But when she woke in the morning to see the rain still coming down she found she’d spontaneously changed back to her natural form. That was not a good sign. She felt even worse than she had when she’d fallen asleep. She tried to shift back into a dog’s shape, but nothing happened. She tried human form, and felt something start to happen, after all these years human form was nearly as natural to her as her firecat shape, but still she stayed unchanged. She tried to get to her feet, but a violent coughing fit hit her and she collapsed back onto the dirt floor of the shack. No, this was not good at all.

She coughed again weakly and shivered. She prayed that nobody would find her, sick as she was. She would be easy prey for any irate farmer that stumbled onto her hiding place. She couldn’t think of anything to do to prevent it, though, so prayer was the only option she had. With that happy thought to keep her company she put her head on her paws and fell into an uneasy and feverish doze.

“How long have we been here?” Aidan asked his double.

“You haven’t been counting?” replied the mirror Aidan with surprise.

“I… I was, but lately I find I’m losing time. I close my eyes for one moment, and when I open them it’s been hours.” Aidan shook his head. “It’s kind of worrying.”

“Well, I’ve been here five days, so just do the math.”

“Three days then since I last fed before that. Plus five… eight days. That’s longer than the longest I’ve ever gone without food by two days.” He glanced over at Celia who was asleep again. When his hunger had started to really bother him he’d moved across the room, explaining to the girl that it would be safer for her that way. He was now sitting next to his double. They’d done a lot of talking over the last five days. There wasn’t anything else to do. The only interruptions to their complete isolation were the regular visits of the minotaur, who had started bringing Celia meals two or three times a day. Both of them figured that Flame wouldn’t want her little temptation game to end, so she was making sure Celia stayed in good health.

The mirror Aidan was surprised at his own self-restraint. After all, five days was still a long time, but he found he wasn’t tempted as badly as he had feared. Still… there were times when it was only the knowledge that his twin had already gone three days more than he that kept him firm in his promise.

“So… how much longer do you think we’ll be in here?” he asked.

“I don’t know.”

“You’re sure that your Flame Song will come for you?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I hope she gets here soon.”

“Me too.”