Blood and Apples

A Mirror as Old as Time

A mirror arrived the morning after the incident yesterday. A mirror that was the size of a door, oval and had carved iron roses around the brim. A note came with it from Mr. Thomas,

"Mason, I found this mirror in the depths of the basement. I knew what it was instantly. Snows stepmother used it to track vampires for the hunters she worked with. It used to track monsters and show monsters inside the hearts of men. But late in the fifteen hundreds, somebody changed its design to track the undead. If you want it to work all you have to say is,

"Mirror, Mirror,

Upon the wall

Show me my deepest desire."

How is Snow? Is she adapting well? I do hope you've been keeping her safe."

I did not read anymore, I had failed him. Failed myself for not going after her. I rubbed the bandages piled onto my shoulder. I was a disgrace, I sank to my knees, my hand clenched around the letter.

Rhys POV,

I removed the letter from Mason limp hand. He had fallen asleep with his back against the mirror. It would be a shame to move him. My eyes scanned the letter and then I repeated the words on the paper ending with her name. I switched on the light, peering at mirror, hoping that something was coming through. Mason woke with a jerk at the light.

"Sorry." I murmured.

He said nothing as he wiped the drool off his chin. Something shimmered on the mirrors surface. It was a chair but there was something sat in it. Mason gasped audibly when he saw it.

"Elinor." We both growled.

She had been pinned to the chair with stakes drilled through her wrists. The tips of the stakes were drenched in blessed silver. Her neck had been sliced open and dark blood dropped freely from it. But still her gaze was steely as she stared down her assailant. I watched as she spat blood at whoever was beside the brim of the mirror. Then the mirror faded back to its reflective surface. Mason turned to me, no expression on his face. He was very pale but he spoke steadily,

"When I was eight, a butterfly was hidden in the corner of my bedroom. When I discovered it, I thought it was dust but when I touched it, I shrieked. The butterfly did no harm to me but yet I was afraid of it. What this story means that all beautiful things have a dark side. I hate to think what Elinor will do when she is released. She might go into a blind rage and kill us both."

I couldn't argue with him there. After all, I did not know the back story of Elinor.