15. Cassie

15

CASSIE

I was back mingling among the guests, a flute of champagne forgotten in my hand when I noticed the mirrors. They were small, ornate things, scattered throughout the reception area, catching flickers of laughter and light. At first glance, they seemed like nothing more than cleverly placed decor to add to the enchantment of Roma and Shay's special day.

"Are you enjoying the evening?" an elf asked, pride in his movement as he gestured toward one of the mirrors.

"Are those magic?" I asked, a frown creasing my forehead.

"Indeed," he said with a flourish. "Our little contribution." He tapped the mirror and it sprung to life, revealing not just our reflections but images that fluttered past too quickly to grasp. Confused, I leaned closer.

"Wait, what are those?" I demanded, as fragmented scenes danced across the surface – a young boy stealing an apple, a couple locked in an embrace, a woman weeping silently in a dark room.

"Memories, truths, emotions," he explained. "The mirrors capture the essence of everyone they reflect."

I felt a cold pit form in my stomach as I watched the elf pluck a smaller mirror from the air, its surface alive with the recorded secrets of unsuspecting guests. Laughter bubbled around us as the miniature mirrors began circulating, each revelation a source of amusement for the elegant crowd.

"Stop this," I hissed, anger rising within me. "This is invasive. This is awful!"

"How?" The elf looked genuinely puzzled. "But look at this love!" He pointed to a mirror showcasing two guests.

"Enough!" I snapped, snatching a mirror from a passing tray. My own reflection stared back at me before shifting to reveal moments of vulnerability I'd buried deep – and there it was, a still image of me gazing at Aiden with raw desire painted across my face.

"Give me that!" I snapped, trying to snatch the mirror away, but it slipped through my fingers and shattered on the floor, the fragments winking out one by a time.

"Where is Aiden's?" I demanded, trembling with a mix of fear and rage.

"Lost in the festivities, perhaps," the elf replied, indifferent to my distress.

I turned away, struggling to compose myself. If these creatures, related to the Formless Ones, could pull off something like this, what could our declared enemies do? My heart raced with unease. Elves had stripped us bare without a second thought. What else were their cousins capable of?

"Enjoy the rest of the evening," the elf called after me, oblivious to the turmoil churning inside me. But enjoyment was the farthest thing from my mind now.

I strode to where Aiden waited, at the edge of the crowd.

"Tell me you didn't know about this," I said through gritted teeth, my hands balled into fists at my sides.

Aiden's jaw clenched, a clear sign of frustration. "Of course, I didn't," he shot back, the blue intensity of his eyes burning. "Cassie, I'm not perfect. They came up with what they thought would be a pleasant surprise."

"Then why are they here? Why risk it?" I spoke hard and quietly, not wanting to disrupt the reception.

"Because we are willing to defend this world too!" Aiden retorted, his tone sharp. "I wish... just once, you'd stop judging us by the actions of other people."

"Elves exposed everyone's secrets for fun," I snapped, unable to contain the storm of my fears.

"Later, Cassie," he said.

Turning on his heel, Aiden strode briskly away from the reception. He whistled, and Cu came running. A moment later Aiden was mounted.

"Where are you going?" I called after him, my anger turning to desperation.

"Taking some air. I'll be back if you need aid with the cleanup. If you'll allow an elf to help you." Cu launched himself into the air.

"Of course. Leave the discussion," I muttered to no one, watching his figure vanish into the sky. Alone now, hurt settled heavily on my shoulders.

As the last of the guests trickled out into the evening, I found myself staring at a small mirror left abandoned on a table. It no longer showed images of the past but my own reflection—tired eyes and frown lines etched deep into my face. My panicked temper had faded, leaving behind a hollow feeling of regret.

"Hey," Roma's presence interrupted my self-reflection. She's changed into normal clothing and was wiping down another table, her movements efficient. "You did good today, Cass. Despite... everything."

"Did I?" I half-scoffed, placing the mirror face down. "I lost it at Aiden. For what? Some elf misstep, one of hundreds.?"

She stopped her work and sat beside me. She gave me a quick hug. "It was more than a misstep for you, wasn't it?"

I shrugged, unable to meet her gaze. "Maybe. I shouldn't have gotten so worked up."

Roma placed her hand on mine. "Can I say something, and you promise not to bite my head off?"

"Depends on what it is," I replied, though my attempt at levity fell flat. "It's your wedding day, so I'll try hard not to."

"You've went through hell with Franklin," she began, her tone gentle yet firm. "Manipulated, controlled... it'd leave anyone with scars. Maybe seeing those mirrors, feeling exposed—it stirred up your need to push back, to assert control?"

I let out a slow breath, her words settling in. "You think I'm still reacting to him, even now?"

"Maybe not directly to him," she clarified, squeezing my hand. "But to what he represents. The fear of being vulnerable, of someone else pulling the strings. Of being in prison with your mind so messed with you don't even know you're in prison."

I leaned back, the breeze carrying whispers of conversations from departing guests. Roma was right. I had built walls so high I couldn't even see when someone was genuinely trying to help, or just be close. Like Aiden.

"Thanks," I murmured, a genuine smile touching the corners of my mouth. "For putting up with me."

"Always," she said, standing up and resuming her work. "Now, let's finish this cleanup so we can get some rest. We both need it."

"Right behind you," I said, finding new resolve to make amends. With Roma by my side, I felt a little less alone against the chaos of my own making.

The twilight deepened, casting a violet hue over the reception grounds. I weaved through tables, helping the servers collecting discarded plates, my thoughts a tangled mess.

Aiden wasn't Franklin; he didn't have that worm's knack for manipulation. But as I passed a few elves lingering nearby, their laughter tinkling like wind chimes, I felt it—their magic. It oozed charisma, making it hard to stay mad or even remember why I should be.

"Hey, Cassie," called Matilda, and I turned to see her approaching. "You're doing great, you know."

"Thanks," I muttered, trying not to get sucked in by the warmth in her words. It was just their magic at work, not real camaraderie.

"Come on, smile! It's a party after all!" He grinned, and for a second, I almost forgot myself and smiled back. But then I remembered Aiden, how I'd lashed out at him, and my face hardened.

"Stop it," I said curtly, moving away.

I was stacking glasses onto a tray when the alarm blared—a sound so alien and jarring against the evening's merriment. My heart leaped into my throat. Everyone remaining froze for a moment.

"What the—" I started, but the rest of my question was drowned out by the rising clamor.

"Attack!" The shout came from the shoreline, where Rey and Cathy were standing. Two of the MIIB agents were there as well.

"Attack?" Panic flared up in me as a few human guests scrambled to their feet, confusion painting their faces.

Monster guests were producing weapons left and right, which didn't help with the human guests' panic.

"Everyone, please remain calm!" I tried to project authority I didn't feel, clambering onto a nearby chair. "We'll handle this."

But inside, I was reeling. Attack? Now? With everyone still here?

"Find shelter!" someone else cried, and the crowd surged toward the portal like a startled flock of birds. Which wasn't bad, it was probably safer there right now.

"Roma!" I shouted, searching for her in the chaos. We needed to organize, protect the guests, figure out?—

"Here!" she yelled back, already directing some guests toward the portal.

"Listen to Roma!" I commanded anyone who would listen, and then I was off, running towards the alarm, towards whatever threat loomed over us.

This was no time for personal turmoil. This was a time for action. And yet, even as I sprinted forward, my mind flickered unwillingly to Aiden—wherever he was—and I cursed myself for still caring.

I darted between the tables overturned in the panic, my ears ringing with the alarm's echo. Above me, the sky darkened, a tangible omen of the Council's disapproval. "They're mad we've allied with the alchemists," Bran hissed as he joined me, his strides urgent and long. ‘And you should get to safety inside the building. You're prime hostage material."

"Alchemists?" My tone was sharp with disbelief. "But why?—"

"Because of us." The words came from Arete, her wings casting grand shadows on the ground as she landed gracefully among the disorder, her amber eyes fierce. "The Council fears our presence here."

"Monsters are not Formless Ones!" I spat out the words. "Why can't they see that there are other options?"

"Perception is reality to them," Martellus rumbled, appearing beside Arete with Shay in tow. "And our alliance has tipped their scales."

"Roma," I called again, needing her clarity in this tumult of fear and frustration. She ran toward us, having ushered the last of the guests through the portal to safety.

"Monsters, alchemists, elves," Roma counted off on her fingers, her expression calm and steady. "A cocktail for threat to the Council. We need to show them we're powerful enough not to mess with."

"Convince a Council that's set on seeing us as destroyers?" Arete scoffed, her talons digging into the earth. "Futile."

"Then we prepare for battle," Martellus declared, his tone like a sword being drawn. "It's their move now."