Buzz

Ice Queen

Will POV

We sat in an icy silence. The layout of the living room seemed suspiciously perfect for the situation. The porcelain white tiles seemed to emanate seriosity. Valarie sat on a single, white, plush chair opposite to my black one. The three teens sat on the sofa to the left - gawking at both her and I.

A single coffee table occupied the space between Valarie and I - a barrier. Looking at her - the luscious blonde hair, the thin pink lips, the pale complexion and the frosted blue eyes - I knew she felt just as safe as I did with the coffee table between us.

We stayed silent for a while, me sizing her up - knowing that she's doing the same. I glanced at her sword sheath, noting the silver point on top and the elegant design. I could tell that it was quite sturdy - thus heavy.

As if reading my mind, she clutched the grip of her blade. I'm out numbered and out weaponed. I only have one knife left on me and a baseball bat upstairs. She has a gun, sword and three other people.

I can't fight my way out of this.

"We aren't looking to loot or hurt you. So calm down", despite the kind nature of her words, her icy tone remained.

I considered her words, "What are you here for then?"

Once again her eyes scanned every inch of my being - calculating something.

"How long have you been here? In this house, I mean."

"Why are you asking? What significance does it hold?" I deflected her question.

"It's of no consequence to me, specifically. I'm merely asking, how long have you been here...after you lost your loved one."

My veins turned to ice - pumping freezing water into my tissue. Involuntarily I arched my back but held onto my blank face. But I didn't fool her.

How did she know I lost someone?

As if predicting my question, "The watch on your left wrist is two sizes too large. That told me that it wasn't your watch. Furthermore, you wouldn't steal a watch that was too big for you. Thus, that watch belonged to someone important to you. Someone who is now gone."

I felt a surge of anger rise in my chest - a bubble of violence expanding painfully.

She was getting under my skin on purpose.

"Time moves differently for me, but if I were to estimate, it would be around four weeks since I... moved in here."

She nodded her head ever so slightly - keeping her eyes trained on me. Once again I saw the calculating look in her glacial gaze. Her eyes glanced around the room, first the bookshelf to the right - the one behind the teens who shivered when her eyes landed on them - then it wandered to the staircase to the left before settling on the facedown picture frame.

She calmly stood - still clutching her sheath - and moved to the picture on the floor. She picked it up and looked at it. No, she scrutinized it.

For a mere second I thought I saw longing in her eyes before they froze over again.

She spoke while looking at the picture, "Family. During our current situation, that's one thing everybody wants. Family. In other terms... community. Safety," she walked back over to her seat.

Steadying the picture on the coffee table, she rotated it so that it was facing me. A picture of a smiling... happy family. A lasting... companionship.