Love is Cold

You

The room was empty, except for a single mirror in the middle of the room. It wasn't exactly elegant. The surface looked warped and possessed a strange ora.

This appeared to be the last room, because of the lack of a back door. This room was far smaller, too. It was a hall with a tall ceiling and nothing in it; besides the mirror. It was, also, very warm, in the room.

I took off my heavy gear, leaving me in my white blouse, black vest, and trousers, moved to the front of the mirror, and peered at my reflection. I had bloodshot eyes and I was far thinner that I had been. I had to have lost twenty pounds, making my clothes droop. My cheeks looked hollow and my skin was bruised and cut.

I touched the mirror and felt the smooth coldness of it. That's when my reflection grabbed me and pulled me in. I landed on my hands and knees, scraping them. My replica stood across the room, sword drawn, in a fighting stance. I did the same.

* * *

We clashed for hours. We were exhausted and breathing heavily. She had landed a slice of her sword on my cheek. I could feel the warm blood slowly dripping down my face. I haven't even been able to touch her.

I was thinking of ways to defeat her, but she knew my plan the minute I did. I had been fighting her- physically and mentally, but my mental barrier slipped, exposing her to all the contents of my mind.

"So how's Leo?" teased the copy. "No wonder you left him. What a creep. Can't believe you were ok with letting him screw you." She spat her last sentence like it was poison.

"You shut up about him," I screamed at the thing. She might look like me, but she isn't me and has no right to talk about Leo.

"Oh, and that's not even the best part. You wouldn't know by now, but you've got a little secret on the way. To bad you're gonna die before you see it," she continued, cackling as she went.

"Shut up!" I screamed again as I ran towards her. It caught her off guard. She was stunned, but still had time for one last illusion. My sword impaled the thing, just below the ribcage, but the person in front of me wasn't me, anymore. It was Leo All it did was smile and, then, it disappeared like a haze.

I crumpled to the ground, exhausted. I had never had a battle like that. My prison was returning to enclose my body. I heard nothing, but my own breathing, as I lay there on my knees, my hands folded in my lap. Then, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

When I'm looked up, Leo softly smiled down at me. He fell to his knees I in front of me and just held me for a while. I cried into his shoulder and told him I was sorry, multiple times. He just sat there holding me close.

"You once asked if I'd protect you. Do you remember what I said?" Leo asked. He was so calm, it was scary. I was unprotected and had to stand before a pack of wolves, waiting for them to pounce on me.

I wiped a tear away and nodded. "You said 'For an eternity.' But then, I left and-"

"Yeah, and I'm not ever going to take that back. Ever. I didn't even leave the cave. I never stopped trying to get to you. I love you." Leo squeezed me lightly. "You wanted me to have my eternity, but I would give it away to save you. You are the only one I have left."

I whisper, "I love you, too. I'm never leaving you again."

* * *

We stayed the night in the ninth room, cuddled together in the sleeping bag. I was exhausted, but I lay awake with Leo. He stroked my hair softly.

He eventually asked about my fight with the duplicate Aria. I told him everything and explained how I defeated her. Then, I told him what she said.

Leo's breath caught in his throat. Then, his face lit up like star. I was confused. What had she meant by 'a little secret on the way?'"

"That's fantastic, Bellrose. I can't believe it. You're gonna... And I'm gonna. Oh, man!" Leo exclaimed excitedly, bolting upright onto his feet.

"Ok. This is apparently a big deal, so could you please tell me what's so great?" I inquired as I slowly sat up. He looked at me and his smile only got bigger.

Leo looked at me and nearly yelled, "We're going to have a baby! Aria,... you're pregnant!"