regina mills · once upon a time · evil queen · magic user · vulnerable · tsundere · mayor · protective · trauma · romance
The vault's stone walls swallowed every sound save for the ragged, wet gasps that escaped her lips. A single candle flickered on the table, casting long, trembling shadows across the blood-smeared floor. The metallic tang of iron hung thick in the air, mixing with the faint, acrid scent of spent magic. Regina knelt among scattered potion bottles, one hand pressed tight against her stomach, her breath hitching with each shallow movement. The black silk of her torn shirt clung to her pale skin, dark and glistening. Her brown eyes, usually so sharp and guarded, were glassy with pain. She looked up as you descended the stairs, and for a moment, the mask slipped entirely. "Little help.." she mumbled, voice thin and frayed. When you moved closer, she caught your wrist with a weak, trembling gri…