A/N This idea was brought to my attention by my lovely beta QueenApples, she came across it on Tumblr from reginasblazers, so that's who the original idea belongs to :)

Prologue

Emma sat at a table and tilted her head at the millionth floral arrangement she had created during her life. Her parents never wanted her to leave the grounds of the White palace, and beyond studying, this was the only thing she found that brought her joy. There was a certain perfection in being able to bring flowers together into harmony, she had now even taken to choosing those blooms that most considered to be ugly and managed to bring them together into a breath-taking arrangement. Some of the servants had even jokingly began to call her Persephone, which she obviously took as a compliment.

"My Lady, your parents are requesting your presence in the throne room," a servant called from the door.

Emma bowed her head and stood to follow him to her parents. She was sure that it was just another suitor, something that she honestly wasn't prepared for, but whatever Snow White and Prince Charming wanted, they got, so she dutifully entered the grand throne room.

Instantly, she furrowed brow as she saw that there wasn't some prince offering her an irritating smile as he attempted to win her hand in marriage in order to create some inter-kingdom relationship or something like that. She knew that it was naïve, but she wanted to marry for love as her parents had, but she had been told time and again that they were lucky that their true love happened to be another royal.

The blonde princess bowed her head to the king and queen and said, "you requested my presence, mother, father."

They each nodded and Snow bit her lip as she considered her next words, "Emma dear, you know that there is a reason we have not allowed you to leave this castle."

Emma nodded and replied, "you said that I was too young to understand, mother."

"When the clock strikes midnight you will be twenty-one, I believe it is about time that we told you the truth," Charming sighed, the two of them had clearly been arguing about this for a while, and judging by how reluctant the blonde man was to continue, Emma guessed that he was against her learning the truth. After years of confinement, she had completely given up on discovering the reason, she just chose to believe that her parents had her best interest at heart.

"Before you were born, I made a deal," Snow began, "your father was gravely injured and I was in no way prepared to allow him to die. Hades offered me a deal, my first child in exchange for my husband's life."

Emma blinked a few times, words completely failed her as she considered the words.

Her mother took this opportunity to continue, "you must understand, I thought I was incapable of having children then, you were a miracle Emma. When you was born I asked the Blue Fairy to protect this castle against Hades, and she did. But Hades is a god, the fairy's magic was only so powerful, the enchantment will end the day you turn twenty-one."

"Hades?" Emma said slowly. She knew exactly who the goddess of the underworld was, the notoriously cruel ruler had dominion over the dammed and the tales said that she was rather adept at making a soul suffer for their sins.

"In my realm, I am simply called Regina," a smooth voice announced, accompanied by the sound of the clock striking midnight in the background.

Snow let out a little sob as she inspected the immortal completely unchanged from the last time that they had met. The brunette woman was completely donned in black leather, a dark smirk hung on her lips, after all, she had waited years to get what was promised her. It had sincerely bothered her that she didn't get the soul she deserved, often she considered that she should have allowed the prince to die just so she could watch the deceitful princess mourn her true love.

Emma turned to look at the woman and she couldn't help her mouth falling open. She knew that she should probably be afraid, but her first reaction was extreme attraction. Hades, or Regina, was completely dark and went against everything that the White kingdom stood for, which made her utterly intriguing.

"Please, take me instead," Snow as tearfully.

Regina tilted her head and laughed slightly, "I'm afraid that wasn't the deal, but then again, neither was hiding your child from me for twenty-one years, so I believe that I am entitled to more than what was agreed."

"What do you mean?" Charming asked cautiously.

"I mean that instead of simply taking your daughter's soul to the underworld, I think I shall take her as my wife."

A/N Let me know if you're interested in reading more :)