An icy wind brushed chillingly against Roland’s throat as he reached out towards the mirror, but he was too entranced to spare a thought for the unpleasant weather. He had eyes only for the wintry mirror and the statue that was poised above it, wreathed in a halo of gold and frozen as if in ice. Time seemed to stop as the stallion gazed at it, the yellow glow cast across his champagne hide. After a moment it seemed life was suddenly breathed into the snake, and its skin began to crack and break, fissures appearing along its gleaming scales. Eyes like blood red rubies slowly opened, the cardinal hue contrasting sharply against the pale, unoffending palette of winter, and the gentle blush of gold emanating from the mirror.

Muscles jerked as the stallion started, watching as the statue came to life before his very eyes. He took a step back as the shell seemed to fall away from its body, revealing a shining charcoal skin beneath. It appeared so venomous and dangerous when moments ago it had seemed to be some angelic symbol, curled harmlessly atop an extra terrestrial pane of frosted glass. Roland tensed, his nostrils flaring, heart hammering against his ribs. He was unsure whether it was necessary to keep his distance or not, as the creature had made no move to harm him.

The unspoken question was answered soon enough as the otherworldly reptile parted its ebon jaws, revealing a throat of black and a snaking tongue of gold. Its demonic hiss cut through the air with the foreboding repercussion of a gunshot. The image was reflected in the icy mirror, Roland’s eyes bright and fearful, his golden body backed by the peaceful northern lights who were unmoved by the scene unfolding below them. The snake released its grip on the golden rim and threw itself towards him, muscular tail curling around the stallion’s neck as its sharp fangs sunk into his neck by the shoulder.

He let out a sudden cry of pain as the venomous teeth sank into his flesh, a searing burn jolting him like a sudden flash of fire amidst the cold. He reared back, trying to shake the creature from his neck, but as the poison bled into his bloodstream his vision slowly blurred, and the snow around him swam before his darkening eyes. His hooves met the snow with a heavy thud, blind spots appearing in his vision. Try as he might to blink them away the distortion remained, and his mind slowly blanked. The pain still seared through his neck, and he shook feebly to try and rid himself of the creature, breath rasping through his throat. Amidst the fog in his mind he was filled with regret at the choice to dare a late night walk, and the gamble he took when nearing this evident source of black magic.

walk walk walk
"talk talk talk"