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

CHAPTER 60

MYRA
2 JULY 1415

I opened my eyes, slowly coming back to reality.

It took me a while to adjust to my surroundings, the realisation of what happened to us last night dawning on me. I had a mental breakdown in the court because I had too much ale that made my mind groggy. I was angry at Edward, who followed me to the library, kissed me senseless to knock me off my feet, and then we were actually knocked over when the shelf behind me shifted, and we fell on to the floor in darkness.

Looking around us, I inhaled sharply, trying to fathom my surroundings. We were in the Hall of Rumination, surrounded by giant mirrors all around us! No wonder we couldn't find anything last night to light up the room—because the room didn't have anything to light it up.

The thirty-foot high ceiling had small cut-outs in the corners, throwing the daylight across to the opposite mirrors on the wall. The hall was designed in such a way that it could only be used in the daytime, unless they gathered hundreds of candelabras to bring the light in after sunset.

Edward was sprawled on the floor, sleeping like a half-dead horse—as if he hadn't slept like this in ages.

My back hurt terribly by sleeping on the marble floor, but I managed to move myself away from Edward's grip.

It was an endless myriad of mirrors, creating an infinite loop of our reflection on both sides.

Lying next to me in the reflection was a hideous beast, with devil's horns, deformed limbs, and the skin of a flayed corpse. How could I wake him and frighten him with his beastly reflection?

Two days ago, he was introduced to his beautiful and true self, and now God decided to play another insane prank on him. What kind of sick sense of humour did He have?

I lay there for endless minutes, trying to comb the tangled thoughts in my mind—but unless I blindfolded Edward before he opened his eyes, there was no other way. He would panic with so many mirrors around him, so many beasts staring at him. Many of the mirrors were shattered, their shards already cleared away. Who tried to destroy this beautiful hall? Was it Andrew, who first saw his beastly reflection in the mirror after the curse was cast on him, and he decided to destroy every possible looking glass in the castle? Or was it Jasmine?

I sensed Edward yawning when I placed the palm of my hand over his eyes.

"Don't open your eyes, Edward," I insisted. "You don't want to see what's around you." The horror of the scene passed before my eyes in just a few seconds. I felt paralysed, incapable of acting or even thinking.

"What is the matter?" He was on high alert.

"Just keep your eyes closed while I search for a way to exit."

"What is there?" he urged. "Where are we?"

I took some time to answer. "We are in the Hall of Rumination." Despite my struggle to remain composed, my voice betrayed my mounting fear.

"God's teeth!" he muttered. "Do you see yourself all around you?"

"Yes."

"What about me?"

I inhaled sharply, which he immediately understood. "I will see how we can exit."

"Is there not any door or window?"

"When there is no door from the outside, how can there be a door from the inside?" I argued.

I stood up, looking around carefully. The mirrors were of equal width and height—designed by a math freak. The mirrors had no cuts at all—no handle, no pulley, no clue at all.