Mirror Realm

by Jenn Nixon

  “And if it’s bad?”

  “We will find a way, Cyndra. No matter what.”

  Chapter 37

  Two months later…

  Cyndra swept the dirt off the wooden deck and turned the sign on the back of the door to ‘closed’. She shut and locked the shop door behind her, set the broom against the wall, and pulled the shade down halfway.

  Picking up a carrot from one of the only two shelves with items, she took a bite as she made her way to the back. Tulli Chan smiled from her desk, setting down the pencil and shaking her head, amazed at the haul for the day.

  “People really are coming together, finally,” Tulli said, spinning the piece of paper around for Cyndra to read. “Someone just started making vinegar, another man said he knows how to fix the gravity water pumps around the island, and we have three more bakers ready for the wheat, whenever it’s done. Just need to work on medicines.”

  “You’re getting pretty good at this, too, huh?” Cyndra grinned, at the list of new items people had made, were growing, or were repairing around the island.

  “I had a good teacher.”

  “Hey, it’s nothing new for me. I didn’t have to step out of my comfort zone, much. I used to trade for a living back on the mainland.”

  “I was a Zone teacher for a while, learned a little bookkeeping to help one of my neighbors manage his dollars. Since I’m technically dead,” she chuckled, “I’ve decided to stay here, I’m going to open a school for the teenagers. They’re going to need extra help.”

  “That’s a good idea. I think some of them want to join the ZoneGuard, go see the mainland.”

  “I’m surprised the council went for it,” Tulli said, folding her paper and setting it in the top drawer of the desk.

  “Those kids did nothing wrong. As long as they wear a crystal and don’t use their powers in front of the humans, they’re free to go,” Cyndra mumbled, honestly hating the idea. Someone was bound to slip up, eventually.

  “How many do you think are going to leave?”

  “No idea.”

  “Do you think they’ll listen? Not show the humans what we can do?”

  “I really fucking hope so, if not…” Cyndra sighed and shook her head. “I’m trying to keep an open mind.”

  “Like Rune?”

  “Yeah, he’s always positive.” Cyndra collected her hat from the table near the door and followed Tulli into the back alley. This side of town with all the shops and old offices was quiet and mostly empty. Cyndra glanced at the lighthouse. Tulli looked the opposite way toward the house she was staying at with Pristy and two siphons who all made fast friends and wanted to be roommates.

  “Are you going to listen to the verdict?”

  Cyndra shook her head. “I don’t want to lose it in front of everyone if it’s bad.”

  “Zorin turned a few people around, I know that for sure,” Tulli said, smiling as she shrugged. “Pristy said we’re having dinner together tomorrow, the whole family, she wants to coordinate moving her stuff to the island. She keeps talking about these old sitcoms she loves.”

  “We’ll be there,” Cyndra replied, trying not to the let the slight fib show on her face and waved Tulli off. She hadn’t told anyone, Zorin included, that she had a backup plan. If the jury and council came back with some whacked out punishment like sending him to the mirror realm, Cyndra was ready to split. As much as it may hurt leaving Rune, Jack, and Pristy, even her mom and uncle, Zorin was the one she needed most.

  Beyond the love she had for him, beyond wanting him physically and emotionally, he was her siphon, her friend, her confidant. No one knew her better. No one had ever tried so hard.

  While trekking through the back alleys of the town, Cyndra ducked into the woods, taking a shortcut to the main road leading to the lighthouse. Volunteers had cleaned up the overgrowth, trimmed down the wild grass, and fixed up the town in general. Half of it was still creepy and abandoned, but once they got solar power on the island, the small town would be a decent place to live.

  Waving to a few casters and siphons working in the enormous, growing garden, Cyndra slowed near the lighthouse when the door opened and Rune and Bale walked out, neither looking particularly jovial.

  “Already done?” Cyndra’s heart stopped. She glanced toward the mansion. “Where is he? What happened?”

  He’s upstairs, Rune said. Didn’t go so well.

  “Shit,” she spat, narrowing her gaze on Bale. “I thought you were on his side.”

  “I am. I voted for no punishment,” Bale said. “We were overruled by one.”

  And they’ve compromised on the crystal pendants. Master casters get the first fifty and a lottery for the rest until we search—

  “Don’t care, tell me later,” Cyndra said, jogging for the lighthouse.

  Cyndra… Rune called. She turned back to see him frowning and rubbing the side of his head. When you let the barrier down for the first wave, I’m going to Westzone with my father to see my guardians.

  “Are you coming back?” she asked, trying to keep her emotions in check.

  Yes, of course, this is my home now. There’s plenty to do here. Most of the casters are staying…

  “Most?”

  Rune nodded, happy but not smiling. Many of these people lost all their family, there’s nothing out there for them. Jack, Pristy, Tulli, and I told them what it’s like. They know how good they have it if they stay here.

  “I guess that’s good. You’ll fill me in later?” Cyndra gave him a big hug, knowing she wouldn’t have made it through the tribunals, let alone the last few months without him. He taught her how to open up, talk out her feeling, and be normal in a way. “Love you, Rune. You know that, right?”

  Love you, too, Cyndra. We are practically family now.

  “Let’s not talk about that yet, still weird.”

  Yeah, well, I need to help in the garden. He’s waiting for you, go see him.

  She kissed his cheek then smiled and ran into the lighthouse, up the stairs full throttle, and paused on the landing to catch her breath.

  “Hey,” Jack said, frowning as he approached for a hug, delaying her even more. “It’s not as bad as you think.”

  “Didn’t seem like that from Rune,” she whispered, shuddering. “He was trying a bit hard to distract me.”

  “Depends on how you look at it, I guess.”

  “Are you going with him to Westzone?” Cyndra asked, breaking from his hug,

  Jack shook his head. “Too much to do here. I do, however, want to send a message to Kyle, set up a communication link with a village local who has a boat to get to the island.”

  “That’s a good idea, especially if some of the teens are heading to ZCorps. Shit, I need to reach out to Milo, maybe visit…”

  “We’ll figure it out. Go, Cyndra…he took the news pretty hard.”

  Cyndra squeezed his hand then darted upstairs into the empty service room. Her heart raced walking the second set of stairs to the lantern room. Zorin stood directly in front of the doorway, gripping the railing of the widow’s walk, gazing out toward the mainland. His wings were tight and tense against his back, his stance on the verge of jumping over the side to take flight.

  As she approached, his shoulders and wings sagged. He wasn’t offering much by the way of his energy for the same reason hers was contained. Terrified, she reached out and stroked the top of his wing. His head dropped. Cyndra wrapped her arms around his waist and crashed against him.

  “They’ve agreed to let casters and siphons return to the mainland.”

  “Don’t care. What did they say?”

  “This is important, Cyndra,” he replied, unmoving. “Part of the agreement, aside from healing the land, is for one caster and one siphon at a minimum to settle in an area, together.”

  “Why, so they can keep track of each other?”

  “In essence, all casters are now forbidden from evoking powers in front of humans.”

  “I know. Lily got her wa
y,” Cyndra mumbled.

  “It may be best to keep our existence hidden. With the lighthouse barrier in place, the humans won’t remember.”

  Yeah, maybe. Cyndra sighed against his back. Zorin’s wings twitched. She shut her eyes and asked again, hating the sinking feeling in her chest. What did they say?

  I’m guilty of being an accessory to Mergan’s destruction.

  “What the fuck?” Cyndra’s arms dropped, she stepped back and shook her head. “What’s the punishment?”

  He turned, frowning. “I cannot leave the island.”

  “Ever?”

  He didn’t respond.

  “No. No fucking way,” Cyndra barked, evoking both elements to her hands without thought. The powers remained beneath her skin but their strength was undeniable. “They have no right to keep you here.”

  “I agreed to their tribunal—”

  “I didn’t!” Cyndra darted back into the lighthouse.

  Zorin clasped her wrist before she reached the stairs. “Cyndra…”

  “Why are you so calm?” She jerked out of his hold. “Do you want to be a prisoner again?”

  “Would you stay with me?”

  “Yes, of course, that’s not the point—”

  “Then I’m not a prisoner.”

  “You’re totally fine being forced to stay here?” Cyndra crinkled her brow, confused.

  “This has been home longer than any place else, it has all I need, and I am still responsible for the barrier here and guarding the mirror.” Zorin frowned. “But it means I cannot give you the mountain home you want.”

  “I don’t care about that. I told you, you’re my home, Zorin,” Cyndra stared up, reeling her powers back easily when she gazed into his eyes. “Punishing you…it’s not right.”

  “No, perhaps not. I can appeal the decision. However, Rune and Pristy are staying here, along with Jack and many more casters and siphons than I expected. I’m sure you planned on staying, for a while, to help.” Zorin wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her closer. Her fingers fell to his chest, connecting her elements to his body instantly. “If you are here, I’ll gladly take this as my punishment.”

  “Why?”

  “We can both be ourselves here. I am seen. I’m part of a community again. And I have your love. My heart is full and my soul is healing more each day.”

  “I think you’re letting them off the hook too easily,” Cyndra said, sighing and shaking her head. “I am going to appeal it. There are places I want to go with you…things I want to see.”

  “We have already tested your escape route, Cyndra. We can leave anytime we wish.”

  Cyndra smirked, blushing, remembering their escapade to the waterfalls in the north Eastzone. “Yeah…”

  “So technically, I am not a prisoner, am I?”

  “Guess that’s true. Let’s hope they don’t ask for a different barrier. I like being in control of it.” Cyndra lifted on her toes and kissed him, stroking his cheek, giving him her fire freely without worry. “These guys wouldn’t last a week without us, anyway, right?”

  “Of that, I have no doubts,” he replied, smiling, and leaned closer to kiss her again.

  Cyndra leaned back, took his hand, and led him to the walkway, pausing in the general direction of the treehouse where they pretty much lived these days.

  No matter what happened tomorrow, Zorin was beside her. Casters and siphons may always need supervision or secrecy so the humans would never know about the war that almost destroyed the world, yet, Cyndra had hope that those who wanted to help heal the Earth outnumbered those who didn’t. After all, this was their home, too.

  Zorin eased behind her, wrapping both arms around her, cool and calming, secure and strong. Her gargoyle, her love, kissed the side of her neck and inhaled deeply, making her skin pimple. Yes, he was all she needed to survive this world. Now that Mergan was gone, the innocent were saved, and the guilty punished, Cyndra could do something much more precious than survive. With Zorin, Rune and Jack, and her family, she could build a life. Live. Explore who she was as a caster, a lover, a daughter, and a friend.

  “You’re right, Zorin. We can be ourselves here…and who knows, one day they may change their minds, or you might change yours and let us try to transform you back.”

  Zorin scooped her up in his arms. She yelped and rolled her eyes, then gasped when he extended his wings, ready to take flight. “I’m not sure, Cyndra, you do love flying with me and I enjoy you much more in this form now that you’ve unleashed my inner gargoyle.”

  “Yeah, I guess it’s close enough.”

  “What’s close enough?” he asked, raising his brow. When she didn’t answer right away, he dipped his head, brushing his lips against her ear. “You don’t need to be defiant tonight, caster, now tell me. What’s close enough?”

  “Being a gargoyle is close enough.” Cyndra wrapped her arms around his neck, letting the fire and energy move from her skin to his, more than ready for what he had in mind. Happy to set the future aside for one more night, she grinned at him, knowing she was going to pay for the remark later and said, “Must be all the fantasy books I’ve read…because I always wanted a dragon.”