Chapter 24

                                    

                                          
" Zelena is in love?".
                          
" And not thinking rationally, which for her is a big problem", Regina says.
                          
" We have to stop her. And if you can't because she's your blood, then allow me to", Killian says.
                          
" What? Kill her?".
                          
" You're legally bound, dear", Scarlett says as she stirs her tea, not looking up as she speaks.
                          
" Well, taking action against Zelena in any form will get messy".
                          
" Okay, so we find a way to keep them apart", David says, " Without killing anyone".
                          
" I'm waiting for the better option", Killian says.
                          
" Perhaps, Emma and I could keep them apart. Cons are... kind of our thing", Grant suggests.
                          
" Do you really think you're capable of doing that?", Scarlett asks, then sips her tea.
                          
" How do you mean?".
                          
" Well... the last time you used your powers was to impersonate my husband... which is also the time you decide to announce your feeling for Emma".
                          
" {clears throat} Yes, I-I realize what I did wasn't the best idea, but it was the only thing I could think of. I figured Emma would take better to Hook than the guy she hasn't seen for over a decade".
                          
" So you took advantage of her feelings... towards my husband".
                          
" Hey, I think that's enough", David says.
                          
" Would you like me to remind you that you made out with the puppy killer while impersonating your twin brother?".
                          
" Scarlett...", Emma says.
                          
" It's alright, Emma", Grant says.
                          
Regina mouths the words 'mood swings', and everyone understands.
                          
" Ow!".
                          
Regina feels a pinch on her arm, causing Scarlett to chuckle.
                          
" Can you control your wife?".
                          
" She's your daughter", Killian responds.
                          
" So, what's the plan?", Emma asks, trying to get back on topic, " We don't have Snow anymore. It's just us".
                          
" Well, there's only one person we can trust to destroy the love blooming between Hades and my sister", Regina says, " Our mother".
                          
----
                          
Scarlett was told to stay at the apartment, something she wasn't fond of. After the first 20 minutes, she gets bored. Feeling stuffy inside, she decides to transport herself to the horse stables of the Underworld. To her surprise, no horses are there.
                          


                          
She enters the stables, memories flooding her mind. She reaches the back fence and looks at the heart shaped carving. Scarlett takes a deep breath, her finger tips grazing over the initials.
                          
And then
                          
as if on queue
                          
an all too familiar voice rings through her ears.
                          
" Scarlett?".
                          
For a split second, she doesn't believe it. Slowly she lifts her head up, eyes un-blinking. She takes her time to turn around, and when she does, she's met with the face of the man she fell in love with all those years ago.
                          
" Marcello?".
                          
Their eyes lock, and all of a sudden they're teenagers once again. Trapped in the Underworld together. Young and in love.
                          
" A-Are you?".
                          
" No... I'm alive. H-How are you... y-you were thrown into the fire", Scarlett says, her voice cracking.
                          
" It was a trick. I was never in danger. Hades staged the whole thing... just so you wouldn't have anything to lose", Marcello responds as he steps closer to her, " You look... so beautiful, mi bella".
                          
Scarlett is frozen. Stuck in place. Her eyes water at the sight of her first love. Her mind screams at her to move, but her body doesn't listen.
                          
When he tries to place a hand on her cheek, electricity shocks his whole body, making him step back.
                          
A cool breeze blows past, opening Scarlett's jacket to reveal her belly.
                          
" Y-You're pregnant?", He asks.
                          
" And married", She responds, still stuck in place like a statue.
                          
" Oh... who's the lucky man?".
                          
" Captain Hook".
                          
" The dead man?".
                          
" He won't be dead for long".
                          
"{chuckles} Scarlett, you're wasting your time with him. He's dead".
                          
" And so are you".
                          
" But I don't have to be".
                          
His words leave Scarlett confused and speechless, but not for a while.
                          
" That's not possible".
                          
" Yes... it is. I prayed and I prayed and I prayed ever since you left. I prayed to the Almighty Zeus... and he answered. He offered me a pardon, he sees that my intentions are pure. I can go back to the Enchanted Forest, and you can come with me. We can live our lives... and raise a family... together".
                          
Marcello tries to reach for her hand, but she finds it within herself to step back. The tears do not dare to fall from her eyes as her jaw trembles.
                          
" That's madness", She whispers in disbelief.
                          
The words he says don't ring as true to her, no matter how desperately a part of her wishes they were.
                          
" We were in love all those years ago... think about it. That spark still remains between us, it doesn't just fade away. We could be happy... we could have the future we always wanted. Please, Scarlett... just run away with me".
                          
Marcello is trying his best to convince her, for his fate is on the line.
                          
What Scarlett doesn't know, is that Hades is pulling the strings once again. He didn't throw Marcello into the fire because he needed him as leverage. He knew that one day Scarlett would return. He knows that Scarlett does not fear the God of the Underworld... but she possesses a soft spot for her first love.
                          
Hades wants Marcello to lead Scarlett out of the Underworld so Killian will stay.
                          
Her choice is simple.
                          
Either she leaves the Underworld with Marcello, sacrificing her husband.
                          
Or...
                          
She leaves the Underworld with Killian... sacrificing her children.