07. ice b*tch

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↳ chapter seven ₊˚

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↳ chapter seven ₊˚.༄
[# ice b*tch]


SHOULDN'T HAVE LEFT HIM ALONE, SHOULDN'T HAVE LEFT HIM ALONE. IANA worried Leo might've said the wrong words and ended up getting a bruise from riling Cal up too much.

Zethes stayed behind them as they climbed up the frozen steps, his blade drawn. Iana was sure just a millimeter of contact with the weapon and she'd turn into an ice sculpture right then and there. Then came the ice princess. Every now and again she'd turn around and give them a smile that held anything but warmth.

This, of course, only made her more anxious. Her stomach churned and she felt the need to shrink away. This Iana, she wouldn't have dared anyone see her like this. Weak and scared. She was notorious for getting into fights in the wilderness school, but behind the tough front she put up for herself and those she cared for, a sliver of vulnerability always crept through.

"Hey," Piper said, slipping a hand through Iana's. "You okay?"

Turns out she didn't excel at hiding her worry as much as she thought. With a small nod, the short haired girl softly squeezed her hand, reassuring the girl that she was fine. At the top of the stairs, the ice princess looked back and noticed them holding hands. Her smile faded. Out of the blue, Iana's hand had turned burning cold as it rested in Piper's. She quickly let go and found her entire hand trembling, smoking with frost. So were Piper's.

"Warmth is not a good idea here," the princess advised, "especially when I am your best chance of staying alive. Please, this way."

Piper shot her a nervous frown at Iana, silently asking her. What was that about? Iana could only shake her head lightly. Freezing winds blew back and forth, and the two girls saw Jason lost in thought, eyes vacant.

"Jason." Piper tapped his arm. "Not lost, are we?"

"Yeah... yeah, sorry," he muttered.

At the end of the hallway they found themselves in front of a set of oaken doors carved with a map of the world. In each corner was a man's bearded face, blowing wind. The princess turned. "This is the throne room," she said as her brown eyes glittered. "Be on your best behavior, Jason Grace. My father can be... chilly. I will translate for you, and try to encourage him to hear you out. I do hope he spares you. We could have such fun."

"Um, okay," Jason managed uncomfortably. "But really, we're just here for a little talk.We'll be leaving right afterward."

The girl smiled. "I love heroes. So blissfully ignorant."

Piper rested her hand on her dagger. "Well, how about you enlighten us? You say you're going to translate for us, and we don't even know who you are. What's your name?"

( ✓ ) Evermore, Piper McLean¹ Where stories live. Discover now