Okay, that doesn’t help much, but I nod and step forward anyway. The moment I cross the threshold, I stop dead in my tracks. I’ve never seen anything so wondrous in my entire life. The walls rise in sweeping arches made of quartz, each reflecting the light in a different way. Bands of crystal run like frozen rivers into the dome overhead, throwing rays of sunshine over the walls.
Peace settles over me, and for a long moment I just stand, taking it all in. Several arched pathways open up around the chamber, leading to God only knows what. I really hope I’m not supposed to make my way through those dark tunnels. I try summoning light to my palms, but, of course, I have no luck. Shit!
“Some guidance would be nice,” I say out loud, to no one but myself. Or at least I thought it was to myself, but in that moment, an opening to my left lights up. Something pulls at me, leading me in that direction. I guess that’s the one.
I leave the chamber behind, stepping under the glowing arch. The walls are like polished glass, so clear it’s like I’m surrounded by mirrors.
I catch sight of myself in one of the panes and glance down to find my palm resting on my stomach. It still doesn’t feel real. I stand sideways, lifting my shirt. A little spark of excitement shoots through me when I picture a little baby bump. Then I wince, thinking about my poor vagina having to spit out babies that belong to a seven-foot demon.
I shake the thought away. I can’t think about the future, or the twins—not with Dante walking free. The next stretch of wall gives me three more versions of myself, all slightly warped: one taller and thinner, one stretched sideways, and one with a face that seems too close.
The light from the crystals form different angles, flashing off my eyes, my cheekbones, my hands. It feels like walking through a warped funhouse, except Jess isn’t here to trip over her own feet and make me laugh until I nearly pee myself.
My boots make small, hollow sounds on the smooth floor, and every step I take seems to ripple through the reflections. I keep my eyes forward, but movement at the edge of my vision has me glancing to the left. A reflection stands just like I do, except her head is already turned toward me.
What the fuck?I blink, taking a step closer. She’s staring straight back, as she should be. Okay, it’s just my nerves. That’s all.
I push on. A few paces later, the wall to my right shows my profile, except the eyes track me as I pass. A chill runs up the back of my neck. Um, that’s creepy. Okay, I know I didn’t imagine that.
I slow down, watching the next few reflections for movement. Most mirror me perfectly, but every so often, one moves a second too late, orkeeps its gaze fixed on me even after I’ve looked away. The farther I go, the more the reflections seem to lean toward me, like figures behind glass pressing in to watch.
It’s all I can do not to get the hell out of here and crawl back in my bed. This is not how I wanted to spend my morning.A little warning would have been nice, Kara!
Their faces—my face—follow me, eyes tracing my every move. I try to stay calm, but when the wall ahead ripples and a reflection steps forward, I nearly lose it. “No fucking way,” I mumble as the form takes shape right in front of me.
Fighting demons and beasts is one thing, but I don’t do ghosts—or whatever the hellthatis. I turn to run, but it moves so it’s standing before me once again. Shit!
It has my face. Same hair, same eyes. Only hers are a darker green, almost black at the edges. Behind her, a shadow forms, curling like smoke and forming into wings. I wonder if this is what Zarreth saw during the battle yesterday when my magic killed that beast.
She tilts her head, a slow crooked smile playing at her lips. “You keep pretending you’re better than me, like you’re not full of darkness, but you’ve always been this. Why do you think it’s so hard to summon your light? It’s because you’re no better than I am—you don’t deserve the little bit of light you have.” Her voice is a rough echo of mine, only a little raspier.
Her words hurt, because they’re true. I’m no better than her. I’ve always been full of darkness. Maybe that’s why it was so hard for my mom to love me. I shut the thought down as she steps closer.
Her smoky wings ripple as ash falls from them, dissolving into the air. My fingers twitch as shadows float along my hands. “Stay back,” I warn, my voice shaking.
She laughs, taking a step closer. “Why? I’m not the enemy. I’m what you could be if you stopped fighting it.”
I would give almost anything to stop fighting it, but I don’t want to be her. Iwon’tlet myself be her.
I pull the darkness back, summoning the light instead. It fights me like it always does, but I have a feeling it will be more effective. My pulse climbs until finally it flares to life in my palms.
We face each other, the glow of my light shining over her dark wings. Her head tilts, as they stretch wider. The shadows are reaching for me. “You think the light will save you?” She laughs, her voice turning eerie now. “You burn with it, but it’s the dark that listens when you scream.”
I’ve heard that voice before, not out loud, but in the corners of my mind when I’ve been afraid to truly let go. I plant my feet, raising a hand. “I’m not you.”
Her smile sharpens, as do her eyes. “You’reexactlyme.”
The smoky wings snap forward, sending out a whip of shadow that lashes toward my legs. I jump sideways, the heat of my own magic rising. White explodes from my hands, meeting the rush of smoke. It throws sparks through the cavern, splashing both of us in jagged light.
She lunges, wings sweeping low. I throw up another wall of light, but the edges crumble where the smoke touches it.Shit!My heart thunders while I throw another burst.Come on! Do something!
It drives her back a few paces, but her grin only widens. “You can’t burn what was born of the same fire.”
Her smoky wings flare higher, and for a moment we’re locked here, light and shadow grinding against each other. Then a glow from deeper in the tunnel flickers.
A figure stands further ahead, beaming with white light. Something pulls inside me again, like the cave is trying to drag me toward her. I know I have to reach her, but I also know fighting this shadow again won’t get me there.
I take a small step toward the glow. The smoky version moves to stop me, wings spreading to block my way. My arms are heavy and I’m exhausted, but my shadow self doesn’t look tired at all. Her wings flex behind her, nearly filling the entire cavern.
