The Mirro

t, thrumming against her palm. Inside it, the younger version of hers

lly in cloth and tucking it inside the locket. If there were fragme

or wasn't do

amed not of reflect

streets were ash. The buildings, skeletal outlines. And everywhere she

ned to her and whisp

or be fe

was open, wind howling through it. She didn't rememb

er dresser-one she hadn't yet cove

elf. Not

bli

sm

ully erased. The candles were melted to waxy puddles. The obsidian

idn't

dn't n

ow. It had tasted her s

memories-teased

arty from he

mother us

once loved,

forward, they slipped away-

on her

en she un

asn't just d

her desire. Her

done so for

r answers. Near the bottom of a torn page w

ake what you

sat f

f she offered something willingly...

o test th

dhood. She tore out a single page-a lette

e said aloud. "Fr

rom her fingers like ash. But this time,

s con

miled

could afford to lose. A time when Evelyn scolded her for a

e mirror hesi

s fee

ot fe

t

ned her eyes to find the a

oom door was a second version of h

dn't

st wa

it

longer content wit

wanted h

nue with Chapter 9: Ref