They say mirrors tell true, thought Elishia, as she stood before the full length mirror in her room. Deep down, she wondered how true a mirror image was. She knew it showed her image as others saw it. She was built like all people of the Light world are, willowy and lithe, with a body so smooth and flawless, with a torso as straight as a stick and joints that were sharp angles. Her hair was fine, frizzy and colorless. it tangled at even the suggestion of movement.

Her eyes were a light caramel color, which made them unusually dark for one of the Light. They were widely set, giving them an expressionless look. Her cheekbones were high, her nose small and upturned. Her face was a pool before meeting the wind. These features made her look younger than her age of seventeen.

Watching the mirror, she saw her older sister, Araiel appear in the doorway behind her. Her serious expression was replaced by a frivolous smile. Araiel noted once again that Elishia was not very bright; she was still just a child, after all. Araiel smiled at her kindly.

"The boys are anxious to see you, sister. Better go put in an appearance."

Elishia laughed. "They just ask for me because you are Marked by Laz. They really wanted you."

"I know that," Araiel thought. To Elishia, she said, "No matter. Mother says to stop admiring yourself and come out with me."

As Elishia followed her sister through the grand house, smiling and nodding, she hid her black thoughts. This world was all so false.

No one showed their true self, nor could they speak their true thoughts.

That night was strange for Elishia. She felt drowsy, and should have fallen asleep promptly as the sun set, but instead, she tossed and turned. She heard noises that might have been imaginary, or explainable, but probably were not: noises like thousands of foreign voices, howling winds and the calls of wild animals.

The next night it was the same. The sounds seemed to come from the corner of Elishia's room-- the corner where the mirror stood, turned toward the wall so she would not glimpse her reflection at night and think it a ghost.

The third night one of the voices seemed to be calling her name. Elishia was still scared, but her curiosity was stronger than her fear. she turned the mirror over, and jumped back when she saw, not her reflection, but the reflection of a young man. His long hair was black, his eyes were black and riveting. This was no boy of the Light. He must be from the Dark side, Elishia decided. As she stared at this apparition, his face broke into a grin.

"I knew you were there," said the lad.

By now, Elishia had convinced herself she was dreaming and might as well play along. "How did you know?"

"I have powers." The smile disappeared. "And so do you."

Dream or not, Elishia was scared again. "Where are you from?" She answered her own question. "The Dark side. But people of the Light cannot meet the people of--"

He snapped, "Don't recite to me what you're taught. I know."

"Are you saying it's false?"

"It's true. Yet, here I am."

"In my dream. That proves nothing."

He laughed. "Your dream? Okay, have it as you will. I'm a character in your dream. So don't you want to know my name?"

"What is it?"

"Josti. And, of course, this being a dream, I know your name. Elishia Vorri, in our language it means 'Shining One.' Did you know you were named after the sun of your world?"

"No." She peered into the mirror. "It is darker there than I imagined. Is it always that dark?"

"Sometimes it is darker. We have our own lights to live by, but many sleep during the darkest hours. I've heard that the people of the Light are locked in their houses at sunset."

"We lock the doors ourself. Who would want to go out when nothing can be seen--"

"At night, the Dark echoes in the empty streets of your world. Like what you've heard these past nights."

Suddenly light flooded the room. Elishia turned to see her sister in the doorway. When she glanced back into the mirror, all she could see was darkness.

Araiel took her sister's hand and led her to her bed. Elishia told her to look in the mirror, but Araiel didn't understand. "You were having a nightmare, dear, forget the mirror and go to sleep."

But Elishia could swear that, just before she closed her eyes, she saw Josti in the mirror, watching her.

The next morning, Elishia's dream world seemed truer than reality. Josti's words made too much sense to ignore. That evening, Elishia noted with new awareness the way the land closed down at sunset. Before she could even get sleepy, she went to her mirror. Her mother had turned it to face the ceiling as usual, but Elishia righted it. She was startled to see Josti's face, the same as last night, staring back at her. She put a hand to her head. Either this was real, or there was something wrong with her mind.

"I can no longer believe you are a dream," Elishia told Josti.

"Good," he replied. "I forgive you for ever thinking it."

"But I can't be sure you're real. I am afraid my mind is sick."

"Oh, great." Josti frowned. Then he held out his hand, and it appeared to be pressed against the glass of the mirror. "Can you touch what isn't real? Go ahead--"

Elishia reached out cautiously. Her hand met cold glass. She was disappointed, but tried not to show it. Josti's disappointment was evident in the sag of his shoulders. His hand dropped.

He said softly, "I thought maybe, with both of us trying..." He placed his hand against the glass again. "See here, try once more. This time watch my eyes, instead, and concentrate."

Elishia did as he asked. This time, she felt the glass turn to ice, freezing cold and wet. Her fingers were moist when she drew her hand back. Elishia gasped as Josti's hand shot out of the mirror to grab her wrist. Josti grinned. Elishia smiled back. Josti's grip slid from her wrist to her hand. "Pull," he said, "Pull!"

Elishia pulled... and Josti stepped out of the mirror and into her room. Elishia dropped his hand and stepped back. "You are real," she whispered. "But--it cannot be--"

"See, that's what all the laws in your world achieve. They make you close-minded. Am I real, or not? Decide. I'd really like to know if I'm a figment of your imagination. I suppose that's how you'd explain the fact that I can come into your world, while you can't enter mine?"

"How would you explain it?" Elishia was stalling for time. If she admitted to herself that he was real, not only would she be defying the basic laws of her world, she would be committing a crime against the People of Light. For that, she could be sentenced to live the Life with no End.

"I would say, that is, if I weren't a figment, I'd say, the People of Light have their own sort of defense for keeping us apart. In my own land, I've heard the tales of Kare Lesa, a corridor of ice, that lies between our two worlds. The way which I take is a different entrance, a one-way entrance through a wall of water. Much more pleasant, I must say."

"But why are you not wet, then?"

"It's really quite simple. The water was dry."

"That sounds too strange to be untrue."

"So you concede that I'm real."

"I suppose you must be."

"If it will help, you can touch my arm..." He held out his arm. Elishia took another step back. This time her tiny smile mocked him.

"You cannot trick me again."

"How have I tricked you?"

She looked less sure of herself. "You know very well that I may not touch you. It is forbidden."

"Did they tell you we are diseased, then? But they also told you I couldn't stand here before you. They have their truth, and we have ours."

"I may not touch any male. It does not matter that you are Dark or Light."

Josti looked puzzled. "I thought your people are 'Marked' near your age."

"They are. If I were Marken, I could touch the one by whom I was Marked, but no other."

"And otherwise you can't touch any male?"

She nodded. "According to the law."

"I feel sorry for you."

"You have touched a girl, then?"

"I have, and kissed them....I pity your men, too. I take it some never feel the touch of a woman?"

"No, all Mark by eighteen. Otherwise, we might be tempted to touch others. "Kissed"...no, I have never heard of this. Tell me, what is so good about it?"

"That's hard to explain. It just feels good. And--" He thought a moment. "You would have to experience it....never mind. I can see I'm offending you."

"You had better go back," Elishia suggested.

"Can I first ask you, is your mother Marked?"

"She was, once. He took the Path of Light to the next existence." Elishia said it like she didn't believe it.

"I--see." Josti started to reach out to her, then turned abruptly.

"Goodbye, Elishia." He exited through the mirror. Elishia expected that she would never see him again.

The next night, Elishia slept peacefully. She tried not to think about the mirror, or the Dark world. She made sure not to dream.

Gradually, Elishia started to hear noises. She wasn't dreaming; she never dreamed without permitting herself to, unless the dream was from her father, a message from the next existence. That had happened once, when she had decided not to talk to her mother, who had informed her that she must Mark within eight months. Her father had come in the form of light, and her dream, inside the light, was of her punishment if she defied her parents. Elishia pushed that memory out of her mind. That dream had been too awful.

No, these noises were of the Dark World; they were darkness, but the darkness was warm and welcoming, and she could see its fathomlessness in her mind. Distant sounds of horns, laughter and shouts beckoned her.... and finally, the sounds faded and she heard a light tinkling sound. She awoke. Her eyes flew open to see her sister Araiel holding an aja to her head to awaken her.

"Elishia, get up quickly and dress. Merto is here to see you."

"I don't want to see Merto," Elishia said in a hollow voice. In her mind, she grumbled, and she pondered her night. If the dream had not come from her father, then who had sent it?"

Everyone loved Merto but no one loved Merto more than Merto himself. Elishia peered into the greeting room. Merto sat there as if it were his own house. Despite the formal surroundings, he looked very comfortable. As a Servant of the People of Light, he was used to greeting rooms.

When Elishia entered the room, Merto covered his eyes in the greeting of a friend. Elishia ignored this. Merto was not her friend. He wanted to Mark her only to make her a devout follower of the laws. He was the only one who had seen through Elishia's facade. He knew she was different from other people, and he wanted to fix that.

Merto noticed her slight. He grimaced. "I see you are as accepting of our relationship as ever."

"What relationship? Doesn't the fact that I hate you make any relationship impossible?"

He grew angry. "You are a dissenter, and the People do not tolerate dissenters." He stood and stared at her, his teeth clenched. His thoughts pried their way into her mind. "I have seen your indiscretions, but I will not report them--"

"Indiscretions?" she thought casually.

Merto thought only one word, "Josti," and it sent her into a panic. "But I will not report you--"

Elishia was so relieved. She was lucky the Servants thoughts had their privacy from others. Her thoughts continued, out of her control. "Thank you so much, Merto, how can I--"

"--If you become my Marken."

Elishia glared at him, forgetting her guise. "Never," she blurted aloud.

Merto was angrier than before. "You will, Elishia, you will. I give you two months. Meanwhile, think about this: if you do not Mark me, I will turn you over to the People. You will never be Marked, and your friends will die around you, your body will decay, yet you will never pass to the next existence. Your life will be endless and unlucky. Is this what you want? If so, I will be happy to give it to you."

Merto would have left then, if Araiel had not entered the room. She covered her eyes, as did he.

"Merto, greetings," Araiel said. How is your existence?"

"Well, as it should be," he said formally. "And yours is improving, I hear. You are Marked by Laz?"

"Yes," she said, delighted.

"May I see the Mark?" Merto asked. "I can record your Marken."

"Of course," Araiel said. She took off her dress, and turned so Merto could see the mark in the center of her back. Elishia had always despised the location of a Mark. It was there on the male and the female so that neither of those Marked could decide to break their Marken. As if any one would try that, knowing that the Servants knew about it as soon as it occurred. Elishia knew exactly when Laz and Araiel became Marken: She had glanced into the greeting room just as Laz had touched Araiel's back, and she had touched his. It had given Elishia a chill to think of a boy touching her there...or anywhere. If that boy was Merto... she would probably feel nauseous. She wondered momentarily if the touch of a Servant burned, as did his gaze.

Now Merto was holding his hand over the squiggly line on Araiel's back. Maybe his touch did burn; his hand was a centimeter away from her skin, and she was flinching. It was the first time Elishia had seen Araiel without a smile on her face. Her expression was slightly bewildered; Elishia guessed that she had never before felt pain. When Merto took his hand away, Araiel's eyes widened and she froze. She stood that still while Merto walked to the side of the room and sat down again.

"They did not warn me it would feel like that," Araiel said calmly.

"If you were told, you would have been afraid of it," Merto explained to her.

"Why does she stand so still?" Elishia thought towards Merto.

"It is an after-effect. It will wear off in a few moments," Merto said aloud. Underneath his words, he thought, "Soon you will bear my Mark, Elishia. Do not fear the pain of my touch. You will soon grow fond of it."

Elishia could not reply. She was imagining Merto's touch on her skin. Again, she felt panicky. Why did she have to be the one to fall under a Servant's favor?

"Was it very painful?" Elishia asked sympathetically.

"A searing pain--" the intenseness of Araiel's thought overrode her sense of propriety, but she soon regained control of her mind. She spoke while she put her dress on. "You would do well to Mark Merto, Elishia. He is very handsome. His brown hair and grey eyes would offset yours nicely."

"His every touch would hurt me," Elishia reminded her.

"I am sure his Marken is immune."

"He told me that I would not be."

"Silly Elishia, why would he tell you such a thing?" Araiel left the room, laughing gaily.

That night, Elishia's thoughts were tormented. She was afraid there was no way out of Merto's trap. One thing she could say for him, he was clever. He gave her a choice between a Life without End and a life of unending pain.

As Elishia lay in her bed, she again imagined Merto's touch. She regretted it as it became a dream and she truly felt the pain. Merto was running his hands up and down her body, and she was letting him, for she was his Marken. Her body trembled. She tried to control the dream, but something prevented her. Two nights, two unbidden dreams. Elishia was losing control of her slumber.

Elishia heard Merto's mirthful laughter. She knew who had sent this dream. "You cannot do this!" she thought. "You may not touch me--"

"I touch only your mind," Merto replied. "Now you feel Merto's wrath. If you are kind to me, I may show you my love."

"I do not want--"

"You have no choice." In the dream, he grasped her wrist. His touch sent a shot of pain through her arm.

Suddenly Josti was there, standing beside Merto. Merto dropped Elishia's arm. "You cannot be here!" he cried.

Josti glanced quickly at Elishia, his face concerned. He turned to Merto. "I'm here," he said. "By her wish. It's you who does not belong." He turned to Elishia again. "If you help, we can banish him."

Elishia tried to rise, but found she was bound to the bed by something ropelike. "I cannot help," she whimpered. Merto looked pleased with himself.

Josti confronted him. "Very clever, Servant, but you can't bind a free mind. You know better."

"I--" Merto began.

"I don't believe in your laws, remember? Elishia, try to push him away with your mind." Josti closed his eyes and stood very straight. He seemed to empty and then fill up with a dark glow. He spoke foreign words. Elishia closed her eyes and did as he had advised. She felt her own being fill with power, with Dark.

Then it was over. Elishia opened her eyes and saw that Merto was gone. Josti went to her. He reached down and began to untie her. She tried not to let him touch her, but it was unavoidable. "I'm sorry, I must," he told her.

It is a dream, she reminded herself. The People of Light do not see dreams. She was surprised at the cool and water-like, though not wet, touch. It soothed the ache from Merto's touch.

When he had finished untying her, Elishia slowly stood up. She decided to bring up her other dream. "Last night, I dreamt of your world..."

"Did you like it?"

"I am not sure. It seemed friendly."

"I wanted to show you that it's not all evil. It has its good and bad points, just as your world does."

"So it was sent by you."

"Yes."

"But how did you know Merto was a Servant?"

"In the Dark world, there are no secrets. People learn what they want to. I learned that a Servant of the People of Light is the only one in your world who can control the dreams of another."

Elishia was confused. "I thought those in another existence could send a message...."

"No, that's impossible," Josti told her.

Elishia paused to think. If her dream of her punishment for disobeying her parents was not sent by her father, but by a Servant...it must have been sent by Merto. "Why does he have to be so cruel to me?" she wondered out loud. She vowed, "He will never Mark me, as he wishes. I would sooner live the Life without Death." She glanced up at Josti, but she could not read the look on his face.

"I won't let that happen to you," he said fiercely.

"You have a way?"

"I'll learn a way. I have more power here, in a dream, than I will in the Light world, because the Dark cannot go into your world. But there must be some way I can help you."

"You are very kind," she said softly. "But I think you had better leave." She passed a hand over her eyes. "In my world, this means friend. It is a greeting or a farewell."

Josti replied, hesitantly, "In my world, friends hug goodbye. Would it be asking too much..."

Elishia thought logically. He was being kind to her, offering to help her, and after all this was a dream; the least she could do was to show him that he was a friend. She gave a nod, and looked down as Josti put his arms around her waist and gave her a delicate hug.

Elishia opened her eyes. She was in her room, not in the dream anymore, and Josti's arms were around her. Josti and she both stepped back.

"I'm sorry," Josti said. "I swear I didn't know this would happen!"

Elishia sat on the bed. "You had better leave while you can," she said quickly. "This time, the Servants may have seen."

Josti headed for the mirror. "I'll try to think of how to help you. Meanwhile, if they come after you, remember you have powers also." He stepped in the mirror and was gone.

It was not yet morning, so all Elishia could do was wait. While she waited, she wondered what would happen to her. If the Servants knew that she had allowed Josti to touch her, much less hug her, she would surely be punished. She couldn't decide if it would be better, or worse, if Merto was the Servant who knew. Would he try to punish her himself instead of turning her in to the others?

Elishia found out sooner than she would have liked. When she went into the meal room for the day's first meal, everyone else was already sitting around the table: Elishia's mother, Le; Araiel; Laz; and Merto. Just seeing Merto, sitting there talking to her family, made Elishia's stomach ache. It ached more when she saw the empty seat beside Merto.

Le, who sat facing the doorway, saw Elishia before she could slink away. "Ah, here she is!" Le exclaimed to Merto, who sat across from her. Merto turned to smile and greet Elishia. Elishia did not smile, did not greet Merto. When the smile disappeared from his face, Elishia's knees went weak. She thought she would crumple to the floor, but her feet moved, out of her control, and her legs took her to the table, to sit beside Merto, who controlled her movement. It frightened her, but she pasted a smile on her face. Merto was close enough to make her skin hurt, but she tried to ignore it.

"We were just wondering when Merto and you would be Marken. It is about time for that," Le said.

Elishia forced herself not to react. Merto did the talking, and while he spoke, his thoughts invaded Elishia's mind. "Do not think you can get away with anything I will not find out about. I am the only one watching you. I will not report anything unless in a month's time you refuse to be my Marken. But be sure on the day you agree, you will be punished for every law you break."

Elishia kept her thoughts shielded from Merto. She would find a way to stop Merto from carrying out his plans. With Josti's help, she would find a way.

The conversation soon turned to Laz and Araiel. They would be moving to their new house soon. The change of conversation only made it worse for Elishia. If she didn't find an alternative soon, she would be living with Merto in two months. Elishia did not see Josti for a week. Finally, she decided to see if she could "call" him. She put her hands flat on the glass and closed her eyes. With her mind, she reached out to Josti, willing him to appear. She felt that Josti was there. She opened her eyes.

He had not merely appeared in the mirror, he was standing in front of it, between her arms. Elishia stepped back. She was pleased and surprised that her magic worked. She saw the same emotions on Josti's face.

"So you're trying out your magic. That's good."

Elishia sat on her bed. "It felt strange."

Josti smiled. "It does that." His smile disappeared. "Are you all right? You weren't found out, were you?"

"Merto knows. He tells me he will not report me, though. He will merely keep track of all I do."

"But he won't punish you for it?"

"Not until later. But I hate to think about that."

"Then don't. We'll get you out of this, one way or another." Josti took her hand in his. She suppressed the impulse to pull away. She was outside the Law now. She decided she should enjoy her freedom while it lasted.

"I do not want to be Merto's Marken," she told Josti.

"I'm not sure I understand you Marking," Josti said, puzzled. "Is it another magic, that a mark appears, or is it science?"

"It is not important. It is a fact that when a man first touches a woman, or a woman a man, and it must be a mutual choice, his or her personal mark appears on the back, where they were touched. And the Marken then live together in a separate house, and of course touch only each other. In two years they may ask to be given children. Do you not have a similar thing in your world?

"We have what we call Lemo'an-- I can't translate it-- it's when two pledge not to love or be one with anyone else."

"'Be one with'? I have never heard of this in the Light world."

"I'm not sure I can explain this to you--"

"It has to do with touching, does it not? Then perhaps you could show me?"

"No, no, I'm sorry, you really wouldn't want me to."

"I would not like it? Hugging seemed pleasant. I liked that."

"You did?" Josti looked down, but he smiled. He looked up quickly. "I figured out a way to describe kissing, though. It's when two people touch their lips together."

"Show me," Elishia demanded.

Josti shook his head. Then he looked into her eyes. "Merto wouldn't like it..." he said, his voice fading. Elishia put her hand behind Josti's head and touched her lips to his. "That is a kiss?"

"Uh-huh," he said. "So is this." He kissed her. He jumped up. "I better go back." He stepped through the mirror again.

Elishia decided to get some sleep. Before she could drift off, she thought about her conversation with Josti. It had been strange, but then anything concerning Josti and the Dark World was alien to Elishia.

The next time she saw Josti, he was on the other side of the mirror. He did not step through. Elishia noticed that the scenery behind Josti was not as dark as usual.

"What is behind you?"

"A city. I wanted to show you some of my world. I think my magic can show you the streets, through my eyes. But you have to help; try to put yourself in my place."

Elishia closed her eyes. She imagined she was Josti. When she opened her eyes, she knew she was in the Dark world; at least, the world was dark. Elishia saw neon lights and strange people all around. The people were garbed in more different types of outfits than she had ever seen, and were many different shapes and sizes. Some towered over her, some were tiny, and some were too strange to describe. Elishia was amazed, but at the same time it was all familiar. She knew the part of her that found it familiar was Josti.

She spoke to him in her mind. "Your people look so different from my own. Why do some seem so gay, and some drab?"

"That's how it is: Some people have money, some have none. Some have no place to live, and others don't care. Then there are those who take all they can from others."

"Those who take from others on my world cease to exist. As a result, there is little crime."

"That fact may be a good point of your world," Josti replies. He fell silent, letting Elishia absorb their surroundings. She had trouble understanding anything in the confusion of noise and color. Huge vehicles seemed to roar, heading directly towards them, only to veer suddenly before hitting the pedestrians. One such vehicle was particularly alarming. It had huge wheels and a multitude of passengers. On its roof was a gigantic four-dimensional portrayal of a man. It had a an apron around his waist, and wielded a hatchet in its hand. Dark shadows hovered over much of its face, and its whole body bobbed and shook with the maniacal laughter bellowing from his gaping mouth.

Elishia wanted to run away, but Josti entered the vehicle, along with many other people. They all stood inside. Elishia did not like the experience of being pressed against bodies besides her own. The smell of sweat, heady flowers, and many other smells she could not identify assailed her nostrils.

The vehicle-- Josti told her it was called a Vol-- stopped in front of a long, low building. This place, in contrast with the Vol, was brightly lit within and without, and was sterile and white. It smelled of food. Inside, Elishia could see it was occupied by long, rectangular counters filled with rows of food. Unmoving at the corners of the counters stood identical women.

They aren't women, Josti told Elishia, They're robots-- machines.

When someone shouted a command, the counter tops and the women moved, preparing the food with automated precision. Elishia watched in awe.

One way to get food, Josti told her. When he had eaten, he walked past the building, and soon the neon lights were far behind. Ahead lay dark, desolate countryside. People passed occasionally, but these people were more like Josti. They were not dressed finely, but were happy. They didn't care that they were poor. Josti knew many of them and greeted them with a foreign word that sounded like, "Dlak." She heard the wolves baying and the strange murmurings that she had heard some nights.

They came to a large group of people sitting around a fire. They were singing, dancing and eating. Josti joined them. "These are my people," he told Elishia. "I travel with them, usually." Josti's people hugged him and gave him their greeting. Elishia liked the feeling of warmth and companionship. This was what was missing from the Light world.

Presently, Josti left the light of the fire. He went to the field, where people were spread out, laying down side by side. They gazed up at the stars, trading old stories, discussing dreams and realities. Elishia felt content. When Josti closed his eyes to take a nap, her world went black.

Elishia awoke back in her bed at home, in the Light world. She felt a sense of homesickness, but did not understand why. After all, the Light world was her home.

When next she saw Josti, she was sitting on her bed. He emerged from the mirror and sat beside her.

"What did you think of my world?" Josti asked her.

She told him, "It scared me, but I liked your people. Your family?"

"They are like a family. My parents are far away, since I set out on my own when I turned fifteen. In the Dark world, we have a choice to do what we want to do. I chose to travel with my people and sell and trade the things that we make."

"I like that you can choose-- On my world one is told to be either a worker, a homekeeper, or something else, after being Marked. Beforehand, we must train in each of this things. But on your world, the poor did not all choose to be poor, did they?"

"No. As I said, we have our problems here. You may have too many laws, while we have none. You may have too much order, while we have chaos."

"I know. And I know that your world seems much more real, even to me, than the Light world. The Dark world is at least honest.."

"Elishia, I've been thinking of how to help you--"

"Have you any ideas?"

"Only one that might be desirable to you. If I can find someone in the Dark world who'll go after Merto..."

"What would this person do to him?"

"End his existences."

"No! I could not agree to it. I would feel as if I had done it myself. It is too terrible even for Merto to end."

"I understand. I know of only one other alternative, but I will have to check into it further. It may be impossible."

"Please find out."

Josti promised her would. After that, he left.

The next day, Elishia's mother, Le, pulled her aside as she was going to the meal room for her second meal. Le said, "Be sure to eat the proper food, Elishia. You seem to be getting ugly circles under your eyes."

Elishia was grumpy because she had not slept. "What does it matter? Merto will take me however I look."

"What kind of talk is that? Merto is a Servant. You would do well to Mark him."

Elishia pushed past Le. She sometimes wondered if her family had been trained to say certain things.

A few nights later, Josti appeared again. "Dlak, Elishia." He gave her an awkward hug. "You are well?"

"Yes. I have not seen Merto for over a week. It is nice to be without him." He sat beside her on her bed.

Josti looked worried. "I wonder if he's planning something. I doubt he's just patiently waiting for your decision. I can feel his anger towards you, when I am here."

"That is magic, too?"

"I guess so. No more so than your people's ability to read thoughts."

"Do all of the Dark people have the same powers you have?"

"We all have magic-- but everyone is different, and everyone has their own form. Your world may be light, but mine is full of magic." He smiled. Elishia smiled back at him. Before she knew what was happening, Josti's lips were on hers again. He kissed her tenderly, brushing his hand down her back. Elishia was unused to the pleasure and excitement this gave her. She leaned back, and soon she was resting on the pillows. Josti stopped kissing her. "Are you scared of me?"

Elishia realized then that she was trembling. "Not of you. Of what we are doing. But when you kiss me, I forget I am sad and unlucky. Please do not stop."

Josti held her more tightly and kissed her more deeply. He kept kissing her until they heard a gasp.

Josti jumped up. Elishia stayed where she was. The noise had been a gasp, and it belonged to her mother. The strangest thing was, Le did not look shocked. Her face was smiling as usual. She spoke calmly.

"Elishia, please tell your friend to leave so we can talk."

Josti did not need to be told. He left immediately. Elishia sat up, and her mother sat beside her. Elishia didn't want to hear what Le had to say.

"Mother, you do not understand--"

"I understand all I need to. That boy was from the Dark world, and you were kissing. I understand."

"How do you know about kissing?" Now Elishia was interested.

"I know about Dark men. You should stay away from them. It starts with kissing, and ends with becoming one and having a baby. That was the mistake I made. I thought I loved him, so I let him kiss me, and we went further, and then I had you."

"Then, my father was from the Dark World?"

"Yes."

"Did he come through a mirror?"

"The same mirror in your room. I never thought it could happen again, though."

"Did you become Marken, then?"

"I could not Mark a Dark boy. You know that. He wanted me to go to his World, where we could do as we pleased, but it was not possible because of the Corridor of Ice. He left, and, soon after, his existence ended. You were left behind, and the Servants isolated me as a punishment and for my own good, so I could raise you without anyone knowing I was not given a child as others had been."

"That is why I have magic?"

"It must be. I never meant to tell you, Elishia, but it may help you do the right thing."

"I will do the right thing," Elishia promised. She thought the right thing probably meant something different to her mother than it did to her.

The next night, Josti did not come. Elishia waited for hours. She did not want to will him to come, as she had before; she was afraid he was staying away because of what had happened with her mother. Perhaps he was afraid her mother was keeping watch now. Elishia gave up waiting and went to bed.

She dreamed that while she slept, Josti came through the mirror and stood beside her bed. He looked down at her. He knelt beside the bed and slipped an arm across her waist. His other hand he pushed into her hair.

In her dream, he said, "If you were one of the Dark world we would be one." He leaned over to touch his lips to Elishia's--

--And she woke up. Josti was kneeling beside her bed; his lips were on hers. Josti took his lips away.

"I knew you were there," Elishia whispered.

"You were asleep."

"Yes, but I knew you were there. Now I know you are real."

"You're real, too, Elishia. So real..." He kissed her again, a deep long kiss. She pulled him closer. He climbed onto the bed to lay beside her. They kissed eagerly, and Josti pressed her body to his.

"We were nearly one, once, I felt it-- perhaps someday we'll be one again..." he murmured. He held her so tightly, pressed her so close, as though he were trying to join Elishia in her body....

Suddenly Elishia said, "Stop." Josti let Elishia move away a little, but kept his arm around her shoulders. Elishia laid her hand flat on her stomach. She reflected quietly, "If we had not stopped, if we had become one, I would get a baby?"

Josti chuckled. "No." He looked serious. "Maybe. You were right to stop me."

"Maybe," Elishia said. She stared into the dark room.

"You wouldn't want a baby, Elishia."

"No, but I would want you."

"What does that mean?"

"I think I may love you."

Josti kissed her again. "I don't know if it's good, but I think I love you too."

They were silent for a while. Elishia broke the silence. "Josti, tell me about babies. We do not have them here."

"You were a baby once. Everyone was."

"Truly? I have never seen one."

"You've never seen one at all?"

"When my sister was given to my parents, she was a little girl. About this tall." She held her hand at her waist. "That is what my mother told me. Maybe she was somewhere else when she was a baby. And she told me last night that my father was Dark."

"She told you that?"

"Yes."

"I suspected it, but now I know."

"It is very strange for me to imagine my mother disobeying laws and having a baby."

"Stay here," Josti said. He got up and went toward the mirror.

"Are you coming back?" Elishia asked.

"Yes," Josti promised. "I want to bring something to show you." He went through the mirror. Elishia stared after him. He had his back to the mirror. Elishia heard a strange wailing sound in the background.

"What is that?" Elishia called to Josti. He turned around. In his arms her held a small creature, out of which the terrible noise was coming. "What is that thing?"

"A baby."

Elishia stood and approached the mirror to get a closer look. "You and I were once a creature like that?"

"It isn't a creature, it's a person." Josti stepped through the mirror. He showed Elishia how to hold the baby, then handed it to her. It stopped crying and gazed up at her with wide dark eyes like Josti's.

"It is a tiny person," Elishia said softly.

The baby started to cry again. Elishia handed it to Josti. "I better go back," Josti said. He kissed Elishia on the cheek and left.

Elishia lay in her bed, in the dark room, thinking about Josti, and about the baby. In her world, isolation was a natural state. In the Dark world it was natural to be close to another person, to be one with another person. Not that long ago, Elishia-- or her mind, at least-- had been with Josti. These things she could almost understand. She was having trouble understanding what had just happened.

It seemed like no time at all before Elishia's time was up. She must give Merto her decision. She waited all day in her room, thinking that he would come to claim her. When it was time for bed, he still hadn't shown up. Elishia was relieved, but still nervous. He might come the next day, or the next.

Elishia pulled her covers over her head. She felt safer that way. She wished she could see Josti.

"Elishia, wake up!" Josti's voice called. Elishia looked around, looked toward the mirror, but saw no one. She got out of bed and went to the mirror. No one. Slowly, a figure took form in front of the mirror's glass. It was Merto. Elishia backed away, then ran for the door-- until she realized Merto was there. She stood still.

Merto stealthily crossed the room. His eyes flashed, and his smile was grim. "Elishia. My lovely little traitor."

"I'm not your little anything," she snapped. She looked for an escape, but before she could realize there was none, Merto was in front of her, blocking her view.

He sneered at her. "Your Dark boy will not save you this time. You are mine. I own you. And I will have to discipline you after what you did with that boy."

She slid sideways along the wall. "I did not do anything," she said evasively. Merto reached out toward her. "You cannot--"

"Why? Because I have not Marked you? It will matter little officially whether I first Marked you or touched you."

His hand cut a burning line down her arm. Elishia tried not to give him the satisfaction of seeing her flinch. She tried to duck away, and Merto grasped her wrist.

She gasped. A bolt of pain shot up her arm. "Please, Merto, do not do this."

Merto laid his hand on the side of her neck. It not only ached, Elishia found it difficult to swallow. He pressed a bit, and she found herself gagging. "Oh-- Josti," she whispered, wishing he were there.

"You had best forget him, Elishia. You will Mark me, not him. And it is I that you will become one with." Elishia tried once again to get away, but she found that she couldn't even hold herself up. Just when she thought she would fall, Merto caught her in his arms, so her body was sagged against his.

He moved his hand to her neck again, so she couldn't protest. Her intended scream came out as "urg."

Merto's tone was conversational, but Elishia heard the undertone of violence. "It would be better for you to give in willingly, Elishia." She stared at him out of terrified eyes. "You will be good, will you not? If I let you answer me?"

Elishia nodded vigorously. Merto took his hand from her neck. "Somebody help! Josti--" she yelled quickly. Before she could finish, Merto covered her mouth with his, swallowing her words-- and stealing her voice away. She knew she couldn't speak before she even tried.

Merto said, "Oh, such a pity you choose not to cooperate. I give you just one more chance. Would you prefer to do it here, on the floor, or on the bed?" Elishia began to shake her head; at that moment she spotted the mirror. A hand protruded from it. Josti's hand. Elishia nodded slowly to Merto. If they went toward the mirror, perhaps....

Merto was tricked. He let her walk towards the bed, though he stayed close behind her. When she was near the bed, she stopped, and he stood almost on top of her. Elishia jabbed him in the stomach with her sharp elbow and leapt toward the mirror. She grabbed Josti's hand, thinking she would pull him through, and he pulled her through the mirror. The last thing she saw was Merto's shocked and furious expression, before she crashed through the glass and fell onto a hard ice floor.

Elishia looked down at her hands. They were bleeding from tiny cuts caused by the glass. On the floor behind her lay pieces of the mirror. Beyond that was dry and white: Kare Lesa, the Corridor of Ice. It seemed to go on forever.

Elishia felt hopeless. She hunched over her knees and whimpered. Just as the cold was seeping into her legs, she heard Josti's voice.

"Elishia." She looked around, but Josti was nowhere to be seen.

"Elishia, trust me. I'm with you. I see what you see. Like you saw my world before.

Elishia closed her eyes and thought she could feel his presence in her mind. She felt a little more safe.

"I will die here," she said quietly.

"No, Elishia," Josti said. "All you have to do is find the way to the Dark world. Get up."

Elishia struggled to her feet. "Now what?"

"Run. Run swiftly." She did as he said. The corridor went on and on, with little change. Eventually, she slowed down to a walk. She stopped.

"I must rest, Josti. My feet hurt. I am cold." She started to sink to the floor.

"No!" Elishia felt his sense of urgency and stood.

"What is it?" she said weakly.

"You'll freeze if you stop. And if you fall asleep, you shall never wake. I read that in legends books."

"How do you know those books tell the truth? Don't worry, I'll just rest a moment." She sat down. Despite Josti's pleas, she stretched her feet out in front of her. They hurt. Her hands hurt, too, from the cuts. She became aware of the cold seeping through her skin again, possessing her legs. She tried to rise, but her legs felt like they were made of ice. She was frightened.

"Josti!"

"Don't panic," he replied immediately. "Think of your legs burning. Imagine-- Imagine Merto's looking at you, and his look melts the ice."

Elishia closed her eyes and imagined Merto's burning glance, melting the ice in her veins and under her legs.... Josti called out in her mind, and Elishia felt water beneath her. She jumped up. Where she had sat, there was a small pond. Elishia walked fast instead of running. Finally, she came to a place where the ice seemed to waver, letting Darkness and images of spirits seep through. Elishia was afraid to step onto the ice there, for fear it would give under her weight and send her hurtling through nothingness.

"Go on," urged Josti.

"I am afraid."

"Close your eyes." She did so. "You must trust me, Elishia. Step out... let the Darkness seep into you. If you are filled with Dark, the spirits will not be able to take you to their existence."

Elishia opened herself to the Dark. She felt it seep into her body, cool yet warm, sweet yet powerful. She opened her eyes. Before her she saw Josti. She gave a cry of joy and reached out toward him, but she could not touch him. He looked sad. "You're still in the corridor, Elishia. But you're very close. Try to come towards me--"

Elishia took a step toward him, but something pulled her back. She threw herself in his direction, and bounced off of a hard wall. She felt harsh wind, and heard a roar. She continued to fight the forces that wanted to tear her apart until she had no will left and the world seemed to go up in flames before her consciousness went black. The last sense she had was that of falling, falling.....

Elishia opened her eyes, but all was Dark. Slowly, Josti's face came into focus above her. He looked worried, then relieved. He put his arms around her and held her tightly. Elishia looked over his shoulder, and realized they were inside the dry waterfall that he had described to her. When he let go, Elishia gave him a questioning look.

"Welcome to my world," he said with a little laugh. He helped Elishia sit up. She clung to him. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing." She looked up at him and smiled. "There is just so much I do not know about this world-- about you."

"We'll learn together. I hope, eventually, as Marken-- as Lemo'an." Elishia agreed. Josti brought her to his people, who were lying in the field. They found his spot, and lay on his blanket. Josti wrapped his arms around Elishia and closed his eyes. Elishia stared up at the sky; it was indeed a foreign sky, but it was beautiful, and Elishia loved it. She loved the Dark world, and she knew that this was where she belonged.