Pegasus and the Mirrored Ones

Chapter 1

Emily's POV:

I slowly tiptoed down the limestone stairs, glancing out the window, as the sun peeped out from behind the mountains. I lit a finger to guide my way, noticing how much harder it had become since.... Since the battle at Hawaii.

On my way out, I looked at my reflection, still feeling that same jolt of surprise. The girl in front of me was Emily, but it wasn't. I delicately touched my cheek. Diana's cheek. Emily hardly looked like Emily anymore, so much so, I couldn't even recognise myself.

Shaking the thoughts from my mind, I ran outside. Approaching the calm scene beyond, I took off into a run, whilst a small blue jewel lay glimmering in the palm of my hand.

"Take me to Xanadu!" I shouted as I began to spin wildly through the air.

My body felt like it was burning as I hurtled through the Solar Stream. It stopped, just as suddenly as it had begun. I looked around my surroundings. Xanadu. The only place where I truly felt at ease. I walked up the stairs and caught sight of the large computer in front of me.

"Arious!" I called. As I connected myself with the wires linked to the computer, I heard a soft voice speaking to me.

"Emily, how are you?" it called.

"Fine, thank you Arious," I replied. "Have you seen Riza?"

"I am not sure Emily, earlier this day she disappeared, and I still haven't seen her." the voice answered.

I disconnected, feeling the disappointment settle in my stomach. Every day I would try to see Riza, and every day I came back empty handed. Riza was my saviour, my friend and my sister. The word rang in my ears. Sisters.

She could only have gone to get away from me. My hands trembled as I held up the blue jewel. "Olympus." I called, feeling the familiar rush of wind rustle in my long black hair. It usually exhilarated me to feel like I was flying, but today, I felt empty and cold. Out of all the things that had happened, this one brought me down like a lead weight.

In an instant, I was there. To my left, I heard a sound of mingled laughter. I walked closer. No, it couldn't be...

Continuing on, I focused the sound, and the shock smacked me hard. Paelen, Lorin and Joel were on the silver beach, the secret space that belonged to me and Pegs. Me and Pegs, me and Pegs. Memories flooded into my mind. How could they?

I was brought back to the ground with a bump. They were all laughing as Lorin's hands flailed wildly.

"Oh no, the power, I can't handle it because I'm a weak mortal who can't even save herself!" Lorin mimicked as she crashed onto the floor.

"Lorin, you're amazing!" Paelen called out, rolling onto his side.

"I know" she smirked.

Paelen stood up. "I love you" he whispered and kissed her.

Joel coughed. "Lorin, please continue with your excellent interpretations!"

Smiling wickedly, Lorin said "Why, of course!"

I then realised what, or rather who, Lorin had been pretending to be. Me. Tears threatened to fall as I swayed, horrified. Could they hate me so much?

I willed for my emotions to go away. Riza had always said that my feelings were my greatest weakness.

I felt my breath hitch. I stumbled forward, blind to anything but my numb grief.

With a cry, I collapsed, with Joel scrambling away from me. Suddenly, the world turned on its side and everything went black.