Chapter 362: _True Freedom
Caroline’s POV
*****
"Well? What did Althea say?" She asked Regina after they successfully breached past the secret entrance to Ryker’s lair.
The secret entrance in question wasn’t particularly well-kept.
All they did was pass through a lengthy tunnel with damp stairwells underneath the mountain that seemed to have existed for centuries.
Then they arrived in front of a small, black door made of metal.
Regina proceeded to unlock it with a combination code made of runic symbols.
It was thrilling watching the artificial hybrid doing all that without relying on her magic for once.
"She says she’s given the coordinates to Thorian and the rest of the army," Regina whispered, lowering her right hand from her head. "Can we address the elephant in the room now?"
Right... That.
Minutes ago they had felt a shift in energy around the mountain. Not only that, but streams of black energy had even burst out of the space they were currently staring at.
Beyond the small black door was a massive space. It looked like an underground cave, stalactites glistening from the roof and even a few bats fluttering.
Runes glowing with red energy pulsed on the damp walls and from the look of things, this was merely just a small part of the entire lair.
"The energy we felt was chaotic energy from the Vein." Regina continued, her expression solemn. "Which means the Lord of the North has begun his ritual."
Caroline felt a bolt of unease flash through her ghostly body.
"Come on." Regina gestured toward the cave, leading the way.
But Caroline wasn’t having it.
"What are you doing?" She asked, staying put at the secret entrance and folding her arms in front of her chest.
Regina didn’t stop, muttering loud enough for her to hear. "If we want a head start, seeing the ritual for ourselves and informing the others will—"
"You must be out of your fucking mind." Caroline sneered, not knowing when she moved toward her.
Regina froze, slowly turning around with an arched brow while Caroline went on.
"You’re already putting yourself at risk by coming here. You’ve had to stop using your magic all these days so Ryker doesn’t sense you."
Regina blinked at first, a bit stunned.
But her lips soon quirked into a sly smirk. "Aw. So someone does care about my well-being. That’s cute."
Caroline’s eyes twitched with frustration.
Nope... Frustration would be an understatement for what she felt right now.
"Or maybe I don’t want you to compromise this mission." Caroline countered. "This is war, Regina. The last stand. Casualties are already bound to happen so I don’t need you to worsen those odds."
Regina’s jaw tightened, her features locked with disappointment. "Wow. And for a second there I thought you trusted me enough."
Trust? She’s talking about TRUST?
"If I didn’t trust you—if WE didn’t trust you," Caroline moved closer, her voice firm. "We won’t be here, and Lord Kaelos would’ve probably had your head hung at the gates of the Blood Oak pack."
Silence.
They both stared at each other, the tension electric with words unspoken. With feelings hidden behind layers of hate and anger.
And quite frankly, Caroline couldn’t stand it anymore.
"I’m guessing there are two elephants in the room." Regina chuckled softly, strutting toward her until they were only a couple of feet away. "Am I right?"
Caroline shuddered, her eyes subconsciously trying to avoid Regina’s sharp gaze. "This is neither the time nor the place, Regina. I—"
"Oh, but it is the time." The latter shot her right hand forward, grabbing Caroline’s wrist. "A time when survival is uncertain."
The physical contact made Caroline gasp but Regina ignored that.
"Ever since your ghost form became tangible, I’ve noticed a shift in you. In us." Caroline could actually feel Regina’s breath on her face.
She tried taking a step back but found herself unable to move. Not because she couldn’t. But because she didn’t want to.
And that was the problem.
"You made Odessa summon me from the afterlife when I finally found peace," Caroline mumbled bitterly. "I told myself I’ll continue hating you until I go back. But now?"
Her eyes focused on Regina’s hand around her wrist. There was no pressure. Just a softness from someone who seemed like she just couldn’t let go.
"But now I find myself considering staying back." Caroline lowered her head. "And then what will that mean for me? I’m technically already dead. Meaning I’ll probably outlive everyone and—"
"You don’t have to stay back." Regina placed her other hand on her cheek, her thumb sliding underneath Caroline’s eyes. "Once this is all over Odessa or any other witch can cast a reversal spell and—"
Caroline couldn’t take it anymore.
In the blink of an eye, she lunged forward, closing her eyes as she locked lips with Regina.
The latter froze, eyes wide with shock. But even she couldn’t hold back and eventually wrapped her arms around Caroline’s body, deepening the kiss.
All the unspoken tension. All the intense staring. All the haunting dreams she had of this ’she devil’ when she was alive.
They all came crashing into this one moment where she finally felt true freedom. True happiness.
After what felt like eternity, Caroline finally pulled away, smiling warmly at Regina. "You idiot. I want to stay because I want you. As crazy, unhinged, dark, twisted—"
"If this is a love confession you’re really failing at it." Regina rolled her eyes, still trying to catch her breath. "Gods. So that’s what kissing a ghost is like?"
They giggled to themselves, never letting go of each other.
Caroline pressed her forehead against hers, letting out a breath. "I miss this. I miss standing beside my found family. So I’m going to stay. I don’t know how long but I will."
Regina’s grip on her tightened slightly. "How do you think the others will take it?"
Caroline’s mind was still reeling. She didn’t know how they got here but she sure as heck wasn’t complaining.
"I imagine they’ll... take it well." She pulled back, hesitating to let go of her.
But she had to remind herself they were still deep in the enemy’s territory.
"So, you’ll listen to me and stay back until the others show up. Right?" She asked, scanning her eyes around the huge cave again.
She arched her neck slightly, squinting at the ceiling.
"Fine. But it’s going to be really boring waiting for—" before Regina could finish that sentence, Caroline grabbed her shoulder abruptly.
The latter shook with dread as she stared at the ceiling, noticing something she hadn’t when they first stepped in.
"I thought they were just huge stalactites at first." She whispered, her voice clipped. "But they’re... They’re..."
Just then, a sharp hissing sound tore through the silence of the cave.
Like a signal, hundreds of black, cocoon-like objects, which once seemed like stalactites, glowed with a deep red light. And within them, eyes glowed with predatory malice at the new couple.
Caroline and Regina tensed up as the growls and hissing from the cocoons heightened, echoing off the walls of the cave in a distorted cacophony.
The glow of the runes deepened, shadows slithering across the walls like they were alive.
One cocoon cracked open, spilling thick black mist.
Caroline’s eyes widened.
"Oh gods."