Page 52 of The Evernight Court

I shookmy head at myself. “Typical.” This wasdefinitelyfrom Mama Si and not just because of the smell or the pink ink. It’s because of the riddle that she’d written herself. I remembered her handwriting—it was the same as her journal I’d found that day in the library on the floating shelf. She’d put it there for me—of course she did, even if I didn’t know it then. But that handwriting was the exact same.

Nothing else was written on the piece of paper, so I left it on the desk, and I grabbed that notebook Quinn had so kindly bought for me. Then I went to the closet and sat with Grey’s portrait, and I told him everything I’d seen at the lake that night.

So pathetic to be talking to a canvas—well aware of that. Sosadthat the only thing I trusted in this place was that portrait—the idea of Grey. I told him all about Sedelis and the red faerie and the Great White, and Mama Si’s riddle. I told him I was getting better at moving my body, too, that it was so much easier than I had ever thought possible, that Quinn hadn’t managed to hit me a single time in the face tonight, just a couple times on the shoulder. Tomorrow night we were going to start on specific defensive techniques in case someone actually grabbed me—from the back and the front and the sides. I was excited.

“I miss you,” I told the portrait, the words slipping from me involuntarily. I didn’t want to be so weak. I didn’t want to feel so much, but here I was, touching the colors that made Grey’s face with the tips of my fingers, wondering how the hell I was supposed to live feeling like this. Like I’d be withering away into nothing if I didn’t see him soon. Like I was going to die simply from missing him because it had turned into a disease that would only get worse with time.

Eventually, I wouldn’t be able to breathe anymore.

Eventually, I wouldn’t want to.

I lay down right there in front of it, my hand on hisface still, and I wished with all my heart that I’d dream about him, at least. That I’d have him while I was sleeping.

I wished even harder that there was a door somewhere that would take me to him, a window I could jump out of, a mirror that could transport me to wherever he was right now. I’d give it all up just to see him one more time—and wasn’t that strange?

I’d give up my life without hesitation if it meant I got to see his face one last time—just his shadow or his silhouette or his reflection…

My eyes popped open.

Something about mirrors that had me wide awake within seconds, despite how exhausted I was.

“I have no eyes, but I can see,” I whispered to Grey’s portrait. “I have no voice, but I can reveal.”

A mirror could do that. It could see with no eyes and reveal with no voice.

A mirror—like the one Mama Si had given me as a gift that night at the party.

Before two minutes were over, I went and grabbed the mirror I’d hidden under the bed, and that letter in the envelope with the riddle on it. I put the mirror near Grey’s portrait against the wall and I looked at my reflection in it—pale, eyes red, both with sleep and those tears I refused to admit to myself that I’d cried.

I wasn’t crying now, though. “Okay, the answer to the riddle is this. It’smirror.It’syou,” I told the mirror like a damn lunatic, but it didn’t change a thing. The beautiful roses on the edges didn’t change color, didn’t become bigger, didn’t disappear like I thought they might. The mirror remained the same.

It took me a much longer time than I’m willing to admit to think to bring that letter in front of itand look at its reflection, but it was just because I was so tired and sleepy and desperate.

But the mirror saw the letter without eyes, and it revealed to me everything it truly contained.

“Holy shit,” I whispered as I watched the riddle disappear little by little, fading away into the paper, while new words formed themselves in that same pink ink with that same cursive handwriting.

I was laughing and shaking my head in disbelief, and I almost asked Grey’s portrait,do you see this?!

As if I’d forgotten he was just colors on a canvas. As if I’d forgotten that he wasn’t really here.

Luckily, I got myself together before I uttered the words out loud, and then I leaned as close as I could to the mirror while holding up the piece of paper in front of it, and I read.

My dearest Fall Doll,

I’ve had sleepless nights from the excitement of seeing you again at your party, but I’ll admit, our reunion was not what I thought it would be. How you wounded me with your words, my doll. But more than that—you forced me to look inward like I haven’t in a long time, and for that, I am thankful.

Despite what you make of me, I am not bad. I swear it, not on purpose.

And to prove that to you, I send you this letter in hopes you’ll figure out how to read it.

I can’t give you details and I can’t dwell on more reasons—after all, I only have this one page. But I can tell you this—beware of what you do not see in the Evernight castle. That place might be safe from the outside, but it isn’t from within. Keep your eyes open and don’t let the looks of things fool you. See deeper—especially beyond the kindness of the silver-haired who live in the clouds and cling to a life of dreams they cannot have.

Beware ofherfor she is up to something, and I’m afraid that is all I know to tell you.

Should you ever need something brought to you in that dark place, write to me, and deliver your letter in the same place you received mine. I will be sure to get you whatever your heart desires.

Forever yours,

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