Saving My Broken Ice Princess

Chapter Seven

“We open this news cast with a developing story,” the news anchor relayed seriously. “Early this morning, about four fifteen civilians in the Raundsrith area reported hearing strange noises. The police rushed to the scene after several reports of hearing a scream. Police are investigating the area.”

Melonie waved, and Sofia picked up the remote. “No”, Báine stopped her.

“Yes, Young Miss.” Sofia showed her respect.

Melonie glanced at the teens, who seemed taken in by the gruesome news. The news anchor failed to breathe discreetly as she glanced at the reports briefly, the rustle of the paper reaching for her hidden lapel microphone. Melonie admired her professionalism.

“In other news, they have identified the victim of the fire as twenty-two-year-old Ann-Marie Elestren. If the name is familiar, that’s because one month ago her family reported her missing.” The woman faced the audience, her eyes shimmering in a plead that she did not allow to bleed into her voice. “This turn in events has forced law enforcement to intensify its search of three women: Ryley Niamh, Tressa Fidel and Alani Sawyer. If you have any information on the whereabouts of these women, please share what you know. It could save a life.”

Melonie motioned to Sofia. “What’s the name of this reporter?” she asked in a hushed voice when the maid drew near.

“Michelle Sawyer”, the maid said. Her eyes blew wide a moment after.

Melonie hummed, “let’s hope not.” She cleaned the corners of her mouth. “This is so unnerving,” Melonie rubbed her temples, “to be killed in such a brutal way.” Báine quietly agreed.

“I’ve never heard of a case being so close to us”, Sofia muttered worriedly.

“No,” Yule corrected lamentably, “It’s the seventh in this area.”

“Yes, I’ve read articles. It seems they were close go catching the killer in the metropolitan area so he fled north. Bridnorthmid doesn’t have cameras everywhere last I checked.”

He sucked in a breath, “this might be bad timing but I had plans for this afternoon.”

“Where?” Melonie glanced at him.

“Recreation center. Bai can come with if she wants.”

“Really?” the younger turn to him surprised.

“Why? You don’t wanna come?” Yule shot back.

“No I will!” she enthused.

The Nisstaines recreational facility was on the edge of New Neysa, Yule could walk there. “I have no problem with that”, Melonie nodded. “You two need to be alert whenever you go out on your own, understand?” The children nodded.

The evening rolled around and was awfully warm. “A nap is in order”, Báine plopped on the couch in the sunroom.

Báine could hear shuffling as Yule moved through the first level. “I guess I can’t take you with me”, Yule commented.

Báine sat up immediately, “I’ll come.”

“Then get up”, he scoffed.

Báine entertained staying home. She sighed and walked into the foyer. “Oh”, her eyes widened at the sight of the skateboard, “kid do you get any cooler than this?” Báine asked jokingly.

“Save it”, he chuckled.

“Your board’s proper dench, like.” She smiled, “is it custom?”

“Aye.” The drive to the facility was less than five minutes. When they got out of the car, Yule looked her over. They were both wearing jeans and sneakers, but that wasn’t his concern. “Your tam pinned down?” he asked his sister.

“Yea, why?”

“You’re going to board too obviously,” Yule grinned, “don’t fret I won’t let you fall.”

“I don’t recall signing up for this”, Báine blinked at him. Well, it’s always good to try new things. They walked for a bit as the skating park was towards the back. Báine saw people of all ages skateboarding and rollerblading. “Goodness it’s chocka today”, the crowd coupled with the peculiar sight made her feel drained.

“Look what we have here”, a slimy voice sounded behind her. Báine looked towards the voice. Two boys, about her age, started towards her. “We rarely see people like you around these parts. Our place ain’t too cold for ya?” he asked, smirking.

The siblings kept their peace and moved away. Yule guided her towards a high point on the spectators’ stand. She had an excellent view of the rink, but there was a problem. “Let me go down”, she told her brother.

Yule glanced over her shoulder. “Fine.”

As she descended the spectators’ stand, Báine kept her eyes fixed on her brother. When he came to the flat, he began dragging his board and threw his board to the ground. To Báine's surprise, it bounced on its side and flipped over. Seamlessly, Yule hopped onto the board and moved forward in a fluid motion. Little did Yule know, he just gained a super fan from that simple trick. Báine started recording at that moment.

“Tell me, hen, are you British? Because I wanna pound.”

“Yep something just died inside”, she screamed in her skull. Báine dialled Yule. The boy while he did a flip. He looked to where Báine was. When he saw her rushing towards him, he abandoned his board.

“Not so fast”, the other grabbed her arm.

“Hands off you minging prat,” Yule ripped away an unwanted touch and hid Báine behind him. “She’s not into wankers, so hop it.”

She looked to her brother startled, “how did he get here so fast?”

The boys in front of her seemed to think the same, they clammed up for a moment.

Yule’s expression blackened like the cumulus nimbus that rolled over the sky, heavy with the promise of rain. “It’s gonna come down, Yule. Howay”, she tried to convince him. He glared at them, unmoving. The sky became black, the wind kicked up and they could hear thunder in the distance. “Yule”, Báine actively tried to pull him away.

“Fine”, he gave in to her request. Báine dragged him in the direction of the exit, Yule kept her close.

But the boys were persistent, still catcalling at Báine. For a moment, he covered her eyes a sensation passed through her body. Simultaneously their catcalling was drowned by retching and the angry roll of thunder. At that moment when the sky lit up angrily and ceased to restrain itself. Yule threw her over his shoulder as he sprinted across the field.

She twisted herself to look back; their blurred silhouettes collapsed on the park floor “Yule”, she tugged on his sleeve, “somethings wrong.”

“Leave them be”, he grunted, “let the fools play in the rain.”

The sight of them shrank quickly but Báine couldn’t shake the feeling that the puddle that they laid in escaped from their nose and mouth wasn’t her imagination. The moment Báine was out of sight something pushed them on their stomach. They coughed gratefully as water expelled itself from their lungs but laid too weak to move.

“Ye wur asking fur that.” High gloss black loafer entered their view, the person stopped in his line of sight. “If scum lik' ye came onto mah sister I’d juist have tae murder you.” The main aggressor looked to the owner of the shoes, the male had broad shoulders, deep green eyes that seemed to glow and pale ginger hair. He looked about and saw another two figures in the rain. “Still alive”, the tallest spoke, “he’s not our guy.”

“None of this fits the M.O”, the dark-haired boy answered after, “besides they’re human.”

“What are you talking about?” the aggressor coughed.

“Doesn’t matter you’ll forgoat anyway”, the female ginger spoke up. At her words, purple covered the dark-haired male’s hand.

“No”, he shuffled away. The expensive loafers that saved him pressed him to the ground painfully, “help me!”

“No one will hear you over this rain”, the dark-haired male crouched in front of him.

“I’ll lea ye wi' yin thing tae mind”, the girl spoke, “don’t approach that lassie again.”

The purple covered him and he fell back to the ground. “We can cross him off our list”, Rohan then warped the memory of the other person.

“Ah told ye he was innocent”, Kalis huffed.

“Stop acting like we condemned him. A' we did wis investigate the recent activity”, Kanis rolled his eyes.

Rohan rose to his feet again. He looked to the main building. Báine’s beanie was quickly replaced with a towel as her brother dried her face, then hair. “What does she play in all of this?” He jutted his chin towards the shelter of the centre.

“We can’t see what ye see”, Kanis reminded him.

“Báine”, Rohan spoke.

“What roll kin she play?” Kalis rolled her eyes, “she doesn’t even know about us. Bonnie is basically human.”

Rohan hummed. He turned towards the forest, the wolf twins followed. Three shadows disappeared into the afternoon. At the exit of the centre, Báine’s hair stands on end and she looked back to the spectators stands.

“What’s that face for?” the storm between Yule’s brows dissipated.

“Oh”, she blinked at him, “it’s nothing.”

He gave her his signature hum. Foder shielded them against the rain as he brought them to the car. Báine noticed the gradient in the sky the further away they got from the recreational facility. She looked at her brother. Yule had his arms crossed against his chest. His breaths were deep, and he blinked tiredly. Looking at him reminded her of her own fatigue. A yawn fought its way out.

Yule looked at her and smiled, “definitely due for a hot bath and a nap, innit?”

“Aye”, she whispered.

Foder watched both teens with a soft smile. He too his happy to see the children getting along. He was painfully aware of how lonely the Young Master was. Since the Young Miss has arrived, Yule has been full of smiles. It’s a refreshing sight.

Melonie had just descended the stairway when the siblings entered. “Oh”, she walked over to them. “What happened?” she asked concerned, “I thought you would’ve spent more time out.”

Yule made a show of yawning, finishing the act with a stretch. “She’s tired. I didn’t want to keep her”, Yule said, “Anyway I can teach her how to board at home, anyway.”

“It rained out if nowhere too”, Báine handed the towel off to a nearby maid. She missed the guilty expression that flashed across Yule’s face.

“Rain?” Melonie gave Yule a slightly surprised look before she smiled at him. “I’m glad my ducklings didn’t get wet.”

“We got caught,” Báine corrected, “could’ve been worse if Yule didn’t leg it, I suppose.”

“Really?” Melonie ran her eyes over them, then glanced at Yule again. The boy scratched his neck, embarrassed. Báine caught that meaningful glance and looked at them, confused. “Well, this is not good”, their mother huffed. She ruffled their hair. “School starts in two weeks. I wouldn’t want anyone getting sick. I’ll have the cook add soup to supper.” Yule pulled a long face in contrast to the expectant Báine. “Run along, you two. Have a warm bath and try to stay awake until supper.” They voiced their agreement and playfully climbed the stairs.

Báine had finished her shower and submerged herself in the bath. A sigh escaped her lips as she soaked. Báine couldn’t stop her mind from wandering back to the facility. Yule did something to those teens. She could feel it. An ineffable yet nostalgic sensation passed through her when she saw those boys unconscious on the ground. He might not have touched them, but he did something.

A knock on the door drew her out of her thoughts. “You fell asleep in there?” Yule asked jokingly.

“No, I’m up”, Báine flushed. She forgot that this was a shared bath. She needed to be conscious of her brother. After pulling the plug, Báine wrapped herself in the bathrobe. Outside, the bath was empty, so she visited his room.

“It’s open”, Yule called after she knocked.

“I’m finished”, she poked her head in.

Yule looked at his younger sister and thought her comical. “I wasn’t telling you to get out”, he clarified.

“I was already wrapping up,” Báine lied.

Yule gathered his things, however, he stopped when he found his sister still standing by his door. “What?” Yule asked.

“What did you do to them?” Báine whispered.

Yule arched a brow. “I didn’t get to do anything. You pulled me away first, remember?”

She couldn’t refute him. “Alright”, she turned away, “bath’s free.” Yule watched her retreat to her room before enjoying a dip of his own.