Doppelganger: Anamorphosis

Chapter twenty. The Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors

Judy reread the note several times, but there was nothing new in it. The excitement made the letters dance before her eyes, blending into an indecipherable mess.

She was terribly angry, but only at herself.

She's the one who got Sandy involved in the supernatural creature games. You can't! Judy couldn't go home and bring trouble to her doorstep.

Ethan was tired of watching her pacing the kitchen. He snatched the piece of paper from her, tossed it into the sink, and flicked the button for the food shredder.

The girl froze briefly, idly watching the blades tear the hideous message to shreds.

Alas, the problem was not solved that way.

Damn vampires! - Judy thought angrily. Damn Louise Richard, with her stupid roses and her long speeches! There's no doubt that Sandy's kidnapping was her doing. She's in on the whole mirror thing. Lorna Walker was known to Louise, according to Rick. The vampire had also written the letter with the insistent invitation to visit New Orleans. Judy remembered the handwriting and recognized it easily.

But how did Louise and her kin know where to find the girl?

Something didn't add up. And it was unsettling.

- Hush, - Ethan caught Judy in a hug, cutting off her fidgeting, - we'll figure this out. We need to get back to New Orleans and...

- Yes, - she agreed and mumbled, thinking aloud, - I need plane tickets... God, it's taking so long! I have no idea where my documents are, I don't even have a cell phone. You do, right? We have to hurry in case the vampires hurt mom!

- Screw the plane, let's go through the mirror, - Ethan said. And Judy tensed.

She disentangled herself from the man's embrace and stepped aside.

She missed an important variable in the equation again!

Camila. For it was not unlikely that the message, as well as the letter, could have been left by that muddy creature. The raven woman, while they were chilling on the island, must have done all the dirty work and hidden Mrs. Davis somewhere. Judy had encountered this scheme before.

- It wasn't the vampires, - she voiced her terrible guess, - it was you! You set this whole thing up to get me to open the mirror portal! You're going to regret bringing Sandy into this!

- For God's sake, Judy! - Ethan shook his hands, - What are you talking about? What did you think my plan was? Why would I kidnap your mother?

- I don't know, - she sighed, - I don't know! But I can't trust you. There are too many lies.

She had lost faith long before their tentative reconciliation.

- And Camila... - the girl said hesitantly, - she... if she did it without your knowledge? She wants to open the passage for some reason, doesn't she?

- Camila wouldn't... - Ethan started, but stopped talking and shook his head. - No, she wouldn't. We have a deal, and she can't go behind my back and do anything amateurish.

- Who is she?

Judy didn't like the whole situation, but the expression on the man's face at that question made the colors darken. He glared angrily at her and looked away.

She realized that she would not hear an answer, even if she tried to force it out with brute force. Threats, bargaining, pleas, and even Sandy's gun were useless.

"You don't want to know that, believe me".

Judy thought back to the conversation she'd had with Melissa McBride a long time ago. It was a little forgotten, but the key points were firmly imprinted in her memory. Mel had talked about the plight of the High Witch who'd been killed by the creature with whom they'd been bound by magic. The most important thing was that no outsiders should be privy to the contract.