The frozen heart

Chapter 29: Beneath the Mask

Chapter 29: Beneath the Mask

The cold gnawed at Anne's bones as she lay motionless on the stone floor, her breath shallow, her body numb. She didn't know how long she had been lying there, the bitter chill sinking deeper into her skin, the weight of Kaiden's rejection crushing her spirit. What could she say to make him believe her? How could she make him see that she was his Anne? The girl he once cared for, the one who had promised to protect him? The more she tried to think, the more the cold took over, seeping into her thoughts and silencing them.

Eventually, her body gave in, and darkness enveloped her.

She didn't know when she woke again. Hours must have passed. The room was still dark, the cold sharper than ever. Her body ached, and her limbs felt like they had turned to ice. But there, in the corner, a figure sat—silent and unmoving, shrouded in darkness. Kaiden.

Still wearing his mask, he sat on a chair, watching her. His presence was unnerving, like a predator waiting for its prey. His cold, unfeeling gaze fixed on her, and he didn't move. Not even when Anne stirred.

She tried to push herself up, her hands trembling as they pressed against the cold floor. But her legs—she couldn't feel them anymore. Her knees buckled beneath her, and she collapsed with a whimper. Pain shot through her legs, sharp and unforgiving, and the cold... the cold was unbearable.

Tears welled in her eyes as the pain washed over her. Her fingers clawed at the ground, desperate to find some warmth, some strength. But it was hopeless. And still, Kaiden just watched.

He didn't speak. He didn't move. He just sat there, like a shadow, void of any humanity. The boy she once knew—the one who had been vulnerable, who had let her in—was gone, replaced by this cold, hollow shell. The Harbinger of Death.

A sob escaped her throat, and the tears fell freely now. Her body shook with each breath as she wept, the sound filling the silence of the room. But Kaiden didn't flinch. He just kept staring, his mask concealing whatever emotion—if any—he had left.

"Kaiden," she whispered through her tears, her voice broken. "Why... why won't you believe me?"

The silence that followed was suffocating. She wiped at her cheeks, but the tears kept coming. She didn't have the strength to keep fighting anymore. Not against the cold, not against the pain... not against him.

Finally, her sobs quieted, and she just lay there, staring up at him. Her eyes met the blank, expressionless mask that hid his face. She could feel his gaze, piercing through the darkness, but it was as if there was nothing human left behind it.

And then, after what felt like an eternity, Kaiden spoke. His voice was low, cold, and detached, each word laced with suspicion and venom.

"Who are you really?" he asked, his tone void of warmth. "Who are you working for?"

Anne's heart sank. He still didn't believe her.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharp and calculating behind the mask. "The Nightshade Order?" He waited for a reaction, but she gave none. "Or maybe it's the exorcist you're supposed to marry."

Anne's eyes widened slightly. He knew. He knew about the engagement—about the deal.

"Who is it, Princess?" he continued, his voice bitter and mocking. "What game are you playing? Who sent you to me?"

Anne's throat tightened. She could barely breathe, barely speak through the ache in her chest. He thought she was... a spy? An agent of the Nightshade Order or the exorcists? He thought she was here to deceive him, to destroy him.