Different Worlds

Chapter 8

Wow! I must say, I am really surprised some of you were shocked by the big reveal with Leopold, as most of you had it figured out. I hope his death brought justice to what he had done *evil Scar voice* —Long Live the King! As for Rumple's reveal, that was fun to write. His own child being his undoing? How epic will that battle be?

Any who, enjoy the chapter.

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Servants and guards bow and curtesy before me as they wish me good morning. I give them a smile and a nod, but in truth, I feel disconnected from everything around me. After borrowing my mother's spell book, I enchanted the whole kingdom so they would forget the king ever existed. I hope it was strong enough to reach Sherwood Forest, I'm not strong enough to deal with a war right now.

Snow runs up to me, embracing me tightly with a large grin. She believes I adopted her after her mother and father passed, since I inherited the throne. She calls me 'mother' which I still am trying to get used to.

"Good morning, Mother! Did you sleep well? I slept great! Johanna is packing my things for the trip to visit my grandparents!" She rambles.

I have withheld the real reason for this trip. I am sending Snow to live with her grandparents, to be raised by her own flesh and blood. With each passing day my darkness grows stronger, and I often have to fight homicidal thoughts. I will keep my word, and to do that, I must be alone.

"Why don't you make sure Johanna has packed everything you want to take?" I suggest.

"Okay!" Snow reaches up and pecks my cheek before darting off down the hallway.

I go to my chamber, softly rubbing Emma's back to wake her. Her eyes flutter open and she gives me a small smile as she realizes who I am. "Are you planning on sleeping all day? The servants are preparing for lunch," I tease.

Emma sits up with a yawn. I grab her a dress and help her out of her nightclothes. "Have you thought any more about what I suggested, Emma?"

Emma shakes her head. "I don't want you to remove my memories. What happened to me made me stronger. I know Snow wouldn't have been able to handle those memories but I can. It makes me who I am."

I open my mouth to retort, then ultimately realize she's right. If someone gave me the opportunity to forget about my father's death of my mother's abuse, I would have declined right away. All memories—good and bad—shape us into the people we are today. Losing those is like losing a part of yourself.

"I heard you're sending Snow away. To live in another kingdom," Emma says as I brush her hair.

I pause, thinking of how to answer her. "She will be better off living with her own family. I hardly know how to be a Queen."

Emma stares at me intently in the mirror. "Are you sending me away, too?"

I sigh, pulling a little too roughly at a knot in her hair. Emma turns and pulls the brush out of my hands. "Am I?" She asks, demanding to be answered. "Because if I am, you can't send me back to Rumplestiltskin. He only wants me for my magic."

"I can't keep you." Tears fill my eyes as my voice breaks.

Emma begins to break as well. "But you saved us. You did that for a reason. I have nowhere to go if you force me out."

I turn her to face me. "I'm not forcing you out, Emma. I'm—I can't keep you here. There's darkness inside of me that I am slowly losing control over."