Chapter 5
The Next Morning
Regina stirred awake, her body leaden, her mind swimming in a haze that made everything feel slow and distant. The room spun slightly as she opened her eyes, blinking against the weak light filtering through the curtains. Her limbs felt disconnected from her body, heavy and unresponsive, like she’d been drugged—or worse, as if her body had betrayed her entirely.
Something wasn’t right.
She sat up slowly, the edges of her vision blurring with the effort. Her head pounded, a relentless ache behind her eyes that made it hard to think. The air in the room was stale, thick with a damp chill that made her skin crawl. Her clothes were strewn across the room. Odd, she didn’t remember taking them off.
Regina ran a shaky hand through her dark hair, trying to clear her thoughts. What happened last night? She vaguely recalled getting into bed with Morrigan and remembered Morrigan turning off the lamp, that wicked smirk playing on her lips. And now—
Her gut twisted as she scanned the room. It was eerily quiet, and yet the silence felt unnatural, almost oppressive. She reached for the edge of the bed to steady herself as she stood, the floorboards creaking beneath her unsteady feet.
The feeling hit her suddenly, like a cold wind blowing across her spine. She wasn’t alone.
“Who’s there?” she rasped, her voice hoarse. Her knees threatened to buckle as she took a step forward, her gaze darting around the room.
No answer.
But then she saw it—a shadow moving along the far wall, impossibly quick and fluid. Her breath caught in her throat as the figure emerged, tall and distorted, its features obscured by darkness. It didn’t move like a person.
“Stay back,” she warned, though her voice wavered. Her hands clenched into fists, trembling at her sides.
The shadow didn’t listen. It lunged toward her, silent and swift.
Regina barely managed to sidestep, her body sluggish and uncoordinated. She stumbled, her back slamming into the corner of the dresser as the shadow twisted around, preparing to strike again.
“Damn it,” she hissed under her breath, her vision swimming from the blow. She tried to push herself up, but her legs felt like jelly, refusing to hold her weight.
Before she could react, another shadow figure appeared, larger and more imposing than the first. This one moved deliberately, its footsteps heavy on the creaking floor.
“Two of you?” Regina muttered, her heart pounding.
The first shadow grabbed her wrist, its grip cold and vice-like, while the second closed in, pinning her to the wall with frightening ease. She struggled, but it was futile—her limbs felt weak and useless, her head too foggy to make sense of what was happening.
As the second shadow held her down, the door creaked open. Regina’s head lolled to the side, her breath hitching when she saw Morrigan step into the room.
Morrigan’s emerald eyes gleamed with satisfaction, her devilish grin curling at the corners of her lips. She wore a flowing black robe, the fabric rippling as though caught in an unseen breeze.
“Well, look at you,” Morrigan drawled, her voice dripping with mockery. “Looking delicious as ever, but not quite the queen of composure now, are you?” Her eyes roamed her naked body with hunger.
Regina glared at her, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. “What… what did you do to me?”
Morrigan chuckled, the sound low and venomous. “Oh, Regina, don’t tell me you didn’t notice. That little shimmer of magic last night? It wasn’t just for show. Let’s call it… a sedative.” She tilted her head, her grin widening. “It dulls the senses, weakens the body. Makes your resolve break, easy to get into bed. Makes someone like you so much easier to handle.”
“You’re a coward,” Regina spat, though her words lacked their usual venom.
“Coward? Hardly,” Morrigan said, stepping closer. Her shadows released Regina, letting her crumple to the floor. Morrigan crouched down, meeting her gaze with a cruel intensity. “I’m a strategist. Why waste time fighting you at your best when I can see you like this—weak, pathetic, barely able to stand?”
Regina’s hands dug into the floorboards as she tried to push herself up, her muscles trembling from the effort. “Where’s Emma?” she demanded, her voice cracking.
At this, Morrigan’s smile turned colder, her expression one of pure malice. “Emma’s gone,” she said simply. “Far away, somewhere you’ll never find her.” She leaned closer, her breath warm against Regina’s ear. “She’s in another world entirely. And you? You’ll never be reunited—not in this life.”
Regina froze, her heart pounding in her chest. “You’re lying,” she said through gritted teeth, though the flicker of doubt in her voice betrayed her.
“Am I?” Morrigan straightened, her voice dripping with feigned innocence. She took a step back, her hands clasped behind her back. “You can believe whatever you like, dear. But the truth? You’ve already lost her. Just like you’re about to lose everything else.”
“You’ll regret this,” Regina growled, her voice shaky but determined.
“Oh, I doubt that,” Morrigan said with a smirk. She turned toward the door, her robe sweeping across the floor. “Enjoy your little prison, Regina. I’ve got far bigger plans to attend to.”
With that, she was gone, the door slamming shut behind her. Regina slumped against the wall, her chest heaving with shallow breaths. The room was empty now, but the weight of Morrigan’s words lingered, heavy and suffocating.
She closed her eyes, trying to quell the rising panic in her chest. “Emma…” she whispered, her voice breaking.
But there was no answer. Only silence
One Month Later
Emma woke with a gasp, her body jolting upright in the sterile hospital bed. Her heart raced as if she’d been running for miles, the disorientation hitting her like a wave. Her mind felt fractured, pieces of herself scattered between memories she couldn’t quite grasp and the unfamiliar reality surrounding her.
“Easy,” the silver-haired woman said, her voice calm but firm. She was at Emma’s side in an instant, pressing a steadying hand to her shoulder. “You’ll pull your stitches if you keep thrashing like that.”
Emma blinked, her vision adjusting to the dimly lit room. Her mouth was dry, her throat raw, but she managed to croak out, “Where… where am I?”
“You’re safe,” the woman replied, her pale gray eyes meeting Emma’s with a mixture of caution and warmth. “That’s all you need to worry about for now.”
Emma frowned, her chest rising and falling as she tried to slow her breathing. The woman’s words didn’t settle her—they only made her more aware of the strangeness of it all. She glanced around, taking in the white walls, the thin curtain pulled halfway across the room, the faint beeping of a machine monitoring her vitals. The faint antiseptic smell of the place made her stomach churn.
“This isn’t… I shouldn’t be here,” Emma said, her voice stronger now. Her fingers dug into the blanket covering her legs. “I have to go back. Regina—”
The woman’s hand tightened on her shoulder, stopping her. “Stop.”
Emma looked at her, startled by the sudden edge in the woman’s voice.
“You’ve been unconscious for a month,” the woman said, her tone low but commanding. “Whatever you think you need to do, wherever you think you need to go—you can’t do it yet. You’re not ready.”
“A month?” Emma whispered, her stomach dropping.
The woman nodded, her silver hair catching the light as she moved to sit on the edge of the chair by Emma’s bed. “You crashed into this world like a star falling from the sky. Nearly killed yourself in the process. I’ve been keeping you alive, but…” She paused, her expression unreadable. “The fight you’re running toward? It’s going to kill you if you don’t listen to me.”
Emma narrowed her eyes, her jaw tightening. “Who are you?”
The woman leaned back slightly, studying her as if debating how much to reveal. Finally, she spoke. “My name is Eryndra. I come from the same realm you do, though I suspect it’s been a much longer time for me.”
Emma’s brow furrowed. “How do you know where I’m from?”
“Because I’ve been watching,” Eryndra said simply. “And because I can feel the tether. Whatever brought you here isn’t done with you yet.”
“Tether?” Emma repeated, her head spinning.
Eryndra nodded. “Every being that crosses realms leaves a trace—a connection to where they came from. Yours is strong, as though you were dragged here against your will. Am I wrong?”
Emma hesitated. Her instinct was to protect herself, to hide the truth, but there was something in Eryndra’s eyes—a weight, an understanding—that made her pause. Finally, she admitted, “I didn’t come here by choice.”
“I thought so.” Eryndra sighed, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. “Whatever pulled you here… it wasn’t random. And if you’re here, that means things are worse than I thought.”
“What are you talking about?” Emma demanded, frustration bubbling to the surface.
Eryndra’s gaze hardened. “I mean that something dark has breached this world. And if you’re here, it’s because you’re tied to it.”
Emma froze, her blood running cold. “You think I brought it here?”
“No,” Eryndra said, shaking her head. “I think you were sent to stop it. But that doesn’t mean it won’t kill you first.”
The weight of her words pressed down on Emma, but she forced herself to stay focused. “What is it?”
Eryndra’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I don’t know yet. But I can feel it, growing stronger every day. And if we don’t act soon, it won’t just destroy this world—it’ll tear through every realm it can reach.”
Emma’s stomach churned, the enormity of what Eryndra was saying hitting her like a punch to the gut. “I need to find a way back,” she said, her voice firm. “I need to stop it before it gets to—”
“To your love?” Eryndra interrupted, her eyes narrowing.
Emma stiffened, her breath catching.
“Yes,” Eryndra said, her voice softening as she read Emma’s expression. “I know about her. Regina. You said her name in your sleep.”
Emma’s throat tightened, but she didn’t reply.
Eryndra sighed, standing. “You won’t get back to her if you don’t recover first. You’re getting discharged today, but you’re still weak. If you want to survive long enough to save your lover, you’ll need my help.”
Emma clenched her jaw, the frustration and helplessness boiling inside her. “Why should I trust you?”
Eryndra turned, her silver hair cascading over her shoulder as she looked back at Emma. “Because I’ve been fighting this kind of darkness for longer than you’ve been alive. And because, like it or not, I’m your best chance at finding your way home.”
She crossed the room and opened the door, gesturing for the nurse. “Get dressed,” she said without looking back. “The battle’s already begun, whether you’re ready or not.”
Emma watched her leave, her fists tightening in the blankets. Her mind was a whirlwind of questions, fear, and anger. But one thought burned brighter than the rest.
Regina. I’m coming back for you. No matter what it takes