Chapter 31

31

D amon

I pull the hood over my head and force myself to walk away. To put one foot in front of the other. I force myself to leave the best thing that has ever happened to me. I know she will be safe. Merna will take good care of Kyrie.

Elsie, too, even if she doesn’t know exactly who Kyrie is. I reach the closet without incident. I passed one or two humans in the hallway, but no one paid me any real attention, just a male who mumbled “hello.” Other than that, I was mostly ignored.

I go into the closet, light one of the lanterns, and go in through the wall. Then, I make my way back to the room with the doors.

Once there, I linger. Instead of taking the door that leads to the tunnels, I take another. I start down the dark hallway, sure to keep my steps silent.

My heart races as I navigate the shadowy labyrinth of corridors and then a flight of stairs. I quicken my pace, the urgency of our mission propelling me forward. Finally, I come to a large wooden door at the end of the hallway at the top of the stairs.

Ignoring the door, I gently push aside a small slot and put my eye to the tiny opening. Before me is the great hallway. It is vast, with high ceilings made from glass.

The breath leaves me in a rush when I see it. The mirror is huge, bigger than I thought it would be. It’s ornate, with a frame of intricate carvings and etchings that glimmer gold in the soft candlelight around the room. The mirror’s surface is like liquid silver, rippling and shimmering as if a breeze is passing through it. But there is no breeze, just an eerie stillness that hangs heavy in the air.

I can feel the malevolence, can taste the rot of evil in the air. This is dark magic indeed.

I am about to close the slot to leave when I hear heels clacking on the floor. Someone is approaching fast.

It’s her.

It’s Snow.

I know it.

Part of me wants to look away, but I can’t.

Everything in me clenches when I see her. She is wearing a white gown made of fine silk. The bodice is embroidered with sparkling jewels, and the skirt is layered with fine lace.

She steps in front of the mirror, which solidifies under her scrutiny. Snow looks exactly as I recall. It’s as if time has stood still.

Her hair is as black as midnight, falling in waves down her back. Her porcelain skin seems to glow under the light, giving her an otherworldly appearance. Her lips are red like rubies.

She is the same in all ways except for one: it’s her eyes. Looking into the reflection of them freezes me in place – icy blue, devoid of warmth or humanity. This is not the Snow we used to laugh with. This is not the Snow who Kyran loved. The Snow who loved my brother back with a fierceness that was the envy of all who witnessed it.

She’s changed. It’s worse than before. Worse than I ever imagined. This is the face of pure evil. Seeing her has the blood running cold in my veins.

I can feel the power crackling under her skin. The sizzling. The prickles that are sent up and down my body from being close to her.

Snow raises her hand and says, “Show me! Show what I wish to see.” She is addressing the mirror, which begins to shift and warp, the surface contorting and twisting into unnatural shapes.

“Show me!” Even her voice has changed. It’s harsh and uncaring.

The mirror shows…riders atop big steeds and the desolate countryside. I realize that it is showing me the view from someone’s eyes. The person looks to the side, and I note that the fae on horseback are wearing plumed helms.

Then, the mirror distorts, and the landscape changes somewhat. We’re still looking through someone’s eyes. There are more riders on horseback. I catch a glimpse of sharp canines on one of the riders and know that I’m seeing the group of bloodfae.

The views change several more times. I think she’s tracking the various parties who are hunting me to see if I have been found. She’s looking through the general’s eyes. The Primus, too.

The views shift faster and faster until the scene becomes a blur. I have to look away because my stomach rolls with nausea.

“Enough!” she shouts, dropping her hand. “No!” she shouts in rage. “Nooooo!” She walks up to the mirror, which is solid once more, and beats on its surface with her bare fists.

The thuds are loud. I feel them in my very bones. It is only when the mirror cracks that Snow stops her rant. She is breathing heavily. Then she makes a noise of disgust and walks away, her heels sharp on the ice floor. The sound gets softer and softer, and the door slams. The mirror turns into shifting liquid once more, the crack disappearing.

Two things are quite clear: she is desperate to find me, and she can’t get a read on me at all. I watched her this entire time, and she didn’t have a clue I was here. It’s true; she can’t track us like she can the others.

It gives me hope.

With my heart thumping wildly, I turn and go back to the room with the doors. I make my way down the tunnel that will lead to the horses. They nicker when they see me.

I had planned on leaving right away, but I feel exhausted after the day we had. I feel even more emotionally drained after saying goodbye to Kyrie. Also, I’m not sure I should travel at night with the hywolves still on the prowl. After the snowstorm, the trail through the gorge might very well be blocked. It’ll be better to sit tight, at least for a short while. It gives me solace to know that I am still close to Kyrie. I am delaying the inevitable, but with good reason.

I look at the dark patch where the tunnel entrance is. I’m tempted to go back to check on her. I’m loath to leave.

Instead, I give the horses another scoop of grain each, which they start eating with gusto. Then I get myself some jerky, an apple, and the soda bread Grigor packed for us to take. Then, I make myself comfortable on the bedroll.

I’ll leave in the morning. It’s a long trip to the Nezcara Valley.