Page 53 of The Eternal Mirror
Finally, I guide us onto a balcony that looks out at the tower where Khronus spends much of his time—when he’s not in the dungeons. I can only guess it’s some sort of study-laboratory, a lair where he conjures up his sinister plots.
A light flickers in there, casting eerie shadows, and I catch sight of his silhouette moving restlessly before the window.
“So how are we doing this?” Zayne asks, breaking my concentration. I lift a hand to hush him, and he sighs, folding his arms over his chest and leaning heavily against the balustrade.
“Don’t fall over,” I say. “I’m not going to go down there and pick up the pieces.”
We’re perched high above the ground, nearly level with the tower. Darkness has draped itself across the world, and the night sky twinkles with an infinite number of stars. I close my eyes, feeling the pulse of magic around me, and begin to conjure the spell. It has to be breathtaking. Then I whisper the words.
Zayne straightens, his eyes wide in awe as he gazes upward. “That’s amazing.”
I know. Flying through the sky above us is the perfect illusion of a jet-black alicorn, majestic and fierce. I’ve never seen myself in this form, but I think I’ve done a striking job—hopefully enough to fool Khronus that I’m close by while we sneak out. It glides close to the palace, then circles the tower, and I hear the uproar below as the soldiers spot it.
If they shoot at it, the illusion might shatter. But I don’t think Khronus wants me dead.
Below us, the soldiers are frozen in awe, mouths agape, scrambling in a chaotic frenzy, clearly uncertain of what to do. And then, like a dark omen, Khronus appears on the balcony of his tower—and now it’s time to act.
I slip back into the corridor, Zayne and Josh close behind me, Josh’s hand clasped in Zayne’s, as if he’s terrified of losing him. I turn to look at them both. “Look, before we do this next bit. I need to teach you a spell.”
“What sort of spell?” Zayne sounds suspicious.
“It’s a spell to break spells. I’m going to do something to us, but it just occurred to me that if anything happens to separate us, you might be stuck with what this spell does and that might be a little…inconvenient.”
He frowns. “Should we be worried?”
“No, it’s seriously cool. But not something you’d likely want to be stuck with forever. Okay, so here’s the spell, you need to memorize it…
Twist and tether, veil and bind—
Undo the spell and free the mind.”
I say it a couple more times, then get Zayne and Josh to speak it back. And we’re all good. “OK, now for the cool bit. And you’re really going to love this part.”
I take hold of Zayne’s hand and whisper the invisibility spell.
And just like that—we’re gone. And I heave a sigh of relief. One of the things I have found with my magic is that spells affecting other people tend to be a little harder to pull off than when it’s just me. But so far, so good. I just hope I can keep it up long enough to get us all out of here.
“What the fuck just happened?” Zayne whispers.
“We’re invisible. Aren’t I clever? I’m a super witch.”
“You’re fucking right,” he says, awe lacing his voice. “That is just—” He’s lost for words.
Josh is silent, and obviously, I can’t see his expression. “Are you OK, Josh?”
“Yes, Amber. I like it. I like not being seen. It makes me feel safe.”
And that breaks my heart a little. But it also strengthens my resolve. I have to get them out of here—especially Josh. If I don’t, he’ll be haunted by this for life.
“OK, we’re going to walk straight out the main gate.”
“Ballsy,” Zayne’s disembodied voice murmurs, approval evident. “I like it.”
“Keep close together, and let’s go.” I think as long as we’re near each other, the spell should shield us all.
“How do we keep close if we can’t see where you are?” Josh asks, anxiety threading through his words.
Good point. “We’ll all keep a tight hold of Zayne.” With that, I march down the corridor at a quick pace. About halfway to the entrance, I hear the sound of boots pounding against the stone. Soldiers are approaching.
