Tears Of Ice

Larmes De Glace Et Cristal

"Children. There is a new boy joining us today, so I would like you all to make him feel welcome. Emma, Millard, Olive, I want you to collect him from the home outside the loop. The rest of you shall stay here." Miss Peregrine announced at the table during lunch. Looking over at Emma, I saw her smile falter and eyes dim. She was upset, but said nothing nonetheless. I picked at the baby carrots on my plate and sighed, biting at my lip. Closing my eyes, I rested my head on my hand and ignored the chatter flowing around me.

I picked up my glass and crunched on the ice forming on my cold lips. I waited for Miss P to give us the clear and when she did, I jumped from my seat and ran out to the garden. Crawling into the bushes, I escaped to my special garden. The snow began falling around me and I breathed a sigh of relief. Removing my gloves, I let the fresh air seep into my fingers, happiness washing over me.

I let my mind drift off as I began thinking of the new boy.

I wondered what he looked like, absentmindedly running my fingers over the pastel pink petals. Did he mean something to Emma? Was that why she seemed so... upset?

The bushes rustled and out came Fiona, giving me a small wave as she brought the watering can to hover over her gorgeous flowers. The clear liquid poured out and I watched in fascination; I had never actually been able to touch water, only freeze it.

I bet you're thinking, how do you bathe then, you ninny?

Well the answer is, I don't. I don't need to. Technically, I'm am a literal being of ice and snow; so there's no need for me to wash. I always smell indifferent.

A small exhale escaped past my lips and I tore my eyes away from the small but mesmerising sight. More rustles came from behind me as I saw that Fiona had gone again.

I picked my last flower, froze it, then placed it behind my ear. Again, it was a lovely day, but I liked the cool shade on my part of the garden. Pulling my glove back on, I rose from my seat and dusted my blue dress off, deciding to go inside and have a look for a new book in the library.

Fixing the flower in my white locks, I smiled softly and trudged through the snow and back out into the sweet smelling grass and roses of Fiona's garden.

I loved Fiona's garden, it was so majestic. At least she could actually grow her flowers here, whereas my snowdrops just appeared on their own.

Ignoring the sad thoughts, I shrugged it off and strolled out from the large bushes, appearing on the other side in the harsh sunlight. The children that lived here were playing around and to my surprise, Enoch was sat beneath a tree, tinkering with some clay.

Jars of hearts lay haphazardly around the grass and not to my surprise, Olive was there too. I rolled my eyes and walked past them, narrowly dodging the ball that whizzed past my ear and threatened to take my head with it.

I scowled in annoyance at Hugh and he apologised, running off to go fetch it.

The garden was calm again, the only sounds were Claire and the twins running in the grass and Enoch snapping demands at Olive.

~~~~~

It was later on in the afternoon that I finally had the chance to meet Jake, Miss Peregrine was showing him around our beautiful garden and introducing him to the children. I was lying beneath a shady tree, the cool breeze relaxing me as my eyes drifted closed and a long sigh escaped my lips, along with a cloud of cold mist.

My head was cradled on top of my arms and my legs were crossed. I was in peace at last, breathing deeply and letting it out with another large puff of mist. A few moments later, a small hand tapped my bare arm. I ignored it and carried on resting, until it did it again. More persistently.