#vdbh

Audrey was her daughter, was once her perfect and innocent little princess. But with her and Regina’s teachings, she had progressed into a beast on the throne. Estella saw no wrong until she had heard of what the young brunette had done. “Where is Regina?” She asked harshly, her eyes quickly shining with disbelief. “Where have you taken my wife?” Stella watched as Audrey looked at her with a dark glint in her bright, piercing blue eyes. “Mother is in the cell tower in the West Wing. Would you like to join her?” She asked with a head tilt. 

Estella shook her head, then stepped into her child’s personal bubble. “We should have never stepped down. I cannot believe you imprisoned your own mother, just because she told you the truth!” The blonde extended her arm, pointing her finger in her daughter’s face. She had to put a stop to this... “No! I am a great ruler!” Audrey screamed in Stella’s face. “I am better than you and Mama combined! You just don’t see it. I’ll have both your heads for your insubordination!” Suddenly a smack sounded through the room. Then... Silence.

Both women stared down at each other, one waiting for a reaction from the other. Finally, Stella broke the ice. “You will not. We raised you better than this! You killed half the kingdom, dissolved all of our alliances, and our army is starving! You are a terrible queen, I will not allow you to be our legacy if this is how you plan to rule the kingdom. And for you to threaten my love’s life? Your mother’s life? You are a foul excuse of a daughter.” Audrey cradled her cheek as she felt tears in her eyes. Her face burned in humiliation and anger. “How dare you lay a hand on the queen.” The brunette muttered. “Guards!” She yelled out, then smirked as two armored men ran in. 

Estella let out a heavy laugh, since both men were malnourished and exhausted. Probably even sick. “Step off, both of you, before you get killed.” She said with a wide grin, finding it humorous that they think they could even try to fight her. But Audrey gave them a nod, signalling the men to attack. Once the swords were out, a rush of magic charged into both of them, knocking them into walls across the room. They were rendered unconscious. Audrey was lifted into the air, her throat tight and not allowing her to breathe. “Enough of this, Audrey! The kingdom belongs to your mother and I, you will never rule the Dark Kingdom ever again. Your brother will take the throne, and you will live out your days in a cell.” Stella demanded, then magicked them both to the top of cell tower. Audrey was encased in dark blue smoke, holding her hostage as Stella walked up to the very last cell. 

She could hear the heart-wrenching sobs and hyperventilating. The cries of a betrayed soul. Estella’s eyes landed on a figure in the corner of the room, curled into a ball and shaking from the sobbing. The cell door was dissolved quickly, since the blonde was in a rush to comfort her wife. Silently, Stella pulled Regina to her feet and held her into a tight embrace. As Regina sobbed into her dress, Stella magically pulled Audrey into the cell, then moved them out of it. She pulled back, only to place magical bars at the entrance, encasing her evil daughter. The door could only be opened by either her or Regina.

Her magical vortex around the younger brunette dissolved, only for her to fall to the floor with exhaustion. “We can never allow her to rule again, Regina. For the safety of our kingdom and our family.” Stella murmured sadly to her wife. But no words came from the older brunette. She was broken. Her perfect princess, a monster. This couldn’t be how they leave her. But Regina knew in a way, Estella was right to lock her up. 

- later that evening -