Page 4 of Mirror of Vanity

A deep laugh rumbled from his chest. It was warm and robust, and it brought a smile to my lips.

The stewardess came over to take our drink orders. “What can I get for you?”

She wasn’t looking at me, though. She was staring at Justice as if she wanted to get his autograph.

I ordered a glass of red wine.

Justice glanced at his watch. “Starting early, aren’t you? It’s only ten o’clock in the morning.”

I shrugged. “I need something to calm my nerves.”

“How about a movie?” He looked at his phone. “That might relax you for a bit.”

“Sure, why not? You pick.”

I stared out the window at the expansive plains that defined this part of Colorado. The late morning sun cast long shadows over the patchwork of farmland, small towns, and winding rivers stretching to the horizon. Fields of wheat and corn shifted in the breeze, their golden and green hues blending a quilt of agricultural bounty. Here and there, the silver glint of a river or reservoir mirrored the sky, a stark contrast to the earthy tones of the land.

“Do you like Wonder Woman?” Justice’s voice broke through my thoughts.

I turned and frowned. “Why that one?”

“Because she reminds me of you.” His dark eyes sparkled. “Beautiful, but a badass.”

A blush crept onto my cheeks as I rolled my eyes at his cheesy compliment. I cleared my throat. “Wonder Woman is fine.”

The stewardess came back with my wine and Justice’s sparkling water. There were small screens on the backs of the seats in front of us, and the stewardess gave us earplugs so we could watch the movie without disturbing the other passengers.

As the movie progressed, I relaxed, the wine and the gentle hum of the airplane engines lulling me into a sense of calm. My eyelids grew heavy, and I struggled to focus on the screen.

Before I knew it, my head was nodding, and I fell back onto my seat. In my sleepy haze, I couldn’t bring myself to care about propriety. I tried not to invade Justice’s space, but his shoulder was so warm and solid. I finally gave into temptation and let my head rest against him, the earplug falling out as I drifted to sleep.

Through my drowsiness, I vaguely registered Justice’s arm shifting, gently supporting my back as he adjusted his position to make me more comfortable. His scent, a mix of sandalwood and something uniquely him, enveloped me, and I sighed contentedly, allowing myself to be pulled into a deep, peaceful slumber…

The plane jolted violently, and I woke with a start, my heart thundering, the rose tattoo on my arm burning. Danger was nearby. “What’s happening?” I gasped, disoriented and filled with dread.

Justice’s seat was empty, and I looked around in a daze. To my horror, all the passengers had vanished. The eerie silence was broken only by the hum of the engines. I immediately unbuckled my seatbelt and stood, my legs shaking.

“Damon?” My voice was barely a whisper, fear gripping my throat.

There was no answer behind me. I jumped up and looked over the back of my seat, only to discover he and Lisa were gone. The plane seemed to stretch endlessly, a hollow shell devoid of life.

Soft footsteps approached me, each step echoing in the unnatural stillness. “Panicking, Sawyer?” a familiar voice purred, dripping with malice.

I grimaced, my blood running cold. Slowly, I turned. Maci stood in the aisle, her brown eyes filled with hatred and a sinister gleam. The shadows around her seemed to writhe and dance as if alive.

Suddenly, a deafening crack rent the air, and the plane shuddered violently. Wind screamed inside the cabin, plastering me against the window. My heart raced, and my hair whipped around me in a wild blonde mess. I glanced up in horror as the plane’s ceiling split open, revealing a swirling, inky void.

Maci’s long, dark hair billowed around her. She tilted her head back, her face contorting into a grotesque smile. “This is a warning, girl,” she hissed, her voice reverberating through the chaos. “I will kill everyone you love, one by one, and you will be the last to die. If you want to save them, abandon this foolish quest.”

I raised my head high. “It sounds like you’re afraid of us, Maci. We won’t back down, and you know it.” My small voice sounded stronger than I expected.

Maci’s lips curled into a cruel smile as she gestured toward the shadowy figures. “Very well, foolish one. This is the next demon you’ll have to fight.” Her voice dripped with malice. “They think highly of themselves and demand respect. Let’s see how you fare against them.”

The shadows around Maci grew darker, and grotesque shapes formed within them. The air grew thick and heavy, pressing down on me like a physical weight. A foul stench filled my nostrils, a combination of sulfur and decay, making my stomach churn.

The shapes within the shadows twisted and writhed, and to my horror, they took on a more defined form. Long, spindly fingers emerged, followed by gnarled hands that reached for me, their skin a shiny black with blood dripping from their long fingernails.

I opened my mouth to scream, but the sound caught in my throat as the grotesque hands curled their fingers around my neck. The touch was icy cold and clammy, sending shivers down my spine. I gasped for air, but the grip tightened, cutting off my scream and my breath.

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