Page 2 of Snow White

I hold my hand up to silence her, my eyes locked on the viper as I finish my descent. A silent battle of wills plays between us, and some part of that stupid bitch wants to call me out. After a moment, she curtsies and says, “M-My apologies.”

The beautiful one shakes her head. “It’s alright, t-truly.”

I relax and drop my hand to my side. I hold the gaze of the rude woman, letting my magic flare. Without another word, she starts up the stairs. I turn to the beautiful one. “Princesses should never apologize.”

Oh, I know very well who she is. She has a role to play in my game, as everyone does. She is just as beautiful as the rumors claim, and I can feel the purity and power radiating from her.

“If you’ll excuse me, Your Highness,” I say and bow my head slightly before continuing on into the drawing room.

So begins the end of Snow White.

Chapter Two

Snow

For as long as I can remember, I have felt alone. I have my father and brother, but my mother passed away a couple of years ago from some strange illness. When she died, my brother, Eric, moved to our estate by the sea, leaving my father and me alone in this big empty castle. Since then, the hallways have been gloomy and quiet. The furniture has dulled in color. The wood chipped away by sorrow. There is very little light, and everything feels dead.

I assume that is why my father planned this event. He saw the lack of life in the castle and how it was affecting all of us… me. So, he thought if he found himself a wife, it would brighten our home again. He really isn’t doing this for himself. He is doing it for me. My father has always done things for me, even if it did not benefit him. He has always been a selfless man, and I aspire to be like him one day.

Now, the castle is filled with women of all classes. All here to win my father’s heart. When they’d arrived, I’d stayed up in my room and watched them enter through the front door. Their names echoed in the quiet castle. Petunia, Drizella, Louisa, and more. Each name drilled into my mind, the idea of one of them becoming my stepmother oddly exciting.

The excitement persists until I run into Drizella at the bottom of the stairs. Her face has snake-like features and her tongue is just as sharp. My body goes colder than its usual cold, and I feel frozen, unable to move as she spits vitriol at me.

It is not unusual for my core temperature to become colder than ice. I have been the Vessel of Ice since I was a baby. The element residing in my soul. Throughout the years, the element residing in my soul has taken its toll on my body. The strength of its power will sometimes overwhelm my physical form and freeze the blood in my veins. There have been times when I have had to be placed into a tub of hot water to thaw my frozen heart.

When I look at Drizella, I can feel the coldness seep into my bones. A voice not of my own, whispering in the back of my mind.

They will never accept you. Admit it… it is better that you disappear.

But then a new voice broke through the coldness. It was sugar and spice, strong but calm. It soothes the jagged wounds Drizella’s words caused and warms my blood, easing back the dangerous bite of the cold.

I let out a breath and look at the girl who stood up for me. Her white hair glimmers in the candlelight, and her skin is so pale it is almost translucent. She looks like a porcelain doll. She is perfect in every way. There is a slight blush on her cheeks, and her violet dress sits nicely on her curves. She is the most stunning woman I have ever seen in my entire life, and I want to know more about her. I want to be her friend. I want to know how she helped warm my veins.

She is heading toward the tearoom, and I only have a split second to decide whether to join her or continue watching these women from afar.

You can do this, Snow. It is time to stop hiding in the shadows.

But she might just dismiss you. A woman like her wouldn’t bother with a naïve little princess like you.

I close my eyes, pushing the harsh, destructive thoughts to the back of my mind, making my decision.

“Wait up!” I call out.

The woman stops, turning to look at me with her violet-colored eyes. “Yes, Your Highness?”

My heart thuds in my chest. The way she looks at me makes me feel as if I am the only one in the hall. I have never seen such uniquely colored eyes before, but I love them.

“May… may I join you?” I walk toward her, spinning my mother’s ring around my middle finger. My mother’s ring was given to me after her passing, and I treasure it. It helps me maintain control of the emotions and the subsequent cold that threatens my body. But right now, I don’t even need the ring to help warm me with happy thoughts. My entire body feels hot. I wear layers to stay warm, but being near this woman makes me want to rip off my sleeves.

I have never been so nervous with someone before. It is as if her rejection could crumble the carefully built wall of hope I have wrapped around my heart.

“Of course, Your Highness,” the woman says, holding her hand out for me.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and take her warm, soft hand. I smile and say, “I’m Snow White.”

“Azura,” she says, tucking my hand into her elbow.

We walk to the tearoom together, and it takes everything in me not to be intimidated by Azura’s elegance. She is different from the other princesses. She is mature, beautiful, and full of grace. All the power around us drifts to her, and I can feel the hum of her energy vibrating against me. It makes me want to get to know her. It is difficult to accomplish her level of composure and poise at such a young age, and many never achieve it. I want to learn to be more like her. Perhaps if I can become her friend, she will teach me.

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