Hours past, it felt as if a hundred years had passed right past her. Nadri could agree to the statement, she had been lost in the Underworld for several hundred years. Just for the past few hours of sitting near the edge of the lake that Nadri had stumbled across when leaving the Sorcerer's Mansion, Nadri was trapped in her own mind. She was breathing heavily on choked sobs, her mind constantly running through the possibilities of what would happen next. Her hand laid upon the golden necklace around her throat, her fingers brushing the dent of the missing jewel.
All she could think of was pulling the damn thing off her neck and crushing it within her hand with one squeeze.
Nadri imagined what it would be like just to be in her own body again. Flying across the mountains of Asari, at peace in her mind. It had been so long since she had felt like that before she had been forcefully changed into a new body. To have all the power of a Dovah was powerful, dark magic but to have all that magic and for it not to be used for bad was the worst thing that Nadri could think of. She didn't want to be a prisoner again, she wanted to make her own choices and not be forced to do anything she didn't want to anymore.
She just didn't want to be alive to make the choice.
Nadri took a deep, shuddering breath as she closed her eyes. She was exhausted, mentally battling the will to continue roaming this realm. She wanted out. She needed out.
'Could I really get Killian out of this? Would he forgive me?' Nadri thought to herself, sitting on the edge of the lake and playing with the thin material that draped over her porcelain white legs. The material had begun to hang off the edge, Nadri looking into the deep water as her the ends shimmering dress began to soak from the water. She just stared at it, her purple eyes tracing the movements of the water gently rippling across the lake. It was a beautiful sight, in the middle of the forest where she couldn't be found by any of Hades' prying guards. She wanted to be there forever. She could lay in the lake and let it consume her.
When Hades found her, why didn't she just jump into the River?
End it all there and then?
Crack.
She heard a branch snap from behind the thick lines of trees, Nadri stumbling to get up as she felt like a deer caught in the headlights at the sudden movement. She held her hands out ready for what was going to emerge, hearing more cracking of branches, leaves being tussled on the ground and bushes shaking. What she could do was not much, but at least she could try and defend herself.
"Show yourself, zuruniik. The Gods are with me today." Nadri called out to the noise behind the foliage as it continued to rustle. "Laasyahnir." Nadri whispered, barely audible, and her eyes changed into a darker, more purple-red colour. Her vision turned into black, the shadows of the woodland animals around her were outlined in a light grey with a pulsing red aura inside of them. She could see through the forest in front of her, a light grey outline of a person was coming towards her with the smoky red cloud within them.
"Nadri!" Nadri gasped, shaking her head and letting magic fall away from her eyes. She looked back up to see Killian popping his head around the bush with both of his hands up in defence, clearly hearing her earlier threat. "It's me."
"By the Gods, Killian." She shook her head with a breath, bringing her hands down from him. "How did you find me out here?" Nadri asked him, letting her guard down further as he showed her a small piece of fabric that had been torn away from Nadri's dress in a previous struggle against Hades. She narrowed her eyes, staring at it with a confused look.
"I got Regina to put a tracking spell on this." Nadri pressed her lips together, hoping to have been left alone in her sulk. "I wanted to keep it so you could fix your dress, love." Killian told her quietly and holding it out at an arm's length as if he was handing her a peace offering. She took the piece of fabric from his hand and coming closer to him. Her soul swelled at the sight of him, she wanted to confide him into a hug like he had done to her many times.
Nadri read his face, looking at his solemn expression and saddened eyes. Something had happened in the time she had gone from the house. The moonlight peered through the leaves and trees of the thick forest, glinting down on the couple standing apart and reflected off the lake next to them.
"I shouldn't have let you go like that." His voice was still upset, shaking his head with regret of letting her wander off into the night.
"What's happened, Ruveyzun?" Nadri asked him, reading him like a book.
"You were right about Liam." Killian finally spoke with a disgruntled, guilty tone. He ran a hand through his black hair and then down the stubble along his face, the rings littering his fingers gleamed in the light of the moon. Nadri waited patiently, so much had happened what part was she right about? "He destroyed those pages because of a deal he made with Hades years ago... A deal that almost got us thrown into a boiling sea." She could hear the contempt and anger in his voice, Nadri wanting to reach out for him but after she had left the mansion, she felt a thickened tension.
"I'm sorry, Killy. I promise you I did not want part you and your brother." Nadri promised him feeling saddened herself at Liam being able to lie to Killian so easily. She thought about herself momentarily, she didn't lie exactly…just avoided the truth.
"He made another deal with the bastard." Killian angrily referred to Hades, still visibly upset. "Liam was going to take you to Hades, in exchange for my life." Nadri gawped, her energy beginning to rage at the pirate's brother. Killian stepped over to her quickly, placing his hand comfortingly on her shoulder and looking deep into her eyes. "He sacrificed himself for me. For us. Hades won't find you, love, I promise you that." Nadri felt shell-shocked at the revelation. She knew something was wrong with Liam from the moment he stepped onto the front garden of Emma's house but she didn't realise that he would go so far as to make a deal with Hades for her.
"What if he still finds me? I can't go back there, Killian, not again." Her voice was full of worry and concern, Killian pulling her into a tight hug when she began to freak out.
"We will get out before then, love." He mumbled into her neck, slightly bending down to be able to hug her.
"You know that's not going to happen." Nadri pulled away and looked up at the pirate with desperate eyes.
"I betrayed your trust, Killian. I should have told you about-"
"You did not betray me." Killian couldn't help but chuckle. "It's human error. You're afraid and that's okay. It's okay to be afraid sometimes. Sometimes we lie to those we love to protect their feelings." He explained, caressing her cheek. "If you want to leave this realm as your true being…I would never stop you, love." Nadri could hear the crack in his voice and she brought him into a tight hug again. She wrapped her arms around him, embracing his beautiful tortured soul.
Nadri finally let out the sob that she had been guarding back with every strength of her mentality. She wailed into Killian's chest, almost making the man fall to his knees at hearing the painful cries of the woman he fell so strongly for.
"I'm scared, Killian." Nadri struggled out as she wept. Killian wrapped his arms tightly around her, rubbing her back as she continued to let her overwhelming emotions go over the edge of the dam. "I'm scared to move on in a new world. I'm scared to destroy all of this suleyk…if it's for nothing. I'm scared to be free."
"It will never be for nothing." Killian reinforced, kissing her head. "With or without me, Nadri, it will not be for nothing. You deserve to be free. I want to free the rage you feel. I would lay down my life for you. I know it's not what you want me to say but maybe…maybe you could choose love over power…" It was as if the words were enhanced when Nadri heard them, hearing every single word filled with a great feeling within Killian's gravely and well-spoken voice and every piece of emotion he was feeling as he said it. Nadri looked up at the pirate, his hand moving from her shoulder and reaching up to her cheeks to kiss her deeply.
Nadri was still shocked from the revelations, just about able to kiss back. She took in every single second that Killian's lips were on hers, it was like an electric spark she needed to fill her soul with. Killian rested his forehead against hers, pleading with her soul. Nadri stared back into his crystal eyes, afraid of anything coming out of her mouth being the wrong thing to say.
"Power never meant anything to me when I couldn't use it for good. I freed a tormented city and since then my power has been used against everyone." Nadri sniffled. "I'm a terrible joor. I don't understand these pruvos…feelings. All I do is cry tears that I do not want. I feel so much. I could burn down this world if I lost you in it." Nadri pulled away so she could look up at Killian, her face dripping wet and her cheeks red. Her words were coated with a fearful voice. "I would reduce it to ash." Killian raised his hand back to her face, his thumb wiping away another tear that had escaped. "Why would I feel this way? These terrible things for your freedom?" He gave his charismatic smile, kissing her forehead softly. Nadri closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth he brought to her.
"Because that's love." He whispered against Nadri's, embracing her lovingly again. Nadri burying herself into Killian again and held him so tightly to make sure he would not move away from her. She felt content within Killian, she didn't want to leave the place they were in. She wanted to enjoy the peace, listening to the sounds of the wilderness around them. If only it wasn't in the Underworld.
Nadri wanted to enjoy her new-found love.
She wanted to be out of this godforsaken place. Nadri wanted to be in a realm far away from this one.
Nadri pulled away from Killian slowly, holding both his hand and fingers lazily holding his hook. She gave him a small smile, taking a deep breath, Killian returning it with a brighter one.
"I want to be free, Killian." She announced, confident in her words. "Whatever it takes."
"You're willing to give up your power?" Killian repeated in his own interpretation. "I wasn't trying to-"
"- I want this." Nadri cut Killian off, knowing that his words were not said to convince her to change her form. "I want to feel the sun as a free being. I want to come with you to Storybrooke without being controlled." Nadri's lips twitched into a bigger smile.
"Should we try and get home, love?"
"You read my mind, raaviir."
Killian and Nadri wandered back to the Blanchard apartment after their emotional apologies, managed to get through undetected and when their got back to the apartment, Henry had revealed to them that the Author's pen had been found and they could attempt to re-write Hades story. He struggled for a while, even with prompts from both of his mother's. They called it a night, Henry storming off out of the apartment and they all exchanged glances between each other. Emma sighed at Henry, hearing him thudding his feet down the steps of the apartment block and declared that her and Henry were going to stay over in her own home.
"We can stay here, it's our apartment after all…sort of." Snow uneasily said, looking around at the less than colourful apartment with a grimace.
"Well me and Robin can go and stay with Emma. It's probably best that we don't let Nadri leave the apartment. It's dark, Hades has eyes everywhere." Regina said as she looked at Nadri, concerned for the woman as she held Killian's hand, feeling awkward within the group of heroes. Nadri had never spent the night anywhere that wasn't her cell or Hades' bed. She had a nightmare even drifting off briefly with Killian in the room. Her stirring anxiety began to bubble, she just had to keep remembering the breathing technique that Emma had taught her.
Would she be like this when she would give away her power too?
"Great, scare the poor woman even more." Robin chimed in at Nadri's defence, looking at her with a sympathetic expression. "Sorry, darling."
"Would it be okay if I stayed here, Snow?" Nadri asked Snow directly and politely, knowing that she still had an issue with the dragon-born woman. Snow was trying to warm up to Nadri, but after her wild attempt at trying to kill Emma she was allowed to be weary.
"I guess…it's alright with me." Snow nodded and Nadri silently thanked her. "We will be upstairs, we can make a bed for you both."
"Thanks, Snow." Killian appreciated her kindness and Nadri blushed heavily looking away from Killian. She had been close to the man before but Nadri had never shared a bed with another man that didn't have ill intentions for her. Her mind couldn't help but shyly wander into the realms of possibilities of trying to imagine Killian without his layers of black and leather covering his body.
"Let's regroup in the morning at Granny's and we'll go from there. I'll see you later sweetheart." Emma gave her parents a kiss and a hug goodbye. Regina and Robin left together alongside them and Nadri looked around at the apartment. Snow and Charming told them both that they could go upstairs and take the bed that they had managed to put back into the top half of the loft.
They all said goodnight, the lights turning off in the apartment as Nadri shuffled upstairs, Killian close behind her. Nadri sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand up and down her arm as she suddenly felt her nerves beginning to bundle together and her mind started trying to convince that she would be plagued with nightmares again. She looked up at the pirate who was standing in front of her, bringing himself down to kneel in front of her.
"If you're uncomfortable, love, I can sleep on the sofa." He mumbled quietly, not wanting to wake up those who were also downstairs.
"I'm sorry, raaviir. The feeling of being cooped up in a room all over again…It makes me feel uneasy." A sweet, apologetic smile crossed her plump pink lips.
"Nothing will happen. You have my word." Killian took her hand tightly, kissing it firmly.
"Stay by my side….please?" Her eyes pleaded, and Killian stood up to walk around to the empty side of the bed, passing the drawers and wardrobes that had been draped into long white sheets to prevent them being covered in dust. Killian slipped his boots off, unscrewing the hook that glared out and placed himself down, leaning back on the double bed with his arm outstretched for Nadri to join him. "Are you not going to get comfortable, Killy?" Nadri referred to the layers of clothes that he was wearing, surely not comfortable enough to sleep in.
"I can sleep like this, love. I don't want to be caught trousers down." Killian gave her a lazy, tired smile. Nadri exhaled with a smaller one, laying back and scooting over to cuddle up to Killian, her head laying between the crook of his chest and shoulder and her hand rested on his chest to trace the skin under the slightly unbuttoned shirt.
"I can sleep like this too." Nadri felt Killian's fingers trace invisible patterns along her skin as she closed her eyes, wanting her to feel comforted. Killian began to drift off, his exhaustion hitting him in one fell swoop when his heavy, darkened eyes began to close after only 20 minutes of trying to stay guard. He began to twitch, his breathing getting heavier as he drifted off, snoring lightly while still clutching onto Nadri with a vice grip.
Killian didn't usually dream but this time all he could think of was Nadri. He dreamt of being on his ship, waiting for him back in Storybrooke, going down below deck to see Nadri in one of the cabins on the bunk reading a book. She was no longer in her ethereal dress but she was now in more modern clothes, skinny jeans and a tight tank top. She looked up at him, glowing with a bright energy. She was smiling into his soul.
Nadri with her long dark hair squished up around the pillow that she had propped up to be able to read her book comfortably. She was happier, more content. As if the world wasn't crushing down on her shoulders. The demons were no longer chasing her, that she was finally free. Killian dreamt of being able to whisk her away to any place that she wanted to go. He wanted her to see everything she could after being given a second chance of living her life to the fullest for the first time.
Killian wanted that so desperately for her.
Killian's eyes unglued, blinking open at the morning light that began to fall over Storybrooke. He stretched out and felt the missing body that had been attached to him the whole night and found that she had disappeared. Killian shot up from the bed, stumbling and almost falling over as he rummaged the ground for his boots, still disorientated from just waking up. He swivelled the hook attachment back on the leather hide cover on his forearm and rushed over to the edge of wooden banister of the stairs to look over if Snow and Charming had woken up yet. Their coats were missing so he presumed that they had both left for the diner.
The sight relieved him, letting out a sigh that almost had him shuddering. Nadri was standing in the kitchen, eyeing the gas oven as her stomach grumbled loudly and stared at it like it was about to invite her to battle.
Killian couldn't help but laugh.