“It's kind of a new thing for me.” I shrugged. “And I didn't think it was important.”
“You didn't think it was important?” Narcissus asked in disbelief. “You're practically a celebrity in my pantheon. But how? You're not Greek.”
“Another long story.” I sighed. “I'll tell you after we get out of here. First, clothes for the guys and then let's get out of this room.”
“Right.” Narcissus nodded at the men and the clothes they'd been wearing when we first arrived took the place of their swimming trunks.
“Is there anywhere in this palace that you'd consider to be safe from the Mirror?” I asked Narcissus. “Somewhere we can hole up until Nemesis releases us?”
Narcissus thought about it. “The closer I am to the frame—the Mirror's portal—the less I can affect the landscape. I think the Mirror's magic is focused on the boundary there and must keep it as it is. If we stay near the glass, I think we'll be safe”
“That makes sense,” I agreed. “It's a weak point; anaccesspoint.”
“Let's get to that frame,” Trevor said as he started striding for the door.
He never made it; none of us did.
Chapter Fourteen
Walls rocketed up between us; separating Narcissus and me from the others. We all started shouting and pounding frantically on the barriers and searching for a way through. As we did, the grass changed to metal beneath my feet while the trees and pool disappeared. A new ceiling popped into place only a few feet above my head.
“Vervain!” Narcissus' hand was on my shoulder; shaking me violently. “Run!”
We were in a metal corridor and the wall at the far end was moving closer; rapidly. I gaped at it.
“I'll find you both; just stay alive!” I hollered at my husbands, and then I ran.
A single path yawned open before us, the Mirror herding us into the gloom. I couldn't do anything about it, though. The metal plate scraped closer and closer; effectively forcing us down the corridor. We made it to a door at the end, and Narcissus yanked it open.
We rushed through, and he slammed the door shut behind us. A deafening clamor announced the impact of the metal plate against the door. The palace shivered and then stilled. I shivered and stilled too. It had been awhile since I'd had to run for my life, but how do you stand your ground against a metal plate?
I looked around the room we occupied warily. A bedroom. A grand one. AGreekone. The bed ruled the room on a marble pedestal with columns at each corner instead of posters. A crown of narcissus flowers floated over the center of the bed; trailing sheer, violet curtains over the tops of the columns and then down to the mosaic floor. Patterns of more narcissus flowers wound through the mosaic but soft, sage-colored rugs covered the artwork in places.
A collection of chaise lounges, similar to those in the main room, sat to the side of the bed and a rectangular table was placed behind them; sectioning off the room. On the other side of the table, a sunken tub dominated the space with more columns set in a circle around it. White narcissus flowers draped between the columns in garlands, interwoven with other greenery. Beneath them and beside the tub, a stone bench held a stack of neatly folded towels. And then there were the mirrors.
Mirrors hung on every wall and reclined on nearly every surface that could support them. The ceiling above the bed even sported one. My face grimaced at me everywhere I looked.
I turned my grimace on Narcissus. “Let me guess; this is your bedroom.”
“How did you know?” He gaped at me as if I were psychic.
“Between those damn flowers and all the mirrors, it wasn't a big leap.” I rolled my eyes.
And then I noticed the curtains. Where there are curtains, there's usually a window. I rushed over and yanked the drapes open, revealing a huge window. An antique style; one of those types with the double frame that latches in the center and can be pushed open like French doors. I nearly shouted in relief. Then I tried the latch.
It wouldn't budge.
“Here, let me try,” Narcissus offered. “It can be tricky.”
I moved aside, and Narcissus wriggled it. The latch held firm. He shoved it with his shoulder, but it didn't even rattle.
“I think I may know what that clanging was,” I said dryly. “The one that came shortly after the Mirror's threat to kill us all.”
“It locked us in,” Narcissus said as he turned to face me.
“Yep.” I looked around for something heavy.
A wooden vanity sat meekly to the left of the bath, beside a folding screen that I assumed hid a toilet. A chair posed before the low table with its collection of hairbrushes and crystal jars. I went over and grabbed the chair as I shook my head at the vanity. What kind of man has a vanity? Sure, men groomed themselves—at least, the civilized ones do—but I've never known one to actually sit down before a mirror, brush his hair, and gussy himself up. But Narcissus' grooming habits weren't important at the moment. Getting out of that damn mirror-house was.
