Page 167 of Frost and Death
My feet throb when I stop running, and I hunch over, bracing myself against my knees. I watch my boots in a stupor as snowflakes trickle out from where I stand, bleeding into the grass, drowning it in frost.
Blinking again in disbelief, I swallow and attempt to even my breathing.
I can’t help but marvel in awe of this—this power.
I’ve never seen anything like this.
The magic from earlier repeats itself. The ice stretches and manifests toward the lake. I follow it, watching it solidify. Curiosity has me stepping on the frozen land, testing itsstructure, and chuckling with wonderment. I ease one foot after the other, inching closer to the center.
The chill seeps into my bones, and I sense its power wanting to console me. The familiarity of peace forms, tugging at my heart as a cold hug envelops me.
My eyes close at the feeling, my arms wrapping around myself in response. I absorb and latch on to this magic as it pulls memories of heartbreak and grief away.
It is cold and dreary, yes, but somehow, these abilities seek to soothe me. The thought of quieting the magic gives me an idea to try to calm the ice storming within me.
I extend my hands, a pulling tug of power emanating outward—
CRACK!
I jolt, magic exploding from me in response, frost surrounding and turning everything in the vicinity into ice. When it relaxes, I marvel at the vast power of winter filling and clouding away this spring filled day.
But the faintest of voices stops my heart.
“T-T-Tove.” Runa shivers.
I whip my head to my sister.
She breathes heavily, crying and shaking furiously.
Before I can even scold her for her actions, I stop dead in my tracks when I notice her feet are frozen to the bottom of the lake. Terror turns my blood cold as I am unable to hide my fear from lashing out.
“Runa, I told you to run away from me!” I hurry to her, hesitant to touch her.
A small line of frost trails up one side of her dress as she hugs herself to stay warm. “I-I didn’t want you to be a… alone,” she struggles.
That line of frost stops and stays steady before I turn my panic on her.
“I was trying to protect you!” I shout, worried at the sight of her clattering teeth and upset that I can’t touch her.
I could make it worse.
“I… I am… am su-supposed to protect youuu, too,” she says.
Another line of frost crawls up the other side of her dress. I glance around for Nikolaj, knowing he wouldn’t let her run after me alone.
She knows my own thoughts, and she admits, “I… I… commanded Nikolaj… to… to… to stay put.”
Of course she did. She didn’t want him to become mortified by me and hate me. It breaks my heart to watch her dwindling.
“Runa… I’m… I’m not sure I can get you free.” I stare down at myself, opening my palms. “I think this is my magic.” I show her the flicker of snow hovering over my hand.
“J… jus… just try,” she encourages through rattling teeth.
The frost slowly turns to ice along her body, drifting up to her knees.
Lowering to the ground, I eye her frozen feet, still hesitant to touch her. But if I do, I might reabsorb the magic.
I tremble as I extend my hands, resting them along the most frozen parts of her body, careful not to touch anything else. I pause and close my eyes, imagining ice melting.
