by Lora Palmer
Aedalina's expression was calculating as she pondered my words. "What do you know about what needs to be done?"
"Seven crystals need to go in seven different places around the world before the final sign."
"Where? What sign?" Aedalina's eyes lit up in hunger at this information. A predator stalking her prey, she stepped closer, reaching out to casually play with my hair. "Tell me."
I stiffened, the only sign of my inner conflict over how much to tell Aedalina. Standing stock-still, hands at my sides, I refused to back away. "I don't know where. The prophecy didn't say. But it says I'll make it back to that world before the final three signs, and there won't be much time left once they start. The first is a blue flame in the sky, followed by the earth's crust slipping, and finally the suns bursting apart. If we don't stop it all before it gets to that point, the entire galaxy will be destroyed. That's the horror you've unleashed!"
Aedalina lunged at me. Reacting on instinct, I kicked out at the metal examination table, sending it flying in her direction with all the force I could muster. The table crashed into her, knocking her into the wall with a loud smack. "Sorry!" I cringed at the sound of my sister's head striking the wall.
Aedalina's only reply was a narrowing of the eyes as she glared at me. She reached up to touch her head, grimacing in pain. Though I felt terrible about having done this, I reacted quickly, taking the opportunity to make a grab for the crystal. But with a wave of her hand, Aedalina sent me flying backward into the opposite wall. I struck hard, with a thump, then crumpled and fell. A spike of pain hit as my elbow cracked against the floor, adding to the sudden pain in my head. Dazed, I cried out as I watched Aedalina stalk toward me. Something metallic — blood, I realized — tasted sharp and bitter on my tongue.
Move, I told myself fiercely, but my body wouldn't follow any commands.
Aedalina knelt beside me, gazing down on me with an odd mixture of menace and regret. "I had hoped that it would not come to this once I knew you were my sister. You're the only family I have, but you have left me no choice."
"We should fix this together," I said, stalling for time as I recovered and making one last effort to get through to my sister. I pushed myself up to sit propped with one hand, my legs curled beneath me. Lying on the floor with Aedalina leaning over me made me feel too vulnerable. "Until I saw you in the mirror, I didn't know that I had other blood relatives, either. But this affects everyone we care about. My parents, my brother, all my friends — they’ll die too if we don’t —"
"You shouldn't even have any family here, if not for all that traveling between worlds. This mixing cannot lead to anything good. But no matter — I will take care of that."
"No, you'll leave it alone!" I said fiercely, sensing the intention behind my sister's words. "If not for that 'mixing,' you and I would not even be who we are today. Leave it alo—"
My words cut off as my pendant began to close around my throat. Aedalina stretched her hand out toward the pendant, squeezing her fingers into a fist in one swift motion. Oh, she was trying to get me to remove it willingly! Even in my panic, I knew that I couldn't. It was the only way for Aedalina to obtain the crystal necklace, and I refused to cooperate.
"Stop!" was the last thing I managed to say, my voice harsh and raspy. Then, I could no longer take in air to form words. Terrified and clutching at my neck, I silently begged my crystal and the metal key to do something to stop what Aedalina was doing.
Leave the room!
The sharp command echoed clearly in my mind. Not knowing who the voice belonged to and not questioning the order, I staggered to my feet and fled, tears streaming down my cheeks. As the door closed behind me, the necklace no longer constricted my throat. I collapsed against the wall, coughing and gasping in as much air as I could. A bright green light shot out of my pendant to form a forcefield along the lab room door. Aedalina stood on the other side, a stunned and furious expression on her face. Then, a look of determination settled on Aedalina's features. Some sort of reddish yellow light emitted from her hand to fight the forcefield.
Go! The force field won't hold long.
Again, I obeyed the order without hesitating, not questioning the information. Running as fast as my legs could carry me, I fled the hallway in search of anywhere I might find a mirror. I turned down one hallway, and then another and another, sure that at any moment, Aedalina would be out of that room and right behind me. Finally, I spotted the restroom — to my tremendous relief — and skidded to a halt in front of the door. Quickly pushing my way in, I found one wall that had a narrow floor-to-ceiling mirror, and ran to stand in front of it.
"Okay, focus," I whispered to myself, breathing deeply and closing my eyes for a moment to calm my frantic mind and the rapid beating of my heart. When I opened them, my nerves had steadied somewhat.
Picturing my bedroom, I was again flooded with relief to see it rippling into view inside the mirror. Seconds later the glass became liquid to the touch and parted away from the center. Experimentally, I reached a hand through. I maintained the portal in place, focusing with all my will, and stepped through just as the bathroom door slammed against the wall with a sharp crack. Gasping, I climbed down from my dresser and whirled to face it, eyes wide.
"Close!" I pleaded with the mirror, praying that somehow it could hear me. As Aedalina approached, the portal rapidly closed, glass sealing itself against her before she could get through. Aedalina was forced to snatch her hand back before it was cut off, and she managed to do so just in time. Even so, I backed away, terrified, never taking my eyes off the mirror.
Seconds passed, yet each one felt like an eternity as I kept watch. A minute passed, then two. Nothing happened. I finally sank down onto my bed, allowing myself to hope that Aedalina wasn't here by now because she couldn't get through. Maybe Aedalina wasn't a MirrorMaster like me, but that didn't mean she wouldn't end up here eventually. What if she knew where I lived? Oh, I had to do something quickly, before Aedalina found her way here and hurt my parents and David! Should I warn them? I had no idea how to even begin to explain it all to Mom and Dad, and David was probably asleep. But if I kept quiet out of fear of sounding insane, and Aedalina caught my family unaware, it would be so much worse.
While I kept an eye on Aedalina's next actions and debated what to do, I should see what was in the locked compartment now that I had the key. Quietly, I retrieved the box from its hiding spot — a floorboard under my bed — then sat cross-legged on my quilt and set the box in front of me. As I touched the metal on my crystal pendant, some of the metal separated itself and flowed down my arm into my hand, where it reshaped itself into a solid key. Eagerly, I inserted the key into the locked compartment of the box and turned it. A drawer slid out toward me, revealing what appeared to be a map and another scroll of parchment. I reached in and retrieved the items, then opened the main compartment to take out the ring. Slipping the ring on my finger, I unrolled the parchment. Once again, the symbols glowed a brilliant green as they rearranged themselves into English letters.
"The legends of old number seven, each one telling the story of a Crystal. Each story is stored on a data crystal, held in the world's greatest library. These legends may not be easily found and will not be well remembered in your time. The story will provide the clue to where and how each Crystal must be wielded, and why each was created. As each clue is understood, the location will be revealed on the map. Understand all the clues together and you will understand the final step. The final step must be taken freely in order for it to work. Beware, MirrorMaster, for there are those who will try to stop you and fulfill the prophecy themselves. If they succeed in binding you to the Soul Crystal, it is uncertain whether the planet can be saved. Work quickly and wisely, and with your efforts renew the dying world."
At least now I had a vague idea of what the legends of old actually were and where to find them — a good start. Carefully, I rolled up the parchment and placed it and the map back in the unlocked compartment. That done
, I slipped the ring beside them and hid the box once more.
It was time to check on Aedalina. Returning my attention to the mirror, I concentrated on the image of my sister. Soon, the mirror rippled, and now inside the glass Aedalina walked down a familiar street, her expression furious. She was definitely headed toward my neighborhood! The key inched its way up my arm to hide itself again in the metal clasp of my necklace, almost as though it could sense that the crystal would protect it. Maybe it does know, I mused, and just maybe its voice was the one I'd heard in my head at the forensic lab.
As I watched my sister in the mirror, a man stepped out of the shadows of an alleyway. Aedalina started and turned to face him, while my already racing heart beat even faster. My sister could be in danger. Even though she’d done horrible things, I still harbored no desire to see anything bad happen to her. Then, a street lamp illuminated the man's now-familiar face — ice-blue eyes, sculpted brows, aquiline nose, and thin lips — enough for me to recognize him as the man from my vision.
"Lord Drake! Never sneak up on me like that again! What are you doing out here?"
"I could ask the same of you. I came out to see the neighborhood. Might as well see what things are like here, I figured. After all, we still have several more days here. Perhaps the Council would be interested in this world."
"Ever the politician, I see. Don't you think it's best not to interfere in this world? Look at how they treat their planet and each other. Not that I care to watch their news, but it's kind of inescapable here. Wars and cold-blooded murders happen every single day...it's unthinkable! Never would that happen on Jantyr."
"Many would say what we've done, no matter how important the cause, is unthinkable."
"When we have her powers, her soul, we will have the power to rule. The mere threat of the disasters will be enough to ensure that the Council will recognize our rule over Jantyr, and the others will be forced to step down. There was no other way to accomplish our goal," Aedalina replied. "And we will return before anyone has died. Unfortunately, the key eluded me. I went to the lab tonight to retrieve it, but she has it now. Before it's time for us to go, I will retrieve it from her."
Lord Drake frowned at this news. "See that you do. If you are correct about what that key unlocks, we cannot hope to accomplish our goal otherwise."
"I'm well aware of that," Aedalina said impatiently. "We will have the key. The girl has revealed some interesting information already, and I will find out the rest from her." She filled him in on what I had told her about the prophecy and the signs that would take place signaling the end of the world, the galaxy.
Even Lord Drake appeared unnerved by the information. Pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing, he asked, "Why did you talk me into this again? We have absolutely no margin for error here. I cannot even imagine the consequences if we fail."
"We will not fail."
"All right. You have done well so far, my Queen. I have every confidence you will be able to do this. In the meantime, you wanted to have fun. Shall we enjoy a walk along the boardwalk, perhaps a night of dancing at the Wharf?"
"You're asking me out?" she asked, smirking as she tasted the unusual phrase on her tongue. Her expression betrayed a mixture of amusement and desire. She pretended to consider her decision for a moment, then finally said teasingly, "This is highly inappropriate, you know."
"We're not on Jantyr. We can dispense with the formalities we have to follow there."
Aedalina's smirk became a genuine smile, and even I could see the way her eyes lit up at the idea. "All right. A walk and a night of dancing it is."
I allowed the image to fade as Lord Drake held out his arm for Aedalina to take. What a relief that they weren't on their way here! Now I had a little more time to figure out how to deal with them and how to better protect my box and its contents. Drained from all the effort I'd expended, I sank back onto my bed and closed my eyes. Mirror-work could be absolutely exhausting! I’d have to talk to Brian about all this tomorrow, especially the revelation that someone in his family — his father? — had helped cause the disasters. Tonight I was far too tired to deal with it.
Chapter 13
"You did what?" David exclaimed, clenching his fists, a look of shock and disbelief in his eyes. "You actually went after her? Leah, you could have been killed, or arrested!"
I sighed. As far as David was concerned, what I’d done was impulsive and irresponsible. He stood in my room before breakfast, both of us ready for work. Sitting cross-legged on my bed next to Cameron, I wrapped my arms around the dog at David's verbal onslaught. This time, I didn't glance down and back away from the confrontation, though. No, instead I held his gaze with determination. When Cameron nuzzled my hand then licked it with his soft, velvety tongue, I petted him and leaned down to whisper a thank you into his ear.
"Well, she was going after the key. I couldn't let her have it, not with what I know of her," I said, explaining all that happened the night before: how without that key, we'd never have the information we needed to figure out the prophecy or find where all the crystals needed to go, how Aedalina and this man — Brian's father? — were the ones who unleashed the disasters on that other world, and how Aedalina called him Lord Drake. "It's not just the key. All those spirits in the cemetery were trapped there by her, and that spell bound them to the Soul Crystal. She has it, David, and I couldn't get the crystal from her to rescue them. I had to try — I couldn't just let their souls be drained, used for energy."
David sighed, his expression softening as he heard the reasons I had taken the risk to retrieve the key and the crystal. "Still, I wish you'd let me know what was happening and taken me along."
Relieved, I gave his shoulder a light squeeze. "Yeah, maybe I should have, but going into that situation was dangerous. I didn't want you getting hurt or in trouble. That was a risk I had to take, not you."
David shook his head. "Small wonder that I worry about you. You’re the one with a knack for trouble. Please, no more getting yourself into these situations alone, okay?"
"Sure, I understand, but...there was no choice. She's got powers, and she's so strong. I barely managed to escape her wrath. I'd be terrified if you were there, too, that something might happen to you."
"Listen, with everything going on, I'm outright scared for you whenever I let you out of my sight. I want to be there for you. If they've involved Jenny in this, all the more reason why we need to fight for you both. Even if we can't fight them like you can, we can still help." David rested a hand on my shoulder, seeking comfort as much as giving it.
"Okay. I just wish there were a Protection Crystal for all of you."
* * *
When I arrived at the Wharf at lunchtime, Brian was finishing up with a customer at the bakery, preparing a bag of gourmet cookies. The scent of fresh baked bread and delicious pastries filled my nostrils. Brian's eyes lit up as I walked through the door. He handed off the change and the bag of cookies, then signed off the register so he could go on break. Emerging from behind the counter, he made his way over and enfolded me in a hug, which I returned tightly.
"Can I talk to you about something for a minute before we meet the others?"
"Let’s go out back." He led me outside, where we could talk privately. As he met my gaze and took in my tired, stressed state, his eyes filled with concern. "Has someone been bugging you? Your family?"
"No. Not yet, anyway." I bit my lip. It was only a matter of time, my one hope being that I'd be gone before Lord Drake and Aedalina got around to making house calls. One thing at a time, I told myself, and I finally managed to gather enough courage to speak. "This may sound kind of weird, but last night, I had an odd dream — a dream about the cemetery. A hundred spirits were there, and they were bound to an orb called the Soul Crystal. They thought they would be free when a ritual done on the anniversary — the night you moved in — was complete, but they weren't. Their souls are being drained by that crystal, for their power. That’s what actually happen
ed that night, not some prank or party. Jenny was part of that ritual, and now her soul is bound to it, too."
Brian did not look surprised. Rather, he nodded like someone who understood.
Taking a deep breath to gather my thoughts, I continued, "I know there’s a lot we haven’t told each other yet, but there’re some things I need to ask you, and some things you need to know..." Some instinct convinced me that, with so much unsaid between us, it was time to share everything with him, to take this risk.
"Okay, here goes. I had a dream of a huge sandstorm on another world. You and I worked together to try to save a group of people by a red castle in the desert. I’ve never had a more real dream, and I wondered —"
"I had that same dream the other night!" Brian stared at me, openmouthed. "Here goes my confession."
He strode to the fountain in the middle of the courtyard that served as a break area, perching on the mosaic-tiled edge. His movements sure and full of a confidence I envied, he scanned our surroundings to make sure we were alone before splaying his fingers over the water. I peered over his shoulder and watched the ripples still, turning the water into frozen glass. No breath of movement from wind disturbed it. In the mirrored bottom of the fountain beneath clear ice, a familiar purple castle shimmered into view — not the one from our dream, but the one mirror-gazing had shown me.
I gasped. "How did you do that?" Brian made it appear much faster than I could have. He was powerful, incredibly powerful.
"I’ve been able to mirror-travel since sixth grade. When these bullies chased me all over school, I managed to escape home through the boys’ locker room mirror.”
My heart leapt in my chest. So, I wasn’t the only MirrorMaster! I wasn’t alone. Beaming, I caught his hand in mine. "As you’ve probably guessed, I can travel through mirrors, too. Well, I did it once. But that thing with the water — can you teach me to do that?"