"Nadri…Nadri…" Haunting, merged voices were cold in the air, wrapping around the trees of the eerie forest that Nadri found herself in. There was no colour, a purple mist glittered around the floor as she walked through. The material of her dress hugged at her body tightly, scales running down her stomach and down her hips, like they were a part of her skin again. Her dark hair was wrapped up in a neat up-do that was kept neat by golden pins and the necklace that she had longed to be rid of was wrapped around her neck with the gleaming gemstone pulsing with electricity.
"Nadri…" She looked around the forest with curiosity, following the voices that were luring her in. She felt the surge of power within her the deeper she stepped into the forest, kicking up the leaves as she went. Nadri could see blue outlines of souls walking around the forest, she waved out for their attention but there was nothing. They continued to stumble through the trees like lost sheep. She moved out into the opening of the forest, a circle of trees surrounding a beast so great that Nadri immediately fell to her knees and bowed to it.
The dragon moved its head down to her as it sat as tall as a house. Pearly purple eyes matched Nadri's as it squinted at her, flaring the spikes that decorated its spine. Intimidating wings spread out ominously, flapping threateningly as it continued to glare down at Nadri.
"You no longer need to pray to the Dovah, silvax." Nadri lifted her head up from the grass from her bowing position, looking up at the creature that bared its sparking, white fangs at her. "You are not deserving wah tinvaak…to speak our tinvok." The dragon huffed with rumbling words as Nadri kneeled in front of the beast, her eyes pleading.
"I am not a silvax. I still hold myself true to the Dovah." Nadri begged to the dragon that had been waiting for her, its presence casting a shadow along the forest.
"Yet you are with these…joor, silvax. They slaughtered our kind. They slaughtered us." The beast's words were dark and fear inducing when they used to be so soft and kind. The purple scales shone underneath the light of the sun, they were reflecting like a piece of labradorite that had been left on a window ceil. "Our King bonaak us to pieces and we let him." The creature snapped, snarling nastily down at Nadri as the earth itself began to rumble underneath her.
"I did what I had to!" Nadri shouted, the Earth shaking as lightning struck through the clouding skies. The crashing and electrical noise sparked through the air, hitting the ground with an all mighty crack and shattered through the ground. "I killed him for us. I took our power back."
"Silvax! You did nothing!" The ground shook, rumbling beneath Nadri. The dragon spurred in its rage, the glowing ember light see beneath the slender neck of the dragon. "You are nothing as a joor." The mystical, raging creature took a deep breath, opening its jaws of death around Nadri. Nadri found herself screaming, screaming for help to any spirit that could hear it.
No one came.
She would burn.
"Yol."
"No!" Nadri shot up from the bed with a shocking gasp, waking up to the dark cabin struggling for breath. She was met with darkness that was being fought by the sunrise, silk sheets wrapped around her body tangling her up. Her hands ripped at the sheets and pulled them away from her in a panic. She looked down at the body lying next to her, her dark curls damp from the cold sweat she had fought herself into. Her light eyes were met with Killian's snoring face, his face half in the pillow as he slept without a care in the world. He hadn't felt her thrashing around the bed and gasping for breath. Nadri let out a heavy sigh as her heart pounded. She ran a hand over her face before swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, her feet dangling from barely being able to touch the ground.
"By the Gods, when will it stop?" Nadri whispered to herself, still holding her hand in her hand. The nightmares had become so apparent every time she went to sleep even in the Underworld. She hoped that now that she had gained a human soul maybe they would stop and she would be free from the cursed nightmares. It was something that she had fought with very much since meeting Killian, the abandonment of her dragon soul and giving up all that came with it, she didn't think it would haunt her so much.
She had adjusted to where she was, briefly looking over at the window of the ship and saw that dawn was already on the horizon. The orange and pink light twisted through the clouds with the sun fighting to rise. She got off the bed, her bare body being met with a chill from the dead fire that had sat in the fireplace. She reached down for her shirt to cover up her cold body and rummaging around for the underwear that Killian had tossed aside in the night. She couldn't help but smirk at thinking back to Killian's lips everywhere on her body, tingling from the sensation of thinking about her explicit endeavour.
Nadri moved over to the fireplace with silent steps, looking back on Killian who was snuggled up between the sheets, ready to light the fire again to keep the room warm for when he woke up. She lit the fire with a match from the box that laid on the mantle before pausing when she heard an all mighty thud coming from the top deck. Her head snapped up towards the ceiling, eyes widened and listened closer to the noise. More thuds ensued, followed by footsteps that seemed to be moving around above the level they were on. Nadri carefully left the room, leaving Killian asleep, sneaking out of the Captain's Quarters and listening out for more disturbance.
She looked around for something she could use and the first thing that came to her sight was a large candle stick that was in the hallway before the stairwell. Nadri grabbed it, gripping it tightly as she very slowly made her way up the stairs and listened out for the noises that came from one of the doorways in the hallway on the next floor. Nadri crept further, hearing someone talking to themselves.
"Never one for organisation." She heard the voice tutting and Nadri pressed her back up against the wall next to the doorway. Items were being shuffled around, knocked to the floor. Who could try and thief out of a dead man's ship in the middle of a populated town? Nadri knitted her eyebrows together, the situation completely bizarre.
Nadri raised the candle stick up and slipped out from around the doorway, meeting with a hooded figure that was crouched over a chest and looking through its contents. Pieces of junk and rubbish were strewn across the floor of what Nadri presumed was another office of Killian's or maybe even a first-mate's cabin.
"You dare steal from a dead raaviir, tafiir?" Nadri hissed as she held the iron candlestick with both hands pointed towards the figure. The person's head very slowly moved in Nadri's direction and crystal blue, puffy eyes met with her own. Nadri lowered her so called weapon when the figure pulled their hood down, revealing the long blonde hair that was scrunched up inside it.
Emma stared at Nadri as if she had just witnessed the dead rise from the grave, her face paling at the sight of Nadri. Her face looked gaunt, having cried every moment since she had gotten back from the Underworld. She was dressed in a black hoodie underneath the red jacket, skinny jeans accompanying her legs.
"Nadri…" Emma's eyes were wide like a deer in the headlights expecting to be run over at any moment.
"Kun Gein, I didn't realise it was you." Nadri placed the candlestick upright on the ground, her stern expression resolving into a sweet, soft one. Emma slowly brought herself up from the ground and swallowed hard.
"…You're alive?" Emma could barely speak, still in shock and frozen in her place. "Is Killian…?"
"Killian is here." Nadri confirmed with a smile, holding her hand out to help Emma up from the ground. Emma took it and gave Nadri a massive smile before dragging her into a hug. The sudden hug shocked Nadri, slowly bring her arms up to hug Emma back.
"I was here to go through Killian's things but I can't believe it. When did you get back? How did you get back? I thought that you both were gone." Emma pulled away with her hands on Nadri's shoulders, beaming wildly and so emotional that tears were once again in her eyes.
"Forgive me, saviik. We wanted to come to be here together before we told everyone we were back. We didn't want to bombard you after Robin." Nadri explained solemnly and Emma nodded with the same emotion, Robin's death still so raw for them. "A lot has happened."
Nadri went on the search for some bottoms to put on before sitting down with Emma and thoroughly explaining what had happened in the last 48 hours. She explained that she had given up everything to try and get them both to the Ambrosia tree and that they had helped defeat Hades from the Underworld. Emma understood their need for wanting space and trying to get over the shock of being back in the Land of the Living – Nadri needing it more than most. It was a long story but Emma was grateful they were both back and safe. When Killian had emerged from his quarters, Emma fell into a fit of tears when she hugged him gratefully.
They all agreed that they would head to the Blanchard apartment to break the news to the others and then would meet Regina at her home after Emma had gone back to her own house to grab Nadri something that wasn't pirate attire. Nadri changed into a pair of grey, slim fitting jeans that showed off the shape of her butt quite nicely. She had a tight, well-fitting black vest that hugged at her curved body and showed the top of her chest, the scar prominently seen on her skin. Nadri stared into the mirror of Killian's bathroom, carefully detailing her lips with a nude lipstick before she felt happy enough with the first time of applying it, smacking her lips together. She continued to look down at the scar across her chest, Nadri bringing up her hand to ghostly touch at the damaged skin. Nadri let out a sigh, closing her eyes and her hand continued to rest on her chest.
Thump. Thump.
It was still there. Her chance at a free life was still there.
Even though her choice was haunting her within her dreams, she needed to keep going.
It wouldn't be wasted.
"You ready, love?" Killian's muffled voice came through the door, knocking gently. Nadri cleared her throat, picking up the dark grey cardigan that was hooked on the door before brushing herself down. She opened the door and was met with Killian's devilish smile. "You look…well, you already know love." The charming smile showed off his pearly whites and Nadri shook her head with a laugh, walking out of the quarters with Killian before heading up to the deck where Emma was waiting for them.
Emma met them with a happy smile and they headed off of the ship and towards the middle of town. They knew that they'd probably earn some notice along the way to the apartment building since it was right by the clock tower but they tried to ignore the interested stares as much as they could. The three of them headed up towards the apartment, Nadri unsure if they'd be met with grateful reactions after Robin's death.
"Are we expecting cheers of joy?" Killian commented with a half-smile as they were met with the apartment door. Emma looked over her shoulder with a dry eye-roll before turning the key into the lock and opening the door. Emma handed a smile to her parents who were sitting at the table with their cups of coffee, baby Neal cuddled up in Snow's arms as she read this morning's newspaper. David was finishing up his coffee, dressed in jeans with his sheriff badge sitting on his belt and a plaid shirt, getting ready to leave for work.
"I found some rogue travellers on the way." Emma joked sheepishly, sticking her hands in her pockets and looked over towards the pirate and Nadri. David and Snow looked up briefly, still tired from a rough night with Neal and then back down again before both giving the couple wild looks of disbelief. Emma gleamed as she watched her parents look in awe at the sight in front of them.
"Hook?!" David exclaimed, a grin stretching along as his face as he jumped up from the table and went to embrace the pirate, patting his back. Killian grinned, hugging the man back before they parted and he turned to Nadri. "How did you guys get back? I thought that was it." David was still in shock, reaching out to give Nadri a tight squeeze. "Nadri, you look great." Nadri's cheeks burned as David complimented her, trying to hide behind the curls of hair that laid past her shoulders.
"We didn't think you would be able to come back." Snow chimed in, smiling from her place at the table. She carefully got up and approached them, giving both of them half hugs minding the baby on her hip. The baby cooed up at Nadri, Nadri unsure how to react so she just waved at the small infant. Killian could have died inside from how she reacted to the baby, most dragons would immediately bond with the young and teach them to be strong willed. However, baby humans…that was a different story to Nadri. Neal continued to stare at Nadri with his little baby blues, Nadri beginning to feel intimidated by the young soul.
"Zeus gave us a second chance after helping to defeat Hades. I'm sorry I didn't reach out to Emma sooner, we just-" Killian gestured between him and Nadri, hoping that they would understand what he was trying to get across.
"You wanted to adjust. We get it." David nodded sympathetically, understanding as he looked towards Nadri. "We're just really happy you're back. How do you feel Nadri?" Nadri felt almost knocked sideways, it's the first time that someone had really asked Nadri about how she was feeling about living in this realm since her arrival.
"I have a hil…heart again. It feels unreal. I may wake up yet and I'll be still Hades' domain." Nadri sighed, placing her hands on her hips and looked down at the jeans and low heeled boots she was wearing. "Wearing these clothes feels…vomedaas….Er, diff-er-ent. Sorry, I'm trying to learn still." David gave her a warm smile, Killian next to her with a proud face as she tried her best. She had been placed back into this sudden world and thrown into the deep end without even being able to practice how to swim.
A purely human life was extremely different as posing as a human for so long.
"Don't apologise, Nadri. Be yourself, we were all the same when the Dark Curse was lifted. We were all lost in this place. We can help you as long as you want it." David reassured her gently and placed his hand on Nadri's shoulder. Nadri beamed up at David, happy to feel anything that wasn't angry words. David had come on Nadri's side a lot since they had met in the Underworld, Nadri was grateful that she had another friend by her side.
"What about Regina? Have you told her yet? Poor Robin…" Snow trailed off and the couple exchanged glances as Emma shook her head.
"I think I should go and tell her first. She's devastated and I don't want her to feel like…like it's unfair." Emma explained to the others. "I don't want her to go all-" Emma put her hands up in a motion - claws out with a hiss.
"Evil Queen?" Killian finished off for her with a raised eyebrow.
"Losing Robin hit her hard. We know what happened the last time she lost someone she loved." Snow looked down guiltily, making her way back to the table so she could sit with Neal. He continued to stare at Nadri, trying to understand that random person that had appeared in their home.
"Maybe you should go alone, love. We can stay here, if that's alright with you guys."
"Absolutely. I'm going down to the Sheriff's station to do some paperwork, Nadri you're welcome to join me. I'll give you a tour of the real Storybrooke." David offered, grabbing the leather jacket that was hanging on the back of his chair and he swooped down to give Snow and Neal a kiss on their cheeks. Nadri started pulling at the sleeve of her cardigan nervously, knowing that she would be met with awkward stares and a million questions of who she was and where she had come from. "Of course that's if you want to. I just don't get the company anymore." David let out a light laugh as he grabbed his keys off the table.
"Are you sure that's okay?" Nadri asked him again and David nodded, smiling still. The man was like a golden retriever, he was loyal and always happy, bouncing around.
"C'mon, I might even treat you to doughnuts." Nadri knitted her eyebrows together, confused.
"What are-"
"Go and taste the delicious heaven that is doughnuts, Nadri!" Emma laughed, leaning her back against the wall and Nadri looked up at Killian, still unsure.
"Hook can come with us, if you feel more comfortable." David was golden, he was so understanding towards Nadri's nervousness and trust issues. He wanted her to feel as comfortable as she could.
"You don't even need to ask. Besides, I need to see your face when you try doughnuts for the first time." Killian took her by the hand and Nadri grabbed it, they followed David as they went through the front door of the apartment while Emma trailed behind them to head over to Regina's house. With the change of plan, Nadri's stomach was full of knots and butterflies. She was internally trying to prepare herself for the day ahead and learning about new things and apparently new foods.