Mirror in the Mansion

Penny’s gloved fingers turned and twisted against her palms as she gazed up at the cast-iron gates, her teeth gnawing at her bottom lip before she peered down the drive to a grand mansion. Laughter floated towards her as she rose on her toes and craned her neck for a better view, her hands shifting to her skirts as she began to nervously wring her rose coloured dress. With a heavy sigh she dropped her heels back onto the gravel, turning as she looked down the road from which she had come. With a determined nod she turned back to the mansion and began to creep up the gravel driveway, past the large iron fences, and towards the exquisite garden as quietly as she could. Nervously she reached the porch, her eyes glancing at the open front doors that spilled light across the magnificent fountain in the middle of the driveway before she pulled up her skirts above her ankles and crept towards the garden, tiptoeing to the closest window.

Poking her head up high enough that she could see but was still mostly hidden from view, she spied through the crystal-clear glass and inspected the guests. Twisting and swirling across the dancefloor in beautiful dresses and handsome suits were men and women of all different shapes and sizes, their outfits laden with expensive jewels that threw a kaleidoscope of colours across the room whenever the candlelight raining down from the chandelier that hung high above their heads hit the colourful gems. Laughter erupted to Penny’s left as a very large man dressed in a handsome blue suit said a joke that made Penny quietly snicker as well. To her right she spotted a very tall woman in an equally elegant suit the colour of velvet as she lifted a glass to her lips before turning to her companion, a woman wearing a deep green dress that billowed at her waist, and commending how delicious the food was. Penny gazed around the room taking in the people and their unique clothing, each different from the next as they danced and chatted with one another, each person recommending which foods and drinks they liked best before being whisked away onto the dancefloor.

Unexpectedly, Penny felt a shiver run down her spine, a sensation that made her turn her attention to one of the objects she had previously thought was a decoration. Positioned in the corner of the room was an oval shaped item that had been covered by an embroidered cloth draped over it in such a way that the article hiding beneath it couldn’t be seen. Its presence pulled at Penny’s attention, drowning everything out of her mind and making her feel as though the world only consisted of herself and whatever was underneath the embroidered cloth. She stared at it, her heart beginning to race as she began to feel the urge to leap from her hiding spot, through the window, and over to the strange object to rip the cloth from it and discover what lie beneath. She shook herself, the sound of the party guests rushing back to her like a tidal wave.

‘Magic.’ She thought to herself as she ducked below the window and stared out into the dark garden, her heart still hammering in her ears.

She gazed at the cast-iron gates from which she entered and knew that she could  not turn back now. With a determined nod, she slipped through the garden, a shiver of excitement and fear rushing through her as she snuck through the garden. She emerged from the bushes careful not to be seen by anyone before dusting herself off, squaring her shoulders, and gliding through the doorway into the ballroom like a pink coloured ghost. Barely making a noise, she expertly slipped through the crowd and positioned herself as close as she dared to the oval object, snatching a drink from the snack table before making herself as inconspicuous as possible. She scanned the ballroom as she tipped the glass up to her lips, the flavour melting in her mouth as she felt it rush down her throat in a refreshingly cool gulp. She stared down at the drink with wide eyes, her mouth gaping open as she felt the sweet taste linger on her tongue for a moment longer. She took another sip, blissfulness sweeping over her once again as she leant against the wall with a heavy sigh.

The drink was gone in no time at all, and Penny began to eye the snack table hungrily, the curiosity of what was beneath the embroidered cloth slipping from her mind for a moment as she eventually glided towards the table. With quick fingers she grasped another drink and lifted a small red cake to her lips, slipping it between her lips as she darted back to her position next to the artifact. She felt her body shudder with delight as chewed into the divinely soft cake, the heavenly taste of the sweetest fruits Penny had ever tasted melting in her mouth as she chewed it enthusiastically. Before long she found herself at the snack table once again, clutching a small plate as she piled it high with all manner of food, grabbing the ones people suggested were the best as well as the ones that looked the oddest. As she settled back into her corner, she nibbled on each of the foods and sipped at her drink as she watched the couples spin around and around the ballroom. The night passed slowly as she smiled and nodded when people included her in their conversations, only speaking when necessary and laughing occasionally, before they would drift away to dance, leaving her alone once more to devour her food in peace.

When the moon was high, and the dancefloor was the emptiest it had been all night, the band finished the song they were playing and let the room fall into silence. The crowd turned, facing the small stage that had been erected at one end of the room as a man and woman stepped onto it. The man wore a black suit that glittered with golden buttons, golden rings, and a golden tie. Embroidered onto the left sleeve of his suit were the dark green leaves and vines of an ivy plant, its stitched tendrils intricately coiling around his arm and up onto his torso. He smiled at the crowd with a gentle smile as he ran his fingers through his dark tousled hair that glittered with flecks of gold. Beside him stood the woman, her dress also black but was embroidered with white roses that bloomed across her skirts and up her torso. Peeking out from beneath her skirts were a pair of golden shoes that matched the precious golden drops that hung from her waist and dangled across her skirts. Her dark hair had been pulled behind her head and framed her face with delicate curls that glittered with flecks of gold, just like the man standing beside her.

“Thank you for attending our magnificent ball.” The woman announced as she raised a gloved hand to gesture to the crowd as the party goers all rallied together in raucous applause, hushing one another when the woman began to speak once more. “As you all know, we are here to celebrate the acquisition of another item to our collection.”

“This item,” The man explained, clasping his hands behind his back, and drawing the crowd in using just his tone of voice. “Is no ordinary item, for you see, it is able to see your happiest and most enjoyable memory.”

Penny felt a gasp tumble from her lips at the man’s words, her eyes darting to the strange object beside her as the crowd whispered furiously around her. She looked back at the pair on stage and caught the eye of the woman. The woman winked at her and smiled softly as Penny realised, she was gawking at her. She quickly looked away, clamping her mouth shut as the crowd hushed one another once again.

“Without further ado,” The woman declared as a pair of servants brought the small table that the item was resting on to stand between the two on stage. “We present to you the mysterious, and incredibly powerful, Glass of Memories.”

The woman gripped the embroidered cloth with her gloved hand as the rest of the room held their breaths and for a moment no one dared moved, not even the pair on stage. The woman pulled, the cloth billowing away in rippled and twirls of fabric as it revealed a mirror. Its clear mirrored surface reflected the chandelier hanging high above the crowd as Penny gazed at it, her legs moving her forward subconsciously as she inspected it. The frame that encircled it appeared to be made of wood but it shimmered like bronze in the candlelight. The silent room shattered with conversation as the crowd began to murmur about the mirror before them. With a single gloved hand the woman silenced the room once more.

“All one must do is to gaze into the depths of the mirror, and it will reveal to you, and only you, the happiest memory you possess.” The man murmured to the awed crowd sending a shiver of excitement through Penny as she gazed at the mirror. “How about a volunteer?”

Penny felt a rush of excitement course through her at the idea of being able to use the mirror, but her shyness overtook her as she slinked backwards towards the wall. All around her the crowd hustled and bustled as people volunteered themselves to be chosen. On the stage the man and woman gazed across the crowd, eyeing the people clamouring for the stage.

“How about…?” The woman announced once more silencing the crowd with a roving finger as she held their attention. “You?”

Her finger landed on Penny, and she felt her excitement surface once again, her anxiety shushing it back into the depths as she pointed to herself, looking behind her to see if there was anyone the woman might’ve mistaken her for. When her eyes met the wall she had backed closer to she whorled around with surprise, her hands beginning to shake as a lopsided smile creased her cheeks. She tumbled forward, excitedly climbing the stairs leading to the stage as the man gently took her hand and guided her to the centre.

“Our lucky volunteer will now look into the Glass of Memories and see that which she holds dear.” The woman announced as the man guided Penny to stand before the looking glass.

He smiled at her and gave her an encouraging nod as she turned her gaze to the mirrored surface, her small face looking back at her through the reflection. Then the imaged rippled as if the surface of the mirror were a pond that had been disturbed by a gentle breeze. Her image faded and within the ripples she saw her memories, only the memories were odd in that she didn’t remember creating them, nor did she recognise the faces within. One of the ripples widened as the warm image of a barn and a great willow tree coloured before her. She could feel the sunlight that caught her cheeks from between the leaves around her. She gripped at the soft, fabric-bound book within her fingers as she heard the soft call of a farm animal. The image rippled and she blinked, her eyes landing on her reflected features in a ballroom full of people. She turned to the man beside her and frowned as he gazed at her curiously.

“That was my happiest memory, but…” She said to the waiting crowd. “I don’t remember ever making that memory.” The crowd looked at one another, their eyes wide with interest before erupting into shouted questions.

“Now, now, everyone,” The man announced, stepping to the centre of the stage as the woman guided Penny off the stage. “Why don’t you all form a neat line, and you’ll all get a turn with the mirror?”

The crowd hustled to form a line as Penny followed the woman to a small side room where the woman elegantly sat herself in a large leather armchair, gesturing for Penny to sit in the one beside hers, and snapped her fingers as the tea set on the desk beside them began to pour itself. Penny lowered herself half as elegantly as the woman did into her own chair and watched as a flowery teacup filled with a pink coloured tea and matching saucer floated to her hands and placed themselves lightly in her fingers.

“Sorry about the raucous crowd,” The woman said as she cut a large chocolate muffin into four pieces before placing two of the pieces in front of Penny on a small plate while keeping the other two for herself. “Magic is mystical to them since they don’t have any of their own.”

She took a large bit of her muffin before placing it beside her chair and wiping her hands on an embroidered handkerchief. Penny looked down at the teacup in her hands as the woman chewed watching the pink liquid glitter. She lifted the cup to her lips and sipped allowing the hot liquid to fill her up, the taste of strawberries and roses soothing her.

“My apologies for eating, I cannot resist a good chocolate muffin.” The woman said with a scrunch of her nose. “Now, let’s get down to business. My name is Lady Viella Odessa, Countess of the Vesperine Mansion and High Lady of the Witch Court. You, my dear Penny, are to be my new apprentice.”

Penny’s mouth dropped open as she gaped at the woman. She had read about Lady Odessa in the Archive and couldn’t believe that the woman who sat before her was the most innovative mind in the land when it came to magic. This woman had created hundreds upon hundreds of spells as well as multitudes of potions and was the leading expert in curse breaking and magical items.

“You want me…” Penny stammered. “To be your apprentice?”

“Yes, my dear.” Viella replied as he took a sip of her own tea. “Actually, both my brother and I want you to be our apprentice, but the point still stands.”

“Your brother?” Penny asked, her mind reeling.

“Yes, Lord Zyran Nevian, Master of Keys and Head Healer at the Saint Amber Hospital.” Viella answered as she poured a spoonful of sugar into her tea and gave it a stir.

Penny nearly choked on her tea as she stared at Viella. Lord Nevian was the top of his field as a Healer and had made just as many accomplishments in the field of Necromancy and Alchemy as his sister. Penny felt her mouth bobbing open and closed as she tried to form words, instead she shoved a quarter of chocolate muffin into her mouth, chewing slowly as her brain finally started to work again.

“Why do you want me to be your apprentice?” She asked through the mouthful of muffin.

“You do not know?” Viella asked quizzically, her hand coming to a halt over the top of her teacup with the spoon still dipped in her tea.

“Know what…?” Penny asked, leaning closer to Viella.

The woman smiled softly, clinking her spoon against the side of the teacup to shake the tea from it before placing it on her teacup’s saucer.

“You, my dear,” Viella said lifting her teacup to her lips. “Are very powerful, more powerful than even my brother and I combined.”

Penny blinked at the woman, her mouth falling open as her teacup slipped from her fingertips, clattering to the floor. Penny gasped, a cascade of apologies falling from her lips as she slipped from the chair and knelt beside the mess as she attempted to clean it up. Viella stifled a snicker, her fingers snapping as a spray bottle and embroidered cloth appeared from out of a cupboard and set to work cleaning the tea beginning to stain the carpet. The teacup itself, leapt from the floor and settled itself back on its saucer before beginning to magically fill with tea once again. Penny watched in awe, slowly sliding back into her chair as she lifted the now full teacup to her lips, the tea still hot.

“So, what do you say, Penny.” Viella continued catching Penny’s attention once more as she placed her own teacup on its own saucer. “Will you accept the position of becoming the magical apprentice of Lord Zyran Nevian and Lady Viella Odessa?”

Viella extended her hand, presenting it to Penny as the girl stared at it incredulously. Penny gazed up at the older woman who winked at her before looking once more at her outstretched hand.