Vanessa seemed much less inclined to dillydally now that night was approaching. Her usually upbeat composure was replaced with focus and concern as she kept checking the darkening sky.
"Hurry," she screeched. "The night falls fast. We must be inside." Without wasting a second, we carried our recent purchases through the iron gate, passed the rose garden, up the steps, and finally into Beatrice's mansion. When the door finally shut, Vanessa exhaled in relief.
"Phew," she cried. "I hardly ever stay out that late. What would Madame Beatrice think if I weren't there to dress her for the evening?"
"She might be worried," I said checking my reflection in a nearby mirror.
"I highly doubt that. Madame Beatrice hates to worry. Causes premature wrinkles you see. But now that we are inside, we should be alright?" Vanessa looked at me brooding by the mirrored wall. "You alright, Hope? You seem a little under the weather."
"It's nothing, Vanessa. I'm fine." I glanced at my reflection in the mirrors recalling the words of the mad tailor. A true mirror will show you no reflection. That is the mirror you must destroy.
"Ok," said Vanessa handing me my new clothes. "Well here are your dresses. The theme tonight is silver and gold. I'll bring you your shoes later."
"Thanks," I said. "I wonder how Owen is doing?" I had not seen or heard from him all afternoon. His lacking presence created a certain emptiness in my mind. Ever since my arrival in Tartarus, Owen has never left my side. "You haven't heard from him lately I suppose?"
"I have not. He should still be resting in his room if he knows what's good for him. I would not worry about it. Remember what I said about worry." Vanessa smiled. "You should get ready for dinner. Lord Blackwell will be arriving shortly."
"I thought no one could be out at night?" I asked.
"Lord Blackwell will be here before the bells sound. Trust me. A person is never late to one of Madame Beatrice's dinners. I'll come get you when it is time. It'll be fun. Relax." Vanessa winked and scurried off to the other side of the mansion.
I, feeling weighed by the tailor's words and stressed about meeting Lord Blackwell, sulked down the hallway to my room. I needed to talk to Owen. I needed to tell him what I learned before Beatrice had the chance to remove it from my mind. Owen was the only sane trustworthy person left in this odd little town. Everyone else seemed totally bonkers and apart from reality. He had been right about its dangers.
Passing by the many mirrors and checking my reflection within them, I came to Owen's room and knocked.
"Hey, Owen. Are you there?" No one answered. "If you can hear me I just wanted to talk. I've been feeling strange lately like there is a fog running through my mind. Also I wanted to tell you about dinner." I paused. "You should come...with me. A Lord Blackwell will be there. I'm not excited about going alone and would really appreciate you coming with me. Perhaps you can even ask Madame Beatrice about leaving again." I pulled on the door. It was locked. "I know you're in there." I sighed after another moment of silence. "You're probably busy, so never mind. I won't bother you." I turned a weary head and walked across the hall into my room. Upon entering I flung my new clothes on top of the bed and sat down next to the elated ginger cat.
"What do you think I should do, Mr. Gato?" I asked rubbing my fingers over the cat's soft red fur. "Owen doesn't want to talk to me. My memories are disappearing. Vanessa is stressing me out about everything. Beatrice is just terrifying on all levels. And now this crazy tailor wants me to break some magic mirror. What has become of my life? Things used to be so simple. Go to school and come home." I struggled to imagine home. "I wish I could remember it." I exhaled in frustration. "Just when I start to like Tartarus again, it throws more of this mess my way. Whatever I should do? Martha, Daarith, and Owen gave me strength. Now they are all gone. It's just you and me, Mr. Gato." The cat gave me big cute eyes and meowed. "Well, just me anyway." I stood up and walked over to a small desk. "I guess I should get ready now. No point in thinking on an empty stomach. Time to try on this new dress."
I removed the new dress from the silk bag. It was a white laced gown with feathers coming off the shoulders. I slipped into it and turned from side to side in the mirror imagining how much better it would look on me if I did not have those unattractive belly rolls. I sucked in air and expanded my chest. No matter how I looked at the dress, I could not recognize myself. All I saw reflected back was a girl trying to be someone she was not.
I ran my fingers through my matted hair. All the magic Sage Martha had poured into it to make it beautiful and straight was now gone. My hair frilled out in all directions looking quite unsightly and rather unbecoming. I tried my best to fix it up in nice styles I had seen girls at school wear, but it kept falling apart. I eventually gave up and fixed it how I always did, pulled back with a simple ponytail and bangs. Next came my glasses. I debated whether or not to wear them since Vanessa mentioned earlier they made my face prettier without them. The bright red clashed with the pale colors of the dress, but I needed them to see. Decisions had never been my strong suit, especially not ones regarding fashion. The ginger cat watched me playfully flipping its tail back and forth.
"I don't know why I even bother asking you again, but what do you think, Mr. Gato?" I removed my glasses and placed them back on. "Glasses on or glasses off?"
"Meow," responded the cat. I moved to the bed and sat next to the cat. The cat purred as I petted the top of its head.
"You know, I don't think Mr. Gato is a proper enough name for you. Might be pointless to come up with one anyway if I am soon to forget mine." I brushed my fingers across the blue band the tailor had made. "Hope. My name is Hope." The cat meowed again. "You know, Mr. Gato, I'm scared. I'm scared of being a Mirrorbender. I'm scared I will fail all those people who are counting on me. I'm scared of going to Vetra and facing the council. Perhaps I should stay here forever. Perhaps this is the place for me. Perhaps Vanessa and Beatrice are right. This place is where I belong." I laughed in my throat. "Who am I kidding? For all I know, I am under some spell and this is all a grand illusion, or maybe I am having a wild dream. Perhaps I'll just wake up in my bed back home to the smell of freshly cooked pancakes and all this fear and worry will be for naught." I looked around at the beautiful room. "Or perhaps, I have lived my whole life in a dream and have just recently awaken."
The cat curled up on my lap and went to sleep. While petting its soft fur, I felt a tear roll down my cheek and land on my hand. I hurried to wipe it away. A Mirrorbender could not be seen crying. I needed to be strong. A knock sounded on the bedroom door.
"Hey, sister!" cried Vanessa's muffled voice. "You getting ready? Dinner is about to start. You don't want to keep Madame Beatrice waiting now do you?"
Much to the cat's dismay, I moved him off my lap.
"Sorry, Mr. Gato, I got to go, but I'll be back soon. I'll be sure to bring you back some food too."
"Hello in there?" pounded Vanessa. "You're not sleeping I hope."
"I'm almost ready, Vanessa," I answered clipping on the earnings I had gotten in the market to my earlobes. I looked at myself one last time in the mirror. Certainly this was the most exquisite getup I had ever worn and probably I prayed would ever wear until the day I married. The final touch was to hide the blue band with my name on it. So, I grabbed two white gloves out of the bag on the bed and pulled them over my hands and up my forearms. The illusion was complete. I was fit to meet a lord and witch. "You can come in now." I said.
The door opened and Vanessa came prancing inside wearing a fine golden and white dress. A monstrous white swan burst from her black curly hair. It's wings seemed to flap with each exulted step. "Oh look at you so pretty," she squealed giving me a happy little clap. "The hair though could be better, but oh well. It will do for tonight."
"Can you help lace up my dress?" I asked motioning to my back. Vanessa rushed to me and started tying the straps in the back of the dress.
"This dress looks mighty flattering on you," said Vanessa as she finished the final knot. "All done. Now come on. We haven't a moment to delay." Vanessa yanked me out of the room and down the hall. I took on last glance at Owen's bedroom door. I prayed he would exit from it to accompany me into the dining room or at least be waiting for me in the foyer. He never did.