Once Upon A [Hidden] Time - [Stolen] Series IV

CHAPTER 44

EDWARD
27 JUNE 1415

I inhaled sharply, not knowing how to react. I had never seen my reflection in my life. From Jasmine's book, I knew I looked like David, but such a stark resemblance?

"Edward." Myra touched my face.

I could see a white ghost in the looking glass. Did I truly look like a ghost, or was it the shock that drained the blood from my face?

"Edward." She tapped my cheek to gain my attention. I regarded her with bafflement. "It's you, Edward." She smiled. "The curse is lifted."

Upon that, she planted her soft lips on mine. I had always closed my eyes when we kissed, but this time, I kept staring at my reflection, not knowing how to react.

"Your heart," she whispered, placing her hand on my chest, "it's beating very fast." Kissing my chest over my tunic, she continued, "Calm down, my love!"

How could I calm down? I was meeting myself for the first time.

As if she could read my mind, she said, "I can understand what you must be feeling, but this shows that together, we can achieve anything." Pulling the strings of my tunic, she grazed her fingers on my chest, sending a lightning bolt through my body. "I can only imagine how it feels to meet yourself for the first time."

I had once shared my greatest wish with Veronica, about how much I wanted to see myself—and at the time, it was an impossible dream to catch. But now, with Myra by my side, everything seemed possible. The rain, the sunshine, Emma's love, and my existence in the looking glass...everything was possible with her.

I blinked to look at her. "Only because of you..."

"No, Edward," she answered, "it's because we are together."

Upon that, I pulled her close, kissing her like a starved man who had not eaten for ages. Brazenly, she pulled the tunic from my chest and threw it on the altar floor.

"This is you, Edward, with all your beauty and grace." Smiling, she ran her hand along my chest. I stared at my reflection, clad only in breeches. "Look at yourself closely, and fall in love with your existence, my love."

I tried to gulp my erupting emotions, but it was impossible to contain them. My eyes were brimming with tears, but I resisted by staying calm.

"I promised myself that I'd make you fall in love with yourself," she said, her hands grazing over my chest, intending to calm me, although they were only wreaking more havoc.

My heart was so out of control right now that if it did not stop running so fast, I might die.

"Look at yourself closely, my love," she whispered. "Look how beautiful you are."

I held my breath, staring at my reflection, while she kissed over my chest. It is I, indeed! But how was it possible?

"There is no monster here, my love," she said softly. "No hideous beast that could harm me." I knew not what to say. "You can't push me away now."

She stole a kiss from my lips again. It felt like being caressed by a rose petal. My heart ran so fast that I was unable to look at myself anymore, so I pulled back and stepped down from the altar.

Fetching my tunic, I pulled it on and sat in the front pew as I tried to catch my breath. Myra joined me after a moment.

Holding my hand in hers, she asked, "Are you okay?"

I did not want to think about my reflection. There were other important matters at hand. "How did we both pass through the mirror?"

"It's not the time to talk about the powers of the mirror, Edward," she answered. "How do you feel about yourself?"