Ruby Shadows (Born to Darkness #3)(92)

“This reminds me of a fantasy I had as a little girl,” I told Belial. “My Grams used to take us to the library once a week to get new books and I always wished I could get locked in and spend the night. Then I could read as much as I wanted.”

“Were you not allowed enough reading time as a child, then?” Belial asked, raising one gray eyebrow.

“I’m sure I had plenty—I just hated being called away from a good book to do my chores or work on my homework,” I said, smiling. “But my Grams was really strict about that—homework and chores always came first. Anything fun came after. She—”

The words died on my lips as I happened to catch a glimpse of the mirror across from me, at the other end of the couch. Its cracked surface was swirling with color, making a strange kaleidoscope pattern that drew my eyes and held them even when I tried to look away.

After a moment the swirling colors stopped and coalesced into a picture. It was Grams—she was busy locking up her magic lore shop for the day. I watched as she went through the nightly routine, dusting the shelves and wiping down her counter with its old fashioned cash register at one end. I’d tried and tried to get her to replace that thing but she stubbornly refused. It was cash or nothing for her—she didn’t trust credit cards and never had.

Watching her brought a lump to my throat. I’d never been away from her for so long except for that one disastrous summer she tried sending me to camp. I was miserable for the same reason I’d always been miserable in school—the other kids sensed that I was different and picked on me. Grams had ended up coming to get me halfway through the week and I remembered how glad I’d been to see her—how I flew into her arms and hugged her until she laughed and said I was making her old bones creak…

“Ah, you must have magic of your own, my dear. Otherwise the Mirror of the Eye would never have opened to you,” Belial murmured, breaking my concentration.

“The what?” I asked distractedly, still watching Grams go about her tasks. She looked so old and bent—her hair grayer than I remembered it from even a few days ago. I wished with all my heart I was there to help her—wished I could put my arms around her and tell her that I loved her and I was all right…

“The Mirror of the Eye—it is made from the lens of Beelzebub’s right eye, you know,” Belial replied in a scholarly tone. “The left one was destroyed when Michael the Archangel plunged his fiery sword into it and killed the great demon at the Second Battle of Antioch.”

“So…it’s a magic mirror?” I asked. The picture of Grams faded and I was finally able to drag my gaze away.

“It is—but only for those who have power of their own. An ordinary mortal would have seen nothing but a cracked surface.”

“That’s what I saw at first,” I confessed. “But then it changed.”

“And what, may I ask, did it show you, my dear?” Belial sounded intensely interested.

“It showed me my Grams—locking up her shop for the day. She looked…so old and…and alone.” I tried to choke back the tears that threatened to overwhelm me. Suddenly I was swamped in a miserable wave of homesickness. I was tired of being threatened and frightened and chased all over Hell—I just wanted to go home and hug my grandmother.

“Ah, then you must have true love in your heart for her.” Belial nodded sagely. “The first thing the mirror shows us is that which we truly love and desire. A power hungry individual might see himself as the CEO of a large corporation. One who desires wealth might see himself living in a mansion or holding stacks of cash.”

“So was what I saw real?” I asked, confused. “I mean, was that really my Grams or just an image of her because I miss her so much and want to see her again so badly?”


“Oh, it was real, all right,” Belial said, tugging at his beard. “The mirror never lies.”

“So…I could get it to show me my Grams again? Or someone else?” My head was whirling as I considered the possibilities.

Belial nodded, his shiny black horns glinting in the low light.

“When you have enough power, you can compel the mirror to show you the person or persons you love. But you must be careful—the mirror is not a one way portal—while you are looking out, someone or something else may be looking in at you.”

“Ugh, what an awful thought.” I put my arms around myself, feeling a sudden chill. “Someone like who?”

Belial shrugged. “Someone who loves you…or someone who means you harm, either is possible. You may even see someone who can help you…or someone who desperately needs your help. The mirror is difficult if not impossible to predict. That is what makes it so dangerous.”

“All right.” I got up from the couch and smiled at him. “This has all been so fascinating but does Laish happen to have a bathtub or shower on this floor somewhere? Our journey so far hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing and I would love to wash up.”

Belial nodded.

“As to that, I am certain you will enjoy Lord Laish’s bathing pool.”

“Ooo, a bathing pool?” I hurried to take his arm again when he held it out. “That sounds really interesting. Does it have hot water and bubble bath to go with it?”

The old demon smiled at me, the corners of his eyes crinkling.