"If you believe in ever afters, in magic, in dreams come true, your life will be full of miracles. It will be anything but ordinary. All you need, is to have faith and open your eyes wider."
Often life isn't what it seems to be ....
Hazel Smith is...
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Cause I'm only a crack , in this Castle of Glass .
-Linkin Park
****
The door swung open and the old lady limped inside, followed by Hazel, Ced and Cindy.
The tinker's shop was a mess. Shards of glass were strewn on the floor; broken glass, broken dreams. The greyness of gloom cast its shadow upon it.
" Please, sit down." The woman smiled with joy. Hazel felt a surge of sympathy within herself.
They took a seat around a small table.
" I shall make tea for you all."
As soon as the lady was out of sight , Hazel sighed, "No wonder she has to steal from others. This place is in such a decrepit state."
"I don't quite understand why we are here." Ced said.
" She helped us." Cindy said .
" But there was certainly no need of doing this. A waste of time." Ced argued.
" Tea's here ! Sorry, but I have nothing to serve with it." The lady placed the tray on the table.
"This will suffice, thank you." Cindy said.
As Hazel finished drinking the contents of her cup, the lady suddenly whimpered.
" Are you okay ?" she asked, alarmed.
" Oh yes. Would sir and my dear ladies please accompany me to the inside of the shop ?" the lady said, hiding her pain behind a smile.
They followed the old hag. Strangely, the place gave Hazel a sinister vibe. Something was amiss.
"This exhibit is a testament to my ancestors' craftsmanship and the years of hardwork it took for them to hone their skills." Her face shone with pride. A beautiful display of glass-work and a never ending series of ornate mirrors of ever shape and size, lined the walls.
"Cover your eyes or you shall be blinded by the gleam of the magical mirrors !"
" Wait." Hazel said, as she noticed the lady's feet. She was wearing...shoes made of iron. They glowed red hot.
" What is it , Hazel ?" Cindy asked.
"Her shoes."
The lady's smile disappeared. "I have been cursed."
" What sort of a curse ?" Ced asked.
" One that puts me in eternal torment." the lady sobbed , " A curse that cannot be undone."
" Who put it on you ?" Hazel asked, cautiously stepping away from the her.
" Why , don't you know her ? You worship her for what she did to me. You call her brave, for the fate she condemned me to! You say that I am evil, but so was she. You believe that my punishment was fair. But only the mirrors know the truth.
