“Nonsense, my Little Ghost. What has frightened you this time?” He brushes my hair from my moist cheeks.

“It’s foolish, actually.”

“Inform me,” he smiles. I like his smile. It at all times makes my coronary heart damage much less.

“I used to be standing in my room and noticed a lady within the shadows. I assumed it was Momma at first. She appeared similar to her. However her hair was black. When she stepped into the sunshine, she was coated in blood and drooling.” I choke on the final phrases as a result of the reminiscence comes again.

“After which what occurred?” Poppa rubs my again, serving to me catch my breath.

“She blocked the door. I needed to get previous her to get out.”

“That’s so courageous,” he coos. I do know he’s solely saying to make me really feel higher, but it surely nonetheless helps me really feel courageous sufficient to complete my story.

“I bought nearer, and he or she modified proper in entrance of me.” I fist his gown and pull. He wants to grasp. “It was me, Poppa! I used to be the monster! It was a mirror I used to be trying into!”

“Have you learnt why I name you little ghost?” he says with a soothing voice.

I shake my head and conceal my face in his thick gown.

“You had been at all times so quiet strolling across the halls. And nobody would see you till it was too late. Each time we hear a shout, we all know you may have snuck up on another person.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t imply to.”

“Don’t be sorry. It makes us all smile. And what else?” He helps me stand up, grabs my hand, and walks me again towards my room. “It helps me fear about you much less. As a result of when you may be that quiet whereas strolling round, then if we’re ever in actual hazard, I do know you possibly can conceal higher than anybody.” I hesitate exterior my bed room door, however Poppa pulls me ahead. “Look within the mirror and inform me what you see.”

I do what he says, regardless of eager to run away. However the monster isn’t there. It’s simply me. My white hair flows right down to my waist, my purple nightgown is lengthy sufficient you possibly can’t see my toes, my head barely involves Poppa’s shoulders, and I nonetheless have the identical blue eyes as him. There is no such thing as a blood, no dagger, no monster.

“I see me.” I smile at Poppa, however there’s a wrinkle between his brows. “Am I mistaken?” “You wish to know what I see?” I nod rapidly, excited to listen to what he has to say. “I see a younger lady who is robust, brave—” I watch with rapt consideration because the imaginative and prescient earlier than me transforms. Slowly, I develop taller. “—resourceful, type, lovely, and a lot extra.” I stand earlier than him, trying like the lady I noticed earlier however…completely different. There is no such thing as a blood overlaying me and no demise in my eyes. I look similar to Momma.

“How…how did you do away with the monster?” I step as much as the mirror and examine my face intently.

“There was by no means one there, solely you.”

“However—”

“What you may have completed through the years by no means made you a monster; it made you precisely who you wanted to be in an effort to survive, to heal. And within the course of, you grew to become a hero to those that couldn’t get themselves out of these terrifying conditions.”

“Poppa…”

“Nyx!” somebody yells, however they sound so distant it’s onerous to inform who it’s.

“Daughter…I must know in regards to the Prince. I do know what I’ve seen, however I wish to hear your ideas.”

“NYX!” they yell once more.

“I…um…” I look across the dimly lit bed room, however there isn’t anybody aside from me and Poppa.

“Alina?” Poppa’s finger evenly brushes my chin, encouraging me to have a look at him as soon as once more.

“Hmm?” What was the query? I really feel like I’m being pulled in two completely different instructions, making it troublesome to remain targeted on what he’s saying.

“The Prince?” I seize his hand and smile at him.

“I hated him at first. I dreamed about placing a dagger in his coronary heart a number of occasions. Particularly after he kidnapped me,” I chuckle as my father’s eyes get huge with fear. “However as time went on, I discovered quite a bit about him.”

“How are you aware what you discovered is fact and never some good deceit?”

“As a result of…” I cease, undecided what to say. How do I do know Felix is telling the reality? “As a result of when he talks to me about issues, my chest doesn’t get tight. After I ask a query, he seems me within the eye when answering. As a result of… I like him, Poppa.” There, I stated it.

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