Page 61 of Snow White

“Lannnguagggeee,” the mirror says in a singsong voice.

I blink a couple of times in confusion. “You weren’t there before.”

“I come and go when I please,” the mirror says in a bored tone. “It is a part of my contract with your mother. To serve and be loyal while having the freedom to come and go whenever I like. Much better than my last contract with that old hag.”

“How convenient,” Belle mumbles.

I gulp. So my mother made a deal with the mirror? Would it break if he found out she is dead? The mirror is supposed to know everything, so why is it still here? I could spend time asking the mirror all these questions, but my worry fills me with a sense of urgency. I will get my answers another day, another time.

“Can you help us?” I ask.

“Depends, Daughter of King Julius. Can I?” it asks.

Belle groans. “I’ve read about these mirrors. There are only three of them in the world, and they can be quite tricky.”

I take a shaky breath. “We need to find Azura. Help us track her.”

“Uh-uh. What’s the magic word?” it sings.

“Um…” I frown. Magic word? I really don’t remember any of this.

Belle groans and pinches the bridge of her nose as she says in a rush, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, we have a question for you to solve.”

“Perrffect,” it purrs.

Belle looks at me, nodding her head.

I hold my breath. “Where is Azura?”

The mirror scrunches its nose. “Oh, that’s no fun! It makes it all too easy.”

“Please, Mirror,” I whisper, tearing up. “I need to find her.”

The mirror sighs before nodding. He stares out behind us, his dark eyes going vacant. I wring my hands together while waiting. It takes a couple of minutes before the mirror’s golden irises return, and it looks down at me sadly.

“Snow, the rumors are true. You have the magic touch to make any creature want to help you, but I’m sorry to say, I cannot sense her. She is deep within the Mystic Woodlands. Though there is someone who can help you find her,” the mirror says.

“Really? Who?” I ask, my eyes brightening. That is better than nothing.

“The Beast,” it replies.

“The Beast?” Belle questions.

The mirror smiles. “Would you look at that? My time is up! Ta-ta.”

Just as quickly as he appeared, the mirror vanishes before our eyes, leaving us with more questions. My brows knit together as I try to think.

“Who the fuck isthe Beast?” Belle hisses. “That mirror is so—”

“Azura’s horse,” I blurt, interrupting her.

The two of us look at each other before bolting for the stables.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Azura

My shadows take me to one of my old bolt holes, somewhere I know my mother will never find. If she was taking off right as I left Snow, it would take time for her to fly to me. That’s assuming she doesn’t return to human form and shadow here herself. There are too many variables for me to adjust and account for. I can only go with my instincts and pray they don’t lead me astray.

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