New fic time. This is set in season 3 between MM and DALDOM. Includes season 3 Ruby (yay) and Bela

Through the Looking Glass

Chapter One

It was supposed to be a new start. They had been having problems but the move was supposed to end that. They had left their old lives behind after everything that had happened; the affair had nearly ended their marriage but this was supposed to strengthen them. It was supposed to bring them back together. Andy was ashamed that it had happened. He hadn't intended it to but things spiralled out of his control until his entire world was crashing down around him. Linda had wanted a divorce but he had managed to convince her to try to work things out.

Andy Morgan had to admit that it was a beautiful house; a gothic style masterpiece in a row of plain detached houses. He had instantly fallen in love with it; it was different, unique. The house was very imposing; that was what had drawn him to it in the first place. It looked rather like the scary mansion in an episode of Scooby Doo or some horror movie that he couldn't think of the name of. It had so much character; something that the rest of the houses completely lacked. He looked at it and imagined things that could have happened in this house.

His wife, Linda, was not so sure about the house. She thought it looked tacky, a desperate attempt to look individual that completely failed. It looked like a cheap attempt to make the house look frightening and imposing; like it could belong in a horror movie and she didn't like that. She would go as far to say she hated the house but Andy liked it so she had accepted it. After all; she really didn't want to lose him again like she had before.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Andy smiled as he carried their six month old son, Christopher, into the living room. It was a dark room with very little light permeating through the thick and heavy curtains. "Just look at the detail in that moulding," he pointed to the ceiling. "It's absolutely amazing."

"It's very dark," Linda murmured; still not overly impressed.

"We can fix that," he enthused. "A little bit of paint, take down those curtains; it'll really brighten the place up.

"Yeah," she agreed but privately she still had doubts. This would never be a home to her.

"Come on," he said to Christopher, "Let's go and see your new room." Christopher smiled happily and laughed as Andy took him up the stairs leaving Linda alone in the living room.

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"Hey, look at this," Andy smiled as he took his son into the large attic at the top of the house. "Isn't this cool?"

"It's a health hazard," Linda insisted as she walked in behind him. "Look at the floor; it could collapse at any moment."

"It won't, it's perfectly safe," Andy told her and felt the need to jump up and down to prove to her that the floor wasn't going to collapse at any moment. "See? Nothing to worry about."

"I'll believe that when you don't kill yourself in three days time," she grinned and moved over to him; giving him a small kiss on the lips and taking her son into her arms.

"There is one problem with this house though," he told her.

"And what would that be?"

"That mirror," he pointed to a large mirror attached to the wall. It had an ornate silver frame but the glass was jet black. "That is just ugly, I'm gonna have to take it down."

"I think that's one thing we agree on," Linda half agreed as Andy walked over to the mirror and attempted to pull it off the wall. It was stuck fast and would not budge no matter how he tried to move it. "What's wrong?"

"It's stuck," he told her; putting more exertion into attempting to pull it down. His efforts were in vain; however, as the mirror refused to move. It was as if it was glued to the wall.

"It can't be, it's just a mirror," Linda laughed slightly; thinking he was joking so she would have to go over and do it for him.

"I'm serious," he argued. "It won't budge."

"Just leave it then, we'll find another way to get it down," Linda told him and Andy quickly gave up; realising it was futile to continue trying. They'd probably have to hire someone out to remove it. The mirror would stay where it was for the time being. "Come on," Linda smiled, "Let's go unpack."

As Linda left Andy took one more look at the mirror behind him and thought he saw something; just for a second, in the corner of his eye but when he blinked and looked again it was gone. Shaking his head he turned again and left. "I must be losing my mind," he muttered to himself as he made his way down the stairs; slamming the door shut behind him. He thought no more of it for the rest of the day.

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Although he couldn't remember his dream once he was unexpectedly awoken; Andy was fairly sure it had been a very good dream. He had been woken by the sound of a woman's voice. At first he had thought it had been Linda but when he turned he saw that she was still fast asleep. He heard the voice again and this time he noticed something strange. The woman wasn't speaking in English; rather a language he didn't understand.

"Abii ab speculum,"he heard the voice say. He had no idea what the voice was saying to him but he felt the overwhelming urge to follow the voice. "Abii ab speculum,"he heard the voice again. Cautiously; he threw the covers back and stepped out of bed.

The hardwood floor was freezing cold against his bare feet but Andy didn't seem to notice. He was entranced by the sound of the woman's voice. It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time. The low, yet feminine tone of the woman was mesmerising; there was no way he could resist it. He didn't even stop to think about Linda as he made his way out of the bedroom and towards the stairs that led to the attic.

He followed the voice to the attic and he silently opened the door, feeling scared at what he might find on the other side of the door. He entered the room and his eyes were drawn to the mirror he hated so much. It was glowing bright; the jet black colouring of the glass had disappeared in the brightness. In the centre of the mirror he could see a dark. The same figure he must have seen earlier in the day when something caught his eye. He wasn't losing his mind after all. Or maybe he was; it wasn't possible for someone to appear in a mirror like that when there was nothing to provide the reflection was it?

The figure was shrouded in shadow even though the mirror was glowing bright. Andy now felt terrified. He wanted to turn and run but he realised it was too late. He was completely under her spell and there was no way to break it. His heart was hammering in his chest as the figure called out to him. It wanted him to stand in front of the mirror and no matter how hard Andy wanted to resist he couldn't find the strength. His will wasn't strong enough. It was never strong enough.

"Abii ab speculum,"she repeated, "Aspecta ab speculum"she told him. He still didn't no what she was saying but he knew what to do. He walked over to the mirror.

The closer he came to the mirror the clearer the shadowy figure became. He soon saw that the figure in the mirror was a young woman. She was beautiful in a wild and dangerous way.

Andy blinked; desperate to pull away but she still called out to him. He raised his head slowly; trying to avert his gaze but she gently coaxed him into looking at her and he stared deep into the woman's eyes. Her blue eyes were icy and filled with wrath and anger. She was consumed with hate and it was all directed at him. He could do nothing more but stare at her as she slowly began to drain the life out of him.

Andy could see so much pain and it consumed him. He fell to the floor and screamed like he had never done before. It was wild and desperate and he could feel his lungs constrict. He writhed around in pain; his limbs flailed as if they moved of their own accord and blood flowed down his arms. He couldn't breathe. "Help me," he managed to gasp as he felt the life force being drained out of him.

He thought of Linda and how he had hurt her so much, of how he had failed her. Now he would not have the chance to make things right with her. He cursed himself for being so weak; for not being able to resist the voice of the woman in the mirror. He could only hope Linda could forgive him for destroying her happiness and her life. Then he thought of Christopher and how he would grow up never knowing his father; just like he had never known his.

He gave one final scream of pain as his eyes began to close and after that he felt nothing more as the darkness descended and he finally gave in. After all this; death was the sweetest release that could come to him.

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Linda heard her husbands pained screams and in a complete panic she rushed out of the room to find Andy. She found him in the attic, on the floor; lying there still and peaceful. Just as she was about to run over to Andy she saw it. There was a woman in the mirror. Her long red hair was blown back, as if there was a gale force wind in the room; even though it was still and quiet in the attic. Her white dress was torn and ripped; the torn pieces were also blowing in the non existent wind, flapping around her body which only served to enhance the terrifying nature of this young woman. Bright red blood dripped down her arms and her fingers before it dropped onto the ground. Andy looked at the floor but there was nothing; no sign of any blood.

She gave a gasp of shock and fright at the sight of her. It was the eyes that frightened her the most. They were icy cold and dead; like the woman's soul. She stood for a second and stared; unable to think or move, Linda was only able to gaze blankly at the ghostly figure until she disappeared and only her reflection remained. The glass had stopped glowing and returned to its murky black colour. Only then she was jolted back to reality and she realised that Andy needed her. She ran over to her husband; desperate to find any signs of life in him. Her hands shook in fear and grief as she lifted her fingers to his throat and felt for a pulse. She didn't know what she would do if he were dead. She didn't think she could carry on without him. She hadn't wanted it to end like this; she had never wanted him to die no matter how much she had tried to hate him.

She nearly cried when she found a pulse in Andy's neck; it was weak but it was there and Linda gave a sigh of relief. She shook him hard and desperately; trying to wake him up from whatever the woman had done to him. Tears fell down her soft cheeks as she begged for him to wake up. Linda was scared. She was scared for Andy and she was scared for herself; whoever or whatever had been in that mirror could come back.

"Andy," she said weakly; her voice sounded strange and unfamiliar as she spoke. 'Wake up Andy." But he didn't wake up and nothing Linda could do would wake him up. Whatever the woman in the mirror had done to him there was nothing Linda could do to bring him out of it. He was too far gone to wake.

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The woman had got what she had wanted. It wouldn't be long now. She just had t have a little more patience and what she had been waiting for would soon become a reality.

Soon she would be free.