“You mean, if you were to…” she paused, choosing her words.
“Die,” he said. “Then she would no longer have her magic.”
“Canyou die?” she asked.
He laughed. “Only if her curse is broken.”
“How would it be broken?”
“So many questions! I like you, Ivy. You are very inquisitive.” There was a smile in his voice and then he sighed. “The Magic Mirror must be destroyed. It’s the one keeping the curse alive.”
“The Magic Mirror?” she asked, though she knew about it. She hoped the dark wizard would explain.
He scoffed. “Those elves thought they were so clever hiding them in their village. All it took was a portal spell for her to find them and take them.”
“Them? There is more than one?” Again, she knew the answer to this question, but she wanted him to tell her.
“Three, to be exact. Three I made. Three I forged. One Dark, one Enchanted, one Magic. When I was expelled from the forest, the elves took the mirrors from this cabin. Oh, I knew they did it because I was still attuned to the surrounding nature and to the mirrors.”
Snow understood what he meant for she, too, was attuned to the nature surrounding the cabin. It was nothing like when she was attuned to the rest of the village. These plants did not speak to her.
“They took the mirrors and hid them away. Seraphina used a truth spell on me to find them.”
And she did. But why did she only have one?
As though he heard her thoughts, he said, “She took the Magic Mirror for herself and then gave away the Dark Mirror and the Enchanted Mirror.”
“To who?” Snow asked.
“I know not,” he said. “I only know before she trapped and cursed me, she thanked me for giving her the mirrors, which are all connected.”
Snow tipped her head to one side. “You mean, their magic is connected to each other?”
“Of course.”
She dragged her lower lip through her teeth wondering where to find the other two mirrors.
“Dear Ivy,” he said, his voice low and serious. “I must ask a favor of you.”
Her brows drew together. “What kind of favor?”
“Destroy the Magic Mirror.”
“But you’ll die.”
“Yes, and so will Seraphina’s magic. It will end my suffering.” He flashed and blinked as if imploring her.
If she were to destroy the Magic Mirror, she would have to return to the castle. She had no desire to return to the castle.
“Will you try? I need to rest. My mind is exhausted. And every day that passes is another of pain.”
“It’s painful for you in there?”
“The cage is made of iron to keep me contained for all time.”
Snow understood. And something deep within her wanted to help the dark wizard. Destroy the Magic Mirror and she would destroy both himandthe evil queen. She took a deep breath. She hadn’t any idea how or when she would return to the castle, but perhaps it was worth a try.
“I will do what I can,” she said.
