The Fates Within

She sprang out of her chair and tore across the room to the cabinet.  She screamed, “What about this cabinet?  What is in here that can help me now?”  With that, she ripped open the latch and yanked at the doors.  There were no trap doors.  It was an ordinary cabinet with shelves on it.  There were some books, about twenty small jars, and a mirror.  There was no crystal ball, no bones or feathers.  She picked up a jar and cried, “Can this do something for me?”  She didn’t wait for an answer.  She picked up another jar and demanded, “How about this?  What do you have here that can help me?  Do these books have spells that will make it so I don’t have to go on this trip?”

Then, she grabbed at the mirror.  “What’s this doing in here?”, she insisted.  As she looked in it, she saw and heard a shadowy scene.  In it, a figure was bent over with its back to her.  The figure was mumbling something incomprehensible, but clearly evil in its intent.  To the side was a small girl huddled into a ball and whimpering.  Something in the scene flashed through her like a bolt of lightning.  She stumbled back in stark horror, eyes wide and blank.  As she slumped to the floor, her hands let go of the mirror.  Somehow, the wizard had anticipated this situation and was at her side to catch the mirror.  He made no move to assist Cassandra.  He put the mirror back on its shelf and shut the cabinet doors.  He then returned to his seat and waited.

Cassandra grabbed around her knees and huddled much like the girl in the mirror.  She rocked backed and forth, shaking, but she did not make a sound.  The wizard continued to wait.  Gradually, the shaking subsided.  She continued to rock for a time.  Eventually, the focus returned to her eyes and she looked up at the wizard plaintively.  This all seemed to take forever, but the wizard continued to wait patiently.  Finally, sound returned to her voice.  “What was that?”, she whispered.

“We don’t know yet, although I am sure we will find out.  There is much about yourself you still need to learn, and even more you need to teach me.  We must not rush the process.  I cannot say you will know what is in the mirror in a month or a year, because I have no way of telling.  I do know that there is time.  With your parents planning to hold a wedding in a year, we cannot afford to dawdle, but there is time to do what we need to do.”

“I don’t know how you can be so calm about it.”

“I know there are many unspeakable horrors in the world.  Some of them I have experienced myself.  I have witnessed many more through the eyes of others.  I have wrestled with my own demons and helped others wrestle with theirs.  I know we can shape our own destinies.  As powerful as these demons are, they can be defeated with enough patience and determination.”

“I thought my life was terrible, but this...this...”  Her voice cracked and then trailed off.

“I want you to remember that what you saw is shut in the cabinet.  It will not be opened until you are ready for it.”

“What if the vision comes back to me without the mirror?  How can I handle it?  What if it happens when I am with my parents or someone else?  What if it happens when I am by myself?  How can you tell me it won’t destroy me?  How will I ever put myself back together?”

“That horrible thing, whatever it is, is part of you.  Together we can control it.  You need to trust me that you will not see it again until you are ready for it.  That time will come, and then we will be able to understand it.  It is too early now, and I promise it will stay shut in the cabinet.  You need to promise me that you won’t try to release it until you are truly ready.”

“Of that you can be sure.  I will try to do as you ask, because I have no choice.”