“These petals draw out Formless poison. If you keep feeling bad, just repeat what you did here.”
“How much did I take in?”
He scratched his head. “That’s the problem with Formless poison. Once someone becomes poisoned, it hardly ever goes away completely. You have a better chance because you didn’t end up with any marks that we call Formless touch.”
“Formless touch?”
He moved some of his hair out of the way of his neck. I saw a black splotch of skin near the base of his hairline.
“A mark that’s left if Formless poison is left untreated. I was a stupid kid when I was attacked by a small one. What’s stupid was it….”
“It was…what.”
“It was Rakesh who killed it and saved me back then.” There was a can of worms that wasn’t meant to be opened. Loic’s face twisted with regret. He bit his lip harder, leaving red marks when he released his teeth.
He growled. “For some reason the amount you’ve been exposed to hasn’t caused any of these marks. You are either extremely lucky, or you have something protecting you.”
“Protecting me, from the poison? But back there, I felt like I was going to die…”
“And you very well could have. That mixture you drank is made from the dew of these flowers. They draw in and make Formless poison useless but once the antidote has taken in its equal weight in poison, it can’t negate anymore. One drop of dew for each drop of poison. By all accounts you should be more wounded then you are.”
He turned slightly to keep walking, but he lingered half turned for a bit looking back at me. I reached out to him but decided to pull back. I hugged my arm against my chest. I debated on whether to actually ask anything or not. I pulled my hand up and bit my finger lightly before dropping my hands and just asking.
I frowned. “Why do you think that is?”
He put his hands in his pockets. Keeping his eyes only half on me, staring at the ground.
“I don’t know. I doubt Chase even knows. Unless….”
“Loic?” my fists tightened, anticipating answers.
“He was looking into things before we left. Maybe that’s what we were called for.”
“Maybe.” My palms loosened uncertain if that was the answer I expected.
“Rayne, this has taken more lives than any war in our world. You might not feel it now but regardless of what power you may have, much more poison will kill you. The Formless can produce poison faster than we could ever hope to gather the antidote. Just keep that in mind. Magic is not a cure-all. Time is a factor in all things, we can only numb the pain so that you can heal.”
Why was he telling me all of this? Was this his way of saying ‘sorry I can’t cure you?’ ‘I’m sorry if this kills you?’ And how did this all relate back to meeting with Chase?
“You okay to stand then?” He sighed reaching his hand out to me.
The sickness seemed to pass for the time being. I nodded.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s go. Chase is waiting, isn’t he?”
Loic helped me up and kept a close eye on me. I held the remaining parts of the flower he had given me, and he pointed to it. I handed it over and Once we got inside, he placed the bloom in a vase with other types of flowers, that sat on an end table just outside Chases office. He plucked one more petal and handed that to me. a bit easier then caring the entire flower. He held open the door and We went to go meet Chase.
~
Chase stood waiting for us in his office. His eyes, glowing blue and red, were bright and alert, and his stance was firm. He had torn his office apart. There were books stacked everywhere around him, piled on every surface. The bookshelf behind him was bare. Had he gone through every book he owned? Even his chairs were pulled close to the bookshelves, like he was using them to reach the last few books. Even his clothing was a mess. He hadn’t tied his tie letting it hang like Loic often did, and his dress shirt and pants were wrinkled. His pale blonde hair, normally slicked back, hung over his face.
Without even a hello or a smile, he looked at me.
"Rayne, I know why Rakesh was after Luna, and why he's after you now."
I stepped towards him. "What? What does he want with me?"
"He wants the Mirror Stone!"
PART TWO
◊
Acceptance
I know you, but you don't know me.
I've walked beside you, held your hand, but you know nothing.
I'm merely the shadow of a stranger.
I've watched you grow, laugh and cry.
If you would fall, one look, and I would lift you up and ease your tears.
Sadly, I know you, but you don't know me.
I am merely the reflection of a stranger.
Together by destiny, apart with shame.
Too young to know, so young to cry, you shunned me, but I forgave you.
Because I know you, but you don't know me.
Time made you change, made me change with you.
I understand the reason, I deserved to go
Saying goodbye to the tender child.
I knew you, but you don't know me,
leaving me the shadow of a stranger.
--Poem that loosely inspired this story.
By C. Campbell
NINE
♦
Attacked
SEEMINGLY MEANINGLESS WORDS ECHOED back through my head. I was frozen, and I wasn’t even sure why. Loic’s expression was similar, locked on to Chase’s with his mouth open wide. Finally, Loic spoke.
"What did you say, Chase?"
"I said 'Rakesh wants the Mirror Stone.' "
Loic scoffed. "Old man, that's crazy. What makes you think that's what he wants?"
"Rakesh desires power. What's the most powerful object known to Reflections? It's the only thing that makes sense. He wants to take out the royal family.” He paused, looking down at the floor. He licked his lips not saying anything.
“So Isha?” was she really alone? The last of the monarch because of that man.
“She’s the last, except for you, being connected to Luna got you in this mess.” Loic interjected his eyes looking down as well before meeting up with Chases. The both of them looked up at once and chase continued to speak.
“Rakesh must have figured if I am going to do this, why not do it with the only thing more powerful than they are?"
"That's just a myth. Didn't the First try to find it and couldn't?"
Chase smacked his palm on a book. "That's exactly why Rakesh would seek it out."
"What, what are you talking about?” I interjected. “Who are the First?"
Chase sighed. "Ah yes, sorry you wouldn't know. Well, you have been told about our curse and the woman who went to the witch in the story, right?"
"Yeah, Loic told me."
"There's a part two of the story. When the realm of Mirror Image was created, two items were created as well. The Mirror Stone and the Night Mirror.”
I listened closely as soon as he said that. The shadow mentioned the Night Mirror.
“The Night Mirror is supposedly what makes our worlds parallel, splitting Mirror Images of people from this world. The Mirror Stone is the key to that separation. The only thing to protect us from being swallowed by the Night Mirror. If that door were to ever be opened the worlds would fall into one another."
Chase came close to me and picked up the stone on my neck.
"These stones, ones given to every Reflection to multiply their powers, were believed to be shards of the Mirror Stone. They hold a similar power but compared to it, these are just glass."
“It’s that powerful?” Why had they given it to me?
“Yes. The closest equivalent would probably be the philosopher’s stone. Alchemists believed it could bypass the limits of the world, break the laws of nature, even transcend death. That’s the Mirror Stone in our legends. The source of all of the magic in Mirror Image i
n a dormant state.”
I had something that strong? Was that where my magic came from? Thinking back on it I had no proof for, or against, the idea.
Loic sighed. "How you figure that's what he wants anyway?"
“Her.” Chase looked right at me. I jumped, but he only released the stone and continued.
“Something the Light Weavers said when I spoke with them struck me. It wasn’t long after you met with them, they spoke through the mirror in my office. ‘The girl has a key that doesn’t belong to her.’ Added to the Formless’ unnatural attraction to Rayne while ignoring other worthy victims, and her affinity for magic. That’s the only explanation.”
Loic narrowed his eyes. “So, an Original from the states just so happens to be linked with our princess, and just so happens to have a mythical idem in her possession? Chase…do you know how strange that sounds. More than strange. More like a complete crock. Anyone who didn’t know you would have you committed.”
“This coming from the boy who read every novel in my collection because he wanted the be the Chosen Hero, no matter how much the reasons were handwaved.
Loic grunted. “Just because the author handwaves in their story doesn’t mean I can’t pick out the flaws in logic in real life!”
“Lad, humans find patterns in everything. Yes, these coincidences do seem a bit farfetched, but they aren’t impossible. It’s less unbelievable knowing who her reflection is.”
“What does Luna have to do with this?” Loic demanded.
“There was a time that we thought she might have had it,” Chase admitted, turning away from Loic.
“Wait, seriously?” Loic blurted. He scratched his head so fast and frantically I thought he’d set his hair on fire. “And no one thought to, I don’t know, check if the princess had the most important object in our lore?”
Chase circled his desk now in front of it. he looked at Loic still addressing his question.
“I informed the king of my suspicions, but he dismissed it. Luna was far too young to endure the method of searching for it.” He turned to face me this time, his face looking worn and his eyes dulled, seeming sad. “Also, we were in a time of conflict when I mentioned it, so it was pushed aside for more pressing matters.”
“I’ll never understand that man’s priorities.” Loic spat.
“Understand them or not, it was our duty to serve him. Knights serve the king. That is that.” His eyes narrowed he turned to Loic looking stern, like his eyes were peering through him.
“You should understand that better than anyone, Loic.” His tone stretching to hide irritation.
“Yeah, and I also understand how blind duty can backfire horribly.” Loic spat, his body tensing like he was getting ready to hit something, but he only clenched his fists and stood still.
“We can only use that knowledge to move on and do what we have to do.” Chase shifted his glance from Loic to me.
Loic paced. I watched him go from one end of the room to the other. He kept silent but he alternated from shifting his hair to lightly biting his finger. Even his pacing felt jerky, not smooth. He changed his direction in mid stride sometimes before completing his lap. And even though he was near the other side of the room now I could hear his breath changing sporadically. Everything about Loic in this moment read as frustration. I couldn’t imagine how he felt with this news. Chase tapped my shoulder to get my attention again, pulling me away from watching Loic.
"Think about it. The Mirror Stone, It's a source of power. Where all of the magic in Mirror Image comes from.”
I chewed my lip. “So, if I have it, I’m the strongest here?”
“Yes and no. we don’t entirely know what the stone itself can do in its current state. The stone chips I showed you before were once part of the stone. An external shell of it so to speak. When they broke off, they would have taken some of the power with them. This would make the stone less powerful. However, having it would mean is you have the potential to harness every form of magic we know of. Potential is everything, my dear. Even Loic and I, who are strong in our own rights are limited to a few forms of magic.”
“A few forms?” They seemed very powerful to me.
“Loic is skilled with aura manipulation and memory magic. The runes he uses are tied to those powers. Sure, he can use those to his advantage in combat, manipulating his aura to become different weapon forms, but all of his powers derive from the same source. For example, he isn’t able to use any elemental magic, and his transporting magic is weak, useable but not his strongest suit. It takes a lot of concentration for him to get from one place to another.”
Chase chuckled, and Loic crossed his arms. “I end up in Antarctica one time and never live it down…I see how it is.”
“I jest lad. No one can be expected to be the best at everything. This was why the witch was thought to be so powerful. Knowing even a little about a type of magic can be an asset.”
Loic sniffed. “Why don’t you tell her your weaknesses then?”
“Very well.” Chase shrugged. “My skills lie in knowledge and water magic. This is why I find it easy to travel through water sources, versus normal reflective objects. I’m not as good at breaking or casting curses. While I have knowledge of runes, I can hardly use them to any effect.”
That explained the silver liquid tricks he did and his difficulties with his own curse. I frowned in thought. If Rakesh wanted the Mirror Stone so he could have the potential to do any kind of magic, then could he break the Mirror Image curse? Could he bring the worlds together? If so, would that end up in paradox or did he think he could stop it with this power? I could only picture tearing open a bag of chips with force. Sure, you got it open but most of your chips were in your hair.
I rabbit trailed thinking about chips landing on a Formless head, being eaten by tar. Focus, Rayne. I silenced my imagination and listened in on the conversation.
Chase and Loic were silent, staring at me. Waiting for me to speak. I cleared my throat.
“Um, just potential is what he wants?” I asked.
“Rakesh desires power. If he's not on top, he's powerless in his eyes." Chase explained.
"It's never been found. How do we even know what it is?" Loic spoke, approaching, breaking his pace a crossed the room to interject.
I listened, and my head began to hurt.
"The First,” he paused and sighed. “The first reflections to arrive in Mirror Image, thought it would be in our realm of existence as a stone at the time, but it wasn't."
"And what does that have to do with me?" I interrupted.
"According to the Light Weavers, it's sealed inside you Rayne."
I started. The Light Weavers from earlier haunted me. ‘You have something he wants if we tell you he will only find it faster.’
So, I had the most powerful object in Mirror Image inside of me somehow. What was next I’d have the ark of the covenant buried in my backyard? I tried to clear my head and process everything that led to this point. Having something inside me would possibly explain the magic. Never once did I ever try to create lights or a shield that I could remember. I didn’t have enough evidence to prove or even disprove any of this. Was I actually a chosen one of some kind? Or was there more that I should be worried about?
And how did the stone get there? "What, in me? How?"
"In your soul to be exact. It was believed, in later years, that the Mirror Stone wasn't a physical stone per say, but actually a being that needed a host. I’m sure that host is you." Chase gestured towards me, as he spoke.
I couldn't believe it. Then a familiar feeling of dread surrounded me. I found myself covering my chest instinctively. Had I done this before? I did have a habit of clutching my sketchbook and purse to my chest when I was nervous. Was it all tied to this or was I overthinking? Even after my accident I’d hold a blanket to me, and toys as well. It would be understandable that I would shield my head from things after the accident. But every memo
ry, I would protect my chest. And then there was the pulse. It always started at my core. Telling me, warning me about something happening. Pulling me to do something, to start something. It wanted me to confront Loic, it wanted me to save him. It wanted me to protect my classmates. I could only guess that it had been this stone he was talking about.
Something so strange was starting to make sense. Was I going insane? Why was this so easy to accept? Maybe because everything had been true so far, aka horrible and dangerous for me. All of the proof with the Formless and the magic I’ve seen so only made it easier to accept that I could have this important thing in me.
Chase sighed and looked past me to the mirror that I knew sat in the corner of the room. I thought about everything Chase had said while he wasn’t talking anymore. Nothing made sense to me, not in what a normal life should be. On the other hand, all of the magic I had seen and the things I had done so far, knowing this stone might be a thing helped those same things make some sense. I sat thinking about the pieces and the contradictions in silence. Then I heard Loic address Isha;
"Isha!" Loic sounded surprised. The door to the office creaked closed fully and her footsteps got louder, coming up from behind me.
I felt her hand rest on my shoulder, I twitched with her touch and I looked up at her.
Chase bowed his head politely. "I've asked Isha to try to solve this little mystery for us. Only a member of the royal family can force the stone into this existence, so she could tell if Rayne does have the stone within her." He picked up his pipe and started lighting it up.
Isha circled around me, both of us now face to face. What would this entail? My chest felt tight and I crossed my arms in front of my chest but forced myself to set my arms at my sides. I clenched my fists and felt them cooling with sweat. Isha looked at me, her icy blue eyes shifted looking from me to her palm. Her silver long hair was pinned up, almost to keep it out of the way and she was dressed in a simple white dress. This was a bit plain for her. With her being a queen, I would have expected her to always look as regal as she did when we first met. Here she just looked like a normal mom. And just like my mom usually looked, Isha looked nervous. I noticed she was sighing and rubbing her fingers together, delaying the movement I thought she was making towards me. She gathered aura in her hand, and she looked in my eyes.
Glass Souls (Reflection Book 1) Page 26
