Chapter 41

Swearing to himself to never fall asleep too deeply again Tyson looked around himself. Having just awoken on his back on the rocky ground he could not understand the sight before him. To his left he could see a stubborn vampire, Fae, asleep with his head against Tyson's shoulder. On the right his eyes could see Chi sleeping soundly while tightly holding onto him from the side. Little usher was curled up in between the both of them as its tail waved back and forth happily.

Stretching his arms out wide as he sat up he took a look around. His body feeling strange but there was something about it that he could not explain. It was like a sudden burst of energy was inside him that he could not understand. Hearing the sounds of Fae waking up he shoved the thought away. Turning to look down at the vampire as he woke.

"Time to wake already?" Fae yawned as he spoke.

"Chi is still asleep. We'll leave once he wakes." Getting to his feet Tyson glanced down at the sleeping man and the little white usher. Chi must have sensed the feeling of Tyson's body heat leaving because his natural instinct was to search out and pull the usher in closer to his chest as he continued to sleep.

"You guys wandered off again without warning. I had no idea what happened. If you two get yourselves killed I'd never know what happened." Fae spoke as he brought up the fact that they had wandered off without telling him again. It was starting to feel old and exhausting for him to always stand back while they ran off without him.

"He was the one who ran off. I was only getting water. It was not my intention for us to initially leave you alone without word." Tyson tried to explain that he had planned to originally go back to where they had started the fire for Chi. It was not until Chi had stormed over and threw his mask away that he had forgotten about Fae again.

"That's not the point and you know it.." Muttering to himself under his breath, Fae smiled as he stood up and faced Tyson. It was obvious the smile on his face was one he was forcing himself to wear. Looking at the vampire put on a false act in front of him felt strange.

"Are you-?" Before Tyson could pry further into the words behind the vampire he could hear crackling sounds like ice.

The sounds of the crackling were so loud that it roused Chi and the little usher from their sleep. Standing up every one of them turned their heads to look around. Eventually their eyes fell on the figure of a large white tiger, made of pure white and blue crystal prancing its way down the side of the canyon towards them from a higher ledge. With every step the crystal tiger took the rock beneath its paws would immediately turn to crystal. It did not take long for Chi and Fae to realize that the crystal lining of the canyon was entirely due to the crystal tiger's movements.

[ young ones.. why have you intruded on my children's land? ]

The voice of the crystal tiger echoed loud in their minds as it landed on the rocky ground in front of them. Crystal forming beneath its paws that spiked outward from the ground with each step. Its eyes never left their figures as if it was trying to ensure none of them vanished from its sight. After a moment its eyes landed specifically on Tyson, as if studying the man in front of it carefully.

"I came seeking passage to the other side." Tyson said as he stepped forward. He had never met the tiger before but he had heard stories of it. From what he had heard the only way for him and the group to get across would be for the tiger to grant them passage.

[ I see.. You seek to pass through the Mirrors Edge, young one? ]

It studied Tyson closely. The tiger's tail twitching slightly back and forth as it contemplated the idea. Looking as if it was considering something it stepped towards the waterway. The others could only watch it as they wondered what the tiger meant by Mirrors Edge. Tyson had heard of it before so he did not need to think long on the question.

"Yes. We seek it." Tyson nodded his head as he affirmed his decision.

"What is it?" Chi could not help but ask as Fae stood next to him wondering as well.

[ Very well. Heed my warning that once you enter.. you can only leave if you reach the other side. ]

The tiger released a loud roar as crystal burst forth from the ground beside the water. Forming the shape of a door it glowed in various colors as if it was a crystal rainbow. In the center where a door would normally be a beautiful golden light shone bright. Twisting and dancing about in the air like a portal to another dimension.

"Let's go before it closes." Tyson said to the both of them without explaining a thing about what they were walking into. He did not feel the need to warn them about what they would pass through. Knowing what to expect he felt he would handle it when the time came.

"Wait! Where does that thing go exactly?!" Chi shouted at him as he ran after the man through the portal. Him and Fae pausing just outside the door that Tyson had already walked into. Tyson's figure vanishing within it like a ghost.

[ Heed my warning, young ones. Mirrors Edge is but a mirror to ones soul. If you fall astray in there it is hard to pull yourself back. Do not lose sight of one's self. Once you reach the end of the mirror you shall reach your destination. How far you can reach is up to you. Mirrors Edge feeds on one's pain and suffering. Their inner most fears. ]

The tiger warned the remaining two once more as it stared them down. Seeing as Tyson had not listened to it the tiger felt slightly annoyed. Though strangely it wanted to know how far the man could go with such a strong will.

Chi could not help but worry over the words of the tiger. Rushing into the crystal door after Tyson he could sense Fae chasing after him from behind. The moment he passed through the door everything around him went black. It felt as if the entire world had vanished.