TWENTY MINUTES  AGO.

GOlA WAS GLAD FOR THE EXCUSE TO SLIP OUT OF YONA'S ROOM. Reality had given her a swift smack in the face. The house suddenly felt over crowded and unbearable. 'Don't overthink.' she kept telling herself. 'They're just people.'

Just people.
Just people.
Just people.

'But what if they don't actually like me? what If they're Just being nice to me because they feel bad for me?  What if they figure out the truth about me. That i'm not that perfect rich girl they've made me out to be?'

JUST PEOPLE.
JUST PEOPLE.
JUST PEOPLE.

Gola took her time to mix the batter for the waffles, slice the fresh fruit, locate an needless amount of syrups and jams. When she'd pulled the last fluffy golden waffle out of the waffle maker she then decided to clean up her mess. Usually she'd leave this task to Sylvia, who would leave it to her maid but tonight she felt hopelessly hesitant.

When there was no room left for procrastination, when she'd prepared each girl a set of four waffles. Served with fresh fruit carved into the form of flowers ,dipped into milk chocolate and cooked sides such as turkey bacon and eggs she reluctantly begin her journey back to the sleepover.

It was in this wavering that she fearfully fiddled with her fingers. Feeling dried bits of milk chocolate and decided that it would be improper to present herself to company when her hands were dirty. Victoriously she skipped all the way to her bathroom conjoining her room. Sure it was much further but she told herself her soap was harder germs and softer on her skin.

When Gola was working the foaming suds slowly into her small hands, pleasantly humming she happened to look up into the massive mirror before her. she'd made eye contact with her reflection and chuckled. Her hair was a disheveled mess. She couldn't believe people had let her walk around like that all day. With a huff she once more returned to cleaning her hands.

Her hair wasn't the only thing that was silly. She couldn't help but feel a little foolish at running from a group of teenage girls like they were a pack of wolves. 'Oh come on.' she scolded herself. 'You showed less fear to a demon. Their just people. just people. just people.

Shaking her head, she chuckled again. Out of habit, her eyes climbed the sink until they rested on her reflection in the mirror again. "You've got this!" She encouraged her likeness. "Their just people!"

With a little more pep in her step Gola rinsed her hands, finally ready to face the music.

Her reflection starred back unflinching.

WAIT WHAT?

She blinked. Her reflection at smiled her then.

It dawned on her then. The woman in the mirror before her wasn't her. Or was it? Gola touched her ponytail and tightened it to be certain of its reality. The Woman framed in the mirror before her wore some half up half down updo with loose wavy spirals haloing her head. Decorated elegantly with a colorless ribbon. While the woman's skin was richer with melanin, a glowing creamy caramel Gola was more on the fairer spectrum of sun-kissed.

There was also the outfit, The woman wore a figure flattering  yet loose snow hued gown and Gola was still sporting her school uniform.

"Elenora?" Gola voiced.

"Yes, My love." She replied in a honey sang song voice. Offering out her hand.

Elenora's head turned but not to Gola but to someone on her end of the mirror. Someone out of the frame. Gola strained for glimpse. Praying it was Elenora's mother. who for some reason she'd hoped was a mirror image of hers.

The mystery figure took her delicate gloved lace hand into their own, dragging the vein ladened hand slightly over her slim arm until it reached her shoulders, then her breast, resting finally interlocked with its pair around her waist.

The scene was so real it was as if Gola was looking out a window. She could see the goose bumps on Elenora's arms and the twinkle of tenderness in her eyes.

More so she felt it. She'd felt the feathery  touch of fingers trailing steadily over her body. The comfiness of being embraced from behind, the ticklish hot breath fanning the crook of her neck.

She could feel the pressure  of him, the pull of his presence.

She'd had been feeling the dark lure of him since nightfall. A seductive call which demanded to be answered. Giving in was roughly pleasurable like being engulfed in an ocean of tingling warmth. Like a deep sighing of her soul. Rejoicing at once again being in his arms, at once again being home. It was the sinful guilt in result that destroyed her after relenting.

She'd tried with all her might to ignore him but it was punishing. Like resisting to scratch a burning itch.

Moments like these made her believe it was impossible to withstand him.

"Not even the gods understand how much it is that I've missed you. My love you've driven me mad with longing." He whispered into Elenora's ear, his crimson eyes peering intensely at through the mirror at Gola.

"Worry no more. I'll never leave your side again." She assured him.

"Never? You'll be mine forever?" He inquired a little short-winded,  almost in disbelief, pressing a kiss to Elenora's temple. Gola shivered and sighed at the sensation of his lips brushing her skin.

The image on the mirror flickered. Elenora fading into Gola. No longer either of the women but both at once.  "Forever." Elenora promised with a giggle, shifting slightly to look the shadow prince dead in the eye.

"Forever." He sighed sounding relieved, his beaming crimson eyes briefly flashing blue. He then let his lips meld with Elenora's.

In a moment of weakness a satisfied hum streamed from Gola's throat. Followed by a surprised gasp at her own shameful behavior.

The reflection stilled as if paused. A crack traveled the perimeter of mirror before exploding out of the frame into a thousand fractured pieces.

Gola's heart just about jumped out of her chest.

She darted to turn around, anxious to avoid the flying pieces of glass. Unknowingly turning to face a rather ominous looking demon prince.

It was the complex sore wrathful expression burning on his face that made her shrink away. Equally furious as heartbroken. "Forever." He stated simply, his tone drastically different from earlier. As if to say she'd lied. His brilliant blood hued eyes void of there usual shine.

Gola did all she knew how to do.

Run.

She ran, ran, ran back out of her room, past the kitchen, past a distressed kathe muttering about murdering Kennedy. All the way back to the sleepover. Back to the safety of people.