Again, Charming ignored them. He walked down a hallway and stopped at a door. Before the girls could argue, he opened it and dragged them through.
Mayor Heart's room was a shrine to herself. There were pictures of her in various gaudy outfits, all of which were covered in little red hearts. Hanging over her bed was a huge ax that Sabrina was sure could easily lop a person's head clean off his shoulders. On the far wall leaned a full-length mirror. Nottingham was slumped in a chair by the mayor's bed. He was sound asleep with Heart's corn-covered foot in his lap, mumbling something about "taxes."
"This way," Charming whispered, walking lightly toward the mirror.
"What are we looking for?" Sabrina grumbled as she watched the sleeping sheriff. She could see his dagger gleaming in the moonlight from the window. A similar sparkle bounced off the ax. She imagined Heart and Nottingham springing from their beds and cutting the intruders to ribbons.
"Nottingham!" the Mayor shouted, and sat up in bed. She was wearing a sleeping mask and was reaching to remove it when Charming snatched the girls and threw them at the mirror's reflection. Sabrina cringed, expecting to smash the glass, but instead she and Daphne flew through it and landed on a marble floor. Charming followed them in and turned back to the portal. He watched as Nottingham reluctantly got out of his chair and checked under the queen's bed and in her closets.
"We're in a magic mirror!" Daphne said as she helped Sabrina get to her feet.
Sabrina was too surprised to respond. She had been in a magic mirror many times, of course. The Hall of Wonders was a breathtaking place, but this magic mirror was simply beyond belief. Instead of a long hallway lined with doors, they were standing in the lobby of a posh hotel. The floors were covered in beautiful Persian rugs. There were plush leather sofas and chairs scattered about and spectacular chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. A wall of windows revealed a beautiful sun-soaked beach just outside with palm trees swaying in the breeze. Sabrina and Daphne approached the windows and gawked at the beautiful scenery. It had been a long time since the sun had shined so brightly in Ferryport Landing.
"Is that real?" Daphne said as she gazed out at the crystal blue ocean.
Charming didn't respond. "Hello?" he said loudly. He stepped up to a long reception desk and leaned over it. "Hello?"
Just then, Sabrina heard a loud bell, and an elevator door opened behind them. A chubby Asian man wearing a Hawaiian shirt stepped out. His face was tanned and his eyes were lined with crow's-feet. A big grin filled the man's face and he hugged Charming.
"Boss! I knew you'd come back to rescue me. Where have you been?"
"I've been out of town, Harry," Charming said, pulling himself away from the man and fussily straightening his clothes. "These are Relda Grimm's granddaughters."
Harry clapped his hands. "Aloha," he said. "Welcome to the Hotel of Wonders. I'm your host, Harry. Checking in?"
"I'm afraid not," Charming said. "I've just come for a few things in my room."
"Right away, sir," Harry said. He raced around the reception desk and opened a drawer containing a collection of old-fashioned hotel keys, each attached to a bright red key chain with a number printed on its front.
"You own a magic mirror?" Sabrina said.
"There is more than one, child," Charming said.
"There is?" Daphne wondered. "Mirror never told us that."
"Found it!" Harry said, as he came around the desk and gestured for the group to follow him. They stepped into an elevator and Harry pushed a button that read penthouse
. The elevator had glass walls, allowing the girls to look out on the beach as they rose into the sky.
"Boss, you have to get me out of here," Harry continued. "Every day Heart gets dressed in front of me. A mirror can only take so much."
"You'll be leaving with us," Charming said.
"Very good, sir. It's good to have you back."
"It's good to be back."
Harry turned to the girls. "So, I heard you mention you have a mirror of your own?"
Sabrina nodded. "Yes, his name is Mirror."
"Hmm, interesting. Odd that he doesn't have a name," Harry replied. "Must have been one of the earlier models."
"Their mirror was originally the Wicked Queen's personal mirror," Charming explained.
"Ah, that explains it. The prototype," Harry said when the elevator stopped and the doors opened.
"I'm confused," Daphne said. "How many magic mirrors are there?"
Harry led them down a hallway decorated with beautiful paintings. "Oh, that's hard to say! The Wicked Queen made all the magic mirrors. She would create mirrors like this one to fill the particular needs of her customers. She called us the deluxe packages. There are mirrors that are deserted islands, ski resorts, and even one that looks like a Polish restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio."
Charming shrugged. "Everyone has their own taste."