Mirror's Heart

By Justine Alley Dowsett, Murandy Damodred and Sara Biddle

This isn't what I wanted... Ten years after the revolution that won Mira Calanais the right to live her life as she pleases, she finds herself wracked with guilt over what she had to do to make her world a better place. Remembering the man she once loved and the sacrifice he made, Mira realizes there is still one last mission for her to comp

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mirror World Publishing
• Release date: Nov 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9780992049058

Justine Alley Dowsett

Justine Alley Dowsett is the author of eight novels and one of the founders of Mirror World Publishing. Her books, which she often co-writes with her sister, Murandy Damodred, range from young adult science fiction to dark fantasy/romance. She earned a BA in Drama from the University of Windsor, honed her skills as an entrepreneur by tackling video game production, and now she dedicates her time to writing, publishing, and occasionally roleplaying with her friends.

Book preview

Mirror’s Heart

Justine Alley Dowsett and Murandy Damodred

For Bette Sue;

Because it’s never just a piece of pie…

FIRST EDITION

Mirror’s Heart © 2014 by Justine Alley Dowsett and Murandy Damodred

Cover Art © 2014 by Sara Biddle

All Rights Reserved.

*This book is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual locales, events or persons is entirely coincidental.

Mirror World Publishing

Windsor, Ontario

www.mirrorworldpublishing.com

[e-mail]

Edited by: Robert Dowsett

ISBN: 978-0-9920490-5-8

Prologue

I’m going to die... was the only thought to run through Caralain Dashar’s mind as even breathing shallowly came only with great effort past Dipaul Valorence’s powerful grip.

Oversized and over-muscled, the blonde-haired and dull brown-eyed bully held her by the neck with one arm outstretched. In the other hand he held another woman the exact same way. This woman had long black hair that hung perfectly straight almost down to her waist. She had blue eyes and a pale oval face and she wore a light blue dress over knee-high black boots. Every detail of her appearance except her outfit was an exact replica of Caralain’s own.

This woman is my Mirror. Caralain couldn’t help but stare at her double, despite the desperation of her circumstance. She knew enough about the Mirror World in which she found herself to know that every person here was replica of someone from the realm she came from, but it was a different thing altogether to look into the eyes of the twin you’d never known. It’s only her personality that differs from mine. She’s my opposite, really. Just like looking into a mirror and seeing the image flipped. It still looks the same, but it isn’t exactly.

She met her double’s eyes in that moment and saw that hers too were filled with fear as she clutched at Dipaul’s thick hand around her neck. Time seemed to slow and even though Caralain knew she was about to die, she forced herself to take in every single detail as if trying to burn these final sights into her memory.

That one, Tendro pointed, his words condemning Caralain rather than her Mirror; the lack of hesitation in his choice was heartbreaking.

Without warning, Dipaul loosed his grip in his right hand and her Mirror fell to the ground, her hands going immediately to her neck as she gratefully gulped the air. Caralain forced herself to turn her gaze away from the eeriness of watching herself choke and cough while trying to breathe and she scanned the room instead, looking for anyone who might have the heart to come to her rescue before it was too late.

Rolling her eyes to the left, her gaze fell on Tendro. Tall and handsome with dark brown hair and dark brows over steel grey eyes, he looked to be in the throes of a moral crisis, even though he’d already announced his choice for all to hear.

What do you have to feel conflicted about? You’ve already condemned me so why do you care? The anger in Caralain’s thoughts startled her with its intensity as she regarded him, his black and gold mage outfit reminding her so strongly of the Tendro Seynor she knew and loved deeply. But this isn’t him, she reminded herself. This is his Mirror, just as the other Caralain over there is mine.

She hardly saw Dipaul’s other hand coming for her before someone else in the main room of the little cottage they were in spoke, startling her. She’d almost forgotten that Mirena Calanais had come with her and was still here. As much as they were travelling companions for now, Caralain had no illusions that Mirena wouldn’t hesitate to leave her behind if it suited her. She was just that kind of person.

Wrong one, the thin woman with the white-blonde hair proclaimed as from seemingly out of nowhere a darkness sprang up around her form, causing her loose knee-length white dress to billow and the shadows in the room to swirl malevolently.

Caralain’s eyes widened watching her friend. She’d seen Mirena use her dark power before, a power best left alone in Caralain’s opinion, but she’d never seen it quite like this. The very air around her rippled with shadow as if the world itself was shying away from the power Mirena commanded.

In that single moment, Caralain found that she didn’t care what kind of power Mirena used, so long as she used it to save her life.

Dipaul’s other hand closed around Caralain’s head and she felt her neck forcefully snapped to the right, hard enough to break it. For just a second the world went black, her life flickering out like a candle in the wind, and then it brightened again without explanation and Caralain found herself on her knees, her own hands tenderly clasping her throat.

Surprised by the sudden shift in her position, the blackout she’d experienced and the unexplained fact that she wasn’t dead, Caralain snapped her head up with a sudden, albeit painful, motion.

Tendro now stood to her right and his eyes were trained on her.

Ahead of her, the sound of a body crumpling to the ground drew Caralain’s attention. A morbid curiosity overcame her better judgment and she turned to see her Mirror’s corpse on the floor, the woman’s vacant eyes unseeing and Dipaul’s massive handprint a bruise where he’d broken her neck.

With detachment borne of shock Caralain took in the details of the scene, including the fact that the dead woman was dressed as Caralain had been, before; a long blue top over ankle-length black leggings.

It could have been me… It was me, she admitted, until Mirena did… whatever it was she did…

She turned her head toward the wall behind her and immediately threw up everything she’d ever eaten.

Lost in her body’s instinctive reaction to everything it had just experienced, Caralain didn’t pay much attention to what else was happening around her until Dipaul’s heavyset body slammed into the wooden wall of the small cottage’s main room, shaking the whole building with the force of his impact.

Surging to her feet, Caralain fought past her fear and the blurring of tears in her eyes and ran in the only direction she could, towards the open door and away from the violence. She vaulted over the unconscious form of someone she knew well in her own realm, but she didn’t look back to check on him, nor did she slow down.

Once outside she kept running until the inability to draw a full breath forced her to stop. Thankfully by that time she was within the trees and once she had her bearings she knew where she had to go.

I’ve had just about enough of this place… Caralain decided. I’m going home. Mirena can take care of herself; she’ll find me back on the other side when she’s ready.

Keeping her eyes open and her wits about her, Caralain navigated her way back to the place where they had entered this realm with all of its strange doubles of people they knew. She was careful to give the little cottage containing Dipaul and the others a wide berth and was relieved when she reached the tall standing stones quickly and without opposition.

The Sentinal Stones were in an open clearing but a quick glance around told her she was thankfully still alone. All I have to do is get within those stones and activate the one in the center with my majik, she told herself. I know what symbol I need to get home… This time, there will be no chance for error and no discovering another strange new world.

I know one thing for certain; I won’t be coming back here if I can avoid it. Holding her majik at the ready, Caralain applied it to the symbol of the three-petalled flower as soon as she stepped across the threshold and within the domain of the ancient relics. After her near-death experience at the hands of the usually-gentle Dipaul’s Mirror, she was desperate to go home to where people and their actions made sense.

The world lurched and Caralain felt her spirits soar as they always did whenever she used the Sentinal Stones to make the impossible happen, but when the lurching sensation lasted a little longer than it should have she realized very quickly that something had gone horribly wrong.

The place she found herself in was not the same set of Sentinal Stones in her own realm, where her application of majik and her extensive knowledge of the stones should have brought her. Instead it was filled with rolling hills covered in a ubiquitous mist. In the space around her Caralain couldn’t even make out the shadow of the tall stones that should still be there no matter where she’d managed to take herself.

Your circumstance is highly unorthodox… Inexplicably, a woman’s melodious voice reverbrated from the mists, seeming to come from everywhere at once, but I’m afraid that your Mirror wasn’t supposed to die this way and at this time and for that reason I can’t allow you to just leave…

What are you talking about? Caralain demanded of the voice in the mists. Who are you?

The reply, when it came, was just as cryptic as the voice that spoke it.

There is no other choice. There must be balance...

Part One

I.

There is balance in all things…  The traditional words of the marriage ceremony were familiar to Mira. Like the never-ending conflict between the Creator and the Destroyer, so too is there balance in the union of man and woman. Love is a passion and it can be a violent meeting of two forces strong enough to consume.

Her long white dress billowed around her ankles as she took the one step closer to the man of her dreams. The Panarch, Terrence Lee, with his tanned skin, blond hair and flawless features waited expectantly for her. His ice blue eyes were riveted on her, as if she was all he could see, all he wanted to see.

Terrence Lee, the feminine voice continued melodiously, do you swear to forever join with this woman in seeking balance in your life? Do you claim her to be your chosen soulmate for as long as there is sand in the hourglass?

When he looked at her, his usually-cold eye, were loving and gentle, filled with unexpected warmth. I do so swear.

And Lyana Morelle, the voice continued, addressing Mira by the name she had adopted in order to win the Panarch’s heart, do you also swear to join with this man in seeking balance in your life? Do you claim him as your chosen soulmate for as long as there is sand in the hourglass?

Mira took in a deep breath to ready herself. I have to do this, she affirmed. This is what is right.

I do so swear.

Mira rose up on the tips of her toes to give herself the height she needed to reach his lips. The Panarch met her halfway and as their lips touche, something took hold of them both, bringing them closer together than ever before. The majik covered them like a blanket and joined their souls until there was no way they could ever be separated. United by the will of the Creator, they became one.

Mira felt more than saw the light that filled the air behind Terrence like a halo. That light, so warm and bright, was not a blessing but a terrible omen of what was to come. She shut her eyes tight, hoping against hope that she could will the light away and live just a little bit longer in the fantasy of being in her lover’s arms on their wedding day…

But the Creator was not so forgiving.

Mira pushed back from the man she’d married with reluctance.

Terrence, she told him, the words ripping out of her despite her intentions to remain silent. I am with child. I’m carrying your son and his name is Grace.

How do you know that?  He asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

The Creator has blessed us, Mira told him, the words feeling hollow even as she spoke them.

The Panarch’s look of confusion lasted longer than it should have, which was a measure of the trust he had in the false face and personality of the woman she’d invented for him. Even though this had been her plan all along, it tore her apart to see him like this; unknowing, unprepared for the fate that was about to befall him. Mira waited just long enough for the white light of the Creator to grow bright enough to consume them both and then she shoved him with every ounce of strength she could muster.

Lyana! Terrence screamed, falling backwards into the searing light.

Terrence! Mira didn’t need to feign the emotions that coursed through her as she screamed after him, lost in the horror of what she had just done. She watched, powerless to stop what she had set into motion, as the words of the Creator’s Prophecy peeled themselves from her skin to form the perfect key to the most perfect prison man or god could devise.

She strained, reaching into the void after Terrence even as she knew it was futile. The harder she tried to reach him, the further he got away from her. Whirling around, Mira searched the blurry faces of the crowd that had gathered to watch her wed the Panarch. Their faces didn’t matter. She couldn’t even make out their expressions, or whether they were shocked, angry or upset by what had just befallen their ruler at her hands.

Only one face in the crowd was clear. One set of steely grey eyes under dark brows met hers and seemed to understand what the sacrifice she had just made had cost her. His dark brown hair was in disarray and flopped in his eyes; he had soot marks and blood on his face and his formal gold-trimmed black mage robes were in a sad state. In addition to all this there was also a knife held to his throat, wielded by the hand of their mutual enemy, which glowed with the light of dangerous majik. Despite all of this his gaze was steady as his eyes locked with hers and he mouthed three all-important words.

I love you.

His silent promise echoed in her mind and she wanted nothing more than to say those same words back to him and collapse within the strength of his arms, but even though she knew Hope would forgive her, or perhaps had already forgiven her for loving Terrence, she wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to forgive herself.

Hope! I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…

Mira...it’s okay. It’s just a dream…

Mira sat bolt upright in shock, scuttling backwards on the bed until she smacked into the unforgiving wood of the rustic-style headboard and she instantly regretted the hasty movement. She swung her head around to her right, still disoriented enough from sleep to hope for the moment that she would find Hope’s brown hair, tanned skin and steel grey eyes waiting for her.

Her eyes lit upon Odark in the darkened room, his pale skin glowing faintly under the shadow of his dark brows and black hair. His green eyes were wide with concern, despite the fact that she had likely woken him from a deep sleep.

Without conscious direction, Mira’s hand went to her heart in a vain attempt to dampen the pain that came upon her with the remembrance that he was gone. It was the same as it had been for some time now; every night the same dream, only it was getting stronger.

Hope is gone, she repeated to herself, why can I never seem to make myself believe it? It’s been nearly ten years since he was taken from me.

Mira forced herself to breathe in and out and to focus on getting past the pain that the emptiness caused her. It was getting worse, not better. As each day passed she missed him more, not less. They said that grief healed with time, but perhaps the shock of what had happened that day and how it had changed her entire life was what made healing impossible for her.

Are you okay? Odark asked as their nightly ritual dictated.

I’m fine, Mira lied, taking in short shallow breaths to calm herself. Go back to sleep, I’ll just go get some air.

She kissed him lightly on the lips before pulling back and covering herself with the dark-coloured robe she’d hung on the bedpost the night before. Making her way to the partially-open door, Mira listened for the creak of the bedframe that let her know that he’d lain back down before she quietly let herself out of the room.

A single lamp on the kitchen counter downstairs partially illuminated the small family room from where it sat. Mira stared at it in surprise before she took notice of the shadowy form of her sister on the couch.

Guilty conscience? Elizabeth asked softly.

Instead of answering, Mira fell into a comfortable nearby armchair with a tired sigh, knowing that Elizabeth was just trying to needle her as she always did. She can’t possibly know how close she is to guessing the truth…

Her sister was her identical twin, with white-blonde hair framing an oval face and a thin frame. The only difference between them was that Elizabeth’s eyes were green while Mira’s were blue. Mira found the two small forms of her own twin daughters, one black-haired and one blonde, curled up with one on either side of Elizabeth and both of their heads draped in in their aunt’s lap.

They were rowdy and didn’t want to sleep, Elizabeth explained, still speaking softly though she needn’t have bothered; the twins were sound sleepers. Something about which pillow belonged to whom...you know, something we would have argued about at their age.

Yeah, you always stole mine, Mira reminisced with a slight smile.

Elizabeth shrugged. Yours was fluffier. I always beat mine into submission and you were so gentle with yours. Not anymore though, she continued, I hear you screaming at night. I’m sure your pillow is no more than a pile of feathers now...and not because Odark is a stallion in the bedroom.

It’s getting worse, not better, Mira admitted, rolling her eyes at her sister’s usual descriptive language before sighing at the reminder of her nightly problem. How many times do I have to go through losing him? My heart breaks every time I realize that he’s gone and I don’t know what to do about it anymore.

Mira was talking about Hope, but as far as Elizabeth knew the dream she had been having more and more frequently of late was only about Terrence. I don’t know why I can’t tell her the rest…maybe it’s just because I don’t want to hear her say ‘I told you so.’

Elizabeth shook her head. You should be talking about Hope, not Terrence, she stated and Mira winced at the reminder her words were, but I know you’ve got your reasons to be feeling the way you do. Have you tried talking about it? she asked. Not to me, I mean, but with Odark? Maybe letting it out will help you feel better.

I can’t talk to him about it, Mira told her sister, shaking her head in denial. I’m dreaming about another man, Elizabeth. Worst of all, I’m dreaming about marrying that other man, over and over again, and even more frequently in the past few weeks. I see it. I feel it. If I tell him that...it’ll hurt Odark too much.

That’s....problematic, she answered eventually, frowning. I see your point. No one in their right mind would say that to the man they married.

Thank you for pointing that out, Mira retorted sarcastically.

Well, I’m only trying to say that I don’t have a solution for you, Elizabeth replied honestly. I still think we should be going back home to our realm to find Hope but in regards to your nightmares my fount of wisdom and sisterly advice ends here. Where you are is uncharted territory for me. She shrugged helplessly, I don’t do commitment well.

Mira sighed again, feeling at a loss. Elizabeth’s right... she realized, it’s unfair of me to expect more from her. She has no way of knowing how I feel. She’s never been in love that I know of; not like this at any rate.

Let’s get the girls to bed, she said aloud. It’s late and neither of us are awake enough for a serious conversation.

Sure, Elizabeth agreed, though one day soon we’re going to have to have one. Hope can’t wait forever...

Hope... Even as often as her sister mentioned him, it still caused Mira pangs of grief each time she heard his name. There is no way that Hope could possibly be alive after all this time and even if he is…even if I could believe it, there’s so much that I would have to give up to go and look for him and for what? The slim chance that he might still be alive? That he might still be waiting?

Caralain would never show so much mercy…to either of us.

I’ll take Maggie, Mira said aloud, doing her best to dismiss Hope from her mind for the moment at least. You get Almora; she kicks.

Mira held her son’s jacket out for him to stick his arms in. At ten years old, Grace was the eldest of three and he was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy with a radiant demeanor. Unusually conscientious for his age, he took the time to put his lunch down on the chair in the hall so he could shrug into the coat, a half-eaten piece of toast sticking out of his mouth and a smudge of strawberry jam on his face.

Give me that, Mira told him, taking the toast as Grace buttoned his jacket up.

Grace, I’m leaving with or without you, Elizabeth called from outside the open door, sounding impatient.

I’m coming! Grace called back.

Will you give him five seconds to get ready? Mira snapped, raising her voice so her sister could hear her.

Mira, if you don’t stop coddling him, I really will leave without him this time, Elizabeth threatened. It’d probably do him good to learn to walk to school on his own at this age. He doesn’t need a sitter anymore.

Having buttoned up his coat, Grace turned to run after Elizabeth, not wanting to keep his aunt waiting any longer. In his haste to please her he left his lunch behind him on the chair.

Wait, Terrence - Mira began, reaching for the lunch bag.

Grace whirled in surprise and it took her son a beat to realize that Mira had been talking to him. Who’s Terrence, Mommy?

Her son’s innocent question hit her like a stone wall.

With the realization of what she’d inadvertently said the world seemed to shift beneath Mira’s feet, becoming an even more unsteady place than she had believed possible.

I’ve never told him about his father. I mean, I told him about Terrence Lee, the Panarch, but that was mostly just to teach him about this world’s history. Mira felt shame hit her like a brick wall. I mean, I never lied to him or tried to pretend that Odark was his father. I’ve just never told him that Terrence was; it was all just too complicated.

Mommy? Grace repeated, concerned now at the expression she must be wearing.

Tall for his age and long-limbed, with tanned skin and dirty-blonde hair that was just long enough to swing a little into his eyes, Grace was a miniature version of Terrence Lee; the man she had married and lost in the same day ten years ago.

It’s nothing, honey, Mira said quickly, kneeling down in front of the boy and using the hem of her apron to wipe the jam from his cheek.

What the hell is taking you two so long? Elizabeth demanded, poking her head into the entranceway with an impatient frown on her face and an empty grocery basket hanging from her arm.

Who’s Terrence, Aunt Elizabeth? Grace redirected his question to her.

Elizabeth looked from Grace’s innocent expression to Mira’s stricken one. Ah, she made a knowing sound, stepping fully into the front hall of the moderately-sized cottage. That’s a story for another time I think, Grace. You’ve got school, I’ve got to get to the shop and your mother’s going to have a veritable army of children here at any moment, so we’ve got to get a move on.

Okay, Grace agreed easily to Mira’s relief. He accepted his packed lunch from Mira’s outstretched hands without a backwards glance and he scurried to join his aunt at the door. Bye Mommy, he called back to her. See you later.

Mira waved half-heartedly to her son while mouthing a thank you over his head to Elizabeth.

Don’t think for a minute that you’ll get out of that question as easily as I did, Elizabeth told her bluntly, letting Grace out of the house before her and shutting the door with finality as she left.

The tears came in a rush, blinding Mira with a sudden wave of emotion that she couldn’t keep at bay. The flood was brief as she simply couldn’t allow herself the time to work through the feelings that her son had unknowingly unleashed.

Grabbing the hem of her apron once more, she brought the white fabric to her face and dried her eyes as quickly as she could before climbing to her feet. Her charges would be here any moment so she needed to get down to the outbuilding behind the house in time to greet them. She had twelve children under her care including her own twins.

Once, before she’d left her own realm for this one, she had believed she would become a trained Mage and one day work in the grand Capital city or one of the other colleges across the land, teaching other Magi to do what she could. Now, here in Nefall, she was no more than a daytime guardian of children between the ages of three and seven. By the end of the day Mira was exhausted but content; her life was simple and though it was hard work, she loved the lack of complications. Maggie tugged on her apron strings. Mira glanced down at her blonde-haired daughter with the sweet and sunny disposition.

Yes, baby?

Almora says she doesn’t have to help clean up because she helped yesterday and now it’s my turn, Maggie told her with an uncharacteristically serious expression on her face, but I helped clean up yesterday too, and so did you, so does that mean that none of us have to clean up today?

Well, we all have to help clean up every day so that we deserve dessert after dinner, Mira explained as patiently as she could, but if Almora doesn’t want dessert then that is up to her.

Maggie considered this a moment and then smiled, her face lighting up, but Almora wasn’t so easy to manipulate.

That sounds like a fair trade to me, dark-haired Almora noted, wise beyond her six years. I don’t like your cruddy applesauce anyways.

That’s a girl, Elizabeth’s voice came unexpectedly from the doorway of the kid’s playroom as she entered with a mischievous grin on her face. Keep outsmarting your mom like that and I’ll slip you some of my dessert when we have something better than applesauce.

Really? Mira questioned, unimpressed. Do you honestly think that you are helping?

That’s not really the point, is it? she remarked in a pointed fashion. Anyways, why don’t you girls run on back to the house and find your brother. I’ve got something I need to talk to your mommy about for a minute. Sister business.

The twins nodded knowingly, recognizing the code phrase and their identical little heads bobbed up and down in a serious fashion before they shared a grin between them and ran off, presumably to find Grace.

We have to talk, Elizabeth stated in a more serious tone than Mira was used to from her sister as she shut the door after the twins and took a moment to make a furtive glance out the curtained window. It’s bad Mira, really bad…

If it’s that bad, just tell me what it is before I imagine something even worse. Mira couldn’t help the way her heart beat faster at the warning note in Elizabeth’s voice.

Elizabeth’s expression as she met Mira’s gaze said very clearly that whatever Mira could imagine it wouldn’t be as awful as what she had to tell her. You’re not going to like this… Elizabeth hesitated. And before I tell you, I want you to know that Grace and I got out of there as fast as we could and I’m pretty sure that no one saw us leave…

It was then that Mira realized that her charges had only just left. Usually, Grace and Elizabeth would make it home much closer to dinnertime; it was far too early for her sister to be standing before her without something having gone wrong.

What is it already? Mira demanded, really worried now; it wasn’t like Elizabeth to draw something out like this.

Mirena’s come back, Elizabeth stated and Mira felt an unfamiliar emotion settle like a rock in her stomach. It was something she hadn’t felt in a very long time but she recognized it immediately; fear. She’s back from wherever she’s been these last ten years, but worse than that, she’s here.

Did she see you? Did she see Grace?

Of course not, Elizabeth said quickly, "I’m more careful than that. But it gets worse, Mira. Not only is your Mirror here but she also made some sort of announcement today. She’s taken the Keep and is telling everyone that it’s hers now. That’s bad enough, but she’s not alone. She’s got a man with her, and a little boy that looks an awful lot like Grace. I left before she had a chance to fully demonstrate her ‘right to rule’ but it’s only a matter of time before she hurts somebody and you get blamed for it."

We have to go, Mira stated. Now…as soon as possible. They’ll come for me. They’ll come for Grace…we can’t stay here.

The pounding of her own heart filled her ears until it was all she could hear. The sound of it, so like the loud and constant beating of a war drum, took her back to the last time she could remember having felt such terror. Back then the threat hadn’t been coming for her specifically, but it had still threatened the life she had built for herself and the same woman, her Mirror, had been ultimately responsible…

It sounded like thunder, but there were no clouds.

Word of the army’s approach reached them long after the sounds of the war drums could be heard on the wind from the south. Being outside of town, the small cottage Odark had been kind enough to allow Elizabeth and Mira to hide out in was naturally one of the last places to be advised of what was common knowledge at the Keep or in town.

Despite the sounds that had kept Mira on edge for hours, when the news officially came it was still a shock.

War? Elizabeth questioned. "Here? Are you fucking kidding me? We left home for this. It was supposed to be safe...aren’t you the one that always goes on and on about just how nice people are here?! How do you explain this?"

Even standing was a chore now for Mira as far along as she was in her pregnancy but there was no way she was going to take this news sitting or lying down. So she paced, back and forth, the continued motion the only thing keeping fear from overcoming her entirely.

It’s not like I could have predicted that this would happen, Mira countered, though in her mind she was thinking about how if war was here, then war was probably raging in the world she’d left behind as well. The two realms really were Mirrors of one another; it was more than just the people, events seemed to follow the same rules. We should have been safe so far away from the Capital… she told Elizabeth. I don’t understand what is going on...

We’re about to get trampled is what’s going on, Elizabeth exclaimed. The way I see it we’ve got two options, hide in the basement and hope this building is strong enough to withstand what’s coming, or book it out of here and try to make it to the Sentinal Stones and go back home.

A lancing pain struck Mira in her lower back and she staggered, reaching for the back of the sofa to support herself. Elizabeth, lost in her own thoughts, didn’t seem to notice Mira’s distress.

"I…I don’t think that I can use