Prologue – 15 years before Regina's curse

The tiny baby swaddled in her arms opened her perfect, rosebud-shaped mouth in an equally perfect yawn. A thrill ran up her spine, an unexpected jolt of something she'd never felt before this day, something astounding and remarkable and miraculous. The unconditional love that a mother had for her child.

Love. It wasn't ever meant for her. She'd known that for as long as she'd known her own name. The concept was foreign, unrealistic, prohibited even. Love caused almost every problem that anyone ever had. Love meant unhappiness, love meant fear, love meant death. Yet still, people would do, say, give anything for one fleeting moment of pure, unadulterated love. She'd never understood why, no matter how many times she pondered it.

In one instant, though, it all made sense. The moment they'd placed this extraordinary new life into her arms, the years of wondering 'why?' disappeared in an instant. Every single nerve in her body felt it, and without a doubt, she knew that she would do anything for her daughter, this child borne from her body. Anything.

So enthralled she was with examining the baby's delicate features, the smooth, dark dusting of hair covering her perfectly-formed head, the miniature fingernails that she took no notice of the austere figure when it appeared next to her bed.

"In thousands of years, our people have never known such shame."

She looked up sharply, realizing that the voice came from Esme. Esme, who had raised her, taught her their craft, and now guided her steps. Esme, whose word was law among their kind, whom not one had ever dared to cross. Would she be the first to do so?

"There is no shame in this child." She gazed lovingly at the baby. "She will never feel ashamed of who she is and how she was created. I shall make certain of that."

"You will raise her then?" Esme's words dripped with disapproval and disappointment. "You choose to condemn her to a life of separation, a life where she will be an outcast, where she will never fully be a part of any world. I had hoped your good sense would prevail."

"I will give her a life full of love." She hissed as quietly as she could, not wanting to disturb the baby. "I can offer her everything, including love."

"Love." Esme sniffed, haughtily. "Love is for the weak and helpless, not for our kind."

"I love her." She pulled the baby closer to her chest. "We are capable of love."

"You are aware that she has no gifts? She will not be like you. She will never be part of us, she will never be accepted. If her parentage is discovered – "

"No one will ever know of her parentage!" She shouted, startling the baby, who woke crying. Soothing her daughter, she turned back to Esme. "You and I are the only ones who know. If her father's identity is ever discovered, I'll know it was you, and I swear upon my child's life, Esme, I will kill you with my bare hands."

"Secrets will always be discovered. If you truly loved this child, you would kill her now and forget that she ever existed. She will bring you unimaginable heartache, as will you for her." Esme looked satisfied, content, positive that her directive would be followed without question, as they always had been.

"Get. Out." She muttered through clenched teeth, a rush of white-hot fury coursing through her veins. "You will never speak of this idea again, and you will never cause her a moment of sorrow. I will make sure of that. Get out of my sight, Esme, because if you don't, I will place a curse upon you that will make every other curse ever wrought seem like child's play."

Esme turned to go, unable to resist one last barb. "You'll regret this day and you'll regret your choices. Mark my words." With that, she was gone.

She put her lips to the baby's downy head, trying to ignore Esme's words, trying to pretend that they'd never been spoken. "Don't worry, my darling. My Azure." She whispered, giving her daughter a name beloved of her heart. "I will never let anything bad happen to you, my darling Azure. I will love and protect you with my life, you will never have reason for fear or doubt, and I will never, ever lie to you." She closed her eyes, never more sure of any words she had ever spoken.

That was only the first of many lies that she told her daughter.