A Prison Of Blood And Ice

Prologue

Chase fields

A searing pain crawls up my calf, like a spider. There's a river of thick, crimson blood pouring out from the gash; it's too deep, much too deep to be healthy. The cut is wide open and exposed to the bacteria filled air. I wouldn't be surprised if it got infected, to be honest. I'm going to die from loss of blood if I don't find it soon.

I hobble through the trees. They stand tall and proud, as if they are gaining something just by being there. These woods are eerily quiet; the only sound is the squawking of a raven. The raven's talons are enclosed tightly around a branch. It has its yellow rimmed eyes fixed on me; it examines my face intently, sending a tremor through my body.

The icy, cold, winter's breeze hits me in the face. Looking upwards, I notice as the clouds darken and slowly, walk in front of the sunlight. Great! Now there is barely any light at all. At this rate I won't be able to find it.

A lock of glossy, ebony hair falls in my eyes. I brush it out the way, when I reach a river bank. I see my reflection in the muddy water. My eyes are a vibrant, emerald green. My skin is sallow and my hair is a mess.

Desperation sets in, all I want is to sit down, for a second. Deep down I know if I settle myself on the cursed ground, i will never get up ever again!

Thats when I spot it. Devilish thorns cover the stalk and delicate petals make up the magnificent rose. Each petal is a dark, glossy black. I reach out for it, but all I touch is water. It looks as though it is floating in the water. It's not.

"Looking for something?" I look up and see the raven. It's talking? I bite down on my bottom lip, drawing blood. Then replacing the raven is a blindingly, bright light. I close my eyes telling myself, it's not real! Not real! Not real! When I reopen my eyes, I expect to see the raven but i don't. Nothing is perched on a branch, nothing at all!

I turn around and notice a slender girl, in a lacy, black gown is standing there. She approaches me with an evil grin. Her lips are smothered in ebony lip gloss. There it is. She's clutching it tightly in her palm. "Do you want the rose?" She asks in an innocent voice. Her cold fingertips graze my neck. I shiver under the touch and swivel around.

I need it and now! "Yes," I say bluntly. My voice comes out in a rasp, she seems amused by this. "Here," she says, holding it out to me. I grab it and feel the thorns cut into my calloused palm.

I'm probably one of the only people, in my town, who is aware magic exists. That's probably a good thing. The less educated you are on magic, the better. It's not something you want to mess with, unless you're suicidal or have a death wish. In that case be my guest, go search for answers.

I'd been looking for this rose ever since Katrina, my mother, got the plague. The rose can heal anything. Any disease, any wounds, anything imaginable!

Cautiously, I tear a silky black petal from the flower and take a deep breath. I never thought I would be eating a rose petal, but then again who does! I put it into my mouth and let it dissolve on my tongue.

It starts as a tingle and then spreads through my whole body. Letting myself collapse to the floor, I gasp for air. I'm writhing in agony and screaming out. I pray the pretty lady will help me. She doesn't.

She comes over with a grin. "You're not very smart are you?" I listen to her laugh darkly and anger blossoms in my chest. The pain is unbearable!

My finger nails turn into sharp claws, my skin into the colour of a pitch-black room. When I look down, I'm not human anymore. I'm this beast-like creature. I look scaly and I have a tail with spikes coming off of it!

"You'll be shifting back and forth for a while," the lady tells me.
"What have you done!" I growl.
"It's a little game I like to play." She smirks. "Don't mess with magic and don't ever go in search of a magical item! This is a spell that will only be broken,once you find Zoe White. You must bring her to me," she hisses.
"Why?" I ask. Her eyes change from mocking to smouldering. There's a fire blazing in her eyes, she's furious.
"Just because i want you to," she snaps and then adds, "But that's not all. If by the time you are twenty-five you haven't fallen in love , you will remain a demon, forever."

I blink and then she's gone. Disappeared so impossibly fast! The words go through my mind over and over. Find Zoe White.