A Life Beyond The Mirror

I blink open my eyes, rubbing the haze from them. What the hell happened? My ears are ringing. I feel the soft wet grass underneath me as I move to sit up, finding one of my arms hanging limply at my side. Like my dream. I reach into the ether for the potions sack, but before I can grasp it, the ballroom erupts in flames. Purple flames. Panic races through me, filling my head with buzzing. I breath deeply head between my knees. I can’t let her win. I need to change the course of the dream. I take my bag from the ether, and I throw the satchel over my shoulder and start to make my way back, dodging the fae running towards me, panicked and scattered, these people run for their lives, screaming. I push the best that I can, but the mob is reluctant to let me through knocking me to the ground. People are stepping on me, I try to get back up, but I am pushed into the wet ground by the herd. This is exactly why my mother never let me go to any concert with a mosh pit. I curl into a ball and try to protect myself, waiting for the mass to stop, until two strong hands scoop me off the ground and within a blink we are away from the castle and under a colossal tree, reaching up into the sky, on the outside of the castle walls. I look back to see the flames flickering and devouring all in its path, the flames turning violet with bursts of heat. I make a move to run back, but a firm hand grips my arm. Turning me towards them. I wince at the tenderness before looking at my captor.

“Finn!” I cry, wrapping my good arm around his neck. He hugs me tightly back.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what was going on. Your arm, are you okay?” he asks, gently moving my wrist to which I wince again. I feel for my bag, but it’s gone. I must have dropped it in the crowd.

“I’ll be fine. What happened? I got knocked out.”

“I know, we heard you. We all heard you scream and it woke us up. It shattered the dream we were all stuck in.” he says, pulling me tightly too him again. “I heard you, I could you hear you calling to me, but I couldn’t do anything, I’m so sorry.” He says kissing my head.

“It’s okay it wasn’t your fault, but we need to get in there and make sure everyone is safe.”

“No, stay here, your hurt. I’ll go.”

“Not alone. We stick together.” I kiss him hard, before running back to the castle. When he catches up, he grabs my hand and transports us back to the courtyard, most of the guests have made it out and are making their way out of the castle walls, through the purple smoke, I spot Gran tending to someone’s ankle. Our eyes meet and she runs up to me and hugs me.

“I thought I’d lost you.” She whispers. I pull away quickly.

“We need to make sure everyone is out. Have you seen the fates, Hali or Rowan?” she gives me a sober look.

“The fates are safe; they have been transported to a safe house. Rowan can’t find Hali.” I move to run back into the ballroom.

“No! We need to make a plan. We can’t run in there blind! If she’s still there she has the upper hand.” She urges, digging through her bag. “Here take this.” She says before gripping my arm and jerking it back into place. I scream in agony, before I am downing the liquid.

“No warning?” I say through gritted teeth. Finn holding me steady. I won’t forget his treachery anytime soon.

“If I would have given you warning, you would have made things more difficult.” She sighed, “Now sit down whist that takes effect and we can make a plan.”

“We can’t just leave her in there. What if she’s hurt or trapped!” I stand on my tip toes, looking over the crowd for her bright blonde hair. Rowan catches my eye and makes his way towards us, panic morphing his features. I’ve never seen him like this, and it makes my chest tighten in fear.

“You can find her. Use your head!” My Grandmother shouts tapping me on the temple.

I close my eyes focusing on her. “Brighid is taking her to the mirror. If you can transport us to the seer’s tower, we can beat them there.” I say.

Rowan and I take Finn’s hand and with a zip, we are in the seer’s tower. Finn crumbles to the floor beside me, a dagger protruding out of his back. “No!” I drop to my knees, putting pressure on the blood oozing wound. Three cloaked figures move into view. Blocking the doorway.

“Rowan Please, get him out of here.” I cry, Rowan hooks, Finn’s arm over he his shoulder and heaves him off the floor.

“No, we can’t leave you.” He says.

“I need to save Hali. Go!”

“Well, look who joined the party!” Brighid arrived dragging a bound Hali, beside her. “I’m glad you stuck around, Thea. I have a proposal for you.” She gives an evil smile; her henchmen surround us.

“Please just let us go, you lost, you can’t marry Finn.”

“Marry Finn? Oh, you fool! Finn was a means to an end! I was going to kill him as soon as I was queen anyway! So how about we cut to the chase. I will let everyone go. If you come with me, you will do as I say and come willingly or I will kill everyone here.” She nods to the cloaked men, who grip Finn and Rowan, holding the blades digging into their necks. She takes out her own knife, digging it into Hali’s cheek. She whimpers. Rowan tries to break free, but that causes Brighid digs in the knife more.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, soldier.” He freezes, his eyes glowing.

“You have one minute, Thea. What’s your decision?” She says tapping her foot. Dragging the knife against Hali’s cheek. She cries out.

“Stop!” I shout. She pauses.

“Please, Thea you can’t go with her.” Finn pleads, his voice hoarse.

“You will let them all go?”

“Thea, No!” Hali shouts, crying, her tears mixing with her blood.

“Yes, I will not harm them. For now.” I look back at Finn, his eyes imploring me to listen to him. I kneel down and kiss him.

“Please.” He begs, his complexion pasty.

“I’ll go. Rowan, please get him to my grandmother.”

“No!” Finn tries to fight. “Please, we can fix this, together.” I stroke the hairs from his forehead. Sweat slicks his skin.

“There’s no time left. I choose for you to live.” I kiss him again. “I love you.”

“You can’t say that and then leave with her!”

Brighid laughs again. “So sweet!”

I turn to Rowan. “Take him now.” I urge before my gaze turns back to Brighid. “Cut Hali free, once I see them leave, I will go with you.” She nods to her henchman, and I hug Hali tightly as soon as she’s free. “Please look after them.” Before she’s pushed towards the door.

“We can’t have you seeing where we are taking you.”

“No!” Finn shouts, before I feel a sharp pain in the back of my head, and I black out.