Once Upon a Time: Ever After High (Book 8)

Ch.9 Wrong path

After the diner, Mira, Olivia, and Terrence went to the Dream Inn Motel where they went into a room that the Count was said to be staying in. Fortunately he wasn't here as they went in and closed the door. Now inside, they all looked around as Olivia spotted some papers on a table that were written in calligraphy.

"He was definitely here" she concluded.

"Whoa" Terrence said surprised after opening a chest that was filled with all kinds of swords "Looks like calligraphy isn't his only hobby."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Olivia asked Mira.

"I didn't know he was in Storybrooke" Mira replied "And do you really want to hear about every time I tried to kill you?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry" she said with guilt "You know I'm trying to put that behind me, clearly the Count didn't get the memo."

"Well that's the problem" Terrence said "You hired him, now you fire him."

"That's exactly what I'm going to do" Mira declared as Olivia handed her the letter "The letter says to meet him at the crashed blimp site in an hour."

"We're coming with you" Olivia added.

"No, this is my mess, I'll fix it. And it should go more smoothly if he's not using you as a pin cushion."

"Yeah" Terrence agreed as he turned to Olivia "Do you really think you should worry about this guy? I mean it took him a curse and a pit stop in the Land of Untold Stories to find us."

"Well uh-" Mira suddenly said "That's not entirely true."

(Flashback) Now outside on the balcony, Edmond watched as the Evil Queen examined his sword that he always carried with him.

"Such a lovely piece of steel" the Queen smiled as she handed him back his sword "Perhaps you can give me lessons."

"As much as I would enjoy that" he said as he put his sword away "I can't be late for my daughter's ball. Ms Apple White and her mother will be attending."

"Is that so?" the Queen smiled with amusement as he gave a smile and a nod "I knew there kindness would be a down fall."

And with that she used her powers to make a small black vessel appear in her hand.

"Venom of the Arabian viper" she smirked "A bitter draft, slow, bu painful."

And with that she handed it to Edmond, who seemed unsure.

"Is there a problem Count?" she asked.

"What did she do to deserve this?" he asked.

"Don't tell me you're starting to grow a conscious."

"I call her Professional Curiosity."

"Well what she did doesn't matter. Only one thing should be on your mind right now-".

And with that she pulled out the rolled up scroll.

"How badly you want your revenge."

At that point he gave a frown as he took the vessel as the Queen gave a small laugh.

"I thought so" she smirked "Now, go ahead and enjoy your daughter's ball, but remember, you wont get your revenge if you don't back out on this."

Edmond gave a nod as he headed back inside, leaving the Evil Queen with a sneaky smile on her face.

Now at the site of where the blimp had crashed, Mira waited for the Count as she read over the letter.

"I'm afraid you're not on the guest list" a voice suddenly said as she turned around to see the Count "My, if it isn't the young version of the Evil Queen."

"Well then" Mira said "I'm calling off our deal Count."

At that point he pulled out his sword as Mira's heart started to pound.

"What happened?" he asked "She finally convinced you that finding your happiness is the best revenge?"

"Actually yes" she smiled while trying to stay calm "It took some time but, she's right."

"I bet that doesn't change anything" he said with doubt as she gave a small sigh.

"Let me help you" she offered "You don't need revenge to get over what happened to the person you loved, if I can learn that, anyone can."

"You may of sent me down this path, but not even you can take me off this path."

And with that he threw his sword straight at her as she quickly used her powers to freeze the sword and let it drop to the ground. Mira then picked it up and aimed it at the Count, only to find that he wasn't there. Having no idea what's gotten into him, she knew she needed to find Olivia quick before he does.

________

As he made his way to his shop, young Gold unlocked the door and stepped inside as he made his way to the counter.

"This place really needs dusting" Mira's evil self suddenly appeared as he turned around to see her swiping her finger across a shelf and flicking off the dust "And a vacuum."

"You know-" he said "Just because you're here doesn't mean you have to judge my shop."

"Oh please" she smirked "You're happy I'm back."

"I wouldn't say happy, I'd say prefer."

"Of course, because the other me is not as cool as I am."

"So that Wendell guy, why did you need him?"

"Because he has some Darkness in his heart, and that makes him useful."

"But what use does he have? He doesn't have the power of the Author anymore."

"Oh I know that, but he does have some dark magic, and that's what makes him useful."

"Suit yourself. Now if you would excuse me, I need to get back to finding what I need."

But before he could head off to the back of his shop, the queen suddenly stopped him.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked as she went up to them "I need to know, why did the old you have to create a younger duplicate of himself? What was the point?"

At that point he gave a sigh.

"That is none of your business" he said as he headed to the back, leaving the queen wondering what was his point of making a younger clone of himself.