The Mirror

Chapter 6: The realms

Chapter 6:

The Realms

            Death sat in his office staring at the grandfather clock, waiting patiently to see if the raven haired girl would return like they had agreed. He hated to admit that the thought of seeing the violet eyed mortal again sent a small thrill through him. She was different from all the other women, and even men, that he’d faced with her those determined eyes and unyielding stance when she faced him. The fact that she was also a divided interested him a great deal. There were very few of those beings in his realm and he had never met one before. They had the reputation for being mad and crazed because they see things that other mortals cannot, and should not, see. But this Selene Shay didn’t seem to be crazed at all. She was wise, smart, and analyzed everything thoroughly with the utmost care. And he had acquired all of this knowledge of her from just one meeting. He was interested in what else he could discover about the young woman the more time he spent with her. At the moment he thought of Selene as a very interesting puzzle that he was eager to solve. It was a good break from his duties as king and also got him away from the incessant nagging of the council.

            When the mirror in his office began to shimmer and ripple like water his smirk grew. Selene stepped through very gracefully unlike the first time and looked at the king as he sat at his desk. The smirk that he wore on his face made her sick and she loved the thought of smacking it off his face.

            “You returned,” the king stated as he rose from his seat approaching the young woman with intent to intimidate her. He entered her personal space, leaving but a foot between them, and toward over her as she stared up at him, defiance causing her eyes to glow.

            Selene arched a brow at the king, her fingers playing with the rosary beads that dangled from her wrist. “Well that was our agreement was it not?” she asked simply.

            The king smirked at her. “Yes it was but usually mortals try to get out of bargains like the one we have made,” he stated simply.

            Selene glared at him, openly showing her irritation with him. “Don’t lump me in the same category as others, Your Majesty.” His title slithered off her tongue and landed on the floor like venom from a snake’s fang.

            The king stood there, his smirk disappearing at the way his title came from the tiny mortal. The smirk returned though, as soon as it had disappeared, and he leaned his face down closer to Selene’s.

            “And why shouldn’t I, Miss Shay,” he responded. “After all you mortals are all alike, especially you females.”

            Selene saw red for a moment, her grip on the rosary beads increasing. “Then I shall group you with the other monsters I’ve met, both mortal and immortal.” Selene hated this man, no this creature, with all of her heart. He represented all the pain and suffering she had to face in her life and how every time she had a chance at happiness it was cruelly yanked away from her.

            Her words, for a reason unknown to his majesty, stung worse than any other insult he had be subjected to and it puzzled him greatly. Shaking the insult off, he turned away from the mortal girl and headed towards the large double doors of his office.

            “Follow me,” he stated as he pushed open the double doors. “I’ll show you to your room.” Selene said nothing but continued to glare at the king’s back as he led the way through the double doors of the office.

            The halls of the castle were loaded with servants going about their daily duties and chores. Each and every one dared not make eye contact with the king as he passed them by, paying them no mind as he led the mortal to her room. He was walking at a very fast pace, gliding across the carpeted floors without as much as a jarring motion. It was like he was floating which added to his terrifying exterior. Selene kept her eyes on his back, watching in awe as he maneuvered around the servants and making his way through the crowds with grace and stealth. She was almost in awe by it until she remembered what this creature had done to her and her amazed gaze returned to the glare she had earlier.