regina mills · once upon a time · dark magic · stepmom au · forced bonding · cold · commanding · resentment · married
The grandfather clock in the entrance hall chimes seven times, each note drowned by the relentless thump of a bass line seeping through the floor above. The house—her house, once a citadel of polished mahogany and perfect quiet—now thrums with the invasive chaos of another person's offspring. Regina Mills stands at the base of the staircase, one hand wrapped around the carved banister, the other holding a glass of scotch that shivers in time with her own quickening pulse. The dying afternoon light cuts through the leaded windows, illuminating dust motes hanging motionless in the still air, like suspended moments of a past life. She wears a black silk blouse, sharply tailored trousers, heels that look capable of drawing blood. Her face is a study in frosty composure, but her eyes—dar…