Mirrorville: a Shattered Spell, #1, page 10
“Oh, God!” Reyna pushed Armie away in a form of disgust and confusion, but mostly it was because she was just so damned overwhelmed. How could a person live with two different lives in their head?
“Reyna?” asked Armie, looking both hurt and puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” asked Reyna in disbelief. “I just kissed you! I just kissed Armie Sitwell, and I liked it! Granted, we’re not ourselves, or something — but — but — oh, god!”
“Gee,” said Armie, “thanks a lot. What kind of game are you playing, Reyna?”
“What?” asked Reyna, wishing she had a bottle of mouthwash.
“I just told you, for the first time, that I loved you,” said Armie. “Then you act like you love me too, you even kiss me, but now you’re acting like this? Is this all some kind of sick of game to you?”
“No,” said Reyna. “Of course not! When I kissed you, I loved you! I had never felt love like that before for anyone! I was so sure you were — that you were the one — the only one! But that’s the problem, don’t you see? When we were back in Mercynville, I could never have dreamed about ever — not after — y’know — feeling that way about you! And I can’t be the only one who remembers the truth! I mean, don’t you remember how things used to be? How they’re supposed to be?”
“All I remember is loving you since the day we met, Reyna Timmons,” said Armie. “Only I never had the courage to tell you, until now. So, do you? Did you ever love me?”
“That’s what I’m saying,” said Reyna as a tear ran down her cheek. “I did, once. But — but I don’t even know if it that was even real. We were stupid kids — who caused... God, do you really not remember? Or are you trying to torture me, by making me say it? Is this all because of how I treated you for the past few years?”
“It’s not a hard question, Reyna. Yes or no?”
“If it was... I don’t even know if I’d want it to be...”
“Don’t worry,” said Armie, two tears rolling down from each eye. “I’ll save you the trouble. We... don’t have to be together any longer. See you around.” Armie picked up his book and gear and then left without another word.
Reyna watched him with such a mix of emotions that she never knew she could feel all at once. “Armie...” She muttered, wondering if she should go after him. “I... damn’t...” If her heart had truly been in love, now it was shattered into pieces. In fact, the only thing that Reyna was sure of was that she needed to find her sister and, hopefully, get some answers.
Marley had the echoes of Anna’s voice to the Observatory. Why would Anna lead her here? Did she know about her training? Did she remember the truth? She looked around and couldn’t see Anna anywhere. All that was inside were the dusty spell books that Mitchell had been using to teach Marley magic. Along with a few charred target dummies.
“Marley... Marley Timmons, you were foolish to come here...”
As it spoke, Anna’s voice changed to a cold, malicious tone. A voice of pure and utter evil. The doors to the Observatory slammed shut. It was a trap. Anna wasn’t here at all. “Oh, shit.”
“Don’t sound so disappointed, my dear,” said the voice. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to meet you. After all the lengths your father did to shield you from my wrath.”
“Shade?” said Marley, trying to keep her voice from quivering. “You’re him? You’re Ignotus Shade, aren’t you?”
“Now, now, don’t forget the formalities,” Shade cackled. “Call me — Mr. Shade! After all, I am older than you and your father put together. I did know him. Quite well, actually. He was a brave Wizard, idiotic indeed, but still brave. You see, he thought that he could defeat me. Just like Queen Ella did. They were both wrong.”
“If you’re so damn powerful, why don’t you show yourself?” asked Marley, trying her best to sound brave. “Scared that you’ll get your ass kicked by a girl?”
“My, my, you are just like your father,” said Shade. “Would you like to know what happened to dear, old dad? I was the last one to see him, oh, so long ago.”
“Where is he?” asked Marley as anger started to boil inside her. “What did you do to him? WHAT DID YOU DO?” Her last sentence came out as a scream of fury.
“All in due time, my dear,” said Shade. “As for now... it’s time to leave...”
Mitchell cursed under his breath as he heard a loud, shrill voice shouting his name.
“MITCHELL WATKINS!”
He turned around as he started to walk out of the Potion Lab to see Reyna Timmons marching towards him through the crowd of students leaving their classes. Mitchell could tell that this wasn’t the Mirrorville version of her, either. No. The bitch was back. Reyna had reverted to her old personality and memories. Mitchell waved his hand and teleported the two of them to the Nurse’s Office.
When they arrived, Reyna shivered and said, “Great, you have magic too?”
“Yes, and it appears you somehow regained all of your memories of Mercynville. How?” asked Mitchell with a tiny bit of interest. Mitchell knew that Reyna couldn’t be Shade’s host, Patterson would never have used one of his daughters in such a way. He loved them almost too much. But, still, it was nearly impossible to break free of the mirror’s spell, unless you had one of the God Relics.
“Aren’t you supposed to know everything?” Reyna replied. “You’re the one who made me like this?”
“I don’t know everything,” Mitchell let out a hollow laugh. “I’m not that Dumbledore guy from those books in the mortal world.”
“I’m surprised that you even knew how to read a book,” snarled Reyna. “What in the hell is going on? And where is my sister?”
“She’s right — oh, no,” said Mitchell. “She’s gone. Damn’t! I told her not to leave!”
“You really thought that would stop her?” laughed Reyna despite herself. “Marley never listens to anyone, but herself. She always thinks that she’s the smartest person in the room... and most of the time she is. She doesn’t second guess herself, or let arrogance get in the way, like...”
“We have to find her,” said Mitchell. “She was injured, when I left her.”
“What?” asked Reyna, sounding completely worried. “What happened?”
“She got into a fight with Anna, and she broke one of her ribs,” said Mitchell.
“How could you let something like that happen?” Reyna sounded furious. Mitchell never would have pegged her for the protective type, but he should have known. He used to feel the same way about Jeb, when they were younger.
“You can blame me later,” said Mitchell. “Right now, we have to find Marley before he does!”
“Who’s he?” asked Reyna.
Then they heard it:
“WHAT DID YOU DO?”
Reyna and Mitchell looked at each other grimly and said in unison, “Marley.”
Mitchell grabbed Reyna’s arm and said, “It’s coming from the Observatory. Come on!”
They teleported inside the Observatory, and it was half covered in darkness. Marley was struggling against two giant hands made completely out of shadows that were trying their best to drag her into the darkness. Marley looked in fear and drenched in sweat as she yelled — “Mitchell — Reyna — HELP, IT’S HIM — IT’S SHADE — STOP HIM!”
“MARLEY!” Reyna ran towards her sister as another two hands emerged and grabbed her as well.
“NO!” yelled Mitchell. “MARLEY — USE YOUR GOD RELIC!”
“I — I’M TRYING — IT WON’T WORK!” Marley screamed.
Mitchell tried to use his magic to teleport all of them out of there, but to no avail. Shade’s magic was far stronger than his. Only a God Relic could beat him, and Marley was too panicked to use hers properly.
Marley was still trying, desperately trying to break free, but the darkness had already engulfed half of her body. Marley looked at Mitchell with one last desperate plea and yelled — “MITCHELL, PLEASE, GET REYNA OUT OF HERE! SAVE HER!”
“I CAN’T — MARLEY — YOU HAVE TO FOCUS!” yelled Mitchell. “USE YOUR TRAINING!”
“I —” Marley never did get to finish her sentence as she was completely pulled inside the darkness.
“NOOOO!” yelled Reyna. “MARLEYYYYYYYY!” Reyna’s last shriek made Mitchell’s ears start to bleed as sound waves emitted from her mouth, her earrings glowing, destroying the surrounding darkness. Soon, it was just Reyna and Mitchell inside the Observatory. With sunlight once again shining throughout the whole place, Mitchell walked over to a crying Reyna, who had finally gone silent. His ears still slightly ringing, he said, “You... you have one of the God Relics?”
“She’s dead,” Reyna sobbed. “Marley’s dead and I couldn’t save her!”
“No, that’s not Shade’s style,” said Mitchell. “He’ll use her for all she’s worth before he finally kills her. We still have time. But it’ll have to be you, Reyna.”
“What?” Reyna stared at him through her tears.
“You’re the only one who can save Marley... and hopefully, your father...”
THE END?
Did you love Mirrorville? Then you should read Olympus Rising by Robert G. Culp!
The Twilight of the Gods is nearing…
…and the fate of all rests with one teen.
But is he ready to accept his true calling?
Arnold's struggling in life. His mother is bedridden, and their funds are running low. But his life will never be the same, after two powerful demigod warriors come to his rescue.
The Gods of Olympus fell centuries ago, cursed in an endless cycle of reincarnation. Their identities were stripped away, while the former immortals' souls were trapped in mortal bodies. And Arnold is one of them.
Arnold never thought he would fight a dangerous battle against the deadliest of foes just to protect his crush. Her true identity will either prove to be his salvation or destruction. All while the forces of the divine rage an assault to end any chance of the Olympians return.
It only takes one choice to become a god.
You'll love this Young Adult Urban Fantasy prelude into the next Mystic Brats novel, because this time the heroes and villains are never who you expect them to be.
Read more at Robert G. Culp’s site.
About the Author
Robert G. Culp was born in the small town of Stuttgart, Arkansas and is the author of The Mystic Brat Journals, a series of three titles with a fourth in progress. The books follow students at a top secret government school, where teenagers are taught to fight the mythical, mystical, and cursed dangers that surround the world. His standalone short story, Mirrorville, is also set within the same continuity.
In his free time Robert enjoys watching TV shows and films, reading Urban Fantasy books, comic books and online fanfiction, while researching Greek mythology, supernatural legends and Arthurian lore.
His greatest achievement is to make his readers happy and entertain them with a few pages of pure escapism.
Read more at Robert G. Culp’s site.
Robert G. Culp, Mirrorville: a Shattered Spell, #1
