An Abduction of Sorts
It was around 10:30 pm when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Sweetheart, it's your mother."
A wide smile creased the woman's face as she set down her glass of dark red Shiraz. "As if I'd mistake you for anyone else," she answered in a deep, almost laughing voice. "When did you get back?"
"Just now. Your father is still bringing in the suitcases. What about you?"
"I got in at about six. But it's just me right now."
"Oh, and where is your husband, then?"
She rolled her eyes, though the joy on her face never faded. "My husband will be here soon. He had something to do."
"Like?"
"You are so nosy..."
"You know how your mother is," a male voice came on the line. Her father must have picked up the other phone.
"Yes, sir."
"So where is he?" God's, he was just as bad as Mom.
"He's picking up dinner. He was late coming back and ordered me to relax, have a glass of wine and wait to be pampered." Her parents knew how doting the man could be, especially on occasions such as this.
"Not from Granny's I hope."
"Don't be a snob, Dad." It was actually coming from Granny's but by her specific request. She hadn't had curly fries in 6 months after all. "You act as if I don't eat while we're out of town. As if I'm not constantly provided 'the best of everything, as my station befits'." She was quoting a speech she had been given prior to accepting his proposal, from every member of her family, mostly about how her days of living simply were over. Now it was a rare indulgence to have an evening meal less than three courses and without formal dress. "The first day of my vacation isn't going to be filled with the finest of anything. Except companionship." Truthfully, she preferred this, sitting on the couch, talking to her parents. Being normal. The wine was good but it was from the local supermarket. She'd changed out of her fine robes before leaving for Storybrooke and wore a plain but flattering shift dress along with suitable heels. None of the airs that were necessary to put on in her life as a Queen.
"Oh well, ex-cuse Me-e, Lady Persephone. I had no idea you were such a connoisseur of the simple life."
She smiled recognizing the challenge. Her father had a way with banter that most men reserved for fencing. And she was his favorite sparring partner."Of course," Parry. "My parents insisted on my education including such things" Side step. " I even raise my own fruits and vegetables. Why I could even raise my own sheep if I so chose. Not to mention thatching my own roof, mending a net, preparing any animal I wish to eat and healing ones I do not." Thrust.
It would never be said that children raised in the town weren't awarded every opportunity. Most nobles insisted their children be aware of how the most basic resources were produced in their kingdoms. The keen sort of awareness that only came from tilling the earth and mucking out pens. Prince Neal had groaned about having learned the lesson many times, hoping to be released from what he considered demeaning and herself invigorating. Unlike other families of means, her father's meager upbringing hadn't been cast as a shadow blotting their good name. He'd passed his love of hard work down to his daughter, if maybe not his son, and they revelled in the literal fruits of their labor.
Now, that education allowed her to be a greater leader than had ever sat on the throne before, simply because her people required strength and empathy to be lead. "Thank you, by the way." It also taught her gratitude and a fearlessness to express it when deserved.
"How is your kingdom, dearest?"
"Its wonderful. I almost wish I didn't have to leave it."
"You need to be here, though, to recharge. To heal. To give yourself a release." Her mother was right. She wouldn't be any good without her strength.
Just then a slight nausea hit her. "Mmm, I think you're right," she said, rubbing her temple.
"Is something wrong?"
"Just a bit of a headache."
"Are you sure?" Her Father, now worried.
"Yes, now-", a sudden violent quake ran through the house.
"What was that?" Her mother asked. The woman tone wasn't frantic but it was on its way.
The man's voice on the phone, however..."Pinky! What's happening?"
She had already begun crossing to the window to investigate."Don't call me Pinky," she said pulling back the curtains. Thankfully only her immediate family still dared to use her nickname. "There's no one outside, and it doesn't feel like anyone is casting magic-" a second wave passed through, leaving a heavier charge in the air than the first. It caused the woman to clasp her abdomen a strange combination of pressure and vertigo bringing her to her knees. She'd dropped the phone, her parents yelling unintelligible. This was raw energy. She'd felt similar patterns before a lightning strike, how particles charged, some how felt denser, and then...
A third shock, then, just like in a lightning strike, certain particles sent out leaders, only counterclockwise. These began to move along the path they completed instead of transferring their excess energy. They pulled others into the spin, until everything was moving. The screaming on the phone died at some point. The ache in her abdomen had spread from her center to her heart and hips. Awareness was difficult to maintain but she allowed the events and energy to flow through her for dissection later.
The thump of her house hitting the ground was one of the most welcome sensations she'd had in a while.