Mirror mirror on the wall
1117 Words
She was dreaming.
Warm hands were sliding up her waist, calloused and slow, pressing into her skin like they belonged there. A mouth brushed her shoulder, then her throat. A whisper against her ear—something guttural, low, in a language she didn’t understand but still made her heart thunder.
“Elira…”
She gasped awake.
The room was drenched in silver. Cold light from the high windows bathed everything in moonlight. Her breath fogged the air as she sat up, skin damp with sweat, heart racing like she’d run through a storm.
It was just a dream.
Except—something was still humming in the room.
Her gaze fell to the far wall.
The mirror.
She hadn’t noticed it before—not really. It was taller than the others, tucked between two heavy velvet curtains, its frame carved from obsidian and bone. And it was glowing.
“Elira…”
Her name again.
But not spoken aloud.
Inside her head.
She stood before she could stop herself, the sheets slipping down her bare legs. She padded across the cold floor, barely breathing. Every step toward the mirror made her skin prickle. Her fingers trembled as she reached out—
And the glass rippled.
Not like a reflection, but like water.
A face flickered in the surface—hers, but older, stranger. Her eyes glowed gold. Her mouth was stained red. Her skin shimmered like stars. Power radiated from her image like heat off fire.
“Elira,” it whispered again. “Wake up.”
The mirror cracked.
Just once—right across her reflection’s throat.
She stumbled back, heart slamming in her chest.
What the hell was that?
The door burst open.
Khael.
He was shirtless, breathless, eyes glowing
“What is this?” She demanded
He didn’t answer.
Instead, his fingers brushed the back of her neck, slow. Barely touching.
“You looked like this once,” he whispered. “Long ago. Before the humans claimed you. Before your light was buried.”
Her breath hitched. His voice sounded hungry. Like he wanted to taste the version of her in the mirror. To destroy anyone else who saw it.
Elira finally turned to face him.
“Who am I?” she asked. Her voice cracked.
Khael looked at her like she was breaking his heart and feeding it to him in pieces.
“You were mine before you were born.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one that matters.”
He reached for her. She should’ve pulled away—but she didn’t.
His thumb slid across her cheek, down to her lips. He looked like he wanted to devour her. Worship her. Destroy her.
And she… hated how much she didn’t mind.
Her body leaned in before her mind could catch up. Heat rising between them like smoke. Her breath was shaky, his body inches from hers.
He cupped her jaw. His other hand found her waist, gripping, pulling her against him. She gasped.
And still—he didn’t kiss her.
“I’m not going to break you,” he murmured against her skin. “Even if I want to.”
Her fingers dug into his shirt. “Then stop touching me like that.”
“Why?” His mouth was at her neck. “You’re shaking.”
“I’m not afraid.”
He laughed. Dark. Close. “That’s not why you’re shaking.”
Her knees were weak. Her mind was screaming. But her body—her body wanted more.
He leaned in like he was going to kiss her—
CRACK.
The mirror behind them split wide open.
Something screamed.
Elira whipped around, breaking from Khael’s grip just in time to see a figure stepping out of the glass—tall, skeletal, cloaked in ash and blood.
Its face was empty. No eyes. No mouth. Just hollow blackness.
Khael stepped in front of her instantly.
“No,” he growled. “You don’t touch her.”
But the thing lunged.
Khael shoved Elira back with a snarl. Shadows burst from him like knives, slashing at the creature—but it kept coming.
“You don’t belong here!” it screeched in a voice that didn’t have a mouth. “She is the last! She must return!”
“Elira, run!”
But she didn’t.
The thing grabbed Khael, shadows screaming around them. He grunted, then fell to one knee, the creature’s hand over his chest.
Khael’s body was burning.
She screamed, “No!”
And something snapped inside her.
Light exploded from her chest—blinding, gold, endless.
The mirror shattered completely.
The creature wailed, its body folding inward, curling like paper in fire, burning from the inside out.
Gone.
Silence.
⸻
Khael was on the ground, breathing hard. His coat was half-burnt, blood running down his arm. But his eyes—
His eyes were fixed on her.
Elira stood in the middle of the room, skin glowing, hair lifted like she was underwater. Gold sparks floated around her. She didn’t even feel the heat.
He stood slowly, watching her like she wasn’t real.
Like he was afraid to speak.
“Don’t say it,” she whispered.
“You burned the gate open.”
“I didn’t mean to—”
“I don’t care.” He stepped closer. “You woke up.”
“I didn’t want to.”
“But now I can’t lose you.”
She tried to speak, but he was already moving—hands gripping her waist, face inches from hers, breath fast and rough.
“You were never a girl in a healer’s cottage. You’re a fire locked in skin. You’re everything they tried to bury.”
She blinked fast. “And now what?”
He didn’t answer.
Just pulled her in so close she couldn’t breathe.
His lips brushed her jaw, down her neck, his hands sliding under the edge of her shirt—but still, he didn’t take her. He just held her like he wanted to tear the world open.
“I should leave you alone,” he said, voice shaking.
“Then why don’t you?”
“Because you burned for me.”
She wanted to scream. Cry. Fall. Touch him everywhere.
But instead, she whispered, “Khael…”
And his eyes darkened.
His lips were so close to hers.
Then—
BOOM.
The wall behind them exploded inward.
Something massive and winged crashed into the room, snarling like a beast from another world.
Khael’s body tensed. His shadows rose.
Elira’s power flared again.
But this time, her eyes glowed.
And the winged creature whispered in a voice not meant for mortals:
“Aelthea has returned.”
Cut to black.
- Writer
