Creeps in Like the Darkness [OUAT || Swan Princess Trio #5]

25 - Devil's Due

Elaine was still sitting on the floor in Hades's lair as Hades stood in front of her, waiting for her to choose who stayed in the Underworld. Hades sighed, "Oh, come on. All you need to do is choose four of your friends and family to stay here. Carve their names. What's the problem? Is it the chisel? Not the Impossible Girls' style or writer's block?" Hades said.

Elaine threw the chisel on the ground, "I'm not doing it," Elaine said.

"I must say... I'm not angry. I'm disappointed," He walked to Elaine and leaned down, "And on second thought... I'm angry. I guess it's off to solitary," Hades grabbed Elaine by her hair and she screamed in pain as she was dragged onto her feet, Hades led her to the River of Lost Souls where a boat waited for them, "Now, listen carefully. This is the River of Lost Souls. Tough it and it will make you lost. Reducing you to a mindless, tormented husk. So please, keep all arms and legs inside the boat," Hades said.

Meanwhile, at the pawnshop, Mr Gold walked inside, "Father?" Mr Gold called out as he closed the door.

Mr Gold walked further into the shop, only to discover a piece of parchment with a note written on it, he picked it up and began to read it.

"My son and daughter... This shop is yours to do with as you both wish. And my offer stills stands. Use what's in the case when you two want to accept it and we can be a family again. Your father."

Mr Gold picked up his father's old flute and examined it. He put the flute down and then locked the door before he walked into the back to a brewing substance in a black pot. He opened a jar that contained fluid and an eyeball and poured the fluid away before walking over to the bubbling potion and dropping part of the pan in, followed by the eyeball. He turned and picked up a glass ball and held it over the potion.

"Show me... Show me those I seek," Mr Gold said.

The glass ball revealed Neal and Faye, helping to clean up Swan's loft after the Cerberus attack, Daniella ran over to Neal and the two hugged each other and then started talking as Faye walked away. The image changed to Callie having lunch with Leroy and Belle and after a few more moments, Mr Gold dropped the ball and it smashed and he scrambled to the ground, trying to gather the smashed glass.

"Oh, no! Oh, Callie. Oh, Callie," Mr Gold said.

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At the Swan's loft, the living group and dead group were cleaning and examing the damage that was left behind by Cerberus, Regina was holding an arrow, "Found more arrows," Regina said.

Robin sighed and walked down the stairs, "You do not want to see what the hell dog did upstairs," Robin said.

"So, we think we're ready?" Emma asked.

Mr Gold walked into the apartment and looked at the group, "What are you doing?" Mr Gold said.

"We're gonna get Elaine. What's it look like, Crocodile?" Killian said.

"We know Hades will have her in some sort of isolation. Meg told us there's an entrance nearby, and the doppelgangers can now locate exactly where," Faye said.

"So, all 45 of you are gonna slip down into the deepest level of detention in the Underworld. Hades knows you're here. He'll have put up barriers to keep the living out of all the places he doesn't want us going. You walk into his domain, you'll all be puffs of dust," Mr Gold said.

"Your father's a delight, Baelfire," Esme said.

"Tell me about it," Neal said.

"So, we get a new plan," Katy said.