Mirror, Mirror

Chapter 6: Relationships and Leaving

I could hardly sleep that night. Joven actually liked me! I was his girlfriend! I opened the black box for the millionth time, smiling at the silver key necklace he'd gotten me.

I couldn't sleep also because of tomorrow. Going through the mirror. I was sure it would be fine, but still, I was worried. My dream had been so intense! What if something like that happened on the other side?

When I finally dozed off, my mind was plunged into yet another situation about the mirror.

"Cass! Time to go, you're interview's over!" whispered a silky voice which could only be Shaya.

I paused for a second. Joven should have been here an hour ago! What was taking him so long?

"Come on, Cassandra? We need to go!"

"Wait!" I said. "What about Joven?"

"He's probably left you. He probably never cared..."

I screamed and hurled myself at the mirror, intending to get across to Shaya. But the instant I hit the glass, it shattered and fell to the ground, a couple shards cutting my face.

"Shaya! Shaya, I'm sorry! I...didn't...mean...the mirror!" I screamed, holding the pieces of broken glass in my bare hands and crying.

Joven suddenly appeared behind me and laughed. "You thought I cared, Andi. Well, how do you think it would look to the rest of the world if I suddenly disappeared with a girl with wings for awhile?"

I turned to look at Joven and his face was changing slowly into black. He eventually was no more than a shadow, standing behind me.

"Don't blame yourself, Cass. It was destined to happen eventually. Sooner rather than later, am I right?"

My head snapped around as I heard Shaya's voice. I looked and saw Shaya reflected in every piece of broken glass.

"...don't blame yourself...self...self..."

"...destined to happen...happen...happen..."

"...sooner...sooner...sooner..."

All of Shaya's words began to swim around in my head, making me dizzy. Suddenly the shards of glass drew themselves together and the mirror became whole again.

"Join me, Joven, and together, we could overthrow Cassandra and you and I could take over Acacia," whispered Shaya's voice. She put out her hand to take Joven's shadowy one and pulled him into the mirror.

"Bye," they chanted together creepily, and suddenly the floor I had been standing on disappeared and I began to fall, screaming...

"Andi! Andi!" I heard a voice yelling, shaking me from sleep.

"What..." I croaked, still terrified from the dream.

"You were screaming! And look, your sheets are covered with sweat!"

I relaxed. It was just a dream, I told myself.

"Watching me sleep again, huh Joven?"

He looked actually concerned. "What's wrong, Andi?"

"Just a nightmare. I'm fine."

"Andi, that's the second one in one night! Maybe we shouldn't go through the mirror..." Joven trailed off.

"No! We have to. I feel like...don't call me crazy, but I feel like Demonia is...calling me by the nightmares."

He gave me a skeptical look. "Really?"

"Joven, I have wings and I was born in a different world. I don't think anything is too crazy to believe at this point."

"CASSANDRA!" I hear my mother yell from downstairs.

I sighed dramatically and yelled back. "WHAT?"

"Get ready for your interview!" she called.

An hour later I was standing outside of the set of the Maggie Show, ready for yet another interview. I took a deep breath and grabbed Joven's hand.

"You are coming with me," I demanded. We waited as the show began to start.

"Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the Maggie Show! I'm your host, Maggie North. And please welcome our guests, Cassandra Bern and Joven Ryson!"

We both walked out calmly, holding hands and waving at the live audience. Joven sat down, and I plopped down next to him. I didn't let go of his hand. My knuckles were turning white. We had something big planned, and I was nervous...

"So, Cassandra," started Maggie.

"It's Cass, please," I said, smiling back.

"Cass. So, rumor has it that...you and Joven are a thing now?"

I blushed a little and looked at him for an answer.

"We're just really good friends...as of now," Joven trailed. I looked at him quizzically.

Maggie smiled. "Hoping to escape the friend zone, are we?"

Joven shifted uncomfortably. Maggie noticed and moved onto the next question.

"Cass, at your last interview, you told Crystal Malone that you were going to disappear. Would you like to elaborate?"

"Actually, yes." I pause and stare straight at the camera. "Tonight, Joven and I are going to leave to get whole thing sorted out. We'll be back in a few days. You can search the globe for us, but you won't find us."

Maggie raised her eyebrows. "That's quite the statement. And you're absolutely sure no one will find you?"

"Positive," I replied.

"Joven, you've been awfully quiet the entire interview. Would you like to comment on anything?"

"Um...not especially. I agree with whatever Cass is saying..." His eyes were almost glazed over, as if he was totally zoned out.

"Well. Cass, your wings have proved to be quite the controversy. I'm sure all of us are wondering...can you fly?"

I nodded. This was what we were waiting for. I stood up, and Joven took out a large knife and swiped it above my head.

"No strings, see?" I said, looking at the camera again. I flapped once or twice before grabbing Joven and shooting straight up, where my mom flipped the switch that opened the skylight and we flew out of the Maggie Show. I could just barely hear "...well, that was certainly convincing...we'll be right back after the break..." before we flew out of earshot.

Once we reached my house again, I sat Joven down on the bench outside.

"What is wrong with you today?" I snapped.

"Nothing...let's just get through the mirror."

I yanked him up and we ran up to my room. Joven and I both left letters for our parents and then stepped in front of my mirror.

"Ready?" I heard Shaya ask.

"Ready," we chorused.

Shaya pressed her hand against the mirror, and I matched my right hand with her left. Joven grabbed my left hand, and we both took a deep breath and closed our eyes. There was a sudden flash of light, and once I opened my eyes the first thing I noticed was Joven.

"This is one of the extra rooms, used for storage right now, but..."

I tuned out Shaya. There wasn't anything in the mostly empty, drab room except of course, the mirror. But I couldn't tear my eyes off Joven.

He was standing in front of me with huge, black wings.

***

A/N: sorry it's been forever since I wrote! I had kind of writer's block for this chapter, but the next one should be out sooner. I'm also working on new ideas for a new story...

Anyway, I love anyone who's reading this!

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