Blakely

This was by far the stupidest thing I’d ever done.

Actually, scratch that. The stupidest thing I’d ever done was make a deal with a god, then shoot said God in the chest with a rifle.

Running through an ancient, magical forest in an entirely different realm with nothing more than an antique compass paled in comparison to that.

Once I was far enough away, I found a tree to hide behind and pulled out dad’s compass. A warbled croak sounded in the distance and my heart leapt in my chest. Next came a series of scattered chirps, throatier than any birds I’d ever heard in the mortal realm.

The needle spun erratically, darting to the left and right, before finally pointing straight ahead.

North, that’s where I needed to go.

I set off in that direction, my attention flickering between the network of root and stone at my feet, and the trees looming over my head. Clusters of plants dotted the forest floor, surrounded by bioluminescent bugs. If it weren’t for their indigo glow, I might’ve mistaken them for fireflies.

A strange, slithering sensation tickled my flesh. It was the same feeling I’d get when Lina would sneak into my room and watch me sleep.

My pace quickened.

The foliage quickly became so dense that I could no longer see the moon and stars. I tried and failed not to think about how wholly unprepared I was. Apart from my wolf, who I could barely trust on a good day, I had nothing in terms of a weapon.

The crack of a branch echoed through the trees, much too close for comfort. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans and scanned the darkness. It hung in a shroud so impenetrable that even my heightened senses couldn’t break through.

I slipped in between two bushes, their branches like little fingers as they scraped along my flesh. Another crack sounded, even closer this time, followed by a third and fourth. They were spreading out, forming a half circle at my back that was quickly growing narrower by the second.

Something was hunting me.

No longer thinking about the consequences, I began to run. Even if I wanted to, I’d never find my way back to Azrael. All of the trees looked the same, and I swear something—or someone—had been covering the path I’d made with my feet.

At some point the forest began to change. I was so focused on getting away that I hadn’t even noticed. The trees had thinned considerably, losing their billowing leaves and blankets of cushy moss. Now their limbs were bare, stretching into the sky like claws ready to rip the stars and moon apart.

Something had killed this part of the forest.

In the distance I spotted a few specks of a warm, golden light. Holding my breath, I pressed forward, running until a building came into view.

The gothic, Victorian house fit perfectly in this creepy, desolate forest. It’s burgundy siding and onyx trim complimented the lopsided porch that jutted out from the front and wrapped around the side. A spiral tower stood to the right, the light in the windows dancing like living flames.

Not giving myself a chance to back down, I ran up the stairs and began pounding on the door. With each knock, I was certain the creatures hunting me were closing in. Faster and faster my heart began to beat until finally, it opened.

I caught a glimpse of the old woman’s face as she ushered me inside. A sigh of relief crested on my lips, fizzling out when I took in the massive foyer. It wasn’t the chandelier of broken bones and fragments of skulls that rendered me silent, but the fact that every square inch of the walls was covered in mirrors.

There had to be thousands of them, all different shapes and sizes. Some had frames of gold, while others were nothing more than dusty slabs pinned to the walls.

“Heavens, look at the state of you. All flustered and out of breath. Oh, and a mortal no less! Poor thing. You must be parched, dear. How does some tea sound?”

Her whimsical voice stunned me so much that I turned in her direction. Standing before me wasn’t an old woman, but a girl around my age. Piles of umber curls sat atop her head, bright in comparison to the pale nightgown she wore.

“What—weren’t you just an old woman a few seconds ago?”

“I suppose I was. That’s magic for you, always changing. Tea it is, then?”

“Um, yeah. Sure.” Not a chance in hell was I drinking that tea.

“I’ll be right back.”

She flitted through a doorway to the left, beneath the staircase that wrapped around half the room.

When she returned, her appearance had once again changed. A young man stood in her place, a blonde braid trailing down his back. His hands were steady as they handed me a porcelain teacup and saucer. I made a show of bringing it to my lips. The warmth of the liquid touched my cupid’s bow, leaving a sheen I wiped away with the back of my hand. The man nodded, seemingly pleased by my reaction.

“I see you made it here safe and sound. Good thing too, with Adira’s huntresses tailing you.” There was something about his voice that felt calming, but it didn’t erase the fact that I was a trespasser in this realm, a realm of magic and danger.

“That’s who was chasing me?”

“As I’m sure you know, Adira has a thing for mortal women. Particularly damsels in distress. She likely spotted you running through the forest and thought she’d offer her help. She never was fond of the princes.”

His eyes, a startling shade of ocean blue, darted between my face and the teacup. I brought it to my lips a second time, faking a drink.

“The princes?” I replied.

“Your gods, dear. The one’s your people worship. In this realm, they’re princes. You’re here now, though.” He said with a gentle smile. “Come, come. I have something to show you. Something that might help your situation.”

I followed him through an arched doorway to the right, into a circular room that looked to be a lounge of some sort. Velvet sofas sat in front of a massive, wood-carved fireplace. The flames dancing within were those I’d seen through the window.

On the walls were even more mirrors.

“You said you had something that could help me with—with the princes?” I asked, noticing the person had yet again changed their appearance.

They now looked to be a middle-aged woman with a round face, and soft grey eyes. Locks of dark hair fell past her jaw, barely grazing her shoulders. She ushered me forward, past half a dozen mirrors before she reached one at the far end of the room.

A crackle of pain danced across my temples. I rubbed my eyes and blinked several times. I could’ve sworn that as she passed each mirror, her reflection changed.

There was an odd feeling in my belly as I stepped up to the gilded monstrosity. It stood a foot taller than me, the glass pristine without even the smallest fleck of dust. The moment I locked eyes with my reflection, I felt it.

What started as a subtle tug, quickly became a violent pull. It latched itself onto my chest, digging invisible claws into what I knew was my soul. A ragged gasp escaped my lips as I tried to pull away. My muscles were stone and my bones lead. I couldn’t move, couldn’t even blink.

“That’s it, just let it happen.” The woman murmured. She ran her fingers down my hair, combing through the cobalt strands almost lovingly. “Such pretty, unusual hair. I’ve never had someone so exotic in my collection before.”

Her collection?

“What—” Each word calcified in my lungs. “—are you doing to me?”

The woman standing behind me wasn’t visible in the mirror. She had no reflection of her own. With startling clarity, I realized it hadn’t been her I’d seen in all of those mirrors, but other people.

“I’m becoming you, dear. I’m stripping you of all that you were, are, and could have ever been. It won’t be long now. All of that pain will fade, and you’ll be free. Free to live here forever.”

I’d already spent my entire life trapped, a prisoner to a fate I couldn’t escape. I would not exchange my cage for another, no matter how pretty the golden bars were.

Rage unfurled in my chest, the same rage that had exploded from my body that fateful day at the mage’s village in the mountains. The knowledge of the terrible, unforgivable thing I’d done hung at the cusp of my thoughts. I pushed it aside and gave into the cold heat. The invisible claws in my chest vanished.

I cocked my fist back, and slammed it into the mirror, watching as the glass exploded into a million glittering shards.

An inhuman screech carved at my ears. “How did you—”

Grabbing a single jagged piece, I spun and slashed wildly. There was a gut churning squelch, followed by a splatter and a wail of unfathomable pain. I didn’t look at the woman—or whatever she was.

I ran, knocking as many mirrors over as I could without slowing, and darted out of the room. Her guttural screams chased me the entire way. Once in the foyer, I veered left to the front door. My fingers grasped wildly at every gilded frame within reach.

“No, stop that! Not my mirrors, my beautiful mirrors!”

They clattered to the floor in a sea of glass, and somewhere in the back of my mind, I swore I could hear people cheering.

I leapt over the porch steps and hit the ground, resuming my frantic run. Bushes scratched my legs as I barreled through, leaving them raw and angry. The gnarled tree’s all but reached out, welcoming me back into the fold.

Minutes passed, and despite the fire in my lungs, I continued running. I finally stopped when the flickering lights of the house had vanished. Leaning against a tree, I pulled out dad’s compass and released a breath. Thankfully, it hadn’t been damaged in the scuffle.

Following the needle, which still pointed North, I continued walking until a small dirt path appeared. It stretched far up ahead, winding through the trees until I could no longer see it in the distance.

I’d just stepped onto it when I heard the voice. Its cry was soft and feminine.

“Help me. Someone, please help me. I’m so cold. I’m so, so cold.” It sniffled, the words giving way to a series of gut-wrenching sobs. My steps stalled for a fraction of a second. Suddenly, the voice was closer. “Help me, miss. Please! I’m all alone out here.”

‘Do not acknowledge it.’ My wolf’s voice floated through my head.

My mind began to conjure up images of Lina alone and afraid. What if it was a child? Perhaps they wandered across the border and found themselves trapped here too. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if that were the case. Perhaps, I should help—

Branches crackled behind me.

‘Do not turn around.’

A shadow hovered just out of my peripheral, slowly creeping closer. The thing whimpered, “Why won’t you help me? Why don’t you care?”

‘Do not look at it.’

I dropped my eyes to the ground.

“Why are you ignoring me? Don’t you care? Why don’t you help me? Help me, please!” It demanded, growing louder and more urgent. “I just want to be friends, that’s all. I don’t want to be alone anymore. Now that you’re here, I’ll never be alone again. All you have to do is look at me. It’ll only hurt for a second, I swear.”

‘Run.’

“Look at me, Blakely. Look at me, look at me, look at me, LOOK AT ME!”

‘Run, now!’

Fear and adrenaline created a heady cocktail that raced through my veins, propelling me down the path. I pushed my body harder than ever, trying desperately to ignore the thunder of footsteps just a few feet back.

Blood roared in my ears, so loud that I could no longer tell if I was being followed. I ran and ran until a shadow stepped onto my path. It was too late to stop, and I braced myself for the pain as I collided with the dark figure.

Hands grabbed my upper arms and I reacted, swinging the shard of glass I had used against the old woman.

Fingers snared my wrist, holding it in mid air. I expected to see sheer fury on Azrael’s face, but instead there was genuine surprise. I might’ve found it amusing if it weren’t for the tremors wracking my body.

He cocked his head, scanning my eyes as though they held the answers to all his questions.

“You have no clue how long we’ve been waiting for you, little wolf.”

Blakely

Without elaborating Azrael plucked a little black bag from his pocket and tugged at the draw strings. A finely ground powder sat inside, sparking in a rainbow of hues the moment it hit the open air. I shifted back a step when he caught me gawking.

“This is stardust. It’s a very rare concoction Orion created. It’ll transport us into the mansion of stars. Since I can’t trust you not to go bounding off into the forest, we have no choice but to use it. He’ll be rather angry when he finds out, so I’d steer clear of him once we arrive.”

The shard of mirror was unusually cold in my hand. Even though I had almost been sucked inside the thing, having a weapon provided me with a small sense of comfort. It grazed my collarbone as I folded my arms over my chest. “Does Orion have a stick up his ass or something? This is the second time you’ve mentioned his bad attitude.”

Azrael’s lush, but messy hair fell back as he laughed. I was momentarily stunned by the musical sound.

“That is exactly the thing you’re not going to say to him unless you want to die. Which, given the events of this past hour, I just reckon you might.” He winked, and my stomach started to tap dance. “This powder negates the wards he has over our home. He’ll be forced to redo them all once we arrive.”

Traveling via stardust was not the euphoric, magical trip I thought it would be.

He tossed a handful of the powder into the air and the world around us vanished. A nebula of dazzling color exploded in front of my eyes. I went from standing in the dewy grass of Adira’s Forest to kneeling in the entryway of a gothic castle. Nausea replaced the butterflies in my stomach. I repressed a burp that could’ve easily been vomit.

The room hadn’t yet stopped spinning when a large, and very cold hand captured my face. Its fingers dug into my cheeks, but that wasn’t what stole the gasp from between my lips. It was the magic lapping at my skin, and the two starburst eyes staring into my own, that rendered me speechless.

They danced with endless amusement.

“Tell me, little wolf. Do you need to be restrained from harming yourself, or can you listen to me for just one night?”

Oh my actual god.

Why did that sound so sexual and why was I secretly liking it? I only had an answer to one of those questions. It was mental illness, clearly.

“Definitely restrain me.” I froze, mouth open as I realized what I’d said. “Or I’ll strangle you in your sleep.” Nice save there, Blakely.

Dizzy and hot in all of the wrong places, I yanked myself out of his grasp. Azrael flicked my nose a second time. Out of instinct, I snapped my teeth at him. His mood improved drastically from earlier because he hadn’t even threatened to kill me.

I stretched out my limbs and froze. What the hell? He healed me. There wasn’t a single scratch on my body. Even the soreness in my muscles had vanished.

The melody that was his voice faded into the background as I took in the sheer luxury of the wolf god’s home.

Billowing drapes in cool tones, flecked with swirls of silver, framed arched windows and elaborate entryways. The metallic chords that tied them back matched the small stars that speckled the domed ceiling. Light spilled from each one, bathing the room in a pale glow. It bounced off the obsidian marble beneath our feet, creating a mirror image of the night sky.

“I am so not in Kansas anymore.”

Azrael’s head fell to the side, his lush lips parting in confusion. “As I said, this is the mansion of stars. What is a Kansas?”

Was he being serious right now?

“I have no idea how to answer that question.”

He led me up one of the curved staircases that outlined the cylindrical room. Ivy clung to the railing, its leaves a vibrant emerald green. A chandelier hung in between the two, comprised of both silver and gold. The two metals were twisted around one another before branching off in opposite directions. Where the silver half was molded to form a crescent moon, the gold created a perfectly round sun.

Every time I slowed, too busy gawking at the elaborate artwork lining the walls, the wolf at Azrael’s side nudged me with its snout. First of all, the paintings moved. How could I not stop and stare? Second, the legends always said that Orion was the most powerful of the wolf gods, but it wasn’t until now that I actually believed it.

It was oh so comforting that he also happened to have the worst attitude.

When the wolf bumped me for the fourth time I grunted, “Can you tell your pet to stop pushing me along? Don’t let my perky ass fool you, I’m not cattle.”

Azrael spun around so abruptly that I nearly ran into his chest. I stumbled back at the power rolling off of him. His starburst eyes were wide, lit with iridescent flame.

“My pet? What on Dhara’s earth would make you think he’s my pet?”

I made the mistake of looking down. The wolf was definitely glaring at me. Oops.

“Um, do you call them something different here?”

The chandelier above our head flickered, splashing shadows along the walls. Azrael coughed into his hand, clearly trying not to laugh. “Allow me to introduce you to Draco.”

“Draco…” My mouth went dry, “As in the god of the Lycans?”

“Yes, that is the one.”

This was it. After twenty-one shitty years, my time on this earth had finally come to an end. The least I could do was take my fate with a bit of dignity.

I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the inevitable. Seconds passed, and nothing happened. Why wasn’t I dead yet? I cracked one open to find both of them staring at me. Yeah, because I was the weird one in this situation.

“Are you not going to maul me to death?”

The wolf ceased its glaring long enough to roll its eyes. I almost wanted to laugh. Azrael gestured at the stretch of hallway ahead and we resumed our walking.

“You’re a pessimistic little wolf, aren’t you?”

I was debating whether or not I should dignify that with a response when a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth jabbed me in the ass. Pain spiked up my beloved left cheek and I yelped. What little common sense I had flew straight out of one of the arched windows because I turned and snarled at the massive, domineering wolf.

Unfazed by my outburst, it stared back at me.

“Draco likes you.”

Hah! No amount of magic could hide my disbelief. I planted my hands on my hips and narrowed my eyes. “Really? Him impaling my left ass cheek says otherwise.”

Draco clacked his teeth, his tail swishing across the glittering marble. I had no clue if that meant he agreed with Azrael’s statement or not. I kept an eye on both gods as we continued down the hall. My fingers trailed along the silver molding until we came to a halt.

Standing just a few inches shorter than the door frame, Azrael lifted one of his leather covered shoulders in a shrug. “Lycan’s are a bit wilder than your average wolf. Their favorite prey is the one that fights back. Trust me, if he didn’t find you interesting, he would’ve ripped your throat out for that comment alone.”

Pretty sure his eyes sparkled when he said that. Me, on the other hand. I was busy trying not to wet myself.

“It would be best if you stayed in the room tonight. Should Orion catch wind of you, things won’t go well. Either Draco or I will come fetch you in the morning.”

He began to walk away, the massive wolf lumbering at his side. Nervousness fluttered in the depths of my stomach.

“We have this lovely invention in the mortal realm that would work wonders for his attitude problems.” I’d always been a rambler, especially when I was nervous.

Azrael paused, cocking his head in genuine interest. “What might that be?”

“Mood stabilizers, and a psychiatrist.” I deadpanned.

“I will look into those inventions, as you call them. Oh, one last thing. This mansion is imbued with Lunette’s magic. You’ll find it has a certain sentience. Should you require anything, simply ask.”

They continued down the hall, curling around the stairs until they faded from view. I stood there contemplating whether or not I should book it and try to escape. My left ass cheek throbbed, and I took it as a sign to wait until morning. Hopefully the magically enchanted house wouldn’t object and try to keep me here.

All of my scheming came to a halt when the door opened (on its own, I might add) and I caught a glance at the massive suite inside.

Both my eyes and exhausted body were drawn to the bed at the far end of the room. The mountain of cool-toned pillows and silken comforter crooned a lullaby that had me shuffling closer. All along the floor were overlapping rugs, each one speckled with hints of silver and gold. A canopy of cobalt and plum drapes fell from the four poster frame, dancing in the subtle breeze that trickled in through two open windows.

I jolted as the door swung shut behind me and spun around far enough to notice a small seating area nestled on a raised platform. Hints of deep crimson were scattered throughout the room, providing a splash of much needed warmth.

I was just about to make my way to bed when I caught a whiff of myself and cringed. Sweat and fear clung to my skin. After spending fifteen minutes scouring a closet that somehow had clothing in my exact size, I made my way to the bathroom.

“I’ve decided that I’m perfectly fine with being murdered, so long as I get to use this bathtub first.” I declared, marching inside and kicking the door shut behind me.

Obsidian tile covered every inch of the room, sparkling with strips of silver grout. A gorgeous vanity stood against the far wall, with a toilet close by. Taking up most of the space was an infinity pool, something I’d only ever seen in movies and television shows. A stone structure curved around the side, spilling steaming water into its basin. It came to a stop at the opposite end of the bathroom, where the wall had been knocked out, providing a breathtaking view of snowcapped mountains and a sky dapped with colorful stars.

Despite the otherworldly magic and sheer luxury of this place, the loneliness was quick to settle into my bones. The thought that dad was the only one mourning my fake death had tears welling in my eyes. I stood beneath the waterfall and let the stream of warmth rain down on my head.

Mom had started pulling away from me many years ago. Hardening her heart was her way of protecting it when the curse finally claimed my life. That was why she poured all of her love, time, and care into Lina. Dad had tried to do the same, but he’d always had a soft spot for me. Those fleeting moments of affection were all I had left, but they weren’t enough.

Every one of Lina’s cheerleading competitions, every award ceremony, my parents were there for it all. The rare times where I expressed wanting to do something more, I was met with cold expressions and disdain.

“Blakely, you know why that can’t happen. Summer camp, swim teams, that book club you went on and on about last year. There’s no point in doing those things. Your sister plans on joining a collegiate cheer team once she graduates. If you’re lucky and we somehow find a way to fix your situation, then we can talk about your future. Until then…”

Until then, I didn’t have a future.

As sinfully comfortable as the bed was, I couldn’t force my nerves to unwind enough for me to fall asleep. It didn’t help that hunger twisted my insides into knots. When was the last time I’d eaten anyway? I couldn’t remember.

Hours passed when the snarl of my stomach had become too much.

I rolled out of bed, my feet sinking into the plush expanse of carpet. The buttery soft t-shirt and shorts I’d fished out of the closet clung to my sweat slicked skin. I brushed the strands of my drying hair from my face, the cobalt hue vibrant in the moonlight.

“Um, house? Mansion?” A groan slid past my chapped lips. I was talking to a damn house. “Could I possibly get something to eat? I’m absolutely starving. I’ll eat anything—well, almost anything. I don’t eat meat, so there’s that.”

I waited in silence for something to happen. For a platter of fruits or some other food to magically appear at my feet. Azrael claimed the mansion was sentient. Could it refuse my request? It hadn’t made fun of me for being a vegetarian, so that was a plus.

I’d just decided to repeat my question when the bedroom door swung open, revealing a dimly lit hall. Pursing my lips, I looked around at the empty room. “Is that your way of telling me I need to get it myself?”

The door opened wider, and I sighed. Azrael had warned me to stay out of Orion’s sight, but that was hours ago. Surely gods had to sleep at some point. A sharp hunger pang clenched my stomach, ultimately making up my mind.

“Lazy magical house.” I shuffled back over to the bed and began to rummage beneath the mountain of pillows, feeling for the cold bite of broken glass.

With my shard of mirror in hand, I took a deep breath and tiptoed out into the hall.