Blending In

It's. Finally. Here. Took a long while, but this chapter came out. Thing wouldn't go out without a fight, but there was scenes I was wanting to write, and I made it work. Even if it all seems a little patchwork.

While the real show hasn't been put on just yet (chapter after this is going to be even bigger of a doozy), this one isn't pulling any punches. As chapter 50, of course it's going to be dramatic. But hey, I have some playlists ready at the end.

There will be warnings for the next chapter later in this fic for chapter 51 too. Seriously, read them.

Now, without further ado, let's get on with this chapter.

When the book basically swallowed everyone in the hall inside, Ghoulia wasn't sure where they would end up. Considering magic could be chaotic at times, especially when it comes to older magic, she hadn't the faintest clue.

She supposed that waking up in a lone tower that seemed to be covered in vines was as good as place as any.

"Oh, thank Ra you finally woke up." The zombie blinked as she saw Cleo moving around, putting a handout to bring her up. "I was about to say, I didn't want to be the only one awake here."

"Sorry but getting transported without my permission will cause me to get knocked out if I'm not careful." The zombie rolled her shoulders, feeling stiff. She was starting to understand Double D' teleportation sickness now. "What do you mean by being the only one awake?"

"Because the only other guest we have in here with us doesn't appear to be stirring all that much," Cleo pointed to something behind Ghoulia, grimacing at whatever it was. "At least I know where we might be, if that helps."

Ghoulia turned to see an unconscious woman lying on a perfectly preserved bed. While the tower they were in seemed heavily damaged, aged by years of misuse, the woman didn't appear to be concerned, her chest rising and falling imperceptibly. Morbidly, the zombie noted that she looked eerily like Briar.

"We're in Briar's story? That shouldn't be possible." Ghoulia tapped her chin in thought, making a note to stay away from any sharp objects. Who knows if those were cursed to put them to sleep too? "Briar's mother already committed to her story. Is this some form of projection?"

"It's as good an explanation as anything. As long as we aren't on the receiving end of it, it doesn't matter to me." Cleo looked out the window, frowning. "I think we're nearing the climax of the story, and I haven't found a way out of the tower. There's a dragon flying around, and it doesn't look friendly."

"I'm sure there's a way we can get out of this unscathed. We just have to think about this logically." Ghoulia could hear wings loudly beating outside, sending her on edge. She forced her voice down into a whisper just in case it could hear them. "Have you found anything while we were stuck here?"

"I found this." Cleo handed off a sheet of paper to her friend, looking at it with suspicion. Upon closer inspection it appeared to be a torn page from a book. "It was written in some kind of scrawl, but it looks like some form of incantation. I'm starting to think this is what Giles wanted us to find."

A boom could be heard as something landed on the tower, causing them to shrink back. It sounded closer this time, and they had a feeling it wasn't going to be long before the fabled Maleficent decided to make a visit.

"How much time do you think we have before she touches down?" Ghoulia could see a clear exit out of the tower, though the amount of vines would be difficult to parse through. Looks like they were going to have to make it through silently if they had any hope of escape. "Any sign of a prince anywhere either?"