“Agreed,” said Beth. “It seems the only way.”
“Are we just giving up on Troy?” I said. “After all he did for us?”
“We need to understand things more,” said Toril. “My skills – I’m a novice at best, and you need to work on your powers concerning that Mirror of yours.”
“Where’s your wand, Toril?” asked Beth.
“Last time I saw it was at the cemetery. I lost it when fighting Dana.”
“You fought Dana?” I asked, stunned that she had lived to tell the tale.
“Yes. I was lucky. Jacinta wasn’t so much.”
My many questions would have to wait. Surviving a battle with Dana was no small thing. “You haven’t given up on a rematch?”
“Maybe not,” said Toril, “but the last time we met, it was a bit one-sided,. She took my pentacle and cut off some of my hair too. What a bitch.”
“Then we might have a problem,” I said. “She might just be up to something.”
“Meaning?” asked Beth.
“I’ve given some thought to that,” said Toril crisply. “Imitation, I would deduce, but in this case, it’s not for flattery.”
“What then?” asked Beth.
“Something for ill, that’s for sure. I’m far too tired, as we all are, to deal with that now. We should go home, rest, and regroup.”
“We can mourn for those we’ve lost as well,” said Beth ruefully.
I knew I would have to do that as well, but Nan, and especially my father, would not have me feeling any self pity. I picked up the Mirror, which was surprisingly cool, but felt much heavier, It seemed to have enlarged in size by an inch or three as well.
Another light almost blinded me, but whilst it was something normal, it caught me by surprise. A bright sliver of sunlight pierced the sky, lighting up the grass in front of us.
The image of Jacinta I had in my head, was not of a girl lying cold in the ground. It was of her skipping through the grass back home, which had grown tall but was not yet quite a wilderness.
The sun beat down on her, but not in an unpleasant way. Her hair shined a fierce honey blonde, and I realised that it was this colour, and not white, was her colouring all along. I felt myself gliding towards her, with Beth and Toril not far behind.
Jacinta turned to look in my direction, and for the first time in ages I found myself smiling.
My concentration was broken by an image of Rosewinter, overrun by the ghosts of St Margaret’s Hospital. They were making their way to the town of Gorswood.
You think you’ve won, haven’t you? said The Demon.
I refused to acknowledge the Demon. I would not answer it. Recognise it.
I didn’t know if we had won. But we had put off Diabhal for now. The Demon, if it was staying with me, wasn’t going to spoil our victory.
In the heavens, Jacinta turned to look in my direction, and for the first time in ages I found myself smiling. In these moments, I realised the Demon held no power over any of us.
The next winter might not be so long after all.
Epilogue
The beautiful, raven haired girl approached Troy Jackson.
He looked totally unspoiled, as if his life contained a rewind button that allowed him to go back to a time before the zeryth had tore a gaping, bloody hole in his neck.
The girl’s jewel glistened in the void, yet her smile lit up the entire place. She caressed the pentacle lightly with her fingers. She felt its power. She also felt that the previous owner of that jewel, missed it, and missed it greatly.
Troy ran to her at breakneck speed, picked her up in his arms, and kissed her passionately. Giggling, she beamed right back at him.
“Toril Withers,” said Troy. “Would you mind telling me how you got here?”
Reviews of Dark Winter
This young adult fantasy/horror novel blew me away. It's the story of teenager Romilly Winter who is bequeathed a very special mirror by her Nan. Romilly is a reluctant heroine who appears a typical teen with typical teen angst. She also has a special gift but she worries that when the time comes she won't be strong enough to cope. Yet only when the terrifying truth is revealed and her family, her friends and her life are threatened does she find out what she's truly capable of.
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This is the perfect halloween read. You can read it anytime of the year and enjoy it. I'm reading it again and hope there is a printed book of this and a second book. It doesn't have to have that, but if it did I would buy it.
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Although the book is quite long, it's important to let its pace build up. The first chapter sets it all nicely, how Romilly gets the Mirror in the first place. Later you learn Dana's role in the mirrors' back story, and I like how that unfolds. The 'urban legend' of Dana is told from one viewpoint of a main character, then from another. Both are unsettling for different reasons. It's like hearing a story for the second time and you think 'nah, not scary the second time' but it is. That's the mark of a good writer.
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Table of Contents
About The Author
Table Of Contents
Dark Winter Page 33
