Page 19 of The Enchanted Frost

With the loss of my careful control, the snowfall intensified. The flakes grew larger and more numerous, swirling thickly as the storm gathered strength. The wind howled through the trees, carrying the snow in frenzied gusts that stung my exposed skin like tiny shards of ice.

For a moment, I could only stare in disbelief, barely registering my surprise that the snow could affect its creator in such an unprecedented way before my mind shifted focus.Blanche.

I searched for her form, but the blizzard whirled in arelentless torrent, creating blinding curtains of white that obscured everything in its path. Desperation crept in as I tried to draw on the elemental forces around me, seeking to stabilize my power, but it slipped from my grasp, unresponsive and elusive.

I released the fragile hold on my magic and rushed forward, blindly pushing through the swirling blur of white and grey in the direction where I’d last seen Blanche. I’d barely taken a few frantic steps when I suddenly collided with her. Instinctively, I caught hold of her before she could fall. She felt so small and fragile within the cradle of my arms, stoking my urgency to find shelter.

Though my castle was nearby, it wasn’t close enough to trust Blanche’s fragile mortality to the harsh elements, not when a nearby cavern was much closer.

There was no time to dwell on the perplexing mystery of why my powers were faltering, not with the storm raging around us. While the cold and snow had no effect on me, they were deadly to a human, especially someone teetering on the brink of life after having so recently frozen to death.

She lifted her eyes to mine, wide with fear. Her lips were turning blue, but she managed to open them enough to whisper. “Is this…the end?”

I could scarcely make out her words over the howling wind, but my heart contracted, imagining the terror she must feel as she thought winter had come to finish its work upon her.

“No!” I wrapped my arms around her as though to defy the storm buffeting us. One urgent thought cut through, far louder than my concern for her welfare:I didn’t want her to die. That was my most pressing need in this moment, no matter how short a time she had left to live. For as many souls as I’d claimed after they’d frozen to death, I had no idea how closeshe currently was to once more succumbing to that fate, especially with the snowstorm obscuring the mystical hourglass whose haunting presence measured her remaining time.

“Are you alright?” The wind drowned my voice, but it carried just far enough to reach her ears. My panic escalated at her unresponsive silence.

The storm raged around us, a furious blend of wind and snow that rendered our path nearly indiscernible in the blinding whiteout. The cold was piercing, each gust of wind penetrating our layers of clothing with icy precision.

Is this what it feels like to freeze?

With every struggling step, I sensed Blanche’s shivers growing more intense. I paused long enough to pull her close, encircling her in a protective barrier against the storm's relentless fury. Her body trembled violently, chilled to the bone despite the thick cloak she wore. The fatigue and cold etched on her face when I could glimpse it through the intensifying blizzard deepened my concern.

“Hold on,” I murmured, my voice barely audible over the howling gale. I adjusted my position, turning my back to the wind so that my body shielded hers from the brunt of the icy blasts.

We moved slowly, my movements steady and sure as I guided her haltering steps forward. I kept my arm wrapped around her shoulders, holding her close, while my other hand gripped hers tightly. I didn’t remember the exact moment I’d reached for her hand, but nothing would compel me to let go.

Several minutes of achingly slow progress later, Blanche tripped and sank to her knees. She made a feeble effort to stand before collapsing, her eyes closed. Frantically I lifted her to her feet, but she was too weak to keep her footing in the violent wind. I scooped her into my arms, reminded ofhow I’d first brought her to this realm, and hoped I wasn’t currently carrying her to her death.

After what felt like the longest moment in my eternity, a dark shape loomed ahead, a shadow amidst the endless sea of white. As we drew closer the outline sharpened, revealing a cavern embedded into the mountainside—a promise of shelter from the storm.

The entrance was partially obscured by drifts of snow. I pushed forward through the thick blizzard, the icy wind at my back urging me onward until I finally stepped inside. As we crossed the threshold, the howling wind was suddenly muffled, and the relentless assault of snow and ice came to an abrupt halt.

Relief flooded through me, followed by the startling realization that for the first time I had experienced the human fear brought by the forces of nature. While I hadn’t been afraid for my own life, the loss of control and feeling weaker than the storm had been a sensation I hoped I’d never feel again…along with the sharper, more agonizing fear that Blanche might not survive the ordeal.

Inside, the air was warmer—a comforting sensation I’d never before encountered. The rough, jagged walls rose around us, glistening with moisture. Icicles and stalactites adorned the ceiling, catching the faint light that filtered in from the entrance. The uneven ground was a mix of stone and patches of ice, yet solid and reassuring beneath our feet.

As I ventured deeper still holding Blanche tightly in my arms, the cavern opened into a larger chamber. The walls were covered in frost, glittering like a myriad of tiny stars in the dim light. I could hear the soft fall of water from ice that under normal circumstances shouldn’t be melting, the sound echoing ominously through the space. A sense of tranquility settled around us, a stark and soothing contrast to the storm outside.

Further exploration revealed a sheltered nook, a natural alcove in the rock where we could rest. Carefully setting Blanche on her unsteady feet, I guided her to a relatively dry patch and gently helped her down into a sitting position, assisting her in leaning against the cool rock. As she settled, the tension visibly drained from her body, although it still shook uncontrollably from the chill. I anxiously examined her, noting her flushed cheeks—a painful reminder of just how vulnerable humans were to the cold.

I briskly rubbed her arms in an effort to generate friction and warmth, hoping that my icy skin wouldn’t deepen her shrouding chill. Each touch escalated the conflict raging within me—I could feel the subtle drain on my magic, like the slow trickle of sand through an hourglass. A part of me feared that by helping her, I was weakening the very essence that had sustained me for eons. Yet despite that worry, I couldn’t stop, driven by a fierce, protective instinct I couldn’t fully explain that compelled me to do all within my power to shield her from the storm.

I knelt before her, moving my attention to rubbing her hands between mine to restore warmth, my eyes never leaving her face. The sensation of her skin against mine, warm and fragile, sent a pang of anxiety through me, making me fear I was risking too much. Only the unbearable thought of her suffering allowed me to continue, despite the danger to my power.

She looked up at me, gratitude shining in her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

The warmth of her words reached deep into my core, momentarily silencing the fears gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. Though every touch seemed to chip away at my magic, the look in her eyes made it feel worth the sacrifice.

Despite my attention she continued to shiver. Unsurewhat else to do, I wrapped my damp cloak around her shoulders, tucking the edges in snugly before settling beside her, my arm around her once more. At first she sat stiffly, her rigid posture leaning away from me, as if afraid to get too close.

“Lean on me,” I urged, my voice gentle but firm. Without a means to light a fire, huddling for warmth was the best I could offer her. When she remained still, I tightened my embrace encouragingly.

After a moment’s hesitation, her need for warmth overcame the reluctance holding her back. She nestled into my chest, burying her face in the crook of my neck, seeking the warmth and reassurance that my presence offered even if my skin was cool.

She remained uncannily still for so long that I found myself leaning closer repeatedly to ensure I could see the rise and fall of her chest in the dim light. Eventually, she stirred, her cold fingers fumbling as she reached into her pocket and withdrew one of her few remaining matches.

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