Whispering Atlas Chapter 2

Whispering Atlas

Chapter 2: Chasing Pavements

"'My salvation'? I do not need saving." She replied stubbornly. The voice 'tsked' at her reply. "Alright then, dear, I'll just take my leave." The shadows slowly dissipated. Regina felt her stomach clench as she felt her opportunity to escape leave her.

"Wait!" She called out "D-don't leave." The shadows stopped, then started to reform itself again.

"Yes?" The voice drawled out.

"How can you help me?" She asked.

"Well, you could make a contract with me." It replied.

"Contract?" Like a deal of some sorts she thought. 'This situation feels familiar' She almost mentally sighed.

"Yes a contract. I will give you what you want, such as freedom, protection, safety, anything you wish. In return, I will get something from you." Regina felt a tingle at the word freedom. Something she has wanted for a long time and now she could finally have it, but this thing wants something in return.

"I'm guessing the thing you want in return isn't money...?"

"Smart girl." She almost sneered at its comment.

"Well, what is it?" She asked impatiently. The voice laughed at her and she felt the familiar burning of rage. She was about to insult the being, but bit it back, not wanting to lose her chance at leaving this horrible place.

"Well, do you want my soul or something of the sorts?"

"Oh, no, no. I don't want your soul." She relaxed a little, "I am not sure as of now, but when I want it, I will have it. Now, do we have a deal?" Regina took a moment to think it over, making sure that she wanted this. It's not like she had anything to lose at this point. So, what the hell.

"Yes, we have a deal."

"Great. Now sign here." A contract appeared with in the grasp of the shadow. A quill floated mid air and made it's way to Regina. She looked at it evenly before turning her gaze to the shadow. Then, she took the quill in her hand and the contract in the other. She bent down on the dirty cobblestone, placing the piece of parchment on the ground. She looked it over to see if there was anything amiss with it and once she was done, she signed her name at the dotted line on the bottom.

The contract disappeared in black smoke. Then, suddenly, she felt warm arms wrap around her waist then lift her up bridle style. She bit back a gasp as she felt an invasion of personal space.

"Shall we go then, Milady?" The voice that had no distinction before was now one voice. It sounded female and very alluring. Regina looked up at the female who held her and saw darkly tanned skin and a faint glint of her purple eyes. Her hair was short and only reached her shoulders. Her bangs split down the middle of her forehead and reached her chin framing her face. Her hair color was odd for it was a darker shade of violet.

"Yes, let's go." 'It' then broke the cell door by kicking it down. The door landed on the ground with a loud 'thud'. Then, she took off running with Regina in her arms. She ran quickly, and before Regina knew it, they were outside of the palace. The wind hit Regina from the speed the violet headed women was going. Regina closed her eyes to avoid the stinging in her eyes.

When she opened them, they were no where near the palace. Regina looked around to see if she recognized the area, but the area was unfamiliar to her.

"We have left the outskirts of the kingdom." Regina looked at her with a shocked expression.

"T-that was quick." She whispered to herself, but of course the woman holding her heard it and smirked. They had stopped around a lightly wooded area surrounded by a river. The women set Regina down on her feet.

"I didn't catch your name." Regina said.

"Ethaobeth," Ethaobeth replied back with a mocking bow "Your majesty."

Regina scoffed at her "I'm no queen, I was usurped. I'm just Regina."

"Of course." The chromatic head smirked at her, then moved towards the river.

"This area is safe, so you don't have to worry about your 'friends' finding you. So, just relax and I'll set up camp for now." Ethaobeth said as she bent down to inspect the river water and finally deemed it clean enough to drink. Then, she reached for a satchel tied tightly in her belt. She unhooked her belt loop and set the satchel free. She dipped the satchel in the water and filled it. Then, she turned around to find Regina sitting on the grass staring at her.

"What are you..."

Ethaobeth smiled at her "That's for me to know and for you to find out. Well, only if you want to."

Regina scowled at her but didn't bother to retort, instead, she busied herself with the satchel and emptied it.

Ethaobeth took the satchel from her and refilled it, then hooked it back on her belt.

"We'll stay here for the rest of the night, then we'll go to the nearest village and stop at an inn." Regina scrunched up her nose at the idea and clicked her tongue in distaste. "They'll recognize me and kill me on the spot." Ethaobeth sighed, "Yeah, they will unless you disguise yourself." Regina looked at the women with irritation and didn't answer. 

"You don't have any magic...do you?"

"If I did, do you think I would have spent so long in a dungeon?!" Ethaobeth lifted her hands up to calm her down. "I don't know. Depends on what your into. I'm not one to judge." Regina sneered at her overly bold reply.

"So, I guess we'll just have to...mess you up a bit more." She looked at Ethaobeth, clearly confused. She only smirked at Regina and Regina felt a bit nervous as to what she had planned.

"-I mean, you already did a good job of that with your stay in that cell. We just need to change your look."

"What do you suggest?"

"Haircut."

"Haircut?"

"Yes." Ethaobeth pulled out a medium sized dagger from her holster. "Turn around." She commanded.

"Can't we just do something else?" Regina was unwilling to cut her hair. She didn't want to cut it. Ethaobeth saw this, but was having none of it. "Can't you just run straight through, I mean you got away from the palace just fine."

"Yeah, I know that. I could just run to any place you want, but... I just don't feel like carrying you all the way there." Ethaobeth gave a fake yawn which only irked Regina.

Regina grunted as the woman lifted her up and turned her back to her. Then, she started to cut away at her hair.

She saw her dark hair fall around her, "Don't worry, I'll make you look stylish. You'll thank me after this." Regina only grumbled in response. She was in no mood to argue, all she wanted to do was sleep, nothing else.

"I don't have any mirrors to show what you look like, but you'll have to trust me that you look fine." Ethaobeth assured her. Regina rolled her eyes and stood up. She walked to a large tree near by and sat down in front of it. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes.

"That tired huh? You didn't even do anything."

Regina sighed, "It's in the middle of the night, of course I'm tired."

"Alright then, get some sleep. We'll leave at daybreak." Regina didn't give a response as she was consumed by sleep.

"Your Majesty, the Evil Queen has escaped." The guard reported to the king. James, other wise known as Prince Charming or David was looking at a map, searching for ways of expanding trade routes for exports with his advisers at his side. He looked up from his map, slowly processing the guards words. The advisers silenced themselves and waited for the king to give a command. Shock crossed his face, yet he made it vanish as he stood up straight.

"What happened exactly?" He asked the guard.

"I was patrolling the area outside of the prison chambers when I heard something was amiss. I ran towards the sound and found her cell door ripped off of it's hinges in a heap on the floor and her cell empty."

"So she was no where in sight when you got there?"

"That is correct."

David gathered his thoughts quickly and thought of a plan. If she escaped last night, then she couldn't have gotten far. They may still be able to catch her. They had to.

"Gather the knights and horses. Tell them, on behalf of the king, they are to search the furthest reaches of the kingdom. She must not succeed in escaping." He commanded. The guard nodded and David excused himself from his advisers to go inform Snow about the news.

"I don't understand." Gthaobeth said.

Regina raised an eyebrow at her, "Understand what?"

"Why you considered yourself an Evil Queen." Her purple eyes flashed at her in curiosity.

"I never really considered myself the Evil Queen. I was made out to be that way." She sighed, "I always thought evil wasn't born, but made."

"Ah, so who made you out to be that way?"

Regina growled under her breath at the thought of a certain person who made her this way.

"Snow White."

Snow looked at her husband in shock as he told her the news of Regina's escape. She thought that she had finally done it. Finally ended all the madness, but of course, Regina always found a way.

"We have to find her." David nodded.

"I've already sent out knights to find her." Snow looked extremely worried as to what Regina might do. She could gather others to join her and get revenge. She was dangerous and needed to be stopped.

"Don't worry about it, Snow. We'll find her. She can't get far when the whole kingdom is against her." He held her in his arms and patted her back to soothe her.

"I hope you're right, Charming." She absentmindedly rubbed her stomach to where her unborn child lay, unaware of the world around him or her. She wished she could be so naive.

Regina's feet burned as she walked over another broken tree log. The woman in front of her showed no signs of stopping and only increased her pace as Regina started to pant. Regina wanted to rest, no, need ed to rest. It's been awhile since she had to walk and her muscles were not ready for it.

She tried to keep walking for another five minutes before she tripped over a large stone. Her legs gave out and she fell flat on her face.

Ethaobeth heard Regina fall behind and stopped. Turning around she found Regina lying pathetically on the ground. She sighed and shook her head, then walked to where she laid.

"So, you gonna lay there all day? We got places to be, 'Gina." Ethaobeth scolded. Regina groaned and then slowly lifted herself up. She was shaking as she did so and her face was scrunched up in pain and frustration. It was almost painful to watch.

Ethaobeth sighed again and pulled Regina into her arms. She lifted her off of the ground and twisted herself so that Regina ended up on her back.

"Better?" Regina was silent for a bit, but replied with a sound of approval. Probably too embarrassed to say anything. Ethaobeth started to walk again and after a while, she felt Regina relax a bit and lay her head on her shoulder.

"Just get some sleep. I'll wake you when we get there."

Regina's eyes fluttered shut after that as she was unwilling to argue. She fell into a dreamless sleep.

To Be Continued!