Frozen in place, unable to lift a finger, Morthisal stared at the woman casually sitting on the edge of his bed, thumbing through a photo album. A number of books were scattered over the bedspread, and a device he didn't recognize. It was a small round black box. She followed his eyes, reached out, touched the device, and smirked at Morthisal.

Morthisal tried to gather his strength, but he had used most of his reserves during the grueling day of filming while keeping at least three directors in his clutches. Morthisal stared at Penny—no, Thalindra—and his mind reeled at this impossible development. His limbs refused to move, held fast by her power. The photograph album lay open on her lap, displaying images of a life he had never lived.

"It cannot be."

"Oh, but it is, my love. Former love. How does one love the person they adored who, as they say in this world, stabbed them in the back? Kicked them to the curb? Ghosted across worlds? I have learned so many interesting turns of phrases since I arrived here."

"Release me at once," Morthisal growled. "I am your dark lord and master."

Thalindra's lips curved into a cold smile. "Were. You were my dark lord. That ended when you abandoned me to face those so-called heroes on Mythralon. You promised me..."

"I did not abandon—"

"You didn't even try before they captured me." Thalindra cut him off. "I was sentenced to death for serving you. The executioner's blade waited while I rotted in their dungeons. Did you know the pale king has a prison that can mute magic? They were about to tear out my tongue. Then, the most extraordinary thing happened: Morty. You were there. It was as if you were calling me from a great distance, but I could sense you near me with another. She whose body I now inhabit.

"This happened twice. The second time was different. Her will was different. More exposed. It was like she existed in this world, ours, and another that was filled with intense color. I seized control while I had the chance. By the time I awoke in her shop, I was alone, with no clue as to how and why I was there. This world, Morthy. This world is too loud. And busy."

"It can be. Now let us talk about—"

"I had to learn many things on my own. I sought help, at first, but was rebuffed. They called it a mental episode."

"I had a similar experience," Morthisal said softly, trying to play along. His throat tightened. He attempted to flex his fingers, but they remained frozen. "My dear Thalindra, I always planned to bring you here. I simply needed time to understand this realm and find a way to reconnect with you."

"Lies. You left me and all of your forces back on our world."

"I assure you—"

"Stop, darling. Just stop. I'm not even mad. Isn't that one of the sayings of this world? What one can learn from these television panels is astonishing. But enough of that." Thalindra tossed the photo album aside and stood. She stretched her hands above her head and yawned before approaching Morthisal. He tried again for his powers and found a small amount. But what could he do with it? His powers here seemed to be limited to influencing and controlling others. There wasn't enough for him to lash a thread around the former sorceress.

"It is interesting how our powers differ."

"Is it? I only know what I have seen of you." She leaned over and touched the small black plastic cylinder on the bed.

"What is that?"

Thalindra picked it up and waggled it toward Morthisal. "I found this in Penny's store. It is a device capable of recording images. I placed it in your apartment. Wait. There is more to it than that."

Morthisal nodded at her words, horrified, but also as cover as he continued to pull in more reserves.

"I followed you. Several times, you came to Penny's store and peered inside. I knew it was you because you look just like that cursed tavern owner."

"You said that before, dear Thalindra. I do not understand."

"You got away during the final assault. Well, not you. It was the soul from the very body you wear. He escaped with the help of one of your minions. Escaped with the Heart of Shadows. He changed his name and appearance, relocated to a tiny village, and bought a tavern. What does he call himself? Varix, or something like that. I tried to retrieve that cursed necklace and begin a new rise to power. But that was a world away, and here we are."

"Yes. Here we are."

Mothisal stared at Thalindra.

Thalindra stared at Morthisal.

"As I was saying. I placed this device in your apartment. That is how I learned about the electricity trick, which I combined with a gimmick from the former owner of this body."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"You spied on me?" Morthisal exclaimed.

"Were you aware you sometimes leave your door unlocked?"

Morthisal's head whipped toward the entryway.

"And you seem to be blissfully unaware of simple changes around you. I grew so weary of your disregard that I made it a point to move things around in your apartment. You have grown weak, Morthisal. Very, very weak."

"Free me, and I shall show you how weak I have become."

The feeling of icy chains holding him in place evaporated. Morthisal had been straining against them, and promptly fell flat on his face. Penny's laughter was just another dagger in his back.

Morthisal pushed himself up from the floor, his face burning with humiliation.

"You must understand, I had no choice," he said, keeping his voice steady.

"No choice? You abandoned everyone who served you faithfully," Thalindra said through Penny's lips. "Left your armies behind. You promised to bring me with you. Name one person who had been more loyal to you than I?"

Morthisal gathered his power, trying to wrap a thread of control around her mind, but it slid off like water on a slick surface. With so little power available, it was like trying to throw a tiny thread against a wall of rushing water. He attempted again, pushing harder, but his reserves were simply gone.

"The heroes were breaking through. The ritual was our only chance," Morthisal said.

"Our chance? Or your chance to flee?" Thalindra asked.

Morthisal's eyes darted to his dresser, where a heavy crystal bottle of cologne sat. "Please, just hear me out. Let me explain everything."

As Thalindra opened her mouth to respond, Morthisal snatched up the bottle and hurled it at her face. She threw her hands up with a startled cry. The meaty smack as the improvised missile made contact almost made Morthisal smile.

No time for that.

No chance to gloat.

He had seconds at best.

Morthisal bolted for the living room and dove for the electrical outlet where his knives still protruded. He grabbed them, gritting his teeth as electricity coursed through him. He held on, muscles spasming, until the breaker blew and darkness fell over half the apartment.

"You dare attack me?" Thalindra shouted from the bedroom doorway. She flung her arms out and ice-cold chains of power whipped toward him.

Morthisal had no way to avoid the attack. They fell around him and kept him chained in place.

He ripped through the veil between worlds. Dark tendrils of his own power shot out and twisted around Thalindra even as her chains bound him.

Power bubbled up even as the effects of the shock still rode his body, made him grunt and also made him want to cry out in pain.

He would not give her the satisfaction.

Another thread joined the first few. Then, one more.

Thalindra strained. He strained. They stared at each other as their powers stood locked in their magical struggle, each unable to fully overcome the other's power. Sweat beaded on Morthisal's brow as he poured everything he had into maintaining his grip on her.

Thalindra's eyes tightened in concentration, and her body shook. His own felt as though it would fail at any moment. He cursed her, and she cursed him. Moments passed as they fought each other for dominance. Veins pulsed across her forehead; his heart hammered in his ears.

Thalindra spoke first through gritted teeth. "On three?"

Morthisal nodded.

She counted down, and the icy chains fell away. He likewise withdrew his threads and reached for the wall, placing his palm against it to steady himself. They stared at each other for another moment.

Morthisal straightened, eyes locked with Thalindra's. The room seemed to shrink around them. He took a deliberate step forward. She mirrored his movement, closing the gap between them.

"You never were one to back down," she said.

He raised an eyebrow. "Neither were you."

Their gazes were locked on each other. Morthisal reached out, fingers grazing a loose strand of her hair. The familiar feel stirred something deep within him. This was not the dark elf sorceress's body, but it was still her.

Thalindra's hand moved to his chest. "All this time, and here we are."

"Fate has a cruel sense of humor."

She scoffed softly. "Or a twisted sense of justice."

He slid his hand to her shoulder and gripped the fabric of her dress. He pulled the sleeve down with a swift tug to expose her skin. Her eyes flashed, but she didn’t resist.

She reached for his shirt, fingers deftly untucking it. "Are we really doing this?"

"It would appear so."

She pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it aside. She sighed deeply before saying, "Some things never change."

Morthisal placed a hand on her waist. "Indeed." He pushed her against the wall, their faces inches apart.

Thalindra leaned in, her breath warm against his skin. "You always were stubborn."

He smirked. "You always found that endearing."

"Wait. I have to do something first."

Morthisal paused.

Her hand came up with startling speed and slapped him hard enough to make his head ring, the sharp crack echoing off the walls.

"Ow, woman!" he growled, working his jaw.

"That's for throwing the bottle at me."

Morthisal shoved her against the wall with calculated force. His hand darted behind her back to grip her hair, fingers tangling in the silken strands before pulling her back with practiced authority. She went willingly, her body arching into the motion as if remembering similar encounters from their shared past.

Their lips met, the kiss intense and unrestrained. Her hands explored his back, nails digging in slightly. He held her close and the world outside faded away.

They parted briefly. She looked at him with a challenge in her eyes. "Is that all you’ve got?"

He responded by capturing her lips again, deeper this time. She matched his passion, pulling him closer.

Without breaking their passionate contact, they moved toward the bedroom, their steps uncoordinated. His hands roamed possessively across her body while her nimble fingers worked at the buttons of his shirt. Clothing fell away piece by piece until they tumbled onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and heated breaths.