queenxregina:

  ‼  ————  { ♚ } ———— ‼

        It had been so long since she had last been summoned, 
        those words ———- I wish the goblins would come take 
        you away right now ——- echoing throughout her castle
        at the very centre of the Labyrinth. It was a request for three
        children, no less. Three children for her R O Y A L highness 
        to get her hands on. 

                            How delicious.

        She had sent her f i v e favourite Goblins to fulfil the task, 
        waiting until no adult was present before snatching up these
        children in their sleep. Finally, she could be mother to three
        delightful young mortal beings, creating a challenge for their 
        father to complete. 

                  Nobody ever succeeded in the Labyrinth and that
                  is what it would take to regain the little angels. 

       Once her trusty accomplices had taken the children to the castle, 
        Regina stood on the balcony of the home in this different land 
        that most called Earth. Her cloak was flowing behind her in the 
        light breeze, head canting to the side as she waved her hand 
        from left to right, the large bay window bursting open immediately.

                      ——- You’ve created quite the challenge 
                         for yourself, Mr Bard. I do trust you’re regretting
                         your decision.” 

                She was a vision to behold; shadows and starlight come to life. He could easily see the otherness on her, but more than that, he could feel the crackle of enchantment in the air, almost t a s t e the power she possessed. But for all her terrible beauty and sudden, awe-inspiring appearance, Bard was filled with anger.

                Anger, and fear.

                “Where are they?” he demanded of her, this she-demon. He stepped forward but one step, for she still imparted a deep sense of almost royal supremacy over him. “My children, where are they? You will tell me, right now.”

                Three empty beds. It was the nightmare of any parent, come to horrifying life. Guilt had filled him once he had sent them upstairs, and he had followed mere minutes later, an apology at the ready. He had been impatient and unfair in his outburst, and eager to make things right. Silence had greeted him. Silence, and then her.

                “Challenge? What challenge?”

                The whisper of a memory in the back of his mind as he looked upon her. He knew her. But how, how could he, there was no one like her in this world–

                Not this one.

                His complexion paled as he looked upon her with new eyes, seeing, understanding, but not believing, not quite, not yet. How could he?

                “But you—you cannot be real. You’re a story.”