“Did you know?”

  Saro clenched his fists. “I’ve had my suspicions.”

  Kya watched a lizard scurry through a hole in the wall. “What are you going to do about her?”

  “I have to stop her. She’s crazy through and through, just like Dad said. That story proves we can’t get to her. She’s coming, Kya. Hide.”

  “No!”

  Saro’s gaze was frightful. “Kya, I told you to hide. Get out of her before my mom turns you to mist, just like everyone else.”

  Kya remained firm. “I won’t go, and I won’t let you hurt her! That story doesn’t prove she’s a monster, it only proves that people treated her like one! And you’re going to be just like them!”

  “No I’m not! I’m saving—”

  There was a flurry of wings. Through the mirror, and only in the mirror, the swan flew through the hole in the ruined wall. She gazed down at the siblings, her eyes black and emotionless. Kya’s mouth went dry. “Laetitia, we aren’t here to hurt you. We’re trying to help—”

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  The swan’s head whipped toward the little princess. Suddenly, Kya’s mind was filled with images of her own mother: glaring at Saro, chastising him angrily, pushing him off the cliff and running as he fell towards the lake below…Kya gasped. “I’m not like my mother! I’m not trying to hurt Saro!”

  Heedless to her protests, the swan charged. Kya scrambled backwards. “Laetitia please!” she cried, watching in terror. The swan raised her wings and stepped through the shards of the mirror. Clouds of golden mist began to coalesce around her, and Kya found it difficult to breathe. Suddenly, a woman screamed and the clouds grew hazy again. It took Kya a moment to realize that the scream had come from the swan.

  Saro, half inside of the mirror and half in the real world, held a fistful of bloody golden feathers. He had grabbed onto the swan as she was leaving, and with a gasp, he tumbled out. Scrambling in front of Kya, he took a protective stance. “Mom, listen. My sister’s not the bad guy here.” Laetitia was still searching for an opening through which she could peck Kya. She squared at her son, utterly furious. “No, Mom, I’m not getting out of the way. You have to listen. Kya isn’t her mother, and in fact, she’s trying to help you right now. Now can we please just stop and figure this out?”

  The swan stared at them, clearly agitated. She trembled, arching her neck back painfully. Then she collapsed.