The hooded figure inspected the mystical items. The clerk of the magic shop, John, suspiciously watched the figure as he wrapped a gift for one of his costumers. The figure stopped in front of a large full-length mirror and tracing a finger down the mirror’s golden frame. It threw its hood back. It was a woman with beautiful, black, shoulder-length hair, black eyes and full red lips. She turned to John and pointed at the mirror.
“How much?” She asked.
“AHD yes,” John replied, “The lovely full length mirror crafted by an extinct unknown demon. About a thousand dollars.” He dropped his voice to a whisper, “Or, I can arrange the price to drop about 50% if you go out with me, say Saturday about 6:00?”
The woman gave him a skeptical look, “In your dreams, kid.”
She pulled out her wallet and paid the man. She tucked the mirror securely under her arm and headed for her car.
Adeline rushed to the door. She greeted her sister with a hug and noticed the large package she held.
“Oooh! What is it?”
Her sister smiled, “A mirror.”
Adeline tried to hide the disappointment on her face, “Oh. Really? That’s um…nice… Don’t we have enough mirrors?” She turned around, mirrors were hung on nearly every wall, full-length mirrors stood along the walls and there was an entire wall made of mirrors.
Her sister stroked her chin thoughtfully, “You have a point.”
Adeline smiled, “Oh well, you can put the mirror in that empty space over there…” She pointed in one general direction. Her sister, Julia, grinned, “I’ll stop buying mirrors little one.”
Adeline shrugged, “Well I suppose you sort of got that from mom…”
Julia’s smile faded and she slowly looked away, “Yeah, mom did buy a lot of mirrors didn’t she?”
“Um…I mean, I didn’t know her that well, but you know I’m sure…”
Julia gave her a pained smile, “It’s okay Adeline, and you deserve to know about her and your dad too.”
Adeline shrugged, “You don’t have to talk about them. I just want to know how they died.”
Julia sighed and sat in a large couch, “Our mom died from giving birth to you Adeline. I had already graduated from college then, so I spent most of my time in the hospital praying that our mom would live, but knowing how hard it is for our kind to give birth in a human hospital, I knew the chances were slim. I still remember; she held you in her arms for an hour before she died, knowing that she wouldn’t survive.”
Adeline was near tears as she stared at the ground, “Julia, do you blame me for our mother dying?”
Julia smiled gently, “Never crossed my mind, before our mother died, she didn’t say anything to me, but the way she held you and she gave me that sad look. I just knew I had to protect you no matter what.”
Adeline’s voice cracked, “But Dad died because of me.”
Julia shook her head as she took the crying child in her arms, “Dad died protecting you Adeline. Two people died giving you life, which is why you appreciate what they have given you. Adeline, I promise you, you’ll always be safe. I’m hungry, want some food?”
Adeline looked up at Julia and smiled, Julia, her only blood relative, always could make her smile. Julia slid her arm around Adeline’s shoulders, “I did bring you something.” She handed Adeline a diamond locket.
Adeline gasped, “It’s so pretty! Where did you get it?”
“Remember my first boyfriend?”
“The one that disappeared four years ago?”
Julia nodded, “He gave it to me. It’s all I have left of him.”
Adeline woke up early the next morning and rubbed her eyes. She slipped out of bed and went to examine the mirror Julia had brought home the other day. She touched the frame; she noticed a small golden lion that stuck out oddly. She tried to force it back into the mirror, surprised to see that it slid in without too much difficulty. The mirror emitted a bright light and Adeline had to look away. When she looked back, the mirror had changed. The glass was no longer there; instead there was wavy milky white substance. Adeline was scared and yet she wanted to touch it. She stretched her hand towards the substance. It felt warm and soft. She jerked her hand out, not sure of what it was. And yet she wanted to walk through it. Adeline put her right foot through the substance and slowly worked the rest of her body through it. Before she had gotten her head in Julia came running down the stairs, “Adeline, no!” But it was too late; Adeline had put the rest of her body in and disappeared from this plane or realm for that matter.
Julia swore at herself. I should have told her, she thought. She walked to the wall made of mirrors and chose a particularly boring one. She moved it; behind there was a small compartment she had been hiding from Adeline. She slid the sword into the scabbard and swung the scabbard strap over her neck.
Adeline woke up early the next morning and rubber her eyes. She slipped out of bed and went to examine the mirror Julia had brought home the other day. She touched the golden frame and noticed a gold lion that stuck out oddly. She tried to force it back into the mirror, surprised to see that it slid in without too much difficulty. The mirror emitted a bright light and Adeline had to look away. When she looked back, the mirror had changed. Instead of glass reflecting Adeline's reflection, there was a wavy, milky white substance like a void. Adeline was scared, and yet she wanted to touch it. She stretched her hand towards the substance. It felt warm and soft. She jerked her hand out, not sure of what it was and yet, she wanted to walk through it. Adeline put her right foot through the substance and slowly worked the rest of her body through it. Before she had gotten her head in, Julia came running down the stairs, "Adeline, no!" But it was too late; Adeline had put her head in and disappeared from this realm.
Julia swore at herself. I should have told her, she thought. She walked to the wall made of cirrus and chose a particularly boring one. She moved it; behind there was a small compartment she had been hiding from Adeline. She grabbed a sword and a scabbard from the compartment, slid the sword into the scabbard and swung it over her neck. She put on high-heeled boots, leather gloves, and a belt. She was still in her black silk pajamas, but she was in a hurry. She attached a dagger to her belt and carefully put another dagger in her boot. She swung a bag of arrows on her back and grabbed a bow. Julia turned around and headed towards the mirror. The milky white substance was supposed to make those who stood in front of it trust it completely, making their victim fall in love with it, but what Julia felt was hate. Julia stepped through the void; a sudden shock of cold struck her as the earth realm disappeared behind her.
She fell down on the other side. A man helped her up; he had icy blue eyes and black hair. Julia thanked the man and turned around trying to get a better look at the terrain.
“How did you get here?”
She stared at him in disbelief, “Huh?”
“My name is Adrian, I’ve been stuck in Khayyim for about four years.”
“Stuck?”
Adrian nodded, “Those of us who stay in Khayyim for more than 24 hours the first time they enter are forced to stay here until the mirror is broken and that’s not all, once the mirror has been smashed they must survive for a limited time period before they are once set free.”
“How long?”
Adrian shrugged. Julia frowned, “How do you leave?”
”You walk through any mirror.”
”Then why didn’t you leave the first day?”
“Because the first day is like a dream. Everything that you wish comes true.”
“I’m looking for my little sister, have you seen her? She has green eyes, brown hair, eighteen?”
Adrian shook his head, “The mirror must have known you were danger, because you didn’t land in a dream.” He nodded towards Julia’s weapons.
Julia grabbed Adrian, “Lead me to Dream land.”
Adrian shook his head; “It’s too dangerous for people who aren’t in dreams like you and me.”
“I need Adeline. She’s all I have left.”
Adrian led Julia to a great city. After about five hours they arrived. Julia knew Adeline’s scent and she followed it into the city. She opened the door of an inn and headed up the stairs towards a suite. Adrian followed quietly behind her, a hooded cloak draped over him. Julia slowly opened the door, she saw Adeline on a bed talking to what seemed to be Antonio Bandares. Julia gaped. Antonio Bandares? She thought, Jeez, I swear she could do so much better. Julia swung open the door. Adeline looked up. “Julia!” Julia grabbed Adeline and rushed to the bathroom, I search of a mirror. Adeline struggled against her, “Julia what are you doing?”
”Don’t argue with me!” Julia snapped, “Just follow.”
Antonio shouted, “Guards!” and grabbed Julia, shoving her into a wall. Adrian punched Antonio in the face and helped Julia up. Julia drew her sword, but the Inn’s guards, their swords drawn and ready to kill, immediately surrounded her and Adrian. Julia didn’t want Adrian to die, so she put down her sword.
Julia and Adrian were soon put into a dungeon; Julia’s weapons were taken. They waited for hours; Julia watched the sun set with tears in her eyes. She had to get out somehow. She bashed against the gate over and over. Adrian sulked in the corner and watched Julia attempts at getting out.
Adrian walked up to the bars and asked a guard for a drink. The guard left and soon came back with a goblet of water in his hand. He came towards Adrian and handed him the goblet. Adrian poured it onto the ground.
“What are you doing, boy?” The guard snarled.
“It’s poisoned.”
The guard smirked, “Now there’s a smart lad.”
By midnight the guard had left and Julia had given up. Adrian made sure no one was in sight before he pulled out a key. Julia blinked, “You had a key all along?”
Adrian shook his head; “I stole it when the guard gave me the poisoned water.”
Adrian unlocked the gate. He and Julia snuck up the stairs back towards the Inn. Julia slowly creaked open the door. An image of Julia slept soundly next to Adeline. She growled softly, the mirror stole her image. Suddenly Antonio Bandares came out of nowhere and flung Julia across the room. Julia groaned. Antonio pulled out a dagger and tried to stab Julia. Adrian grabbed Antonio and slammed him into the floor. Adrian helped Julia up. She rushed towards Adeline and woke her. Adeline slowly opened her eyes, they were blank, and no emotion shined in them as they usually would. The image of Adeline kicked Julia in her stomach.
Julia’s soul was pierced with anger, she could feel it shoot up her spine and her eyes glowed red. Long claws sprouted from her fingers. She grabbed Antonio by his throat and squeezed, her claws digging into his neck. He tried to squirm out of her grip as blood started flow down Gullies arm. He struggling body soon went limp and Julia dropped the corpse, blood dripping from her long claws. Julia’s copy woke up and charged at Julia. Julia grabbed the dagger Antonio dropped and disappeared into the shadows. She reappeared and stabbed her clone in the back, killing her instantly. Julia looked at Adrian, worried for he might think her a monster. Adrian smiled gently at her, his eyes glowed red, and he had claws sprouting from his fingers. Julia blinked and smiled. Adrian was one of her kind. He had killed the clone of Adeline, which Julia could never have done. She hugged Adrian, he wrapped his arms around her, “I missed you.”
Adrian smiled, “I missed you too Julia.”
He picked up the locket that was around the image of Adeline’s neck; “I thought I gave this to you Julia.”
Julia smiled sheepishly, “We thought you were dead, I gave it to Adeline.”
He hugged her, “Come on we have to find her. We don’t have much time left.”
Adeline was in a large room with a full-length mirror in the corner. She was sleeping peacefully in her bed. Julia woke her up.
“Julia?” Adeline asked.
Julia smiled gently, “Let’s go home.”
Adeline shook her head, “No! I’m happy here!”
“Adeline you don’t understand we have to leave now! You’ve only got five minutes left.”
Adrian grabbed Julia, “Go, I’ll get her through.”
“But-”
Adrian picked Julia who wrestled against him, “Break the mirror Julia! Or else we’ll never be free.”
She relaxed and kissed Adrian, “I love you. But I have to do this alone.”
Adrian shook his head, “Wrong.” He threw Julia threw the mirror.
An icy cold wind blasted Julia, she could see the door to the earth realm was getting smaller by the minute, but she still made it through. She landed in her home, she screamed at the mirror she had brought home from the magic shop. The milky white substance disappeared and the mirror was back to normal. Julia screamed, “Adrian! Adeline!” She slammed her fist into the mirror, “No!”
The glass shattered and fell to the ground. She literally decimated the mirror.She fell to the floor and curled up, sobbing, utterly heartbroken. Hours later Julia sat by a large window, watching the sunrise. A small mewing came from the door. Julia looked up and opened the door; a small white kitten mewed hungry for attention. Julia picked up the small critter and led it into the house. She cleaned up the broken mirror and placed the shattered pieces into a box. She kept the box on a shelf, next to pictures of Adrian, her first boyfriend and Adeline.
Julia changed into comfortable clothes and quietly played with her new pet. Her sorrow embedded itself deep within her heart.
A year later…
The kitten, which was now a cat, stared out the window at all the little tiny people on the street. It’s furry tail knocked something to the ground. The cat had become the entire center of Julia’s life. Julia had named her, Rena. Rena was the sweetest little kitten Julia had ever seen, and was soon to be the sweetest cat that had ever existed. Suddenly Rena perked up and hissed, running into the kitchen as fast as her furry little feet could take her. Julia turned around; a white smoke had started to flow out of the box she had kept on the shelf. It formed into a large figure and soon became solid.
Julia flung herself into Adrian’s arms. Adrian hugged Julia, “I’m so sorry. My time ran up, Adeline was caught.”
Julia sobbed, “It’s my fault. I told her she’d be safe. I promised her! I did! Adrian…oh god… She was all I had.”
About a month later Julia moved from with Adrian into another city, leaving the box behind. Julia looked up, she stared at her reflection, and she was reminded of her mother and then of Adeline. Julia screamed at her reflection, her very soul was ripped from her and placed in another world. She slammed her fist into the mirror, over and over again. She stared at her bloody hands and slid to the ground again sobbing to herself. Adrian came home and watched her cry. He let her sob on his shoulder, not sure of what to say.
Adrian and Julia had married and had one child, a little boy. Five years later Julia returned to the home where Adeline disappeared, which was abandoned. It was the anniversary of the day that Adeline had disappeared. The box was still in the same place it had been when she left it. Julia sat down on the ground. Julia waited in hope of Adeline’s survival. About two hours later Julia, a tear strolled down Julia’s cheek. Julia stood up, Adeline’s dead, oh God, Adeline, I’m so sorry.
Julia started to move towards the door when she stepped on something, a diamond locket. She picked it up and held it close to her heart. She was about to leave when she heard small footsteps from the upstairs. Julia crept quietly up the stairs. A woman about five inches shorter then Julia with long brown hair that came to her waist, walked down the hallway, her back to Julia.
“Hey.” Julia said.
The woman turned around, her cloths were made out of a skin, her features were sharp, but her face was covered in dirt. Her green eyes teared as she stared at Julia. “Julia.”
She hugged Julia tightly, “I was so scared! You said you’d protect me always, but you lied Julia! You lied!”
Julia held Adeline tightly, “I know. I’m sorry. But you’re back and that’s all that matters.”
Adeline eventually became a doctor, married and had two children. Julia became a teacher, Adrian a lawyer, their went to high school and they had a younger daughter named Megan. Rena got really old, but was doing quite well. It was about ten years later; Julia smiled as Adeline chased her young one around the house. Julia adjusted the diamond locket around her neck and looked out the window. Adrian came home with a package. Julia frowned at him. “What’s that?”
Adrian grinned. “I got it from the magic shop. A mirror.” Adrian opened the small box and a small white kitten hopped out of it. The kitten purred as she rubbed against Julia’s leg.
“She looks exactly like Rena!” Julia exclaimed, “How cute! I thought you said it was mirror.”
“Just watch.” He said. “Rena!”
Rena popped into the room and peered at the small kitten. Rena meowed quietly. The kitten did the same. Rena jumped into the box, the kitten did the same. Rena flattened her ears and jumped out of the box. The kitten flattened her ears and jumped out of the box. Julia laughed. “Let’s name her Copycat.”
