The blood dripped out and down onto the small opening. It seemed to defy gravity as it organized itself into the grooves. It flowed into the small opening and suddenly the shrine began to close up. The walls moved and reoriented until there was no longer a door. It was dark inside the shrine, and the only light seemed to come from inside the mirrors. The shadows in the mirrors began to swirl and I felt a power growing inside me. It was different than anything I'd ever felt before. It wasn't overwhelming like the first time I'd used fire. This was a different kind of power, more like moonbeams than the harsh light of the sun. I could feel my skin prickling and I looked to see that there a gentle glow emanating from my skin. The figures in the mirror seemed to be coming in and out of focus. I willed myself to see them more clearly. I reached out to touch the cool glass.
One of the figures moved closer. I could almost make out his face. Suddenly, the figure ran towards the glass. His mouth was opening and closing as if he was speaking words to me. I couldn't understand. Was this some kind of message from my mother.
I closed my eyes. There had to be a way to use these mirrors. They were here for some purpose. I felt the energy all around me, the glowing opalescent light that cocooned me. What if I pushed out that energy? What if I moved it beyond myself? The feeling wrapped around me like a magnetic pull. It contracted and expanded like the tides. As soon as it began to grow I pushed, seeing how far I could stretch it. I imagined it moving farther and farther out, out o the shrine and across the Endless Sea. When I opened my eyes I could see the face in front of me. It was Kairn. Tears began to stream down my face almost instantly. I reached out to touch him, but the glass stopped my hand. He could see me too. He was speaking again. It looked like he was screaming out. I met his eyes fiercely willing the image of him to stay. Was this a strange fantasy or dream of some sort?
I lifted a finger, signaling him to wait. Once again, I closed my eyes. I could push the energy farther. I had to speak to him. I stretched myself as far as I could. I imagined the energy wrapping around Kairn, pulling him toward me, close enough to hear me speak. It was difficult, but not impossible. The energy wanted to come back to me, so that part was not as difficult.
When I heard him speak, I cried tears of relief.
"Esther, Is that you? What's going on?" He said loudly, and I heard his own voice break.
"Yes, It's me. I'll explain everything." I said, laughing through the tears.
"I'm so happy to see you. I don't know how I'm seeing you, but you're in my bathroom mirror." He said, incredulous.
"I'm in my mother's shrine, in the Liminal World," I said, talking so fast, I could hardly get the words out. "Kairn, I need you to listen carefully. I'm trapped here. I don't know why, but for some reason, I can't get back. It turns out my mother was not only the Queen of Witches, but she was also something called the Guardian of the Gates. She's disappeared and apparently, I'm the new Guardian. Maybe that's why I can't get back, but I'm not sure."
"Are you alright?" He said finally. I could hear the strain in his voice.
"I think so... for now, but Kairn there's something else." I hesitated. I didn't want him to worry too much.
"Go on." He said.
"There's somebody who's sending people after me. I don't know who they are, but they want my blood for something." I explained about the two cloaked mercenaries, I'd been following.
His face was stoic, but I could see him almost shaking in rage. "I'm going to find a way to get you out of there," He promised.
"How long have I been gone?" I asked, scared to know the answer.
"About 3 weeks." He said, his eyes full of a haunted look. "I had no idea where you were. I was... I was so worried I was never going to see you again." I put my hand against the glass between us and he raised his own.
"Tell Lucian everything, and maybe he will know something," I said. "What's going on at the Academy?"
His face darkened. "I guess I should tell you."
"What?" I felt panic rising in my stomach. "Is everyone ok."
"Well, everyone here is ok, but Sybelle disappeared just after you did." He said.
I was entirely taken aback. "Sybelle?"
"We thought that you two might have been together at first, but I guess you don't know anything about it." He said.
"No, I don't. The last thing I heard from Ligeia was that she might be dating a new guy, but that was it." I said.
We both had a realization at the same moment.
"Did Ligeia mention who it was?" He asked.
"Well now that you mention it, I don't think she even knew. Sybelle hadn't told her yet." I said. The dropping sensation in the pit of my stomach returned. "Hell."
"Yeah." He said simply.
I heard a rustling coming from outside the shrine.
