*Saleen's POV*
I know I'm pushing the envelope with all this talk of Daniel but I need Auntie to leave. I have survived without her before. She still mourns Daniel even though I think it's utterly ridiculous for her to mourn someone she loved nearly 28 years ago. He was handsome though and looking at the new Daniel I can see how Auntie must've been pulled in by his rough-and-tumble charm.
This makes me sound like a cold-hearted person, talking about not being upset by someone's so-called "true love" dying. I can see by the look on Auntie's face that she's dying on the inside and I decide to do the right thing and let it go.
"Just go, Auntie," I say. Auntie cowers at the harshness in my voice. Not many people have the power to make her weak like I do. IF someone else mentions Daniel, she merely stiffens but if I mention Daniel it's like I've just stabbed her in the chest. Auntie begins to follow the new Daniel out of the room but she turns back to me.
She stalks over, her confidence and power growing with every step. She stares me down. At my tallest, I am 5'6. Auntie is 5'7 and normally the two inch difference in our heights doesn't show but it shows now. Her black stilettos click ferociously against the floor. Her slightly skimpy black dress billows out behind her.
She stops right in front of me and gazes down at me. Her eyes are black with anger. She slaps me so hard across the face that she knocks me backwards a few steps. I begin to fall but two strong arms catch me. I look up to see Hook. He calmly sets me back on my feet and steps between me and Auntie, shielding me with his body.
"Regina, she's just a child. She doesn't know what she's saying. Hurting her won't get you anywhere," he says, and I am surprised at the smoothness in his tone. He sounds calm but there is an undercurrent of warning.
Auntie seems angry beyond all reason. She whips Hook in the chest with a blaze of magic that sends him crumpling into a heap in the corner.
She raises her hands but I am faster. I throw the first wisp of magic. Auntie looks shocked. I forgot she didn't know I had magic. Mum tried to keep it a secret. She didn't want Auntie to "corrupt me".
"That's right. Two can play your game," I snarl. I see everything in a sort of slow motion.
Auntie's arms go up and she expels the blackest magic I've seen. It's not just black in evilness, it's black in color, black like coal. I see Auntie's eyes go wide as she shoves the tidal wave of magic towards me.
"NO!" She screams.
Suddenly I feel gut-wrenching pain. My head snaps back. I feel like every bone in my body is on fire. I hear an ungodly and realize that the scream is coming from me.
I start to feel my body go limp and my vision starts to tunnel. I suddenly see a dark-haired woman with bright violet extend her hand to me. Before I hit the floor, I feel a pair of arms gently hug me and I whisper, "Thanks Mum."
