A Life Beyond The Mirror

“Happy Birthday Thea!” My mother says rushing into the room. I smile at her as she sits on the edge of my bed and hands me a present.

“Thanks Mum.” I smile and begin to unwrap the present as Gran, makes her way upstairs. Slower than usual for my mother’s benefit. I rub the layers of sleep from my eyes. For a girl who slept for two days, I feel exhausted. Hali left and went to check on Finn. I haven’t heard back from her since, which scares me more than I care to think about. My Gran gives me a brave face, joining my mother on the end of my bed.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been here lately. The job has really pulled me under, and when I get home your either at Hali’s or already asleep. She gives me a weak smile.

“Sorry Mum.” She swats away my apology.

“Don’t apologise. I’m so glad you have found some friends and it’s not like I’m here most of the time anyway.” She smiles again, pushing stray hairs from her powdered cheeks.

I finish unwrapping the present to reveal a gorgeous silver dress. A modest V-neck with loose shoulder capped sleeves. As I lift it out of the box, I can see that it’s a wrap dress, the skirt is loose fitted and comes to around mid-calf.

“Gran mentioned attending a wedding today. I thought you might need a new dress for the occasion.” Her sweet gesture constricts my heart, and it takes everything in me not to cry.

“Thank you, Mum, I love it.” I smile and hug her tight.

“Mine next, my grandmother says and hands me a box a similar size to the one my mother gave me.” As I open it up, I see a long white cloak, that sparkles in the sunlight. “It was mine. I thought you could bring it with you in case you get cold.” She winks at me.

“Cold? It’s July!” My Mother laughs.

“Still, it is an outdoor wedding.” My Gran says moving back to the staircase. “I’m going to start your special pancake breakfast.” She nods.

“Thank you, this will go lovely with my dress.” I smile.

“You had best start getting ready, I will bring your pancakes up to you in around 20 minutes.” She smiles before heading downstairs. As she opened the door at the bottom, I hear the clatter of claws as Toby bounds up the stairs and straight onto the bed, waggling his butt for affection. I quickly oblige.

“Are you looking forward to the wedding?” My Mother asks. I can’t blame her. She knows nothing.

“Yes, it should be lovely.” I feel myself smile but it doesn’t reach my eyes.

“How did you get an invite?”

“It’s a family friend of Hali’s. I’m her plus one.” My Mum nods once in understanding.

“Well, I hope you have a great day. I’m going to be heading into the office this morning, so hopefully I will see you when I get home?”

“I’m not sure. I might be staying at Hali’s; in case we get back to late.”

“Of course. I will se you tomorrow then.” She makes her way across the room, before turning again. “How about next Saturday we spend the day together? We can do whatever you want?”

“That would be great, Mum.” I smile and she returns with her very own, before she leaves the room.

The day I have dreaded most has finally arrived. I get up, starting to get ready for the mayhem that is about to unravel. The fact that Hali didn’t comes back, leads me to believe she is under the control of Brighid now, too. Just like my dream showed me she would be. If anything happens today, I want to make sure everyone I love is safe. Away from the tyranny of Brighid’s rein. I pray, everyone will come out of this unscathed, that Finn won’t marry her and maybe we can save my Father. All wishful thinking but I must stay positive.

After a quick shower I start on my face. I’m going for a blending in effect at this wedding so I go for a natural look. I dry my hair and start to heat up the curling tongs. As I wait, I glance at the clock. 11:15. I have an hour before I need to get out of here.

“You look beautiful dear.” My Gran says, walking into my room with a pile of chocolate chip pancakes with maple drizzle and a candle in the top. She sets the steaming pile of deliciousness in front of me, and I blow out the candle. “Now eat them up. You’ll need your energy.” She smiles, half-heartedly.

“Thank you.” I take a forkful and let the sweet sugary taste coat my tongue, savouring it. I let out a soft moan of gratitude.

“I really don’t like this plan of yours, but you are a woman after my own heart. I know if I don’t help you, you will do it alone anyway.” She sighs. “That cloak I gave you earlier. It is enchanted. When you wear it, you will not be able to be identified. Just another face in the crowd. Wear it for as long as you can.” She says, sitting on the edge of my bed. “Have you heard from Hali yet?”

“No, I think she’s under the spell.”

“I thought so. Just please promise me. If things get bad you will not do anything rash. You need to be safe.” She implores.

“I will.” I lie.

“Time to go sweetheart.” I make my way down the stairs to wear my gran stands I the kitchen. “You look wonderful dear.” She smiles. She is wearing a burgundy dress, will a long full skirt. Her hair, intricately wrapped into small circles at the base of her skull. “These transportation charms will take us to just outside the castle walls, from there, we will join the crowd of people making there way to the castle for the ceremony. Are you ready?” she asks, leaning forward to pull the hood up on my cloak, adjusting it so it covers my eyes from sight.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I say pulling back a bit of the wrap dress to reveal a thigh belt with the dagger and a few potions tucked inside.

She begins to pour the yellow liquid in a circle around us, corking it and taking my hand. “Remember your dream. She throws death magic at you. Please for the love of the fates, dodge it.” She says sternly. The yellow circle starts to glow and spin, rising through the air, creating a column of glowing golden light around us. I shut my eyes as the light begins to blind me and when I reopen them, I find myself outside of the castle, looking up at the high white walls.

“Quickly, join the crowd.” My gran ushers me in, grasping my hand tightly. The line of people entering the castle walls all look solemn; they’re faces drawn in and definitely don’t look like they are about to attend a wedding. “Do you know how you are going to break the spell?”

“Well, shouting didn’t work in the vision. I was going to try and send a message. Hopefully, I can find a bit of them still there and bring them forward.” My Gran looks at me sceptically.

I haven’t taught you that.”

“I have to try something, It’s the only shot we have!” I exclaim through a whisper, trying not to draw attention to us. We pass through the main doors of the castle and the crowd veers to the left to take their seats in the ballroom. I stop still when the scene opens up in front of me. The white petals falling from the sky like snowflakes. The room filled with white flowers, some flowers I recognise, lilies and roses and others I don’t, I presume they are native to the fae world. I hug my gran, one last time, before I go ahead to find Hali. I find her exactly where she was in the dream. I wave my hand in front if her face, but am met with a blank stare, gazing straight through me as if I were a ghost. The thought sends a chill up my spine. I take her hands and call to her in her mind. Hali, please snap out of it! It’s me! When her only response is a slow blink, I try to read her mind. Her mind sees her surroundings, but she has no feelings. She can’t see me. She can’t hear me.

“Please Hali!” I shout shaking her. Nothing. I turn and see Finn approaching the altar. I run to him, cupping his cheeks in my hands. Please Finn, wake up. His vacant eyes, boring through me. I press my forehead against him. No sparks, no tingles. Just warm skin. A burning tear streaks my face as the procession music starts, the petals begin turning black. The bride enters, her black dress, rippling along the floor like hot tar, the smell so putrid, the flowers begin to wilt in her presence. Her black veil covering her face. I pull back the hood of my cloak and take step towards the aisle.

“They’re mine now.” She says right on cue.

“What have you done to them?” I shout, my Gran standing in the back of the ballroom watching the events unfold, slowly making her way around the edge of the room.

“Me? I’ve done nothing.” She says placing a hand on her heart. “They are all dreaming, Dear.” My eyes widen in shock and she lets out a full bellied laugh. “What did you think I needed your father for? Very skilled that man, a little threat is all it takes to make dear Daddy do whatever I wish.” She says goading. “I wonder if Finn sees you in his dream?” She smiles maniacally.

“Why?”

“Because! I deserve the best; I deserve to rule over all these beasts. The Seelie have looked down on us for millennia! We were always the lower species! Never-ending wars, we lived in squalor, while they lived the high life. Well, it’s time for a new reign. Mine!” she says pulling back her veil, revealing her face.

“Rose? You can’t be serious!” I say, almost disappointed. Her face reddens with anger.

“I think it’s time for you to go. Goodbye Thea.” She throws her hand out, releasing the putrid smelling magic, I dive out of the way, pulling a dagger from my belt and throwing it at her. Hitting her in the thigh. “Uurgh, you bitch!” she says and throw her hand one more time, throwing me through the tall glass windows and out into the courtyard. I scream, flying through the air until I hit the ground. Darkness enveloping me.