A Soulmate's Story

Chapter 31

Tricking Cora was going to be much harder than Raven had anticipated. The older woman was sharp, manipulative, and had a terrifying mastery of magic. But Raven wasn't just dealing with an ordinary foe—Cora was her grandmother. That familial connection, despite the darkness behind it, added a complexity that twisted in Raven's gut. Cora didn't know anything about her existence, though. Regina had kept Raven hidden, her deepest, darkest secret, for years. That secrecy might be the only advantage Raven had.

She paced in the quiet of her apartment, running through the plan Gold had laid out for her before he left for New York. "Distract her, keep her off balance." It sounded simple, but Raven knew better than anyone how dangerous Cora could be. She knew Cora would strike while Gold was out of town—especially with him off on a mission of personal importance. Cora had no idea about Raven, though. In all her twisted plotting and power plays, Cora never realized that Regina had a daughter hidden from the world.

This anonymity was her weapon, and she needed to use it wisely.

Her eyes fell on the clock. Belle should be at the library now. A small part of Raven felt bad for dragging the innocent woman into this. But she had no choice. Belle was close to Gold, and Gold's presence was a looming deterrent for Cora. If Cora believed Gold was still in town, she might be more cautious. Raven had perfected a spell to cloak herself as Gold, hoping to fool Cora long enough to keep her distracted. The transformation spell was difficult, but she'd practiced enough to make it work.

Today, however, she had to watch Belle closely. Cora would come for her, no doubt.

Raven quickly donned her cloak, the dark material rippling as she hurried out into the afternoon sun. The town of Storybrooke was deceptively peaceful, and the crisp autumn air almost made it feel like an ordinary day. But Raven's heart beat wildly in her chest. She headed toward the library, where Belle had spent most of her afternoons since regaining her memories.

When Raven arrived, the large, wooden doors were slightly ajar, and the soft sound of Belle humming a tune floated through the air. Raven's nerves settled for a brief moment. She lingered near the entrance, her keen eyes watching Belle, making sure she was safe for now. A bell jingled as the door opened wider, and an older woman Raven recognized entered—Joanna, Snow's old nanny.

Raven observed from the shadows as Joanna approached Belle with a warm smile. She had heard that the old woman had been looking for a birthday gift for Snow, a book to add to her collection of memories. "I already gave her snow bells," Raven heard Joanna say in her soft, affectionate voice. "But I wanted something special."

Belle beamed at the request, eagerly guiding Joanna to a section in the back of the library where rare and old volumes rested.

For a brief moment, Raven allowed herself to relax. Everything seemed peaceful. But that peace shattered in an instant.

A chilling wind blew through the library as the front door swung open with a loud creak, the temperature dropping dramatically. Raven's pulse quickened, her instincts screaming danger. She didn't have to look to know who had arrived. The air itself thickened with the weight of dark magic.

Cora.

Cloaked in her dark gown, Cora stepped through the door, her cold eyes scanning the room. She didn't seem to notice Raven, who quickly ducked behind a bookshelf, masking her presence with a cloaking spell. But her heart pounded in her chest. She had to be careful—Cora's magic was stronger than anyone Raven had ever encountered. Even a slight misstep could give her away.

Raven peered around the corner just in time to see Cora's eyes land on Belle and Joanna at the back of the library. Cora's lips curled into a cruel smile.