Mirror, Mirror

Chapter 12: Home

Mom was always watching me. I knew she was nervous that I would go back over to help Acacia and Mauvent. I had a notebook filled with all the information I knew, trying to sort everything out, figuring out fact vs. fiction.

1. Shaya had told me that I had come to help Acacia defeat Mauvent.

2. Joven had told me that I had come to help Mauvent defeat Acacia.

3. They had both told me that I had powers beyond their reach.

So far, the notes made sense. Either Joven or Shaya lied to me. Or both.

4. Mom had told me that something had to give up life to create magic.

5. The only reason Shaya and Joven wanted me was for my magic.

6. I'm not allowed to go back across the mirror.

It was hard. I tried to distract myself with friends, pamper days, shopping trips, or trips to the beach. I just couldn't stop thinking about Joven. I didn't understand why I cared so much about him, a stranger practically. He could have lied to me. Maybe he was actually telling the truth. But if he was, he'd have to understand why I needed to stay over here.

But I didn't belong here, in America. Or even in this world. Everything here had lost its sparkle. I hardly smiled anymore. I found it nearly impossible to even get out of bed. I became moody, snapping at people. My mom gave me sad, distant looks.

It had almost been four days. I was lying in bed, listlessly flipping through TV channels. I was still trying to find distractions, I knew. Couldn't Joven contact me if he wanted? Like Shaya had contacted us?

Did Joven even want me?

I had asked myself this question time after time. Did Joven want me at all? Was he trying to get me out of Acacia?

I turned off the TV and began to stare at the mirror, waiting for Joven to pop out. I knew he couldn't: if he'd wanted to, he would have by now.

I was interrupted by a sharp knock on my door. My mother opened it, smiling thinly at me.

"Cass..." she trailed. "It's better if you stay here, you understand?"

"I know."

"School starts tomorrow, and I was just wondering if you'd want to go..."

"To actual school? Not just tutors at home?"

My mother paused. "Your father and I think it might help you take your mind off...things."

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Cass, this hurts me to see you like this."

I was silent, staring at the wall. Trying not to show my mother the thin lines of tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Please, Cass! Please say something!"

"Mom..." My voice cracked and I sniffed. "I just can't forget them..."

She ran over to me and sat by me on the bed, putting her arms around me. "I know how you feel, honey. It happened to me once too, remember?"

"Joven...he..."

"I know. He was your best friend. It's hard, isn't it? To see them completely change? The mirror is a different place. You know how older mirrors distort your image?"

I nodded.

"That's what the mirror-world does to people. It distorts who they are. Power changes people, Cass. My best friend, Delia...she stayed behind. She became the leader of Mauvent. One day she came to me by your mirror. This was after everything had fallen apart in Oceania. She asked me if there was anything I wanted. I told her the only thing I wished for was a baby girl..."

My eyes widened a bit.

"She sent me you a few days later. You were so tiny, so perfect. Delia told me that she'd always watch and protect you."

"Delia changed her name in Mauvent, didn't she? To Demonia?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, she did...how did you know?"

"The mirrors in Joven's hall showed a fairy protecting me when I was little."

"Joven has to stay in Mauvent, Cass. He's the leader now. He has duties. But if you have to go back..."

My mother stared at her hands for a moment before finishing.

"Just make sure that you're making the right choice. The mirror gave me you. If the mirror takes you back, I won't stop you."

I stared at my mother's thin face. "I don't think the mirror will let me back through without magic," I said.

"Well...you're too old to have me telling you what to do all the time. Sometimes you need to make your own choices."

I nodded again. "I'll think about it."

"Just remember, Cass, the mirror might not let you back here if you choose to go help Acacia and Mauvent," said my mother slowly before leaving my room and closing the door quietly.

There was so much to decide. I had to start school first, try and forget about Acacia, Mauvent, the mirror. Everything but this world. Maybe going back wouldn't help, it would just mess things up more. Maybe it was better for me to stay.

Maybe.

***

A/N: aaaannnnnddd hello again! So, so glad if you've kept reading MIRROR, MIRROR for this whole time!!! You are awesome!!!

It will hopefully be about fifteen parts, and once I finish I will take the whole thing, edit it, make it easier to understand, fix any grammar / punctuation, add / delete parts, and re-upload the whole new thing! I really like this story, and I hope you do too!

Aaaannnnddd thank you for COMMENTING, VOTING, AND JUST READING YOU ARE AMAZING.

Always,

Kaylin Meller