Eden Undone (The Dawn Mirror Chronicles Book 2)

by A. R. Meyering

  Argent looked shocked. “Are you kidding me? Who?”

  “My mother,” she said. It took a moment for the possibility to sink in, but soon they were discussing it in with growing interest.

  “It’s a…definite possibility that she could help,” Hector said carefully, eyeing Lydia. None of them were sure how much Simon had told her. It was soon apparent that they could not avoid an explanation of Hector’s abilities and they told her all the essentials, leaving out any mention of Angels.

  The group became more enthusiastic by the moment at the idea. Hector, however, did not get sidetracked and looked right at Penny. When their eyes met, she felt a rush of embarrassment.

  “Just wait a moment, before we decide on anything, I want to ask Penny something,” he said. “Are you comfortable with going back home?”

  For a moment Penny withdrew into her thoughts as all eyes became fixed on her for the second time. “I just want to set things right. And if that means going home and facing what I’ve done, then that’s just what I’ve got to do. I say we go for it,” she replied, feeling a burst of confidence that she hadn’t known she possessed. Annette smiled and hugged her around the shoulders.

  “Oh, I’m so excited! I wonder what your home will be like,” Annette chimed, and Penny gave a start.

  “You’re going to come with us?” she questioned in surprise and Annette nodded.

  “Oh my God, Lydia, we’re going home!” Simon whooped, throwing an arm around her. “We’re going to sleep in air conditioned rooms, watch TV, ride in comfortable cars instead of on those stinky beasts, eat pizza and not have to worry about pissing off goblins, and―”

  “This isn’t a vacation, Simon,” Penny reminded him, but he would not stop smiling.

  “I want to go too. I want to see what the other world looks like,” Noct cried, but Hector shook his head.

  “Absolutely not. If anyone gets even one look at you setting your own hands aflame, you’ll be taken to a place where no one will ever be able to reach you again. And I’ll need someone to protect everyone while we’re away, and you’re just the person,” Hector said, and judging from the boy’s satisfied smile the appeal worked.

  “It makes more sense if only a few of us go―ideally just myself, Penny, Simon and Annette. The rest of you are sure to attract too much unwanted attention,” Hector mused. “I somehow doubt that Annette is going to pass off as normal, either, but I know better than to try and separate you two.”

  “But what about Lydia?” Simon exclaimed, holding to her shoulder ever tighter as her face went blank. “Earth is her home, too—don’t you want to go back, sweetie?”

  “I’d actually rather just stay here. There’s nothing left for me back there, after all,” she said with a shrug, which garnered a curious look from Penny and a cry of dismay from Simon. But try as he did, she would not be swayed, a fact that was not lost on Penny.

  “Well, now that’s decided, I think we should all take some time to gather our things and our thoughts, and prepare for something that might prove to be very difficult. Annette, I know you’re not going to like this, but you should probably change into something a little more…modest. So as not to attract attention.” He gestured at her elaborate gown with all of its frills and bows, and Annette gave a subdued nod.

  As Hector went to work enchanting Annette to communicate with the people on Earth and other conversations popped up, Penny took the flute from the table and pulled Armonie aside. She checked to make sure Lydia was otherwise engaged, then whispered, “You know this place up and down―hide this thing somewhere that no one but you will be able to get to it. I know Simon trusts her, but that Lydia girl is giving me the creeps. She keeps looking at it in a weird way, and even though she’s from Earth, she seemed a little too willing to stay here. Keep it away from her, would you?” She handed her the flute.

  “Of course, big sis,” Armonie replied covertly, tucking the flute into the folds of her dress. “I’ll keep a close watch on her, too.”

  AS THE TIME wiled away, Penny’s worries began to mount, and she had no idea what she would say to her mother when they saw each other again.

  Will she even speak to me after what I’ve done? Penny wondered with a sick stomach. But she’ll be so excited to learn all about this place. And I’ll have the chance to make it up to her. Maybe I can even bring her here after the fighting dies down. It would be her dream come true.

  Though this thought comforted Penny slightly, she still felt unsure about its validity. Penny stayed within the safe solitude of her room until Annette came and found her again, announcing they were ready to go. Simon and Lydia were in the middle of whispering goodbyes to one another.

  At Mia’s suggestion that Hector pull them through at an out-of-the-way location, so as to avoid opening a rift in the middle of the hallway where another might blunder through it, they all made their way outside and walked a little ways into the surrounding wood, where it would be sure to cause less trouble. Hector told them he could only take one at a time, and decided that Simon should go first. The magician gave Lydia a final peck on the cheek, and then Hector pulled them into nothingness.

  “Look, Mia, you were right! He opened a rift.” Noct pointed at the air as he and Mia marveled at something only they could see. Penny and Annette studied the air hopefully, until Argent cleared his throat.

  Penny turned to see what he needed, but saw he was looking at Annette. With the sudden feeling she was in the way, Penny stepped aside.

  “Can I help you?” Annette asked, eyebrows raised.

  “I only wanted to tell you…try not act so dumb that you get yourself in trouble when you’re on the other side. It’s liable to happen.”

  Annette looked like she wanted to be offended, but Argent had said the words with such affection she couldn’t seem to muster up anger. “Is that all?”

  He scoffed and looked at Penny. “Penny―same goes for you, too. You can be just as dim-witted, I’m afraid. And if you return and something’s happened or we’ve left the Sanctuary, just know we’ll have taken refuge in Lindenvale. That’s where we’ll meet.”

  “Got it. And I’ll be worried about you too, Argent,” she replied snidely and Argent scowled. Hector reappeared through what Noct called a rift, then took Annette back with him. Penny said a quick goodbye to everyone, even to Lydia.

  “So, really no interest in going home?” Penny prodded, and Lydia grinned as she stroked Archibald.

  “No, thank you. Like I said, there’s nothing left for me there, and I’m quite comfortable here,” she simpered. Penny shrugged and turned away.

  Hector appeared once again, looking gray as he called for Penny.

  She felt herself blush as he put his arm around her and reached into the terrible nothingness between worlds. The familiar sensation of being spit out of a long tube hit Penny and all at once she was wobbling to and fro on dry soil. It took a moment to regain her focus, and then Penny felt all the nostalgic sensations hit her at once: the smell of earth and pines, the gentle warm winds of Oregon’s summer, and the sight of purple and yellow blooms quite unlike anything that grew in Elydria.

  Annette, Hector, and Simon stood around her as she took a few cautious steps through the ferns and looked up at the cloud-speckled sky that burned almost white with the sun’s light.

  “I know this place,” Penny murmured, leading the others with breathless excitement. “We’re just outside the town. I used to take walks here with Maddie on weekends.”

  Without waiting to see if they were behind her, Penny trotted off down the hill, her footsteps disturbing dragonflies and birds. In mere minutes, she emerged through the forest cover onto a small dirt path, which became asphalt and led around a corner to the outskirts of Twin Rivers. With a start, Penny saw a car whoosh by and her heart fluttered with joy. Annette gasped at the sight of it and clutched Simon’s arm.

  With each familiar step through the sleepy, forest-lined suburbs, Penny could feel her excitement mounting in a w
ay that almost brought tears to her eyes. Even the smallest of things filled her with joy, such as houses she recognized or scents she had all but forgotten were so beautiful to her. Her pace quickened.

  “Main Street is just up ahead!” she laughed, gesturing for the others to hurry.

  Hector was smiling at her excitement, but Annette was too transfixed with things like telephone wires, people walking their dogs, and televisions inside the windows of homes to catch up. As they neared the more urban part of town, Penny began pointing out the restaurants and shopping establishments that she had once frequented, noticing that their group was getting a lot of stares. Though they had tried to dress as modestly as possibly, their Elydrian clothes still stood out amid the dark hoodies and frayed jeans of the crowd. Penny started to worry that she might be recognized and cause a stir.

  “Look, Penny, look! It’s the coffee shop where we met!” Simon cried, pointing into the window of the steamy shop, and Penny’s mouth watered when she remembered with painful vividness the taste of cappuccinos, lattes, and mochas.

  Though she was sorely tempted to go inside, force Hector to summon up a five dollar bill, and order something, she knew that Willow Street was not far away. With an almost hypnotic lure Penny walked the sidewalks, shivering each time something from her memories caught her eye. She came to a halt as they reached Willow Street. She could see the window display of the shop now, filled with glittering figurines of Egyptian gods, tarot cards on velvet cloth, candles, and crystals.

  Simon shook her shoulder. “Aren’t you going to go in?”

  Penny swallowed and nodded. I promised not to run anymore.

  With a deep breath and curled fists, Penny started forward again, keeping her eyes fixed on the doorknob of Willow Street Wonders. At last her fingers were against the door. She glanced back and Hector gave her a reassuring smile, and with the tinkle of the bell above, Penny pushed open the door as if entering a long forgotten dream.

  Penny took a step into the heavily incensed air and heard the drone of the new age music her mother loved, staring decidedly forward as she prepared herself to face the cash register. Clenching her jaw, Penny turned her head and forced herself to look. She received a mighty shock when she made eye contact with the person standing behind the counter.

  Penny was struck with the momentary delusion that her mother’s aging had prematurely sped up due to her grief and left the once vibrant Paulina Fairfax a withered, white-haired hag, but after a minute of alarm Penny realized she was looking at her grandmother, who looked just as shocked as Penny felt.

  “You!” Penny and her grandmother hissed in unison.

  Penny gritted her teeth as the old woman gasped for air, her wrinkled face pinching into a horrible sneer of wasted yellow teeth and slit-like eyes. She seemed to be searched for words with each fish-like gasp, and pointed a wizened finger that Penny could see dark veins swimming under.

  “Li―Liiiiinnaaa!” shrieked the old woman, stumbling back and bumping into the wall while pointing at Penny and her friends. “LINA!”

  “What is it?!” cried a voice from the back room that made Penny want to faint with happiness and fear. “It’s not those fire safety people again, is it? I told them the candles are just―”

  Paulina trotted out from behind the beaded curtain that led into storage, stopping short when she saw who Penny’s grandmother was pointing at. Paulina blanched and wobbled on her feet for a moment as she stared at Penny with glassy eyes.

  “Mom,” Penny said meekly as her pulse turned into a booming, frantic drumbeat.

  Paulina covered her mouth with one hand as a tear dripped onto her cheek. Seeming to conclude that the person who stood before her was no mirage, she lowered the hand and took a wobbling step toward her daughter with outstretched arms. Penny fell into them.

  “Is this a dream? Tell me it’s not a dream,” Paulina sobbed into Penny’s ear, and Penny gave a tearful laugh.

  “Definitely not a dream,” Penny returned, and Paulina drew back to look at Penny with red-ringed eyes and a disbelieving smile.

  “You came home―my baby came home. I knew you would. I knew it all this time, and no one would believe me!” Paulina cheered, hugging Penny again, this time so tightly that Penny was sure her ribcage would crack. She cast a look behind her to see an almost envious Simon, Hector looking politely away, and Annette tearing up.

  “Of course I did. I told you I would, didn’t I?” Penny said, turning back to her mother. The moment was ruined by another shriek from the corner.

  “Lina, Lina! It’s him! I’ll call the police, someone stop him from running!” Penny’s grandma cried, fumbling for the phone with shivering hands. Penny broke away from her mother and ripped the receiver out of her grandmother’s hands, slamming it down before she could dial the last digit.

  Paulina was staring at Hector, who held his hands up as he tried to formulate a quick explanation.

  “You―you’re the man who took her, aren’t you? Her professor. Why did you bring her back?” Paulina questioned with forced calm, her eyes still brimming with tears.

  “Pl-please don’t misunderstand; I never kidnapped her, Ms. Fairfax! O-oh, well actually―technically I did, but it was not done with malicious intent, I assure you, it―”

  “He’s not who you think, Mom,” Penny said, stepping between them before Hector’s awkwardness could do any damage. “He’s been helping me and making sure I’ve been safe this whole time. Without him, we’d all be dead.”

  “Lina, the girl’s been brainwashed, I’ve heard of it before on the talk shows! Stockholm Syndrome! The hostage grows dependent on the captor―we can’t let them fool us, this is a dangerous man―”

  “Hush, Mother. Clearly, no one’s in any danger here, we might as well hear them out,” Paulina told her stiffly, then took two brave steps toward Hector. She stood on tiptoe and stared him down. Hector blinked uncomfortably, leaning back to keep their noses from touching. He looked at Penny for help, but she just shrugged. A moment later Paulina backed away, her eyes fixed on Hector as she gave a nod, seeming to have gained some wisdom from her stare-down.

  “My daughter’s not crazy. He’s a good man―I can tell.”

  “Paulina, you’re not well, dear. You must—”

  Paulina pointed at Simon, ignoring her mother. “I recognize you from the papers, too! You’re that magician who disappeared the same night as all those other people and my Penny.” She looked at Annette. “But you―you I don’t know.”

  “That’s Annette. She’s been a big help too. Oh God, I have so much to tell you about, Mom.” Penny could not stop the tears from coming.

  “I should say so! But that can’t happen here, no, what if a customer comes in? We’ll have to close early and head home to talk,” Paulina schemed, pacing.

  Paulina’s mother left the counter and grabbed her daughter by the shoulders. “Have you gone completely insane? A criminal, a lunatic, and two people who are supposed to be dead wander up to you out of the blue and you’ve just breezily moved onto arranging a get-together? Think of your child, Lina! Think of what she’s been through!” Her reedy voice grew high and little droplets of spittle flew out as she shouted. Penny could not stand the sight of her heckling her mother and had to intervene.

  “I’m just fine, you old bat, and how’s she even going to know what I’ve been through unless I tell her? But that’s just what I’d expect from you. I guess, it’s good to see some things haven’t changed,” Penny challenged, and the old woman drew up proud in insulted silence, her eyes fiery as they bore into Penny’s.

  “Penny, don’t talk to her that way,” Paulina whispered, drawing keys from her pocket. “There’s no sense in standing around here waiting, we have too much to talk about. We should get home as soon as we can. I’ll just lock up and meet you all outside.” She shooed Simon, Hector, Annette and her mother out. She tried to get Penny to exit with them, but she would not leave Paulina’s side. Penny helped her close shop quietly, noticin
g that Paulina looked back to check and see if she was there every chance she had. She laughed shyly the fifth time Penny caught her doing it.

  “I’m sorry, kid. I just can’t believe you’re back with me. I’ve been waiting for this moment since you disappeared. I was so scared it would never come.” Paulina’s voice grew hoarse as she turned her back to Penny to lock up the cash register. “They all told me to forget about you, to start grieving…that all the things I sensed, that the note you left me, that all of it wasn’t real. Mom and the doctors and policemen―they wanted me to let you go. I didn’t listen to them, not even for a moment, but sometimes late at night when I was alone I couldn’t help but doubt myself a little. I was afraid you’d left me forever.”

  “Mom,” Penny sniffed, not knowing how to respond.

  Paulina turned briskly, rubbed her eyes and smiled brightly. She threw an arm around Penny’s shoulder and led her toward the door. “Ah, I don’t mean to get so sentimental―comes with the territory, I guess. I’m just so happy to see you again—happy to finally get to know where you’ve been all this time!”

  Penny gave a hesitant laugh. “You may have a hard time believing a lot of it, you know.”

  With a swift click, Paulina locked the door and winked impishly at Penny. “Try me.”

  Paulina clutched her mug of cocoa, holding it just beneath her nose so she could enjoy the aroma. Orange light and shadows from the candles in the corner flickered across her face as she sat, awaiting Penny’s story.

  “Well, where to begin,” Penny said, distracted by the snores of her grandmother from the chair beside Paulina. “Is she okay? She’s been sleeping since we got back.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about her―I put brandy in her cocoa so she’d fall asleep. I didn’t want any needless interruptions,” Paulina explained cheerfully.

  They recounted their journey yet again, Penny relaying the events that had begun to sound more like a tale from a storybook every time she told it. Paulina stopped them once to request that Hector show her a bit of his magic, and she watched with quiet delight as he spun rivers of golden light and luminous flowers in the air for her. Paulina never questioned what was being told to her after that, but listened with enraptured attention as the sun went down.