Fated Fairy Tales - Cold As Ice

Ellie’s POV “Who are you?” Ora asked me. It’s a reasonable question. All she knows is that I invaded her mind while she wasn’t awake. It’s difficult to talk about my past. But if it helps my cause, I have to do it. “Once upon a lifetime. I, Eleanor Walker, was the eldest child of Wolf King Angarr and Witch Queen Iduna. A princess by birth and the heir to the Scandinavian kingdom.” I bite my bottom lip when I mention my parent’s names. I miss them so much. “Usually, witches don’t show any signs of power until they approach their 18th birthday. An elemental gift can appear at any point after a witch turns seventeen. I’ve had my elemental power from birth. Which was why my parents hid me away.” I waved my hand above a glass of water that was sitting on the table. I watched Ora’s face as it turned into a block of ice. She looks at me and her jaw drops. “It was just my sister, Anabelle, growing up. Best of friends. But because of me, we were isolated. I felt so guilty, but she never held it against me.” I smiled. “Why did they hide you?” “Can you imagine the damage I could cause as a child? Powerful enough to kill. All because I didn’t get my way? My Mom worked with me tirelessly. Helping me to control my powers, but the older I got. The more the power felt too much for me. We both feared the power would eventually consume me. Eventually, she reached out to the wider supernatural community.” I spin the glass just to keep my hands busy. “A witch called Millicent convinced my mom that she could bind my elemental power. That she had successfully done it before.” I looked at Ora. “I was desperate for a normal life. Not just for myself, but for Anabelle. I demanded that my mom and dad meet Millicent and bring her home to bind my power.” A tear runs down my face when I think how stupid and naïve I was back then. “Leading Millicent and her companion through the door of our castle, my mom looked so proud of herself. Announcing that I would be so happy. The smile on my face must have been enormous because I was so happy. I could finally have a normal life. I could live.” I took a deep breath. “The second Millicent laid eyes on me. My mom began gasping for breath and blood soaked through her dress. It was a horrifying sight. Before her body fell to the ground. I rushed to my mom’s aid. Millicent’s companion grabbed hold of me and pressed something sharp against my throat. He threatened to kill Anabelle if I moved.” I touched my neck, remembering the sharp instrument as it burned my skin. Ora reaches out to touch me, possibly to comfort me. “The threat made me hesitant to attempt an escape. I shut down as he easily dragged me to the door. That’s when my dad rushed through the door yelling at me to run. He shifted and attacked Millicent. That’s when I came to my senses and, using my power, I got away from the man holding me tightly.” Tears fill my eyes at the memory. “I dragged Anabelle from her bed and ran. We didn’t even have shoes on. But we had to escape. We ran, not knowing where we were going. That’s when we ran into the town’s crazy man.” I breathed. “I had never met him, but I’d heard of him from the servants. A small round man who wore a gray coat and walked with a staff. The staff had a clear orb at the top, like a fortune-teller’s crystal ball. He told us we were in grave danger before he threw a blanket over us, hiding us from Millicent’s raven. We went with him, seeing that he had just saved our lives. The next day he demanded I change my appearance.” “Changed how you look?” Ora asked. “I had a very distinctive appearance. I’m very pale, and my hair is platinum blonde. I spend a great deal of time each month hiding what I look like.” “Why would he tell you to change your appearance?” Ora asked. “Frederick had the power of sight, a seer. He foresaw Millicent persuading the human authorities to release a statement stating that my parents were killed in a home invasion, and I was abducted. With her being a concerned relative, she is keen to have me found. Frederick knew she would do this, so I had to change. If I didn’t, Anabelle and I would be easily spotted. I am her big sister and would do anything to protect her.” I tapped the glass of ice. “After we got over the initial shock of what happened. We were able to stay with Frederick in his cabin in the woods. He had everything we needed, as he knew we would end up there.” “Why did he not stop Millicent if he could see the future?” Ora asked. “Frederick is a powerful seer, and what he sees often comes to pass. But there is no timescale. People thought he was crazy. I mean, who would want to kill their beloved royal family?” “True. People can often be ignorant,” Ora says. “After a while, Frederick told me about a group of witches who could see Millicent because of the threat she was. I knew I had to join them. She had to pay. Frederick told me the exact place, date, and time of the witch resistance gatherings. He also told me I was to seek out a woman named Evangeline. She would help me.” I played with the glass again. “I left Anabelle with Frederick as I believed her to be safe with him.” I clenched my fists. “Before I left, I promised my sister I would return and claim my throne. But I would only do that once we were safe and Millicent was dead.” I smiled. “Frederick was waiting outside for me. He gave me a fake passport, some money, and keys to a truck. Then he told me my powers could help save the world. That’s all I needed. I joined the resistance and learned everything I could about Millicent and Marco. How they travel the world and kill for power and entertainment.” I punch the table. “Evangeline helped me manage my frustrations with calming methods. She told me I was so overwhelmed because my wolf needed to help balance out my power. Once I turned 18, Tessa, my wolf, arrived. I felt calm for the first time in a long time. It was like she balanced out the pressures within me,” I look at Ora. “I also got my witch power. My magical ability lies with dream walking. I can reach out to other hybrids when they are sleeping or unconscious.” “I found out Millicent was looking for you from the missing person report she had the authorities issued.” I placed a piece of paper in front of her. “Whenever something felt off over the last few months. I tried to connect with anyone coming of age. I know your birthday is not far away.” I looked at Ora. “Ora, I shouldn’t have been able to reach you yet,” I explained. “Well, I’m here now, and I need that antidote to Marco’s poison. So, either help me get it or point me in the direction of where Marco is, and I will get it myself.” “You will die trying if you go now,” I told her. “I’m motivated enough to try.” She responds and I can see that she is. “Tomorrow, we will move to somewhere to help you train. Your powers will grow as your birthday approaches.” “I’m fine with that. What about Aunt Jo? How long does she have?” Ora asks me. “I don’t know. I have never done it in the dream realm. I targeted the poison in her body and froze it, stopping its progression. It could be a couple of weeks until it thaws.” “Can you do it again?” “You were my connection to that place. I would have to go there myself to do it again. But it’s not an exact science.” Ora stares at me with a look of defiance on her face. She folds her arms. If I don’t go, Ora will go after Marco right now, and she isn’t strong enough. “Fine, I will go once you begin your training. Your aunt should be okay until then.” Ora held out her hand to shake it. “My aunt and her baby need to live,” she tells me before she releases her grip on me. I don’t want to get her hopes up. There aren’t many people who have survived Marco’s poisonous darts. But Ora needs something to fight for. “Get some rest. It’s a long way to Dragon Valley.” Once we get there, I will start her training. Just as I did with Rhea recently. Just like Evangeline did with me.