Chapter 10: The Shadow Goblin

Lord Devin was fighting the monsterous creature while Emma dealt with her own. The panther thing leapt at her and tried to strike her with its tail. Emma ducked out of the way just as the creature hit a boulder shattering it to pieces. "Oh man this thing is strong", Emma said nervously. Holding her sword she leapt onto the creatures back barely missing its teeth and the creature flew off. Then it began to try and buck Emma off as the blonde was holding on for dear life. "Oh man this is not going to be one of my brighter ideas", Emma said as she slashed at the creatures wings cutting them off. The creature shrieked out in pain as it crashed to the ground as green blood gushed out of its body. It crashed into a tree just as Emma had time to jump off and once the sun hit the creature it burst into flames. "Devon their weakness is light it destroys them!" Emma shouted as another creature with the body of a bear but the head of a jackal grabbed Emma and began squeezing her ribs. Devon focused his energy into his hand and a fireball formed as he threw it at the creature in front of him. Emma was struggling to get free from the beast's grasp but it was no use. The very breath from her body was wheezing out as she tried to avoid the jackal's teeth.

"Emma hold on I am coming!" Lord Devin yelled as more fireballs came out of his hands. Shrieks and cries of agony spread throughout as more and more beasts were destroyed. Emma was seeing spots as her body grew heavy. Slowly she was losing consciousness and a tear fell from her eye as she knew she had failed everyone. Just then a gust of purple smoke appeared and out of the smoke stood Regina.

"Emma!" she cried once her eyes saw the blonde. With her hands a gust of purple light shot at the beast causing it to yell out in pain. Then it dropped Emma right into Regina's waiting arms. The blonde gasped for air as Regina with Devin's help blasted all the creatures away and some ran away back into the shadows. "Emma are you alright?" Regina asked as worry and fear washed all over her face.

"I think so just having a little breathing problem", Emma said trying to make a joke to keep the brunette from worrying so much. "Thanks for the help but how did you do that?" Emma asked with amazement.

"Simple I just got my full powers and came to help you", Regina explained.

"Thank goodness you did that was some strong magic", Lord Devin said with admiration.

"Well I hate to say this but we still have to find the Golden Flower", Emma said as she got to her feet. Regina looked at the ring that Emma had given her and saw that it was a golden flower.

"Wait Emma maybe this is the Golden Flower" Regina said excitedly as she placed the ring in Emma's hand. Once it was in Emma's hand the ring glowed a bright yellow and was warm to the touch.

"But I had this ring since I could remember and it never did that before", Emma said with wonder.

"Maybe it does now because this is where it came from", Devin suggested.

"Maybe as long as it helps us find the Shadow Goblin and destroy him for good", Emma said firmly.

"And bring Monica back from her slumber", Devin added. "Come on let's get a move on the Shadow Goblin must hide in the shadows so where is the darkest place to be even in the daylight?" Devin asked.

"There was another woods Monica told me about called the Black Woods that I was forbidden from ever going. It is full of monsters and evil beings", Emma said.

"Then that is the place we have to go", Devin said.

"Regina I want you to go back home and stay there for you will be safe and Devin and I will find the Shadow Goblin", Emma said.

"Oh no I am going too someone has to keep an eye on you and you will need my help", Regina snapped.

"I don't want you to get hurt", Emma said. Regina grabbed Emma by the shoulders and kissed her passionately on the lips as Lord Devin looked away.

"I am coming Emma and that is final", Regina said firmly as she folded her arms.

"Alright but please just be careful", Emma said as they walked down the hill toward the Black Woods. Farther away in a little cottage a boy named Andrew was tending to the sheep. About 8 years old with shaggy brown hair and hazel eyes. He sat on a rock guarding the flock from any predators such as wolves. The sun was about to set and he was about to lead the flock home. Suddenly he heard a rustling noise coming from the bushes and grabbing his staff he walked toward the noise. He whacked the bush with his staff but nothing leapt out of it and he breathed a sigh of relief. Just then a pair of glowing green eyes appeared from the darkness and two bone thin and hairy arms grabbed Andrew. Then he screamed out in pure terror causing the sheep to run back to Andrew's home as the boy's world went black. Andrew's mother heard the scream and found Andrew lying on the ground motionless. She knelt to the floor and shook him but he did not stir. Just then his eyelids flew open and his mother screamed in fright. His whole eyeball even the pupil was pure black.

In the shadows a cackling voice said" More souls I need more children's souls". "Soon I will be strong again and once I devour the Golden Flower this world will be mine!"

Author's Note: Hoped you enjoyed the chapter and please review.