Page 65 of Wicked Prince of Mirrors
I thought of his gentle kisses, unraveling my control. I recalled how it felt to fight by his side, to see the light in his eyes when my magic surprised him. The scant possibility of a future floated in front of me, and surge of yearning came. Instead of marriage to a prince of the south to secure my father’s kingdom, I’d bind myself to the Wicked Prince of Mirrors. In fact, our destinies were already bound, but only if I defeated the shadow.
The voices grew quieter. Another thread of gold pulsed through me, cracking the darkness, breaking through the inky ribbons that held me in their grip. I refocused my mind once again, thinking of love, of light, of future possibilities until the swirling thoughts within settled and I opened my eyes.
This time my vision was clear.
I lay on a pallet, chained to it, and pallet bearers held me steady on their shoulders. A vast crowd had gathered under the cover of darkness, a blackness meant to rival any shadows, and we marched toward a looming statue.
It took a moment for me to realize I was already within the temple. Chants went up around me, worshiping some demon of darkness. A dark laugh came, reminding me I was helpless, chained, a sacrifice for their dark god. The thoughts I’d gathered evaporated under fear, and my strength failed me as the pallet was placed on an alabaster altar.
Above me stood statues of celestial beings with wings, holding orbs of light—or holding what had oncebeen orbs of light. Yet now their lights had gone dark, and someone had taken the time to mutilate them, taking off a head, a wing, an arm, or a leg. Icy fear came over me, and a voice spoke, rough and cruel.
The shadow of an impossibility large, winged creature, filled the temple. It hovered over me, humming with a foulness, a rot that made me yank against my bonds. But they held tight.
The chants rose to sheer volume, a panic as though those who worshiped the dark demon were also afraid.
They were trapped in their own folly, stuck in the worship of something strong and evil that had stolen their magic. They were prisoners, slaves to the beast. Just as I was a slave to the shadow.
Tears leaked down my cheeks as the beast came into view, wings spread, wicked sharp claws, bigger than the three-headed Destroyer had been. A pink tongue lolled out of its mouth, and a haze of fear overwhelmed me as it spoke.
“The souls of those with Mirror Magic. A worthy and rare gift. Your sacrifice shall be rewarded.”
Rewarded.
I thought of Lyra and Methrin. I thought of my cousin Rhea, my handmaiden, my father, the Venators and all the mortals of my father’s kingdom. If I failed, their lives would be like this, taken away, ruled by fear.
One day magic would be no more. One day the Boundary would shatter, and all would fall.
See. Your life is not in vain. Your soul is a sacrifice to the shadow. You belong to us.
“No,” I whispered.
There is no way out. You are in chains to be sacrificed to our deity.
“No, that demon is not my deity.”
You have no choice. We are stronger than you.
“I have Mirror Magic, my magic is strong, and you must leave. Your voice will be silent.”
The dark laugh came again.You can’t force us.
“You are me, and I am you. You are a shadow that is part of me. I am in control.”
You only think you are.
“Iamin control. Now turn your magic on your deity and slay it.”
The shadow vibrated.
“I am in control,” I whispered, louder this time.
Ribbons of blackness curled around me, tightening around my throat.
“I am in control,” I said out loud.
They squeezed.
Tears blinked out of my eyes. I choked out the words. “I am in control.”
