~ White Swan & The Mad Hatter ~

Prologue

~ All cygnets are grey, then they grow up to be either a black or white swan. It's the same with children. They are all born with the potential for evil as well as good. ~

The little boy pauses outside the door, his chest heaving with excitement and fear, a deadly combination. He bites on his lip, hard and then raises a hand to knock, loud and purposefully.

Silence for a long time and nervousness begins to settle into the pit of his stomach. What if she doesn't want him? Or sends him away, wanting nothing to do with him?

"Who is it?" A muffled female voice asks on the other side.

"I need to see Emma Swan?" He asks, his pulse racing.

Several locks are undone and he tries not to show his confusion. The door opens but rather than the woman he was expecting, there stands a girl, possibly no older than eighteen. Her blonde hair is cut short to her chin, her ice-blue eyes rimmed with black. Everything about her is sharp and defined. Her body, much to the little boys dismay, seems too skinny, almost as if she may be anorexic.

"How does a kid like you know Emma?" She asks, eyes surveying him with some interest.

He swallows. "My name is Henry."

"So?" She raises an eyebrow.

"I think I'd rather talk to her and explain to her who I am." He clings to his book tightly. "Is she here?"

She pauses, eyes narrowed slightly. "No. She's not."

"Oh." The disappointment is overwhelming. "Where is she? Will she be back?"

"Shesh, what's with the questioning?" She rolls her eyes.

"It's important that I find her." He says seriously.

"Why?" She asks, noticing for the first time how somber he is.

He takes a deep, shuddering breath. "I - I'm her son."

Although she refuses to react, beneath the cool mask, her mind is suddenly enveloped with chaos. Emma had a son? Why didn't she ever tell her? This is crazy!

"You're being serious? How do you know?" She asks cautiously.

He shakes his head. "I've done a lot of research."

She sighs, realising just how serious he is. "Kid, I'm sorry. Emma died two years ago."

The world drops from beneath his feet, the shock instantly ravishing his mind and body as he struggles to comprehend her words. "What? She's dead!? She can't be... she can't!"

She shrugs, her face displaying no emotions. "Yep. Sorry."

He pauses, struggling with sudden tears that threaten to spill out. "Then who are you?"

Now it's her turn to hesitate, unsure of how to say it. Finally she sighs. "I'm her daughter. Looks like we're sibling's kid."