Page 26 of Frost and Death
I follow the weather, watching it solidify the water. Curiosity drives me forward, testing the lake’s structure, and I chuckle at the ease of each foot moving in front of the other to the center.
A chill creeps into my bones, a peace tugging at my heart as bitterness envelops me.
My muscles relax as magic coaxes frost from my body, creating a blizzard around me and my surroundings. I surrender to the cold, closing my eyes and embracing the magnitude of winter as power surges outward.
The sheer relief of winter’s kiss expelling forth from my hands and feet brings a faint twinkle of a smile to my—
CRACK!
I jolt.
Scream after scream escapes when hands wrap around me, shaking me and pressing me hard into the ice.
A voice calls.
I can’t meet it.
I need to break free from whatever is holding me. I need to follow where the crackle of ice came from.
If I am pulled from this, I will lose it all.
I can’t lose it all! I can’t!
I flail my arms as my screams increase in volume, fighting and seeking to escape the unknown force pushing me down.
“No! I can’t leave!” I shout.
Light floods my vision.
I blink at the doubled-in-size orange-gold eyes staring at me. Nose to nose in front of me is Niko. He clutches my sides, tight enough that his rigid fingernails dig into my skin.
My heart constricts underneath his worried gaze.
A defeated scream leaves my throat, and I cover my tear-filled eyes.
It’s not real… This is not real…
The dream disintegrates, and I beg myself to forget the details.
But failure, an ongoing and never-ending ache, presses against my chest.
I have failed. So. Many. Times.
Is there ever a day that I will not be haunted by my mistakes?
I just want the pain to stop. Ineedit all to stop.
You will be seeking penance for the rest of your life, Tove.
My breathing stutters as the thought wedges itself deep in the back of my mind, and I cry harder.
Arms pull me to a hard chest.Niko.
He cradles my head, rocking me as I fist his tunic. “Shhh. You’re fine,” Niko soothes into my hair.
I am not fine, but I need to calm down. Yes, calm down first and then—then what?
Deities, I am stressed.
