Page 32 of Nightmare's Dance

Someday we’d be the scariest nightmares and would be able to go anywhere, but until then, we had to stick close to the castle.

Except we’d found the cabin and the arch.

Finally, we made it to the small building forgotten in the forest. Baz pushed open the door, and Dio and I followed him inside. I went straight to the mirror. Dio shoved his shoulder into mine, jostling me. Baz pushed in between us and then we all stood in front of the shiny surface.

“Bloody Mary,” we intoned together, repeating the name three times.

The air chilled as Mary answered our call, surfacing in the mirror and grinning. “Young Princes,” she said. Her voice was gentle, for all her appearance was grisly. I liked her glowing green eyes, though. Anything with a little color always caught my interest.

“Mary!” Dio exclaimed. “We’re happy to see you. Can you take us to the cabin in the woods?”

“Little Prince, you are already in a cabin in the woods,” Mary chided.

“Silly Mary,” Baz said. “The one in the conscious realm that matches this cabin.”

“Oh, that cabin,” she teased.

“Please,” I added.

“Of course, young princes. It is my honor to serve you.” She stepped back, and the arch appeared.

Dio went first, I followed, and Baz came last, stepping into the cool mirror and following the path to the conscious realm.

The light was brighter than I preferred, but it always was in the conscious realm. I’d tolerate it for playtime with Ember.

We left the cabin and didn’t have to wait long before our friend was crashing through the woods to meet us at our normal time.

“Boys!” she exclaimed. “I have a new game for us to play. I learned it while I was away.”

“Does it involve jumping off trees into the water?” Baz asked.

“No, silly.” She laughed. The sound was so pure and joyful it brought a smile to my lips.

“How about an extra special game of tag?” Dio offered.

“No. Not that, either.” She glanced at me, waiting for my guess.

“It’s not a new version of hide and seek?” I played her game, though I knew it would be something different.

“No, we’re going to have a wedding.” She spun in a circle, delighted with her idea. “First, we gotta get a whole bunch of flowers.”

Ember

“Ember?”

I whimpered, unable to even unlock my jaw enough to ask for help. I wasn’t even sure what Ash could do to help me. Clutching the silks in a death grip, unable to release my foot locks where the fabric twisted around my feet and ankles, holding me in the sky. Unable to get down, I was frozen, and had been for at least twenty minutes.

She could have climbed up if I could unlock my foot from the silk and give her one to climb, but I was stuck in both, weight on one foot, the other leg wrapped to give me a seat. I clutched the fabric in front of me and couldn’t let go. I’d thought working through my favorite solo routine would be a good way to think. I’d been wrong.

“Shit, what’s wrong with her? She’s never had a problem with heights.”

“Likely a reaction to Baz’s games. If you turn the lights off, I can get her down,” Nic offered.

Why is he still here?

“How?”

“I’ll use the shadows. Just turn the lights off, unless you have a better way?”

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