Rhia came to slowly. A sharp pain cut through her temples and her shoulder burned. When she opened her eyes, there was nothing but blackness. Slowly she pushed herself onto her hands and knees, gasping as her arm wouldn't hold her weight. She struggled to open her bag. She groped around for her flashlight, clicked it on, and aimed it into the void. She could see the beam cutting through the black but didn't see anything. "Dáithí!" she called. Her voice echoed like she were in a tunnel. "Nova! Church!"

She turned to look around, and pain shot through her shoulder where the demon had bitten her. She touched the wound and hissed. Her flesh was a ragged mess, like the demon's teeth had been serrated and did more damage on the way out than in.

Cursing under her breath, she carefully pulled her arm out of the shirt and pushed the strap of her bra and tank top to the side so she could treat the wound.

"Hello?" a female voice called out from the darkness.

"Hey!" Rhia waved her flashlight, not sure where the voice came from. "Over here!"

She heard someone running from her left and aimed the light in that direction. A glowing... something moved with the woman jogging towards her. She didn't get a good look at the tall thin woman until she was crouching beside. She was wearing some kind of athletic skinsuit and no shoes. Her long hair was tied in a thousand miniature braids. "Are you okay?" she asked staring at the wound on her shoulder.

"I'll be fine. Hold this." She handed the woman the flashlight and noticed thick black manacles on her wrists. Every time they moved glowing white chains shimmered to life. "I'm Rhia."

She gritted her teeth against the pain as she pressed gauze against the bitemark.

"I know." The woman said slowly. Rhia looked up sharply to meet her big brown eyes. "I'm Nova. Maddox's dog."

She blinked a few times before laughing harshly. "Right, okay, sure."

The woman raised her eyebrows. "The day after you spent your first night with Nolan Wes, you told Nova how you couldn't believe that-"

"Woah, woah, woah!" Rhia shouted over her feeling panic rise in her chest. "Okay! I get it, you're Nova!"

She stared at her, her jaw slack, and her mind racing. She had said a lot to that dog when she didn't think anyone else was listening. Intimate details she never told anyone. "I know this is a bit of a shock." Nova said gently.

"A shock!?" she blurted. "You're... You've been... Does Maddox know?!"

"Yes." She shrugged. "He figured it out rather quickly."

"How... you know what..." Rhia shook her head and finished patching up her shoulder. "Alright. Can we agree that anything I ever told you while you were in your animal form is between us and will never be spoken about again?"

"On a personal level, yes."

"Personal?"

"H.I.P.A.A. prevents you from discussing patients outside a professional manner, I have my own regulations."

She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed heavily. "You're on the Counsel, aren't you?"

"No. But I work for them."

"Great. More interspecies politics. My favourite."

Rhia scowled at the shifter before ripping an adhesive bandage open with her teeth and slapping it over the wound as best she could. "Here, let me help."

Nova moved closer, but Rhia stood up quickly, slinging the bag over her good shoulder. She took out a spare flashlight and did a full, slow circle. The darkness was disorienting to say the least. "Where are we?"

"I have no idea." Nova stood as well.

The glowing white chains clinked at her wrists. "What are those?" Rhia pointed at the cuffs.

"Not sure. They were on when I woke up. I'm guessing they're keeping me from shifting. Your new dragonkin friend might have them too. But we would have to find him first, and there's no guarantee he's even here. Do we stay here, or do we go searching?"

"Should I stay, or should I go now?" Rhia couldn't help but sing under her breath.

Nova looked down at her blankly. "Your propensity towards singing in a crisis is, by far, your worst quality. Somehow worse than your actual singing."

"Yeah, you're definitely Maddy's dog." Rhia scowled and started walking.

Nova laughed harshly and followed close behind. They wandered through the darkness in silence for a few minutes. Rhia kept stumbling. The emptiness was messing with her depth perception. There was nothing to differentiate between the ground and the rest of the never-ending blackness. She looked down at her watch. It wasn't working, because of course it wasn't. There was no telling how long they were in this mess.

Suddenly out of the darkness, they heard a voice. "Rhia!"

"Dáithí!" Rhia shouted back. "Where are you?"

Nova yelped. Rhia turned to see Dáithí's intimidating form less than a foot away from the shifter, holding her wrist like she had tried to hit him. Matching black cuffs wrapped around his wrists as well. He had a sandy eyebrow raised and a daring smirk on his face. "Nova, I presume." His voice was dripping with amusement.

Nova's eyes narrowed. "How did you know?" she demanded.

"Dragonkin were the first shifters. Who do you think taught your kind?" He looked to Rhia. "You alright?"

"I got teleported to a mystery realm with my brother's dog, my abusive ex-boyfriend, and my new boyfriend's ex-best-friend. I'm peachy."

"Good." He looked back to Nova. "Can't shift?"

"Nope. Any idea where we are?"

"If I had to guess, dark realm."

Rhia snorted with hysterical fear-soaked laughter. "It's pitch black in here, of course we're in a dark realm."

Neither Ancient laughed. She could see how hard it was for them to not say anything about her obvious and really bad attempt at humor. They focused on each other again. "How do we get out?" Nova continued.

"Only two ways. Disable the caster or cast so much magic it can't be dispelled."

"That would explain these." Nova shook her wrists and the white chains danced around her.

Dáithí took Rhia's hand and lifted it into the light. Apparently, his advanced eyesight didn't work here either. "You're not chained."

"Why would she be?" Nova asked.

"All the time you spend around her is in your true form and you can't smell the magic rolling off her?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Dáithí rolled his eyes and looked down at Rhia. "Looks like you're going to learn to fly today, little bird."

Rhia paled and a rock formed in her stomach. Oh fuck.

A scream cut through the darkness. A child's scream. Instinct had her running before either Nova or Dáithí could stop her. She wasn't sure how long she ran before her flashlight finally picked up on a small form. A child was huddled on the floor, rocking back and forth, and sobbing. Rhia slowed to a walk. "Hey, sweetie," she spoke softly. "You're okay. I'm going to help you get back to your parents, okay?"

She reached out to touch the girl's shoulder when she saw the body. Church was still breathing, but barely. His lungs rattled loudly over the crying child. Her breathing hitched in her throat. Dáithí suddenly grabbed her around the waist, making her scream in surprise, and dragged her back. The child turned to look at them. Wide, tear-filled eyes stared up at them. She reached out for them. "I want my mommy?" she sobbed.

Rhia struggled against Dáithí's grip. "I have to help them! Put me down!"

"That's not a child, Rhia." He hissed, pulling her back a few more feet. "It's a changeling."

She froze again. The child stood up and reached out again. "I. Want." two large cracks formed a cross in the center of the child's face, dividing into quarters. "My... Mommy!"

The final word came out as a demonic wail, dual toned and horrifying. The quarters ripped open revealing a face full of teeth. Rhia shrieked as the creature leapt at them with surprising speed and force. Nova appeared out of the blackness in time to grab the creature's leg, turn to gain momentum, and threw it as hard as she could. Two more changelings appeared, crawling towards them alarmingly fast. She managed to catch one but the other latched its jaws onto her leg. Dáithí shoved Rhia in the opposite direction. "Run!" he barked.

She staggered back as another three of the creatures jumped out at the dragonkin.

"Run!"

She ran. Fear dumped adrenaline into her system and spurred her on. She couldn't think of anything but putting one foot in front of the other and keep going. She could hear Nova and Dáithí shouting and more demonic screaming of the changelings. She could hear them coming after her. Small hands and feet slapped loudly against the floor. They were faster than she was.

Something hit her in the middle of her back, knocking the wind out of her and sending her flying forward. She barely noticed hitting the ground as a set of teeth sank into her left arm. Another bit into her boot and tugged. Two more crawled over her legs while yet another climbed onto her chest and let out another demonic howl. In a panic, she reached out to shove the changeling off her.

Fire exploded from her palms. Upon touching the changeling it disintegrated with an inhuman screech.

She blinked, as if that would make her understand any better what the fuck just happened. The demon children chittered around her, uncomfortably close, but not approaching again. She struggled to sit up, pulling her bleeding forearm against her body. She swallowed hard to wet her throat before calling out. "Dáithí?" Her voice shook as violently as her body. "Nova?"

No answer. She tried to stand. That was the end of their waiting. A demon jumped onto her back, talons cutting deep into the back of her hips and shoulders. She fell forward again as a second demon took out her knees. She twisted to land on them and threw out her hands again, hoping fore more fire. She didn't know how, but it worked. The red and orange flames lashed out at the dozens of changelings surrounding her, causing immediate damage to the ones touched by the fire.

"Enough!"

This new voice cut through the wails like a knife, and Rhia stopped breathing. There was the sound of someone snapping their fingers. White chains appeared, wrapped her wrists together, and dragged her to her knees. The changelings obeyed the command but were still close enough to attack at a moment's notice. A bright light akin to a spotlight flared to life, making Rhia flinch back and tug painfully at the chains. The outline of a feminine figure sauntered towards her. "Well, well, well," The voice was smooth and taunting.

As they drew closer, Rhia was able to get a better look at them. It was unmistakably an elf... but instead of the shades of pink, green, or brown, her skin was a dark, sickly grey. Her eyes glimmered a dark shade of muddy purple. A single golden mark glowed on her chin. There was a manic gleam in her eyes. She squatted down in front of Rhia, chewing on cracked and scarred lips. "I thought I got all of you pesky little Ancients tied up in my spell. Apparently, I missed one. I'm impressed. You look so... human." She looked over her shoulder. "Are we supposed to kill this one, my lord? Or can I keep her?"

"The only ones we have to kill," came a deeper, more masculine voice. "Is the dog and our dear friend the captain. Do whatever you want with the rest."

"Ooh, goody!" the female stood up and spun around in glee.

Rhia desperately pulled at the chains. Searing heat flashed from her hands to the chains and for a second she thought she might actually burn through them. The elf snapped her fingers again. Her hands were ripped apart and a wall shot up behind her. The magical heat was cut off as her body exploded with pain. The female clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "Now, now," she waggled her finger at her. "We'll have to do something about that troublesome hellfire. That could really hurt someone if you're not careful." She said it like a disappointed mother.

"Hellfire?" came the male's voice again. "You must be mistaken, Naryn."

A second elf came into view. The male's skin was a deeper purple, and he had one matching amethyst eye. The other eye was milky white. That whole side of his face was heavily scared and drooping. They looked like burn scars or acid burns. The golden tattoos around his eyes were unaffected by the injury and seemed to hover just over the marred skin. His eyes widened and head tilted to the side.

A sickening feeling of déjà vu hit Rhia so hard she felt nauseous and light-headed. She looked away from his intense gaze. She had never met this elf in her life... so why did she feel like she both recognized him and hated him with an overwhelming fury?

"Look at me." He commanded.

His voice made her lip curl angrily. She kept her eyes on a patch of nothingness in the distance. The male stepped closer to her, crouched down, and grabbed her face hard, forcing her to look into his eyes. "My lord," the female whined behind him. "She's mine."

"What's your name?" he ignored the female's complaint. When Rhia didn't answer, he slammed the back of her head against the wall. Stars exploded in front of her eyes and a strangled cry escaped her lips. "What is your name!" he screamed.

"Rhia!" she cried, her fear coming back in full force.

"Your full name!"

"Rhiannon Kincaid!"

He stared at her and she gasped for breath. It felt like her skull was split open. At a bare minimum, she had a concussion. "Rhiannon." He hissed gleefully. "You're supposed to be dead. They told me you were dead."

"I don't know what you're talking about." She gasped.

"No, no, no," he cackled. "Of course, you don't. You were so young when I ripped you away from your father."

She felt her whole body go cold. She forced one eye open to stare at the elf. The same hysteria that she had seen in the female was in his eyes now. "Who are you?" she rasped.

He let out a harsh laugh and leaned in so close their noses were almost touching. "I am the one who promised your father a happy life for you. I am the one who promised to rip it all away." His second hand came into view and he stroked her face almost lovingly. "You've grown up so pretty." His words came out in a breathy laugh. "Just like your mother. I wonder how she would feel if she could see you now. I'm going to have fun carving you up. I'm going to start with your pretty little face. Finally repay you for what you did to me all those years ago."

His eyes gleamed as he touched the sagging skin. He stood up suddenly and her head fell forward. "Wait, my lord," the female said quickly. The mirth had gone from her voice. Rhia felt the male press a hand to her forehead and push her head up. "If you do that, you could break-"

"We have nearly accomplished what we were meant to, Naryn. Let me have my fun." The male snapped his fingers and glowing white spears appeared in the air.

Rhia started to struggle against the bindings again with renewed fear. "Please," she begged, tears streaming down her face. "I don't want to die."

He laughed harshly. "Oh, honey," he sang. "This isn't going to kill you. But breaking you free of those bonds is going to hurt... a lot. Now, hold still."

A spear shot through her chest. She gasped as the deep cold of the magic froze her blood. Four more speared through her arms at her wrists and elbows, two at her hips, and a final one straight through her forehead just as the elf moved away. Tears soaked her cheeks as she gasped for air. Her heart struggled to pump frozen blood through frozen veins. Her lungs shuddered as her muscles began to freeze as well. She stared up at the male as he took the chains that were forming on the ends of the spears. He smirked at her.

"It's time to wake up."

A single thought crossed her mind.

Nolan

Pain like Rhia had never felt before erupted from her body. Her screams were torn from her as violently as his act in impaling her. The walls holding back her power, already crumbling from her time with the vampire, collapsed into nothing but dust. Heat roared up from deep within her, a place she had never known before. In an ear-splitting shriek, the chains and spears exploded, freeing her to fall forward and writhe at the feet of the elf. It was no longer dark. The entire realm was cast in a mix of red and green flames.

The changelings scattered, instantly turning to ash when the flames touched them. The male elf was laughing hysterically while his female companion looked around with fear. A booming crack, like a fracturing glacier, came from above. Something roared.

"Come!" Shouted the elf over all the noise. "Show me your true-"

Dáithí appeared out of nowhere in his serpent skin, flying towards the elves at impossible speeds. He just missed their bodies, his jaws snapping shut around open air. The world around them started to break, daylight streaming through cracks high above them. Rhia clutched her splitting head. She couldn't take it. The pain alone was going to kill her. She didn't notice that Dáithí had brought the unconscious bodies of the others. She didn't notice when he wrapped his powerful body around them to protect them. All she knew was pain.

~