Page 31 of The Eternal Mirror
I decide to intrigue him a little more. “I’m a witch. A mirror mage,” I say. His head turns slowly back to look at me like I’ve said something interesting. I smile. “I have heard that you have quite an interest in mirror mages.” Though I’m not sure that interest extends to keeping them alive. “But that’s something else I can’t prove. For some reason, my magic doesn’t seem to work here. Wards, I’m guessing, but they’re like nothing I’ve ever encountered.” Except that’s not exactly true. I came across something similar in Hell. The spell the witch put on me there had thesame feeling. “It’s dark magic, isn’t it?” It makes sense. After all, Khronus used dark magic to create my father.
“I always thought dark was a misnomer,” Khronus muses, but he doesn’t deny it. “It is the magic of Vortex, the creator.”
“I think ‘dark’ covers it.” I shake my head. I think of the witches who have gone missing. “Surely you learned your lesson with my father—don’t meddle with what you don’t understand. Please tell me you are not still dabbling in the dark arts and making another devil.”
“No, this time I am not making a devil.” His voice is calm. Reverent.Wrong.“I am making a god.”
“Aren’t you a god already?”
“Atruegod,” he says, his eyes glowing like molten gold. “Elevated to the level of the First Gods. With the power to shape existence. To create life... and to destroy it. Entire worlds will kneel before me. Or die.”
I frown. “You can’t kill entire worlds. Who’ll be left to worship you?”
“I will create new worlds.”
Shit, he’s serious. He would snuff out Valandria and Earth just because they don’t bow down to him.
And then he smiles. That slow, creeping smile that makes me want to punch something. “And I think perhaps you can help me after all. Maybe that’s your purpose.” He steps closer, voice low. “Your mother was stolen from me. But maybe... maybe you are the gift the gods sent in her place. The final piece I need to ascend.”
He’s looking at me like I’m some sacred artifact wrapped in flesh. Like he’s considering unwrapping me and drinking the magic straight from my bones.
Yeah.That’snot disturbing at all.
But in that moment, I know something for sure—
Whatever he’s building…
I’m going to burn it to the ground.
Chapter 11
Khaos
The truck slows as we approach the big iron gates that bar the way to the safe house. I'm in the passenger seat; beside me Killian is driving. His hands are tense on the wheel. He woke me this morning with the news that they wanted to help, but I don't think he's entirely convinced, and he's totally unsure of what he's getting himself into.
Probably because I haven’t told him much. Old habits die hard. He'll find out soon enough.
Grimlet is perched on my shoulder, staring out of the window. He loves the truck. I’ll have to get him one, teach him to drive. Except there are no trucks where we are going.
A sense of anticipation stirs inside me, and I shift on my seat. I’m going home. Probably to another stinking dungeon, if my fatherhas anything to do with it. And I won’t be able to help Amber if that happens. I wonder how Wrath would take to dungeon life. I’m guessing not well. I wince at the thought, and he stirs inside me, letting out a low grumbling roar.
Killian turns to look at me, a frown on his face. He can sense Wrath, but then, he’s hard to miss.
Laura and Jack are in the seats behind us. The other two decided to stay back, just in case anything should come through the portal again. I'm not sure they entirely believe me that it's over and that Hell is no more, but maybe fewer people is better. It's good to have somebody to watch my back, but a big crowd would be rather conspicuous. We're going to have to sneak in there somehow, because I'm sure my father will have people guarding the Chamber of Mirrors.
The vehicle pulls up in front of the safe house. Killian lets out a sigh and sits back, resting his hands on his thighs. “So tell me again what the fuck we’re doing here?” He peers out the window. “It looks like some sort of stately home.”
I remember the first time I came here. It seems unbelievable to me now, but in many ways, I led a very sheltered life up until the moment I received Khendril’s message. I’d gone straight from childhood to military life. It had never occurred to me to leave. Astrali was my world, my home, and there was plenty to keep me busy there. I knew about the other worlds, of course I did. Though I’ve learned since that much of what I thought I knew was actually a web of lies fabricated by my father.
Then I got a message from my brother, Khendril:
I’m sending you a girl for safekeeping. She must find Lucifer’s Mirror. Take her to the Crone—Thanouq will help you find her. He’s in Zander Aurion. Tell no one.
It changed everything. And I went hunting for Amber. I traveled first to the world of Valandria, created by the goddess, Selene, as I knew Zandar Aurion was a city on that world. Valandria bears a strong resemblance to Astrali in some ways, especially in regard to the lack of technology. Unlike Earth. It’s said that Vortex vanished from Earth, the world he created, many thousands of years ago and without the guidance of the gods, the people of Earth became obsessed with machines.
Anyway Earth was a total revelation for me, as different as it could get. I don't like it. But it is interesting. And I met Brown here and realized that he hates me. Almost as much as he hates my father. Which is what started me thinking that maybe all wasn’t right with my world.
I didn't understand why back then, but I do now. My eyes have been opened to so many things.
