But the Mirror might not know that.
Even as I thought it, Narcissus stumbled and a noose wrapped around his ankle. He fell backwards and the up, yanked into the air by his foot to dangle before me. A sword appeared at my feet. I stared from it to Narcissus.
“Put him down; I'm not killing him,” I said calmly.
“He is a murderer,” a hollow voice echoed around me. “The years have broken him, Godhunter. Narcissus is precisely the sort of god you kill. Do your duty; kill the evil god.”
“No.”
“Those braids aren't tributes, they're trophies,” it went on.
“Liar!” Narcissus shouted. “You're the killer, not I.”
“I cannot kill,” the Mirror said. “You killed them for me. You sacrificed them so that I would grow in strength and bind you to me in that strength. He is the liar, Godhunter. He has swayed you with his soft words. It was his idea to pull humans through my glass and then kill them. None of them died by starvation; they were all murdered by Narcissus on a mirrored altar. Their blood gave me power and in exchange for that, I shared my power with him.”
“That isn't true, Vervain,” Narcissus begged me with his eyes. “I swear it. I have never murdered anyone with my hands, only my indifference.”
“See how easily he lies?” The Mirror went on. “He is what humans call a psychopath; completely devoid of emotion. He has no sympathy or kindness in him. All he cares about is himself.”
“Fuck you, Mirror!” Narcissus cursed. “How's that for emotion?”
“Nothing you say will sway me,” I said. “Put him down.”
“You must see the truth, Godhunter!” The Mirror shouted.
“The truth is; if I kill him, you will implode,” I said.
Everything went still. Even Narcissus stopped fighting his bonds and stared at me.
“No,” the Mirror said.
“Look deeper inside yourself,” I told it. “Your sole purpose is to hold Narcissus for eternity. If he dies, your purpose dies with him. You will self-destruct; it's how you were built.”
More silence and then came a screeching roar. Narcissus dropped to the floor and stared up at me in shock.
“You curse yourself if you free him!” The Mirror shouted. “This is my warning to you, Godhunter.”
“If it's the truth, I thank you for it,” I said. “But I have no choice; there is only one way out for me. Unless you'd like to send my husbands and me back from where you took us?”
“I cannot,” it said grimly.
“Then I must continue.” I waved Narcissus forward. “Let's go, Narc.”
Narcissus got to his feet and started shambling forward, his expression fixed forward in shock.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Trevor's screams turned my head briefly, but I kept going. I knew it was another trick. The screams tore at me, though, and I had to clench my teeth to keep myself from looking. But then I smelled him.
“Trevor?” I stopped and turned.
My wolf was chained to a metal floor by his ankle. He was snarling and fighting for all he was worth, but he couldn't shift and it was hard to battle beasts as a man. I screamed when one of the numerous lions surrounding him tore a swipe in his side. Trevor howled and bashed at it with his fists. Another came at him from behind. Lethal claws gleamed in the dim light and Trevor's eyes glowed. His gaze flicked to me wildly.
“Run, Minn Elska!” He shouted.
I felt the line connecting us inside me and knew that it was the real Trevor. He was being torn apart by the very beasts who were precious to me.
“Damn you!” I shouted.
