Page 14 of The Eternal Mirror (Lucifer’s Mirror #3)

Khaos

T he truck slows as we approach the big iron gates that bar the way to the safe house.

I'm in the passenger seat; beside me Killian is driving.

His hands are tense on the wheel. He woke me this morning with the news that they wanted to help, but I don't think he's entirely convinced, and he's totally unsure of what he's getting himself into.

Probably because I haven’t told him much. Old habits die hard. He'll find out soon enough.

Grimlet is perched on my shoulder, staring out of the window. He loves the truck. I’ll have to get him one, teach him to drive. Except there are no trucks where we are going.

A sense of anticipation stirs inside me, and I shift on my seat.

I’m going home. Probably to another stinking dungeon, if my father has anything to do with it.

And I won’t be able to help Amber if that happens.

I wonder how Wrath would take to dungeon life.

I’m guessing not well. I wince at the thought, and he stirs inside me, letting out a low grumbling roar.

Killian turns to look at me, a frown on his face. He can sense Wrath, but then, he’s hard to miss.

Laura and Jack are in the seats behind us.

The other two decided to stay back, just in case anything should come through the portal again.

I'm not sure they entirely believe me that it's over and that Hell is no more, but maybe fewer people is better.

It's good to have somebody to watch my back, but a big crowd would be rather conspicuous.

We're going to have to sneak in there somehow, because I'm sure my father will have people guarding the Chamber of Mirrors.

The vehicle pulls up in front of the safe house. Killian lets out a sigh and sits back, resting his hands on his thighs. “So tell me again what the fuck we’re doing here?” He peers out the window. “It looks like some sort of stately home.”

I remember the first time I came here. It seems unbelievable to me now, but in many ways, I led a very sheltered life up until the moment I received Khendril’s message.

I’d gone straight from childhood to military life.

It had never occurred to me to leave. Astrali was my world, my home, and there was plenty to keep me busy there.

I knew about the other worlds, of course I did.

Though I’ve learned since that much of what I thought I knew was actually a web of lies fabricated by my father.

Then I got a message from my brother, Khendril :

I’m sending you a girl for safekeeping. She must find Lucifer’s Mirror. Take her to the Crone—Thanouq will help you find her. He’s in Zander Aurion. Tell no one.

It changed everything. And I went hunting for Amber.

I traveled first to the world of Valandria, created by the goddess, Selene, as I knew Zandar Aurion was a city on that world.

Valandria bears a strong resemblance to Astrali in some ways, especially in regard to the lack of technology.

Unlike Earth. It’s said that Vortex vanished from Earth, the world he created, many thousands of years ago and without the guidance of the gods, the people of Earth became obsessed with machines.

Anyway Earth was a total revelation for me, as different as it could get. I don't like it. But it is interesting. And I met Brown here and realized that he hates me. Almost as much as he hates my father. Which is what started me thinking that maybe all wasn’t right with my world.

I didn't understand why back then, but I do now. My eyes have been opened to so many things.

“This is a safe house,” I tell Killian. Well, that's not really its function, though I suppose it keeps the mirrors safe. “This is how we travel to my home world of Astrali.”

“Through a mirror?”

I nod and almost smile at the disbelief lacing his voice.

“Really, we're going through a fucking mirror. To another world. You're kidding me.”

“No, I'm not kidding you,” I say.

At that moment, the door opens, and Brown appears. I turn to face Killian. “There's still time for you to back out. You can drop me off here and go back. Find a new life. Away from your portal. There must be something you want to do now you’re free.”

“Are you shitting me? I wouldn’t back out for anything. You had me at ‘other worlds.’

So I think I'll stay and go through this mirror of yours, see what's on the other side. I always wanted to travel.”

“Me too,” Laura says from the back.

It occurs to me that maybe I haven’t emphasized the danger sufficiently. But they will find out soon enough. “Good. Let's go then.”

I get out of the truck and lower Grimlet to the ground.

He looks around for a moment and then scrambles up the stone steps, flaps his wings and flies onto the balustrade, where he perches—very gargoyle-like.

Killian and the others also get out, and they stand around looking a little lost, as though they don't know what they’re doing here.

I head up the steps and come to a halt in front of Brown. This is a job many of the guardians do when they retire—and they all take the name Brown, at least all of those who manage the safe houses.

A wave of something washes through me. At first I don’t recognize it. Guilt, I suppose. I've always known, deep down, that the way the guardians are treated is wrong, but my father insists it’s the only way. It’s tradition. I've come to hate tradition. Maybe it had a place once, but not anymore .

My father treats the guardians like second class citizens, which I suppose they are, in his mind. But my brother Khendril was a guardian, and he was the best man I’ve ever known. I wish he were alive.

Brown’s expression is blank, just like any good servant’s. But I catch a glimpse in his eyes of something else. Something I don’t recognize but gives me hope. Maybe Brown doesn’t hate me, after all. Maybe he just hates all I stand for.

I take a deep breath. “I have an apology to make before we go any further.”

He blinks, his eyes wide. “Prince? What do you have to apologize for?”

“Everything,” I mutter. “Absolutely fucking everything. And my only excuse is ignorance. I didn’t know.”

“And do you know now, sire?” I detect slight amusement in his voice. And fear. Is he wondering if this is a trap? That my father has sent me to root out any dissident behavior?

“Don’t call me sire,” I snap, and I shake my head. “I know some. Probably not everything. But enough to know that things need to change.”

“And do you plan to change them?”

“I plan to rip them down. Every last one of my father’s traditions.”

He nods. “Then we have no problems. How can I help you?”

I’m not sure if he means now or if he means with ripping down all my father’s traditions. Maybe they are one in the same. And in that moment, I have an inkling that perhaps Brown is more than he seems. Maybe the benevolent servant is just a mere guise. To cover up what?

“Come inside,” he says.

I look back at the others and nod, and we all troop in after Brown. He leads us through the big oak and iron door, down the corridor and into the library, then turns to face us.

“Let me introduce you,” I say. “This is Killian, Laura, and Jack. They’re here to help me. They knew Khendril—my brother.” Something occurs to me. “Did you know Khendril?”

He nods. “He was a good friend of mine. He gave me the chance when he left to go with him. But I was too old to be of help. He was a good man.”

That’s what everyone says about my brother, Khendril. I always tell myself that I would have turned out differently if Khendril had stayed, if I’d had his guidance growing up.

But that's just a cop-out. We are all in charge of our own destinies. We get to choose. I chose my path. Though maybe I was pushed along it a little—six months in a dungeon when you’re eleven years old can have a powerful effect on you.

“Sit,” he says. “I will bring refreshments.”

I sit, because all of a sudden, the world seems an uncertain place.

It was so easy before—I gave my orders, and they were obeyed.

Now, I don’t feel I have the right to order anyone to do anything.

And I’m not sure I appreciate the change.

I need to find a balance, because I’ve been on many battlefields when sometimes the only thing keeping your men alive is following orders .

And these days, my life is one great battlefield, and Killian and his little group are the only soldiers I have.

So if I need to give orders, then I give orders.

Brown returns a few minutes later holding a tray with cold beers, hot coffee, and a jug of water. We all take a beer and sit, facing the single chair where Brown seats himself.

I can’t hold the question back any longer. “Have you seen anything of Amber? Has she come here?” I ask, always hopeful. Maybe she got away. But I doubt it.

He shakes his head. “I haven’t seen her for weeks, not since she came here and visited with Sheela while you were imprisoned.”

“Damn.” It’s only what I expected but I need something.

“But I have news of her.”

“You have? Tell me.”

“She’s a guest at your father’s palace. Her brothers are still alive—as of now, or as of when I last heard.”

“A guest? That doesn’t sound too bad,” Killian says.

I turn to look at him. “Believe me, you never want to be my father’s guest of if you can possibly help it.”

“According to my sources, she’s staying in the palace guest quarters, not the dungeons,” Brown says.

I think for a moment. “So you have ways of getting news to and from Astrali?” I’m taking a leap of faith here. That Brown is not on my father’s side. But more than that, that he is willing to risk everything by siding with me over his king.

“I do, to a limited extent. Miss Sheela used to visit regularly, and we could get messages back and forth that way. But now she’s in the north with the rebels. Still, I can get a message there if I need to.”

I sit back and drink my beer, considering what my next move should be.

“We need to get to Astrali,” I say. “But we have to avoid my father.”