Once Upon A Time ~ Book 1

Chapter 64 - The Agrabahn Viper

The King lay asleep in his bed. The sheets above his waist and his arms sprawl to one side.
The Genie stood in front of the bed, the wooden box in his hands. He stared at the King for a moment. He ten closed his eyes briefly.
"Forgive me." he whispered.
He placed the box on the chest in front of the bed and took the skull key from his belt. He then put the key in the lock, twisted it and opened the box. One of the snakes peeped up, his tongue hissing. Then the other one lifted his head above the lid. They hissed, staring at the Genie.
The Genie gestured to the King lying asleep in his bed. They quickly looked around.
The King shuddered in his sleep and coughed, but he didn't awaken.
The snakes then slithered beneath the sheets on the bed.
The Genie moved closer to the King.
The king shuddered again as the snaked slithered beneath the sheets. He batted his eyes lids then opened them wide as he saw the Genie standing in front of him.
Both snakes apeared beside his head. One on each side. They hissed at him, their pink tongues swerling.
The king looked at them in shock, fear in his eyes. Then both snakes openedctheir mouths wide and dug their teeth into the King's neck. He choked and gasped for breath as the poison reached his blood. His skin became pale grey and it spread accross his face.
The Genie took the King's hand in his. "The pain will soon pass."
His now pale grey skin turned black and wrinkled as he choked.
"You asked me to find the man who gave the mirror to your Queen. I did." he said quickly.
The King's eyes widened even more.
"I am that man. You gave me my freedom. You gave me a chance to find love and for that I am forever in your debt. But just as you freed me, so must I now free your Queen..... Forgive me."
He shook in pain and choked. The Genie turned to walk away but the King quickly grasped his hand.
"You were right." he uttered. "I never.....should have.......made a wish." his face then went blank and his heart stopped.
The Genre looked away, the King's hand still grasping his.

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Emma and Sidney walked away from the Town Hall. Silent and defeated.
Emma then quickly looked around to see people shaking Regina's hand and thanking her.
"Look at her." said a voice from behind them.
Emma turned to look at Mr. Gold.
"Queen of the castle....... You know, what you did in there was commendable, Miss. Swan. But if you really want to bring her down you're gonna need a strong ally."
"Like yourself?"
He tilted his head.
"Thanks. But I'm still not interested."
"Oh, one can wish." he smiled and he stepped away as Regina walked towards them.
"Miss. Swan, a word?" said Regina.
Emma glanced at Sidney.
"Alone." she added, glaring at Sidney.
Sidney sighed a little and walked away.
"I don't know what you were hoping to accomplish in there, but now I hope you'll go back to your job, which is upholding the law, not breaking it."
Emma raised her eyebrows.
"You don't think I know you broke into my office?"
"Don't pretend like you're so innocent. I know you messed with the breaks on my car."
"Your breaks?" she laughed. "Are you delusional? Why would I kill you when you just saw I had nothing to hide?"
"Nothing I can prove."
"Well, until you have something more substantial then disdain to throw my way, you're going to stay away from me. And more importantly, from Henry."
Emma's eyes widened a little. "Look, that's.........." she started.
"Not open for discussion." she interrupted. "You've lost the high ground, sherif. If I wanted to, there's not a judge in the world that would deny me a restrained order after what you've done. You don't get to see my son unless I say so. And right now........ I don't say so."
Regina smiled and walked away, leaving Emma full of regret.

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Children played at the newly build playground in the woods. Henry walked away from it and looked around. He then spotted Emma's yellow car in shadows of the trees ahead. A smile grew on his face and he waved at her in the car. Emma waved back.
Henry took his walkie talkie from his pocket and put it up to his mouth. "Why are you so far away?" he asked through the walkie talkie. "Come out here."
"Sorry, kid, I can't today." she said from the car through her walkie talkie.
"Your undercover, aren't you? For Operation Cobra?"
"No, Henry, I'm not undercover. You mom, she doesn't want us seeing each other for a while."
"You don't have to listen to her."
"Actually, this time I do. I screwed up, Henry. I got mad at your mom, about you and the book and everything, and..........." she tryed to explain calmly from the car. "Well, we're just gonna have to be apart for a little while."
"I don't wanna be apart."
"Neither do I. But right now, we have to." she looked at Henry by the playground, his face now down. "Don't worry, I'll find a way back in. And hey, if it's out there, Henry, I will find your book."
"Good luck. It's properly gone and it's properly never coming back."
Emma sighed and put down the walkie talkie. She turned on the engine of her car and reversed it back onto the road.
Henry stood up and watched her go.

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The mysterious biker man stood in his room in Granny's Bed And Breakfast. He held in his hands a dirty, red toolbox. He placed it down on the table and snaped the metal lock with one of his many tools. He then opened the box to reveal Henry's fairytale book. He took the book and held it up in front of his, gazing at the cover.

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Sidney sat in Granny's Diner, a glass of wiskey inot fronto of him.
Emma walked into the diner and sat next to him at the counter.
"Looks like we had the same idea." said Emma.
"Well, if you can't beat her, drink." he held up the glass and took a drink.
Ruby then placed a glass of whiskey in front of Emma.
Sidney sighed. "How did we not see this?"
"We did. We saw it all, right from the start. We just didn't want to look. Blinded by anger." she gazed in front of her as if she were in another world. "By everything."
"This time." he sighed again. "But there are a lot more skeletons in Regina's closet. And the good news?....... You got yourself an ally."
Emma looked at him and he held up his glass. She then picked up her glass.
"We won't get fooled again."
They toosted.

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The Queen stared into her mirror, her face full of sorrow.
The Genie then walked briskly into the room, a broad smile on his face. "It is done. You're free, my love. We are free to be together at last."
The queen put down the mirror, no life in her face.
"Dis you not hear me? Our days of imprisonment are over." he took her hand.
"You haven't heard the news......... The palace gaurds found the snake. They know it's from your country. They know I was you who killed the King........... It's only a matter of time before they catch you. You will be executed........"
The Genie looked down at his feet in sorrow.
"I'm sorry, but we will never be together." she got to her feet. "Come. I've arranged for a boat to provide you safe passage out of the kingdom. You must leave at once."
He stared at the Queen, then realisation accured. "The Agrabahn viper........... Of all the snakes in the world, that is what you chose."
The Queen looked up, away from him, guilt in her face.
"You wanted the murder to be traced back to me. You........you fooled me. You never loved me."
"Loved you?" she said, her tone deeper and colder. She turned to him. "I wanted the King killed and you killed him. You are no longer of any use to me. Be greatful I'm offering you an escape. Now, flee the Kingdom and never turn back."
He shook his head. "I can't live without you." he said his voice breaking. "I won't live without you."
"Did you not understand me? I don't love you. There is no way we will ever be together." she raised her tone.
"There is one way." the Genie took the lamp from his satchel and held it up. "There is still one wish remaining........ I wish to be with you forever. To look upon your face always, to never leave your side."
The Genie disappeared in a poof of blue smoke and the lamp fell to the floor.
The queen looked around the room for the Genie.
"No!" said his voice from near by. The queen looked around again.
"No!"
She then held up the mirror to her face to not see her reflection but the Genie inside, battering his fists on the glass.
"No! No!" he screamed.
The Queen put her hand over her mouth. "Well, looks like you got your wish." she smiled. "You will be with me, forever.