The party was in full swing at the Mirror Mirror Room. Bianca was on Galen's arm, flashing a very large engagement ring. Fae, Humans, Werewolves, and even a few Vampires were laughing, eating, drinking, dancing, or watching Bianca's girls dance. It had taken them months to get the charade planned. Galen knew Gerard would take Quinn to his mountain manor if he caught her. It was his favorite place to seduce someone's soul into believing paradise and love were real. The beautiful scenery and isolation made it easy to lull almost anyone into a false sense of safety and comfort. But Quinn hadn't been so easy to sway. As Galen watched, she was still resisting Gerard's influence after weeks.

However, earlier today something changed, and she let Gerard feed from her soul and Galen was sure she didn't know Gerard was doing it, but she trusted him enough not to resist. Galen knew he had to get her away from him. For a dark fae, siphoning energy off a pure soul could be as addictive as meth to a drug addict, or vodka to an alcoholic. One taste was never enough, and it always ended in death if the feeder was left within reach of the Demonus.

Galen glanced at his watch then looked across the party. Gerard brought Aliza Abbott. Galen despised that human female, but as the socialite daughter of a billionaire pharmaceutical mogul, her presence was expected at a party of this caliber. No one knew she was the brains and politician behind the Human Purity Movement, well, almost no one. He watched as she wandered among his guests, cooing and fawning over the nonhumans while she hung on Gerard's arm, pretending as though she didn't want to kill them all. Galen could see why his brother enjoyed her company, their souls were almost the same shade of hate.

Gerard never met Bianca in person, and assumed, from the taint left on her soul by her time as a cursed fae, that she was a blessed one like him. He did not know that she was what Galen hoped to be someday, a freed Light fae. He did not regret giving her sister over to the Covenant vampires to kill. The evil witch had it coming, just like his mother would someday after he was free of the family curse.

Bianca wrapped herself around him, her blonde hair falling down her back like a cloak, she could make Lady Godiva envious. "It's time," she whispered.

Galen could feel his brother watching them, judging, evaluating. He could also feel Gerard didn't yet trust this change in Galen's demeanor as she pulled him away from the group he was talking to, and up to her office. She locked the door as he pulled away a panel in the wall that hid a traveling mirror.

"Be careful," she called after him, but Galen was already through the looking glass.

Galen had never wished more that other species could travel this way, it would make rescuing Quinn so much easier. But her rescue must be done this way if she was to help those who were almost lost. He stepped out into Quinn's room. She was still asleep, and he cursed his stupid selfish brother again. Pushing his healing energy into her, Galen felt her reviving and her wolf stirring. He whispered into her mind.

"Help is coming in the form you fear most. When they come, put on your red cloak and break the mirror to escape. I know you're afraid, but they won't hurt you, Luna Shalom. They need you, they need you to remind them of who they were so they can find their way back. It's never too late, don't give up."

Outside, Galen heard the howl of Ravers and through the mirror, Bianca shouted his name. He bolted back through the mirrors, dizzy from the amount of magic he had used.

VvvvvV

Quinn Shalom...

I woke to someone whispering. Warmth was surrounding us with light as I struggled to listen.

"Help is coming in the form you fear most. When they come, put on your red cloak and break the mirror to escape. I know you're afraid, but they won't hurt you, Luna Shalom. They need you, they need you to remind them of who they were. It's never too late, don't give up."

The voice was familiar, it belongs to the dark fae that warned me not the drink the tea. When I opened my eyes, I was alone. My brain struggled to remember what happened as I sat on the edge of the bed. I felt hungover. I had daydreamed that Gerard came, we were talking in the library. He was glowing golden, holding me in his arms just like in my other dreams and I felt like he would save us, but he said he couldn't, then he kissed me, and everything faded. How did I get back to my room? I wondered, Mr. Black had never moved me when I was asleep. He avoided touching me as much as possible. Was Gerard really here? My wolf was sure she could smell him on our clothes.

My mind kept coming back to the things that dark fae said that morning. 'Remember just because something looks golden, doesn't mean it's a good thing.'

My muddled mind struggled as I puzzled about it, thinking, Was the dark fae saying Gerard is really a dark fae, and that he wanted to hurt me, not help me?

I was terrified and confused after I read the book on the light and dark fae. Each looked a very specific way according to the state of their soul. Of the three Light Fae I had met, all seemed like light fae, caring, compassionate, concerned, but then so had the two Dark Fae. None seemed like they intended to harm me. Part of me was beginning to doubt everything I thought I knew about him or any fae.

Gerard saved me the morning after the Revelation Night, I should have frozen to death or bled out or both. He is trying to rescue me now, if I just wait a little longer, he will find me, won't he?

Gerard looked like the perfect light fae, like Greyson does. He made me feel safe, wanted, loved, the way Kenneth always did, and I had let him draw those feelings out of me until I passed out. I felt so guilty for kissing him back while we were kissing, but I also felt less lonely.

Am I betraying Kenneth if it was just a daydream?

I thought about the kiss, it felt amazing at first, then like he was drinking my spirit, or inhaling the life from my body. It hurt, but in a weirdly pleasant way. I missed my life before that night, I missed my husband and my children. I missed my sanity.

My head was pounding, and I felt like I could sleep for a few more days, but the voice kept urgently repeating, "Put on your red cloak and break the mirror to escape."

But where am I to escape to? Was he here too or was it another dream? I wondered. I don't know what was real and what wasn't anymore. This place was making me crazy.

The drapes were still open. The moon was setting over the peaks, just a sliver of light surrounded by diamonds above the crystalline white landscape. I leaned against the headboard, watching the stillness outside, like a painting of another world. A howl startled me into sitting up straight in bed. The Ravers were coming.

The dark fae's voice echoed in my thoughts, like a record with a skip. "Help is coming in the form you fear most."

He wanted me to go with them, but I couldn't... I just couldn't! I was more afraid of the Ravers than I was of Mr. Black and whomever was keeping me here.

"They need you, they need you to remind them of who they were."

He was asking the impossible, Ravers were mindless, murderous monsters. I didn't know why they helped me escape last time, but I doubted I would get that lucky again. A howl sounded again, followed by more. They were aggressive, challenging.

Trembling, I tiptoed across the room to the window. Shadowed forms were moving in the trees. In the pale glimmer of a crescent moon under fast flying silvery clouds, I watched my nightmares emerge from the inky tree line and move determinedly through the crystalline snowscape. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest it hurt, my hands curled protectively over my child. They were coming. The werewolf Ravers had found us again.

I felt a presence and the butler was standing beside me, I never heard the door open or close. It didn't matter that I didn't trust him, the Ravers would kill him, and no one deserved to die the way they kill. He had never hurt me, always taken the best care of me, I couldn't let it happen. On impulse, I grabbed his arm and dragged him over to the mirror.

"You need to go, Mr. Black. You need to leave through the mirror and save yourself. They are coming for me and they will tear you to pieces to get to me. Please, go, I don't want you to die," I begged. "I don't want anyone else to die, not like that."

His infinitely dark eyes looked at me in the strangest way. His expression showed his confusion, as he touched the spot where the tears were running down my cheeks. It was the most expressive I had ever seen his face.

"Look, I know you are keeping me here for someone else, but you don't have to stay and die. Save yourself. Go through the mirror."

A howl echoed, they were getting closer. He went to the closet and took out a change of warm clothes, my cloak and fur lined boots. Putting them on the bed, he spoke to me for the first time.

His deep reptilian voice sent shivers down my spine, "SSSsstay in yourrrr rrrrroom. My Massssterrrr will come forrrr you. Doooo not feed orrr give love. Go forrr now, then you mussssst essssscape, Misssstresss Quinn." He pointed at the clothes. "Drrrressssss quickly."

Stepping through the glass as if it wasn't there, his neat black suit melted away into a ragged dark cloak, while great black bat-like wings spread from his back as his hands and feet became claws. His hood fell back, and his face shifted into the demonic snarl of a gargoyle. I knew I was finally seeing the real Mr. Black, the beast I shared this castle with. Shaking my head, I slapped my hand on the window and he looked back at me with something like sadness as the howling of the Ravers vibrated the pane under my palm. I couldn't move from the window as his wings carried him toward them. I watched the Ravers attack him in groups of three and four. Dark blood staining the snow as Mr. Black fought back, drawing the Ravers away from the house. I was so engrossed in watching the warring monsters that I was startled when the gray Raver scratched on the glass. I backpedaled so quickly I lost my footing and fell on my butt.

"Help will come in the form you fear most." The young dark Fae's voice whispered in my mind. "They need you, they need you to remind them of who they were."

The Gray Raver's fists pounded on the glass, but it did not break, instead it rippled with a shadow as did the mirror. The voice reminded me to break the mirror. I rose slowly looking back toward where Mr. Black was fighting the Ravers. One of his wings was torn to shreds, he could no longer fly to escape as they surrounded him, moving in for the kill. I knew that he wanted my baby for his master, but I couldn't let him die like that. I scrambled to the bed, pulling the sweater and pants over my pajamas, the boots on then fastened my crimson cloak around my neck as I desperately looked around the room for something to break the mirror.

I tried to open the door, but it was sealed with the same magic that kept me in the room. I lifted the small table where I had eaten so many meals and smashed it into the mirror. For a moment, the reflection of the room rippled like the surface of a pond then it exploded. When I pushed myself up the gray werewolf Raver was standing over me and beyond the empty window, I could hear the howls of hunting Ravers as they moved in for the kill. The window glass had vanished completely.

VvvvvV

As Galen staggered back into the real world, Bianca caught him, slamming the panel shut behind him. With the traveling mirror now hidden, she practically carried him to the couch. There was a discreet, but firm tap on the door.

"My brother," Galen managed to whisper out as the lock on the door clicked.

Bianca surprised him by pulling his pants down before shoving him on the couch and straddling him. Her voluminous hair flying as she bounced on top of him, crying out his name and radiating passion like they were having sex. The door opened for a moment then closed. Galen could feel his brother walking away with a smug attitude. They both breathed out a sigh of relief, then Galen grinned up at her, he needed to tease her because it was awkward to have her sitting on his lap with his pants down.

"You know you could always bounce on me for real sometime."

She scowled, and play slapped him, "Ewww, that would be like screwing my brother, or worse, your brother. No thanks..."

Galen faked an insulted gasp, then laughed tiredly, "I wouldn't want to do either of them, or your late sister."

Her answering smirk was replaced by a look of concern, "Were they there to rescue her?" She got up and pulled her dress down.

"Yeah, I heard them howl. All we can hope is that they can get her away from Sebastian before Gerard feels the problem there." Galen worried what the old demon would do, and he hoped none of the Ravers of Monarch Mountain died tonight.

Bianca checked her makeup and fixed her hair. "Oh, he won't. The minute the dancers went on stage downstairs, all links in or out got dulled. No one will be feeling anything but the party until dawn... So about 10 minutes before we head back down?"

Galen pulled up his jeans and flopped back on the couch, "I need a nap. Can we make it an hour? And I am starving."

She laughed almost evilly, "You are so bad, your brother is going to be dying to know the details, he's such a troll."

"Trolls are extinct." Galen reminded her, and she gave him the side-eye.

"I have spent the last five decades as a cursed fae, much of that time working in the sex industry to help get abused women out. I can assure you, trolls are not extinct, and your brother is one," she declared vehemently, digging in a mini-fridge behind her desk. "I have leftover Chang Palace or Haagen Daas."

"Both," Galen demanded greedily. It was going to take weeks to recover his strength, he could only hope his brother assumed Bianca was the reason his energy was depleted.

As they ate and watched the party on the security cameras, Galen prayed that Quinn made it safely away. That she went with the Ravers to the other side of the mountains. That she didn't let her fear make the decision for her and try to flee through the wilderness alone. He tried to shake himself out of his worry. His old friend should take her to his home. Galen believed that Joshua would protect his great-grandpup and heir even if he was a Raver now. He and his kind would never be fully healed but it was Galen's prayer that she could give them some peace and bring them partly back to who they were.

As Galen watched his brother and his brother's date mingling with those they wanted to dominate, he saw those who didn't know the truth about Gerard and Aliza fawning over them. He decided he needed to leave another book under Quinn's pillow, one that would teach her the truth about fae like his brother and the history of the wars between their peoples. Before Bianca and Galen headed back down to the party, Galen checked the mirror. The path between Bianca's office and his brother's manor in the mountains was broken. At the door, Bianca mussed Galen's hair and kissed his neck, then she smudged the glossy crimson with her thumb in a few places.

"There, now it looks like we didn't get all my lipstick wiped off you," she smiled brightly.

"Thanks for helping me, and for thinking of everything to make this work," Galen declared sincerely.

Bianca clapped her forehead, "Ohhh, not everything... I almost forgot the most important prop."

Curiously, Galen watched her digging in her desk and a moment later, she sprayed something that looked like perfume between her legs. She gave him a sympathetic look, "I am really sorry about this part." She expertly unbuttoned his jeans sprayed his crotch and buttoned them back before he had time to react. The sensation of dry ice being dumped on his genitals hit him and Galen almost doubled over in pain and shock.

"Now I've thought of everything. We both smell like sex to the vampires and werewolves, and if any fae reads our auras, we'll look like we've had sex." She gave him a sympathetic, but amused look as he tried not to pass out.

Galen gasped for breath, wheezing out, "Could... have warned... me." Leaning on the door was the only thing keeping him on his feet.

Bianca just flipped her waist-length golden hair and giggled, "But that isn't as funny."

Trying to adjust his frozen man-parts just made it worse until the frigid sensation finally started fading and he managed to speak, barely. "With friends... like you... who needs family."

"I'm better than family." She just patted his cheek before she opened the door to go back out into the lights and booming music.

Galen wished he could trade her for his brother and mother, Bianca was his true family. They both vowed to make things right for Madeline, her best friend and his sealed one, and someday they would.