LUKE

Quietly, Luke went back to his seat and soon, they landed and Cassian woke up with a huge stretch. Luke watched him with a knowing smile. Still not speaking. They gathered their things when Arthur poked his head out to say goodbye. He pulled Luke into a tight hug and emerged with a piece of paper in his hands. "Take this."

There was a number here.

"What—?" Before he could ask, Arthur already had the answer.

"Obviously, it's not mine, but it is a decent guy's number. Luke, I just hate the idea of you being all alone in that big house."

"I'm fine."

"Fine isn't good enough. You shouldn't let it be good enough." He put his hands on Luke's shoulders and declared, "It's your life. You deserve to be happy. I'm not saying you should give this young man a call, but he's nice, strong, and my nephew and I think you two could get along."

Luke let out a small smile. "Is that so? Well, thank you for caring."

"I'll always be here."

With a nod, Luke put the paper in his pocket and avoided Cassian's stare. His skin prickled from the attention. Everywhere they went, Luke was so aware of Cassian. His presence radiated from him and hit Luke like sun rays.

But Cassian didn't make a comment about it.

They climbed into the car Arthur called and rode through Paris towards Zipper's apartment. The streets were full and the buildings were closer together and compacted than Luke had imagined. Everything was both similar and yet, held little quirks of their own like most of humanity that wished to stand out. The trees were either lush with greenery or bursting with colors from the blooming cherry blossoms, apple trees, peonies, and tulips.

Elegant, stylish, and teaming with old world beauty. Paris itself felt like a page out of time. It screamed Iris Whitlock's name.

"This is unreal," Luke said, nearly bouncing from the excitement. Forgetting all about their fight, Luke looked at Cassian with the hope he was having as much fun as him. He was grinning so wide his cheek ached.

His arm resting on the door, Cassian was holding his chin up and watching Luke. Cassian had that crooked, wicked little smile and it gave Luke a funny feeling. Not a "haha" funny feeling. A funny that didn't make Luke laugh at all.

Cassian nodded. "It's very charming."

Luke looked back through the window, unable to digest the beautiful street full of beautiful people and cafes and shops because of the beautiful man next to him. Instead, he crammed the car with small talk, so maybe it would outweigh the growing tension.

For a while now the sparks between them were getting out of hand.

Sparks might be small, but even the smallest spark had the potential to start a forest fire.

The car ride didn't last long. Before Luke knew it, he was waltzing up the stairs to an old apartment building with red carpet living the stairs and wrought spindling iron for railing. They climb seven floors until they reached Iris's apartment. Luke held his breath, half thinking the key wouldn't twist, but he walked right inside to the foyer, walking again into another world.

The floors were a light wood and the walls were crisp white with intricate molding. He was greeted by a large round mirror and a small green velvet bench. There was a small table with a large shell shade plate for the key in his hand. Right in front of the mirror was a porcelain vase full of long dried up roses.

Glancing around the doorway, Luke's mouth opened as he took in the light of the huge French windows. Unlike their home in Virginia and the apartment in New York that was all maximalism and intricate and full and cluttered, this place was fresh, clean, and elegant in a way Iris typically reserved with her dress.

Not that it wasn't without the texture of rugs, the luxury of another ornate golden mirror on the mantel, or the softness of blue velvet couches, but it was just enough. Luke could throw his arms out and spin around without knocking anything over. He could never do that at home.

Luke shook his head.

"What?" Cassian asked. He appeared by Luke's side. Just when he needed Cassian. Always when he needed him the most. Without saying anything, Cassian still knew something was wrong. If Luke was braver, maybe he'd walked into Cassian's chest and rets his head above the dragon's heart. Maybe he'd ask for Cassian to warm him up.

If he was brave enough to play with fire.

Luke admitted, "For the past few months, I feel like I've never been closer to Iris... but I also sometimes feel like I've never really known her at all."

"Maybe..." Cassian crossed his arms. "But no one will know who Zipper was, but you."

Luke smile and stole a quick glance at Cassian before walking over to the window. He could see the Eiffel Tower from here. "Hey Cass..."

"Hmm?" Cassian answered and Luke heard him shuffle back to the foyer as he brought their luggage through the door.

"Did you and my grandmother ever..." Luke started to ask, but he didn't like the way he was asking it. "Were you two ever..."

"Ever what?" Cassian asked.

Luke looked at this man's face and he decided he never wanted to know the answer.

Ever.

If the curse didn't take Luke out, Cassian Alwyn was going to kill him.

"Never mind." Luke forced a smile and suggested, "Why don't we explore a little?"

"Or you can get out."

In an instant, Luke's bones hit the ceiling of his body and Cassian rushed back to Luke, pulling Luke behind him. The tension in the room crackled, while the temperature raised. Luke could already see the scales raising from Cassian's neck. "Who's there?" Cassian bellowed, ready to fight anything appeared, no matter the creature. "Show yourself."

"Where?" The voice echoed, jumping from the living room to the foyer and inside another room. There was a rasp to this voice, a baritone and covered this room in sweet molasses. "You'll have to be more specific."

Looking around, Luke tried to find signs of magic or a trick, but there was nothing. He touched Cassian's back, letting him know he wasn't going to try to move. "What are you?" Luke asked.

"Come a little closer and you'll see."

"Closer where?"

"Luke," Cassian said warningly, glaring at Luke over his shoulder. "You're playing right into it—"

"Luke?" The voice echoed. "You're not Luke."

Luke's face twisted into a scowl. He had never felt insulted by a disembodied voice before. Usually, people just insult him to his face. "Yes, I am."

"No. I don't believe it."

"Where are you? I'd like to face the person calling me a liar."

The voice's sigh swept through the room and ended up in the next one over. They spoke like this was the middle of the night and Luke was annoying child waking him up over a nightmare. He said, "Go to the study."

"Where is it?"

"The room with toilet. Where do you think?"

Sighing, Luke tapped his forehead into Cassian's back with a wall absent. Cassian shook his head, but he didn't argue. He knew Luke was going to go towards the voice no matter how much Cassian disagreed.

"Just follow the sound of my voice..."

Reaching behind him, Cassian took Luke's hand and they followed the voice together. Luke squeezed his hand and stared at his wide shoulders. It also struck Luke that there were more mirrors. There must've been a mirror on every wall.

"This way..."

Cassian pushed open a door and at first, all Luke could see was a huge mirror leaning against the wall. This mirror unlike all the rest, its frame carved from intricately carved metal that more geometrical and arching than any other designs in the house. They walked inside a little deeper and Luke looked around, only finding a small secretary desk by another window that upon closer inspection led to a balcony. There were a few more dead plants and the smallest bookshelf with very little anything.

"Just as I thought..."

Straightening up, Luke's eyes pinned on the mirror, and he noticed a cloudy blue and gold haze. Luke took a step towards the glass, realizing he wasn't reflecting inside of it and from the clouds, a man appeared wearing an incredibly sleek black tuxedo with wide lapels and a bowtie. For the past few months from listening to records with Cassian, Luke knew a crooner when he saw one.

This man had cool onyx skin, short black curls styled back and shiny. His dark eyes read sleepy to Luke from their shape and the heavy bags underneath. The only imperfection of maybe one of those most gorgeous men Luke had ever seen. Noticeably symmetrical as if the either side of his face were perfect mirror images.

Luke's feet moved on their own as he was compelled closer and closer, wondering if this was real or not. The man in the mirror glared the way a needle poked through cotton. "You're not Luke." The scowl deepened. "You don't look anything like Darren."

"What? You knew my dad—" Luke straightened. No one had ever said that to him before. He didn't mean to shout, but he was surprised to be offended by a stranger today. "Well! You know, I had a mother—and that's just not true at all! I get told all the time that I have the Whitlock profile." Luke took his index finger and lined his profile to the mirror, whose expression didn't change.

"I'm not buying it."

"I'm not trying to sell it to you! Who-whoever you are."

"I've never seen this before," Cassian mumbled as he walked around Luke, examining the wall and the backside of the mirror.

The man inside stumbled a little. "Watch it! I'll have you know, I am The Magic Mirror and I don't negotiate with burglars. You broke into this apartment, so you can find your way out again."

Pulling the keys from his pocket, Luke let the little sunflower keychain dangle between their eyes. Luke smirked, happy to provide evidence of being absolutely right. "I didn't break in. Iris left the apartment to me, so I have the key. Is this proof enough for you to see that I'm Luke Whitlock?"

"I would believe she left the apartment to Luke, but you're not Luke. Besides, I've already caught you in a lie. Iris's grandson's name was Luke Astor."

Cassian sighed. He crossed his arms and only looked at Luke. "Why are we arguing with this thing?"

The Magic Mirror ignored him and continued. "There's something wrong with you. Something not right. Luke was a normal kid and there's something very not normal about you."

"What's that supposed to even mean?" Luke asked the mirror and then, turned the same question to Cassian. "Do you know what he's talking about? Do you see something I'm not seeing?"

Cassian opened his mouth like he did have an answer but snapped his mouth shut instead and grimaced. "We're probably not seeing the same thing."

"What—?" Luke started to ask, growing more and more frustrated with his own questions. He felt like he was in the loop and then unceremoniously pushed out of it.

Raising his deep baritone voice, The Magic Mirror said, "Even if I wanted to explain it to you slowly and with very few unintelligent words, I can't. I'm under an enchantment. I couldn't spill any of Iris's secrets, even if I tried."

"But you do know something," Cassian pointed out.

Luke huffed. "Why would she enchant you with that?"

Rolling his eyes, the mirror said, "Because I am not just any magic mirror. I am THE Magic Mirror... I am an all-knowing, all-seeing magical glass. I am the reflection of humanity, time, history, and magic."

"You're not that special. We have Google."

"And I'm not telling you anything unless you give me the magic word. Only then I might believe you're actually Iris's grandson."

Obviously, this wasn't going to get them anywhere. Luke shook his head, the pinch of irritation twisting in his chest. He couldn't get over one detail. "If you know everything, why don't you know that I am Luke? Where do you think Luke is?"

"Dead."

The word dropped at their feet as heavy as a dumbbell. Cassian dropped his arms and stepped a foot ahead of Luke as if The Magic Mirror was picking a fight. What felt like ice water spilled down the back of Luke's neck.

Unbothered, the mirror explained, "I believe Luke is dead. Died of heart complications at age seven but based on superstition that the Whitlock family oh so loved, I believe the curse killed him."

"I'm so sick of talking about this curse," Cassian grumbled and walked out of the room.

His face hot, Luke spoke, but he didn't recognize the soft nature of his voice. He rubbed the front of his chest, right over the surgical scare trailing down the middle. "Um, well I didn't. Um, I was given a heart transplant in time before anything happened to me."

Sighing, the mirror rubbed his chin. "But Iris still died... that would mean it wasn't broken."

"Broken? Like the curse could be broken?" Luke didn't like the flare of promise sparking inside of him. He didn't like the taste of hope or being on the bright side of anything. Luke never wanted more. Why want more when it wouldn't last? When he'd never have the time to enjoy it. Luke was happy with contentment.

"That was what many hypothesized if you were to survive but I still don't think Luke did. Whoever you are, there's something wrong about you."

Sweeping back into the room, Cassian had a balled up sheet in his arms. "That's enough of you for today." Cassian threw the light blue sheet over the glass and immediately, Luke could hear the mirror in the other room huff.

"That's just rude!"

"You would know!" Cassian snapped back.

Luke rubbed his shirt up to his neck where he closed his eyes and focused n his heartbeat. He was alive. Still very much alive. When he opened his eyes again, Cassian moved closer in front of him. The big scary dragon looked wilted and wracked with worry as he searched Luke's face. With a small smile, Luke asked him, hand still over his heart, "When you said you probably saw something different about me, what do you see?"

"You remember that, huh?" Cassian smirked.

"That doesn't answer the question."

Taking a breath, Cassian fingertips lightly grazed Luke's cheek and he caressed Luke's hair. His warm hand glided down the back of his neck, finding a place to rest there as Cassian's thumb grazed the bottom Luke's ear. Luke's heartbeat fluttered faster than hummingbird wings as all the cold bounding his body lost its grip, melting away and Luke's defenses with it. Here in Cassian's hands, Luke never felt more vulnerable.

Luke still hadn't met a witch yet, but Luke wondered if this was magic brewing between them.

There was still the burn mark in the foyer when Cassian threatened to burn the house down. Trees by the yard have been knocked down time and time again by Cassian's dragon form knocking them down without care. They didn't own champagne glasses anymore because Luke never had the ones Cassian broke replaced.

This gentle caress was nothing like that.

It was softer than clouds, than a perfect summer breeze.

"When I..." Cassian said, but started again, his stare pinning Luke in place. "When I look at you, I know there's no one in this world like you. I'll have to agree with the mirror on one thing. That there is something different about you, but there's nothing wrong with you, Luke. There's only so much right about you."

In Luke's pocket, his phone buzzed once. It was probably a text message, but neither of them moved. Luke was still mesmerized by the look in Cassian's eyes. He had seen that look before. Maybe once before from Cassian, but plenty of times from other men. This look was warning for what was to come next. What came next...

Luke jumped the way you'd retract from touching a hot pan. He turned, pulling away from Cassian's touch. With shaky hands, he took out his phone and saw Astrid's message, asking if everything was alright. He called her immediately and walked onto the balcony. He welcomed the breeze. He used Astrid happily for the distraction... but that didn't stop Luke from feeling Cassian move around in the next room.

Resting against the door, Luke couldn't catch his breath. He fussed with his bangs, moving them to check his temperature as his heart wouldn't settle.

This.

This might kill him.

But he didn't feel like letting The Magic Mirror being right today. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Update #2 ~ And we have a new friend at the party! The Magic Mirror. Well, is he really a friend if he keeps saying you're dead? Lol. He's a big reason this chapter became so long XD I'm gonna have a lot of fun with his character. 

Like I said in the last chapter, if I get something wildly wrong about Paris, please let me know! I've never been and I'm using Google and Youtube for my information. But tell me what you thought about the chapter! The Magic Mirror is so cryptic 🙄 Who does he think he is? A Miss Bonnett character? Oh wait... And these boys!! When are they ever gonna kiss?? 

👀👀👀👀

See you guys next week 😘