Page 54 of Crossing Between

I stared at my phone, reading the text from Quilith for the third time.

You agreed to lunch. I took the liberty of making it an experience. Dress for mischief, darling.

What did that even mean? With Quilith, it could be anything from a simple café to, well, anything. They were nothing if not unpredictable.

I sighed, tossed my phone onto the bed, and faced my closet. Dress for mischief. Right. I pulled out my brightest yellow sundress with pink polka dots, paired it with purple leggings, and topped it with a teal cardigan. If we were going for mischief, I might as well look the part.

The past few days had been a whirlwind of preparation for the Red String Ritual.

Kenji and Elias had been hunting down rare ingredients while Varon worked on securing a location that would be safe and private.

Meanwhile, I'd been practicing with my newly awakened magic, trying to get a handle on the constant hum of power beneath my skin.

At the same time, the Essencefeaster had been suspiciously quiet .

A break would do me good. Just a normal lunch with my fabulous dragon friend. What could go wrong?

I was just finishing my makeup when I heard the distinctive whoosh of a portal opening in Varon's living room. Taking one last look in the mirror, I grabbed my purse and headed downstairs.

Quilith stood in the center of the room, resplendent in flowing silk robes of midnight blue that shimmered with every movement. Their hair was styled in an elaborate updo with tiny crystals woven throughout that caught the light like stars.

"There you are!" They clapped their hands in delight. "Oh, I do adore your fashion sense. So vibrant!"

"Thanks," I smiled, twirling once to show off my outfit. "So, where are we going for lunch? That new sushi place downtown?"

Quilith's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Oh, we're going somewhere much more interesting than that." They extended their hand. "Shall we?"

I took their hand, feeling the familiar tingle of their magic against my skin. "Lead the way."

The portal swirled open before us, a kaleidoscope of colors spinning into a vortex. I'd gotten somewhat used to Quilith's portals by now, but the sensation of stepping through still made my stomach flip. We emerged onto a busy street in what looked like the fashion district of the city.

"Um, Quilith? This just looks like downtown," I glanced around, confused.

"Appearances can be deceiving, darling," they winked, guiding me toward a small, unassuming shop with a weathered sign that read "Tailor" in faded gold lettering. "Watch closely."

As we approached, the letters on the sign began to shimmer and rearrange themselves, transforming before my eyes into an elegant script that spelled out " Boutique of Necessities .

" The plain wooden door morphed into an ornate entrance with intricate carvings that seemed to move when I wasn't looking directly at them.

"Whoa," I breathed.

"The sign only reveals itself to magical beings or those accompanied by dragon-blooded individuals," Quilith explained, looking pleased with my reaction. "One of the city's best-kept secrets."

They pushed open the door, and a small silver bell chimed overhead. I followed them inside and immediately froze in wonder.

The interior was impossibly vast, defying the modest exterior dimensions.

It was like the Tardis. Racks of clothing stretched as far as I could see, organized by color in a rainbow that would make a pride parade jealous.

Fabrics I'd never seen before, some that seemed to shift colors as they moved, others that appeared to be woven from light itself, hung from displays that floated in mid-air.

Mirrors lined the walls, but these were unlike any mirrors I'd encountered. As I passed one, my reflection winked at me. Another showed me not as I was, but as I might be, older and more confident, power radiating from my stance.

"The mirrors show possibilities," Quilith murmured, noticing my fascination. "Some show what is, others what could be."

A mannequin to my right suddenly turned its head to look at me, then began to adjust its proportions, expanding and contracting until it matched my exact measurements. I jumped back with a yelp.

"Don't mind them," Quilith waved dismissively. "They're just sizing you up."

"Of course they are," I muttered, eyeing the mannequins warily as they continued to shift and change, mimicking not just my body but my posture and mannerisms.

"Quilith, darling!" A melodic voice called from somewhere in the depths of the store. "Is that you I sense?"

"None other, Saddie!" Quilith called back, their voice lilting with pleasure.

A figure emerged from between two towering racks of shimmering gowns.

At first glance, they appeared human, tall and willowy with platinum blonde hair cut in a severe bob.

But as they drew closer, I noticed their eyes were entirely silver, without pupil or iris, and their skin had a subtle pearlescent quality that caught the light in impossible ways.

"And you've brought a friend," Saddie's silver eyes fixed on me with unnerving intensity. "A Soulbinder, no less. How unexpected."

"Zoey, meet Saddie, proprietor of this establishment and an old friend of mine." Quilith's emphasis on the word "friend" carried layers of meaning.

"Frenemy would be more accurate," Saddie corrected with a sharp smile. "We've tried to kill each other at least three times."

"Five, but who's counting?" Quilith returned the smile with equal sharpness.

I glanced between them, feeling the crackle of ancient rivalry in the air. "Um, nice to meet you?"

Saddie's attention snapped back to me, their silver eyes softening slightly.

"The pleasure is mine, Soulbinder. It's been centuries since one of your kind graced my humble establishment.

" They circled me slowly, appraising. "Yes, yes, I can work with this.

Quilith, you've brought me such a delightful canvas. "

"Canvas?" I looked at Quilith in confusion.

"We're not here for lunch, darling," they admitted with a mischievous grin. "We're here to outfit you properly for what's to come."

"But I have clothes," I protested weakly, gesturing to my colorful ensemble.

Quilith's expression turned serious. "Power likes to play dress-up, darling. And this?" They swept their hand to encompass the vast boutique. "This is war paint."

Saddie clapped their hands, and several items floated off the racks, hovering in the air before us. "Let's start with the basics, shall we? Every Soulbinder needs proper anchors."

They plucked a pair of delicate lace gloves from the air and handed them to me. As soon as I touched them, they began to hum softly against my skin, a gentle vibration that resonated with my own magic.

"Go on," Saddie encouraged. "Try them on."

I slipped the gloves over my hands. They fit perfectly, molding to my fingers as if they'd been made specifically for me. The humming intensified, and I felt my magic respond, flowing smoothly through my body.

"These are stitched with phoenix feathers," Saddie explained, adjusting the fit at my wrists. "They'll help anchor your mind and protect you from the Essencefeaster's attempts at corruption."

"They're beautiful," I murmured, flexing my fingers and watching the lace catch the light.

"Beauty is a side effect," Quilith examined a floating rack of what looked like corsets. "Function is the priority."

Saddie nodded in agreement, pulling a deep purple dress from the air. "Here," they thrust it into my arms. "Put this on. You'll know if it fits your soul."

I looked around for a changing room, but Quilith just pointed to a curtained alcove nearby. Inside, the space was large, with a plush velvet bench and a full-length mirror that hummed with magic.

The dress was unlike anything I'd ever worn. Made of a fabric that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it, it felt cool and weightless in my hands. As I slipped it over my head, it settled against my skin like water, flowing and adjusting until it fit me perfectly.

When I looked in the mirror, I gasped. The dress transformed me. It highlighted curves I didn't know I had, made my skin glow with an inner light. But more than the physical change, there was something about my posture, my eyes. I looked powerful.

The mirror's surface suddenly rippled, the image distorting. My reflection changed, darkening at the edges. My eyes turned hollow, my skin pale and veined with black. A twisted smile spread across my reflection's face, cruel and hungry.

I stumbled backward with a cry. The corrupted version of myself reached out, as if trying to break through the glass.

"Quilith!" Panic rose in my throat.

They were at my side instantly, placing a hand on the mirror's surface. The corrupted image hissed and recoiled before vanishing completely, replaced by my normal reflection once more.

"What was that?" I demanded, my heart racing.

"A warning," Quilith's expression was grave. "There's a path you must not walk. This store shows both truth and temptation." They squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. "But you're stronger than the darkness, Zoey. Remember that."

I nodded shakily, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "I'm okay. Just wasn't expecting that."

"The unexpected is Saddie's specialty," Quilith smiled, their usual lightness returning. "Now, come out and let us see how it looks."

When I emerged from the changing room, both Quilith and Saddie fell silent, staring at me with identical expressions of approval.

"Yes," Saddie circled me with a critical eye. "This will do nicely. The fabric is woven with protective spells. It will shield your aura from detection when needed."