Page 18 of The Eternal Mirror
I grit my teeth. I was so sure we were going to be out of here. That I could do this. But obviously, it’s not going to be that easy. Maybe Khronus has some sort of ward set up around the place. Though my other magic seems to work. I hold up my hand, whisper a spell, and flames flicker from my fingertips.Ouch.Yup, working. Maybe it’s just the mirror magic that doesn’t work here.
I have a vague memory of Sheela mentioning there were no mirrors in the palace. But I hadn’t been paying too much attention at the time. That was when we’d been trying to rescue Khaos from the dungeons, and my mind had been on other things.
Now I wish I’d listened more.
And I’m hungry again. I’m always hungry. I need a lot of energy for some reason.
I back up and sink down onto the bed, staring at the empty space where my mirror should be. I’m trying to work out what my next move is, but I really have no clue.
And food always helps me think. I need food.
Josh comes and sits beside me, his legs dangling over the edge of the bed. He’s nearly as tall as me now. But not quite. I pat him on the leg and then get up and cross the room to the door. I try it, but it’s locked.
Of course it is. We’re prisoners here. And who knows when Khronus will turn on us again?
“Shit, shit, shit.”
But at that moment, there’s a knock on the door, and I almost jump back. The lock clicks open, and the door is pushed from the other side. I hold my breath. I really cannot face Khronus again right now.
But it’s a man I haven’t seen before, dressed in some sort of black uniform, which I suspect means he’s a servant in the palace. He’s pushing a trolley with food—and I love him.
He places the trolley in the middle of the room, gives a funny little bow, and then backs away. The door closes behind him, and the lock clicks.
The food looks wonderful.
Maybe Khronus isn’t so bad after all.
I pick up a little sandwich and push it into my mouth, chew, and swallow, then pick up another. I glance up and find Zayne watching me, amazement on his face.
“We have to eat,” I say sanctimoniously. “We need to keep our strength up. We owe it to Josh.” I stuff another sandwich into my mouth.
“Yeah, right,” he mutters.
I don’t think he’s got much of an appetite, and I’m not surprised. But I’ve learned to eat when I can. Then I notice something—a piece of paper sticking out from beneath one of the plates. I reach across and slide it free, then open it.
It’s a note.
Can we meet? Sheela.
“What is it?” Zayne asks.
“It’s a message from Sheela. Khaosti’s cousin. Remember?”
“Of course I remember,” he says. “What does she want?”
“To meet.” I frown. “The thing is, after we rescued Khaos, she left. She said she was heading north to join the rebellion.
“There’s a rebellion?”
“Yes, apparently. She’s part of it. And now she wants to meet.”
And I have to decide—do I want to be dragged into someone else’s rebellion?
Gods help me...but I think I just found my next terrible idea.
Chapter 7
Khaos
