroom.

"Is that it?" David asked, noticing the blank white globe on the back counter.

"It is...she seemed to buy my act, though there is really no telling with her," Gold replied.

"I don't think she did," Snow blurted out, as Persephone and Emma hurried in.

"I got your text," the dark haired Goddess said.

"Me too," Emma added.

"I saw them in the woods...Cora and Regina," Snow said. Persephone looked instantly worried.

"Did they know you were there?" she asked. Snow shook her head.

"I...I don't think so, but it's bad," she fretted, as Charming put his hands on her shoulders.

"Tell them everything you told me," he said, hoping that his embrace could calm her. It did somewhat and she took a deep breath.

"Regina and Cora were meeting with a man in the woods, not far from Johanna's house," she began, as she glanced at her Mother. She wanted to believe that it was a coincidence that it was in such close proximity to Johanna's residence, but the look on Persephone's face told a different story.

"A man?" Belle asked.

"I've never seen him before, but he had a very identifying trait," Snow replied, as they looked at her expectantly.

"A hook for one hand," she added. Gold clenched his fist at that. So...Cora had brought the Captain with her, after all.

"Whoa, whoa, wait...a hook?" Emma asked incredulously, as they all looked at her.

"As in Captain Hook? He's real too?" she questioned.

"Says the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming," Jefferson quipped. Emma rolled her eyes.

"Hook has a known affiliation with both Regina and her mother," Gold provided. Snow and Charming glanced at him.

"And apparently one hell of a grudge against you from what Snow heard," he added.

"They're looking for the dagger...and Hook is very upset about Cora not allowing him to kill you with it. Because she wants to become the Dark One," Snow informed.

"Just as we thought then," Persephone surmised.

"He kept calling you the Crocodile..." Snow added. Gold was dismissive at that.

"We crossed paths some three hundred years ago. He wronged me and I repaid the favor," he offered vaguely. Persephone rolled her eyes.

"You killed your wife for running off with him and cut his hand off for humiliating you before you were the Dark One," she corrected. He clenched his teeth.

"My past grievances are not for you to air to the world," he growled.

"And this is not the world. They need to know why they might be caught in the crossfire with the war between you and Captain Hook," she snapped back.

"Yeah, especially if he obviously knows you have friends...and someone you love," Emma added.

"She's right...Cora has likely been watching us all, as creepy as it is to think about. That's what she was doing while we enjoyed a bit of peace these last two weeks," Persephone warned.