Era : Entropy

Ice Queen

The song of winter called out to her.

She looked out of the car window. There were other winter spirits sweeping through the cold air before disappearing back into the spirit realm. They seemed as confused about the hail as her, but much happier. Their white hair was streaked with frost, the locks leaving trails of cold air. One returned her gaze. It smiled, revealing icicle teeth.

Take joy in this winter offering, young vessel.

She shuddered. Her hand was tucked into her vest pocket, hiding hailstones that she clutched in her fist. She focused freezing energy through her arm to keep them from melting. She closed her eyes, trying to listen to the tiny whisper in her mind.

What do I do?

Yukika pushed away the bubbling fears and uncertainties blocking her consciousness. Swim past the whirlpools and rocks to reach the shore, she told herself, even when the current was sweeping her away. She waited and listened.

But there was no answer. Only the cold rushing underneath her skin. There was only the cold. Rushing past her ears, tracing her skin, freezing her mind. Her tense body slowly relaxed, bit by bit. She let go of her physical form, and entered her spirit mind.

Her consciousness was dark and howling. Winter hurricanes danced through the wind. Her arms reached out and turrets of cold air whizzed out to knock the hurricanes away. Yukika's head ached from the power she used to drive them away. It was feeble compared to the power surrounding her. She walked forward, barely pushing away the other gales that rushed towards her. Her eyes picked up on a tall form in the center of the cyclones. Her bruise-blue skin contrasted with the winter white all around them.

"Bheur!" she called out, her voice drowned in the howling wind. Nonetheless, she turned around. Her rail thin body was wrapped in silver cloth. The black eyes that stared her down did not faze her. What did was the wide open mouth screaming the sound of winter winds, and the white blood pouring out of her stomach. Her throat tightened, and her body froze.

Her eyes shot open. She was safe, still sat in the sleek car. They were slowing down, driving through rows of neighboring houses. She gave the hailstones a squeeze, relieved at the hard ice pressing against her skin. They halted in front of the Fukumura house. She composed her face and gave Mr Allende a smile. He smiled back. She opened the door and stepped outside. The warm air swirled with uncertainty.

"Thanks for the ride, Mr Allende!" Sakura chirped. The door between them shut, and the shiny Hephaestus drove away. She heard a loud vibration from her bag pocket. She took out her phone. The glare from it being turned on accompanied a bitter message.

"Akira messaged me to come home," she told Sakura.

There was a gentle look in Sakura's eyes as soon as she said that. She tilted her head as she asked, "Will you be staying the night?"

Her heart warmed. She slipped the phone back into her pocket. That house brimmed with a painful cold uncontested by any winter. She couldn't care less about whatever Akira wanted from her now. Nonetheless, it was better to take a walk to clear her mind.

"There's nothing she can do to stop me."

She handed Sakura's bag to her. She turned away and started off to Akira's house. Darkness was descending upon the sleepy town. Yukika kicked away dead leaves that littered the street. She waved to tree spirits laying lazily down tree trunks. Their eyes twinkled and they waved back.

She spotted a spirit as tall as two houses stacked together standing at the end of the street. It was dressed in an old beige suit and black hat that covered its face. She slowed down as she walked past, bowing her head to it. It held out its hand to her. It held a piece of paper between two long fingers. She held out her hand and took it. She smiled politely.