Her Ice Cold Heart

Ice Cold

Chapter 21

Damien

    I quickly took the route to Lila's room. I was beyond excited to get to work on perfecting her skills. At last I reached her door and knocked quietly. I waited a moment and knocked again. After no response I just opened the door. Magick was used here. Strong magick. I searched the entire room. She was gone, many of her belongings gone with her.I sighed then took a deep breath as I felt the smile spread across my face. Finally. It took her much longer than I expected. Not that I was complaining. The extra time gave me a chance to indulge her teenage curiosity and learn more about her. She was exquisite. If I were to have a child I would insist on one like her. I looked to see if she took important items. Yes! The cellphone and laptop were gone. Good girl. Step two achieved. It took much longer than I thought it would for her to get out of here. I wonder how she did it. I chuckled. She probably thought I would never expect this from here, but it was exactly what I wanted. Oh well. Time to get to work. I took a last look around the room and was about to leave when I noticed it. A small scrap of paper on the bed. I walked over and picked it up. Her handwriting needs work. I read the note quickly and felt a quick stir in my chest. She had formed some kind of attachment while here. On one hand that was a good thing, I never intended to permanently hurt her. On the other it was bad. I didn't want her getting attached to everyone and everything.

I closed the door to her room lightly. She would be back soon anyway. It was time. I sent the call out to my best fae to meet me in the conference room. AS soon as I got in and sat at the table, the others joined me. "Thank you for all coming so quickly. Lila has done exactly as I said she would. She 'escaped'. She took the items you enchanted so if you can get a location on those and start the next step in our plan I would greatly appreciate it. The head magical fae stood and started her chants. I watched as her markings started to glow. An elder-fae, it was truly remarkable to see her in action.Her chants grew louder, stronger and then the vision came. I saw Lila, her family. The location. Got it. "Ready." I signaled the next elder-fae to start his chant, the incantation that would bring Corina to me. She would willingly seek me out and agree to anything I ask as a result of this moment. 

The second elder fae started his chant. I was mesmerized. It was one thing to appreciate my forest clan but appreciating our magick was on a whole different wavelength. While he chanted, I prepared the bowl that contained a few drops of Lila's blood, a strand of her hair and a frostlet leaf. I felt a tinge of regret at the discomfort Lila would feel but the greater good would be worth it. I would somehow make up the pain to her later. I stood and held the bowl, waiting for the right moment to pass it to the elder-fae. Both were glowing and winds had picked up in the room. The time was now. I handed the elder-fae male the bowl and stood back. The aura coming off  both was truly amazing. I watched as he dipped his finger in the bowl and made signs in the air. He took another swipe of the mixture and painted symbols on the other elder-faes arms. Both kept the chant up as the winds got stronger in the room and they glowed more intensely. It was beautiful, a moment I would think about often. Just as soon as it had started , it ended. The winds diesdown and the symbols dulled but both elder-fae looked spent. The others helped them into their seats while I poured aluga into cups for them. It was a centuries old remedy to regenerate the magic and energy they  lost performing the ritual. I was anxious to know if it worked but I didn't want to rush it. 

"Are the chairs good  enough or do you think beds are needed?" I inquired out-loud. I was quickly waved off. "About fifteen minutes and you will never know that anything was a miss with anyone here. Let the aluga do its work, although we appreciate your concern for the elders. Its a kindness not expected. I nodded and leaned back in the chair thinking of what I had set in motion. I am not an unintelligent individual. I am well aware there will be pain involved. I just do not want the child to suffer too much. If her adoptive aunt has any honor, she will quickly surrender to spare the girl, to spare Lila any pain. I thought over the note she left. There wasn't a shred of anger in it. Instead I found the feelings left behind to be sadness and hope and something else. An unfamiliar emotion. Whatever it was, I longed to experience it for myself. It was a positive emotion though so who knows if I will ever do so. I sighed and waited. Soon I was rewarded. Both elders looked much better. They were sitting up and smiling. Hopefully that meant what I thought. "It is ready Damien. It will start at midnight. From the stroke of midnight they will  have 48 days before her heart is frozen solid." I nodded. "You mentioned before that she could be saved even if that happens. How?" They looked uneasy. "That is a more complicated ordeal and will only be discussed if we get close to the time frame. We have seen how they are. It is unlikely the wisp will let it get to that point. In the even she does we do have all bases covered." I nodded and stood. "Thank you as always." I walked out of the room feeling hopeful but also a bit nervous. I would truly hope that the wisp wasn't so selfish as to let Lila's heart totally freeze.