A.N thanks a bunch to all my supporters keep up with the reviews, same as I shall keep up with OHL. I have no idea when the actual thing will be introduced, but obviously I don't want to hurry and insert it in a sloppy manner, so I'm afraid it won't be in this chapter, but soon.
Read on, and enjoy.
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Chapter 5
THE SHATTERED MIRROREllen made her way to Gerald and whispered to him, looking sombre and tired, her serene face lined with worry. Gerald listened silently, nodded a few times, then quickly mounted the stairs with his wife to her office. Pork and Dilcey carried the family's supper in the dining room, where the table was already set, and the windows closed against the night chill.
The candles themselves gave the house interior a very warm and cosy feel, as the servants bustled their way in the kitchen to have their supper; they would eat first, so that they could serve the O'Hara's and whatever guests would be dining with them, but because Ellen returned home later, they had to sometimes eat the remnants of what had been a warm meal.
Suellen descended the stairs and sat down in her usual place next to her mother, during prayers, waiting patiently for the grown ups to arrive. Scarlett had been unable to join them lately, something that both annoyed her and pleased her, because she was usually lonely without her big sister bossing her around. However, this also meant she received more attention from her parents, though a bit less from her father. Because Suellen was still of such a young age, she didn't really understand why her father always spent more time with Scarlett. There were no hindrances such as daddy's favourite in her young mind, but she'd soon learn to envy Scarlett's ability to keep Gerald to herself.
Suellen hummed a little nursery rhyme her mother had taught her and Scarlett, feet tapping impatiently against the chair legs. Where was mother? Suellen didn't understand how such a mysterious thing as time worked, but she understood far better that her stomach was rumbling because she wanted feeding.Although Ellen had told her that she needn't join in the evening prayers, Scarlett always attended them; Suellen couldn't see why she wasn't to be allowed, and decided she was going to be a big girl like her bossy sister and join mother and Pa.
The door opened and the scent of roasted lamb with buttered potatoes and carrots, to be finished with a delicious apple pie made their way subtly to the girl's nose.As soon as she smelled the aroma coming from the kitchen, she inhaled deeply, and made noises of appreciation. Mammy bustled in, setting the chairs to be used for prayer, exactly like Mrs. O'Hara wanted them, arranged in a semi-circle facing the windows.She noticed Suellen sitting on a chair in the far corner, humming to herself with an impatient frown on her little face as she stared up at the stairs.
Mammy inwardly chuckled; the lamb was probably waiting for Miz Ellen and Mist' Gerald to come on down for them evenin' prayers.Suellen's stomach grumbled loudly; she caressed it with her hands, an impatient sigh escaping her.
"Is you wanting to have yo' supper now, Miz Suellen? I kin go tell Cookie to take a little buttered roll fo' ya, if n' you sits in your chair in the dining room."Suellen looked up at her mammy seriously, as seriously as a five year old girl can muster, and replied that she would wait for mother to join the evening prayers, and then they could all have supper together. Mammy grumbled approvingly, looking at Ellen's second girl trying to act all grown up and lady-like, but the next moment she frowned.She didn't say anything of this, of course, but Mammy just didn't think it was fitting for such a small child to have to wait for her supper because the O'Hara spouses were tied up in the plantation's accounts upstairs.
"I'll go see what your mother's up to, chile, you jest sets there in that chair, quiet like a bird." Suellen got up and raced to the windows, where she pressed her nose on the glass pane and placed her hands on the cool glass. It was getting quite late now, all the field hands were already home to their families. The paths that lead to the fields were deserted and dark, invisible in the inky black night.
Suellen looked up at the stars, content that she could see them tonight. She fancied they were winking at her, twinkling up so high because she wanted them to, they were fast friends.
Ellen entered the parlor and drew next to her usual chair, Gerald at her heels, a solemn look upon his face as he noticed Suellen's happy smile. Ellen was the first to speak.
"Suellen darling, why don't you go tell Mammy to serve your supper now? You must be terribly hungry, after all it was quite a long time ago that you had your cakes and afternoon tea."
Suellen piped up that she'd been waiting for her and Pa to come downstairs for their evening prayers, because she was a big girl like Scarlett and could wait for her supper just a little longer. Ellen smiled serenely at her youngest child, but Gerald's features darkened at the mention of Scarlett's name. Suellen noticed this, and at first thought that Pa was angry with her for acting out of place, but her quickly developing mind rested on something else. Maybe her sister had done something wrong again, and Mammy was scolding her right now. Suellen felt elated that Scarlett wouldn't get any attention form anyone now, and no supper, too.She could go see her later on in the evening, just before bed-time, and goad her about how delicious supper was that night, with the buttered potatoes, and the creamy apple pie, and the roast beef, and the vegetables –
Vegetables?
Bleargh!
Who likes them green soggy things anyway?
Maybe she wouldn't taunt Scarlett about them; after all, nobody liked eating them, not even to make mother happy and get Mammy to stop frowning in disapproval. Before she even noticed it, they were sat down at the dinner table and began eating quietly.Her parents made polite conversation, each lost in some far place in their own thoughts, whilst the roast beef, then dessert were served.Suellen tasted the roast beef and declared she was a big girl and was going to finish everything in her plate.Ellen smiled indulgently at her, then returned to speak quietly to her husband, whom was tucking in his own vegetables and meat like a starved field hand.Ellen pursed her lips in disapproval at her husband's enthusiastic table manners, but said nothing.
Dinner was a quiet affair, for although she was glad Scarlett was still upstairs, she kind of missed her company, because now she hadn't anyone to talk to.Her parents made small comments here and there, when she was saying something, but Suellen didn't receive the fussing attention she was expecting.When Ellen dismissed her, saying it was time for her bath, then bed time, Mammy helped the child out of her chair and guided her upstairs.Suellen stopped a few feet away from her sister's room, a thoughtful expression on her childish face.Everything was quiet.It looked as though Scarlett was already asleep.A shiver of delight ran through her – Pa would be telling her a bedtime story tonight, because her silly sister was sleeping.She triumphantly stuck out her tongue at the closed door.It was a pity that Scarlett hadn't been here, so that they could have a go at their tongue battle, but perhaps it was better this way.This way, Suellen had won, just once she had bested her older sister.
Mammy grabbed her wrist and scolded her for acting so silly outside her sister's room; if she was goan' act like a big girl, she was old enough to stop sticking her pink tongue out, 'fore she'd catch flies, then what would she do, with a mouthful of insects?Suellen's bottom lip quivered, then pouted in distress.Why did Mammy have to spoil her fun, now that she'd won over Scarlett?She was quiet all the way through her bath and her toilette, occasionally crying out lustily when Mammy brushed on some tangled locks of her golden hair.
The girl sat up quietly in her bed, waiting impatiently for her mother to come tuck her in, and her Pa to come tell her a story.She got bored of waiting and got out of bed, heading for her chest of toys, where her precious dolls where lovingly kept.Suellen frowned when she opened the box.Sophia was missing again, her pretty dark locks and pink dress didn't stand out anymore.She'd been told time and again that Sophia was Gerald's special present for Scarlett, but that didn't mean that she couldn't play with her, too.After all, if she was to wear some of Scarlett's old dresses, she was to share her lovely doll with her as well.
Suellen stamped her foot and started crying loudly.Mammy bustled in quickly, shushing Suellen and scolding her for getting out of bed.This caused the child's wails to become even louder, her pretty face scrunched up in an attempt to look pitiful and rendering.However, it was easier to climb a tree and jump off the highest branch than tying to manipulate Mammy, whom was staring down at her impassively. Her mouth tightened with disapproval as seconds ticked by and Suellen wailed and whined.Then, just as quickly as they came, her tears stopped.
Suellen saw that this was not getting her way, and stopped sobbing, gulping in a breath, before sniffling miserably.
"Is you finished crying like white trash children, Miz Suellen? You done gone and ruined your pretty face now, with all them blotchy cheeks and them tears; you go wash it off this minute, then get into bed like a good girl."
There was no room for argument, no small leeway to take advantage of and plead with Mammy in an attempt to get her own way. Young she may be, but the child knew exactly when she was defeated, something she'd learned as soon as she could walk from her sister Scarlett. Her sister, whom was now asleep, with her precious Sophia clutched tightly to her chest, whilst Suellen was in here, miserably trying to win her way into Mammy's approval and –
Suellen sighed, and quietly did as she was told, resenting being the youngest with a fierceness that did not become her at all.Tomorrow she'd make sure Scarlett was every bit as miserable as she herself was tonight. But first she'd have a yummy breakfast, play with Pa for awhile, maybe even go riding with him over the fields, then she' make sure Scarlett couldn't get out of bed again, before taunting her.Satisfied with her simple plan, Suellen got into bed and let Mammy pull the covers up to her chin, and dim the lights. Ellen entered the room some time later, when Suellen was almost asleep, but perked up when she saw the door open to reveal her mother. Ellen kissed her daughter on the forehead and bade her good night; she knew it was very late and there was no need to try to cajole Suellen to stay in bed and get to sleep, because she was half-asleep already.She switched the lights off, then set the lamp back on the tall chest of drawers, letting herself out quietly.
"Where's pa, mother? Is he going to tell me a bedtime story?"
Ellen paused on the threshold before murmuring serenely that Gerald was off to check on Scarlett and make sure she'd eaten her supper. With another whispered good night, Ellen left a very upset Suellen in the dark of her room, with nothing but disappointment and jealousy to keep her company with the shadows, through the night.
Gerald opened the door then shut it softly behind him, careful not to make much noise, in case she wasn't awake.His head turned and he smiled when he saw eyes as green as a cat's fixed on him.
"Well now, Puss, be you feeling better tonight? Have you eaten all your good food?"
He walked towards the bed where his eldest child lay quietly, swallowed up by the large frame. Her eyes were slightly feverish, and her brow was slightly moist with sweat, but Scarlett looked alert and stronger. Gerald saw that she'd eaten sparingly, and frowned slightly. The soup was almost untouched, and although the crumbs on the tray signified the bread rolls were gone, the ham and gravy were half-eaten, with a couple of potatoes still stewing in butter. He wouldn't force the child to eat more if she wasn't up to it, but he would have been much happier knowing Scarlett had at least regained her appetite. He fished out his pocket-knife and started cutting an green apple in small bites, so that she could chew and swallow better.
"Here now darling, you eat these little pieces for me, and I tells you a story the likes of which you haven't heard, no mistake about it."
Scarlett slowly raised herself up on a sitting position, Sophia now lay abandoned on the pillow next to hers. Her eyes shined with some of the old earnest as they settled on her father's face, and she almost smiled with delight as he prepared to tell her another wonderful tale. Gerald smiled kindly when his daughter acted almost as she used to every night, when' he'd come in to wish her sweet dreams and tell her the stories he'd been told as a child by his Ma.
"Was there a little princess in a castle, with a puppy and a kitten and a pony? Did the handsome prince rescue her when her evil sister locked her up in the dead lord's tower?"
Gerald chuckled lightly and began his story, his baritone voice soothing in the bedroom where the late night crept in silently, despite the lit oil lamps. As he told his story, he fed Scarlett small little pieces of apple, and she took them all obediently, her hunger now returning.
Her father managed to go as far as feeding her the last ham and potatoes before she complained of feeling ill again, and tired. He stopped speaking, his eyes now cast down as Scarlett lay down under the covers, which he pulled up to her chest. Her drowsy "Night Pa" reached his ears as he bent down to smooth the hair away from her face and kiss her cool cheek. He smiled at her before her eyes closed; he switched off all the oil lamps then exited quietly and headed for his own bedroom.
In the morning Mammy bustled in carrying Scarlett's breakfast on a tray, which she set down onto the low table by the window.She walked over to the bed, where the girl was still asleep, and felt her forehead, then smiled in satisfaction. She checked on her all throughout the night, to make sure her temperature had not raised, and now the colour had returned to her cheeks, a healthy flush that pleased Mammy to no end. She set out to wake her young mistress, then opened the curtains and raised the window ever so slightly, to let some clean air inside; the room smelled faintly but unpleasantly of sickness.
Scarlett opened her eyes slowly and turned as she heard Mammy set the breakfast plates in an ordered manner on the tray, before she turned round and smiled.
"Howz my lamb feeling this morning? Is you hungry for Cookie's breakfast, chile?"
Scarlett did not reply, but her eyes hungrily fixed on the food before her were all the reply the black woman needed. As the morning progressed, Scarlett managed to take a bath and get dressed, though it took a lot of cajoling on her part and the promise to not go anywhere, before a stern Mammy reluctantly agreed to let her go sit out on the porch.
"But you be wearing that pretty little blue shawl what you got last month, Miz Scarlett. And your dress got to be woolly and have long sleeves, 'fore you catch your death outside."
It was a very surprised and pleased Gerald that found his daughter sitting outside in the porch, happily playing with Sophia, and humming the merry tune of the 'Elizabeth and the fairy tower' story.
"Well now, Katie Scarlett! So, you've been getting out of your bed and coming outside of the house! Are you feeling better this morning, Puss?"
Scarlett happily replied that she was feeling mighty fine and that Mammy had given her permission to stay outside for a while, after Ellen had agreed to let her go.
"I've been waiting for you to come find me all morning Pa! Will you play with me?"
"I've been looking for my darling all morning too! Went as far as looking for you in the nursery before your mother told me where you were. It's surprised I was to hear you were feeling a heap better this morning, young missy."
Scarlett smiled when he sat her on his lap, and she kissed his cheek exuberantly, but then a slight frown marred her features.
"Why would you be looking in Suellen's room for me, Pa? You know how she's always jealous of me, and I don't like her whining."
Gerald's stern frown made her pout.
"Now darling, don't you be getting all uppity about your sister! Mrs. O'Hara would not be pleased to hear you speak in such manner of your young sister. I don't like it, Katie. Your sister deserves the respect her five years gain her, and she loves you dearly."
"Yes, and she takes my things all the time without asking me! She's only happy when she beats me at games, or her dress is prettier than mine. And last week she grabbed Sophia by the hair and threw her down the stairs, and shouted that if she wasn't going to be allowed to play with her, she would break her!"
Thinking about the horrible fate that Sophia almost met with left Scarlett looking cross, and unhappy. Gerald sensed she wasn't telling lies, and comforted her, murmuring he'd speak to Mammy and Mrs. O'Hara about it, and Suellen would stop being so nasty for sure. Scarlett smiled in satisfaction and settled more comfortably in her father's arms.
"Now Katie Scarlett, how would you like to have a wee little dog or a kitten to play with? Would that make my Puss happy?"
Scarlett's happy cries were more than enough for him. Paying no heed to the fact that she should not be doing anything tiring, or even go further than the porch, Gerald hollered for one of the stable boys to saddle his horse, he and his daughter would go out for a ride.
Mammy began shouting as she saw Mr. O'Hara mounting his horse, Scarlett firmly protected by his arms holding the reins. When he went as far as to actually trot towards the fields, her angry shouts turned into indignant screeching, that reached the unhappy ears of Ellen O'Hara.
When they returned, it was almost lunch-time. Gerald dismounted and reached for his daughter, whom was now happily smiling and clutching safely a small white kitten. He set her down next to him then held her hand as they walked to wards the stables, to make sure the horse was taken care of by one of the stable boys. Then they returned slowly to the house, where Mammy was waiting for them right behind the front door, her chest heaving with indignation, features quivering with a stern disapproval.
She didn't usually dare to reprimand Mr. O'Hara, but this time he had gone too far; she told him so and showed him so, by going as far as stepping up to him and let her anger loose. Gerald for his part looked stunned at first, then his eyes steadily changed to a stormy grey, a very bad sign indeed. He jerked his chin at the angry black woman standing in front of him, then he spoke sharply, his voice clipped, devoid of the usual warmth.
"I'll not have you scolding me in such a manner, Mammy; she's me own daughter, so she is, and If I want to take her out for a ride around the fields, I'll have no one telling me what I will and won't do. Now see about settling her in for a while before lunch, I must speak to Mrs. O'Hara."
And that was that.
Mammy stormed upstairs, holding Scarlett's hand in an iron grip, muttering angrily that the "…man had no shred of sense in that thick head of his; he ain't got no business taking Miz Scarlett out for a ride so soon after the illness, wearing her out, after Miss Ellen and I done laboured with her to get her to rights again!"
In the mean time, Scarlett was admiring and softly petting the little kitten resting on the palm of her hand; she'd never really held something alive that was so small and so cute before, and she was enthralled with the kitten's mewls and purrs as she stroked its tiny head. Although it wasn't anything but a barn cat, and decidedly plain, its alert green eyes took in everything that surrounded it; it was playful and vivacious enough to be a perfect match for the bubbly little girl.
As soon as Suellen saw Scarlett's new present, she declared loudly that she wanted to hold the kitten and stroke it, too. Scarlett wouldn't let her near the animal, of course, which ensued in a vicious battle of name-calling, and hair pulling and tongues sticking out. Suellen's face was positively red with wailing by the time Ellen stepped inside to see what was the matter.
"Girls, what on earth are you doing?"
Suellen immediately approached her and pulled on her skirts to get her absolute attention, sobbing and gulping that Scarlett was mean and wouldn't let her hold the white kitten. It took a while to separate the two girls, who immediately started pulling their tongues out at each other, and settle the matter. Scarlett was just protecting Suellen by not letting her near the animal, because it was dirty and could scratch her.
The young woman led her youngest child out of the room to avoid more conflicts with her sister, although she would have to speak to Scarlett too, later that day.Best when they were alone, deaf to all other ears, especially those of her husband.
Ellen frowned.
Gerald was being stubborn and argumentative, but then he couldn't possibly be anything else, but where his Katie Scarlett was concerned, it was quite simply impossible to reason with him about almost anything. Of course, if something was to be done because it was for the girl's best interests, Gerald would readily agree to it, no mistaking this.But Ellen did not find the manner in which he so obviously favoured their eldest, especially when Suellen was around. He was by no means neglecting towards any of the girls, but his inexplicable love for Scarlett was almost, well …Ellen couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she knew that it was improper and unacceptable. Growing up the way she had, with Eulalie and Pauline forever living in constant trepidation and a fearful respect of both her parents, something she had had no choice but to share.
Of course, she loved her daughters very much; Ellen O'Hara was no stranger to motherhood. Everyone described her as kind, thoughtful, devout and compassionate, not to mention just, and intelligent. Those were the attributions the entire county pegged on her, and she was of course glad for such praise. There was very little she wouldn't do for the sake of her girls' happiness, but deep inside herself, where she rarely dwelt because there were many things that weren't appropriate for a lady to feel, there was this niggling feeling that she could love her daughters even more if they became exactly what she wanted them to be, and always behave as she'd teach them. Ellen never paused to ponder whether this sentiment was right or wrong; she simply pushed it at the back of her mind, and set out to make plans for the girls, especially Scarlett, since she was approaching being a young woman.
Soon, she thought, with a happy feeling of anticipation. Soon she'd have their girls exactly where she wanted them, this time her husband would have no say in it, precious Katie Scarlett or not.
Scarlett giggled as the kitten swiped its small paw at her face, where she was dangling a piece of blue string. Chantal, for that was what she had called her, was a very funny little kitten indeed. She liked to play with Scarlett and to chase around a little ball of yarn Mammy had especially made for her, but she loved more being caressed and wounding herself around Scarlett's ankles, and even more to be clean. Chantal was a very fastidious cat; she groomed herself thoroughly many times a day, and Scarlett enjoyed watching her meticulously clean her pristine white fur. She'd tried giving the little creature a bath the other morning.
The sweet, fuzzy little face instantly transformed itself in an enraged grimace of spitting and hissing, even going as far as to lightly dig her claws in Scarlett's arm as she tried to force her closer to the small little bath-tub. Needless to say Scarlett never went near her again with the intention of bathing her fur. Of course, sometimes Chantal escaped the confines of her room and went in search of other excitement, such as the kitchen, where endless amounts of milk-flowing heaven awaited her if she found her wait to the stocking pantry.
If she found her way; Cookie was as fierce about what to let inside her kitchen as ever. A neat, tidy kitchen did not include a spitting ball of dirty fur who was going to ruin her clean floor. There was no place for such a thing.
When Suellen finally managed to get her hands on the kitten, she was disappointed to discover she couldn't dress her up or have a tea party; the kitten was only interested in ruining her doll's dresses and scratching her arms and face, and finally settle on her cushion for a light nap. Scarlett laughed at her when she burst through her door in one of her childish fits of whining that the cat was tearing all her dresses and had even ruined her favourite doll's face, by taking out one of the eyes with a sharp claw.Gerald and Ellen and even Mammy were the recipients of such tales for the next couple of weeks, but by then it became apparent that kitten had reached a certain stage where some things weren't amusing anymore, and settled down.
Scarlett hummed quietly as she brushed her hair that night in rhythmic strokes, like Mammy taught her, although she still hadn't the patience to go as far as the preset one hundred strokes. Hair meant stroking and playing, and Scarlett wasn't interested to have it neat and tidy just yet, although it wouldn't be long that such thoughts were planted into her head.A soft patter against the windows indicated it was still raining, and she sighed with annoyance.
She and Pa hadn't been able to go for their usual ride to day because the weather was too foul to be frolicking outside, which meant she had to spend her entire day playing with Suellen; that had been no fun. Even Chantal didn't seem to be in the mood for much playing, for all she was interested in these days was to find ways to climb high, or clean her fur, or sleep. Scarlett wished she had a puppy, because Pa told her how dogs were very loyal to their masters and never refused playing with children. Perhaps she'd get one for Christmas along with her long – desired pony.She giggled in anticipation at the thought of leaving Suellen crying behind when she and Pa would go galloping into the warm sun and fertile fields of Tara, a barking puppy at her heels as she spurred her pony to go faster.
When Mammy knocked on her door to let her know it was time for her to get into bed, Scarlett obediently set the brush down and wished the old woman good night.As she got up from the little stool in front of the small little table where she kept her mirror and brush and toiletries, she heard a soft swish behind her.She turned her head to stare at the bed, where Chantal was sprawled happily asleep.
Scarlett shrugged then turned back to stare outside the windows, coming round the side of the dressing table. Her fingers touched the cold, smooth surface of the mirror Mother had given her last year, telling her it was very precious and to be careful not to break it.
The rain wasn't coming down as hard or as fast as it had done for the rest of that day, and Scarlett inwardly hoped that tomorrow would let her get out of the house. Pa wouldn't be coming tonight to tell her a story, he was out doing manly things with some other men from neighbouring plantation, at a salon in Jonesboro.Or was it 'saloon'? What did Pa usually do there?
He'd once whispered to her that he drank and sang happy Irish songs and played cards with the other gentlemen, but that Mrs. O'Hara wasn't to know any of it. Scarlett had giggled and whispered back that she would keep it secret.
She turned off the small oil lamp and the room was pitched in sudden darkness. Scarlett returned to the dressing table, which she could see because of some light from outside bathing it softly and making it visible, when she suddenly halted in her tracks, her body frozen.
She'd just felt something brush her arm, but was sure there was no Suellen playing jokes on her because she'd said good night to her hours ago.
Chantal was still purring softly on the bed, where nothing could reach her I her milk-stained dreams of leaps and scratches and fur-grooming.
Scarlett's heart was beating quite fast from the sudden feeling of something brushing her arm, then quickly told herself she was just tired and had imagined it from one of Pa's stories about the little people. But Pa said there were no little people here in America, whatever that meant.Maybe Tara had its own secret population of mischief makers; perhaps its own fields were secretly littered with tiny holes where the Fairies lived.
Against her own will, Scarlett's mind returned to that rainy afternoon in the woods, with Suellen desperately chasing her.Her mind brought up dark images of a whispering dead tree, of being cold and alone in the fog.A whimper managed to escape her tightly sealed lips.That cold feeling had returned, where it started at the tips of her fingers and slowly swept its way up her arm and through her chest, where it settled uncomfortably and forced her heart to jump in her throat and beat even faster.She hurriedly back away a couple of steps as her eyes feverishly scanned the darkened room for a presence of some kind, but couldn't see much, except for some furniture touched by the light outside.
Her hand touched the mirror again, just as the sharp edges of the table connected with her lower back.She brought up the small hand-held mirror to reflect her face without even knowing why she was doing such a thing when there was no light.Then cold fingers wrapped around her throat, and she was startled so much her body locked in fear, and couldn't move.The fingers were so cold and so unwelcome and so horribly threatening she couldn't even force her throat to make a sound, to scream in fright.
Hello, Katie Scarlett.
Her heart smashed strongly in her rib cage, breaths now coming in gasping wheezes.The mirror was tightly clenched in her hand, digging painfully into her palm, but it was the only thing that kept her from sinking into the fog again, so Scarlett instinctively held on tighter.The thing didn't speak at all for some seconds that felt like they were entire lifetimes, then forcefully pulled her into its cold embrace, effectively trapping her.
What a pretty little mirror you have there; did you know that mirrors are the only things that show us what we are really like?
They don't lie, the old mirrors, they don't mock or twist their faces in false sweetness whilst seething inside…they show you exactly how horrible people can be, with their wretched greediness, and their desire to put themselves above everything, and their false dreams of long-gone chivalry – but you don't understand such things yet, do you child?
Why don't you look then, young Katie Scarlett?
Then her arm was forced upwards, until the mirror was parallel to her face.There was a reflected image of a small face, staring with its wide, frightened eyes as bands of darkness moulded in her face, and tangled in her hair, freezing her.With an abrupt, convulse movement she drew in a horrified breath and let out a frightened shriek.
The darkness was surrounding her again, she couldn't feel the table anymore, nor the floor beneath her feet, she could feel the same fog pulling her in, choking her till she couldn't see or breathe, till she drowned with it.The girl backed into a corner and screamed as though she was breathing with it. Scarlett kept on screaming till her throat hurt and the sound reverberated painfully in her own ears.
The scattered silver, jagged pieces from the mirror lay like scattered leaves on the floor, next to the mirror itself, which lay with its scratched surface facing the ceiling.
Twisting lines made their way over the surface, till they reached the edges and mirror cracked then shattered in millions of small pieces; the sound was like that of the screaming girl huddling in a far corner of a cold, dark room.