Mirrored Shadows

A scandal at dinner 1

The cell door squealed. A guards-woman came inside. She found Monika wet in tears, kneeling with Camelback's head resting on her lap.

- Wipe your tears. The queen wants to see you.

- Tell her to go f**k herself.

  The guards-woman crouched and looked her straight in the eyes.

- When I first saw you and you opposed Corfold, I said to myself ''This girl has some balls''. I was sure you'll be the first and the only one to leave this place. I think now you have an extra motive.

  She looked down at Camelback. Monika stopped crying.

- Come with me. You need to change.

- Why?

- Because the queen wants you to join her for dinner.

  The woman herself seemed confused by that just as much as Monika.

- What is that cow up to now? This won't end well.

- Come on, hurry.

  Monika stopped for a second and looked at a corner of the cell.

- Give me twenty minutes.

- You can have thirty if you want, but don't be late, or both of our heads will fly off.

  The doors of the largest chamber were opened again and the order was restored in Hardcoat. Piri was wiping the sweat off his forehead and cursing his job. Still, the ballroom was glowing. Thousands of golden tapestries were radiating shine over the faces of the guests. Despite her well known hatred for balls and gala dinners, the queen did not save on expenses this time. All the nobility of the first Circle of Hell was invited. The chambers with statues and massive paintings were also opened. The castle vibrated with voices and laughter.

  Long table circled around the entire room. The finest meals were made, even the forbidden ones, from the realm of humans. The nobility was astounded with the reception and wondered what was the occasion for such a spectacular dinner. The queen walked in, followed by Mira. She was dressed up in a wide, black gown and greeted everyone individually with a wide smile. The guests were surprised by her calmness and charisma. All this was so unlike her.

  She smiled to sweaty Piri and offered a hand for a kiss:

- Here's my savior. I have never tanked you properly for everything you do for this castle, and you do more than anyone here.

  Mira looked down, which was caught by Piri's victorious glance. 

- My only joy is to make your Highness happy. - he bowed exaggeratedly deep.

- Thank you, my loyal friend. I don't know what I'd do without you.

  Piri was blossoming with pride, lifting his long nose and scouting around to see if anyone else heard that. The queen took her seat at the table. Mira was about to stand next to her, but the queen gestured with finger for her to stand behind, and invited Piri to stand next to her instead. Piri theatrically stepped into the position, covering Mira with his shadow.

  A gentle rang against the glass with a spoon called for attention. The conversations silenced immediately.

- My dear friends, thank you for accepting my invitation to this dinner, for which I hope to be to your liking and your delicate tastes. Think of this evening as my apology to you for ending the last ball so soon due to political reasons. I would also like to use this opportunity to introduce some of my special guests for tonight. May the first special guest enter. - she ordered.

 The royal announcer announced Monika. All the heads turned towards the door.

  The queen leaned to Piri and whispered:

- Remember our beautiful Monika?

- That dirty human?

- Her. Get ready to not recognized her. I made sure that not even her own mother can recognize her.

- We all heard the screams, your Highness. - he giggled.

  A sudden sigh of admiration flood the chamber. The queen looked around herself in confusion.

  An unusual girl walked into the room: her hair was a radiant twilight of red and purple shades. A dress of orange and yellow waves of silk splashed around her as she walked, like a living flame. She was a walking contra decorum that steals breath and breaks the rules, wearing the brightest, heavenliest colors, and for a moment it looked like the phoenix itself walked into the room. Silence reigned for a while, followed by silent astonishment.

  In that brief moment of utter shock and admiration, the queen dropped her glass by accident. The sound of shattering startled everyone and they all looked at her. Piri bent to whisper to her ear:

- Your Highness? Shouldn't that girl be...

- Disfigured! - she roared quietly, carving her nails into the table. - How is this possible???

  Monika continued walking with her head held proudly, followed by the eyes of the speechless guests. And she knew that. Callisto had to gather all of her strength to remain calm. She tried to control herself, to change her facial expression. But she was so caught off guard, furious and just stared at Monika in an awkward silence, when the girl stopped in front of her table and greeted with a wide smile.

- You Majesty. - she spoke warmly and bowed.

  Callisto was silent.

- Your Majesty, say something. - Piri whispered.

- I... Yes, join us Monika. - she squeezed through her teeth.

- Thank you.

  With a glowing smile, Monika took her seat next to the queen.

- Mira. Wine. Now. - Callisto ordered. Mira did everything as usual, testing the wine first.

- You won't have her test our wine too, your Majesty? - Monika asked and giggled, and with her the entire chamber. The queen forced herself to smile back.

- I'm sure your life isn't threatened. - she said. - You're not a queen.

- Oh, and yours is threatened? - Monika acted naively. - I wonder who would want to harm you.

- Some little fly.

- Yet you are properly protecting yourself against those flies.

- One can never be too careful. Sometimes those flies imagine that they are lions.

- Careful, your Majesty. Often, people fool themselves into thinking that they got rid of those flies, until they reappear at your doorstep, stronger than before. Then you realize that you should've brought a bigger net for the hunt, because it turned out that you were indeed hunting a lion.

  The queen had another episode of rage. Now she hated that all these people were around her. She wanted to cut her face again.

- I like your metaphors. - said one chubby countess harmlessly. - Indeed, people can always surprise you, especially when you underestimate them.  

- I completely agree with you. - Monika smiled and looked at the queen. - Isn't that true?

  The queen kept grinning.

- Please, let the feast commence. Everything will cool down. - she said, changing the subject. Once the guests started eating, Callisto leaned towards her. - You miserable little insect, who do you think you are?

- Your guest, of course. You invited me, didn't you?

- How did you do it?

- Do what?

- Your f*****g face!

  Monika laughed.

- Someone told me I have balls. I decided to use them.

- Balls for what? What did you do? Speak!

  The guests kept glancing the queen, puzzled by her raised tones.

- Do not worry yourself about what I did, your Majesty. Worry about what I'll do.

An hour earlier:

- Come on, hurry.

  Monika stopped for a second and looked at a corner of her cell.

- Give me twenty minutes.

- You can have thirty if you want, but don't be late, or both of our heads will fly off.

 She slowly lowered Camelback's head on the floor. His eyes were opened and his gaze cold. The body still. Above them, several floors away, the sounds of music and laughter were reaching the dungeons. The guests were gathering. The walls vibrated with their voices. Everyone is smiled and excited. No one knows that underneath their feet lies a lifeless creature on the cold floor, without a father or a mother, died the way it lived - in pain. She caressed his head and reached for the paper in the corner, folded into a ball. The text on it said: ''Amadeus and the Summoning circle''. Under the paper were pieces of chalk. Camelback obviously never touched her stuff while cleaning the cell. She stood up and approached the door, looking down the hallway. The guards were locking their rooms and extinguishing the torches. The dungeon sunk into darkness. Monika wiped her tears and took a deep breath. With a piece of a chalk in her hand, she started drawing a circle on the floor. Squinting through the dark she could see the symbols on the paper and started writing them down around the summoning circle. The tears were drying off on her cheeks. Camelback's still opened eyes looked in her direction, as if they were witnessing what she's doing and silently judged her. But she didn't pay attention to that. She did not pay attention to anything around herself. Nothing mattered anymore.

  The droplets of humidity rolled down the walls, patting against the puddles in the cracks on the floor. A cough from a distant cell would occasionally echo into nothing. Mice ran across the hallway. The chalk scratched against the stone ground. Monika finally put it down and stepped out the circle with a star in its center. She folded the paper again and pushed it into her coat, listening carefully if any of the guards are nearby. Once she was certain that it's safe, she moved to the south side of the circle, as it was explained in the mage's instructions.

- Amadeus, Amadeus, your master calls you... - tumbled over her lips and she silenced, staring into the dark. The silence was the answer.

- Amadeus, Amadeus, your master calls you.

  She could hear the beating of her heart. Her eyes fell on Camelback. A sudden squeak of a mouse scared her.

- Amadeus, Amadeus, your master calls you.

  After several more attempts, Monika sat on the floor and covered her face with hands. The last attempt for salvation, a desperate one, was in vain.

- Forgive me, Camelback... Forgive me.

  Shadows of the bars were lying on the ground and grew away from the reach of the moonlight. Monika looked around. She couldn't hear the droplets of humidity anymore, nor the coughing from another cell, the squeaking of mice or some distant doors. She approached the bars and looked down the hallway again. The cells she could see into were completely empty!

- Is anybody there? - her voice echoed.

  But no one said. Only Camelback was still there. For a moment she thought she saw him following her with his eyes. Something was happening. The shadows became darker and wider. Soon, they swallowed the cell entirely. Monika couldn't see anything in front of herself. The sound of rolling pebbles came from the floor. Mice were running in the dark. It seemed like there are hundreds of them. She pressed herself against the wall, feeling the panicking mice tangle into her clothes and jump around in attempt to escape.

  Suddenly, a flame appeared at the center of the circle on the floor. Monika covered her eyes under the unexpected wave of strong light. Then the light dimmed, getting softer, and the flame stayed in the mid air. It was radiating a pleasant warmth, rubbing against her skin, calming her into a treacherous tranquility. She wondered if she fell under some kind of a spell, because she felt no fear or despair anymore. Only peace. The flame was twisting like a snake, luring her eyes to follow it as it jumps. Then it opened like a curtain, and a tall man with curved horns stepped on the floor.

  Seeing his face, Monika's knees shivered and she almost fell down. His beauty could not be possible. She could hear herself when she softly sighed, sounding like a moan and turned her head away in embarrassment.

  ''My god what is this?'', she thought, while trying to control herself and look the young man in his eyes. He smiled widely, making the entire cell spin before her eyes. She felt so powerless before his perfect face; an embodiment of beauty and lust that could be easily used as the most powerful weapon. Monika was shivering and constantly looking away, as the man's full lips tilted to one side, forming a seductive smile, fully aware the way his look affects her. He rushed fingers through his long hair, provoking with each movement. Wide chest gently moved up and down as he was breathing. The flame threw shades over his sculpted body. Pearl white teeth bit on the lower lip and let it slowly slide out, looking at Monika provokingly and mischievously, almost like an invite to let herself go to him and do something crazy. To break all the laws of the universe and be an outlaw, running away with him wherever he decides to take her. If he had asked that from her, Monika was afraid she wouldn't be able to say no. His beauty, his aura, they were all there for that single purpose: to disarm souls. It was too much for a human body and mind. She tried to pull herself together, while facing the wall not to look at him.

- Do not be ashamed of your reaction. - he spoke softly. - That happens to all who see me.

  ''Goddamn it! Must his voice be so bloody alluring too!?''

  The demon's deep, purple eyes explored the cell, pausing at Camelback's body and finally, Monika's destroyed face.

- I need your help... - she said, still unable to look at him.

- So I see.

- Well...? Will you help me then?

- You speak as if it's a matter of choice. I'm obliged to help those who summon me, wanting it or not.

  His voice gently vibrated throughout Monika's body like a warm electricity.

- In that case, I order you to help me.

- I'm afraid I can't do that.

- Why not!?

- A mage who resides in this place is aware that a page is missing from his book of summoning. The page you are clearly possessing. He was faster and summoned me before you did.

- Oh damn it... What am I suppose to do now?

  The demon shrugged indifferently.

- Until the mage asks his desires, he remains my master.

  Monika lightly banged forehead against the wall and sighed: ''I should have used it the day Lela gave it to me!''

- Why did you even answer my invitation if you can't do anything for me?

- But I can.

  She turned around and finally looked at him.

- You can?

- I can do minor things only, but yes. Things that don't cross the desires of my current master, or things that maybe wouldn't be first on your list, but helpful regardless. - his gaze fell upon Camelback again. - Him, however, I cannot bring back. At least not the way you'd want me to.

- I thought so... - she knelt next to her friend and lowered his eyelids. - No one has the power over life.

- I see you're familiar with the sorcery.

- I was a witch not so long ago...

  She took off her coat and covered Camelback, silently crying. The demon observed all that.

- I sense the rage of the queen. - he whispered ominously, closing his eyes. - It is directed towards you. A storm is arriving.

- Help me. - she begged quietly.

  The demon crossed his arms.

- There's a price.

  Some doors at the end of the hallway screeched, followed by the footsteps  of the guards.

- What price?

  He smiled seductively.

- When the time comes, I will ask something of you, and you will have to give it to me.

  A flame jumped above his opened palm and unwrapped a scroll. It was floating right next to his face, making it impossible to say no. Monika started walking left and right, having second thoughts. ''This is the moment'', she thought to herself. ''Either I'll risk and go big, or I'll sink and lose everything.''

- The guards are coming for you. Tick - tock, tick - tock...

  Monika met his eyes. She sought a slightest trace of evil in them, but there was none to be found, as well as no trace of good. Only supernatural beauty with one purpose: to seduce and manipulate. The demon seemed entertained by her resistance, while every atom in her body craved to be looked back by him.

- Think about it this way: if you sign the contract, we shall see each other again. Don't tell me you wouldn't want that? - he winked.

- What I want is to know the price of your help.

- All in due time.

  The guards were discussing in the hallway. They were panicking about the empty cells.

- You know, the guards won't be occupied forever.

- You did this? You made the prisoners disappear from their cells?

- It is a mere illusion that serves as a diversion until you sign the contract.

- I see you thought about everything. It's obviously very important to you that I sign this.

- The guards will be here any minute now. Touch the scroll.

  The hesitation fought the desperation. She brought her palm closer to the scroll and felt its warmth. Finally, she touched it. Her name signed itself in fire across the parchment.

- The deal has been made. - he said formally and the scroll disappeared in flame. - The queen awaits you. She wants to humiliate you publicly. So let's start with your face.

- Just make it the way it was.

- Are you sure? I could give you any face...

- I am.

- So be it. It is done.

  She touched her face and relieved in realization that it's as good as new. The demon was curiously tilting his head to have a better look at her.

- Oh... Would you look at that. - he seemed surprised.

- What?

- Nothing, it's just... People usually ask for beauty because they are ugly. It's a rare thing to see a human face so pleasant to the eye without any magic involved.

 He bowed charmingly.

- And what's that about?

- I appreciate the good looks that are given by birth, not gifted by magic.

- A bit shallow of you, but thanks...? - she blushed.

- We are not done. - he pointed at her dirty clothes.

- Oh, that's fine, the guards-woman will soon take me to get changed.

- The queen wants your humiliation. Do you honestly believe you'll get to wear velvet and silk?

- I suppose not...

  The demon stepped back, looking at her. Monika felt very uncomfortable by his examining glance.

- Hm... My dear Cinderella, I hope you're ready to cause a beautiful scandal, because my creative mind is getting dirty. Yellow with orange kind of dirty.

   To Monika's surprise, it started raining ash in the cell.

- What's going on...?

- Shhh...

  The ash was falling on her rags, setting them into harmless fire and soon, the flames began to settle around her figure, transforming into silk.

- This is beautiful. They will either kill me for these colors, or try to steal this off me.

- Go now. - he said. - You are late enough to cause curiosity, and too soon to be criticized.

- Yes... Thank you.

- I'm only doing my job. We shall meet again, Monika. - the demon softly whispered her name. With another proper bow, he burned in fire and disappeared. The torches were lit again, the shadows fell back, and the cells were again occupied by prisoners. Monika apologized to Camelback, as she took her coat back to hide the new outfit.

   The guards-woman returned. Monika quickly hid her face into the hood not to cause suspicion.

- Come on, the time is up. It's time for you to get dressed.

  She stepped out, trying to keep her head in the shadow of the hood.

- It's pointless to hide yourself. I know you are ashamed of your scars, but you won't be able to wear the hood in the ballroom.

  Monika remained quiet. The guards woman called for more guards and ordered them to take the Camelback's body.

- Where are you taking him? - she asked.

- The queen's order. - said the guards-woman. - I think they want to bury him. Come on now, move.

  She took her back to the castle and followed her up to her old room in the servants quarters.

- Get changed and hurry up to the ballroom. Don't keep them waiting.

  Monika waited for her to leave so she can take off the coat, but a scream coming from a room nearby startled her. She recognized that voice right away.

- That's Lela!

  The girl was lying on the floor, pushing herself with legs from an old man. It was the royal mage.

- What's going on here!?? - Monika burst into the room.

- Monika!

- This is none of your business, servant! Know your place! This little thief stole from me!

- I didn't steal anything, I swear!

- Lies! You tore the page from my summoning book, only you could do that!

  Monika quickly stepped in front of Lela, finding herself between them.

- Can you even prove this, old man??

- I don't have to prove anything, least of all to you! She was the only one in my room before it was gone!

 - I won't let you hurt her just because you assume...

  A quick bang against the mage's head made him collapse on the floor like a plank. Lela stood behind him holding a jade figurine, now with a stain of blood.

- What did you do Lela, my god...

- He was about to kill me! - she cried.

  Monika crouched and checked the old man's pulse.

- He is dead...

  Lela burst into tears.

- I was only defending myself, I swear! He was going to... He wanted to...

  She hugged her.

- It's okay, I know... Calm down before someone hears you.

- I'm going to get executed for this. I killed the royal mage!

- Stop it, please. You won't get executed.

  She couldn't stop crying. Her face was red and wet from tears.

- What are we going to do Monika?

- Leave, Lela. Clean your face and leave. I'll take care of this.

- But...

- Go before someone sees you here!

  The girl wiped her eyes, still sobbing.

- You have always taken care of me. Of all your kids. Thank you...

- Everything will be fine, please leave now.

  She nodded and ran outside. Monika stood for a while, looking around.

- What am I going to do with you, hm...?

  In the end, she took the mage by the sleeves and dragged him into his storage room, locking him in there. Before she left the place, she peeked into the hallway and made sure no one saw her leaving the mage's room.