Nox

“Oh bugger, I knew I shouldn’t have trusted that good-for-nothing, two-bit bog witch.”

Nox raised his head from the cape he had been darning at the colourful language Cassandra was muttering. Just loud enough to be heard, but just quiet enough she could feign speaking to herself.

“What’s that, Cassandra dear?”

He had learned by now she loved to talk about her acquisitions, and had a flair for the dramatic, but didn’t like to appear boastful, or overly eager. Still, he loved the way her eyes shone with anticipation, so he played along, as he had for years.

Cassandra didn’t disappoint. With a flourish, she unveiled a large, ornate mirror, in a garish, gilded frame. Nox frowned. It certainly demanded attention, and was perhaps, not decorated in the best of tastes, but it seemed a finely crafted piece to him. But he was no witch. She sighed at his underwhelming reaction.

“It’s a magic mirror, see?”

He shook his head. Clearly he did not.

“Or, well, it’s supposed to be. I’ve been trying to get it to work. I followed the instructions exactly, and it hasn’t given me so much as a peep. I suspect I may have been duped.”

Nox nodded in agreement. It did seem like a perfectly ordinary mirror, ostentatious though it was. And this would not be the first time Cassandra’s fervor for magical paraphernalia had gotten the better of her judgment. Their lair was decorated with magic carpets that didn’t fly, and magic teapots that sang but weren’t much good at making tea.

“Well, I suppose it’ll make for an excellent addition to the decor at least.”

“That it would.” Nox rubbed at the thick fabric in his hands. “And it would be quite useful for my designs.”

“Oh! I hadn’t thought of that. It’s not much use to me if it’s not magical, so my loss is your gain!” Cassandra slid the mirror over to his workspace, leaving it leaning against the wall. The mirror seemed right at home amongst the richly coloured fabrics draped haphazardly around it. “There! I think that’s a good spot. I’ve got to go check on my potions, so I’ll leave you to it.” With a swish of her pink cloak, she was gone, and Nox sat staring at his own face, reflected on the polished surface of the mirror.

“Hmph. I suppose you’ll do for now.” Nox said, after a few minutes examining his new furnishing.

“Oh yes, I’ll do quite nicely here, I think.”

Nox could only blink in shock as his reflection’s lips curled into a grin entirely not his own.