The Dark Princess {OUAT AU}

Chapter 37

"You can do this. Help me." The voice whispers, and then the air is silent again. He tries to remember the way her voice sounds, and tears slip down his cheeks.

"I can do this." Mason whispers, his throat aching from misuse. He sits up slowly, and focuses on the cuffs, hoping he can break the cuffs off.

Eventually he has to stop, and take a deep breath. He feels dizzy and faint and his mouth is dry. He collapses down onto the ground and thinks that he would be crying if there was any moisture in his body. 

"I'm sorry mom." He grits out, slamming his hands on the ground. Lying there, thinking of everything he can't do makes him want to just die. Mason isn't sure how long he lays there until he hears a bird chirp. His eyebrows furrow in confusion, and he sits up slowly. A little yellow bird sits in the arrow slit, and stares at Mason.

"Who are you?" He asks, and watches as the bird squeezes through the concrete sides and hops along the floor towards him. His eyes narrow at the bright yellow bird comes closer until it's just far enough away that it's just barely out of his grasp. Soon enough he watches as a white glow envelops it until he has to look away because of how bright the light becomes.

"Much better." A female's voice groans and Mason whips his head back around in surprise. Standing in front of him is a tough looking blonde with a beautiful face and who's wearing man's clothes. 

"Who are you?" Mason asks, and she looks taken aback at his defensive tone. Her green eyes stare him down and he gulps.

"Excuse me, is that how you speak to someone who's here to help you?" She bites out and his eyes widen.

"You're going to help me?"

"I wouldn't have risked coming here if I wasn't going to help kid." She shrugs, and then slides down the wall to the floor. 

"Well if you're here to help, can I know your name?" He asks, and she laughs.

"I'm Emma. Well Queen Emma technically."

"I've heard of you." He says, the information tickling his brain. 

"I'd hope so. I mean my parents are Snow White and Prince Charming." Emma shrugs. Mason gapes at her, and she looks a little bit afraid of him.

"Wait what? You're Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter?" He asks breathlessly.

"That is what I just said." She laughs.

"Wow." He says, as his mind begins to wrap around this fact. "My mom liked to tell me bedtime stories about your parents. Well, and about you."

At the mention of Valerie, Emma's eyes light up. "Speaking of your mom, where is she?"

"Rumplestiltskin has her. He was trying to turn me into him but I found her locked up and this is my punishment. I can't even remember how long it's been." He frowns, his heart dropping.

"Okay..." Emma begins to worry her lip after trailing off after only one word.

"How do you know my mother?" Mason breaks the silence, his curiosity instantly making him a child again.

"She used to be friends with me and my wife." Emma admits.

"Who's your wife?" He asks right away, and a gigantic smile breaks out on the blonde's face. 

"Queen Regina. She's absolutely wonderful."

"You love her a lot, don't you?" He smiles, and Emma nods, her grin still evident.

"More than anything. But that's not what we're getting at. She sent me here because we've heard rumours that something happened."

"What do you mean?"