(Thank you, KathyCosta, for the review. I hope you and everyone else enjoys this chapter.)
Enigma lead them through dark corridor after dark corridor. Honestly, she didn't know where she was going, and was only using her bond with Night Prowler to guide them closer. Suddenly the castle began to rumble and shift. "Not again…" Enigma thought as the floor began to move and it took everything Regina had just to remain standing. Enigma had déjà vu as a wall shot between them separating Henry and Ruby from Regina and herself.
Enigma was about to go after Henry and Ruby, but seeing Regina in her poor condition decided against it. Though she considered Regina more capable when dealing with threats in a normal situation than the other two, in her current state Enigma was less than sure. As she watched Regina struggle, her heart began to ache. Enigma's maternal instincts awoke, and she desperately wished to protect Regina, to take her pain and suffering and make them her own.
Enigma would have done just that had she the energy, but she had been trapped in this formless persona for two weeks and it was beginning to wear on her. On top of, Enigma had used up all her self-sacrificing magic when she had taken the burns unto herself. The pounding behind Enigma's eyes was the promise a headache to come from using far too much telekinesis in such a short time. Enigma wanted to break something at her own helplessness, but she couldn't even speak much less scream.
Regina made to touch her shoulder, but instead passed right through. Still the action was a comfort to Enigma and Regina smiled as the little girl began to calm. "Don't worry about them. Ruby and Henry are both very strong. I'm sure they'll be fine."
Enigma smiled at her words. Of course, Regina would be thinking of their safety instead of her own pain. It was something Enigma admired about her. Regina motioned for Enigma to continue and she did with Regina hobbling behind her.
Meanwhile, Ruby and Henry were wondering the halls, when Ruby caught the faint and familiar scent of Maleficent. They followed it up a winding stair case to locked room, but like everything in this fortress, the lock was ancient. It took very little effort on Ruby's part to simply snap the locking mechanism off. "The Black Fairy really needs to get a better security system," Ruby snickered as they cautiously entered the room.
The room was filled to the brim with different magical items from crystal balls to spell books to cauldrons of bubbling potions of who-knows-what. There was more junk in here than Mr. Gold's pawnshop. Ruby, however, swept past all of it, in search of Maleficent's scent which lead her to… a stone wall. Ruby sighed, as she began searching for Maleficent's scent again, hoping she wasn't going on a wild goose chase.
Henry had begun looking around the large room at the assortment of odds and ends, though he was very careful not to touch anything. He had no desire to wind up under a sleeping curse or accidentally poisoned. Something caught Henry's attention from the corner of his eye. It was an old wooden staff with a spherical jewel on top. Henry couldn't decide if the whether the gem was a dark blue or green, but he knew that he had seen it somewhere.
Gingerly, Henry picked up the staff and took it over to where Ruby was trying to find Maleficent's scent, again. "What do you make of this?"
Ruby glanced up, "Where did you find that? It has Maleficent's scent all over it."
"Over there," Henry gestured vaguely as there was no real order to this place. "I guess this is proof Maleficent was here." Suddenly, the gem on top began to glow a bright vibrant azure and a beam of light shot from the tip. The light hit the stone wall and it shattered on impact. Ruby, instinctively, pulled Henry close to protect him from falling debris.
"Henry," Ruby reprimanded when the dust had settled, "you have to be careful when holding objects with incredible magica-" She broke off as she realized the blast had opened a previously hidden stairwell. They ascended into the blackness before arriving at what appeared to be cell.
A shadowy figure knelt within. The chains around her wrists ankles glowed a vivid scarlet as they burned into her flesh, but she never uttered a sound. She didn't react as Henry sliced the lock off the cell door, nor move as he gently removed her chains with his sword. Ruby caught her as she collapsed, and only after Henry had murmured her name did Maleficent stir.
A moan escaped her lips, and she bolted upright only to accidentally slam her head into Ruby's as she leaned over. Maleficent fell back to the stone floor and both women clutched their heads. When the pounding pain had finally subsided, Maleficent opened her blazing eyes to look upon her rescuers. She chuckled at Ruby who was still holding her head, "Just be glad ye didn't hit my horns…"
Maleficent attempted to stand, but the burns on her ankles were to fresh and she fell back into Ruby's embrace. It was then that she noticed what Henry held. "My staff!" Maleficent exclaimed as Henry passed it over. "Thank goodness ye found it. It is rather precious to me as it twas" a gift from the trees, back in a time before I knew Enigma. In a time when I need their help the most." Maleficent pushed herself to her feet, though she leaned heavily on her staff. "By the way, how did ye find me?"
"The letter from Night Prowler warning us not to come," Ruby said sheepishly, "We kinda didn't listen."
A puzzled expression crossed Maleficent's face, "That makes no sense. It's not as if the Black Fairy poses any real threat ta ye." Now it was their turn to be confused before Maleficent explained, "I felt a great force of last resort magic rush through the land, the likes of which only Night Prowler could produce. Her target was the Black Fairy. By exchanging her near immortality, Night Prowler was able to set a powerful hex on her. No matter how the Black Fairy tries to hurt ye, all injuries will go ta Night Prowler and her newly mortal body, until it finally kills her. Do not be mistaken, Night Prowler does not fear death, so warning you away wouldn't be for her own safety. Not her safety, but your own…" Maleficent trailed off as her mind raced, "Oh no…"
"What's wrong?" Henry asked startled by Maleficent's sudden silence.
"Regina and Enigma must not release Night Prowler!" Maleficent eyes flashed with terror, "the Black Fairy was never the threat here. Night Prowler has lost control…"
In another part of the Black Fairy's lair, Regina and Enigma rounded what felt like the thousandths corner. Regina was beginning to slow, and Enigma was cringing at her own uselessness healing abilities. Regina could have laughed aloud, when they finally reached a stair case descending into the lower parts of the castle.
There they found Night Prowler hanging from her chains. Regina shuffled towards her with a ball of flames forming in hand. Regina attempted to melt the chains, but to no avail. The chains remained unscathed. Regina looked to Enigma for inspiration, but found Enigma focused intently on Night Prowler. A mixture of sorrow, guilt, and distress waged war across her features. The only thought going through her head was, "It should have been me…"
Regina studied the shackles, before realizing that while the chains contained much magic the ceiling fastenings did not. Regina simultaneously launched two fireballs, and Night Prowler fell with a clatter. Though Night Prowler was no longer suspended, they still had to worry about the chains and the fact that Night Prowler hadn't moved once since their arrival.
Regina and Enigma rushed to her side, but Enigma stayed a few steps back, as if wary of her friend. Regina took no notice as she gently arranged Night Prowler's body into a more comfortable position, and began to study the shackles. As Regina shifted Night Prowler something hard and smooth was pushed against her hand. Regina lifted Night Prowler to find the twin katanas strapped to her back.
With only a moment's hesitation, Regina drew Immortal Slayer. The katana was a beautiful weapon with it's mirror-like blade and bamboo hilt. Regina would have liked to admire it longer, but without knowing when the Black Fairy would show herself, Regina felt pressed for time.
"Let's see if it can cut through magic," Regina thought, as she drew back the blade and slashed at the shackle on Night Prowler's wrist. Immortal Slayer ricocheted off, but not without leaving a sizable dent. Enigma tried to get her attention, but without being able to nudge Regina or yell a warning she was powerless. A commotion could be heard in a far off area of the castle, and Regina hoped the Black Fairy hadn't found the other two. With the utmost assurance, Regina brought the blade down again this time completely shattering the cuff. A domino effect took off and the rest of the bindings followed suite.
The ground around Night Prowler was covered in a thin layer of what appeared to be frost, but Regina knew better. Regina bent to help Night Prowler, but suddenly Enigma stood before her. Enigma bit her lower lip, before reaching out for Night Prowler. "If Night Prowler has lost it, I'll override her mind, and keep her contained until she returns," but as soon as Enigma grazed Night Prowler's forehead, a telekinetic blast hit her. Enigma was set flying and phased through the opposite wall.
Pounding footsteps could be heard, as three figures entered at a dead run. "Get away from her, Regina," Maleficent shrieked just as Night Prowler's eyes flew open. Everyone froze as Night Prowler rose to her feet. Her movements were erratic and jerky, neither human or wolf, but that of a marionette's. Night Prowler hunched over and hands up as if to block her face, but fingers were limp as if she didn't have full control of them. She let loose a low heart-wrenching wail that was a combination of wolf and human.
Regina was the first to break from the trance. "Let us help you, Night Prowler," she said and took a step forwards. Slowly, Night Prowler stopped the keening moan, and lowered her hands. In a blur of speed, Night Prowler had leapt for Regina's throat.
Maleficent tackled Regina out of Night Prowler's path, and Night Prowler slammed into the stone wall. Night Prowler rose and snarled at them, and Regina's subconscious realized that Night Prowler could feel no pain. Maleficent helped Regina up, and of the four people in the room Night Prowler's attention returned to them. The deranged gleam returned to her soulless eyes and bore into them, full of loathing.
Maleficent smiled humorlessly, "O' course she would go after us. Ruby, get Henry out O' here. Ye two have nothing' ta worry about. Ye're hearts have never been tainted with evil."
Henry began to protest, but Ruby had already scooped him into her arms and exited up the winding staircase. Though Henry made a huge racket Night Prowler's focus never wavered from the two women. Night Prowler launched herself at Regina, and Maleficent intercepted her again with a flap of her mighty wings. The resulting shockwave sent Night Prowler skidding to the far side of the room. Her claws tore long incisions in the floor, but she was back on her feet in an instant.
"Ye must leave as well, Regina."
"No way. I won't leave you alone with her. Besides, I can help," Regina stubbornly refused.
"I'm never alone. Enigma is with me." Enigma had silently appeared. She clutched her head and didn't appear too steady. Regina looked unconvinced. "Need I remind ye that your magic is practically useless and, anyway, I'm more than a match for Night Prowler. Now go. We'll cover your escape."
Regina clearly hated it, but did as she was told. Enigma sent Maleficent a questioning look, and Maleficent knew she meant to ask, "You're more powerful than Night Prowler? Since when?"
"Since now… hopefully…"