The Gifted Sisters and the Golden Mirror

by Rachel Crist

  I recall my desire to go heal him, but the king tugged my chain when he felt me flinch forward. Why wouldn’t he let me heal his son? All I needed was to touch him and his life would’ve been saved.

  Kgar tugs on my chain again. “Keep up, you wench!”

  My dress and hair cling to my skin as I do my best to keep up with their grueling pace. He is following the Scree, who I overheard saying she must find a safe place to establish her portal link to the Enchanter.

  “I don’t understand why we’re running? Can’t you stop her?” the king snaps.

  “Of course I can stop her! Do you doubt me even now?”

  “I saw your doubt the moment she unleashed her power. Don’t tell me you didn’t feel it too? I was afraid this stupid stone would not protect me!”

  The Scree hisses through her teeth.

  “I don’t doubt the Enchanter’s power, and neither should you. So hold your tongue.” Her anger casts a haunting shadow across her face.

  A shout comes from behind us. “Hey!”

  A unmasked assassin comes running up the hall. The Scree pushes her hands out and sends a blast of wind hurling towards him. He throws himself to the side, barely dodging the blast. Getting back up, he runs his hand through his hair and I instantly recognize him—it’s Reddik!

  The Scree sends another blast of air, but Reddik dodges it. The blast explodes against the wall behind him, sending chunks of stone scattering everywhere.

  “Reddik!” I shout.

  When the Scree attempts to send another blast of air, I lunge out and push her down. The gust of wind goes off course and shatters the color-paned windows, bestrewing glass across the floor. The king jerks me back and kicks me to the ground.

  “Stay there, you bitch!”

  Ignoring the sharp pain, I watch in horror as the Scree sends her final blast of air, hitting Reddik squarely in the chest. The force slams him against the wall and he crumbles to the floor.

  I release an agonizing scream. My gift comes swiftly, snapping to the surface. The Scree cocks her head to the side. “Oh, sweetie, did you know him?”

  Her mocking tone ignites a fire inside me. I push myself up off the ground. Kgar goes to tug on my chain, but I whip my head around, “Don’t you dare pull that chain.”

  Taking heed of my tone he relaxes his grip. I turn my attention back to the Scree. “I don’t know who you think you are, but I’m done seeing you and the king harm innocent people.”

  The Scree cackles. “My dear, I am a Woman of the Scree, blessed by the Enchanter himself. He protects me from the ignorant mistakes you people make. You might think you are done with me, but there is nothing you can do to stop me. I know what your gift is, my dear Livia. And I don’t believe it can stop me. The Enchanter informed me long ago of you and your sister. He created the both of you with the help of his dear old friend, Queen Bellflower. You belong to him.”

  What did she mean he created the both of us? The Scree’s lip curls up. “Let me tell you a little secret. When your father called on the Enchanter to help his bride bear him a child, I was the one who administered her cure. So who do you think made that concoction?”

  My heart thumps loudly in my ears as the Scree continues, “I helped your mother drink the cup of Queen Bellflowers’ blood. Her blood allowed the gift to manifest inside Queen Kyra and implant the magical powers of old inside her offspring. Your healing gift cannot stand up against the Enchanter’s power, so stop being a child, and do as you’re told.”

  I smile sweetly as the Scree sneers down her nose. She has no idea that beneath my skin I have been caressing a different spark of my gift.

  “Well, I have a secret as well, a gift your Enchanter doesn’t even know about.” I lurch forward and grab hold of her arm. Her eyes widen in surprise. “Death.”

  I release my gift and her body stiffens before crumbling to the floor. Then to my surprise, her skin changes color to gray. I step back as her skin continues to transform. It wrinkles and sags to her bones, then flakes away. Her once lustrous locks fade to white as my gift reveals her true age. Her body continues to waste away until she is but a pile of dust.

  My mouth hangs open in shock.

  The chain to my collar slackens as King Kgar darts hurriedly away. I rush after him and grab hold of his robes.

  “Please don’t kill me. I’ll do anything. If you want to leave, you’re free to go. Just please, don’t kill me.” He falls to his knees, begging for his life. His pathetic behavior doesn’t surprise me. I grab hold of his necklace and snap it off his neck. In that moment, he whips up and pushes me to the ground before running off down the hall. But he doesn’t get far before freezing in place.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Vera comes running up the corridor along with a masked assassin who is carrying the limp body of the small child. He stops near Reddik as Vera quickly runs to my side.

  A pulling sensation draws me towards her and a strange feeling passes over me. Suddenly I know what to do. I grab Vera’s hand. Her eyes flash to mine and the room around us disappears.

  31

  Golden Mirror

  The moment the sisters touch, thunder claps across the entire four kingdoms. All over people feel the ground shake. Most continue on with their activities without giving it a second thought. Others, however, know the meaning and weep.

  Livia and Vera stand, hands together; mist, in brilliant shades of violet and blue, shrouds them. They look around, taking in their dream world from a common side.

  Vera: What did you just do?

  Livia: I believe we bonded.

  Vera: Bonded?

  Livia: Didn’t you feel it? Like something snapping into place the moment I touched you?

  Vera: I did feel something. Yes, I feel complete, like I’ve discovered the missing piece to a puzzle.

  Livia smiles.

  Vera: Where’s the golden mirror?

  The mist parts, revealing the antique mirror. The sisters look to one another, and their brows rise.

  Livia: There has to be a connection in our minds that keeps bringing us to this place. What do you know about the magic of old?

  Vera: Not much.

  Livia: Well, I tried to find information about this mirror. Apparently, it’s a relic from Guardian Pynth that’s been handed down from ruler to ruler. The last to have acquired the mirror was Queen Bellflower.

  Vera: Now her, I do know.

  Livia: Well, when she and the magic disappeared, so did the mirror.

  Vera: It seems strange that it showed up in a dream.

  Livia: Well, no one knows where the mirror went. Wherever it was, it seems to have found us through the magic.

  Livia tells Vera what the Scree said, and about the prophecy.

  Vera: Our mother drank Bellflower’s blood? Why would she do such a thing?

  Livia: She was barren, and desperate to conceive.

  Vera: But to drink blood?

  Livia: I know; I am not even sure I would be willing to do that. Anyway, soon after, the Enchanter must have planted that prophecy in the king’s ear, making it seem that magic would return through Queen Bellflower’s heirs. I believe the Enchanter had a plan and knew what he was doing. When the Scree confessed how magic came to us, it all made sense. The Enchanter can’t leave his temple, so why not use King Kgar to bring forth his plan—to breed for himself an army of the gifted.

  Vera: But why would the Enchanter need an army? Why would he be willing to trust his fate to someone like King Kgar?

  Livia: I don’t know. Maybe he thought it would help him break his curse. Using King Kgar was the only way for him to have someone do his bidding. He knew the Western and Northern Kingdoms wouldn’t help. King Kgar already wanted ultimate power, so why not use the king’s goals? The Enchanter has nothing but time on his hands.

  Vera: And he started by planting the Scree at the king’s side to manipulate him. So he was able over time to guide the king to where he could collect us, and hand us o
ver. The Enchanter is more cunning than the king after all. I should’ve known.

  Livia: How could you? I’m sure the king didn’t give you time to think about what the Enchanter might be plotting.

  Vera: No, he didn’t. My life has been spent trying to survive. It’s still shocking that he never told me of you. That’s why it was so hard for me to believe you.

  Livia grabs Vera’s other hand.

  Livia: Vera, I never knew of you either. I was furious when I found out. Especially after I uncovered the true identity of my parents. I thought that was going to be the biggest shock of my life. When I discovered where you had been the whole time, my heart broke for you. Our people abandoned you. I wanted you to know, Vera, even though I had never met you, that I hoped we would find one another and become the best of friends. To know I had a sister with the same blood as my own made me feel like I wasn’t alone anymore.

  Vera feels something break inside her. This whole time she’s thought of her sister as this manipulative monster. But here she is, standing in front of her, and baring her soul for Vera to see. How could Livia have had an instant positive feeling about someone she’d never met? Vera feels a pureness from Livia that somehow feels familiar. She can’t quite put her finger on it.

  Something moves inside the mirror.

  Livia: Did you see that?

  Vera nods. Still holding hands, they both go over to look into the mirror. A bright light flashes out from the glass. A woman with long, dark hair and pale skin appears; she stares out with the same bright violet eyes as the twins.

  Livia: Queen Bellflower?

  The queen doesn’t respond. It’s as if she’s looking beyond them, as if the girls are not there.

  Vera: Isn’t she supposed to be dead?

  Suddenly, the queen speaks in a distant tone.

  Queen Bellflower: On the eve of Hellbore, they will come. Three shall perish, one must decide. Travel through the sands of time, or die. The one marked will set her free.

  Queen Bellflower fades away and the mirror’s reflection stands empty.

  Vera: What does that mean?

  Livia: It sounds like a warning.

  Vera: Well, to be honest, I don’t like the sound of it.

  Vera looks down at their entwined hands. She sees the scars that line her own and the smooth skin of her sister. The scars Vera wears were to protect a small boy—realization finally dawns on her. Zyrik! Livia’s pureness is the same as Zyrik’s!

  Vera: Livia we must get back to Zyrik! I was told your gift is healing—is it true?

  Livia studies her sister with sad eyes. She can’t ignore the desperate hope pouring out of Vera. She sees the brutal scars on her sister’s hands and arms; she knows the nightmarish things Vera has had to endure in her life. Livia closes her eyes and pushes her gift into Vera.

  Vera’s eyes widen as she feels the warm tingle of her sister’s gift. She watches as her scars slowly fade away, until all the marred flesh on her body is healed.

  When Livia finishes, she opens her eyes and sees tears running down Vera’s face. Vera doesn’t realize they are falling until Livia reaches up and wipes them away. Vera can’t believe her sister has just healed her brutal scars. The wall that was built up inside her chest completely breaks away.

  A flash of light reflects off the mirror and a whirling wind encircles the sisters. Their hair dances around them as the mist returns and trickles into their skin. The bond they felt earlier becomes unbreakable.

  They can’t deny the bond that has formed between them. They embrace one another for the first time in their lives. The king had it all wrong. The bonding that needed to happen for magic to thrive wasn’t between man and woman, but between two sisters bearing the magic of old.

  Vera: For so long I lived with those scars, letting them define me. I can’t believe they are gone. No longer do I have to be reminded of those painful memories.

  Livia: Vera, I can’t promise that I can save the boy, but I will try. I will do everything I can as long as there’s a pulse inside him.

  Vera: That’s all I ask.

  Livia: It’s up to you to decide what to do with the king. I’ll support whatever decision you make. I know you are healed physically, but I also know you have scars deep within that I cannot heal. Only time can heal those.

  Vera knows the king needs to pay for his tyranny and for the torture he doled out to her all these years. Her sister might have shown her love and helped break down the walls around her heart, but the anger that has been built up is still there, unconstrained.

  Livia releases Vera’s hands and reality comes whirling back.

  32

  Vera

  Kgar remains frozen in place, a terrified expression on his face. I allow my anger to flood back as Livia rushes to Zyrik’s side. My gift sparks at my fingertips. This time there’s a fullness to my gift that wasn’t there before. It feels stronger.

  My lips rise in a snarl. “Well, it seems you’ve found yourself alone and unguarded, and facing a very angry girl.”

  The king's expression shifts back into his well-practiced outrage. “You think you have power over me? I own you and your sister. Remember, you signed a contract. If you kill me, your life is forfeit to the Enchanter.” He looks past me to Zyrik. “And the other part doesn’t matter.”

  I flick my wrist, cutting off his air supply. I don’t want to hear his voice any longer. He grabs at his throat and makes a strangled, choking sound. I smirk as he falls to his knees.

  “No one owns me,” I say. “Not you, not the Enchanter. No one.”

  He gurgles out what seems to be an irate response, but I hold his tongue.

  “I don’t care what you think you need to say. I’m done hearing you speak and I’m done living under your thumb. The memories I have are what others would call nightmares. Your hands will no longer touch me, nor will they anyone else.”

  I welcome the sound of his hands crackling as I shatter them. Kgar’s face scrunches up in pain. If I weren’t holding his tongue, he would be screaming at the top of his lungs.

  “You will no longer kick me or beat me down like an animal.”

  He crumples over, his legs fracturing into a thousand pieces. He writhes in pain, and moans like the creaking of a rusty door. Tangled up in his oversized robes, he attempts to crawl away on his elbows. If the councilmen could see him now, crying and crawling like a baby…

  I have no love for this man, and torturing him feeds those desires I’ve had every day, that I’ve so longed to satisfy—to bring revenge down upon him.

  For years this man has made me hate. It’s time for me to end it all. I pluck a knife from my belt and walk over to the king, who is trying to squirm away.

  “You deserve many years of pain and torture for what you’ve done to me and to Zyrik. So I hold this knife for Zyrik, to finish what he wants from you: an end to your evil, cunning ways.”

  King Kgar shakes his head, and his eyes are pleading as I plunge the knife deep into his chest. I watch the light slowly leave his eyes before I bring the knife back out. Kgar slumps onto his side. Just in case the knife hasn’t hit the right spot, I snap his neck with a single thought. His body jerks, then stills. Without a question or a doubt, he’s dead.

  Broken glass crunches under my boots as I run over to Livia. I wipe the bloody knife off on my threads and return it back to my waist.

  “How is he, Livia?”

  “She can’t hear you.” The man’s name is Kamon. He introduced himself as he was running with me to find Livia. He scoots over and pats the ground next to him. “Come, sit and wait while she works her magic.”

  I glance over at an injured man sitting on Kamon’s other side. Unlike Kamon, he doesn’t wear his mask.

  “Who’s that?”

  “Oh, him? No one important. He’s here for her.” He points to Livia, and then motions me to come and sit. I shake my head, and he shrugs his shoulders. “His pulse was gone by the time she got here. I’m unsure what she’s doing, bu
t whatever it is, it’s not working,” he says.

  I kneel down by Zyrik’s side. Livia’s hands are on his chest and beads of sweat are running down her brow and upper lip. My heart sinks knowing she has been at this for awhile, and nothing has happened.

  I place my hand on top of hers, hoping I can lend her some of my strength. I reach out tentatively with my gift, but nothing happens. My head hangs down in defeat. I’d thought something might happen. But there was no wind or flash of light, just the sound of my heart thumping inside my chest. I leave my hand on top of hers. If anything, for comfort.

  Kamon takes a deep breath, “If nothing happens soon, we’ll have to get going. I’m sure there are more assassins who’ll be heading this way.”

  I can tell he’s trying to be gentle, but I don’t want to listen, even if he is right.

  Livia’s hand warms and my eyes snap to hers. She’s staring at me with the biggest smile on her face. I feel Zyrik’s chest rise, and I glance back down.

  “He’s breathing!” I burst into tears as I reach across and grab Livia in a tight embrace. “You did it! Oh, thank the Maker, you did it!”

  “I wasn’t sure if it was going to happen,” Livia confesses. “I was so close to giving up. That is until I felt something push my gift along. It was the strangest feeling. It coated my thoughts and I was able to grab his life strings and place them delicately back together.

  “It was me,” I cry. “I pushed my gift through you.”

  “Well, it worked. Together, we brought him back.”

  A thundering noise roars below us.

  Kamon jumps to his feet. “We must go now!”

  Livia looks over at the hunched man against the wall. “Reddik!”

  Reddik? The Regent’s right-hand man? He slowly lifts his head and gives Livia a weak smile. She places her hands on his head and closes her eyes. I look to Kamon who only shrugs his shoulders yet again, before gathering Zyrik in his arms.

  Reddik’s painful expression fades away and he pulls Livia to him, kissing her firmly on the mouth.