The room was covered in dust and cobwebs. No one had stepped in there in an extremely long time and Helena hadn't meant to either. She had grabbed a heavy book off a book right at the end of the library. The case had groaned as back to reveal a secret room.

The fact such a room existed, hadn't shocked her after all she had read that most castles somewhere had hidden rooms or passageways. But to stumble across one so unexpectedly had filled her with a sort of giddiness that couldn't be explained only felt.

A part of her knew that there was a reason the room was hidden, a reason no one had been inside and that was probably a very good reason, but she couldn't stop herself going inside.

The once bright yellow walls had faded into a yellowish white. It smelt of dust, dirt, and strangely of stale pears. It was lit, poorly by something in the middle of the room.

Each step Helena took closer to the light made her think she should turn back, but she was too gripped by curiosity to walk away.  One day her curious her heart would get her into trouble or at least that's what her mother was always telling her.

Under a glass dome was a bird and wolf made up by tiny particles lights. The wolf the colour of the night sky with stars twinkling throughout its body. The bird orange and red like fire, like the sun. Both so different, but beautiful. She pressed her hand against the glass, it was cold underneath the palm of her hand. The wolf looked up at her through its glass prison before looking back at the bird.

"What are you doing?" Andrew asked in a small voice. Helena sprung back from the glass as if she were a child being caught doing something she shouldn't.

"I took a book off the shelf and the case moved to reveal this room to me, but it's nothing to worry about Andrew it's just a room," Helena explained, smiling at him to reassure him that everything was okay and he didn't need to worry.

"Lillian, the witch who did this to us, she sent that to Mr. Kanefire a few weeks later," Andrew explained he looked angry a look that didn't suit the small boy. "He was so angry I've never seen him that way before or since. Mama hid it away, but never told him where and you shouldn't either".

"I won't tell him Andrew if upsets Lucas then I won't tell him I found it, but what exactly is it?" Helena asked, stepping closer to him.

"I don't know. No one ever tells me much they think that I can't keep secrets but I can,".

Helena believed him. She could just picture all the adults leaving him out of their conversations, maybe some would want to include him, but Mrs. Marcus making sure they didn't. She was trying to shelter him the only way she could.

"Lunch is almost ready. You should close this door and just forget you saw anything,"  Andrew insisted before leaving her alone with the wolf and the bird that fluttered from one side of the glass dome to the other.

~~~

"You have hardly touched your food. Are you feeling alright?" Lucas questioned before taking a sip of wine.

"I'm fine," Helena lied with a small smile. She couldn't stop thinking about the wolf and the bird. They were day and night, sunlight and starlight imprisoned in glass.

"Really? I thought, stumbling upon the hidden room in the library and what was in it was troubling you," Lucas said, he didn't sound angry if anything he sounded slightly amused. "Now I know one's a wolf but what is in there with him?".

Helena studied his face as he took another sip of wine. He was more relaxed than normal and she couldn't help wondering how much he had to drink before he came to lunch. He had once again been hauled up in his study all morning and she hadn't seen him since the sun came up. Lucas for all she knew could have been drinking since then.

"It was a bird, a beautiful bird. How do you know I found it? And what is it?" Helena asked, her voice brimming with curiosity and impatience. She expected the usual "I'll tell you another time"  excuse. It's what he did whenever she wanted answers.

"It's my castle I always know what's going on or at least nearly always. Like for example when Mrs. Marcus hid it in that room I knew, but I didn't tell her because she was so pleased at being able to do something for me," Lucas explained, reaching out for the bottle of wine and then pouring it into his empty glass.

"Now what it is, is very complicated, but the simplest explanation is picture it as a mirror that shows you your inner self, your soul. I'm the wolf and you are the bird. I could never figure out why it showed me and one of my guest's but no one else at the castle. But magic is very strange thing I think I could live a thousand years and still never truly understand it".

Author Note

Thank you so much for reading I hope you enjoyed it as much I enjoyed reading it. I look forward to your wonderful comments they always inspire me to write more.

How do you like my new temporary cover? I made it myself, which is probably why it isn't as awesome as previous covers.

I'm still hosting my cover competition for those interested.
If yochapter, please chapter please comment and vote.

Thank you