Excerpt: Dark Waltz

The sensuous call of a violin calls out to me as I wander through the halls. I don’t know how I got here. The hall is dark. I feel my way along the walls, my fingers clutching at the stones there. They are cold and lifeless. I will find no hope here. My heart beats frantically. But I work to stay calm. Panicking won’t do me any good here.
I walk towards the music. Where there is music there will be light. I don’t know where this assurance comes from, but it is there in my mind as true as my terror. Up ahead something glints. Light! My pace breaks forward into a run. It is only then that I notice the jeans that I was wearing before are gone. Something heavy and smooth weighs me down. A dress? I lift the long skirts in my haste. There! A mirror! That is was I saw! The moon’s light reflect in it. I pause, unwilling to step forward in this room. Funny. I have been searching for light so frantically, but now that I have found it, I don’t want it. What is wrong with me?
Still, as I peek forward I don’t see anyone. I must step forward. I have no other choice. Besides, the music, that beautiful must that calls to me, it is louder here. I am closer. This is the right way!
And yet… something inside me screams its warning. Something primitive begs me to stop. It speaks of danger and death and so many other horrific things. I ignore it. It is probably just that I have watched too many horror movies.
I step forward, and it is as though the moon’s light tripled in it brightness. It streams through the window, illuminating the mirror. Oh what a lovely thing this is! It is large and ancient,. Framed in silver and obsidian, its air is sinister, but not unlike the rest of the castle. It fit here. My eyes are glued to the expert craftsman work on the frame. Flowers and clouds swirl around the edge. They seem to move too, I keep on seeing movement out of the corner of my eye. It is nothing though. I am just being silly. Suddenly I notice the faces are hidden in the clouds and flowers. They are sharp, their cruel smiles expose wicked teeth. Now that I see them, I can’t ignore their presence. Delicate wings grow from the backs of some, and sharp horns from others. Demons. Sprites. Fae. Their names pop into my mind unwanted, unneeded.
I move closer towards the mirrors and then I see my reflections. The mirror is old so II appear somewhat cloudy, but it is intact enough for me to be astounded. What am I wearing?Is that really me?
A beautiful woman gapes back at me from the mirror. The dress she wears is much too fine of be anything of mine. And much too old. And yet, I cannot deny that this is my reflection. I can feel my lungs being restricted by the corset that gives her that willowy shape, the muslim and silk whisper against my legs. I extend one food and there wrapped in velvet and jewels is the lady’s foot. It is all white. From the sleeveless bodice down to those ridiculous shoes. It is richly made too. I see diamond and pearls glittering at the edges. I finally look away from my body and at my face.
Whoever dressed me did not leave this untouched either. It isn’t my face staring back at me. I don’t even know how to do my make-up like that! But, once again I can’t deny it. My eyes seem larger then even possible and my face more pale then I had ever seen it. I look dead. The thought crosses my mind before I can stop it and frightens me more then I would like to admit. I reach up and pinch my cheeks. There is some color. Good. I don’t even look at my hair.
You look beautiful.
That thought did not belong to me. But... It was a whisper, no more then a breath, maybe I did think that. Maybe I whispered it aloud, unintentionally. I look at the mirror more closely and all blood drains from my face again. There is another face reflected. It was barely there. Gone now. It must have been nothing, after all, I was looking at the cloudiest part of the mirror.
But I can’t rid my mind of the face of a beautiful, tragic face. A woman devastated and horrific, like some murdered princess...
Enough. I think. Between the mirror and my imagination I shall drive myself insane. I ignore the niggling voice in the back of my mind reminding me that insanity runs in my family. You could be next….
There! The music again!
I suddenly notice a dark curtain covering the hall. Was that there before? I don’t know, nor do I want to.
This hallway is less dark, long windows admit moonlight. Yet this does nothing to abate the icy feeling in my gut. I walk quickly, those expensive shoes click loudly. I feel guilt, like I am ruining the music. I almost stop, it wants me to stop. To listen to it, to heed to its call.
I ignore the feeling, though it feels like I am I drowning person depriving myself of air. I continue forward and then I notice something. At the end of the hall there is yet another black curtain, however golden light glows from around the edges. The music is coming from in there. I just know it. I force myself not to run, but to walk at a reasonable pace. Just below my conscious thought I feel a battle between two instincts waging. Part of me wants me to rip off all these jewels and run away from the music as fast as I can. The other part of me wishes I would stop thinking and give myself to it. Let the music carry me away with its siren call.
I ignore both. I have always prided myself on logic and now would be no time to start listening to my heart rather then my head.
Come on feet. Forward now. I approach the curtain. The music grows, louder and louder until any doubt I had in my mind disappears. What is behind the curtain?