Peoshan Chapter Three The Mirror Of The White Demon

 The White Demon's Mirror

Princess Pheoshan woke up. It was now the last month in the year and snow fell heavily like on her father's kingdom coating it like white icing sugar. It made her smile as she tasted a sour taste of nostalgia for her old life as Alex Fistone. How she used to have snowball fights with her friends there. She remembered all those endless days that she spent figuring and tonight on the streets. 

She wondered if they were real people or if they were made up by the Dean Hell? If they were two, wondered where they were, knowing what she did about Wolfox, she knew that they were dead when he had destroyed the Dream Hell that she grew up in. It may have been a hard pill to swallow but as she looked over the list of the prisoners of the Dream Hells only they were missing. 

She still found it strange, that she had slept all that time without any knowledge of her Princess status and despising the thought of the stereotypes that the world concocted. Now that she knew she found that she was still feeling a sting of resentment but she had quickly found that she could be and was her own princess. She could still have fights and not get pampered whenever she did not want it. Even, to her delight, she was able to train with Prince Coalphyre and her little brother. All of which had helped her with her fighting and he even taught her different techniques. 

Her eyes slid to her mother sleeping sweetly beside her bed. She had given her a warmth that, until she gave it, she did not know she had longed for. Even though it was all too clear that she was making up for lost time, Pheoshan did not mind for she gave her love that she never knew was absent, like a black hole in the sky is to the naked eye. Her mother had given her so much that even she could not know about. She had given her a light that she had desperately needed. Even though she would never know it, she had given something to her mother too. Something that she had needed too, the assurance that her daughter was safe now and that she had turned out to be something that she could have been proud of.

Then came her father. She genuinely did not know what to make of him. They had not spent that much time together. He seemed to spend more time on other things rather than her. In fact they both did. She spent time either training or having a head in a book to help her learn as much as she could about the real world, however she had caught him looking at her during training with a smile on his lips of some sort. 

"My love?" Her mother asked as she woke. "Have you come for Pheo?"

Her father nodded as she looked at her as she sat up. His eyes were stern as per usual but there was, she could see, that they stung with something that she just could not place.

"Pheo, get some clothes on and join me after breakfast in my study." He said as if he was speaking to a soldier. 

Her mother gave her father a stern look.

"Artah, she is your daughter, not one of your soldiers." Her mother said calmly. 

Her father smiled.

"Well she might as well be! With the way that she fights." He joked.

"Well she is your daughter and believe me, she is more like you than me."

With that his eyes were raised as he turned he smiled out of pride as Pheoshan could see a tear fall from her father's cheek. Her mother groaned as she ran off after him. She wondered what that was all about as she started to get out of bed. She looked all around her body still amazed at the fact that she had not even a scratch to remind her of the Dream Hells. 

She made her way to the wardrobe and put on her plain brown leather trousers and her thick white dress that had a layer of black lacing. She then took her black boots with a thick medium high heel with a tier-like sole for good grip. She quickly slipped them on.

She quickly ate her full English breakfast and drank her deep red wine. Then ran to her father's study and spent a moment to calm herself down and compose herself at the double doors that were incredibly well polished. When she felt she was ready to see him she knocked on them. Her father opened the door and she walked in taking care not to make a fool of herself.

This was the first time that she was in the study so she drank in every single little detail. The room was big but not too big. Her father's desk was at the back with two bookcases beside and a black pantha rug pointing to the portraits of people who she deduced were her ancestors. As she looked back she spotted that there were two swords locked in a cross and two spears locked in the same way but they pointed down and a shield covering where they met. 

Then her eyes finally rested on a mirror next to the door. It was white with roses moulded into the bizarre white material with their thorny stems that ended at the top where there were two rows of text lay.

Myroh Zina Demohcos

Zina Withalé

"It is Sky Elvish." Said an effeminate male voice.

Pheoshan almost screamed as the door closed revealing someone who she thought was dead, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

"Sythvin!"

"Thought that I had been executed?" He laughed. "Well as soon as your mother found out who it was that had sent you into the Dream Hells we had to stage something."

He looked at her father and pushed himself off the wall. Pheoshan looked at him as he gave her a black look unnervingly void of emotion. Her eyes darted back at him with angered questions. He smiled as he placed a hand against the keyhole. Pheoshan heard a click.

"Let me show you." He said as he looked at her father. "Artah, there is a sword behind your desk, get it out."

She could only watch as he pulled out a sword behind the desk. Still there was nothing in his eyes. 

"Now point it at your very own throat."

Suddenly the edge of the blade was now pointing at her father's throat. Pheoshan's eyes the size of a whale.

"How are you doing this? No! Why are you doing this?" She asked as the horror of the situation was sinking in.

Sythvin was now walking closer to her as she felt herself backing away and deeper into the room.

"Have you never heard of magic?" He asked, as he asked her, he asked her  in a way that he seemed to be belittling her intelligence.

"Magic exists?" She exclaimed as he stopped walking by the mirror.

"Yes, now back to the mirror." He said, getting back to a point as he extended his arm to her. "Come."

She raised her eyebrow as if to tell him if he thought her that stupid. He showed her just how foolish she was simply by glancing at her father. Knowing what he was implying she clenched her fist and swallowed her pride and walked up to him. She had to bite her lip to prevent herself from doing anything foolish as he rested his hand on her back as they looked at the mirror.

"As you can tell this is no ordinary mirror. 'Myroh Zina Demohros Zina Withelé'. Do you know what it means?" He asked as his hand slipped down to her hip, sending an angry storm in her mind.

"No." She answered, wishing nothing more for him to quit toying with her and get to the point.

"'Mirror of the Demon of White'." He translated.

His hands moved to her arm, sending lightning in her mind as he started stroking it. 

"By the way, did you know that it has its own dimension? You know that if you go through the mirror, but unfortunately, there is one little drawback."

He pulled her in and pushed her into the mirror. For a moment she thought that she was going through the glass but no her head hit the glass and fell down. He then picked her up by the hair. She had to hold herself up just to stop herself from feeling more pain. He drew her up to his face.

"You can not physically push somebody through, They need to have their own motivations to go into the world of the mirror." He said as he let her back on the ground. 

"So if you see where I am coming from? I have to give you motivation." He smiled as he pointed over to her father.

Her eyes widened, his eyes raised in false pity. 

"I guess I hardly need to say what my motivation is for you."

She looked at her father then her eyes slid back to the man who controlled him wishing to set him alight with her mind. Her eyes looked back at her father painfully as she looked back at her own reflection in the mirror. She then turned to Sythvin with anger in her eyes.

"When I get out of here, you're dead!" She said as she ran into the Mirror of the Demon of White and passed in through the ripples of enchantment into the world of the mirror.

Mirror's Labyrinth

The first thing Pheoshan spotted was her reflection looking back at her. She looked to her left only to see the same and was able to see her right reflected so she knew that she did not have to look. She spotted that as she met her reflection ahead of her as she looked again at her reflection on her left hand. She suddenly realised what she was shaking in with an angering feeling sinking in. Then let her annoyance be displayed in a huff. She was about to punch her reflection ahead of her but decided against it. 

No, that would do me no good at the moment and this is magic! It could land me in even worse trouble than I already am so I must keep up my guard no matter what. She thought as she turned right. 

She then met with the reflection in front of her then right again. She then turned right again only to meet a dead end. Huffing she went twisted around and retraced her steps only to meet a wall of mirrors.

"Alex Fistone!"She heard her own voice say, however she knew that she was not the one who spoke for it had come behind her. 

So she turned around to see her reflection, but at the same time it was not her. For this reflection was not wearing the same things as she was. Her reflection was a faded black shirt and jeans that were both ripped like she had been in a battle, even the sleeves and the end of her jeans were tatty as if their true edges had been ripped off a long time ago. She had two belts around her hips that met in an x that had chains like bridges joining them. 

"My name is Pheoshan Wolfhimestien!" She corrected her reflection. "And who in the Hell are you?"

Her reflection just smirked as it was clearly egging on her aggressive behaviour.

"I am you, or rather the truest version of you. You are the Street Queen and Alex Fistone. Not a pretty princess nor are you anything like your parents want you to be. You're a fighter at heart. A battle hungry worrier, who wished for nothing more than to be free of this pampered life that you truly despise than anything. You love to fight and you fight as dirty as possible just to make sure that you win! Now please be honest with yourself when you answer, do you really want to be cooked up the rest of your life playing pretty princess until you're married off to become Queen of another land? C'mon! You would have puked at even the thought of you even leading such a pathetic life!" She said, gesturing to her.

"You know…" She started as she thought to herself for a moment. 

Sure could tell, just by looking at the reflection's eyes, if she looked to herself, not in that moment, she would see it. She knew that she would also call out her excuses and lies.

"You're not wrong there, however I was still mentally a child, and, in some cases of my mind, I still am. I was literally living in a dream! Now that I'm awake however I must now learn how to live in the real world, even if it means how you would put it 'playing pretty princess'. So I must learn to grow up and put away childish notions like that, even my love for fighting."

She cocked her eyebrow at that. It was all too clear that she was far from convinced and it seemed to amuse her that she knew that she was lying to herself. She was also displaying her pity for her pathetic attempt to justify her lying to herself and it angered her. Angered by this, Princess Pheoshan spat at her. She then charged at the reflection and soon there was ice on the floor. She then heard a female laugh that she could not recognise.

"Stage one complete!" She sang and had a voice completely void of warmth of any kind. "Soon you shall become an agent of darkness."

"Who are you and why don't you come on and fight me?" Pheoshan demanded.

"All in good time little Demon Princess! All in good time!" She sang.

Huffing to herself she set off and ran aimlessly not even caring where she was going nor getting out of the labyrinth. She ran and ran just to get the anger and rage out of her, and help her mind calm from all the stress that she had been put under. When she knew that she was completely calm she knew that she was not only now very deep in the labyrinth but far far from the exit point out of the mirror. Now she knew that she would have to get out before the claustrophobia started to set in. She walked down corridor after corridor aimlessly trying not to think of anything but wanting what she would do to Sythvin when she got her hands on him. 

Then she came to a dead end and the mirror wall behind her trapped her in. 

Again she was confronted with an altered version of herself, however this one was dressed in all leather with a leather trench fastened up by buckles. She had bulky boots and frightful eyes that screamed of evil confidence. Even her physique was different, more muscular and her shoulders more broad and behind her, the Demon King Wolfox standing as if they had somehow become one.

"Yes!" This new reflection said. "This is exactly what you could have had and what you still can have. Why remain what you are now when you can strike down all weakness and become queen? Then you can go higher and become this!" 

She gestured to herself and the Demon King.

"Quezza Zina Demohcoz, or in your tongue, Queen of the Demons? All you have to do is embrace your rage, embrace the power that lies within you. Then and only then will you be free of all that is holding you back! After all, why pledge your loyalty to them? You don't owe them anything! After all, it was them that locked you away in that Dream Hell then locked you in that tower guarded by that dragon. Do you honestly think that they love you? No! Don't even insult yourself like that! They fear you! They all may say that they want you but they truly want you gone! Do you really want that? They will desert you where and when it will count the most. They will arm you with nothing and give you nothing as they serve you up on a silver plate to Wolfox! They will take all you have and give nothing in return. Once they've done with you, they will kill you or leave you completely without love." She said, showing her dark charisma.

"But I will never leave you my dear old host and with me you will have the power that you need and hunger.  With me you shall have everything that your heart desires." Wolfox said, as she realised that they were both telling the truth and some part really did want what they were offering. Yet despite this, she ran and broke the glass and was greeted by ice.

Mirror's Ice

At first she was confused as to why she had been greeted by this. Then her eyes looked down and she quickly spotted the glass pickaxe resting on the mirror where the mirror labyrinth ended. Then she got an idea of what she had to do. Huffing out of anger she wrapped her hand around the neck and she almost jumped.

This is not glass, it's ice! 

Her lip curled knowing that it was getting more and more twisted by the millisecond as she realised what this was all about. The dread sank in as her eyes spotted the other two pickaxes beside her. Knowing that this was the only way forward and she knew going back would not be good for her father. 

She felt the fire in her eyes as she took her first swing. She looked down at the pickaxe as her heart sank. There were already cracks in the head where she struck. Out of anger she hit the ice again and again until she had made a good hole. Still she was far from the other side as she felt her hands begin to grow increasingly numb. Yet she knew she had to continue hitting again and again.

Then as she hammered she felt her hand slip and soon she was on the floor as everything was going black. 

She channelled her anger to keep herself awake as she got up from the floor and was about to continue when she realised with growing annoyance that the pickaxe was broken. So she let out a bit of anger by throwing the handle away. 

As she went over to the second one she felt her hands had become wet and had started blistering up. She felt her hand shaking and that was when she had realised another problem; her hands were melting the pickaxe. Thus making her job to get through the ice much, much harder. 

So when she picked up the pickaxe she knew that she would have to take care not to melt the handle as she swung, that way she would minimise the risk of her accidentally killing herself with either end of the lethal ends.

As she continued she spotted something ahead of her, a light of some kind with a bit of green. She felt a smile on her lips as she realised that that was the other end. 

She let out a little chuckle as her lungs filled with the cold air. This caused her to start coughing uncontrollably and her ever increasingly dampening clothes did nothing to help the situation. Soon after her coughing fit she was left panting as she found herself on the icy floor. When her heartbeat and lungs had returned to normal she got up and continued her work.

She hammered and hammered and soon her body was trembling as the second pickaxe smashed. She was hanging on determination as she shakily almost limped over to the last pickaxe as she felt a cold nauseating sensation growing in the back of her throat. When she tried to lift the pickaxe it felt somewhat heavier than the other two.

What's wrong with me? I'm never like this, all those times fighting I have never felt this bad before! She questioned herself. 

She sighed.

Then again you have hardly that much experience in the real world and most of my fights and experiences all come from those Dream Hells. Which means that this is to be expected after all the only real world experiences actually come from training and you know that Prince Coalphyre goes easy on you anyway.

She heard a biting sound echoing as she realised that her teeth were chattering. She felt a water-like liquid drop from her nose. She felt her own sweat contribute to the ice cold wetness of her clothing. This made her throat threaten to force her into another fit of coughing. 

Then she heard her stomach start to growl making her know just how hungry she truly was. Now she knew that if she did not get out of this wall of ice soon, then she would most likely find herself collapsing out of either her hunger or her hypothermia or both. She could already feel her strength dramatically decreasing even the top of her eyelids threatened her survival.

Then she felt her final swing not only destroy the rest of the wall but the final pickaxe. She soon felt a bit of heat as she saw the sun of the Mirror World but it was white, as she walked on the grass she noticed that that too was white. Everything was white just like the snow in her kingdom but at least there it was a little warm.

She staggered on for a few steps before her exhaustion caught up to her. Soon she lost control of her body as it fell down to the ground and her eyes closed as her mind slipped into harmless dream.

Mirror's Castle

Pheoshan wondered around for a while until she came across a large white crystal castle that was so white that it was blinding. It had seven towers one centre and the six lesser towers beside symmetrically. In the centre tower were two large doors that were as big as a house and on them was a thorny leafy pattern with two white roses at the top in full bloom, with another pair that extended to become the doorknobs. The wall between had many windows and slim majestic gargoyles that seemed nothing like their grotesque real world counter parts.

It touched her heart with passion that she had never experienced before. Suddenly she became overwhelmed with her respect of the building that she suddenly almost forgotten why she was here.

What is this feeling? I hope that it is not a girly side of me coming out! If so then I must find a way to be rid of it as soon as possible. Why? I mean I am a princess and a girl so why can't I have this side of me. I mean I am not a man so I don't have to feel too shameful showing my weakness off to people. No! I must be strong, I cannot show this off after all, I am no regular princess! I am one that grew in a Dream Hell with a demon inside of me, and it was not a normal demon either, it was the King! Surely that will come back to bite me later on. I am beginning to see that I have a lot of issues that need to be addressed…

Before she could distract herself even further the double doors opened showing that she was to be expected and that this was where Sythvin wanted for her to go. So as her eyes greeted more beauty within with a staircase that must have been ice and a crystal bannister that seemed to have grown out of the ice and the stairs, she put up her guard. 

Remember this is a trap so treat it like one so do not accept anything here nor should I touch anything, after all I can not know what magic awaits me in that place.

When she came in she spotted that there was a silver settee in front of an ice table that was low and large. Pheoshan looked around for traps that could keep her there until she died. And as she did she could smell the familiar scent of hot chocolate and the melting of marshmallows. Then her eyes caught a thin paper pail hand and a cuff of a silver suit.

"Well you hardly took your time. I was wondering whether or not I should pour you a cup." Came a cold posh voice that was clearly a man's but it was so high-pitched that it seemed that he could easily impersonate a woman.

Then a man twisted around with a white fancy china cup and saucer. His face was thin and he had a sharp and narrow double chin that seemed to give the illusion that it was only one and grey eyes that one could just fall in love with at first sight. Fortunately Pheoshan was on her guard for if she had met him in any other manner she might not have been so unwelcome to see him.

"Hello there!" He said with a false humble tone. "Well I must admit that you are by far more beautiful than the Silver Sorcerer Sythvin had described. As well as far less frightful too. I can actually see it now, you are a princess alright!"

"Enough small talk pixie-boy! Just tell me what the Hell I am doing here alright." She snapped as she masked her red cheeks with her hair. 

He placed down the cup on the saucer and then placed that onto the table as he sat and seemed to rise as he stood.

"Well by the stories that I have heard of you that you already have the makings of a great Queen even-though you are still as young as I am. But I can see that this talk means nothing to you, my name is Prince Pertess son of the White Demon Queen Snowshiro." He said as he bowed with his hand over his heart. "And I have been promised to become your husband by Sythvin Silver."

Pheoshan spat into his pretty little face.

"What a load of bull! I will not marry someone like you! It will do me nor my kingdom any service! So get out! Plus I refuse to marry anyone I don't like!" She growled as she felt some sort of power move inside of her.

"Well it has already been discussed and your father wills this." He said still trying to keep calm but by his heightening tone of voice his calm facade was beginning to be tested. 

For Pheoshan this was a good thing for if he had broken into anger then she would have won this round, however she knew that it would be the second round that she knew that she would have to win.

"I don't care what my father says after all he is not exactly in the position to have a say after all he is that bastard's puppet after all! Not to mention that as his puppet he has done nothing for me! He didn't even help me train, he hasn't even tried to get to know me and as the way he is, I know that he will never have the true father daughter love that he should have and he has done nothing for my brother either! But what he has done for me is that he has lied and tricked me, not to mention he had Sythvin put none other than the King Demon himself inside of me and locked me away in a Dream Hell! So no, I will never marry you!" She shouted at the top of her lungs.

He just sighed.

"Shame, too bad that it is not up to you, plus after what happened in the now, destroyed Six Dream Hells this is the only course of action left to you. After all, if you only do this one thing then you can go home! You can have that father daughter relationship that you have always wanted! I will give you anything you want and I will kill too, whoever the person that might be, even if it is your father out of revenge or your brother to get you on the throne, just say that you will be mine and I will be yours!"

"NO!" She shouted so loud that even the chandler even shook. 

Then she quickly stole herself. 

"And what do you mean that this is my only course of action to get all that?"

"Well the moment that you leave here without me then the Silver Sorcerer will have your puppet of a father force you into exile out of treason. After all as you yourself have put it your were the Demon King's hose? However my mother did suggest to have you executed but your father knew that that would only upset your mother nor could Sythvin risk his control over your puppet father to be broken so this was the only way that we agreed. After all, you are becoming a problem." He explained as his voice shook.

"Sorry for being such a nuisance then." She mocked as she felt the power inside her grow as well as an itch to fight. "Can't promise to be a good girl from now on. After all, you should know that is just not my style."

He lifted his hand into a position like he was about to think but his pointing finger touched his lips as he chuckled to himself keeping his lips together as he did.

"Yes! I gathered that." He said as he laughed that unnerved Pheoshan a little. "No, you do your conversing with your fighting."

Then he turned back and walked up the stairs and disappeared down a hallway where he returned with two swords of ice in his arms. He then walked up to her and handed her a sword.

"Here, I know that it is hardly a katana, however it will serve you in this fight just as much as mine will." He said. 

"Well now we're talking. Let's see if you're more than just a pretty face! And a sword's a sword right!" She said as she took it from him.

She quickly tested it in her hands before she felt confident in the weapon that he had given her. She also quickly examined the sword to see if it had any faults or weakness built in its design. Finding none she smiled impressed by the craftsmanship of the sword.

Who ever had made this should be proud of such a fine blade.

His eyebrow raised as he let a chuckle escape his lips.

"Well I hardly need to say anything that has not already been said nor what it means if I can not have you." He retorted as he took his position. 

"Hardy!" She agreed as she took hers. 

They turned around and for a moment their eyes met as if they wished that they could read the other's mind so that they would be able to come up with a strategy that would not only counter the other but find a way to get the upper hand then win. Slowly they lifted their swords and rushed at each other knowing that the first one that could get their sword to hit the other first would help give them the upper hand in the beginning of this duel. Pheoshan would make sure that she was the one who would do that, even if she had to fight dirty, but as things would have it their blades clashed both at the same time! She then pushed as he did; she knew that if she either broke away or failed to keep the sword away from her then his blade would go into her. She felt her muscles tense up in her arms, Coalphyre definitely was going easy on her in their training. She looked down and raised her foot and stood on his, however this did nothing for all he did was give her a creepy smirk.

"You fight dirty!" He said with a creepy tone in his voice.

"All's fair in love 'n' war right?" She replied.

"And what is this love?"

"No, war!" She said as she lifted her foot to his groyne thus breaking their blades. 

He quickly recovered, he started to laugh and his head and eyes quickly locked on her as he touched the blood that he had started to shed.

"I like that! I have got to have you as my wife!" He said as he licked the blood off his fingers which creeped her out even more.

And he expects me to either die or marry him? No, I would rather die! No, he's only doing this to get into your head that way the more crept out I am the more unnerved I will become no, I cannot let this happen!

With that she was snapped back into her senses. As she ran up to him and tried to slash him but he blocked her before he could be touched by her blade! He raised his head and leaned in and kissed her pushing her into more revolt as he kneed her in the gut. She then felt the hilt of the blade hit her in the back of her neck. Sending her head onto the ground. He flipped her over and brought his blade down forcing her to become incapable of doing anything but defend herself from his attacks. Her arms threatened to give way as her blade started to get chipped. Soon she knew that she had to dodge and kick him off her, however she was only able to nudge him at best but it was enough for her to spin around and flip herself on her feet. 

She then hit his blade as hard as she could. Now it was his time to feel helpless. She hit him again and again but even though the blade did not touch him it was enough for her to know who had the upper hand. Then she felt something trickle down her arm and she knew what it was even though she did not look. She wondered when he had made such a wound on her. During this momentary distraction he flung his sword at her throat, almost killing her! Soon the message was clear he was toying with her.

He then swung from the side of her bloody arm but she was able to block but she knew that she had to be careful for her blade had started to look fragile as cracks had started to appear. It was all too clear that his fight was rigged right from the start but that did not matter to her in fact that gave her all the more reason to win. 

He then spun from the other end and soon the blade was cut right off! Fortunately for her the slice was uneven as she was able to trap his blade in the jagged edges and she then went to kick the man in the groyne again but this time it did not even phase him. In fact he seemed to smile as if in some twisted way he liked it. Which frustrated her even more as his eyes displayed false sympathy as she figured out just how much he had been playing with her. He then lifted his foot and kicked her, sending her flying to the crystal wall! She felt the burning friction as she slid down the now broken wall.

He calmly walked right up to her as he pierced her in the gut. Fortunately his blade hit nothing life threatening but it was buried deep enough for her to feel all the pain as he pulled up and out she felt herself cry out in pain. He then kicked her in the gut forcing her to bleed even more! 

He picked her up by the neck with only a single hand and then threw her into the ice table. Soon she felt her body shake until she felt something rise within her. Something powerful and dark as she felt a giddy sensation rise within her. Her wounds healed faster than humanly possible and soon it was as if she had never obtained them! Dark joy spread in her mind and became like wildfire as she felt something in her hand. 

As her crazed eyes looked down she spotted a black weapon in her hands. The hilt was like a katana but the guard was like a sword but at each end was a long spike just as long as its crooked blade with the end like a forked tongue of a serpent. She felt power come from it as it sent her in a crazed laughing fit.

"What-no!" Suddenly Pertess sounded scared. "Those eyes! That laughter!" 

His eyes dropped. 

"That weapon! Where did you get that? Answer me now woman!"

"What's wrong, pixie face?" She asked in a voice that was like her own but not at the same time. 

She snickered as she ran up to him.

"How!" He shouted as he was forced on the defensive. "How do you have his laugh and his weapon! Tell me now!"

"I don't know what you mean! However that matters not! Now, Yamizemort!" She said as the blade glowed green.

"Akidechi." The spikes glowed scarlet and as she screamed in her head and her heart she felt saw and burning all over. "Shiné!"

She pushed the blade into his gut and soon he screamed out of pain.

"What's wrong? Does it hurt?" She taunted as he turned to ashes...

Mirror's Splinter

In the king's study the King and Sythvin were discussing the future of the kingdom. Well Sythvin was telling him what his master wanted to happen. It had been a month since Pheoshan had walked into the world of the White Demon's mirror. The snow storm signalled that the end of the year was near, as well as his master's plan.

Then the place shook as the mirror started to pulsate like a healthy beating heart. They both knew that something was going on with the mirror. So they looked at the mirror with intrigue as the mirror, with every pulse, the mirror started to crack. As it continued to pulse the cracks became longer and deeper. Soon there was a deafening sound that came with every pulse like a low scream in an off pitch. Soon they had to cover their ears to prevent them from exploding. 

Then smash! 

The glass fell and from the splinters formed Pheoshan. Although it was not Pheoshan at the same time, for she held Yamizemort, the Demon King's weapon! Or at least a miniature version of it. Then there was her face, it was all twisted and distorted with a glee that Sythvin knew that only the Demon King could muster. As he took a closer look his heart skipped a beat as he looked at the girl's eyes, they were not her usual dark purple, but there it seemed like there were two walls of crimson fire that looked as if they were fires of a deadly furnace that moved just like fire that seemed as if they had expelled the white of her eyes.

"How? He's supposed to be out of you! How do you have the eyes of the Demon King? Tell me Demon-" He coward, as her eyes returned to normal and she collapsed in her father's arms. "-princess…"

"I thought that the Demon King was supposed to be out of her!" He said as he held her with shaky hands, afraid that she was going to wake up and kill him right there and then!

"That Prince Coalphyre made sure that he was out of her by making me do that myself so there is hardly any doubt that he is." He replied.

"Then what exactly is it that we caught a glimpse of and where is Prince Pertess? He should be here!" He asked.

"I know not, and I do believe that he is dead. I shall have to leave to inform my master of this, in the meantime keep the Demon Princess out of anyone's sight." He replied as he left the room to leave the kingdom.

✴️

Princess Pheoshan woke up in a cold dim lit room. As her eyes looked around she spotted that she was in a dungeon and as her eyes fell down to her wrists she spotted they had a silver cuff that had chains attached to them. Suddenly her situation sank in. She tried to move but her body just would not budge an inch! She could feel that her muscles were absolutely saw. She tried to call out but her voice was just as useless as the rest of her body.

Then she remembered what she did and the whole battle came to her, now she knew how she got out of the final Dream Hell. 

What was that feeling? And where did that power come from? Why did it feel so wrong but so good? Well whatever it was I must do all I can to stop it. I did not like that feeling at all! That was frightening but exciting. Ah my head! It's pounding and this cold is not doing me any favours!

She tried to call out several times but still nothing. Then she heard a door open and her eyes met those of her father's. They were like hers but stern and zoned out somehow. She knew that her face and body were predominantly her mother's but her eyes and personality were his, but then there was something else. Something that had made her become something more than the product of their genetics. This something is what had come out in her fight.

"How long have I been out?" She whispered, feeling that her voice was returning to her.

"Since yesterday. It was quite difficult getting you here, you were twitching in your unconscious state!" He chuckled.

He picked up a bowl of a gruel mixture. He then started to feed her like an infant. They then proceeded to enter into awkward silence until this was done. Even though it tasted bitter it seemed to have a dry sensation in her mouth. Then he left. Long after he left she started to be able to move. At first she could only move then in small twitches but soon she became able to curl herself up in a ball. 

Definitely won't expect any favourers from him. So now the question is; what will happen to me? Will they execute me? Will I be exiled? Will I just stay here rotting for the rest of my so-called life? Or will I go to another tower and be guarded by another dragon? Will I be forced into another arranged marriage to an abominable man? Or will he kill me himself or will Sythvin do it? Either way I will no longer be able to call this place home. 

That's alright, I've never really considered this place my home anyway. If I'm to be absolutely honest with myself I don't think that I even have a home. Why is this even happening anyway? I mean I know that it isn't anything to do with the fact that I was the host of Wolfox? Or was it the fact that I had refused to join his side, no, it was definitely something more. Something that I have done maybe?

Before she could get absurd she let herself drift into the safety of sleep.

✴️

Sythvin was waiting in the king's study when the king came in. He looked tired, which was not a good sign. Could all of what was happening taking a toll on him and his spell on him? Either way he was not happy about his meeting with his master and the Demon King.

What are they planning? Why was the Demon King not listening to his reason?

"What is to become of my daughter?" He asked. 

Sythvin's eyes narrowed. Yes he was in the right but he could not allow himself to disobey his master's will. He hardly wanted to even think what would happen to him if he did that.

"The Demon Princess is to go into exile and it is to be done by this year's end." He said which was followed by a long but purposefully silence. 

This was yet another tell that his enchantments were weakening.

"Thank you. I cannot tell you how glad that I do not have to execute her. After all, my wife would kill me if I had to do that. Which would be followed by her brother." He clearly lied. 

Yes he would definitely have to do something quickly or they would lose him once he breaks the spells that kept him in his puppet state.

"Speaking of which, how is Chuoshan?" He asked pleasantly.

"Alright. Will he?"

"No, and I must admit that even though I did try to argue that it would be in the better interest of things neither the Demon King nor my master would seem to be happy. Especially the first one, for some reason is more protective and curious of that daughter who is, apparently, his destined assassin." He laughed.

"Well ever since that Way Of The Witch last year! Strange things have happened. Is it true that one of the heroes of that war was awake all that time?" He asked.

"Yes, which led to something good happening to our plans." He replied.

"What may that be?"

He smiled.

"You and your bloodline will know in time!"

✴️

Later Pheoshan was woken by her father shaking her awake. When did she fall asleep? How long has she slept? She wondered calmly and clear of fear or worry. Now was the time that she should learn her fate, or the fate that Sythvin wished upon her. Whatever it was she knew that if she did not face it then he would undoubtedly kill her father, just to get to her. Or worse have a complete extermination of everyone and everything in the kingdom by her fathers hand before his own death.

"I hope that you are all rested up." He said with a dull tone to his voice. 

"How long do I have to be here?" She snapped with more verbal aggression than she had intended. "Sorry...It doesn't matter…"

"It is fine, and it does." He too snapped. "But never mind about that. I am afraid that you will only be here for only an hour. When that hour is up then I want you to pack up all your things in the morning."

"Why?"

"Sythvin wishes you to go into exile. I am afraid that, as we both know, I can not disobey him. Just like my father could not and his father before him, just like that Queen in the Queendom Isles cannot his sister." He explained.

"Have you tried?" She asked.

"Yes and more than you know. Every time his enchantments have weakened he has taken me to see his master only for him to strengthen them even further. Even when he used me to get you into that damned mirror- I can tell you that if these enchantments were gone I would kill that snake with my own blade so that they cannot place another enchantment on me! This is why I also wish for you to leave before they change their minds and have me execute you. 

"This is why I have tried to keep away from you  for I did not want to form an attachment to you in the case they told me to kill you, for things have been changing in this kingdom ever since the mage Gandoraven, who is Coaphyre's grandfather I believe, came and told me and Shophanna your destiny. And I have one last thing that I want to say, I-I love you and I can never put into words my pride and my regret of being incapable of protecting you." He said as he embraced her in an awkward hug as she felt something warm and wet drop onto her cheek. 

Then he left.

Pheoshan spent that hour, thinking of what she should do as Choushan came into the room and took her cuffs off and they walked down the corridor. She took a moment to look at her little brother and could see just how alike they looked. They looked that much alike that they could easily pass for twins even though they were eleven months apart.

"Well father has told me what is going on and I told Coalphyre who told me that whatever happens that you must not under any circumstance attempt to kill Sythvin. He also said that neither of us will be father's liberators." He said as they reached her room. 

She changed into her night gown as he left. She then looked in her wardrobe and collected everything that she needed. She then collected a black leather bound book with blank pages and took out a feathered quill. Both her mother had given her upon learning of her walking. She quickly wrote down everything that had happened to her until that moment. She then slipped it into her bag and then drifted off.

In the morning she said her goodbyes and then left with Coaphyre and his half sister Phyredoor. She looked back to her father and mother and brother. He looked at the girl as a single tear fell from her cheek and onto the back of her hand.

"Why has this happened?" She snapped. "And don't tell me that you don't know 'cause I know that you do."

A dark shadow entered his eyes as they passed the ruins of the black glass tower that she grew up in. She could see the mirror that she was in and then she spotted that it was now glassless and there was oddly enough no debris of where the glass would have fallen.

"You are right, however I am not sure that I am the right person to tell you." He replied as they looked away and rode on...