Yawning, Lyra tucked a stray curl behind her ear and took the steps to the museum doors two at a time. For Arnold, the aging security guard, to call her at two o'clock in the morning, there had best be an emergency. The full moon barely peeked from behind the forming clouds and the night had an unusually cold bite. The lights of the museum twinkled through the frost kissed doors, and Lyra felt eyes on her back as she tugged on the handle. Glancing over her shoulder she was more that ready to be inside. The warm air of the lobby embraced her as she stepped in and locked the main doors behind her.
"Arnold?" She called blinking and taking off her glasses to wipe the lenses.
"Miss Lyra!" The older man peeked around the corner leading to the new arrivals section. "I didn't know who to call, you were the only one that I could think of."
Smiling kindly, she walked towards the man, there was something in his eyes that wasn't quite right. Something terrified.
"What has happened, Arnie. Is something broken?"
"There is something wrong with that mirror that was brought in yesterday."
"Is it cracked?"
"No."
With a sinking feeling Lyra rubbed her temples. "Did it fall?"
"No, ma'am."
"Then why the hell am I here?"
"Because it talked."
Lyra froze and stared at Arnold. He was a sweet man, like a kind, slightly crazy uncle. Until now Lyra had ignored the whispers of the other workers in the museum, thinking them cruel, but now it was apparent that kind old Arnold, with his fuzzy white hair and lined face, was insane.
"Now Arnold..."
He shook his head and ran his hand through his hair, blinking and staring around. "I told you she wouldn't believe. She isn't the one you wanted."
"But she is, sweets." A voice purred.
Lyra felt her jaw drop as a purple woman with horns walked, no floated, up behind Arnold. She was dressed in the most obscene outfit Lyra had ever seen, barely more than delicate chains. No matter how she tried, Lyra couldn't take her eyes from the creature as it slid its arms across Arnold's shoulder and leaned on him.
"Thank you for bringing her here, pet. Unfortunately, I have not more use for you." The creatures silky voice was like a caress, but it lifted the hairs on the back of Lyra's neck.
"Don't hurt him!" Lyra cried lifting her arm and dropping her purse. "Please! I am th one you want."
The thing paused obviously intrigued by Lyra's pleading. "And what would you do to save him, pet?"
"What do you want?" She was desperate now, staring at Arnold who was beginning to slump.
"You, dearest, you are the one I came for. Master wants you." The beast floated toward Lyra.
Clenching her fist, Lyra knew she had to draw whatever it was away from Arnold. "Who is this master?"
"The Master is powerful. He is everything"
As the creature came closer, Lyra suddenly recalled where she had seen something like it. "Are you a demon?"
The creature smiled, halting. Thoughtfully it tilted it's head to the side. " This is a real treat. I'd almost thought my kind had been forgotten here."
Taking the desire demons pause as an opening, Lyra ran past it to the new arrivals exhibit. The mirror had to have something to do with this. She heard the demons icy laughter and a dull thud. Glancing over her shoulder she saw Arnold collapse to the floor, and the demon licking it's claws. Suddenly, stronger that any fear, anger raged to life. Lyra grabbed a sword from a suit of armor and turned to the fiend.
"You killed him." Lyra growled.
"Yes, you humans are actually quite good at dying. Quite delicious as well."
"You bitch!" Lyra shifted backing down the hall into the opening of the exhibit.
"Hmph," the demon continue slithering closer, it's eyes glittering dangerously. "He was nothing more than a pawn, you are the one I wanted. What is one death when I have the Light?"
Lyra snarled and looked around the room. The mirror was to her right, but it didn't reflect her, didn't reflect anything it, seemed as though it was moving, a living thing, framed in bronze. For only a moment, Lyra stared, but that moment was all the demon needed, it raced forward and lifted Lyra from the ground it's claws closing around her throat. The sword she had been carrying clattered on the floor as she scratched at the demon's too cold arms.
"Master will surely reward-" the demons eyes widened and it's grip loosened as it stared past Lyra. "No.."
Lyra kicked out and fell to the floor coughing. Crawling backwards, she kept the demon in site as she felt the cold metal of the mirror frame bump her back. The demon seemed to barely notice as it hissed at the mirror. Suddenly there was a flash and the demon collapsed. It writhed on the floor, it claws sliding against the marble floor. "He will have... You.. Pet..." It gasped and was finally still.
Shaking Lyra turned to the mirror and screamed. A dragon stared back at her, it's jagged teeth exposed in a terrifying smile. Transfixed, Lyra watched it become a woman, bent by age, her eyes glowing eerily.
"Flemeth." Lyra whispered, her eyes widening in recognition. "You aren't real."
The image cackled, "I am more real that you have ever imagined, and you will suit MY purposes just fine."
"No! You are a character, a figment of someone's imagination!"
"Aren't we all, child?"
Lyra felt cold, this was some sort of nightmare. It had to be.
Flemeth shrieking laughter filled the room and she lifted her hand, reaching for Lyra. Blinking in horror, Lyra watched the hand push through the mirror, as though it was nothing more than water. Before she could move, the hand grabbed her wrist. Fear raced through her as pain radiated from the contact.
"No..." Lyra whispered as the world began to spin, and she tumbled into the mirror, into darkness.
