Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14922 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14922 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
“Why do I do this? Do you know?”
“I know everything.”
“Please come in. Tell me.”
She comes in and sits down on the sofa. I get the fire going for her.
“Sit and listen to the tale I weave. What do you know of the years following our independence from Britain?”
“Only what I was taught in school.”
“So nothing. A clean slate is better. “Once we were free of the British, two prominent families who were each royal in their own right, the Arens and the Jacksons, decided to rule as one kingdom, splitting duties. We know now that was a mistake. Greed overtook both families, and civil war was inevitable. Instead of conceding, they allowed their people to suffer while they fought over wealth and power.”
“Bullshit.” Never once was anything like this mentioned in school.
“It’s nothing but true. They decided to divide the kingdoms up eventually into what you now know as Evergreen and Wintergreen, but not before many died from starvation and poor healthcare during their cold war. A witch, one much like me but more powerful, cursed the future rulers of both kingdoms. She said that just when that kingdom is going to be at its best, born to the royal family will be a child, an heir with the power to destroy all they have built. This was to be their punishment for their selfishness.”
“And my coldness is the result of that curse?”
“Yes. Don’t you feel cursed?
“Yes.”
“There you go.”
“Curses should be able to be broken, right?”
“Right.”
“So, how do I break this one?”
“Are you sure you want to know?”
“Yes.”
“It’s simple.”
“Tell me, please.”
“In order to save your kingdom and that of Evergreen, you must claim your mirror.”
“Excuse me?” I ask, even more confused than I was when I started. Does she want me to find a specific mirror?”
“You must find the one person who is your mirror image and claim her.”
“My mirror image?”
“One who is cold like you. One who freezes all she touches as you do. Cold to everyone else, but who burns when you touch her.” Instantly, beautiful Elise comes into my mind, with ice and snow all around her. All around us.
“Elise,” I whisper.
“Yes. Elise. She is your destiny.”
“I knew it.” I knew she was mine the moment I laid eyes on her, and this just solidifies that.
“You must go to her now. She needs you. You will not stop until you are wed, and your families are joined together.”
“Where do I find her?”
As soon as she tells me, I take off. Finding her is my number one priority.
CHAPTER
SEVEN
ELISE
ONE WEEK LATER
I am lost. I have no idea what I am doing. Am I coming or going? I have been walking around this town and in the park for the last few hours, my mind spinning in circles, going crazy, thinking of everything the crone told me over the last few hours, and now I am more confused than I was before.
After six hours on a bus checking into the local lodge in Mistletoe Canyon and hyping myself up on coffee, I took the trek to the general area where I thought she could be found. I was two hours into walking in circles, or what felt like circles, when I swear the trees parted and the most gorgeously gothic-looking little house was revealed to me. I am glad it was finally shown because I was starting to get upset, and that never bodes well.
“I figured I had five more minutes tops before you froze the entire forest.” This tiny woman, who reminds me of an older Janis Joplin, says, holding the door open. I am hesitant for a second, sort of shocked it worked, and I actually found her, but when she looks at me amusingly, I realize how silly I look right now. I came to her, and now I am unsure. Yeah.
“Sorry,” I say sheepishly, feeling a bit silly.
“It’s fine. I was expecting you.” She says it so nonchalantly, picking up a cup of tea and handing it to me.
“Oh do you have-”
“Two sugar cubes and some anise? Yes dear. I put them in your cup already.” The glass damn near slips from my hand.
“How do you…?” My mouth won’t work right now.
“Why did you come here?” she deadpans me, and I understand. If I am so shocked at her abilities, then why am I here?
“You’re right. I’m just so...lost right now I don’t know what to believe.”
“Please sit.” She sits in a chair in front of me and crosses her legs. “Ask me,” she says, looking at me like a crazy person.
“I don’t know where to start,” I tell her truthfully with my shoulders slumping. My head is hanging, and I feel more than defeated.
“What is your long-held question?” A tear leaves my eye, and I look up at her.
“Why me? Why did I get given this…this affliction?” I scream that last part, finally able to put a voice to everything I have been thinking since I was a little girl. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to be a freak? To not be able to touch anyone without worrying about doing them harm? I have never had a friend who wasn’t a sibling because I can trust no one. No one can know of this, and I feel so utterly...alone.” I sob the last part. My body is shuttering with sorrow and anguish as I finally give words to a pain I have held inside and smiled through for years.