Different Worlds

Chapter 9

"You, thief, are now my prisoner."

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Emma's POV

"Excuse me?" I snarl, taking a step back. "I don't even know why I'm here!"

Regina laughs, the sound echoing in the whole dungeon and sending shivers down my spine. "Did you not attack Snow White's carriage and attempt to steal from her?"

"I... yes," I trail off, unable to even find the words to defend myself. I'm sure Robin is really proud of me now.

"Now you know." Regina opens the cell and steps out. When she notices I'm not following, she looks back over her shoulder. "Come along, dear. Let's get you into something more suitable for a castle. After all, you're back home where you belong."

I reluctantly follow her up the stairs and to her chamber where I used to sleep long ago. Nothing has changed save for the darkness of the room that makes it seem like nighttime. The door to the chamber closes and locks with the flick of a wrist, and I'm surprised to feel a spark of fear along with something else I can't quite put my finger on as Regina turns to study me.

"I see Robin has kept his word. You're healthy and alive, though you smell," Regina comments, wrinkling her nose.

I blush and try to maintain eye contact. "Yesterday was my 16th birthday. The men took me out for my first drink—we kinda went a little overboard."

"8 years..." Regina breathes, her eyes glinting maliciously though I see a spark of hope behind her evil glare. She quickly shakes herself out of her stupor and marches off to her bathroom.

I stare after her. Ever since the day she sent me off, I never thought I would see her again. At first I was sad (more so angry) and wanted nothing to do with Robin or his men. I got it in my head that Regina would come back for me, that she would bring me home and we would be a family again. She would teach me all the things a lady needs to know that I never learned. Robin and the men taught me useful things like how to shoot a bow and how to use droppings to search for animals nearby, but no one prepared me for my monthly bleedings or the strange feelings that possessed me when I would spot a fair maiden at the tavern.

It seems the loving young woman I knew in my youth is gone, replaced by some hurtful and dangerous soul. Perhaps what she said was true—she really wasn't safe to be around. Her magic must have taken a hold of her heart and ran. Whereas mine I tried to forget about except for in dire circumstances. The men expected I play fair, and play fair I did. I earned my place of a brother fair and square.

"Are you going to stand there all day, or must I force you in like an unruly child?" Regina's voice breaks me from my thoughts.

I join her in the bathroom where the bathtub is filled, the scent of roses and lemon hanging in the air. My nose crinkles at the perfume scent.

"Excuse my lack of pinecone perfume and river mud soap," Regina quips.

I almost make a sarcastic remark, but instead think better of it and strip my clothing. It's not like I chose to leave the kingdom; from what I can remember, I was hauled away kicking and screaming, my little heart breaking in two.

Regina scoffs as she turns to see me bare and waiting for permission to come in. Although I don't plan on being a prisoner to anyone, a good bath and possibly a hot meal will do just fine as I think of how to get out of here. Robin is surely putting together a rescue party at this moment, but I'm hoping I can free myself and prove to him I can handle being part of the brotherhood.