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“I know I seem rather unfair, but believe me, my refusal is for your own good. If I shared my magic with you, what incentive would you have to develop your extraordinary powers? And aside from that, don’t you want revenge on that Nightmare and the realm that stole everything from you?”

I lowered my gaze, unable to respond around the lump clogging my throat. Mother sighed.

“I know what will help you feel better.” She wrinkled her nose at my white, lavender-glittered dress. “You still haven’t let go of your Dreamer style, so how about I take you shopping tomorrow for a Nightmare style so that you can better fit into your new home? My treat. Would you like that, dear?”

She stroked my hair and I melted into her soft touch even as my heart resisted her suggestion. Save for Stardust, my Dreamer style was the last thing I still possessed from my old life, and although I knew it prevented me from completely fitting in to my new, darker home, I hadn’t been able to let it go.

But I needed to, for continuing to hold on to my past self was far too painful. I forced myself to nod my agreement. It was time to let go of my old life, no matter how much the secret part of me buried deep didn’t want to.

Chapter 3

Mother led me through the twisting streets past the line of shops drained of color, shadowy reflections of those found in the Dream Realm—a toy store with miniature floating astroids, a bookstore with volumes of spooky tales in the display window, a candy shop advertising new flavors of jelly beetles, and a theatre with a poster advertising the upcoming playThe Nightmares that Destroyed all Dreams. Despite it being midday, flickering lanterns lined the streets, casting a faint glow midst the ever-present blanket of clouds masking the sky above.

“This place is creepy,” Stardust murmured in my ear, to which she had easy access morphed as one of my star clips. I didn’t risk answering her lest Mother learn she’d accompanied us and send her back home, especially when Stardust’s presence was the only comfort to be found on this outing, my first since entering the Nightmare Realm.

Mother steered me into the style shop Shattered Mirror, whose door creaked as if we were entering somewhere haunted. Inside, full-length shattered mirrors lined the walls, multiplying the images of the Nightmares perusing the styles as well as their dark reflections and piercing gazes, both of which caused unease to ripple over me. I shuddered and pressed myself closer to Mother, who edged away from me with an impatient look.

“Don’t cling, dear, you’re far too old for that.”

She guided me towards a Nightmare with flaming red hair and a volcanic style to match, who greeted us with a smile that didn’t at all reach her eyes. Mother returned it with a stiff one of her own.

“Good afternoon, Lava. I’ve brought my daughter so she can acquire a more fitting style. The poor girl deluded herself into believing she belonged to the horrible Dream Realm. Just look at her.”

She urged me forward and I nearly stumbled into Lava, who recoiled as if I were contaminated. She leered at my sparkly white dress and lilac ballet slippers.

“Oh goodness, it’s quite horrendous. She does stand out, doesn’t she?”

“You wouldn’t believe the disgusted looks we encountered on our way.”

“I can imagine.”

I squirmed beneath their sharp words and glanced at the nearest rack of outfits, full of clothing devoid of color or cheer, each more creepy than the last. They ranged from a dress made from swaths of spiderwebs—I determinedly didnotthink ofhimand failed miserably—to dresses oozing slime, mold, and other disgusting materials I couldn’t imagine wearing against my skin.

“How revolting,” Stardust whispered, stealing my silent thoughts. I wrinkled my nose. I refused to change my style to one ofthose.

I sidled up to Mother. “I don’t like any of these outfits.”

She frowned down at me before following my line of sight to the nearby rack.

Lava’s smile tightened. “If you don’t like this selection, we have others. Perhaps you’d rather have a style representing something you find deliciously eerie? You seem to like glimmer. Perhaps a shattered mirror style—our shop’s specialty—would be a good fit.”

She led us to another rack and held up a dress woven from pieces of broken glass, creating dozens of my bewildered reflections as I gaped at it.

Lava frowned. “No? Then how about this?” She replaced the mirror dress and pulled out one that resembled autumn, created from patches of ruby and orange autumn leaves. Although it was one of the prettier Nightmare styles I’d seen, I still shook my head.

Mother sighed. “Just choose something, Eden. You’re taking up Lava’s precious time by being so picky.”

We hadn’t even been in the shop five minutes and already Mother was annoyed with me. Lava glanced between us warily. “How about you tell me what you’re looking for?”

“I like my style now,” I murmured to the floor.

“You can’t have your current style,” Mother said. “You’re a Nightmare, not a Dreamer.”

I continued staring at the ground and didn’t answer, even as I clutched the folds of my dress, holding my last tie to the Dream Realm protectively. Mother heaved another sigh and I peeked up in time to see her roll her eyes towards the ceiling.

“I have a potential solution.” Lava strode to the other end of the shop and we followed. She showed me a simple black knee-length dress nearly identical to the one I wore, save this one had black lace trimming the hem and was absent any sparkles.

Mother scowled. “Must it have lace? Perhaps you can find us something more—”