Seymour gestured toward Day.
Sariel looked at Day, looked back at Seymour, and then shrugged.
Seymour sighed.
Day stood, reaching for the metal disc. She removed the veil, revealing it to be a big handheld mirror. She meowed and scampered over to them, holding it up to Seymour.
“Oh! Uh, should I be touching this?” Seymour grimaced. “It looks old. And very fuckin’ breakable.”
Day meowed firmly.
“Okay, okay!” Seymour took the mirror, peering over it curiously.
While all the art and other decor seemed to be Asian inspired—Seymour wanted to say Japanese, but he was afraid he was mistaken—the mirror was decidedly not.
Its frame was gold and carved in the same types of geometric designs he’d seen in pictures of Roman columns. The back had more of them and a staff with wings and two serpents coiled around it right in the middle. The staff symbol looked very familiar, but he couldn’t place it.
He turned the mirror back over, asking, “So, what do I do?”
“Meow.”
“You want me to meow?”
“Meow.” Day narrowed her eyes.
“Okie dokie.” Seymour looked at himself in the mirror and took a deep breath. “Uh… Meow?”
Day swatted at his leg.
“Okay, okay!” Seymour cleared his throat, saying more confidently, “Meow.”
Day tilted her head. “Meow?”
Seymour groaned. “Fuck, it didn’t work.”
“Guess you’ll just have to try again,” Day said with a sigh.
“Yeah, I guess—” Seymour gasped. “Hey!”
Day put her paws over her mouth and giggled.
“You sneaky lil’ girl.” Seymour laughed. “That was good. That was real good.” He nodded at Sariel. “I guess it’s his turn, right?”
“Yes, please!” Day’s voice was feminine and soft, and she sounded much younger than Seymour first thought.
Seymour passed the mirror to Sariel. “Really put your heart into it. You are a cat. You arethecat. A feral jungle beast ready to pounce.”
Sariel’s brow wrinkled. “But I am not. I am an angel.”
“Just try your best.”
Sariel narrowed his eyes, staring down his reflection as if it was an enemy he was about to tear into pieces. With a low growl, he snarled, “Meow!”
Day shook her head and sighed in mock disappointment. “Meow.”
Sariel frowned. “I tried to be the cat. I was not successful?”
Day grinned up at Seymour, Seymour snorted and pressed his lips together, but then they both burst out laughing.
