A Life Beyond The Mirror

I woke with a jump. A scream rumbling deep in my throat, breathing to ease the denseness in my chest. In and out. In and out. The nightmare is getting worse. The same sequence events that feel more and more real as days go on. My arm still throbbing with pain even after I wake. A splitting headache clouding my thoughts as peer to the window; It’s still dark outside, the clock beside my bed tells me it’s a little after 4am. I move to the end of the bed, Toby grumbles as I push the covers away, but he falls back to sleep quickly.

I wonder if Dad had seen more of my vision. Maybe something different and that thought alone drives me from my bed, as I head over the mirror and place my hand on the glass. I know it’s late but it’s practically next door.

The ripple of magic spreads across the mirror showing me the Seers Tower. My father’s room. I rub my eyes but the scene doesn’t change. Finn was asleep, head resting on the desk as his chest rose and fell. Should I wake him? That can’t be comfortable, and he probably has the fluffiest bed with the softest pillows, deciding it was for the best I press on.

I step through the mirror. And gently tap him on the shoulder.

“Finn.” I whisper, trying not to wake anyone else up. “Finn.” I whisper a little louder. He shakes awake, pulling away. He pry’s his tired eyes open.

“Thea? What are you doing here?” he says sleepily. “Are you alright?” His eyes assessing.

“I had another nightmare and couldn’t get back to sleep. I wanted to search for clues.” I whispered. My mind kicked in as I realised this was his home and I was technically not okay. “If you don’t mind that is. I just realised this may count as breaking and entering.” I spiral.

“No, it’s fine.” He yawns.

“What are you doing sleeping here?” I ask. His eyes opened wide at the question.

“Well, you just looked so sad earlier. I wanted to take a look at your dad’s things myself, to see if there was anything more the guards had missed.” He stretched, before stacking the pieces of paper neatly on the table. I smiled internally, a warm feeling spreading through my chest.

“Thank you, but you look really tired. I think you should go to bed. That desk doesn’t look the comfiest.” I gesture to the mark on his face he had acquired from sleeping on a hard surface. He rubbed his cheeks, looking more awake as he looks me up and down.

“That’s what you wear to bed?” he grins, his eyes darkening.

Oh shit! I hadn’t thought about it. I was wearing an oversized jersey that came down to mid-thigh with long sleeves. Nothing further down.

“Better than nothing I suppose?” I say awkwardly, tugging it down. He smiled again.

“I like it.” He leaned closer, again removing my hands from the hem. “I would have liked it more if you had worn my shirt.” He murmured. His eyes deep and green, like soft meadow grass I want to lay in whist I soak up the sun. I must admit I had thought about wearing his shirt, but had decided against it, an internal battle that had taken more time than I would care to admit.

“Finn, you’re getting married. I can’t let this happen. I don’t want to be the one left behind. I really like you already and we barely know each other. If we carry on it’s only going to lead to a hell of a lot of pain.” I gesture to the both of us, my voice almost turning to a whisper by the end. He stood up pulling me into his arms.

“I’m going to stop it. Something is going on. The fact the princess is sending Sea hags after you and knows where you are, she must have spies. How she knows about you, I don’t know.” He rubs his hands in lazy circles against my back. “I don’t want to be with her. Not even politically.” He leans away, his hand rising to stroke my cheek.

“What if you can’t stop it? What if we are rushing into things? What if your dreams aren’t what you think?”

“I knew it when we kissed. You’re the only one I will ever want.” He leans down to kiss me. Desperation, in the air, like it was something he needed. I pushed away.

“Please don’t. Until the wedding is off. I… I don’t want to make this worse for you. I don’t want to get hurt.” I whispered, feeling the weight of words making my heart clench.

He steps away. “I’m sorry.” He reaches his hand out to me and then just dropping it back down to his side. His eyes clouded with turmoil. He nods as he backs away. “Goodnight Thea.” He looks away and heads for the door, closing it firmly behind him. I let out a sigh, stopping myself from following him. Apologising, But I can’t do this to myself. I can’t do that to him. If we go any further and the wedding still happens? It would hurt. I can feel him taking root deep in my soul, if he were to be taken away, I don’t think my heart would survive.

I pull myself together and look around the cold tower. The fire was lit, illuminating the room in the orange glow. I started to flick through the dusty papers on the desk. Apart from the one I read earlier, most were notes from previous visions and some looked like visions he was trying to seek. Nothing of use to me though. I lean back in the chair and place my hands over my eyes. There must be something here. Exhaustion taking over, I yawn and head back to the mirror. A flapping noise accompanying me; a piece of paper had attached itself to my foot. I pull it off gently and place it back on the table. Immediately double taking. I smooth out the corners of the paper to reveal purple flames drawn around the edge of a symbol; an intricate design of weaving thorny vines, similar to a celtic rune. This has got to be something. I just need to find out what. I will show Finn tomorrow. I turn once again and slip through the mirror. Crashing onto my bed as soon as I enter my room.

The hall was filled with white flowers. Two large sections of row upon row of seats, with an aisle through the middle. White petals falling from the sky, like snowflakes. I see Hali and I wave, her gaze going straight through me. Finn is stood at the altar, dressed in his royal blue suit. His hair tidied, but his eyes were vacant. The procession starts, a woman wearing a black wedding dress and thick black veil enters at the end of the room. The bottom of her dress covered purple runes. This can’t be happening. Panic jolting me into action as I run to Finn, but he can’t see me. He’s not even moving, like a statue. The bride is getting closer, the room darkening with every step that she takes. “Please, no.” I say covering my mouth in shock. The bride looks at me, her smile illuminated through her dark veil. The petals turn black, and the flowers begin to wilt. The smell of rot filling my nostrils. “They are mine now.” She growls, laughing at her victory. I run to Hali, shaking her.

“Please Hali, you have to help me stop this. Hali, please see me, wake up.” Her eyes fixed ahead. “Please.” I cry. Shaking her, but she was stuck in the trance, smiling ahead.

“You see. You are not the key to the end. I am more powerful than you will ever be. Your friends are gone.” She growls, her eyes turning back to Finn, he turns, smiling at her. His eyes though; they’re clouded. She holds up her hand towards me.

“Time to go, Thea. I’d say it been a pleasure, but your death will bring me more pleasure than you will ever know.” She laughs, sending a black cloud towards me. The smell of death. I do the only thing I can do. I scream.

I shoot up in bed. Two in one night. Fantastic.

“Are you okay dear?” Grandma shouts from the floor below.

“Yeah, just another nightmare.” I shout, rubbing my face to calm myself.

“I heard you shout. You sounded quite scared. Are you alright?” She says. Did I shout?

“No, it’s okay. It was just the dream.” I reply, breathless. I hear her climb the stairs towards me. She turns and sits on the top step.

“Same fire?” she asks.

“No, a wedding actually. And a bride zilla.” She laughs a little. She stands and sits on the edge of the bed. Taking my hand.

“Let me see.” She closes her eyes, her brow furrows with concentration. “That’s not good. That’s the Prince’s wedding, that I don’t think he is present for.” She shakes her head. “Has he met his Bride yet?”

“No.” I look down at the bed.

“There may be something I can teach you that will help.” She says finger on forehead thinking. “Right, how did your father do it?” she mumbles to herself.

“Do what?”

“Well, your father was a dream weaver. He can make people dream what he wants them to see. This power also let him communicate with others, sending messages to their mind.”

“Telepathy?” I ask shocked. “How?”

“Right.” She straightens on the bed. “Hold my hands and close your eyes. Now think of something you want to tell me. Anything. Something I wouldn’t know already. Now imagine that message following through you and into me. Like how you let me see your dreams, just a little more complicated. More concentration.”

I think. Instantly the image of Finn fills my brain before I shake it free. No. No, thank you. I was the one who smashed the vase. Dad took the blame for that but it’s something she might not know.

I imagine the message moving, like a paper aeroplane, soaring down my arms and up into my grandmother’s mind.

“You didn’t?!” she said smacking my wrist and I wince.

“At least we know it worked. I’m sorry I know dad took the blame, but I was 10 and my mum would have killed me.” I said.

“What?” she said, confused.

“The vase you gave Mum and Dad for their wedding anniversary. I broke it.”

“That’s not what you just said. You said you and Finn kissed.” I looked at her shocked, my cheeks burning like the coals.

“That was not the message I sent.” The word ERROR flashing through my head as if I were sending emails.

“My fault, I forgot to tell you to clear your mind. You must only think of the message. If you don’t, whatever is in your mind will go.” She said wafting her hands in the air like a butterfly taking flight. “It worked anyway, so next step. We won’t hold hands. But the message will fly from your mind to mine. Like it’s on a piece of string.” She ties the imaginary string to her head.

I think hard.

Only the vase. Only the vase. Only the Vase. I repeat quickly. Shooting the paper aeroplane straight into her mind.

“It was a bit jumbled, but that is to be expected. I did here vase. So that’s good. With practice, you will be able to send them to whoever you want wherever you are.” She smiled.

“Instant messages, without the monthly plan.” I said as if I were an advert.

“Quite.” She laughed.

“Now, this kiss. Seems like the Prince is a little unsure he wants to get married. Be careful. I don’t want you getting hurt and the looks of that dream, something bad is coming.” She shuddered. “I will make you a tea. To help with the lack of sleep. I will also start on a potion to help you see through charms. This bride seems like she knows you. It will help you see past any spells she may have, covering her dark magic. It will take a little while though I need some more kelpie scales.” My eyes bug out of my head as she headed down the stairs. “And best hurry, Len said Hali will be here in 5 minutes.”

I scramble out of bed and look at the time. 8:15am. Shit. I leap out of bed throwing my clothes on before running down the stairs, swinging my blazer over my shoulders as I go.

“Here you go.” My Grandma hands me the tea. I down it, slightly burning my lips.

“Thanks! See you later!” I say running out the front door.