“Stop destroying my dungeon, you insolent girl," he thunders, spit flying with his words. I face him, and without hesitation use my chained fist to lash out at him. The thud of metal meeting his jaw is nauseating, but oh so satisfying. I grin like the maniac I am now and pull my arm back once more.
Just as my fist flies toward him, he blasts me with the same magic that must have frozen the others. It feels like someone dumped icy water over my head, the trickling feeling starting there and trailing down my body until I’m immobile.
Unable to stop him in my frozen state, he jerks my hands behind me and binds my fists together. I try to call forth my magic, but the hollow emptiness is all I’m greeted with.
“Let me just show you a little something, you stupid child," he spits out as he unfreezes me and tugs me down the hall, not caring that he is leading me backwards. It takes all of my focus to not fall, especially walking backwards up the stairs at this brisk pace, but I somehow manage. It’s the miracle of the century. The thought that I’m out of the cell flickers in my mind but I don’t get a moment to think on that or take in my surroundings.
I'm bound, magicless, and weak. Fighting back isn’t an option yet, especially after my bout of angry chain slinging. Plus, the king’s swollen jaw is probably all of the damage he will allow me to inflict.
All of my thoughts stop when he comes to an abrupt stop, freezing just my feet this time. Trying not to panic at being frozen again, I glance around the room. It’s a large ballroom filled with ice sculptures. Though I know they aren’t merely sculptures, but my people. I’m nauseated at that dim reality. The fact he kept them here as trophies all these years is disturbing and heartbreaking.
Jacob and Gerwyn are in the front of the crowd, Jacob’s face is contorted in a war cry and Gerwyn’s face is twisted in a scowl. I sob, unable to stop myself, which only causes the asshole king to begin his awful, maniacal laughter. I want to knock his stupid crown off his head and stab him with the points. He doesn’t deserve to wear it. He betrayed all of the fae and Faerie itself.
How can I be related to this demon of a man?
The fact that his blood even runs through my veins terrifies me on so many levels. But that’s not important now. I’m closer than ever and I have to find a way to get them free.
The amount of frozen fae in the room is astounding. Hundreds of Fae are pushed close together, over half in battle armor still. They fill the room, some even piled in the corner and towering toward the ceiling. He had to have iced his entire town and army all in one go while the rest of Faerie fled.
The sight that fully inflames my anger is the woman holding a frozen fae baby, her sweet little face frozen in a giggle. There are also a few pregnant fae, and tons of children tucked here and there around the adults. It always struck me as odd that he managed to kill entire villages, and now we know the truth. He found a way to freeze them and brought them here.
“How? Why?” I grit out. “How did you get this many fae in here? Are they all your people? Or prisoners of war?”
“I love the ice, isn’t it beautiful?” he says, sounding calm and collected for once. I know not to trust it, but watch as he flits around, appreciating his ‘art’. “Ice subjects don’t talk back. They don’t start rebellions or run away and birth a hybrid daughter that tries to come take over my kingdom!” At the last words he loses it. His words raise in octaves as he rants, stopping in front of one fae man and gesturing wildly.
As suddenly as it started, his demeanor changes. Like he didn’t just have a creepy moment and rant about my existence.
“I guess it doesn’t matter what I tell you, you won’t get out of Winter alive," he chuckles darkly, his eyes meeting mine. His face is calm now, amused even as he paces slowly. He twirls a dagger around his wrinkled hands like he’s performing for a crowd. In a twisted way, I guess he is.
“I promise you, I won’t be dying here today. You will. I’ll be getting out of this and free every single person in this room,” I growl. Righteous indignation fills me and I meet his fiery gaze with one of my own.
My words stop his amusement, fury flashing across his face before he flies across the room at me. Instead of crashing into me, he slams the hilt of his danger into my side, using his momentum to make it more effective. The crack as my ribs break is nothing compared to the blinding pain flaring through me. I can barely move or breathe, my arms protectively wrapping around me as I try to push past the pain.
“Now, as I was saying!” he bellows out, giving me a pointed look. I just glare at him, unable to do much else and unwilling to evoke his wrath again. At least not yet.
I watch as the pudgy, unkempt fae paces the room, his unruly white hair billowing behind him in wispy waves. “I used the souls to do my bidding, they're much more agreeable than this lot
was. I have a stone that gives me control of them, you know? I used that in combination with my army to drag our prisoners here. What fun would it be ruling a dead realm? We froze entire villages and courts, bringing them here for my amusement. I even froze my own son when he tried to stop me,” he brags, flicking a hand in the direction of the frozen man he ranted at earlier.
He continues on, but my focus is on my father. Even through the ice I can see the same silver hair I have, along with a few similarities in his features. My shock is enough to forget the pain, a different kind now lancing through my chest.
Both of my parents are alive.
“You are a vile monster, a corruption of everything fae are supposed to be. How could you freeze your own son? How could you imprison his soulmate? That’s my mother down there you sick fuck!” I bite out through gritted teeth.
“That wench? She tried to corrupt my son. She used him to try and take my throne! That’s why she gets to waste away in that cell forever. It’s kind of ironic that you met her. Now you can watch your mother waste away as well.” More maniacal laughter bursts out of his mouth. I cringe, now hating the sound more than ever. It lost its creepy effect after the first few outbursts, now I just want to punch him in the throat each time he laughs.
“Your realm turned on you, it’s uninhabitable. How can you rule a dead land?” I try to use logic and his own words to unnerve him, though he may be too crazy even for that.
“My people will survive solely because of me,” he yells, using his foot to kick in my knee with a sickening crunch. He releases the ice, so I fall to the floor in a heap. The pain has me panting, sweat forming along my skin. He watches as I try to heal myself, but my magic only fizzles in response.
This is the exact reason he kept me so weak, so he could have the satisfaction of showing me that he will take my family and my crown. He can do what he wants for now, but once my magic is recharged, I will end him. It’s just pain, I have to breathe through it if I want any hope of saving them all. My survival isn’t as important, at least not to me.
“I’m not afraid of you, you’re a coward! You aren’t a king, you are a spoiled, petulant child who should be locked away for his crimes. Starting a war because of a power trip? Stealing years away from these people? You disgust me," I spit at him and his face turns an angry purple as the saliva drips down his forehead. It’s actually a fairly impressive shade to turn.
He walks over and grabs a wooden chair that was resting against the wall. He struts over to me, holding it up like a weapon. I curse myself for goading him. You just had to piss off the crazy king, didn’t you Bella?
As he stalks closer, I try to stand and face him with dignity, but my broken or bruised ribs and busted knee make it impossible. Instead I focus on the magic inside of me, willing it to replenish faster. Spirits of Faerie, please help me… please. I beg for what feels like minutes, but I get no response.