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Before Emma had a chance say anything Regina was raising her arm to conjure the purple mist that indicated her magic.

Chapter 69

Once the disorientation and the purple mist clears Emma identifies that they are standing on the path leading up to the Battle residence. She also notices that she is wearing her leather jacket, her boots and is holding her crutch that she had left in her bedroom. She smiles at the thought that the Evil Queen took the time to think about such things and looks to Regina but the woman is already stalking up the path and Emma rushes to catch up to her.

Regina waves her hand and the front door of the house tears open and slams against the opposite wall as the brunette struts into the house obnoxiously and after a brief pause turning to enter the small kitchen. Emma hurried after her and as she arrived in the kitchen she noticed that John Battle was kneeling before her, “Your Majesty,” he spoke.

An unpleasant smirk appeared on Regina’s face at his devotion, “stand,” she ordered.

He got to his feet and stood to attention with his arms firmly behind his back while his eyes raked over Regina’s appearance and Emma had a sudden desire to pull Regina’s jacket around her and do up the front buttons.

“The local law enforcement,” Regina spits the word out with disdain as she indicates Emma with a tilt of her head, “have informed me of your actions towards your son.”

“Your Majesty..” he began.

“Do not speak to me until I invite you to,” Regina said sharply.

He bowed his head in respect and Emma felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and for the first time she was grateful she had never come face to face with the Evil Queen.

“Your actions have brought me into disrepute,” Regina complained, “I am very displeased.”

“The boy..”

“Enough!” Regina shouted and Emma felt herself jump and was grateful that she was stood behind Regina so the brunette didn’t notice.

“The new powers that be in the town have decided that the boy would be better off living elsewhere, I’m sure you can agree to that as he is obviously bothersome to you,” Regina said in an almost bored tone.

John Battle stared at his feet in compliance of Regina’s original orders so she marched towards him and roughly grabbed his jaw in her hand and jerked his head up, “answer me,” she growled.

“I need the boy to help around the house,” John offered quietly, his eyes refused to make contact with Regina’s.

Regina pushed him back roughly and he tell into the dining room table with enough force that Emma was convinced that Regina must have enhanced her strength with magic in order to be able to do so with such a strong man.

“Do not embarrass me in front of the Sheriff, you still work for me,” she said darkly, “the boy will leave this house, your abuse of your powers as his guardian is causing me problems. Do you understand?”

John quickly scrambled back to his feet, “yes, Your Majesty.”

“Good,” Regina sneered, “Sheriff, fetch the boy.”

Emma was about to complain at the dismissive tone but decided against it and left the kitchen and walked into the hallway. When she got there she heard John speaking, “Your Majesty, if you wish to launch a rebellion against the Charmings I will stand by your side.”

Emma paused and listened as the man continued, “your personal guard are all willing to fight for you.”

She held her breath and waited for Regina’s response, “enough blood has been spilt, on both sides.”

“But, My Queen..” he began.

Regina cut him off, “continuing the war would be pointless, we have all lost too much. In this town you are free to live your own life.”

“We swore an oath to you,” John replied, “we will stand by you, we wish to serve you.”

Joshua appeared at the top of the stairs and Emma looked up at him and gave him a gentle smile and gestured for him to come down the stairs towards her. His eyes flicked up to the door in fear and Emma whispered, “it’s okay, we’re getting out of here.”

Joshua frowned and slowly made his way down the stairs, all the way his eyes were fixed on the door. Emma looked at him closely and could see the outline of a bruise starting to form below his left eye.

Regina glided into the hallway and looked at Emma and then at Joshua, “let’s go.”

Emma nodded and pointed for Joshua to leave the house first but as soon as they were all on the porch John appeared, “Your Majesty, give me another chance, please..”

Regina spun and stared at him, “have you ever known me to give a second chance?”

He cowered in front of her, “but..”

“The boy will be taken to the convent where his needs will be cared for, you will avoid contact with him and you will not go to the convent, do I make myself clear?”

All the time Regina spoke her voice rose in anger and Joshua took a couple of steps back to tuck himself behind Emma. John nodded his understanding, “yes, My Queen.”