The Heart of Ice

Chapter 10

Davina

My head slumps into the pillow, unwanted tears streaming down my face. I knew it was going to be bad—living here, I mean—I knew it was going to be the toughest thing I've ever done in my life, but nothing in this world could've prepared me for what happened today. Nothing at all.

The horrified screams of the kingdom's natives, the feeling of poisonous vines coursing through me, my own greedy thoughts scrambled in my head, bumping into one another; I can still hear it all as if it's happening again, right now. And the only thing keeping me at bay is the idea of home. Not here, gods, not here. But my home with my narcissistic father. My horrified mother. And my lovely brother. Sure, the house wasn't exactly ideal—but everything was okay because I was with Austin and Austin was with me and we were with each other, smiling and laughing.

When I'm here, I'm constantly in dread, looking over my shoulder. I haven't felt a single moment of relief since I arrived, only once with Killian. But even then, it wasn't for a good reason.

For once, I want to go home.

"But you are home," A voice sounds in the distance. "This is the only home you'll need. I am your home, flower." At the sound of Boreas's voice, the tears only come faster. It's odd, really. I've never been one to cry, not even when my father would do horrible things to my mother, but at the moment, all I can do is sob. Anything else requires too much energy, and I don't have much of that after killing a man.

"This place will never be home," I whisper into my knees, pressed against my chest. Home is a place where everyday feels like Christmas, a trip to the beach. Home never makes you feel like you're doing a chore, and if you don't do it then you're letting thousands of people down. It welcomes you with open arms and a hot meal, ready to soothe you after the extremely long day you had. This place will never be that for me. I can only feel the opposite of that when I'm here.

"If this doesn't feel like home to you, then you will never experience home. Why must you be greedy, flower?"

I don't know why I feel this way, Winter God. I'm living in a castle with The Ice King; I have an entire set of workers more than happy to serve me, and whatever I want, I can have at the snap of my fingers, so I've been told by Moon. From anyone's perspective, I have it all, everything I'm ever going to need. So why do I feel so empty?

"Perhaps . . . you are missing something," Boreas says suggestively. I stand, making my way to the window, looking out over the kingdom. "Like what?"

"When The Ice King is feeling down, we have this little activity that we do to cheer us up. But it also gives him more strength for his ice ability in the process."

Even though I don't trust this god, I'm fairly interested in hearing what he has to say. "What is it?" I question.

"Go to one of your guards and order a prisoner from the dungeon. Once the prisoner is with you, take him to a secluded area, somewhere no one can find you, flower." My head perks up, his words piquing my interest. I'm not sure I know where he's going with this.

"Alright."

"Then I want you to murder him. I know it seems hard right now—but it's healthy, I promise. The feeling of those creeping plants flourishing under your skin, flower, it's ethereal."

My fingers fumble at my wrist, searching for any sign that I'm still alive. Kill someone? The god of winter wants me to murder someone so that I could feel—happy?

"Don't question me. What I say is the correct way, so what I say is the only way. You must fulfill the task I have given you, flower. For your own good."