Once Upon A Time: The Devil Revealed, Part Twenty Four

By Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki

David pulled up in front of the diner as the sun began to rise, parking the truck and turning off the engine. After searching for several hours, he and Mary-Margret had not been able to find Emma. He had called the dwarvesand they had no luck either. The fairies said they wanted to search a little more and then they would meet with everyone at Granny's. The dwarves were on their way as well but had not arrived yet.

" Where could she be? " Mary-Margret couldn't hide her worry. It had been growing over the last hourand she looked terribly frightened.

" I don't know, " David said. He silently hoped that Doctor Hargreaves or Regina weren't behind Emma's disappearancebut he dared not to vocalize it. He also wondered if Rumplestiltskin had taken her away like he had feared he would. He dared not to say anything about that either because he knew Mary-Margret wasn't going to listen to any more of his theories on what he thought the imp had planned for their daughter.

" Maybe the fairies will have some luck, " Mary-Margret looked towards the diner. She frowned, " They aren't open yet? "

David looked and saw that the 'closed' sign was still turned outand all the chairs were still up on the outside tables. " That's weird. Granny's usually got the place ready to go by dawn. "

" You don't think they decided to go look for Emma after all, do you? " Mary-Margret asked.

" No, " David shook his head. " They wouldn't have left Henry aloneand I don't think they would have taken him along. "

Just as the words left his mouth, Ruby's car came around the corner. Granny was at the wheel, Ruby hanging out of the passenger side window. They both looked worriedand there was no sign of Henry in the car. She parked right in front of David's truck, Ruby climbing out the window before the engine was turned off.

Her eyes were red like she had been crying. She rushed up to the side of the truck as David rolled it down. She sniffled, " Henry's missing. "

" What? " David and Mary-Margret said at the same time.

" I went to wake him up so Grannyand I could get the diner ready and he wasn't in his bed, " Ruby explained hurriedly. " I checked on him several times last nightand he was therebut he was gone this morning. "

David frowned, " Couldn't you follow his scent? "

" When we tried to smell the bed for his scent, we found a rag soaked with ammonia. It disabled our sense of smell. We're still having trouble smelling, " Granny said. " He's a smart one. "

" Too smart, " David said. " He could be anywhere. "

" And we don't know where Regina is, " Mary-Margret's eyes grew wide. " Oh God, David! What of Regina took Emma to use as bait to lure Henry to her? "

" She would do that, " David said. He looked at his watch, " Let's give the dwarves and fairies some time to get back here and we'll split up again after we get some coffee in us. I'm not going to rest until we find them both. "

" How long? " Mary-Margret asked.

David frowned, " At least an hour so we can all rest and eat. We'll take off again at eight fifteen. "

Regina sat outside Moe French's flower shop, just out of sight but where she had a perfect view. She was in a beat-up looking car and wore a scarf and sunglasses, all to conceal her identity. She had followed Moe and Belle there, carefully thinking about what she was going to next. Her original plan had involved killing Belle if she had ever remembered her past but the game had changed.

Doctor Hargreaves had informed her that Emma was pregnant and she was fairly certain who the father of the baby was. This changed things immensely. Instead of killing Belle, she decided to let her return to Rumplestiltskin She knew he had mourned the loss of his true love for twenty-eight years and would leap at the chance to reunite with her.

It would be much better than killing her although Belle would probably reveal what had happened to her and making Rumplestiltskin angry. She wasn't afraid though... she could deal with him. She glanced in the rear view mirror, seeing someone coming toward the car from behind. She furrowed her brow then frowned when she realized it was Doctor Whale.

He paused behind the car then walked to the driver's side window. He stooped down, " Is everything alright Miss... " He asked, his concerned expression changing to one of recognition before turning into one of anger. " You! "

Regina quickly started the car and floored the gas pedal, taking off but unsure of where to hide. She looked back to see Doctor Whale get out his cell phone and dial...

Emma found herself standing in a cavernous room. The gray walls were decorated with giant tapestries and a rather huge rug filled the middle of the room. A large round table sat in the middle of the rug, a giant flower arrangement in the middle of the table. Stairs ran along the back of the room, leading to the second floor.

She looked down at herself to find she was again in the white nightgown and barefoot. This puzzled her because the last dream she had where she was dressed the same had taken place somewhere completely different. She had been deep in a dark dungeon in that dream, watching her father being cruel to Rumplestiltskin. Archie woke her from that dream though.

She looked around the large room again, turning to find two huge doors behind her. She walked to them, pulling them towards her to reveal an opulent garden. It took her breath away for it looked remarkably similar to the garden at the summer house. Beyond the gardens, she could see the mountains all around.

She stepped back, closing the doors before turning to survey the foyer again. She spied another set of doors to one side and she went to them, pushing them open to find a long dim hallway. She looked left then right before her ears perked up, a strange sound reaching them. It was like a scraping squeaky noise, rhythmic in nature but also like nothing she had ever heard before.

She followed it to another set of doors, ones that were open just a crack. She walked to it, peeking inside. The room she had found looked to be a large den, filled with things she had seen before. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized where she had seen the objects.

The large room was filled with treasures from the pawn shop. She scanned the den slowly until her eyes settled in a far corner. There she found a large spinning wheel with a man seated in front of it. His back was to the doors so she was fairly certain he couldn't see her.

She watched him for a long moment, thinking him quite overdressed for the task he was doing. He wore a fluffy gold poet's shirt with a high collar, black leather pants and boots that came up to his knees. His skin was a dark golden color and his hair was dark blonde and wavy. She looked to his hands, finding they were tipped in greenish black nails that looked more like talons.

" Rumplestiltskin, " She muttered under her breath. She recalled his pictures from Henry's storybook and this man looked more like the imp than she thought Mr. Gold did. She knew they were the same though.

" How long are you going to stand there, dearie? " He said, continuing to spin. " You know, it's rude to stare. "

Emma nudged the doors open and stepped inside. She couldn't make herself go more than three feet into the room though. That didn't bother him though. He simply stopped what he was doing and got to his feet, walking towards her.

He wore tight black leather pants, the hide making a noise with each step. It made Emma's heart pound in her ears, the way he looked in the pants taking her breath away. Mr. Gold's suits concealed his lithe build but the pants highlighted it. She felt her cheeks warm with the memory of their night together but quickly pushed it away when he stopped in front of her.

His reptilian eyes studied her closelyand he looked puzzled, " Who are you and why are you here? "

" Emma, " she breathed. " I... I don't know why I'm here though. "

He took a step back and bowed, " Rumplestiltskin. "

" I know, " Emma said.

" Of course you do, " He stood up and gave her an impish grin. He then circled her, still looking her over. He came back around to her front and looked down. " Oh my. It seems you're bleeding. "

Emma looked down to find the dress had three growing patches of blood on it, the skin beneath suddenly hurting. " Oh no... My stitches. "

Rumplestiltskin reached for her, " I can heal your wounds. "

" But what do I have to do in return? " Emma said.

Rumplestiltskin's brow furrowed, " What? "

" You're Rumplestiltskin, " She said. " Everything you do has a price. "

He smiled coyly, almost looking like Mr. Gold had the day at the hospital when Emma made her deal for Ashley's baby. He smirked, " For one as beautiful as you, this will be on the house. "

Emma watched as his hands neared her belly, her breath catching in her throat when he was just shy of touching her...

" Please, Emma. Please wake up, " Henry's voice shocked Emma back into reality. She opened her eyes and looked around to find she was in the jail cell she had been backed up against. She was now lying on the cot and was covered with a blanket.

Emma looked to her left to find Henry sitting next to her in one of the chairs from the office. It was dim in the cell but she could tell the child had been crying. " Henry, " She whispered. Her body was sore and she hissed in pain when she sat up.

Henry wrapped his arms around her shoulders, " You're awake! "

" Yeah, " Emma sighed. She then furrowed her brow, " What are you doing here? Mary-Margret said you were at Granny's when I was at the hospital. "

" I was but when I heard you escaped, I wanted to look for you. I had to sneak out because they wouldn't let me, " Henry explained. " I saw a strange car outside of here and thought I'd check it out. "

" Oh, " Emma looked towards the office. It was disheveled with papers everywhere and a couple of overturned chairs. There was also no sign of Jefferson or Doctor Hargreaves. A chill ran down her spine as she recalled the last few moments before she had passed out.

She recalled the doctor coming after her with a needle and a bright flash of purple light when it seemed he had caught her. Her eyes then went to the clock on the wall to find several hours had passed. She knew it had been about three when she and Jefferson had gotten to the police station. She found it was half past seven o'clock, early morning sunshine filtering through the blinds.

She then recalled the pain she had felt when she had been running from Doctor Hargreaves. She let Henry go and reached for her tank top. She pulled it up, looking at Henry when he gasped at her bloodstained bandages. " What happened? Did someone hurt you? "

" Not directly, " Emma replied. She decided not to tell him the whole story. " I got into a fight up hereand I ripped my stitches. "

" A fight? With who? " Henry asked. " Doctor Hargreaves? "

" Yeah, " Emma nodded. " You didn't see him, did you? "

Henry shook his head, " I didn't see him but I heard a car speeding away after I got up here. "

Emma's stomach knotted as she scanned the office again. On the second look, she noticed a pile of what appeared to be ashes not far from the cell. She then looked at Henry, " Did you burn something? "

Henry shook his head, " No. That was there when I got here. "

Emma frowned, " What did the car look like that was outside? "

" Old, " Henry replied. " It was a faded blue but I really didn't get a good look at it. I saw it and came up here. "

Emma felt some degree of relief. Jefferson's car was an old blue one and she hoped he had gotten away unharmed by whatever happened to cause the ashes in the floor. She looked at the ashes again, noticing the chain of a silver pocket watch glinting in the ray of sunlight. Doctor Hargreaves always carried such a watch and she made up her mind the ashes were what remained of the coroner.

" Does that mean anything to you, Emma? " Henry asked.

" Don't worry about it, kid. We have other things to think about right now, " Emma said and tried to move, hissing in pain again. She was sore like she had been after trying to heal Rumplestiltskin's leg. She wondered and looked down at her stomach again.

She reached for one of the bandages and peeled it back to find her surgical incision beneath it was completely healed. She removed the other bandage finding the same thing. She glanced at Henry, " Looks like I healed. "

Henry looked confused, " But how? "

Emma looked at him, " I think I used my magic. "

" When? " Henry said.

" Something happened when Doctor Hargreaves attacked me, " Emma looked to the ashes again.

Henry looked at them as well, " You did that? "

Emma sighed, " I think I did. "

" Cool! " Henry said.

" Not cool, " Emma said. " I think that's why I'm so sore. It took a lot out of me. "

Henry frowned, " Oh. "

" Nobody knows you're here, do they? " Emma asked.

" I don't think so, " Henry said. " I sort of did something to keep Granny and Ruby off my trail. "

Emma furrowed her brow, " What did you do? "

" I read somewhere that you could disable a dog's sense of smell with ammonia so I left a rag soaked with it in the bed back at the inn, " Henry explained.

Emma quirked her mouth. She had heard of drug dealers doing the same thing to keep drug dogs from smelling their stashes. " That was a dirty trick, Henry. Granny and Ruby are your friends. "

Henry looked ashamed, " But I was worried about you... I wanted to help find youand they wouldn't let me. "

" But we don't know where Regina is. What if she found you? " Emma scolded him. " She could have taken you away. "

Tears welled up in Henry's eyes, " But I was scared I was going to lose YOU! " He said then sobbed. " I was scared for you and the baby. "

Emma felt bad for scolding Henry, realizing that Henry's intentions had been pure. She forced herself up a little more and hugged her son to her chest. she also realized that Mary-Margret hadn't told the boy the news. She decided she would save it for a better time. She kissed his forehead, " I'm sorry, kid. I know you meant well. "

" I just wanted to help, " Henry sniffled.

" I know you did, " Emma murmured into his hair.

There was a silence before Henry pulled back a little and looked at her. " So... What now? "

Emma sighed, " Give me a little while and we'll go look for the others. Now we know Regina is still around we'll have to look for her. "

To Be Continued...