Chapter 20: Contingency
Cora was not happy.
Her timetable was completely screwed over and she was now relying on a one-hand pirate and an eleven-year-old to do her bidding. Not to mention that there were complications.
That boy.
Honestly, Cora didn't know what bothered her about him so much. He was just a little boy.
Probably because he belonged to her.
She didn't know why it bothered her. Cora had made her choice about Rumple a long time ago and was completely over her once paramour.
In fact, most of the time she wanted to kill him. That had to say a lot. Though, there were occasions when Hook was pawing her that she couldn't help but think what a better lover Rumple had been. How, she might on occasion wish to partake in lust with her ex.
Of course, that would never happen because of her.
Cora had seen her. And couldn't help but make comparisons. She told herself, that even though she was a bit older now that she contained a regal quality that the girl did not. But she saw the way he looked at her, Belle (stupid name) and it stung.
Stung a lot more than Cora wanted it to. She was replaceable. She remembered when Rumple used to look at her that way long ago. Of course, he looked completely different back then, completely intoned with his Dark One self. A true beast.
Here he looked respectable. Dare she say, good looking in those crisp suits. Cora still personally preferred the pants though. While the suits might've been immaculately tailored, there was something about the way a pair of leather pants fit men. Look at Hook; it was one of the few reasons why she hadn't forced him into a pair of those blue jeans.
She sighed as she put her fingers through her dark hair. She wanted that brat dead.
It seemed so fickle; the boy hadn't done anything to her other than lie about his name. But something about him just angered Cora, and besides it would cause that stupid Belle some heartache.
She deserved it.
"You seem upset," Her bed buddy said to her.
Cora rolled her eyes as she struck his goody trail. "You're no help."
Hook sighed. "This again."
"You've made no progress with Emma Swan." Cora spat out.
Hook sighed as he snuggle dup to her. "Emma's a complicated lady."
"And yet you're in my bed in the middle of the afternoon."
"Not my fault you called me for your 'needs'. And Emma turned me down, so I needed a roll in the hay too."
"Oh, poor baby. Is that all I am to you, a roll in the hay?"
"A bloody good one."
"Do I need to steal your heart?"
Hook shuddered. "Of course, not. You already have it. Metaphorically speaking."
"We could make it literal."
"There's no need." Hook said.
"Of course not," Cora smiled. "Still, I think I might feel better if I had some leverage"
Hook gasped at Cora pulled out the red beating heart. It never got old doing that. The rush of power she felt as she touched the glowing organ. Hook's looked like plenty of others before and plenty others after. Still, Cora couldn't help but smile as she held it in her hand. "Beautiful."
"It looks sort of gross to me, love."
"Shut up." Cora ordered.
She smirked as the pirate finally found himself lost for words.
"Oh, that's so much better."
Hook glared at her.
"That's not becoming," Cora said. "You should look at me with desire."
Hook dropped the glare.
"Better." Cora said. "Now you are going to bed Emma Swan, tonight. Do you hear me? And you are going to do it in front of my daughter."
"Make love to Emma?"
"It's sex. Not love. You make love to me not that ridiculous Swan girl. But no, you are not going to have sex in front of Regina. You are going to make it very apparent that that's what you and Emma are going to do after you leave The Rabbit Hole."
"The Rabbit Hole? I don't think that place is classy enough for either of those women."
"Silence!" Cora said. "Well, maybe not the Rabbit Hole. But you get the drift. You are going to show Emma that you are the man for her. I know you can do it, Killian. Now, do you have anything to say?"
"I need your help." He said.
"Do you?" She asked.
"I need Emma to think that I left you for good."
"Oh, that can be arranged." Cora smirked sadistically. "I'll make Emma Swan think you chose love you'll have her arse in no time."
"Ass," Killian responded.
"I thought you told her it was arse." Cora smirked.
Yeah, he didn't know she had been spying on him.
The pirate didn't know a lot of things.
Like her new found relationship with her grandson. Yes, Henry was a surprise bonus and had been providing her with quite a bit of information. It was because of him, she knew of Regina's custody woos and how easy it would be to set up a run in with Emma and Regina.
After all, Henry had dinner with her daughter tonight and a custodial handoff would have to occur.
If Regina got mad enough, like Cora knew she would…well, then, she was sure Emma Swan would find Regina to unsuitable to watch her own child and it would be hello mommy time for Cora again.
And then, Cora could focus on more important things. Like getting rid of Belle's brat and perhaps Belle as well.
She wanted Rumple.
It was weird she didn't even think about him when he came in town, but now she wanted him.
Or at least for him to know who had the power in the town, though she knew Hook wanted to kill him.
Well, who says she was still on Hook's side?
He was after all a lousy screw.
One of the beautiful things about taking one's heart was that you could see and hear everything that that person was thinking and hearing which was why Cora had a perfect view of Granny's.
Seriously, why couldn't Regina have given this town a classier restaurant? Was it too much to ask for a place where you could order a nice glass of wine and steak?
If Cora had been creating the curse this town would've had a lot more pizzazz. For one thing, she'd get rid of the 80's themed cars. If fashion and technology updated itself, surely vehicles should update themselves as well.
It was ridiculous how sloppy her daughter was. That was something they needed to work with.
To be honest, Cora hadn't given much thought to her plan if it actually worked. She would hope that Regina would eventually see to reason, but the girl was so stubborn.
The other night was a prime example of that.
She should've just let that boy die. He was of little use to any of them.
Though, there was something in the back of Cora's mind that disagreed with that statement. There was something about that boy. Something about him that extended beyond being the spawn of her ex's newest squeeze. There was power within him.
However, Cora blew that off. Because the only power she had seen from the boy the night before was how fast he ran, but it still scratched the back of her mind and she wasn't exactly sure why.
Ah, things were about to get exciting now. There was Emma Swan. In jeans. Not really much to set up the mood, but then again it wasn't even cocktail time yet.
"Hook?" She said shocked seeing him. "Oh, my God, Killian, are you okay?"
Cora couldn't help but chuckle a laugh. She knew the damage that she did to Hook would elicit such a reaction from the blonde. Hopefully, this would work. It had to work.
Well, if she didn't. She could always could rely on her contingency, but that would cause a lot of pain and heartbreak. And she really didn't want to deal with that again.
Of course, she dealt with it the first time around and things worked out fine…so, if she had to do it again. She would.