Chapter 11 - Mirror, mirror on the wall
1811 Words
Marcus didn’t even flinch at the sound of Freya’s snapping voice, or at the scowl she was giving him.
“I’m just checking on Chloe,” his eyes didn't waver from Chloe as he spoke. "I want to make sure she's okay," he continued, his hand lingering on her bare shoulder.
Softly, he caressed her skin with his thumb, his touch making her weak at the knees.
"She's just fine, brother," Freya retorted, a sly smirk on her lips. "But have you checked on Juliette? Your girlfriend," she emphasized, crossing her arms over her chest, and giving him a meaningful stare.
"What do you mean?" Marcus furrowed his brows, looking at his sister with a mixture of confusion and irritation.
“You promised to call her, remember?” Freya quirked up a brow. “When she left this morning. When you kissed her goodbye. Oh. So. Tenderly.”
"Yeah...right," Marcus muttered, his face going pale. Quickly, he removed his hand from Chloe's shoulder as if he had been burned. With one final glance at her, he turned around and left without another word.
Chloe couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness wash over her as Marcus turned on his heel and walked away, leaving her standing there alone, clutching at her dress like a lifeline in stormy waters.
"I'm sorry Marcus is being so clingy with you," Freya sighed when he had left, placing a sympathetic hand on Chloe's arm. "If it's becoming too much for you, just tell me and I'll make sure someone else escorts us to the Winter's ball."
"It's okay, really," Chloe smiled faintly, trying to hide how much she longed for his touch again. "I can handle it.”
Freya raised an eyebrow, studying Chloe closely. "Are you sure? I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, especially if Marcus is making you feel that way."
“It’s just that he gives me so mixed signals," Chloe admitted.
Freya let out a knowing laugh. “Don’t overthink it,” she shook her head with a wry smile. "That's just Marcus being Marcus. He just cannot stop flirting with pretty girls, like you.” She walked over to the mirror and held up the green dress in front of her, examining her reflection. “So, what do you say? Ready to slay at the winter's ball?"
“Slay, she says?” Chloe’s wolf chuckled. “I’m game!”
“She doesn’t mean it literally,” Chloe rolled her eyes internally. “Why this unhealthy blood thirst of yours?”
“Because I want our mate,” her wolf responded sourly. “We’re supposed to be together! Yet, you are forcing us to stay apart.”
“Because he killed our brother!” Chloe hissed. “He’s a freaking monster!”
“We can change him,” her wolf retorted. "We'll make him a better man..."
“Nonsense,” Chloe scorned. “Now, shut up.”
Chloe forced a smile, meeting Freya’s questioning gaze. "Sure, I'll take the red one, and you’ll have the green one," she tried to muster up some enthusiasm. She actually couldn’t care less... She was too tired after everything that had happened. With a sigh, she stripped down to her underwear and put her jeans and knitted sweater back on.
“Yey!” Freya clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, and I forgot to tell you, I got us matching winter capes!” She disappeared into her walk-in closet, and when she emerged, she was holding an exquisite, lustrous winter cape in a regal midnight blue color, lined with soft white fur. The thick and heavy fabric was made of a fine, velvety wool blend, certainly fit for a queen.
Chloe couldn't help but gasp in awe, suddenly feeling guilty for not being more engaged. “Is that one for me?”
“Yes, of course!” Freya chuckled. “Mine is still in my closet. Try it on!”
Chloe draped the luxurious cape over her shoulders, admiring the way it flowed down to the floor. It was truly beautiful and would certainly match well with her evening gown for the first night. "Thank you so much, Freya,” she said with gratitude. ”It’s too much, really.”
“Anything for my best friend!” Freya beamed. “And by the way, what dress are you planning to wear for the first night?” she asked as if she read Chloe’s mind.
“This one,” Chloe reached for the hanger and gently lifted an eye-catching dress from the rack. The fabric shimmered in the light, a delicate blend of green and blue hues, and it was adorned with an abundance of pearls and frills, each adding a touch of matchless elegance. She patted the fabric tenderly, admiring the intricate details.
"Interesting choice," Freya said, her voice laced with hesitation. "It's quite... unique, I'd say. No offense, but it looks a little like a fancy curtain."
“I like unique, and I like curtains,” Chloe laughed. “And for the record, it was insanely expensive!”
“But…” Freya's fingers danced across the hangers as she browsed the stunning selection of dresses until her eyes locked onto a particular dress that seemed to call out to her. She delicately pulled it from the rack, her fingers running across the layers and layers of light blue tulle that fell gracefully from the waist. "What about this one?" she asked with a grin, holding it up for Chloe to see.
Chloe tilted her head and observed the dress in Freya's hands. "I'm not sure, Freya. I'm feeling more in the mood for something less... girly right now," she explained with a small shrug.
“Just try it on!” Freya insisted. "I want to wear a tulle dress myself. It will be so much fun if we match on our first night as well!”
Chloe hesitated for a moment, feeling exhausted. All she wanted was to call it a night! But as she glanced at Freya's eager expression, she didn't have the heart to tell her. With a resigned smile, she acquiesced and allowed Freya to help her put on the dress.
Patiently, she stood still as Freya fussed over the layers of light blue tulle and carefully arranged the skirt. Despite her initial reluctance, Chloe couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement as she twirled around in the dress, admiring the layers of tulle swirling around her. It was a beautiful dress, that she had bought online from a famous designer. But still… she preferred the other one.
"You look amazing!" Freya exclaimed. “Okay, my turn now!”
Chloe settled into a nearby chair and watched as Freya slipped into dress after dress. At first, she tried to stay engaged and encouraging, but as time dragged on, Chloe felt her eyelids grow heavy, and her attention started to wane.
As she fought her drowsiness, she struggled to keep her eyes open and fix her gaze on Freya. However, suddenly, a woman's face flashed by in the mirror, and Chloe jolted awake. With her breath caught in her throat, she gasped for air. "Did you see that?" she blurted out.
That woman! It was the same face that had been appearing in her dreams.
"See what?" Freya spun around to look at Chloe with a puzzled face.
"In the mirror," Chloe’s voice trembled as she pointed at the mirror. "I swear, there was a woman's face in the mirror."
Freya's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" She turned around again to look in the mirror, squinting as she studied her reflection. “I don't see anything unusual,” she said, turning back to face Chloe. “Maybe it's just your tiredness playing tricks on you.” She gave Chloe a sympathetic look. "Are you feeling okay? We can stop if you're too exhausted."
“Well, it just flashed by… Maybe I'm starting to see things that aren't there,” Chloe forced a smile. “I'm feeling really drained. I think I need to call it a night. Can we pick this up again tomorrow? We still have one more day before we head north, and I don't want to miss out on all the fun.” She gave Freya a reassuring smile before getting up from the chair and starting to undress.
“Of course,” Freya ran over to Chloe to help her out of the many layers of tulle. “I'm sorry I kept you up. You should get some rest.” Chloe put on her regular clothes again and was just about to leave Freya's room when Freya's mischievous smile hinted at an impending question. “So… are you planning on wearing the tulle dress?"
“No,” Chloe chuckled, wrapping her arms around Freya in a tight hug. “I'll save the tulle dress for another night. For the first night, I'll wear my unique and fancy curtain dress," she said with a playful wink.
“Okay, I forgive you,” Freya faked a dramatic sigh before she grinned widely. "You do you, girl. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" she said, hugging Chloe back. "Sleep tight."
As Chloe walked down the dimly lit hallway, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled since she saw that woman’s face in the mirror. And it didn’t get better, on the contrary. In every window she passed, the woman’s face flashed by. Chloe had to stifle her urge to scream, over and over again. It was nerve-wracking.
The woman's image kept appearing in every mirror and window, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. Chloe was certain it was just her imagination playing tricks, but the image felt so vivid and real! Was she having a nervous breakdown?
The feeling of unease was getting stronger with each passing moment, and Chloe couldn't shake off the sensation that someone was watching her every move.
Who was that woman that kept haunting her? She couldn’t remember ever seeing her before… Why did her face suddenly turn up everywhere?
Chloe quickened her pace and almost ran down the corridor as she felt a sudden urge to get back to her own room and lock the door behind her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she sprinted inside, slamming the door shut.
Nervously, she scanned the room frantically, her eyes fixated on the mirrors, and she rushed to cover them with blankets and hurriedly drew the curtains. After ensuring that every reflective surface was hidden, she crawled into bed and hid under the duvet, her eyes wide open, and her body trembling with adrenaline. What was happening to her? It felt like she was about to lose her mind.
“Something’s going on,” her wolf whispered. “I don’t know what, yet... But I don’t like it.”
- Writer
