Page 14 of Frost and Death
The Snow Queen is awake.
“It’s my magic,” I blurt.
Niko stills as I scramble to get the words out faster than I can formulate. “I was fine one moment and then the next—I don’t know, but something happened. I was warm and then I was cold.”
Niko’s face turns grave, and before he can flinch away, I fold into myself and collapse on the couch. I stare into the fire, studying the flickering of the light casting shadows on the wood floor while trying to stop my gifts from expelling.
“I can direct the guests outside early for the fireworks in the courtyard, and you can go down the front hall so you can be away from everyone,” Niko offers, still standing and hovering near me.
I nod silently.
“It’ll be alright, Tee. You’ve handled this before.” Niko moves his hand to rest on me, but he hesitates and steps away.
That hesitation has tears blurring my vision, agony ripping through me at the monster I am.
I try to offer an explanation. “Niko, wait—”
The flash of fear behind his amber eyes cracks my heart.
I tuck my pain deep down, masking it with indifference. “Thank you,” I force out.
He dips his head, promptly returning to the throne room as the first tear cascades down my cheek.
I wait a few moments, trying to calm myself, and hope that sitting while evening out my breaths will ease the power ripplingthrough my body. The tug of control between myself and my magic is a constant war.
I rub my hands together and resume pacing. Maybe wearing down the wooden planks might make me feel like I accomplished something.
I glance between the two entrances, one to the throne room and the other a door that leads to the secret halls.
The ballroom would be faster, but I find myself incapable of waiting for the throne room to empty.
So, I brave the hidden halls that are built to run parallel with other hallways of the castle, opting for the lit path that will take me to the front entryway, knowing no one will see me escaping for the fields beyond while watching the fireworks in the courtyard.
I wait in silence when I reach the end of the tunnel, opening the door when it feels safe. A few beats pass, and I slink through, unnoticed, the threshold for the entrance coming into view. A whoosh of relief washes over me as I made it here without running into anyone.
The crisp, cold air blows in, drying the light sweat beaded on my brow. Heaviness guides my stare upward to the dark night sky.
I reach for a nearby lantern to take with me, but I hiss, my hand burning from touching the hot metal. I shake my hand in frustration, a poor attempt to make the pain go away.
Too self-absorbed that my ignorance thought it safe to play with fire.
I swear to Yeva, if I could get my powers to stop, I—
Wait…
Awareness of warmth instead of cold has me pause, peering down at my reddening hand.
Did that stop my magic?
An explosion of sound from the right of the castle jolts me back a step.
I clutch my burned hand to my chest, covering my pumping heart as each firework shoots into the sky.
They illuminate the stars and night in blues, reds, and yellows. Shapes form in the distance as the ear-piercing noise of each pop has me covering my ears.
I marvel in awe alone, grateful I could be by myself and not act indifferent to the presentation.
The staccato rhythm of each firework builds as the finale progresses, fireworks trilling in rapid succession as the pinnacle of the symphony ceases in an arpeggiated chord.
