LOGINShare
22 - Nightmare
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Snow up to my calves, strong winds, distant screams, and growls led me to a burning village within the mountains. The retching smell of burning flesh made anyone's stomach twist. The further I stepped into the village, the more I noticed that it wasn't a regular settlement but a werewolf community, being slaughtered by darklings with no hope and quickly outnumbered as their kin turned into darklings—the werewolves fighting to exhaustion. A soft voice screaming for help comes from the town square but is silenced before I get there. I witness a male figure enclosing two smaller in its arms, burning in purple flames. The darklings circle me, bow, and extend their wings forwards, shaking their feathers. Then they all come to collide with my body, disappearing into me one by one, each carrying a different emotion—sadness, emptiness, loss, depression, despair, shame, and fear.
Death will follow you wherever you go, but you mustn't give up. When the flame of life shines no more
Related chapters
The Ice Princess 23 - Protection
*** Bea's POV*** Adrian gave me five minutes to get dressed. It would be reckless to face the unknown circumstances just the two of us, but we couldn't all leave either. Someone had to stay behind to defend the castle. While Adrian woke up Connor, I dashed through the corridors down to the staff quarters with a pair of snickers and a dark blue hoodie in hand. Clothes were the least of my worries. I rather take Amaya, one of the best warriors around here, than find another t-shirt to wear. The current grey sweatpants and white tank top will have to do. My gut feeling tells me we would need all the help we could get with the less disruption possible and taking her would be like taking ten warriors. I climb her bunk bed to get slapped in the face. Shaking the pain off while trying not to fall, I notice she is having a nightmare. Her loose brown hair sticks to her sweaty face while she tosses and turns breathlessly. "Amaya." I shake her,
The Ice Princess 24 - Coincidence
***Bea's POV*** The plan is to fight enough darklings to create an opening for us to retrieve. The four Werewolves fighting along me are exceptional. Their display of strength and stamina have killed five darklings each, but the enemy kept on coming. "Listen up, boys." I block the sharp claws of my enemy with my sword's blade. Digging my feet in the snow, I push the attacker away, followed by a sword slash. It dodges my attack, compelling me to follow it deeper into their side of the battlefield, which I don't. "We can't fight forever." I throw an ice dagger stopping a darkling's attack before harming one of the wolves. "If they fall back, don't follow." I block a series of strikes by swapping my sword into a shield. "Instead, get ready to retrieve." Shapeshifting my weapon into a lance, I jab the darkling assailing me, which is then finished off by the werewolf with a golden hoop ear cuff. "Now is our queue!" The golden hoop werewolf
The Ice Princess 25 - Emotions
The rented SUV tires dug through the gravel road leading out of the aerodrome. Three days had passed since we experienced the chaos of darkness. On a brief call with Caroline, we realized Alpha Xavier's condition did not permit him to travel, but we couldn't just get up and leave the castle either. Caution is the word of the day, not to say of the century. There were no guarantees the darklings weren't going to attack us next. Adrian had to strategize a defense plan before leaving Connor in charge while he was gone. Evelina remained unconscious, and Jonas feared they would lose her if they didn't reunite with their Alpha soon. I clutch my hand to my chest, feeling the anxiety building up as my gaze recognizes the blue pine plateau from behind the front passenger's window. I'm happy to be back, but at the same time, it's clear why I wanted to leave in the first place. Calling it home feels incongruous. Yes, I was born and raised here, but I never belonged. Carl's men emerge from th
The Ice Princess 26 - Storm Brewing
***Bea's POV*** The first hour in Blue Pine creek was chaotic, but things finally settled down. Spending the afternoon with my mother helping the refugees brought me a peaceful break from life's mayhem. "Bea, can you go downstairs and grab the baby formula from your dad?" My mother requests as she coo's the crying baby. She was looking after the baby for a few hours so the young mother could catch a shower and a deserved nap. "On it." I silently inform Caroline through gestures of my new task. I didn't want to interrupt her chat with a few survivors. Caroline is a hard-working leader. There are days she acts as if she goofs around too much, and others like this when she makes sure her new pack members feel welcome, supported, and cared for. Grayfang doesn't have a Beta. When they find their mate, Caroline's rule states that anyone, male or female, can choose to stay in the pack or leave to live with their mate's pack, rather than be a female choice only. She wanted to promote equ
The Ice Princess 27 - The Evil Within
***Bea's POV***"Remind me why we have to stay with you again?" I shove the stack of blankets on the dark grey armchair sofa before sliding the matching ottoman closer. This wasn't the first time Adrian and I slept in the same room. However, tonight felt different. I couldn't look him in the eyes without setting my heart into a frenzy after the recent events. Our friendship that we built over the last two weeks shattered at a freighting speed under a touch of his soft lips and ardent grip. That hadn't been the only earthquake. What was he thinking when he praised me for controlling my abilities? If he aimed for the bull's eye, he got it alright. My poor heart skipped a beat right then and there. "We don't want you to turn the place into a winter wonderland. Do we? In the past few nights, your powers have been fluctuating, your emotions bungee jumping, and I can't afford another bad impression on unfamiliar land." Adrian drops his winter coat on the end-of-bed cream bench, tugging hi
The Ice Princess 28 - Wild Card
***Adrian's POV***How did everything get out of hand? We had a plan—fly the refugees, see them settle, return home. Everything changed in a heartbeat. "Is this really necessary?" Connor asks, closing Beatrice's cell reluctantly.The sparkle in her eyes died to a dull gaze, her smile became a bridge of lamentation, and my heart was hopeless at sight. No matter how many times I whispered to her that everything would be okay, my words couldn’t break through the numb state she wrapped herself in. Beatrice couldn’t be the Dark Phoenix; I was almost certain of it. However, I couldn't let my feeling for her interfere with my decision-making as a ruler."You heard father; Beatrice must remain locked until we confirm she isn't a threat.""I heard him, but—""He doesn't know her as we do. He doesn’t know she wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone kill half of my team, but Beatrice confessed, therefore, he is taking precautions."Coming back home with half of my team felt like a lost battle. Whoever p
The Ice Princess 29 - Sister
***Bea's POV*** Reality had shifted completely. Was I still fast asleep next to Adrian, unable to wake up from this anarchic picture-moving conception? Had I been the Dark Phoenix all along? Is this why I could cure the curse? And the reason the Darklings let us go when we fought at Alpha's Xavier territory? These questions are the turmoil flooding my mind as I fail to grasp the truth. It must be a dream, and I will soon wake up to a world where Blizzard prompts me to believe in myself, and Raul blurts flirtatious comments hoping for another dance with intoxicated Beatrice. "That's right; I am just dreaming. I will wake up soon." I verbalize aloud. "Hate to be the party pooper, but you are wide awake." The guard outside my cell remarks as he slides the lunch tray through the bottom of the door. For a dungeon, everything is kept exceptionally clean. All light bulbs were accounted for and in good working order, the metal bars did not exhibit rust, and the gleam from the black lava-lik
The Ice Princess 30- Playing with Fire
*** Bea's POV*** Adrian's angry demeanor had Connor flush with the cell wall gasping for air. I distance myself from them as my brain wraps around the credible accusation, shuddering legs barely sustaining my weight. Connor never once harmed me. Well, except when his good intentions pushed me off the tower. The way he isn't afraid to get infected, or the way he was confident my nightmares wouldn't come with him around, is uncanny, yet my sixth sense tells me to believe him. "I'm not the Dark Phoenix!" Connor screams while pushing Adrian's sword away from his throat. "I might be King Friedrich's son, but I am not the one causing all this chaos." He moves away from Adrian, hands in the air. "I caught you right-handed trying to influence Bea's mind. I can't believe you tricked me into thinking you couldn't read it in the first place." Adrian scuffs, sword always pointing at Connor. "It's the truth. I couldn't do it till now. Bea, you must believe me." He takes one step in my direction
Latest chapter
The Ice Princess 41 - A Taste of Freedom
Snowflakes gently land on my hand. Hell was experiencing its first snow, and I was behind it. As long as I live, Hades will remain in its sleeping beauty state unless someone decides to turn up the heat here. That is very unlikely to happen. Still, I left the AC on by turning the sky above into a gloomy snowstorm cloud pool. Even if Hades' servants freed him, he still had to gather new corrupted souls before walking the surface.Omar compliments, "Nicely done." He is battered with lacerations, puncture wounds, and burns but still stands. As he sits on the ground, elbows resting on semi-bent knees, head slanted forward, I kneel beside him. I place my left hand on his shoulder and my right hand above his chest, effortlessly healing him. In the past, minimal tasks such as healing, conjuring weapons, or purifying required concentration, but not anymore. Having re-established my training memory allows me to reach my full potential. I was grateful that Queen Ming, Blizzard's wife, taught me
The Ice Princess 40 - Goodnight
***Beatrice's POV***The sound of seagulls and the gentle breeze stirred me awake. I push myself off the cold, hard surface. As I rubbed my eyes, I couldn't believe what I saw. A beautiful Greek oasis lay before me, complete with a circle of white columns ornamented with sheer fabric dancing in the soft, salty breeze. The worked stone floors created trim levels, descending onto a square pond in the center where water sparkles like crystals under the warm sunlight. The cool water beckoned me to touch it, and as I leaned over the edge, I saw my reflection. The scenery wasn’t the only thing that had changed. My ragged and volcanic ash-dusted clothes were now pristine white, with no tears. I wore a golden olive tree leaf crown with my hair down. But Something was off, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was supposed to be somewhere else. My fingers tickle the surface, and water ripples transform my Greek Goddess reflection into a motioned image. Uncle Leo grips my mother by her neck, h
The Ice Princess 39 - Threat
***Beatrice POV***As I observed Omar in the cave, I noticed that his skin tone was returning to its healthy state, which relieved me. Despite being healed, he was struggling with the heat from the volcano. He rested his head against the rocky wall and displayed signs of distress, including labored breathing and sweat on his face. I wished I knew how to help him regain his Drakon essence, but we had not spoken since I healed his injury. However, it was clear that he was not the only one affected by the heat. Naomi and Blizzard were also struggling, fanning themselves to cool off, while I didn't seem bothered by it.Suddenly, the ground shook violently, causing rocks to fall from the ceiling. The anomaly was so strong that I had to grip the wall with both hands to steady myself. Naomi rushed towards us with the urgent news that Hades was riding Cerberus in our direction. The situation worsened once Omar pointed out that the volcano was also about to erupt, adding to our already dire si
The Ice Princess 38 - Origin
Beatrice POV "Blizzard, we have to land," my voice is nothing but a mouse squeak, easily covered by the flapping of Blizzard's wings yet anguished enough to be noticed. "Please!" I thump Blizzard's claw, alerting him to my desperate request. Omar's condition is critical. Slanted like a ragged doll over Blizzard's right claw, I witness hopelessly as his eyes become droopier and his sun-warming Olive skin turns a pale candle wax tone, almost like vampire blood-drained victims. Not an overall flattering look. We dip through the dusky pink clouds below, bringing a striking landmark into view. An active volcano stands amidst the desolated charcoal land before us, the active bubbling crater emitted a thick grey smoke cloud up in the air, creating the fog blanket we dove through. As Blizzard glides closer to the ground, the air becomes cooler and easier to breathe. He hovers by a cave entrance at the bottom of the volcano gently dropping us before he lands. My Mother, Naomi, slides down his
The Ice Princess 37 - Friends
***Beatrice's POV*** It's incredible how the soft whisper of someone's name can transform a light-hearted playful moment into a wild passionate desire. Our giggles quieted into breathing puffs. Confined under his sculptured masculine body, I had zero intentions of breaking free of his grip keeping my hands pinned to the ground above my head. A pleasant sting followed the path he traced with his thumb across my lower lip under the close watch of his lustful gaze. It traveled the entire length of my nervous system and set me ablaze with a carnal necessity like no other. The soul-eaters filled skies above us plunged out of sight, and the rumble of the volcano was replaced with a quickened thumping heartbeat. Another attempt of my heart to reach his, I had thought, till I realized it was his who was beating beyond normal parameters. His Adam's Apple bobbing had me silently wishing to become his, regardless of our current circumstances or location. "Omar—" I moan. His hand gently clutche
The Ice Princess 36 - It Backfired
***Omar’s POV***~in the Underworld~“Let’s be the change, together.”Ms. Beatrice's words make me question my beliefs in so many ways. In a kingdom ruled with an Iron fist since the beginning of time, I’m known for my unapproachable, ruthless conduct. I even dare to compare myself to Hades in the matter of punishments. Such traits were instigated by my father, relinquishing any lingering soft, caring mannerisms from my mother’s love. Allies and enemies fear my family name. At what purpose? What had centuries of rivalry and innocent bloodshed achieved for us? Revenge didn’t soothe the pain living in my heart since Mother’s assassination. Nothing did, except her. I watch Beatrice sleep in my arms as we lay on the floor after battling our bubbling emotions. It fascinated me how she could be the trigger to my end and, simultaneously, the only one capable of saving me from it. An Ice Phoenix, at that; our family's number one nemesis. Any other cerulean feather shifter would be a trophy in
The Ice Princess 35 - Elixir
***Bea's POV***My mythical entity had stirred the interactions between Omar, Persephone, and me, leaving a sense of unreadiness. Sure, I'm happy my power was back, but I'm not prepared for Omar's cold shoulder. Just like cats and dogs, Drakons and Ice Phoenixes have a predator and prey instinct that influences their decision-making regarding their beliefs of one another. Omar had been explicit about his hatred towards my kind, but part of me hoped he would see through that judgmental fog and become the kind, caring Omar I met."Beatrice, more ice." Persephone extended her ruby-engraved chalice, waving in a gentle upward motion. I clench my jaw at my new Ice machine status. She used me as her cooling device, forcing me to use my power at every frivolous opportunity."Yes, your majesty." I pause my palm-leaf fanning momentarily to wave a hand over her glass, forming little clumps of ice.Performing as a maid is a version of me I can't
The Ice Princess 34 - Time Conundrum
*** Bea's POV***I sit up abruptly, gasping as if I had swum from the ocean's depth on an exceedingly long last breath. The place stinks of sulfur, the rock walls have a charcoal black tone, and the cot I currently sit on is made of straws. My mind feels blank, frozen in time. One minute I'm being pushed through the white door by the Moon Goddess, then waking up here. I swing my legs over the edge, noticing the heaviness and the clink of chains around my left ankle, hidden under a gentleman's Victorian black coat over my legs. Where was I? How did I get here?"H-ello?" The effort of a single word breaks me into a coughing fit, grey particles splattering all over my palm. "A-ny-one here? Cough. Cough." Nothing but the constant distant crowd babble is heard. I stand up. How long had I been out, so my right arm no longer hurt? I drag my bare feet to the metal bars."Can anyone hear me?" I couldn't be in the castle's dungeon. The conditions there were more modern and cleaner than in this
The Ice Princess 33 - Upside down
*** Omar's POV***Two hundred years before meeting Beatrice in the present time "Find them at once!" Hades' thunderous deep voice shook the earth, each step erupting the volcanos and overflowing the five rivers across the land. Daunting to understand how, or who, botched the soul count. It would have been almost impossible to identify the missing souls if it weren't for that low-life werewolf excrement. I despise people like him, constantly leeching the highest hierarchy and eating any attention crumbs they muster. Under my kingdom, a character like him would have his heart torn and fed to the vultures. Then again, I'm not the ruler of this timeless bubble where someone's present might be someone else's past or future. "Omar!" Hades calling activates the collar around my neck. It sizzles against my skin, forcing me into my beast. Fighting the necklace will cause it to heat up to combustion, and having a burnt matchstick head doesn't seem very pleasing. I would rather keep my charmin
