When Robin finally awoke, Henry, Richard, and David were cutting him free from his bonds. Jane was holding his head off the ground. He sputtered, coughing on a bitter liquid Lizzy just tried to trickle down the corner of his mouth. It stung his dry and cracked lips. His body ached all over. His head hurt more than ever before. Off to the side, Cat and Bast were ushering nosy students away.

Lizzy tried to give him more medicine, but Robin pushed her hand away. He struggled to sit up. The whites of his eyes were red with blood. There was an open wound on the side of his head. A giant bruise crossed his cheek. Rope burns marred his face and body. He tried to stand, but his legs were weak and his vision grew blurry. He fell and was barely caught by his friends who muttered some curses.

"Stop being an arse and take the bloody drink," Richard scowled, but Robin didn't listen. His sole focus was finding Maria.

"You damn fool," Henry cursed. He grabbed Robin's arms from behind and David held his head up. Richard then forced the drink down his mouth.

Robin struggled against his friends, but he had no strength in him and forcefully gulped the drink. When they finally let him go, he fell on all fours and tried to spit out what was left in shuddering coughs. Someone patted his back. In a few minutes, the pain began to decrease, allowing him to regain some of his senses.

"What happened?" Lizzy asked, trying to mask the fear in her voice. 'Where's Maria?"

Robin couldn't look them in the eyes. Tears well in his eyes with a sharp sting. One cleared a trail down his bloody cheek. "She took her," he rasped. "I couldn't do anything against that damned bird!" He slammed his fists on the ground. "She used me!" Robin's guttural cry sent chills through his friends. "I was nothing more than a damned puppet!"

He stood up on shaky feet. Step by step, he staggered forwards, ignoring his friends' cries for him to stop; he couldn't hear them. All he heard were Maria's screams. Then he fell once more. Robin clenched his fists. He lost her. Again. Could he do anything right? He was a dolt. An idiot. A sore excuse for a man. Maria deserved better.

'If only she'd never met me.'

His mind stilled. Then a piercing ring shot in his ears. Robin's eyes widened.
That was it! His last words as the curse hit him. He didn't wish to forget her, he cursed she'd ever met him.

The ache in his head swelled. The negative thoughts overwhelmed him with a searing pain, trying to counter his awakening and fool him into thinking this was all his fault; but Robin knew now.

It was never his fault but that of his stupid ancestors and God-forsaken monsters. He would have never wished to forget her, though at the time he regretted she ever met him; but he knew now how wrong he was. Then he heard Loveday's words; reminding him to forgive himself and understand he only did what he thought was right. He reminded himself that despite it all, Maria loved him, and he loved her.

No, he'd never wish to forget her, not now, not ever. If anything, his only wish was to get rid of all those who tried to hurt her—and by God was he going to do everything within his life to help her. Even if it meant giving up his life.

The pounding in his head swelled like he was getting crushed under the weight of a thousand moons. Robin let out a terrible scream. Seconds felt like hours as wave after wave, an onslaught of shattering agony coursed through his body with every memory that forced itself into his head. Robin felt his world falling apart. He heard voices—insults mixed with praises; words of affection mixed with violence; of hatred mixed with love. Robin screamed and fell to his knees, the pain now stretching down his neck, a shearing heat erupted from the scar on his back, as though his flesh were being ripped from his body. Robin felt like he was being flayed alive.

His friends surrounded him. They cried out and begged him to stay strong. He heard sobs and shouts for help, but he knew no one could help him.

Black and purple smoke gushed out from the scar on his back, engulfing him. It burned his skin and lungs, suffocating him. "Stay away!" Robin's raspy warning demanded his friends keep their distance.

His breathing became labored. His eyes were growing cloudy, tunneling his vision. He was losing. Was this the end for him? Robin collapsed.

Maria's blue ribbon tumbled out from his pocket and landed in front of his eyes, his ring and her pearls gleamed against the toxic smoke. Gritting his teeth, Robin gripped the ribbon. He ripped out a pearl and pushed himself on all fours. With a ragged cough, he stood up, ignoring the smoke that was beginning to singe his clothes. The pearl glowed in his hand.
With one last visceral cry, he threw the pearl to the ground and crushed it with his heels as he yelled. White light exploded from the pearl, vanishing the burning smoke and sending shockwaves around him. The light engulfed him, consuming his pain and healing his wounds.

Robin collapsed from exhaustion. Ragged coughs shook his body as his lungs tried to clear any remaining smoke. His friends rushed over to him. He remembered now, and he knew where to find Maria.

...oOo...

Maria stirred awake. She pushed against the wall and sat up. "What happened?" Her throat ached with her words. "Where am I?"

She looked around the dark room. Her eyes stopped on the huge lump a few feet away from her. She conjured a ball of light and screamed. It was Charles' lifeless body. His eyes were wide open and stared at the vacant desk in front of him. His front was stained with blood. She could see the wound along his chest.

Maria tried to break her bonds by pulling against the ropes, but it was futile. A few feet away she spotted a shard of glass from the shattered cabinet. Maria froze. She recognized that cabinet. She expanded her ball of light, "This can't be." She was in her father's office.

With adrenaline coursing through her body, she quickly wiggled over to the piece of glass. She struggled to catch a good grip and ignored the pain as it sliced her palm. She quickly cut away her bindings and looked around the room. It was surprisingly clean, though the remaining furniture looked weathered and moldy. She walked to the door, curling her toes against the cold wooden floor and cutting a wide circle around Charles' body.

She snuffed out her light. With a steadying breath, she reached for the doorknob and turned. It clicked. She slowly opened the door and peeked outside the doorway; it was empty. She tiptoed across the hallway, past the entrance hall, and into the parlor, avoiding the planks she knew would creak and alert her captors. She took in the old fireplace, the curtains that were once burgundy and green but had turned moldy and brown over the year. Then she noticed the broken furniture and the strange burn and claw marks all along the parlor.

She began to creep towards the hallway, but the sounds of a heavy scuffle came from the cellar.

BANG

Maria jumped. The house vibrated from a gunshot down below. Then she heard footsteps coming her way. She tried to climb onto the windowsill, but her bustle gown protruded too far out. Cursing under her breath, she hurried to the coat room and stuffed herself inside. The sharp smell of damp mold caused her to gag but she held her nose. Once she was settled, she waited wait a bated breath, praying they wouldn't think to look inside.

The drumming of her heartbeat was loud in her ears and matched the thumping footsteps that marched into the room. She watched through the cracks of the doorframe as a man, wearing the uniform of a military general, marched inside the parlor and headed straight to the window. Maria stifled her breath. He unsheathed a glowing red sword and slashed the curtains, leaving nothing but tattered remains. Then, he headed towards the library, still searching for her.

Maria froze as a strange sense of déjà vu overcame her. She'd seen this before. She was sure of it. Perhaps in one of her many dreams.

A gut feeling told her to head to the hallway. Maria stepped out of her hiding spot and quietly walked out of the room.

By the stairs, she saw a tall white misty figure. She knew it was studying her, but for some reason, she felt no fear. The mist flew up the stairs and down the hallway. She stealthily followed a few steps behind. Just like in her dream, she walked on the outermost edge of the stairs, avoiding the creaking steps she knew by heart.
The floor upstairs was darker, any bit of light that made it through the windows was snuffed by ages of cobwebs and grime. The paint on the walls was fading. In some areas, the walls were cracking and falling apart, revealing the brick, and rotting wood underneath the chipped paint.

Up ahead, the mist waited for her. As she expected, it crossed through the door and into her father's bedroom.

Standing in front of the door, she held her breath as she reached a trembling hand to the doorknob. She hadn't been here in years. Even while he was alive, she hardly stepped into his room, there never was a reason as it sat empty most of her days. She mustered her courage and twisted the dusty knob until the door creaked open. A puff of dust blew in her face and she had to suppress her cough with the crook of her arm.

She found her father's room in a terrible state. His bed, drawer, and desk were decaying and covered with dust and debris. Rats scurried across the floor and hid under the bed and into the walls. His favorite armchair was shredded into pieces. She looked to the wall across his bed and her heart throbbed with emotion. With her arm outstretched, she walked towards an old painting and wiped away a streak of dust. Her eyes filled with tears as she came face-to-face with an old portrait of her and her father. It was commissioned on the day of his promotion. He stood tall and strong, cutting a striking figure in his military uniform. Though he wore a serious expression, she could make out the glint of joy and pride in his eyes. Down by his feet, she stood in front of him, a mere eight years old and wearing her favorite childhood dress, a lilac calico one-piece suit with white trim. His hands rested on her shoulders.

Then a sudden glow from the window caught her attention. It was the mist.

Maria carefully approached it. When it didn't move away, she reached out her hand. As her fingertips met the mist, a figure began to materialize. Maria covered her mouth to stifle her gasp. It was her father.
He was in his military uniform; his badges still adorned his chest. A gaping bullet hole lay directly over his heart.

He smiled with sad eyes. "My dear girl, it's been too long."

Maria felt a lump in her throat. She wiped away her eyes. "How—how can this be?" Her voice came out as a hoarse whisper.

"I'm sorry my girl. You deserved so much better." He reached out his hand. Maria tried to take hold, but her hand fell through. A sob escaped her throat. "I thought I was protecting you, but I was wrong. I am sorry for abandoning you."

"What-what do you mean? Protect me from what?"

"I don't have time to explain, but you shouldn't be here. You need to run." His form began to fade.

"No!" Maria cried. "Please don't go."

"Run my girl, and please believe me when I say that I've always loved you."

Behind her, the door was slammed open and the man from downstairs stormed in. Before she could look at him, her world faded to black once again.

...oOo...

Cat stuck her head out the carriage window and called out, "Where are we going?"

"It's Maria's old house! I went there with Dulac ages ago! Back when we first tried to get the pearls." Robin snapped the reins of the horses to go faster.

"To think the answer was right under our noses," Henry groaned. He and David sat with Robin up in the driver's seat.

Richard, Bast, and the girls were inside the carriage. Cat was clutching her sword. Lizzy held a sack of potions against her chest. Jane clutched an iron crowbar. They were all squished together with some hastily packed luggage consisting of only the absolute necessities. They planned to leave for Moonacre as soon as they rescued Maria. As they crossed Putney Bridge, five figures walked in front of their path. The carriage came to a sudden stop, threatening to topple its passengers.

"Whose there!" Robin demanded.

A large burly man raised his lantern, it was Captain Riz. He was with James, Minerva, Maybelle, and William.

Robin tossed the reigns aside as he, Henry, and David leapt out of the carriage and ran towards Will with their fists raised high. Will covered his bruised face, but before they could make an impact, a gust of wind knocked them aside.

"Stop it!" Minerva scolded. "It wasn't him."

"He's a traitor! He's behind all this," Robin spat.

"We saw him in the ballroom!" Henry added. "He was their leader!"

"No!" Will shouted. "It wasn't me! I promise! Someone's in my head! I can't stop them!"

"Then how can we trust you?" David hissed.

"The same way you trust Robin," Minerva said with a raised brow.

David scowled.

"What he says is true. He was possessed."

"Who are you?" Henry asked.

"Will!" Bast ran past them to check on his friend. By now the rest of the group had joined them.

"Mind introducing us?" Captain Riz beckoned Robin who quickly introduced everyone. They learned Minerva had a vision of Maria being in grave danger. She and Regina immediately headed over to Moonacre, hailing a ride on Captain Riz's ship. Regina stayed behind to help those in Moonacre prepare, while Minerva and Captain Riz continued their mission to bring them back home.

"We don't have much time," Minerva said looking out into the sky. "I sense the darkness through the air. We need to find her."

They hailed a passing hansom for the new arrivals and sped towards Maria's old home. As they drew closer, they began to feel a heaviness in the air, but when they arrived, they were confused.

The house was silent. Dark. As abandoned as the day Robin and his friends first found it.

"This doesn't make any sense," Robin said. "Where else could they be."

Minerva came from behind and patted his shoulder, "Don't be so hard on yourself. You're not wrong."

She strummed her fingers through the air, creating ripples barely visible to the eye, as though a thin veil covered the region. "We're here. I'll cross us through. Remember the plan. We get Maria, and we retreat. Do not engage."

...oOo...

When Maria awoke once more, she was back in her father's study tied to an old chair. Behind the desk in front of her sat her captor. He was an older man, most likely in his late 50s judging by the grey in his hair and thick mustache. He smelled of gunpowder, sulfur, and strong cologne. His face struck a chord of familiarity, but she couldn't recall who he was. Too loud was the painful throbbing in her head for her mind to conjure any organized thoughts.

"Miss Maria Merryweather. There was a time I believed I'd never have the privilege of seeing you again."

"Who are you?" Maria demanded.

"You don't remember me? Well, it has been a long time, hasn't it? I believe you're about to be 18 years old soon. Yes, I'd say it's been some time since we last came face to face."

Maria struggled against her bindings, but the man laughed, "Your struggle is futile."

"Who are you? What do you want?"

"Perhaps with some light, you'll recognize me." He flicked his hand once more and the lights turned on. Maria gasped. It was his father's general.

"General Harrison?" Once she uttered those words, the pieces all fell into place. The Harrison's shipwreck. Althea's and Charles' escape from Moonacre. The Harrison employees working as guards. She was stunned.

"The postcards and dress-- they were from you! Did William know about this? Is that why he tried to kidnap me?"

General Harrison scoffed. He took out a cigar and brought it to his mouth. A small flame lit up from the tip of his finger.

"What are you?"

He smiled. "You see my dear, you're not the only one with magic, and like you, I too had to sacrifice much to obtain it. However, unlike you, I chose to sacrifice others instead of my own life."

"You devil!"

"Demon more like it," he said all too smugly. "You're already on thin ice, you should watch your mouth." He puffed a ring of smoke into her face and reached into his pockets. "Now if you promise to behave, I'll release you and answer all your questions."

"Fine."

He looked off to the corner and flicked his hand. "Unbind her," he commanded.

Althea stepped out from the shadows. Her eyes were filled with anger and reproach, but she did as he said. Then she stepped back into the corner of the room. Maria looked on in disbelief.

"You see, I was originally going to kill you as soon as you arrived, but then I ran into some trouble." He pulled out her string of pearls. Maria jumped for them, but she struck an invisible barrier.

"Althea!" He boomed. The ropes snapped right back at her and slammed her against the chair.

"If we can't have a civilized conversation then there's no point in talking at all."

Maria glared but nodded her head. The ropes came loose.

"As I was saying, I ran into some trouble with these pearls. You see, they're not working as I was promised they would."

"What do you mean?"

"Your father once told me that any holder of the pearls would obtain their wish—"

"—Why would my father tell you such a thing?"

General Harrison rolled his eyes at the interruption. "He had no choice, he'd failed me more than once."

"I don't understand—"

"—and I don't think it's important."

"Well, I do and a civilized conversation goes both ways."

General Harrison narrowed his eyes, "Very well. I think we have some time to spare."

He settled back down and looked off into the distance with another whiff of his cigar. Finally, he said, "I've been in the military for a very long time. I came to loathe how weak and pathetic our bodies were. Too many times I came close to death and grew to despise the powerlessness against the inevitable." His knuckles turned white from gripping the arms of his chair. He took in another puff and forced a steadying breath, "Thankfully, I found a way. At the crossroads between life and death, I made a deal. Things were going pretty well until one day, I felt my powers fading, and death was once again on my trail. I learned that to keep myself strong, I just had to take the lives of others.
"I killed hundreds. I became the best soldier—flew up the ranks. As I grew in power, so did those that killed for me—but that too had its limits. It was men like your father. Weak men who couldn't kill and spent all their money gambling and drinking to ease their guilt. Eventually, I had to keep a ledger of those who owed me money—if you only knew how much your father owed me. Selling all your possessions still left me with a deficit! But I was merciful, I kept extending his payments, then I caught him sparing a little girl. That was the last straw. Your father had to be punished. An eye for an eye.
"During his holiday, while you and your father were taking a stroll through the park, I decided to join along. Your father wasn't too pleased," he added with a sneer. "I was about to slit your throat but the fool dropped to his knees: 'Spare her! Spare her he cried'," General Harrison laughed.

Maria felt sick to her stomach.

"Your