Mirrors are lined with silver, gold; some are new, some tarnished and old. The hall of mirrors has been an attraction in Faircliff for years. It was my roommate Maria's idea to come. She said, we need to do something epic before we have to go off into the real world. I'm not sure what part of her world isn't real, but I've been stuck in the real world for a while.

Rumors of a death here have led to less crowds. It would have been okay if we weren't standing in a place that just a few short months ago was a crime scene. They never found the body, and that's the scariest part. Gretchen Thomas was a student at Faircliff University, just two years behind us. No one knows the full story; we only know the rumours the media feeds us.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand as if I'm being watched, no one is around. I round the corner to the curved mirrors looking for Maria. My instincts tell me I'm alone. My heart skips a beat.

I decide heading back in the direction of the door is best, but as I turn I realize I've gone the wrong way. The hallway narrows and the lighting is dull. A strange mist starts rolling in from nowhere and surrounds me. It comes in fast. I don't have a chance to escape.

"Maria?" I yell, but receive no response.

Up ahead the mist starts clears revealing a silver ornate mirror entwined with blood roses and snarling gargoyles perched on top. The mist dances along the bottom making it look like a tombstone in a graveyard under a dense fog.

A force I can't control pulls me towards the mirror. The strange thing is my reflection is missing. With a shaky hand I touch the glass, it's hot under my finger tips and ripples like waves in the ocean. I touch it a second time and the ripples pull apart as the mirror swallows me whole.

It's hot as hell here and silver-grey specks of what looks like ash fall down like it's raining. My nose burns with the scent of burning wood. Ahead of me is a long concrete hallway dimly lit with a yellow light. Behind me the mirror is there, but the hallway is not. This has to be some kind of trick mirror.

"Hello?" I yell at the mirror.

My voice echoes, but there's no reply. I step into a hallway lined with old steel cells. I tell myself this is just part of the attraction and the exit is close by. Out of nowhere a dirty bloody hand wraps around the bar in the fourth cell on my right. I scream and step back smacking into something rock solid.

I turn and come face to face with a naked chest.They are taller than any man I've ever seen. I lift my gaze as violet eyes glare at me. I gasp, standing before me is a man with pointy ears, a full mane of hair that flows just above his pecks, and black horns that curl up joining at the top.

His scorching hot hand grabs mine and he pulls me. The cell bars start to rattle, and chaos ensues. Hoots, hollers, cries and screams ring out from inside the cages. The last cell holds a familiar face, but I can't figure out where I've seen it before. I'm pulled away from it too fast to get a better look.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask.

"Quiet human," he growls. "I don't know how all of you keep getting through, the boss isn't going to be happy."

"The boss?"

"Quiet."

His hold tightens and I hiss as it burns. I want to ask him what he is, but I don't get the chance. I'm thrown into an elevator and go barreling into the wall. The elevator jerks and drops suddenly like the Tower of Terror at Disney - only much worse. Seconds later it stops with a hard jolt and I fly into the wall again. Pain ripples through me and I groan. There's wetness on my temple as blood drips down my face.

He grabs me so fast I have to scramble to my feet to catch up. It's hotter down here. I'm surrounded by dirt walls and lava flowing through them. My vision is blurry, probably from the impact of hitting what I think was my head. Everything blurs together; the lava, the dirt walls, the huge fire burning in the distance. We stop and he throws me at the feet of an oversized man sitting on a raven black throne with lava cascading down behind him like a waterfall. I can't see his face, it's covered by a black hooded robe. My head spins and I feel like I might pass out, but before I do the man lifts his head enough that I can just see the golden gleam in his eyes.

~     ~     ~

I wake in a dirty cell surrounded by groaning noises. I stand and dust off my jeans. My body is drenched in sweat, blood and dirt. Across from me green eyes watch me, a young girl rests her head on the bar of her cell.

"Do I know you?"

She shakes her head, "I'm Gretchen."

Her voice is hoarse, like she hasn't drank in days. Her face pale and bloody.

"You're the missing girl."

She nods, then places a finger over her lips to shush me. The prisoners go crazy again, the sound hurts my ears. I cover them. The violet eye'd creature stands before me and tugs open my cell.

"The boss has been waiting for you," he says.

I'm thrown at the demon's feet again. I'm trying to keep my cool, even though my pulse is racing. He stands, his height is incredible. Staring down he removes his hood. His once handsome face is scared with black and red lines, at the top of his head two small black horns stick out, but the most intriguing thing about him are his golden eyes. I'm lost inside of them.

"How'd you get here, human? the others won't talk."

I swallow hard, "A mirror."

He kicks at my leg and stares at me like a predator about ready to devour his prey.

"The truth, human."

"It is."

He circles around.

"Show me."

He lifts me over his shoulder like a child. His body radiates heat and it burns.

"I can walk you know," I growl.

"Don't be fiesty with me girl, or you'll never see the light of day again."

I don't fight, I'm too afraid. If I obey, maybe I'll get out of here alive.

He sets me down and nudges me down the hall. The prisoners go crazy again. My gut twists, there is no mirror. This can't be good.

"Well?"

"It was here. I swear it," my voice breaks.

"Cage her," he growls.

Before I can speak again my world goes black. I wake up sometime later with a throbbing headache, and Gretchen staring.

"Hall of mirrors, huh? What are they saying about me?"

Her voice is thick.

"They say it was a dare gone wrong, been searching for your body," I say, my throat cracks.

"Where are we?"

"Haven't you realized?" she asks.

I shake my head and rest it on the cool steel bars.

"You'll find out soon enough, and it's not where you think."

"Is there a way..."

Heavy boots echo down the hall. Gretchen taps the bar to get my attention, "You must be special, he never comes down here himself."

"Who is he? The Devil?"

Gretchen laughs, "If he was I think we'd have a better chance, but he's much worse." She shakes her head.

"What can be worse than Satan?"

Gretchen goes quiet and cowers. I whisper her name as a dark shadow looms over me. Golden demon eyes find mine and I stare back letting him know he's met his match. I should be terrified, but if I'm going to make it out alive I've got to be strong, it's the only way out.

~     ~     ~

I walk beside him as we enter a narrow stairwell that slants upwards. At the top is a golden door, it opens and he pushes me in. The door slams as we emerge into darkness. Candles slowly come to life revealing a clear window. Behind it, lava and fire burn for miles.

In the center of the room is a table. He shoves me into a chair, and pulls one up next to me. He sits forward in his chair like he's trying to read me. He leans in some more, and his breath lingers over my ear. I close my eyes to stay calm.

"What do you want?"

"What is this mirror you speak of?"

I take a deep breath, "A mirror is an object that reflects..."

"I know what a mirror is," he growls, leaning back slightly. His face is too close for comfort.

"There's a place of mirrors. Yours showed up from out of nowhere. It sucked me in, and the girl in the cell across from me. Can you let her go?" I ask.

A crooked smile plays across his face, and for the first time since seeing him he almost seems human.

"Let her go?" he echoes.

"She's got people looking for her," I say. "People think she's dead."

"And what will releasing her do for me? What if she goes telling..."

"She won't," I say.

"What about you girl," he nods in my direction. "Do you have family?"

His breathing is steady and so is mine. I shake my head. He's contemplating something. Within seconds the purple eyed demon appears.

"Release the blonde," he growls, his eyes never leaving mine.

"But sir I..."

"Do it," he growls.

He leaves, leaving the two of us alone again. He's so close that his leg brushes against mine.

"I'll show you to your new quarters."

~     ~     ~

My new quarters are not much better.. The only update is a small cot and a private hall for myself. I still plan to find my way out and in doing so I need to get close to the beast.

Every morning I'm served breakfast and a black rose. I also receive lunch as well as dinner. I've lost track of the days, and although it feels like years have passed I think it's only been a few short weeks. Today as my lunch is set in front of me something is different. An envelope addressed to the human sits on the edge of my tray.

Join me for dinner.

I laugh, a full blown belly laugh. It echoes through the empty hall making me laugh harder. I don't know why, but I think I've gone mad.

I've lost all sense of time and I'm half asleep when someone hits the bars with some kind of hard object.

"Put this on and hurry, he's waiting."

I join him in a stunning dress as black as the night sky. His eyes widen when he sees me and the purple eyed demon throws me in a seat across from him.

"Thank you for joining me this evening, human."

"Madeline," I say, as food is placed in front of me.

"Excuse me?"

"My name."

"Do you have one?"

He hesitates, like he's afraid to tell me. In my head his name is probably Walter or some dorky name like that.

"Tobin," he replies.

"So what's this all about... Tobin?"

He chokes on his food, "Uh. I uh... figured you might like to eat."

"No, Tobin. What's this really about?"

He stares at me stunned, like I'm the only one who has ever questioned him.

He clears his throat, "I need a mate," his cheeks flush under the hood of his robe.

I almost spit out my food, "Hate to break it to you, but I'm not down here to be Satan's lover. I lost my way and am only here so that Gretchen could go on living her life up there. I don't care what you do to me, but I won't ever be your mate."

He stares at me for a really long time. His expression softens. He snaps his fingers and I'm being taken away by violet eyes and thrown back into my cell.

Day after day letters arrive. I rip them, bite them, and throw the paper at violet eyes head.

I've lost all track of time and when I wake someone is watching me, Tobin.

"Can I show you something?"

I quietly follow him. We head back up, much higher than before onto a mountain top. The world around me is not the world I once knew.

"These are my lands, those are my people."

I can hardly see the tiny specks of creatures mulling around below us.

"They mean everything to me and soon they will all lose their lives. I need a lady to rule by my side or he will attack my people," he says.

We stand side by side, our hands almost touching.

"Who will attack?"

"Satan," he says, staring off into the land. "He will take them one by one and torture them and when he's all done," he pauses. "He'll come for me."

"So, why should I save you?"

I look up briefly and then out at the world around me.

"Because if you don't, you'll die with them. He doesn't care who he kills."

"You don't care either, you have a whole lair of people trapped."

"They are prisoners. They broke the law, they deserve to be there. I'm not the bad guy here Mad... Madeline," he says it like he's never called a human by their name before.

I laugh, and he stares down at me like I'm crazy.

"What?" a small smirk plays on his lips, and suddenly he doesn't look so scary.

"You'll have to convince me that it will be worth it, and I'm not talking creepy black roses and love notes," I say.

I don't know why I'm doing this, but maybe if I help him save his people he'll let me go home.

"Would a room upgrade work?"

I shrug, "What did you have in mind?"

~     ~     ~

He snores lightly, who knew demons slept like humans. I'm wide awake staring up at the dark ceiling. I've been upgraded to his bedroom. I've spent the last four nights contemplating an escape. Lying here with him I think I may never get out. I'm scared, but it's not like anyone needs me. I've been an orphan since birth, it's not like I'll be missed.

"Are you okay, Madeline?"

He's been doing that a lot, saying my name like he enjoys it.

I shake my head, not sure why I'm being real with the demon who's holding me prisoner. He sits up and takes my hand in his. It's warm, but not hot like it used to be. Calm rushes over me and his eyes glow with a desire I've yet to see. He pulls me up out of bed and leads me back out to the elevator and to the peak of the mountain above his world. It's dark, almost too dark, but beautiful. In his world the stars shine brighter and the double moons make for a perfect nightlight.

We stand side by side admiring the beauty, "It's amazing," I admit.

"I'm sorry that you're unhappy."

"I'll survive. I always do," I give a half a smile.

"You're free to go," he bows his head, staring down at his people with a sullen look on his face.

"What about your people?" I ask.

"I'll find a way to protect them, you deserve to go back home where you belong."

Something in me wants to protest, only I don't. Violet eyes appear behind me.

"Take her home," he whispers.

"Sir, are you..."

He holds up a hand, "Just do it."

I don't get a chance to speak before Tobin disappears into the darkness. I look up at violet eyes.

"He's never let anyone go, until you showed up."

"Will Satan really kill him?"

He nods, "We need rulers and without an heir to the throne it will all be over."

I sigh, "Take me to him," I say.

"I can't disobey..."

"I said," I say through gritted teeth. "Take me to him."

Violet eyes obey's me, wrapping me in strange black wings. One moment we are on the mountain the next I'm thrown at Tobin's feet. I stare up into his golden eyes and for the first time I see something real behind them. I stand and wipe myself off.

"I'm staying," I say.

He shifts forward in his chair and removes the hood.

"No, you're..."

I shut him up by pressing my lips to his. Fire courses through my veins and inside I'm screaming, but on the outside we're still kissing. The fire inside feels like molten lava, it singes me from the inside. I'm thrown back and when my eyes meet his there's something different about his face. The jagged lines have vanished. Something inside of me has changed and it's like I'm one of them now. He stares at me in awe by what he sees.

"What is it?" I ask.

"You've accepted me, we are bonded and my people are safe. You have done what I've asked. I release you."

"No," I say shaking my head.

"What do you mean no?"

I scurry to my feet and throw myself at him, the fire returns as he deepens the kiss and I melt into him.

"I'm staying right here with you," I tell him, meaning every word.

"I'm so glad to hear you say that," he replies with a grin.

Ignoring everyone around us he wraps me in his own wings and takes me into his world, and I've never felt more free than I do now.