The Snow Maiden

Red

Walls of sky blue ice glittered around her and she breathed in the air. This was where it all ended up, then. Here, in this bubble of ice she had made for a tomb. Sun filtered through in crystalline beams, rippled and soft. The young man, Shadow, lay before her, pale and cold. His hair looked to be frosting over for its usual black had lightened to a muddy brown. Now and then she'd brush her hand against his cheek and allow herself to weep. She had to stay away from everyone. She couldn't be by people, for she couldn't hurt anymore, both inside and upon others. It felt like she had to let go of Shadow as well in this beautiful bubble she had made for him, but she had wanted to know him so badly. She had wanted to be with him-wanted to be warm.

"I'm sorry," she kept saying, "I'm sorry." And then she would kiss him again. At least she had that comfort.

What was she going to do now? What kind of life was she going to lead, wandering around alone in the snow? The answer to that was obvious: nothing, for no one wanted cold and ice to take over their summer. Winter was unloved and, at most, tolerated. She could be no use to anyone.

But why? Why had she been made this way?

She started to shiver and pulled back, confused. She had never shivered from cold before. She had seen others do it before, but never had she felt it. It felt nice, in some bizarre way, to feel cold.

Then the strangest thing of all happened.

A drop of water appeared on her nose.

Bewildered, she wiped at her face just to feel another drop fall on her head. Her hair felt damp, which it only ever did if she were by a fire. When the third drop fell she started to panic. She was melting! But there was no fire, how could this be!

Not knowing what else to do she reached for Shadow and clutched him to her chest. She could feel water all along her skin now, and it was freezing. It hurt. How could cold hurt? She was dying, she had to be!

But what was it like to die? Was dying nice or awful-what would happen next!? Would it hurt? Was she sick? Then again...she had no purpose being alive. At least this way she could be with Shadow, but was she like everyone else when they died? Would there be kind goddesses waiting to take her back? Or would they hold all that she had done against her?

She whimpered as the ice ceiling started raining on her. Near the entrance she had frozen up on entering the ice thinned enough that outside she could see the snow steaming and fogging up the glass-like wall.

"What's going on? It's so cold, what's going on?" her high voice echoed off the walls.

"I dunno, but could you let go? You're getting me all wet."

She froze, then pushed him away and leapt back.

"Oh no, you're not doing this to me again," she cried, "you're dead! Dead, dead, dead, and no way am I cuddling with you having sex!"

Shadow started to laugh face first into the melting ice. Taking his time he eased his arms underneath him and pushed himself up, still hooting with mirth. She wasn't just seeing things, now, his hair had turned brown and his dark clothes looked more ragged than before. He sat up, took off his long hat, swiped the wet hair from his face, and smiled at her.

He wasn't Shadow anymore. The face was someone else. Where there had once been coal black eyes, bright green hazel looked back at her. His lips were thin, his chin proud, and his cheek bones prominent, where before it had been the soft, boyish features of the hero.

"Who ever said anything about having sex?"

She gawked at him. After laughing some more he started to gawk at her too.

"Your hair!" he cried.

With a shaking hand she reached up and pulled down a lock of her wet hair. Where once it had been whiter than snow, now it had faded to a burnished copper.

"I'm a...I'm a...what in the world-" then she realized she was naked again and started hyperventilating. Shadow-or what once had been Shadow-was trying not to laugh again while also looking somewhat panicked.

"Breathe, breathe, there's nothing wrong with being a red-head-"

"Red? Wait, what-?" then a time when she had danced for a man who sold instruments started trickling in and she stopped breathing all together. Now Shadow had no problem with not laughing.

"Nonono, breathe, breathe!"

And then she passed out.