Chapter Text
It had been a while since Daphne and Sabrina had gone on an adventure together. Daphne had spent most of her time and money traveling around the world solving mystery after mystery. Yet despite that she tried so hard to call her sister. So many times she had heard the beep of an answering machine and then the beep of a voicemail. Sabrina had been solving mysteries too and spent every waking moment trying to care for her children but it was difficult. Emma demanded so much attention and Alison was becoming a teenager. God knows how difficult that was. In truth calling Daphne was often the last thing on Sabrina’s mind. They rarely ever got a chance to sit together and talk like old times. The sisters had both grown up and despite the promises they made when they were younger they had grown apart too.
“It’s been a while…” mumbled Sabrina, “since we went on adventure together.”
Daphne smiled back at her older sister but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah it really has.”
The girls were silent for a moment. Sabrina wondered if Daphne was being stubborn by not apologizing and Daphne wondered the exact same thing about Sabrina.
“You forgot how to answer a phone huh?” Daphne teased as she elbowed her sister's side.
“It’s a busy job raising two kids. I don’t expect you to understand,” Sabrina said as she glanced away.
Daphne frowned and quickly walked quickly to block Sabrina from passing her. “What do you mean by that?”
“Just that you don’t have any kids so you can’t understand how much effort they take. I never get a moment to myself to do anything much less call you!”
“I’m not a child anymore Sabrina I know how difficult being an adult is! That doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to be frustrated!”
“I’m not saying that! You just don’t get it!”
Daphne scoffed and looked around as if Sabrina was crazy. “Of course I get it! My job is stressful too! You know I’m starting to remember why I went to travel instead of sticking around with you!” Daphne gasped the moment the words left her mouth and quickly clasped her hands over her face. “I- I didn’t mean that-“
Sabrina stared at Daphne for a moment in horror. “You said you were traveling because you wanted to see the world and help everyone not just Ferryport Landing people.”
“and I meant that! It’s just- You always try to keep me close like I’m made of glass! Even after everything we went through together you see me as the 7 year old girl you have to protect!”
”it’s my job to protect you!”
“no it’s not!! Sabrina you hold onto people so tightly it’s suffocating!”
Sabrina opened her mouth to say something but then closed it because she knew deep down Daphne was right. The terror she felt at the mere thought of anyone she loved leaving her again was enough to send her into a panicking spiral. She remembered the first night her parents had left. She heard her little sister’s sobs and swore right then and there to protect her. No matter if her mom and dad came back or not. Her desperation to protect her had nearly been their undoing when they met Granny Relda. Then there was the memory of the first moment she held her beautiful daughter Alison. After hours of intense pain and labor there she was. It had all been worth it in that moment. When she held her for the first time. She swore then to protect her daughter from everything awful in the world but she failed. She was abandoning her daughters when they needed her most. Leaving them alone in that house with nothing but questions to occupy their mind was a mistake. Sabrina wiped the tears from eyes with her sleeve. “You’re right. I- I haven’t changed since I was a little girl. I’m still so scared of losing you. Of losing anyone.”
Daphne sniffed and wrapped her arms around her sister. “I know. I’m scared too but that’s when we need each other most. When we’re frightened.”
Sabrina let out a weary chuckle, “how is it that you always end up teaching me a life lesson?”
“I’m super wise,” said Daphne flashing a dramatic smile like Prince Charming used to do that made Sabrina snort with laughter. “Let’s keep looking around town ok?” The girls walked off hand and hand with their shadows reflecting their younger selves.
~🔍~
Mirror gently placed his palms on the floor beneath him. He looked around and tapped the floor a couple times as if he was unsure if what he was feeling was really there. He blinked, rubbed his eyes and pinched himself more times than necessary. “I’m outside..” he whispered in a mix of shock horror and awe.
“ I wasn’t going to just let you stay there!” Emma said as she stood up and dusted herself off.
“You don’t understand. I’m not supposed to be able to leave.! I have spent the last few centuries trapped in that hallway looking outside just wishing I would be able to take a step outside even if for a minute! How on earth did you pull me outside of the mirror?!” The shorter man turned to look up at the young girls who both looked equally confused and shocked. Clearly no one knew how this was possible and the girls certainly didn’t know that it wasn’t supposed to be possible. The man’s hands shook as he looked around the room. He pushed himself off the ground and stared at the doorway he had watched so many people open and close like it was nothing. Like it hadn’t been the very thing that separated his gaze from the outside world. Now here he was face to face with it. Free at last.
“Mr.Mirror…?” Emma asked as she tapped Mirror’s shoulder snapping him out of his strange daze. “Are you ok?”
“Yes. I’m alright.”
Alison stepped forward too and slowly peaked outside. “Mom and Dad aren’t back yet. No one is.” The teen sighed and gritted her teeth before letting a determined look wash over his face. “If we aren’t going to get any answers from them then we’ll find our own. Mirror do you have any idea whose voice that was inside the hall?”
“I don’t know for certain. The man who the voice belonged to died long ago but if I’m back then he might be too. It could be Prince Charming brother. Atticus Charming.”
“Prince Charming has a brother?” Emma asked.
“He did in the original story. Before my m-“ Mirror paused and corrected himself. “Before the evil queen became the evil queen. She was Snow White’s mother. Snow White was supposed to marry Attitucs in the story but he was so horrible so the evil queen used her powers to change the story many many times. She tried to erase Atticus but failed.”
“Whoa…” Emma mumbled. “Maybe Prince Charming can help then?”
“I doubt he knows anything but Atticus might have gone to him first. He’s always had an obsession with torturing his younger brother and just torture in general,” Mirror said with his voice laced with disgust.
Emma shuddered at the thought and turned to her older sister whose gaze was still hardened with determination.
“Well then we can start there. Do you know where his house is?” Alison asked Mirror.
The man did a so-so motion with his hand. “I have an idea of where he could be but I’ve never actually been around the town before.”
Alison sighed, “right the hall. Hm well we need to try anyways. I’m going to grab mom’s keys.”
“Whoa whoa whoa! You can’t drive!!” Emma said quickly. “That’s illegal!”
Alison groaned, “Someone just tried to kill us! Do you really want to be walking around town when he tries again?”
“Well no but-“
“Then it’s settled! I’m getting the keys. I’ll drive.”
Mirror raised an eyebrow as the teenage girl left. “Does she…know how to drive?”
“No. Not even a little bit.” Emma said burying her hands in her face.
Mirror sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, "Well then we better pray we don't get caught."
~🔎~
Prayers weren't going to do anything for them. Alison Grimm was the worst driver Mirror and Red had ever seen in their entire lives. She crashed into mail boxes, swerved around other cars and treated stop signs like suggestion. Mirror gripped his seat belt tightly and looked over to his left at Alison who was cursing wildly when some car honked at her. They had barely even driven 4 blocks.
Emma stayed in the backseat much to her dismay. However there was one benefit, she could read the journal. She had a suspicion from the beginning that Mirror was hiding something. While they had technically just met and he owed them no explanation Emma wanted to be sure that she was making the right choice by trusting him. The more she read the more she started to regret that choice.
May 24th 2006
I got them. I would be lying if it didn't feel strange to loom over the sleeping bodies of two people who I considered friends and not be the one who was there to wake them up. However this is necessary for our cause. I need the child and these two would only get in my way. With Relda preoccupied with finding them it gives me more time. Time to wait and then once all of this is over they will be the ones calling me master instead. No more bowing my head or kneeling until my back breaks. No more. I am the master of the Scarlet Hand and they will all fear me.
Emma slammed the book shut and quickly shoved it back into her pocket.
Mirror glanced back, "You alright? What was that sound?"
"Nothing!" she stammered. "Just me uh- clapping my hands...heh "
Mirror shrugged and mumbled something about children being weird.
Alison swerved and flipped off another car as she came to a stop near a white house. "We're here I think," she said as she pointed to a giant statue of a prince holding a girl as if they were in a dance.
Mirror who was gripping tightly onto his seatbelt nodded. "Yes that seems accurate."
The three got out of the car and Mirror went ahead to the door. Emma grabbed Alison's hand before she could go after him. "Wait- I don't think we can trust Mirror."
Alison sighed and pulled her hand away as she rolled her eyes, "seriously? He's helping us! Stop doing this shit Emma."
"But-"
"Not now!" Alison walked off to the mansion.
Emma frowned and followed after them while staring at her old sister who seemed to not care that her younger sister was on the verge of tears.
"Charming?" Mirror called out as he opened door after door when suddenly he froze.
"What's wrong- AHH!!" Alison peaked into the room and let out a horrified scream as she saw a short drawf-like man sprawled across the floor with blood caking his chest.
When the teen screamed the man opened his eyes and turned his head. Mr. Seven the dwarf who had served Charming loyally for years was lying in a pool of his own blood. He let out one single word in a hoarse and shaky tone.
"Run."