Regina took a deep breath as she entered Timothy’s bedroom. "I made it without crying. Who would have thought I would have cried over the loss of my family after everything? It’s not my fault. It’s not my fault," she repeated these words to stop blaming herself. "I give them the chance to leave and get away from everything."

"Regina."

"Ah!" Regina screamed at the top of her lungs then clutched her chest as she found Esmeralda standing behind her. "What the hell, Esmeralda? You should have a better way to alert me of your presence. What do you want now after you disappeared and left me all alone last time? I have not forgiven you and I don’t think that I will."

"I’m sorry," Esmeralda apologized.

"You know, these days sorry just isn’t enough. You’re the one who brought down this mess that I am a witch and the one time I needed your help, you left me all alone. I had to find my way out. I also did not forget Gilbert mentioning a soul hovering around Minnie. Was it you?" Regina folded her hands. She felt like she should have never trusted Esmeralda.

"I was only keeping an eye on my daughter but she was never able to see or hear me as you do. There were other souls besides me lingering around that house. You saw them tonight. My daughter must have had the thought of souls in the house and placed a candle in her room. I never betrayed you," said Esmeralda.

"No, but you were definitely keeping secrets from me," Regina circled Esmeralda. "I don’t enjoy being lied to or used. I see why those witches said I should beware of a soul being around me. You never planned on punishing Minnie for all the things she did. Had I learned how to place a soul in an object, you wouldn’t have allowed me to stop Minnie after everything that she had done. Would you?" Regina asked but she already knew the answer.

"She was my only living child-"

"She had ruined the lives of many," Regina interrupted Esmeralda before a sob story could be given. "Minnie carried on what our ancestors started and has ruined this family. She is not your precious daughter. Realizing you planned to live with Minnie to make her up for never being there for her, I am angry with you. Not only did Aurora get trapped here because of you, but you would also have kept her here to please Minnie."

"No, I would not," Esmeralda replied but she did not believe her words. "I regret letting my family know about Aurora and her ability to grant wishes. I truly do. I would have made Minnie give up on these plans."

"Then Minnie would have just killed you. Do you think the woman who was in my life forever but decided I was a stranger and wanted to throw me in a cell would care about what her dead mother had to say to her? I know a mother’s love means you can turn a blind eye to things your child does but I can not bring myself to forgive you for lying to me and using me to live alongside Minnie. Please disappear from before me."

Regina no longer wanted Esmeralda to show up before her. Minnie and everyone else were gone and there was nothing left for Regina to discuss with Esmeralda. It was best Esmeralda stopped holding onto this world before she end up like what happened with the real Hamiltons.

"She said you might never forgive me. Before I go, I must warn you," Esmeralda pointed out to the balcony of Timothy’s bedroom. "He’s coming," she said then disappeared.

"Yes thank you. That was helpful," Regina muttered but looked at the balcony waiting for whatever Esmeralda was talking about. Luckily the door was locked but then she started to wonder if it was the soul inside her father’s body and if he had changed his mind about letting her walk away. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Regina!"

Regina turned her attention from the balcony to the bedroom door but then quickly looked back at the balcony. "Come inside quickly Timothy."

"What are you doing?" Timothy followed her gaze to the balcony. "I thought I heard you scream. Is someone out there?"

"I don’t know. My great-grandmother showed up before me and gave me a warning that someone was coming. I have no idea who it could be. What if one of the souls has come for me? Not even Aurora would know how to stop them from taking me," said Regina. She couldn’t blame the souls for changing their minds as she had enjoyed the luxury of what belonged to them.

Timothy narrowed his eyes to get a better look at something outside. "Not a soul from what I see," he left Regina’s side to get a sword he kept hidden in his bedroom.

"Samuel?" Regina’s eyes widened at the sight of her brother climbing up the balcony. "Sam! How on earth did you get past Timothy’s guards? You’re not that good of a fighter. Are you?" She paused to consider that this was not her brother. "I need to see his eyes," Regina muttered.

On the balcony, Samuel heavily breathed as he finally reached Timothy’s room. He was here for Timothy to help him but wasn’t surprised to find Regina here. "She left us and hooked herself to a rich man," he said in between breaths. "Open the door!" He yelled. Samuel felt like something had chased him as he ran to Timothy’s home.

As Timothy’s family had a history of dealing with these kinds of things, he ran here for help.

"Let me see your eyes first-"

"Regina! Open the fucking door and let me in. You know what," Samuel marched towards the door to open it himself but found it to be locked. "Open this door right now! After you abandoned our family, the least you could do is take care of me. Minnie, father, and mother died because of you. Are you going to let me be killed too? Something was chasing me so hurry the hell up."