Mirrored Shadows

Countess Ana

  The doors of the grand ballroom were opened. Black crystal chandeliers hanged above the enormous chamber. Mirrors circled around the walls, making the ballroom appear twice as big and sparkly. The air was filled with a fog of orange and lime perfume. At the center of the room stood a marble fountain, with a statue of a satyr holding a pot and spilling the blackest chocolate.

  Near the wall across the entrance was a throne, carved from a single piece of stone.

  Aristocracy was slowly arriving and gathering. The voices were multiplying and getting louder. Rustling of rich gowns lured attention from every side. Beautiful demons showed off all of their physical charms that teased desires.

  Chancellor Piri was skipping around the ballroom like a gazelle in a desperate attempt to remind the excited guests about the rules of standing, positions and behavior in the royal ballroom. But no one paid attention to him, no matter how much he tried. In the end he cursed ''Bah, to Heavens with all of you!',' and dropped on a chair, waving his hand fan.

  Countess Ana, known for her unusually bright, blonde curls and beauty, appeared in the ballroom. Pink gown, covered in finest feathers, made her stand out in the crowd of dark dresses and tailcoats. To wear such soft colors, typical for the plains above Hell, was a sign of boldness and mockery, for it was strictly forbidden to wear them in almost every part of Hell. She walked into the crowd, graciously like a rose petal and gifted a bright smile to everyone around her.

- Countess Ana... - someone whispered. - She's late on purpose to disrespect to the queen.

- What is she wearing?

- She is probably demonstrating her freedom to do whatever she pleases here.

  Piri approached to welcome her as the decorum commands, bowing deeply:

- Countess Ana, we are honored to welcome you.

  The countess pat his shoulder with hand fan.

- I'll skip the formalities, Piri. I'm saving all the trash for your stupid queen.

   Piri choked up. In just two sentences, the countess caused so much contra decorum.

- I'm sure that your grace doesn't think that about our most magnificent ruler?

- On contrary, I hope she drops dead. - she said indifferently, looking at him sweating from so much rule breaking.

   The courtiers soon announced the queen. The guests split on two sides of the ballroom, lining up according to their status. Those of the highest status were the closest to the throne. The countess Ana occupied a spot right next to it, which is usually a spot for an heir of throne, which the queen didn't have.

  Her Majesty walked with her head proudly lifted. A sigh of surprise flew across the room, followed by whispers. They have never seen the queen in that edition, nor have they ever believed that under all that armor was such a woman. But her appearance held their attention only as long as it took for their surprise to fade. The glances were falling upon Monika, of which the queen was not aware. That unusual beauty behind Callisto's back had no horns, yet she radiated with something that required no status symbols, putting every demoness in the room to shame.

  As she walked towards her throne, the queen greeted the guests with a light nod, smiling inside because of their astonishment, unaware that it was caused by Monika, not by her. Next to Monika walked Mira, who noticed immediately whom all those glances truly belong to. But to her, the queen was the most beautiful of them all.

  When she finally reached the throne, the queen stopped next to Ana and, with a lot of effort, forced herself to smile.

- Countess Ana. The star of the evening. Welcome.

  They briefly held each other's hands as a sign of friendship beyond formality, which made everyone ironically smile, cause they knew they can't stand each other.

- Thank you for this festivity, your Highness. You flatter me way too much. The real star of the evening are you. Just look at yourself. My, oh my, you have blossomed! It must have took you hours and hours to glow like this. Like one of your armors. - Ana grinned poisonously.    

  The queen bit her lip, swallowing that, not at all subtle, ridicule. Piri was already sweating. ''This won't end well'', he thought to himself.

- Quite the opposite. - Callisto continued to smile. - I simply took off my armor and that was it. If I had to dedicate hours and hours to my look, I'd be late. And just when did you arrive, countess?

  Piri covered his face with the fan. He couldn't look anymore.

- Just a bit before you, your Majesty, as the decorum commands, of course.

  The queen laughed:

- Oh let's not bring up the decorum tonight, dear countess. For if we truly remain devoted to it, I would have to cut your head off because of the color of your gown, as the decorum commands, of course.

  The countess's smile faded away for a moment and she blinked a few times, which Callisto took as a sign of fear and nervousness. But the countess quickly pulled herself together and said:

- I agree completely, your Highness. I mean why all those formalities and rules? I feel much more comfortable here at your castle in such a relaxing atmosphere. So country. It's almost like a farm. - she giggled.

- Indeed. Speaking of farms, I just love your feathers.

  The queen turned away, which marked the end of the conversation, disallowing the countess to reply. Ana looked after her with so much hatred.

- Why does her Highness allow the countess so much freedom? - Monika asked Mira quietly while standing next to her. - She could have beheaded her anytime, as she usually does with others.

- Well, many centuries ago, our queen led a war against the Heaven with her sisters. The royal vault was emptied. This almost lead to loosing the war. That's where the father of countess Ana came. Being the richest nobleman, he filled the royal vault up to the top and saved the fate of Hell, and that of the queen as well. He put her in debt that will take centuries to pay back. Now, her Highness must put up with Ana's freedom, because she is unable to repay her father. Besides, to openly attack the countess would be a sign of queen's weakness before the nobility. The queen would admit her powerlessness against the countess and confirm the impact she has on her.

  The queen gave Monika a sign to approach.

- Child, stand here to my right. I need a reliable hand.

  Monika looked at countess Ana in confusion, because she stood at the place where the queen wanted to place her.

- But...

- Is that a disobedience?

  Monika sighed and approached the countess, waiting for her to move, while feeling very uncomfortable. The countess was upset.

- Your Highness?

- Yes, dear countess?

- With all due respect, but this place is for the nobility, not servants. That's against the decorum.

- Are we coming back to the decorum after all, countess? - the queen smiled, suggestively lowering her glance at Ana's gown.

  The countess stiffed and became red as a tomato. The whole ballroom watched as she obediently moved to give her place to a servant.

- Nothing personal, my dear Ana. I am simply at peace when I'm surrounded by loyal people. You wouldn't deny me that peace, would you?

''I'd give you peace, an eternal peace...'', the countess mumbled through her teeth, smiling at the queen.

 Soon, the young and the old got up to dance minuet. The queen mingled from a guest to a guest, briefly chatting with each of them. Since the movement was now free, the countess went to a lonely sofa and sat down. She was trying to catch Monika's eyes. When Monika finally looked at her direction, the countess called her over. The girl obeyed and approached, bowing.

- Sit down, child.

- I am not allowed...

- Hahahaha please, - she laughed. - Look at this circus around yourself. If you are respecting the rules, then you're the only one. Besides, I don't think you care that much about the rules.

- Excuse me, your grace?

- I saw you down at the prison courtyard. You are a prisoner.

  Monika remained silent.

- Sit. - she repeated.

  Without much choice, she obeyed and sat down. The queen looked over the ballroom, searching for her and found her sitting with the countess. Like an eagle that lurks a prey, she held a glance full of suspicion directed at Monika and rushed towards them; subtly behind the columns from which they couldn't see her approaching. What she forgot was that the ballroom was filled with mirrors. Monika spotted her when she hid herself behind one of the columns in attempt to eavesdrop their conversation.  

- Tell me, just between you and me, do you have any problems with the queen? She is so moody and temperamental.

  The queen waited for Monika's reply, while the flame of rage burned inside of her.

- No. - Monika said. - The queen was very kind and generous to take me into her servitude.

  The countess laughed ironically.

- I know you're lying, child. But you are loyal. I like that. I could use someone loyal like yourself.

''Gotcha'', Monika thought to herself.

- Loyalty to you would mean betraying the queen, with all due respect your grace.

  The queen nodded in satisfaction. ''This girl is pure gold'', she thought. The guests called her and she calmly returned to them, certain about Monika's loyalty. The girl could see her walking away. When Callisto was far enough, she turned to the countess:

- On the other hand, my loyalty may be misplaced.

  Ana's lips stretched into a wide smile.

- You and I are the same. I love the way you think. I think we're going to get along just fine. And don't worry too much about the queen, because I will protect you as long as you are faithful to me. I am like a second queen here, you know?

- Really?

- Indeed. - she said. - After an immense donation by my father, back in the days of war, the queen is in debt over her big ugly head. And the fruit of that debt is picked by me.

  She took a sip of wine and smiled victoriously.

- What kind of a war was it, if I may ask? I know only a bit about it.

  Ana rolled her eyes.

- My dear, honestly, are we going to teach history here at the ball?

- I just thought that knowing more about the queen will help me get closer to her ribs with a dagger in my hand.

  The countess looked at her with a mixture of shock and astonishment.

- Why look at you! Aren't you dangerous? This will be better than I expected.

  After taking another glass of wine from a passing butler, she scooted closer to Monika:

- Hell and Heaven were in war for centuries. Callisto and her sisters, Andromeda and Azura, led an attack against the rulers of Heaven. We almost won and broke through the Golden City of angels, but then something shocking happened!

- What?

- Callisto's youngest sister, Azura, betrayed us and switched sides! All for that bloody archangel Valor whom she loved. What a scandal! Not only that Callisto and Andromeda lost help from their sister, but Azura's share of fortune and troops as well. That's where it all went downhill. But, thanks to the help of my father, who, if you ask me, deserves to sit on that bloody throne, the Hell was saved. There was no victory for any of the sides, but the loss of the realm was prevented and everyone agreed to form the truce. Now you'd think that's it, all is well that ends well. But neither Hell nor Heaven was prepared for what followed. As if her treason wasn't enough, the treacherous sister Azura laid down with archangel Valor and got pregnant. Azura knew that Heaven will never accept her half-demon child, as much as it would have been rejected or even killed in Hell for its treacherous mother. She had but one choice. She sent the child to the human world, unaware that saving that thing may have doomed us all. Do you know exactly what a mixture of blood from different plains could cause and DID cause in this case? If you ask me, it is a silly legend, but there could be some truth to it. You see, it's a crossing of something that doesn't exist on the same plain of existence, something that gathers two completely different worlds into one. That child was wrong. That child is what created The Unknown.

- What is The Unknown?

- A realm of emptiness that stands on top of the Great Windmill, our universe, spreading slowly, ready to consume us all. And the worst part is, the child cannot be killed. The body may die, but the spirit of Azura's child keeps returning in another child's body.

   An ominous feeling climbed up Monika's chest, making her breathing heavier. Could it be?

- And... Is it known where this child could be now...?

- The recent reports suggest that it was located again, in some kind of an orphanage in the human world. By the time the agents of Hell arrived to the place, the child was gone. Only its guardian was arrested.

  Monika felt like the entire room is spinning before her eyes. She couldn't hear or see anyone around her, being on the verge of fainting.

- Girl? - the countess's voice sounded like it was coming from a distance. - Are you alright?

  It was hard to breathe. She wanted air. Wanted freedom. Unaware that she got up, her eyes widened towards the countess. Is Bruno the child that carries this spirit? It would explain so many things. Now more than ever she wanted to save him and more than ever feared for him. She had to leave this place as soon as possible. Until now, she could only guess the dangers he could be in. Now she couldn't even comprehend the scale of it.

- Girl? - the countess called her impatiently.

  Monika straighten up her back, repeating to herself that she must be strong in order to leave. It was impossible to shake away the feeling that something big is approaching. And in order to defeat it, she needs to become big as well. After taking a deep breath, she faced Ana again, cheerful and smiled.

- What in the world is going on with you?

- Ignore that, your grace. I think I'm a bit dehydrated.

- Then drink something, foolish child! - she snatched another glass of wine and offered it to her.

  Monika took the wine and thanked her, raising the glass:

- To your good health, countess. And the victory that is coming.

  They clinked their glasses.

- Does your grace have any plan prepared for the queen? - she dared herself.

  Ana put her glass down.

- Though I said that I could use someone like you, that doesn't mean I trust you. I am not naive, my dear child. You have to prove yourself to me first. Prove that I can trust you.

- Of course. - Monika said calmly. - What would you have me do, your grace?

  The countess looked around in disapproval.

- Not here. There are too many people. Sneak out tonight when everyone goes to bed. Visit my chambers. Now go, I'm sitting with you way too long. We are provoking suspicion.

  Monika bowed and left. The countess got up and smiled to the first young man who found himself nearby, taking him to dance.

  Finally alone, Monika leaned against an isolated wall. She had to think of something fast. The words of the countess still echoed in her head.

- Well, you have crawled under the skin of our queen rather quickly. - someone said, slowly clapping. - Bravo.

  Piri's long nose emerged from the crowd of dancers. She was not in the mood to talk to him..

- You know, I've been working for her Majesty for 30 years. I break my back every day to fulfill her requests, only for her to find a flaw in every completed task. I clean her ''royal'' feces from her ''royal'' toilet, and then she takes a criminal from the prison into her service and trusts her more than she trusts me. After just one day. - he held his hands opened in the mid air, impersonating a balance scale. - 30 years - and 1 day.

 - If you're cleaning her ''royal feces'', then don't be surprised that she's treating you like the brush for the job. - Monika said indifferently.

- I do that to prove my loyalty and devotion!

- I'm afraid that you have a strong competition, Piri. - she pointed towards Mira. - Unusually sweet woman. Her loyalty to the queen is to be praised.

  Piri scoffed.

- Well of course she's loyal when she's in love with her since the childhood.

- Oh, is she?

- A tragic story, or at least they say it is. I'm not really touched by it.

- I'd gladly hear it. - said Monika, looking at Mira who stood in the queen's shadow, invisible, quiet and unimportant.

- Even though Callisto is the eldest of the sisters, her father, Balgorath, never wanted her on the throne. He claimed to see weakness in her. Fragility of both body and mind. She has spent the majority of her early life proving herself to him.

- No wonder she's so obsessed with strength...

- Then they brought Mira. A young, human slave. I think she was in love with our queen the moment she got a praise from her. How desperate, right?

The queen was constantly on the move, unaware that the guests behind her are often stepping on the edges of her dress while passing by. Mira followed, diligently picking them up and making sure that no one else steps on them.

- I don't think she is desperate for falling for someone who showed her appreciation in the new world, separated from her family.

- Meh, it didn't last long anyway.

- What happened? The queen is awfully cold towards her now.

- The middle sister, Andromeda, showed herself unfit to rule due to her insanity. She was prone to cannibalism. Azura betrayed Hell, so Callisto finally got the crown. And that's where she changed. Mira was no longer interesting, nor would our queen allow herself to be seen with a human slave.

- That's so sad...

  The guests took a break from the dancing and scattered around the room's sofas under the veil of shades, to whisper, to plot, or to swear to their love and loyalty.

- I am very pleased with that new girl. - the queen said, sitting back on the throne. - She is not even aware that she has proved her loyalty to me this evening.

- I'm glad to hear that, your Highness. - Mira said.

- She's coming back. Let's see what Ana said to her.

  As Monika made her way to the throne, the queen could see that many heads turned around to look at her.

- Young lady, I couldn't help but notice that you had quite a long conversation with our dear countess. Conversations with her are typically short, since she doesn't take a glass out of her mouth.

- I apologize, your Majesty. The countess insisted that I stay.

- Did she? I am very curious to hear what kind of conversations could a countess possibly have with my servant. Well?

  Monika looked down, pretending to feel uncomfortable about what she's about to say.

- Your Highness, the countess is... She's plotting a conspiracy against you.

  The queen slammed fist against the throne, startling all the guests.

- I knew it! What did she say? Tell me everything, now!

- She didn't want to speak about the details here. Instead, I'm requested to visit her chambers tonight in order to hear the plan. She wants my help.

  Callisto stood up and started walking left and right, burning in rage.

- That snake! I was waiting for the moment she'd pounce!

- Your Highness, calm down. - Mira said. - The guests are watching...

- I don't care who is watching! I rule here!

- The queen must be having that day of the month. - Ana whispered mockingly to a nobleman next to her. - Who would've thought, she is a woman after all, huh?

  Callisto stepped down from her throne, announcing:

- The ball is over. SCRAM!

  Displeased guests mumbled among themselves. The ballroom was slowly emptying. Everyone left in great disappointment.

- And you, my dear countess, will stay, as it was arranged. - the queen grinned and gave a sign to Monika and Mira that it's time to leave. She rammed through the hallways, looking like she's about to spit fire. She burst into her chambers and grabbed the first vase on her way, then shattered it against the floor. - That b***h! As if it's not enough that she's parading around here as if she is the queen, she plots conspiracies under my own roof!?

  Mira pressed herself against the wall, quietly warning Monika to do the same and not to move, or talk. The queen was indeed terrifying. She tore the gown apart. Her body swelled with veins. The screams she produced slowly turned into roars, while she smashed everything in her reach to pieces. Monika and Mira watched as the statues were being shattered into dust, and the furniture thrown out the window. Piri quietly opened the door and pushed his long neck inside, when a chair smashed the door shut. He quickly ran down the hallway, keeping his hat from falling.

- You. - she pointed at Monika. - Tonight you will visit the countess. You will hear her plan and then tell it to me. Understood?

- Understood, your Majesty.

  Callisto came very close to her, looking deep into her eyes. Monika could sense the true wickedness in that gaze, only partially demonstrated before her a moment ago.

- Listen to me well, girl. If you succeed in this, if you gain the countess's trust and reveal her plans and schemes, I will reward you with the  biggest award a prisoner like yourself could ever receive here.

  Silence filled up the room. The queen looked at Monika without a blink, almost as if she's peeking inside of her soul, reading her truest desires.

- Do this, human, and I will set you free.

  Monika shivered. She did not expect that. This changed everything and the simplicity of it was as frightening as it was hopeful.

- Do we understand each other? - the queen waited impatiently.

  Monika bowed.

- We do, your Highness.

- Good. Make sure to earn your prize then.

  The queen showed her the door. Monika bowed once more and left the royal chambers. When the doors closed, she leaned against them and took a deep breath. All she had to do is to reveal the countess's plan to the queen and she is saved. She will be free to look for Bruno. Her heart was pounding.

  Hope filled her once again.