Lost, Then Home: The Third Book in the A Tale of Two Sisters Series

Part Two: Battle

"You really think this protection spell will be enough to hold her off?" Emma asked as she, Reagan, and Regina put up a protection spell up around the hospital room that the Charmings were in as their baby was on the way.

"It depends if your brand of magic is stronger than hers," Regina replied. "If it is is, no one wielding Dark Magic will be able to get in here."

"That doesn't sound like a vote of confidence," Reagan said.

"It isn't, but we're out of options," her mother replied before walking away as Aaron entered the wing.

Reagan sighed before gently smiling at her boyfriend, going over to him as he offered her a bottle of water, "Here. Something tells me you need it."

"I do. Thanks," she said, taking it from him before giving him a soft kiss. "I thought you would be with your dad."

"He relieved me of my position so I could come see you real quick," he replied, making her chuckle.

"So professional," the raven said with a smile.

Aaron gave her a smile for a moment, "So . . ."

"So what?"

"What's the plan after all of this?"

"Plan?"

He gently pulled her away out of earshot of anyone, "Where are you at mentally right now?"

"Exhausted, a little worn out, a little depressed, and not really motivated," Reagan sighed. "I should be happy—I'm back in this land, I can hopefully go to the college I want to, but I honestly don't really know what I want to do with my life, I definitely don't want a career in politics since that would be somewhat of a mirror of what my future looked like had I remained in Western, and I don't always want to be fighting some sort of villain, I'm over it. I'm over being one of the saviors, it's so hard. But that sounds so bad, like I'm a selfish bitch who only cares about herself, but I don't want all of this pressure on me. I want to live my life. But I can never have that."

"Yes, you can," the blond sighed. "I never got to tell you why you found me in Sherwood Forest last year."

"Yes, I would like to know why you left without saying anything," the girl crossed her arms.

"Remember how I told you what that apothecary told me in Roselle?"

"Yes . . ."

"I still believe what he said, but I don't think it's your aunt who has been manipulating your mind anymore."

"Then who?"

"I don't know, Rumplestiltskin perhaps? Or Elphaba?"

"Rumple died before it got really bad, and also, if it even was him, he would know better than to do any harm to me because of my mom. Also, something about Elphaba helping Zelena seems off to me."

"Zelena did tell me that she was under her control."

Reagan gasped, "She has her heart. When someone has your heart, they can speak into it and control you—my mom did it with Sheriff Graham."

"Sheriff Graham?"

"He died before The Dark Curse was broken. So if it isn't either one of them, or my aunt, and what the apothecary said is true, then who is making me feel the way I am?"

"I don't know, but we'll figure it out," Aaron said, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. "Do you at least feel better now that it isn't really you who is thinking these things?"