Mirror, Mirror

Chapter 7: Betrayal and Alliances

"Joven...what?" I stuttered out.

He stared at his feet, unable to look at me.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Andi. Please, just listen to me. I don't care if you hate me after. But just hear me out, okay?"

I nodded.

"I knew all about you, Andi. I knew you weren't from this world. I knew that you were from Acacia. And I knew about everything that would happen to you. Because...well, I was born here too."

He looks at me finally, but I just glance at Shaya, who's standing there, nodding along with Joven's story.

"I wasn't born in Acacia, however. I was born in Mauvent, the other side of this world."

Shaya keeps on nodding.

"And you both knew this, and kept this a secret from me?" I ask incredulously.

Shaya stares into my eyes. "Cass, I needed you here. I couldn't risk scaring you off!"

"And why, exactly, did you need me here?"

"Cassandra, the only people with wings in Acacia are royalty. You are the true Queen of Acacia."

"What?" I said, staggering back. "You never said anything about that!"

"I know, and I'm sorry. Like I said, I didn't want to scare you away," she replied calmly.

"But...but Joven has wings too. Does that make him the king?"

"Yes, but probably not as you're thinking. Prince Illan is, well, prince of Acacia. But he can't become king and rule without his rightful queen, you. Prince Joven, however...he is king of Mauvent. And his queen, Kayra, will be crowned in less than two weeks."

"You guys are talking like I'm not even here anymore!" exclaimed Joven.

"What Joven hasn't told you is who the queen was before," continued Shaya, ignoring Joven's comment.

"I...erm...was just going to tell her..."

"Tell me!" I yelled, and slammed Joven against the wall. Both of our faces showed our surprise at my newfound strength.

"Okay! My, have we gotten strong in our new world!" he mocked, like he was talking to a child.

"Want me to do it again?" I asked.

"Try me," he smirked.

"Tell me, Joven, or I'll make Shaya."

"Okay! My mother, the other Queen, was Demonia. She's already dead, congratualtions."

"So I'm free?" I ask tenatively.

"Not exactly, babe," mocked Joven again. "Her last, dying wish was for me to carry out the curse's final effect: your death." His face flickered with softness for a moment. "I'm sorry, Andi, I really am. But my mother's last words are binding, and if I don't carry them out, I'll be tortured by her spirit for twelve lifetimes."

"So either you die, or I do."

"Well, I suppose you could say that..."

I stared at him angrily and then slapped him. "Well, then I suppose this has become a deadly contest. Winner take all: the other's life and kingdom."

Shaya gasped, as if she didn't expect this to turn deadly so quickly.

"Not so fast, sugar. You have to spend four out of seven days of the week in your world. I, on the other hand, do not. Think of the upper hand I can have, those other four days..."

"You won't, though, because I appoint Shaya as my stand-in for the other four days."

Shaya looked torn. "Are you sure, Queen Cassandra?"

"Positive." I turned to Joven. "Now, for my first act as queen, I banish you from Acacia."

"Long, fancy words there, Princess. Don't worry, I'll be back, though." Joven turned and stalked out of the storage room, which we had been in since transferring through the mirror. What seemed like ages ago now.

"Shaya, I think I need to sit down."

"Of course, your Highness. Just let me fetch you a chair..."

"Wait. Is this your castle?"

"No, Queen. I am only your servant. This is your castle now."

"Well, will you show me to my bedroom? And then please explain what is going on?

"Of course, Queen," Shaya replied instantly.

She took me out of the empty mirror room and led me down a corridor, takes a left, goes down another corridor, takes a right, and gently unlocks and opens a huge, polished wood door. "Here you are, Queen."

I smiled at Shaya. "Thank you. Now, will you sit down and explain this all to me?

I sat down on a plush, red chair and Shaya sat at my feet.

"On a chair, please, Shaya."

"Oh. Of course."

Once she is seated I continued.

"Alright, now please, tell me everything. And this time the truth."

"Of course. Anyway, it all started when you were just a tiny child and you got cursed by Demonia...that is all true. The part where the lies start is at your fifteenth birthday. You were called, not gifted. The queen before you fought a great battle with Demonia and killed her. But her battle scars got infected, and she too died. So I called you to this world. Which is why you grew wings at your party. Joven wasn't called until he was sensed in this world. Is this making sense so far?"

"Yes...I was called at my fifteenth birthday, and Joven once he came into your mirror-world. We were called because both our mothers, the queens, fought, and they both died."

"Correct. And Joven's mother, Demonia's, last wish was for Joven to fill out the curse and kill you."

"I don't understand, Shaya. Why does he act like we're enemies here, when he told me he liked me on my side?"

"He was called by the darkness, Queen. It changes you."

I sighed and laid down on my huge bed.

"Well, it's been a long and confusing day...I should get some rest," I told Shaya. She nodded and left. I checked in my closet and pulled out a plain nightgown.

"Good enough," I muttered.

I laid down once again on my bed, and within seconds fell asleep, sure to only have more nightmares.

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A/N: HIIIIIIEEEE!!! New update! Yay! this is my favorite part so far!

Soooo I start school in 1 week! I probably will be too busy to update often, but I WILL TRY FOR YOU!

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i love anyone who's reading this.

don't forget to do all that stuff I said up there.

see you guys next update!