Eriu sighed,slowly turning pages of a book she never thought she would want to read again. She had first noticed it on her shelf some five years earlier, read it once to discharge her curiosity, and forgot about it. Or rather ignored it as well as she could, for the tacky purple cover almost shone on its spot, squeezed in between classical german literature from the late twenties. The golden font on the back read: ‘H.J. Redford; Fairytales’.

Eriu always quietly assumed that the author wrote as a form of an inspired diary. Some chapters were clearly distorted reflections of reality, others did not sound familiar, but that did not mean they weren’t exactly that. For what purpose? Eriu could only guess.

Selina should take a look, Eriu thought as she read the tale of the lost maiden and an evil witch. The chapters she could tell adressed events she and the author witnessed pulled a string Eriu rarely allowed to sound. The similarites between her past and present apprentices were many, and if Selina were allowed to read some of that she would most likely get spooked. From how they met, how they started their relationship to how Selina looked and behaved, it all was so familiar it almost felt like getting on the same amusement park ride for the second time.

Perhaps this time it was up to her to make the experience different from what she’d already lived.

Eriu huffed a tired laugh, and drowned the cigarette she was smoking in the wine she did not finish.

It was said on many occassions that the Mirror of Erised was a powerful tool, able to mess with minds and bring even the most powerful people to their ruin. But years devoted messing with powerful things have made her less cautious and more willing to risk all she had just to take another step forward, to get even a little bit closer to her goals. At this point her own power matched - if not outgrew - that of many of the artifacts she’s come in contact with, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that she dismissed the warning.

Right now howerver, standing in front of the Mirror, Eriu was beginning to understand the true power of this item. It wasn’t what she came here for. Her goal was far across the hall, and yet she could not get herself to move, feeling her feet and the cold stone flooring melting into one, as she watched her sister’s blue eyes blinking at her confidently from behind the glass. She knew this image to be a mere reflection, not a prophecy or future in any way, but something deep inside her weeped, that she’s so far from standing with her sister side by side, like she knew it was bound to become reality at some point. And though she could hear the echo of footsteps in the corridor, Eriu could not avert her eyes for a while that felt like eternity; golden locks in braids, a sweet, sweet smile that behind all the confidence still had some of its original innocence, and soft, pale fingers gently holding her own hand lovingly. She was standing still until a couple spells and curses flew over her head, and she was forced to run.

Never been less turned on | Ugh no | I’d give you a try | Yes, yes, YES | I’M READY NOW DAMMIT