Kingdom of Mirrors and Roses

by A. W. Cross

  I’d managed to cut the thing in half and didn’t know what was funny. I’d even gotten the two sides even.

  He nudged me aside and tilted his chin to my emptied seat. Apparently, we were all going to chat like old friends. If there was a way to make a more disturbing arrangement of people, I didn’t know how it could happen.

  “I haven’t figured out why she’s here, either,” Carly whispered to my mother, and they both giggled.

  “Are you going to introduce us, Carly?” Ben asked as he moved the knife with blazing accuracy, slicing the pepper into equal little strips. The corner of his mouth twitched as he tried to hide a grin when he caught my amazement. I rolled my eyes and sat back in my chair with a smirk myself.

  “Carly does my hair, and we get along so well we’ve become friends,” Sophia offered.

  Hair dresser—called it.

  “Isn’t that cozy?” I said. “How long have you known each other?”

  “Long enough,” Carly spat at me. “What’s it to you?”

  “Nothing.” I held up my hand. It really wasn’t other than I wanted to know how long my mother had been around and why she was in this area. The estate was only another twenty minutes down the highway, and Daddy had said she didn’t know about it. I found it odd that she’d have such close connections nearby.

  “Don’t be rude, Carly,” Ben said quietly.

  She flicked her brows and looked away.

  “I came to tell you I got us tickets to that play I mentioned. You said you’d never been to one, and I wanted to take you. If you want to go, of course.” Sophia pulled two tickets out of her purse and slid them toward Carly, purposefully nudging my vase as she did.

  Carly jumped up from her stool and grabbed them. “Are you kidding me?” she squealed then threw her arms around my mother. “This is so incredible! Look, Benny, tickets to see that play everyone’s talked about for so long. The one about the president!”

  I snorted. I’d seen that when I turned twelve as it debuted on Broadway—and he wasn’t a president.

  “Have you seen it?” Sophia asked me.

  “Yes.” I pulled the rose closer to me.

  “Is it as good as everyone says?” Ben asked while he continued to turn all the vegetables into the perfect sized matching pieces.

  “Yeah, it’s really good.” I smiled.

  “Anyway . . .” Carly drawled bringing the attention back to herself. “Thank you so much! This will be so great!”

  “Leave the whole day open because we’ll go shopping first. Then have dinner before the play. Maybe your friend here would like to join us. You seem very handy in the kitchen. Do you enjoy French faire? I’d planned to take Carly to 1789, but if you prefer seafood, there’s Fiola Mare.”

  Daddy’s favorite restaurant and mine. She hadn’t been as far away from my life as I’d thought.

  “What do you think, Stella? Have you been to either of those places?” Sophia tilted her head in mock sincerity.

  I smiled on the outside as my stomach turned within. “The waterfront is beautiful, especially in the summer.”

  Ben snorted. “I think that all sounds great, but I can’t afford the prices of those places.”

  “Oh pish, it’s my treat!”

  “You are so generous,” Carly said with stars in her eyes as if my mother was Santa Claus incarnate.

  “Be sure to have her take you to Leopold’s for lunch. The poached tuna salad is my favorite, and their beignets are to die for.”

  “Come with us,” Sophia said. “It would be fun. I’ve always wanted a daughter, and this would be like having two.” Her eyes glittered as she smiled at me.

  “I think I’m busy that day.”

  Ben tried to cover a snort of laughter and turned his back to us as he fiddled with the pan on the stove.

  “Well, it’s a ways off. Maybe you’ll change your mind.” She patted my knee, and everything inside of me bristled, literally.

  As casually as I could, I glanced over to the skylight. It was the only natural light in the room, and I saw tangerine streaks within the blue. How had it gotten so late? I had to get out of there.

  “I jumped to my feet. I need to go. Where did I leave my keys?”

  Ben faced me, holding a spatula in the air. “I can take you. Your car won’t be ready for a couple of days.”

  I didn’t care about the guy following me anymore. The beast that would soon show up inside the apartment would be a far worse situation. “I’ll bring it by again another day. I really need to go. It’s getting later than I realized, and I promised I’d be home before dark.”

  “I’ll go, too. I’ve interrupted what appears to be a nice meal,” Sophia said to Carly then turned to me. “I can give you a ride.”

  I didn’t know what to say. Supposedly, she didn’t know where the estate was. Maybe this was her way of finding out. I didn’t have much time or many options, and I needed to leave. Fine. “That would be lovely.”

  “Are you sure I can’t take you?” Ben asked.

  “She has a ride, Ben.” Carly crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Right, I do. Thank you for your help, and I’ll come back for my car tomorrow—or whenever it’s ready.” I headed for the door as Sophia gave Carly a big hug.

  Ben hurried to meet me at the door and opened it as I got there. He leaned in and whispered as he handed me the vase I’d forgotten. “I still need to explain. Call the shop tomorrow, and we can meet somewhere.”

  I nodded once, grabbing the enchanted vessel, and rushed onto the landing. Sophia sauntered through the door behind me as I was already half-way down the stairs. Between the Mercedes and the beat-up Honda, I had no trouble figuring out which car to get into.

  13

  Stella

  My mother and I pulled from the gravel parking lot onto the pavement in silence.

  “Carly seems nice.” Sarcasm clearly dripped from my words.

  “She’s a means to an end, my dear. Now, how about you add the address to the estate into the GPS.” She pointed to the touchscreen on the dash.

  I sighed and entered the data. There wasn’t time to argue about it. When I finished, I stared out at the fields as they whizzed by. We passed a black car sitting off the road, and I was thankful for the darkened windows. Ben had been right.

  “You know, I do care for you. It’s just I’d never planned to be a mother. It shouldn’t have been possible, to be honest. You were a good baby, too. But . . .” she shrugged her shoulders.

  “Too much responsibility? It didn’t hurt your figure any,” I said, as I rested my chin in my hand with my elbow propped against the door.

  “No, and thankfully, it didn’t. It’s complicated, the Otherworld is divided . . . perhaps someday I can explain it all to you. Plus, there’s so many restrictions on the human body. It grew tiresome. I thought if I separated myself from you, it might make it possible for me to go home. It wasn’t enough. With the Oracle, though, I knew I could guarantee my freedom.”

  “What does it do?”

  “It holds the secrets of the realms. Anything you’d ever want to know. The Shadow King would give me anything if I provided it to him, and no one would be able to stop me.” She let out a sigh and I saw a flash of something like wistfulness cross her face. “But, if not him, there are others.”

  Knowing all the secrets of the realms seemed like more of a burden than a gift. There were too many secrets coming out right now, and with this delightful curse, I had enough to deal with.

  However, it was clear to see why the Oracle could be a dangerous artifact in the wrong hands. A fleeting thought made me wonder what Daddy wanted it for, but I shoved it aside. The image I held of my perfect life grew fuzzier by the minute.

  “Why give it to the king? What does he want it for?”

  “I didn’t say I’d give it to him. A deal will benefit us both.”

  I peeked at Sophia and found her staring at the road with a smug grin, all hint of softness gone. This was a mani
pulative woman. I’d known a lot of them, but her desires were more threatening than simply wanting a diamond necklace for a ‘week-iversary.’

  “The Shadow King is a leader who can return prominence and power to the fae. We’ve been shoved aside for too long. Allowing humans to rule has only led to disaster. He will subjugate them, as they should be, and pay me handsomely for helping,” Mother continued.

  “What does that mean? No one should be slaves, ever,” I said. A supernatural who acted like Hitler was not someone to align yourself with. How could I be this woman’s child?

  She shrugged. “The Oracle will get me where I want to go, and that’s all that matters. I’ve worked too hard. I won’t let anything, or anyone, get in my way.”

  Clearly, she was obsessed and determined, and I’d just given her the address to where the censer was. Not that I had a choice. My skin was already itching from the inside where the fur scratched against it. I didn’t have much time left.

  “In case you’re trying to decide how to keep me away from my prize, I want you to know that I’m not the only one who knows about the Oracle. There are others who’ve learned that your father possesses it. They’ll be coming for it now, too.”

  “Who? And why now?”

  “Because your father is vulnerable. Everyone has seen the story on the news. It’s made national headlines. I know of at least two others who might try to get in my way.”

  I sunk back against the soft leather seat. “Are they all supernatural?” Ben had said he had to speak with his dad about last night. Was he supernatural?

  “One group is, and they could be difficult. Those who aren’t won’t be any trouble. At least, not for me. For your father, however, that’s another story. Jack puts forth a good image, Stella, but he works with criminals—human and fae. He’s also put enough men behind bars that if he goes to prison, he won’t live very long.”

  Tears filled my eyes. I knew she was probably right, but her tone was so cold and calculating. I had no idea who Daddy worked with specifically, but I’d seen the signs over the years. I’d never cared, though. To me, he’d always been perfect. My protector and knight.

  From what I’d heard, Sophia wasn’t any better. I didn’t understand how she had any right to judge Daddy when she wanted to work with someone as bad as the Shadow King sounded.

  “I can make sure that every bad element Jack has ever wronged, knows exactly where he is and how to reach him, or I can help him—keep him protected. If you want your father to survive, Stella, you need to find the Oracle and give it to me. Only me. Is that understood? If anyone else gets their hands on it—even if it isn’t your doing—your father is on his own.”

  We’d pulled into the driveway of the estate and idled next to the call box. My vision was blurring in and out as I gave Sophia the numbers. I heard the threat she’d leveled, but I couldn’t respond. It took all my energy to breathe slowly. I couldn’t shift inside the car.

  “Promise me, Stella. You’ll give the Oracle to me alone,” my mother insisted as we pulled through the twenty-foot high iron gates.

  I had to answer, but pain spiked in my middle. I huddled over in the seat with a groan, my heart racing as I clutched my knees.

  “Promise!” she screamed.

  “I promise,” I said between clenched teeth and tried to open the door as we rolled to a stop in the circular drive. Whatever she needed to hear I didn’t care, I just needed out of the car. The door wouldn’t unlock.

  “Say exactly what you promise,” she said. “I won’t let you out until you do. Whatever creature you become, you are no match for me.”

  “I promise to give the Oracle to you and only you,” I snarled between my teeth, my voice already changing.

  The lock clicked, and I scrambled out of the car, falling to my knees before I ran for cover in the huge brick colonial.

  Carson stood with the front door wide open, glaring over my head at my mother. I heard her laugh as I rushed into the entryway. The door slammed behind me, and Mrs. Potter grabbed my rose.

  Seconds later, I bit back a scream as my body twisted apart.

  14

  Stella

  The tingles under my skin changed into daggers, slicing into my flesh. The fur pelt of a monster replaced my human skin. My shoulders popped from their sockets as my collarbone expanded. Muscles stretched and swelled to proportions no body builder could attain.

  The pain in my face outdid everything else. My eyes squeezed as if thumbs tried to pop them from my sockets. Feminine cheekbones splintered along with my nose as an elongated snout grew. My ears stretched and rose from the sides of my head as the horns cracked my skull like a newly formed erupting volcano.

  Every molecule of my body split apart and reformed, and I felt it all. Then it was over. Thirty seconds of soul-crushing pain, and my outward appearance matched the reflection in the mirror. A beast, a horrible, hideous beast to howl and destroy until the dawn could peek under the blanket of night’s darkness. Then the process would reverse, leaving me shaking in a puddle of sweat and tears.

  Would the transition become easier over time? I prayed it wouldn’t because that would mean it had become normal. The beast would be part of my life, not an invading stranger. That thought was worse than all the pain.

  As with everything else, my vocal chords were stretched, and my speech sounded rougher. Still feminine but like an old-fashioned cabaret singer who’d spent too many nights in smoky bars. Sexy in a way, yet sad mostly.

  The click of the door closing made Carson, Mrs. Potter, and I spin around. Sophia stood in the entry with an appraising stare.

  “It’s not as bad as I’d pictured. Your fur is actually quite pretty. The way the deep brown turns to black on the tips along your mane and down your spine, is striking.” My mother sauntered closer to me as if studying a prized Arabian.

  I growled. Saliva trickled through my teeth and dripped onto the smooth tiles.

  “Carson, you’ll need to carry a towel around to wipe that up. That part isn’t so pleasant—like one of those big, drooly dogs. You’ll get used to it, I suppose,” she said as she stood so close I could snap her neck with the swipe of my paw.

  “Why are you here?” I asked. “Get out.”

  “You’ve done your damage, Sophia. Leave.” Mrs. Potter pushed herself between my mother and me. With my enhanced vision, I could see how her shape had a shimmer around it. As if the enchantment wavered like a mirage in the desert. I’d never have seen it with my human eyes.

  I tilted my chin just enough to see Carson. The same aura surrounded his frame. I’d truly become part of the supernatural world.

  “I don’t intend to stay. If I didn’t want to deal with potty-training a toddler, I certainly don’t want to deal with house-breaking this,” she waved her hand toward me with a chuckle.

  I growled again.

  Carson slid closer to me and rested his hand on my back. Comfort twisted at my gut with his touch. Some anger retreated, enough for me to come to my senses.

  “You’ve seen me, now you can leave.” I had no intentions of conversing with her further.

  “Once I’m convinced to my satisfaction that you understand the promise you’ve made and the consequences should you fail, I’ll go.”

  “What promise?” Carson asked, dropping his hand.

  “My darling daughter has pledged to give the Oracle to me—and only me.” Sophia stared at Carson with the menace of any evil queen I’d read about in fairytales. Her features set in stone with a satisfied gleam in her eye.

  “Is that true? Did you promise that?” Mrs. Potter asked me.

  “She wouldn’t let me out of the car. The shift was starting . . . I . . . Yes.” I sunk into my heels and let my shoulders droop.

  “See, that wasn’t so hard. They have witnessed the deal, and now I can go.” She smiled and spun to leave.

  At the door, she twisted at her waist to stare into my eyes. “I’d suggest you start looking. Stella, remember what I said ab
out the others and how I could help—or not.” Then she was out the door, and the three of us stood in silence.

  “What have you done?” Carson asked finally, barely above a whisper.

  “She didn’t know,” Mrs. Potter offered. “Perhaps there’s a way out of it.”

  “You know there isn’t. If her power was that weak, would you and I still be like this?” Carson paced a few steps away and then back.

  The foyer was grand, but at the moment, it was too confining. Carson flashed a look of disappointment in my direction. Guilt sliced through me and ignited my anger like a flint on stone.

  “What was I supposed to do? Would you have me turn into this while I sat in her car? None of this world makes sense to me, yet you think I should understand how to navigate it. Perhaps someone should have told me how to deal with a world that you knew would tear me apart at some point.” My voice grew louder as I continued, the rant building steam within my body like a boiler.

  “Now, there’s no need to dwell on what can’t be changed. We have the future to deal with, and that’s what’s important now.” Mrs. Potter moved between Carson and me. “We’re here in the country, surrounded by high walls and a security gate. You’ll be able to move about rather than feel trapped like before. Perhaps you might want to take a look around to familiarize yourself.”

  She spoke in a gentle tone. Yet, there was a hint of command that I admired. Not demanding me to follow her, but making me want to. I huffed a laugh that rumbled in my chest and didn’t sound at all peaceful.

  Carson spun and strode through the foyer until he’d passed under the second-story balcony, turning down a corridor to the left.

  “Leave him be. He’ll come around. He’s upset with himself more than anything. We’ve tried to protect you all this time, and we failed. That’s a lot to accept.”

  They had failed. Yet, somewhere in my mind, I knew it wasn’t their fault. I didn’t let it surface. “I will be outside.”

  Through the room, beyond the foyer, I could see a wall of windows. Apparently, night vision was another of my new features, and the rolling hills of the estate beckoned me to run. Mrs. Potter hurried to get in front of me and opened wide the French doors leading to a large veranda.