Behind My Shadow - Book Three

8. This Place Is Too Crowded

My second Labor takes place in the Chamber of Reflections.

I stare up at the seemingly sempiternal stairs. The flight of steps looks like the face of a clock that has been divided into sections. They levitate around me in cold, lambent colors.

For this Labor I've been dressed in this sumptuous, sleeveless burning red cut-away dress that reveals my high-waist sparking black mini shorts and has black buckles across the corset. A glittery black push-up sweetheart top is perched above the corset and more buckles are clasped on the thin straps over my shoulders. I wear black combat high heeled boots and my hair is straightened for the first time -which makes me feel about 10x fiercer- and my smoky eye makeup is balanced with a nude lip stain.

I may look fierce and ready for anything but on the inside I'm shaking in my bones.

This Labor requires me to confront all the different versions of myself and control each mood swing. If I'm successful than I'll be granted the power of total control over my emotions. I'll be able to hide my blush or tears or conceal my pain from others without them being any wiser. I'll be the ultimate poker player.

I know, right? It sounds impressive and I -for one- am dying to accomplish this. I mean, if I can do this than my days of letting people see how flustered they make me are far behind me.

I swallow hard before I force a brave smile and meet the spectators' eyes. See, in an hour from now when I've completed this Labor (if I've completed this Labor) my ability to show whatever emotion I desire will be on tap and flawlessly at my disposal. Before too long, my days of forcing smiles will be hopefully long gone.

All of the guests are either dressed entirely in all black or white formal wear so standing here in my searing scarlet in the center of this shockingly bright white room really makes me stand out like a sore thumb.

I gulp as I begin climbing the floating stairs high above their heads.

"Remember, Promised Alice!" The Judge calls up at me. "You have only one hour to complete this Labor! Best of luck!" She starts clapping and now the rest of the enormous room joins in too.

I shakily smile, too afraid to trip over my long skirts as I awkwardly carry them in my hands to wave at anyone this time.

"I'm rooting for ya, lady!" I just manage to catch Bishop's yip above the applause. I smile brighter and shake my head to myself as I finally reach the top of the stairs. I gulp as I glance down at the crowd far below me. Everyone holds their breath as I turn to face the giant mirror door looming before me. I anxiously look it over but there isn't a handle or a doorknob in sight. I cautiously put my palms against it and lean forward.

It slowly opens on one side with a soft hiss. Frosty white mist rolls from the inky black void beyond it. For one last boost of encouragement, I glance over the edge of the stairs to spot my White Knights and puppy before I turn away and step into the blindingly dark room.

The door seals shut behind me with a cryptic whine.

It's so cold in here, I can see my breath. It glows bright white before my face but despite the glow, I can't see anything else in here. "Hello?" I timidly call. Another cloud escapes my lips. "Umm... I'm ready to start?" I cringe at how uncertain and awkward my echo sounds. I suddenly gasp as I see another puff of glowing white breath a few yards in front of me. "Who's there?" I call.

"Who's there?" My voice resounds back to me.

"Spooky," I whisper, shuddering as I creep forward. As I move closer to where I see the other glowing cloud, my surroundings slowly begin to brighten. But only just. I'm still straining to see in the depth of the darkness, using my own breath as a guide, before I see something glimmering before me. I stop short a stride away with wide eyes.

An enormous block of glowing ice that steadily gets brighter looms in front of me.

What am I supposed to do with this?

I curiously creep closer. Maybe it's concealing something. I gently breathe on the ice and now brush some of the frost away with my palm. I startle as I register a pair of blue eyes staring into mine. I relax a heartbeat later though. They're my eyes. This is a giant mirror that's been frozen. I smile a bit and shake my head with a faint chuckle as I brush more of the mirror off.

My reflection suddenly waves at me. "Hiya."

I scream and stagger backwards, smacking into another frosty mirror that has seemingly just materialized.

"Oh don't be scared!" The reflection in front of me holds out her hands as if to help steady me as I scramble away from the other mirror as more frost falls off on me.

"Oh, she should be scared!" An angry reflection of myself barks as she watches me stumble away.

"What the hell...?" I pant and shake my head with disbelief, struggling to keep an eye on the both of them.

"Don't act so surprised!" The Angry Me snaps and crosses her arms as she leans against her mirror's frame. "This place is called the Chamber of Reflections. What did you think you'd find in here?"

"Not two different versions of myself talking to me!" I exclaim.

"Oh, there's more than two in here!" The peppy reflection points.

"What?" I spin in a circle as I watch glowing blocks of ice morph out of the darkness until I'm now completely encircled by frosty mirrors emitting a nigh blinding glow. "Are these all...me?!" I frantically wipe the frost away from two different mirrors at once. "OMG!" I reel backwards as these two come to life with emotions of their own.

One is crying, hiding her eyes in her trembling hands while the other one is flirtatiously playing with her hair and making kissy faces at me.

"We're not here for a long time, lovie," the Lusty Me purrs. "Just here for a good time!" She throws her hands up in the air and dances in place.

"Ugh, you are soo obnoxious," the Angry Me snaps.

"You're just jealous of me and my love life!" The Lusty Me retorts with a velvety laugh.

"Guys, don't fight!" The Sad Me sobs behind her hands.

"Yeah, lighten up!" Peppy Me calls over the others.

All of their voices explode in my ears and leave me reeling in the middle of this freakshow in shock. I put my hands on my head as I wildly look the six glowing mirrors over with disbelief, spinning in a circle to look at them all at once.

They're all so loud!

I feel the crippling weight of panic wash over me like a tidal wave.

How am I supposed to tame them all in under an hour?!