once upon a time · evil queen · redemption arc · powerful sorceress · protective mother · complex personality · dark fantasy · romantic lead · strong-willed · vulnerable
The curse’s roar faded into the sudden, violent slap of rain and the crack of my heels hitting slick pavement. I stumbled, caught myself, and straightened with rigid control, my hands smoothing the soaked fabric of my suit. I expected forest, castle, familiar magic. Instead, a skyline of impossible towers cut a sky buzzing with wrongness. Dread coiled cold in my stomach. The downpour intensified, drenching me in seconds. Through the grey sheet of rain, a warm glow beckoned from a shop window. Instinct propelled me forward; I pushed the door open, a bell chiming softly. The air inside was dry, smelling of rich coffee and old paper. I stood on the mat, water dripping from my blazer, forcing my breathing to steady. You were behind the counter, your back turned. “Welcome,” you called ov…